>>3734445

>Updates: https://twitter.com/MolochQM
>Previous threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=NERV%20Second%20Daughter

It's hard not to read too much into the hazy cloud hanging over the city. It's summer, you remind yourself, and it's a city. A haze of smog and pollution really isn't anything out of the ordinary, but you can't put Fletcher's comments about Belial's corpse out of your mind. How much of it is up there now, filtering into the atmosphere and the air you breath? Maybe you should get one of those surgical masks, although it might not do much good. If the Lilim want to get you, they're going to get you one way or another.

Even putting that aside, an ill air hangs over you. Late last night, as Dakota was getting settled into her new room – what you still think of as Claire's room – there was some kind of trouble. Fletcher locked the whole base down, locking you in the dorm for almost an hour. He wouldn't say anything about it, even after the dorm was unlocked, but the mood in the base was grim. It's not hard to guess that it was all something to do with your “guest”.

“Whatever. Enough sulking. Do something productive,” you scold yourself, “Claire, what do you think we should do about that disk?”

No answer.

“I mean yeah, it's kind of a mess. Getting out to Konstantin's old pad is going to be a real pain in the ass, and even if I could do that... what good would it do me? It's just gonna be crammed full of science shit, and I'm not exactly fluent in that language,” you continue, “So what do you think? We can't just call up Coraline and ask her to drive us out there.”

No answer.

“Bergmann? Claire, that is one seriously fucked up idea,” you mutter, shaking your head. Yet, the idea has a kind of insane logic. Bergmann is perverse enough to help you out of curiosity, a chance to study Konstantin's work and then tear it down into language you might understand. Plus, she can keep a secret. You're under no delusion that she'd admit to owing you one, but she's running her own game here. If it helped further her own goals, she'd do it. “So we'll put her in the “maybe” category,” you concede, “What about Fletcher?”

No answer.

“Yeah, I dunno. He's okay most of the time, but he's SEELE's guy at the end of the day. He'd probably deliver the disk straight into their hands,” you decide, “But maybe that's not such a bad idea. Let them deal with the fucking thing.”

No answer.

This just isn't the same. You miss her.

>Forget the disk for now. It's not going anywhere
>Tell Bergmann about the disk, get her help with it
>Inform Fletcher about the disk, let him decide the next move
>There's something else... (Write in)
>Other

>>3734448
>>Tell Bergmann about the disk, get her help with it

This'll be 'fun'. But yeah after being bait Fletch lost some trust when it comes to him following orders from SEELE. Too much of a coin flip with him on that subject.

>>3734448
>Tell Bergmann about the disk, get her help with it
We can just tell everyone that we had a heart to heart which basically involved thinking about whether we wanted to punch her

>>3734448
>>There's something else... (Write in)
Get Monroe to take us.

Once we figure out what is on it we can decide what to do with the information.

>>3734448
......you know what yeah

Switch >>3734466
to >>3734473

>>3734473
Monroe is the same way as Fletch. Maybe not as extreme, but at the end of the day she followed orders instead of helping us. Just saying.

>>3734496
But that is why she is pretty much perfect for this, as she wants to know what is going on and almost everyone regards her as unimportant, so she probably has the most room to maneuver.

>>3734473
>>3734448
This

>>3734496
We just need a ride. I'm sure she'd jump at the chance to help out Holly. I hope she can figure out a way to ask without saying "take us to that old NIHIL hideout please"

Sitting up and rubbing your eyes, you take a wide look around the school roof. Down below, the preparations for the summer festival have reached fever pitch. Some of the wayward baseball team have come crawling back to help Clay, perhaps inspired by his persistence. You were there when they first arrived, looking guilty and embarrassed. Clay didn't even bother to scold them for their lapse, just started giving out instructions with a kind of easy authority. He's going to turn out okay, that one.

“Well...” you murmur to yourself, “What about Monroe? She can drive, can't she?”

So she can. She might also be willing to play along – or, to be blunt about it, she could be bullied into playing along. That's a particularly horrible way of looking at it, but it's still true. You can ask her, at least, and see what she says. If she's fine with playing chauffeur, that's great. If not, you can improvise.

-

“Howdy!” Commander Monroe calls out, waving to you as you approach HQ, “Come on over, pull up a chair!”

It's a strange sight. A group of garden chairs have been set up outside HQ, along with a wide parasol and a cooler filled with cans. Monroe, dressed casually, sits on one with a can of beer in her hand, sunning herself with obvious relish. The other chairs are empty, as if she had been expecting guests that never materialised. You sit tentatively down on the edge of the chair beside her, looking around in open curiosity.

“It's a slow day, so I thought I'd take some time off and enjoy the sun. Being cooped up underground all day is so bad for my complexion!” Monroe continues, waving a hand up at her face, “I was thinking about going for a drive later, too. What do you think?”

Saying nothing, you glance meaningfully down at the can of beer she gestures with.

“Oh, this? Don't worry so much, it's non-alcoholic!” she assures you, laughing at your frown, “It's just not the same, sitting out in the sun without a cold drink.”

“This drive,” you venture, choosing your words carefully, “Did you have anywhere in mind?”

“Hmm, maybe,” Monroe replies slowly, lowering her sunglasses and studying you, “Did you want to go somewhere?”

Making up your mind, you nod. “I can give you the directions,” you answer, “It's not far. Won't take long. I don't want to say too much about it right now.”

Monroe continues to study you for a moment more before shrugging. “I'm curious now, so I guess I don't have any choice,” she teases, “I'll get my keys!”

“Hey, wait,” you hastily add, “Where were YOU thinking of going?”

“Mmm...” Monroe pauses, thinking to herself, “I don't want to say too much about it right now.”

You walked right into that one, didn't you?

[1/2]

>>3734521

You talk little on the drive over, only occasionally giving Monroe a direction. Normally, you don't think you could remember a route with such clarity, especially considering how quickly Coraline tore up the roads, but this time the directions come easily to mind. Without really thinking about it, you murmur the commands and leave the driving to Monroe. Once she realises where you're going, she slows a little but says nothing. Pulling up outside the isolated house, she kills the engine and leans forwards against the steering wheel.

“Not such a scenic place to visit,” she remarks, “Something you had in mind?”

“I just needed to see this place one last time,” you tell her vaguely, “I got a lot of stuff to think about, and I just... it's hard to explain, you know?”

“There's nothing here, just so you know. The recovery teams swept the place from top to bottom,” Monroe points out, looking round to you “But I guess you knew that already. Take a look around, do what you need to do. I'll be waiting here – I get the creeps just looking at this place.” Holding your gaze for a moment more, she turns away and very deliberately stares off into empty space. Hesitating briefly, you nod your thanks and slip out of the car.

Maybe, you consider as you walk, this is her way of making things up to you. After that little “bait” thing, maybe she feels like she owes you one. Payment for services rendered. Why does that phrase make you feel so dirty?

-

Following Konstantin's directions, you arrive at the tree he mentioned. Peering closer at the gnarled bark, you make out the faint remnants of words, perhaps names, but only one is legible. More recent than the others, the name “REED” is hacked into the wood. Coraline left it here, you wonder, was it meant for you? No, you decide after brushing away a thin dusting of moss, it's too old for that.

Digging at the foot of the tree, you soon unearth a battered tin box. Hardly a notable thing, the sort of box that you might glance over in a junk shop without bothering to go back for a second look. Yet, the information it potentially holds...

Flipping the box open, you sift through the meagre contents – a cased disk, and a small sheaf of photographs. Sitting down on the warm dirt, you skim through the pictures. A couple of shots of the Akashic Record, the old pictures robbing the stone of its detail. A few more shots of scenery that you don't recognise, some arctic shit. A cargo ship, proudly displayed. Finally, a picture of a younger, healthier Konstantin standing beside a hard faced woman who seems irritatingly familiar. Whoever she is, she'd be much older now. A lot can change in time like that.

Shoving the disk and the photographs into your jacket pocket, you dust yourself off and head back to the car.

[2/3]

>>3734562
>a hard faced woman who seems irritatingly familiar
UHHH
grandmother?
Matheson with the secret of eternal youth?

>>3734573
That one anon's theory that Claudia is a clone of 04 might also be possible. We don't know Claudia's real hair color after all.

>>3734579
ooh, right

>>3734573
Is it Bergmann?
Young Bergmann?

>>3734605
It's SEELE 04 pretty sure. Konstantin was in a relationship with her. Bergmann would be a child at this time

>>3734562

Monroe is still leaning against the steering wheel when you arrive back, her eyes fixed on some imaginary place that only she can see. When you slam the door shut, she glances around in surprise. “All done?” she asks simply.

“All done,” you confirm, buckling up and waiting for her to start the engine. Instead, Monroe lingers for a while longer.

“He's dead, you know,” she announces suddenly, “We're still trying to understand how. We found him in his cell this morning, lying on the floor with a broken neck. The door was locked, no sign of any tampering or forced entry. Officially, and I know how this is going to sound, his death is being ruled as a suicide. Did you know that a frail old man can snap his own neck with his bare hands? I didn't know that.”

“Fuck,” you breathe. That certainly explains the sickly, uneasy air that had been hanging over HQ. You knew it was coming, of course, but for it to happen in such a manner... gross.

Monroe shrugs heavily, finally starting up the car. “It's over. It's done with. Better to just... focus on something else,” she sighs, “Sunbathing, walking through the forest, visiting old friends, whatever. Speaking of, do you want to know where I was planning on going today?” She waits, and you eventually gesture for her to continue. “I was going to visit Huang,” the commander announces simply, “She's been moved to a facility not so far from here. She's safe enough for that, apparently. Whatever she's got, it's not contagious.”

“That's good,” you murmur, before a thought strikes you, “What DOES she have?”

“I don't know,” Monroe admits, “But it's not contagious. They were very clear about that.” Despite yourself, you bark out a startled laugh. Monroe joins in after a second, and you both laugh until the air feels a little clearer. “She's still not talking much, but that's an improvement over not saying anything at all,” Monroe continues, “The language barrier is a problem, though. We're not sure what she's speaking in, but it's definitely not Chinese.”

A short silence as you both consider this. “So I'll be honest,” Monroe adds, “I'd like you to go and see her. Some of the science team have a theory that she might... respond to someone like you. A pilot, someone who has had extensive contact with an ADM Unit. Now, this response might not be particularly, ah, pleasant, but if it forces some change in her condition... that's something they're aiming for.”

“So you want me to be the bait again?” you remark with a cynical smile, “Is that right?”

Monroe winces, taking the words like a punch.

>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?
>Sorry, but I'm not down with this. Count me out
>Other

>>3734624
>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?
You do one for us Monroe, I suppose we'll be good enough to do one for you.

>>3734624
>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?

Where is Claudia when you need her.

>>3734624
>>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?
I imagine she's probably speaking in Angel, right?

>>3734624
>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?
>Did you try only Mandarin? China has a ton of languages.

>>3734624
>>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?

>>3734633
I think her and Kaori have a few days off for killing Belial or something.

>>3734624
>Sure. Hope there is no hard feelings from our giant robot fight.

>>3734624
>But sure, I'll do it. She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?
>Two voices. The Lilim and Huang. I know the girl is scared, but I don't know how much of the girl is left.

>>3734624
>Sure

We should apologize for that last comment too. Low blow, especially after she just tried to make it up to us.

Sighing, you nod. “But sure, I'll do it,” you decide, “She can't be any tougher than a bunch of armed soldiers, right?”

“It's a different kind of problem,” Monroe replies with a forced smile. Starting up the engine, she guides the car around in a tight circle and drives back towards the city. Trees flash past in the windows as you speed along, but Monroe still finds the time to fiddle with the radio. Faint, crackly music eventually leaks out of the speakers, and the commander tuts with irritation. “The reception has been so bad lately,” she mutters to herself, “Might as well not bother...”

Thoughts of Belial flit through your mind. Not pleasant thoughts, either. “So, uh, hey,” you venture, “When are Belial and Claudia due back?”

“Hmm, today I think. They'll probably be back before us,” she answers, giving up on the radio and thankfully focusing on the road, “I hope Dakota gets along with them.”

That, you answer with a shrug. The new girl has mostly been hiding away in Claire's... in the vacant room, and you've been content to leave her be. Maybe that's not the best display of hospitality, but she was sending out pretty clear “leave me alone” signals. “So. Huang,” you begin, carefully changing the subject, “Have you been speaking, uh, Mandarin? Because there's like, a bunch of different languages in China. Maybe you just need to find the right one.”

“Maybe. I assume they've tried all of them – they had an expert in, apparently, so I trust their judgement. I'm not so good at foreign languages, after all. I think-” Monroe pauses here, scowling down at the radio as the music cuts out completely. Static hisses in its place for a few moments, until Monroe turns it off in disgust.

-

It takes a while for it to sink in, but you slowly realise that you're driving along the same stretch of road as before, when Cam was unknowingly leading you into the NIHIL ambush. It looks very different by day, under a bright and hazy sun, but it's still not a pleasant thought. Monroe has to know it too, but she doesn't mention anything. She just focuses on the road, leaning one arm out the open window with deliberate casualness.

“We really don't know what to do with her,” she announces suddenly, “Right now, Huang is kind of a dead end. She has no more value as a research subject, and even without being contagious, she still represents a danger. I know a few people who would rather just put her down and be done with it.” Monroe lapses into silence her, tapping her finger against the steering wheel. It's a small gesture, but it reveals just how tense she really is. “I'm stalling,” she continues, “But my authority extends only so far. I'm hoping that if we... if you can get something out of her-”

“It might buy her a little more time,” you finish bleakly, “So, no pressure then.”

“Maybe a little bit of pressure,” Monroe suggests.

[1/2]

>>3734693
>When are Belial and Claudia due back?”
lol

>>3734693

At some point, your route diverges as Monroe takes a turn towards the coast. Ahead, on a small island, a lighthouse juts proudly at the sky. Even at a distance, you can see the guards surrounding the tower. No doubt about it, this island is Huang's prison. Monroe pulls up in a small, surprisingly discrete parking bay and kills the engine once more. “We're walking from here,” she announces, pointing down to a small bridge, “Good thing the seas are calm today. I don't fancy walking across that in poor weather.”

Nodding your agreement, you touch her arm to stop her. “Hey, uh, I wanted to say I'm sorry,” you mumble, “That little crack about being the bait, I mean. That... you didn't really deserve that.”

“It's already forgotten about,” Monroe assures you, shaking her head and giving you a mild smile, “Now, shall we?”

-

Clanking across the thin metal bridge, waiting for the security guards to check your identities, then riding down in an unexpectedly sleek, steel elevator, your approach to the lab/prison seems to rush past. You're nervous, although you try hard not to show it. As the elevator arrives at the bottom floor and the doors slide open, you have to say something. “This place wasn't built overnight,” you blurt out, “Like, this was all ready and waiting for her. Are you telling me that you guys were just THAT prepared?”

“Head office likes to plan for all eventualities,” Monroe replies awkwardly, gesturing for you to hush up as a soldier approaches, “As many as possible, at least.”

“Right...” you mutter, biting your tongue before you say something else you regret. Instead, you glance about as Monroe speaks with the soldier in a low, furtive voice. The elevator has delivered you into a circular room, four branches leading off in their own directions. Lots of steel walls here, and not a lot of comfy furnishings. Fun place. Their negotiations concluded, Monroe and her companion lead you down one corridor. As you walk, you grow more and more aware of a low buzz at the furthest edge of your perception. “Hey!” you call out, your voice louder than intended, “What's that noise?”

Monroe and the soldier both glance around at you. “Subsonics. Just a precaution,” the soldier explains blandly, “Is there a problem?”

“Makes it hard to think, man,” you complain, “It's like trying to concentrate with a fly buzzing around my head.”

But maybe that's the point, you realise slowly. Just like the mild drug Reyes' men shot into you, the subsonics are meant to disorient, to stop you from getting any funny ideas. Well, it didn't work out so well for Reyes, but maybe the subsonics will have better luck.

“Well then,” the soldier continues, oblivious to your thoughts, “I'll take you to see the subject now. I...” Here, he pauses as Monroe shoots him a withering glare. “I'll take you to see Huang now,” he corrects himself, scowling down at the floor.

[2/3]

>>3734781

Huang's cell has no windows, no way to look inside save for a computer monitor connected up to a camera inside. They were so scared of her, you muse, they even took steps to avoid accidental eye contact. All these precautions and security measures... how many of them are justified, and how many are just reckless paranoia?

“They fear her, as all beings fear that which might replace them. They would fear you too, if they knew what you truly were,” you unseen tormentor jeers, “Who do you think this prison was meant to hold?”

Shutting the voice out as best you can, you peer into the computer monitor. Huang sits slumped on a low bunk, hiding her face from sight. Her skin is unusually pale, her bald scalp rough and rugged, and she's so motionless that you can't be sure if you're watching a video or a still picture. Even at a glance, you could never mistake her for a normal human girl. “So I can go in and see her, right?” you ask, “Just... talk to her and see what happens?”

“Pretty much,” Monroe concedes, “We don't have any real plan here. We're just trying to see what happens.”

“Great...” you mutter.

-

Airlocks cycle, heavy locks clank open and closed, then the door slides open and you stand in the entrance to Huang's cell. She doesn't look up at the sound of your arrival, or the sound of your footsteps as you approach. Looking up, you spot a small camera high up on the ceiling, protected within a thick glass bowl. Sparing it a little wave, you look back to Huang and give the girl a closer look. The shape of her head isn't quite right, the back just barely starting to narrow out to a point, while her fingers seem too long to be normal. Long and white, their tips hardened to murderous points. A shapeless hospital smock covers her body, but there doesn't seem to be much going on there. A normal, albeit undernourished, human frame. Her face is hidden, covered by her hands.

“Hey, uh, hi,” you begin tentatively, “You might not remember me, but we've sorta met already. I was taller then, but then you were too. Uh... Huang?”

No response. Looking back up to the ceiling, you give the camera a shrug. Thinking back to China, you try to come up with a way of getting through to her. She didn't respond much then either, at least until the violence started. That certainly forced a reaction, but... that's a bit much, isn't it?

>Just keep talking with her. Maybe you can get something out of her
>Get rough with her. If that's what it takes to force a reaction, so be it
>Order Monroe to cut the subsonics and go bodiless. Maybe you can communicate that way
>Other

>>3734850
>Order Monroe to cut the subsonics and go bodiless. Maybe you can communicate that way

>>3734850
>Just keep talking with her. Maybe you can get something out of her.

Considering that there are cameras and recording devices everywhere it's probably a bad idea to try anything, i mean it would definitely achieve results but it would give away that there is something else going on.

>>3734850
>>Just keep talking with her. Maybe you can get something out of her
Start small. Also I don't like the idea of putting our bodiless powers on display like this. We are being watched and documented right now.

>>3734850
>Order Monroe to cut the subsonics and go bodiless. Maybe you can communicate that way


yyyyeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

>>3734850
>Just keep talking with her. Maybe you can get something out of her

If that doesn't work flick her really hard in the forehead and see what happens.

>>3734875
>>3734859
Don't go bodiless anons.The less the cunts in head office know about that the better.

>>3734850
>>Just keep talking with her. Maybe you can get something out of her
Let's avoid bodiless until we've exhausted everything else.

>>3734850
ok no bodiless


>Get rough with her. If that's what it takes to force a reaction, so be it

Shake her or something

>>3734850
>Just keep talking with her. Maybe you can get something out of her
Do not raise voice, do not make sudden movements.

>>3734884
I'd argue that any amount of violence is unwarranted. The creature, whatever she may be, is already cold, isolated and looks distressed. Putting a jacket on may help, if Holly sports one.

>>3734916
>I'd argue that any amount of violence is unwarranted

She ignored our greeting. She should be grateful we're not breaking bones.

>>3734916
i'd reckon that Huang is still there. Just sharing a consciousness with her Lilim

>>3734921
I suppose you should be grateful Holly's brain is not melted by AT-field reaction from Huang. Holly isn't a frothing berserker at this point, I reckon.

>>3734938
We're too tough for her wimpy field to affect. She, the weak, should fear us, the strong.

>>3734938
Holly will fall to Khorne yet

Staring up into the camera's beady eye for a moment more, you consider ordering Monroe to cut the subsonics. If you can go bodiless, that would definitely get Huang's attention. Maybe she exists more THERE than she does HERE, regardless of their efforts. Still, in such a controlled, monitored environment... well, you'd be the real research subject, not her. Maybe that's what they're hoping for, and this was all just a-

“Easy there, girl,” you murmur to yourself, “That's a little far, even for these creeps.”

Probably shouldn't have said that while looking at the camera. Oh well. Shaking your head, you march over to Huang's bunk and sit down next to her. You're not careful about it, dropping down to the thin mattress with enough force to jolt the other girl up. Dropping her hands, her claws, away from her face, Huang finally looks around at you. Her face is... not right. There's a certain vagueness to her features, a lack of focus that makes it surprisingly hard to notice any details. She doesn't really look like anyone in particular. Hell, she doesn't even look particularly Chinese.

“You're Huang, right?” you press on, speaking brightly and clearly to the girl, “What's the food like here, anyway? Are you getting your three hots and a cot?” Huang just stares, opening her mouth and choking out something that definitely isn't Chinese – Mandarin or any other flavour. The sounds don't even really match the movements of her lips. “Uh... English?” you offer weakly, painfully aware that you sound just like a boorish tourist, “You speak any English? Like, even a little bit?”

More hissing and spitting, a short burst, but then you notice something. Her lips...

Your phone buzzes, causing you to startle a little. Huang startles even more, crawling back from you like a spider, all fluttering limbs and jerky motions. Sliding back, giving her some room, you ease your phone out and check the screen. A message from Monroe, two simple words – “lip reading”. Could it really be something that simple? Yes, you realise, yes it could. These lofty scientists have been afraid to even look at Huang, studying her face long enough to watch her lips move was beyond them.

“Say that again,” you urge Huang, “You speak any English?”

Hiss, spit, but her lips manage to spell out, “a little”. At least, you think that's what she said. Her face remains blurry and out of focus, and your eyes are constantly drifting away from her lips... or her lips are constantly drifting away from her eyes. Your phone buzzes again, bringing you a new message from Monroe. She's calling for you to come out, so you can plan your next move. Nodding up to the camera, you look back to Huang.

“I'll be back,” you promise her, lips carefully forming the words, “I'll be right back.”

Blank stare, no understanding to be found.

[1/2]

>>3734968

“Lip reading,” Monroe repeats, her lip curling with irritation and amusements, “All this time, and you never thought to try reading her lips?”

The assembled scientists fidget and shuffle awkwardly. “We've been focused on alternative theories,” one offers, by way of explanation, “We thought that we could assemble a lexicon, something to begin translation efforts. Some of it... her utterances have patterns to them, repetition and sequence. Our efforts have been directed towards-”

“Holly,” Monroe interrupts, “I'd like to fit you with an earpiece, so we can get a simultaneous translation going. We've got our Chinese speaker here, don't we? It'll be easier for Huang to communicate if she's using her own language. Just... talk to her, see what she says. I don't know how much English she understands, so she might struggle to answer, but... well, we're making progress. Progress enough to warrant continued funding of this place, don't you think?”

This question, she directs towards a bland-faced scientist. The man gives you both a glacial nod. “For a while longer,” he concedes, saying nothing more.

-

It's hard to tell, but you think Huang has calmed down a little when you return. She's not clinging to the corner of the room like a bug, which is a start. Fiddling with the earpiece, you slowly approach and give her a tiny wave. “Sorry about that,” you tell her, “Why don't we talk a little more? Don't worry about the English, just answer in whatever language you can. Do you understand me?”

She hisses out something, mouthing an English “yes” at the same time.

“Okay, so uh...” you falter almost immediately, struggling for something to say, “So how do you feel?”

“I'm scared,” a stern voice mutters in your ear, translating Huang's twisting lips. More than ever, you feel the camera's eye boring into you. “The Other doesn't want me to speak,” the translator continues, slowing a little, “It doesn't want me to... be. I can feel it. Every day, there is more of IT and less of ME.”

In the background, you hear a flurry of urgent voices. “The Other,” you murmur, “Do you know what it is?”

“The Other is the Other,” the translation comes, “It IS. It knows what you are too. You are the enemy. It says that you tried to kill me.”

You open your mouth to answer this, but no words come to mind. The bland voice of the translator robs Huang's words of the sting, but the accusation remains... or is that just your own guilt needling at you?

“Holly?” Monroe prompts, her voice crackling over the earpiece, “If you're not comfortable, just get out of there. We have what we need – don't push yourself.”

>Monroe's right. It's time to get out of here
>Tell Huang... (Write in)
>Other

>>3735039
>Tell Huang... (Write in)

"That's bullshit. I spared you. I had your life literally in my hands and all I had to do was squeeze, but I didn't. That other is a fucking liar."

>>3735039
>Tell Huang... (Write in)
I am *It's* enemy, but not your's Huang. I want to help YOU. You're doing good by the way, talking to me. You can tell me whatever you want.

>>3735039
Seconding >>3735054

“That's bullshit. It's LYING to you, Huang,” you stress, desperately praying that she understands you, that the Other allows your words to reach you, “I held your life in my hands, back then, but I let you live. If I really was your enemy, I could have killed you there and then, but I didn't. That thing is the real enemy here, your enemy and mine.” You reach out, but Huang shrinks back from your touch. Pulling your hand back, you slowly raise both of them in a gesture of peace. “You're doing good just talking to me, Huang,” you add, “We're making progress. You can tell me whatever you want.”

“I'm scared,” Huang repeats, the translation robbing her words of all emotion, all expression. Holding up her clawed hands, she stares at them with mute horror. “This is not me,” she continues, “They took me from the camp, held me in the dark place. Then they injected me with something, and the Other came. Oh, it showed me such things... Now, every night, I dream of Mother Lilith and Her children. They walked this planet before men were here, and they will walk after men are gone.”

Monroe murmurs a faint curse, her voice just barely registering in your ear. “That's wrong, Huang. We can stop them,” you promise her, “We've destroyed them before. I'VE destroyed them before.”

Slowly, Huang shakes her head. “No,” the translator denies, “You destroy the body. The flesh. Through Mother Lilith's power, her children will return. They were destroyed once before, but now they return.”

Despite yourself, you reel back. The Lilim will just... return? Does that mean that everything you've done was pointless, just postponing the inevitable?

“Then we'll just destroy Lilith too!” you insist, defiant anger rushing into your voice as you forget yourself. Huang shrinks back again, this time raising her claws in a defensive stance. Wincing, you carefully gesture for her to stay calm. Slowly, as if forcing her body to obey, she lowers her hands. “I just want to help, Huang,” you insist, “Will you work with me? Help ME to help YOU.”

“You will help?” Huang repeats, the translator feeding her words into your ear, “You will help me?”

“That's what I said, isn't it?” you reply, “What do you need me to do?”

“The Other is... inside me now. I cannot get it out. We are like a knot that cannot be undone,” Huang explains, her face twisting up, “Every day, there is less of ME and more of IT. I want...” A harsh squawk of static interrupts this as the microphone is abruptly covered up, snuffing out the rest of Huang's request.

“Ah, Holly, I need to talk with you. Outside,” Monroe announces, taking over the airwaves, “This is pretty important, so... ah, just come on out now, okay? That's... well, I hate to do this, but that's an order.”

Well then. Orders are orders.

[1/2]

>>3735137

“I think we've made enough progress for today. We really need to work out a better system for this, anyway. Without knowing just how much English Huang was able to understand, it's hard to place too much weight in her comments,” Monroe babbles, sweat glistening on her forehead as she talks, “Holly, why don't we head back to base? I'm sure Kaori and Claudia will be back by now, and you all must have so much to talk about!”

“Chief, slow down,” you insist, “Where's the fire?”

“No fire here!” she yelps, “Although it IS pretty hot down here. Stuffy too, I don't know how these guys can handle it day after day. Some fresh air will...”

There is a harsh sound, the bland-faced scientist from before clearing his throat with a noise as cold and clinical as a pistol slide being racked. His ID tag reads Lincoln, naming him as the head of research here. “We were making progress,” he announces, looking Monroe dead in the eye, “Why did you interrupt?”

“Commander?” you ask cautiously, dreading the answer to your next question, “What was Huang saying back there, at the end?”

Monroe says nothing, her gaze slipping away from you. In the face of her silence, the scientist snaps his fingers and gestures for one of his men to approach. The translator, you guess. “The subject expressed a desire to die,” the translator announces, his voice flat and toneless, “The subject expressed fear about what was going to happen to her, and wished to prevent any further loss of self-control.”

It takes you a moment to parse this into normal speech – perhaps because you really don't WANT to understand it. “She wants to kill herself?” you stammer, “That's... no way, she can't!”

“More specifically, she wants to be killed. She doubts that the Other would allow her to kill herself. It might intervene. We have observed times when it gained some measure of control over her body, particularly in highly stressful moments,” Lincoln explains, “Were she to attempt the deed herself, I judge it highly likely for the Other to seize full control over her, temporarily or permanently.”

“I don't want to hear this,” Monroe hisses, only to falter a mere moment later, “What... what are you suggesting?”

“It's simple. She wishes to die. As far as my team is concerned, she's outlived her usefulness. This all ties up quite nicely,” he explains. Mercifully, he doesn't shrug, but you can sense the gesture lurking just beneath the surface. “I can have one of my staff do it. You need not involve yourselves at all. Just get in your car and drive away.”

[2/3]

>>3735187

Her hands clenching and unclenching, Monroe glances about at the watching mob of soldiers and scientists. No support there, it looks like. “She's still useful!” the older woman insists, “You heard her back there, that was important information!”

“I heard her,” Lincoln agrees, “I also heard her requesting an end to her life. Are her wishes irrelevant to you?”

“Oh, spare me!” Monroe snaps, “You don't care about that, you just see her as a loose end that needs-”

“Enough,” Lincoln interrupts, his voice low, “You're not in charge her, Commander, no matter what you might think. If you're going to make this a matter of emotion, rather than approaching it with the clarity that this situation demands, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”

A low growl escapes Monroe's throat. “Are you saying I'm hysterical?” she hisses, “You patronising bastard...”

“Uh, chief?” you whisper, “Don't take the bait. He's just trying to-”

“Oh?” Lincoln turns to you, “So the golden girl speaks. You've made quite a name for yourself, destroying Lilim. What do you propose, then? If we leave her long enough, the subject... Huang might become one of THEM. Isn't it better for us all if she was allowed her last request.”

“Don't put this on her, you piece of shit!” Monroe snarls, “She's just a child. They're BOTH just children!”

Lincoln doesn't even look around, his gaze remaining locked on yours. Even Monroe falls silent, although her face is set in a mask of dread as she waits to hear your answer.

>Huang is still a useful source of information. We can't lose her now
>If Huang doesn't want to live, I guess we need to respect that
>I'm not telling you a damn thing. I refuse to play this game
>Other

>>3735193
>Huang is still a useful source of information. We can't lose her now

We can save her with a soul invasion. I think. Don't tell Lincoln this though.

>>3735193
>Other
"I think you're a lazy, coward that is trying to wrap this up faster than you need to. You were too much of a pussy to even get in there to find out about the lip reading thing and now that you find out Huang is lucid enough and you won't even attempt to find out if you can separate girl from Lilim? Or hell just get more information from a person that has a direct Lilim contact? Some Head of Research you are. I hate Bergmann with a passion but she has way more balls than you Lincoln. Let's see if we can find a way to get rid of the Lilim without killing Huang."

>>3735193
>If Huang doesn't want to live, I guess we need to respect that.
At least she can have this choice, though I think it would be best to directly confirm this with her and ask if she wanted to let anyone know or anything done, within reason of course.

>>3735193
>Huang is still a useful source of information. We can't lose her now

“I think Huang is... I think she's still a useful source of information,” you announce, speaking through clenched teeth as you try to stay calm, “I think it's premature to talk about... losing her now.”

“Oh, is that right?” Lincoln remarks, raising a pale eyebrow, “You're qualified to decide what is or isn't premature, are you?”

You've been trying to be a good girl, to be diplomatic about this, but the streak of pure condescension in his voice is just a step too far. “I'm qualified to say that you're a lazy, cowardly fool,” you snap, “Too much of a pussy to even look at Huang long enough to realise that she's been TRYING to reach out. What else haven't you tried, huh? Have you even thought about trying to separate the girl from the Lilim? You're the head of research here, but as far as I've seen, you're just trying to bury this whole mess as quickly as you can.”

“That's right,” Monroe agrees, rallying behind you, “You're not trying to learn anything here. Not really. You have what you needed from Huang, and now you're just looking for an excuse – ANY excuse – to get rid of her. I won't stand idly by while you murder a child for... for the sake of convenience!”

Lincoln regards you both with a mild surprise, then he finally lets out the shrug he's been holding in. “So you have an alternative solution,” he deduces, “I'm open to hearing it.”

Monroe hesitates for a moment, her mouth hanging slack before she snaps into action. “I want our science team to take a look at her. Our science team, our lab, our terms. We have equipment there that we can't transport here,” she explains, her voice so firm and steady that you KNOW she's bluffing, “You'll need to arrange transport for Huang. A vehicle fitted with internal subsonics at the very least. How long will that take to prepare?”

“We already have the required equipment to transport the subject,” Lincoln stresses, “Were you hoping to stall us? We would need to perform some checks, for reasons of security, but those won't even take a day. Are you sure that you know what you're doing?”

“Of course,” Monroe lies, giving you a brief sideways glance. All you can really do is nod your agreement, although you don't know much more than she does.

“Well,” Lincoln remarks with a weary sigh, “I'm glad to see such a rousing display of confidence. So long as you're willing to accept full responsibility for any consequences that might arise, I'm willing to hand the subject over to you. I want this... thing out of my sight.”

“You see?” some unseen voice crows, “His true feelings, finally revealed for all to see.”

>So I think I'm going to pause things here for today. I'll be aiming to continue this tomorrow, though.
>Thank you for your contributions today!

>>3735258
Thanks for the run.

Can you tell us what the color of Huang's eyes are.

>>3735258
For once, asshole voice, we agree on something

Thanks for running

How has Kaori and Claudia enjoyed their time off?

>>3735258
Thanks for running!

When are these scientists going to be useful and make Lilim air filters to get all this Belial out of the atmosphere?

>>3735265
Like most of her features, it's hard to pin down, but her eyes are probably closer to the yellow end of the scale
>>3735275
Sunbathing and getting away from the usual madness in HQ. Lovely!
>>3735370
They're already working on a giant vacuum sort of deal, if you know what I mean
Because these guys really SUCK

>>3735382
ooof wow the puns
more fearsome than any Lilim

>>3735382
Burned harder than the big monolith laser lilim

Neither of you says a word until you're back in the car. Sliding into the passenger seat, you watch as Monroe fumbles her keys, drops then, and then, with an explosion of tears, hammers the steering wheel with a flurry of punches. Even though you want to look away, you can't help but stare. You've seen Monroe insensate with drink before, and you've seen her struck with both guilt and grief, but this is the first time you're seeing her quite so... furious.

“Damn it!” she hisses, “Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!”

With that final cry, she slumps forwards like a puppet with its strings cut and lets out a long breath. It's a moment before you clear your throat lightly. “So...” you mumble, “Feeling better?”

“I'm just so sick of...” Monroe begins, only to shake her head and lapse back into silence. Taking a few seconds to gather her thoughts, she starts again. “When I was younger, about your age, I knew this girl. Not really a friend, but... she could have been. She was a problem child, always getting in some kind of trouble. My parents warned me not to get involved with her, in case she got me in trouble too. Everyone said the same thing. They all just... gave up on her,” she recalls, staring off into nowhere, “I gave up on her too.”

You say nothing. You're not sure what you CAN say.

“One day, in the end, she just vanished. Dropped completely off the radar. There were rumours that she fell in with a bad crowd, a gang or something, and ran off with them. Nobody ever knew for certain, but I was sure that she... that it wasn't anything good,” Monroe continues, “So when I see people giving up on kids like her, I just get so... mad. I don't want to give up on Huang, any more than I want to give up on YOU.”

“Me?” you blurt out.

“You,” she repeats, “I don't want to see you falling in with a bad crowd either, whether it's NIHIL or some common band of thugs. I don't want to see you ending up like... her.”

So you're her pet project, are you? A way for her to assuage her guilt over some long and mostly forgotten sin. That explains it then – there's no way that anyone would go to this much trouble just for YOU, not without an ulterior...

Clenching your eyes shut, you force back the wave of doubt. “Okay. So,” you decide firmly, “How are we going to play this Huang thing?”

“Actually,” Monroe admits, “I was hoping you had some ideas about that.”

“Great...” you sigh, “I might be able to think of something, but it's all a work in progress for now. Just drive, and let me think a little. Fair warning though, I'm no miracle worker.”

“None of us are,” the older woman replies, starting up the car and moving it into reverse, “But we do the best we can regardless.”

Cute quote. She probably has a calendar full of ones just like it.

[1/2]

>>3737068

When you arrive back at HQ, Monroe leans back in the driver's seat and sighs. “I'm going to talk to Ingrid about this. Like it or not, we'll need to work with her on this one. If nothing else, it needs to look legitimate – the science team needs to be involved,” pausing, running a hand across her face, Monroe lets out a low groan, “I just hope we can do... something. Anything. I don't want to...”

“To give up on her,” you finish for her, “I know. I don't want to give up either.”

Monroe hesitates for a long moment, then nods.

-

After spending so much time either underground or on the move, you have an odd sense of lost time. It could be late night or early morning, as far as your body clock is telling you, but the dorm clock is giving you early evening. Still plenty of time to think of a solution to the Huang problem. So far, you've got the foundation of a plan – go bodiless, see what the situation is from that angle, and then... take things from there. It's hard to make plans without knowing the full situation.

“Speaking of...” you mutter, reaching into your jacket pocket and taking out Konstantin's disk. His legacy, really. Just a normal looking CD – there can't be very much on it then. That's good. Less to slog through. Turning the disk over in your hands, you consider the best way to look into it without worrying about prying eyes. Any NERV computers are right out of the question, but... Vic has a laptop, although you've never seen him use it all that much. Assuming it works – and why would he bring a broken computer here? - you might be able to borrow it off him. You'll go and-

The door to the games room opens suddenly, and Claudia emerges to give you a hawkish glare. “I accept that you're going to talk to yourself from time to time. Bad habits are hard to shake, after all,” she scolds, “But do you really have to be so noisy? I'm TRYING to concentrate in here.”

Meeting Claudia's glare, you feel your mouth dry up. The video on Monroe's computer, the video of Claudia crushing that man like a bug, flashes through your mind. Speechless, all you can do is nod mutely. The heiress squints at you, as if trying to judge your sincerity, then vanishes back into the games room. As soon as she's gone, another door cracks open. This time, Dakota peeks out. “Hey!” she whispers, “Why are we yelling?”

“I wish I knew,” you sigh. Dakota just gives you a funny look before retreating into her new room. She's going to have a lot to get used to, living here, and random bouts of yelling are just the beginning. “So?” you ask yourself, “Now what?”

>Consult with Bergmann about the Huang situation
>Pester Vic for the use of his laptop
>Confront Claudia about her actions in China
>There's something else... (Write in)
>Other

>>3737070
>>Pester Vic for the use of his laptop
Might as well get this horrifying revelation out of the way first.

>>3737070
>Pester Vic for the use of his laptop

>>3737070
>Pester Vic for the use of his laptop
hopefully it still has a CD drive.

>>3737070
>>Pester Vic for the use of his laptop
The Claudia thing is going to need to happen sooner rather than later, but I curious about this information.

Gazing at the door to the games room for a moment more, you shake your head and sigh. You're going to have to deal with that mess sooner or later, but right now you're going with “later”. For now, you've got Konstantin's disk to deal with. Squaring your shoulders, you march over to Vic's door and knock firmly on it. A few moments later, he opens the door a crack and peers out at you. Your friendly smile doesn't exactly break the ice, but he lets the door swing fully open so you can enter.

“Hey, buddy, I need a favour,” you begin, holding your smile, “I was wondering if I could borrow-”

“Actually, I have something I'd like from you as well,” Vic interrupts, “I just want you to take a look at something for me. It won't take long.”

Your smile falters a little as your plans start to come undone. “Well... what is it?” you ask slowly, “We can make this a trade, if that's how you really want to do it. Have you got a laptop in here? I'm sure I've seen one before. A laptop with a CD tray?”

“It's a pretty old unit, so don't expect too much from it, but sure. I've got a computer,” Vic answers, holding out a crumpled white envelope, “I also have this. While you're reading it, I'll get my computer set up. It takes a while these days, I'm afraid.” He waits for a moment, the envelope wavering slightly as he waits for you to take it. Snatching it out of his hands, you sit down on his bed as he bustles about with the laptop and its power cable.

It's a letter from Nate, you realise, although not a particularly long one. She complains about the food up in Temple, the cold weather, and how serious all the local staff are, but those are minor complaints. Her letter ends on a cheerful note, apologising for the lack of details – she can't discuss her training in a letter like this – and promising to return soon. “Cute,” you muse, folding the letter up and slipping it back into its envelope, “Good to hear something from her, even if it is-”

“Nate didn't write that letter,” Vic interrupts, his hair flopping as he shakes his head, “Look at how stiff and formal it sounds. Just look at how everything is spelled correctly! No, that... those weren't her words.”

“...Oh,” you murmur, looking down at the blank envelope.

“Here. Ready now,” the young man grunts sullenly, getting up from his desk and gesturing to the laptop, “What were you needing it for?”

Knocked sideways by the matter of “Nate's” letter, you take a moment to come up with a suitable excuse. “Got a CD I wanted to check out,” you offer lamely, “But I didn't want to use a NERV computer. Uh, you know how it is.” Let him take that how he will. Nodding wisely, Vic leans back against the wall as you take Konstantin's disk out of its case and slide it into Vic's computer. With a loud, almost grinding whirr, the disk begins to play.

“Don't worry,” Vic assures you, “It always makes that sound.”

[1/2]

>>3737070
>Pester Vic for the use of his laptop
Hold up, I didn't get it. Was Claudia complaining about very quiet muttering from behind a closed door or was she hearing voices that she decided to pin on Holly?

>>3737121
We were.muttering to ourselves a little bit

>>3737155
Yeah but unless the walls are criminally thin, that shouldn't be an issue. Though I guess we already know Claudia's a bitch...

>>3737117

Vic continues to linger in the background as you load up Konstantin's disk. It's mostly just full of text files, scanned copies of old documents and a smattering of images. Only a few of them have proper names, with the rest identified only by strings of random numbers and letters. Just staring at the list of documents causes a dull pain to start throbbing in your temples, but you force yourself to keep going.

“Excalibur...” you murmur aloud to yourself, clicking on one of the few named files. Vic glances around, but otherwise lets your comment go unmentioned.

Excalibur, you slowly learn, is the codename given to a weapon once used by Adam himself – itself? - in an ancient battle with Lilith. A weapon of great and terrible power, it was nevertheless destroyed at the climax of the battle. Adam used it to deal Lilith a hideous wound, but she was able to overcome her injuries and destroy her hated rival along with his weapon. Pieces of the blade were scattered across the unformed world, and SEELE have busy recovering them ever since. The grip of the weapon was sealed away, along with Adam himself, in what came to be known as Temple.

In his own notes, Konstantin remarks that NIHIL was able to recover one of the pieces of Excalibur's blade, moving it to their final hideout – a place that he refers to as “Dis”. There, it was studied extensively, and the report descends into impenetrable science talk. Your eyes drift back up to the odd name, and you vaguely hear yourself read it aloud.

“Dis,” Vic repeats, his low voice coming from close by. Jolting around, you realise that he's been leaning over your shoulder for a while now, reading the words on the computer screen. He's... close. Way close. “The city of hell that Dante wrote about in his Comedy,” he continues, “The Inferno, specifically.”

“Hell, huh?” you mumble, “You mean like, better to rule in hell and all that?”

“That's Milton, but you're close,” he confirms, only to somehow wince and smile at the same time. “Sorry. Nate always accuses me of showing off when I talk about this kind of thing. It's never my intention, but...” he pauses, shrugging, “Sorry. I could find somewhere else to be, if you prefer.”

>No, this is fine. Maybe you can help me with understanding this stuff
>You can stick around if you want. Just... not so close, okay?
>Could you give me some time alone with this? It's supposed to be classified
>Other

>>3737186
>No, this is fine. Maybe you can help me with understanding this stuff
I swear to god if Vic is some sort of sleeper agent

>>3737186

>No, this is fine. Maybe you can help me with understanding this stuff

>>3737186
>Other
"Well you can stick around and help me understand this stuff if you want, but I need to be clear: This is dangerous information. There is a damn good reason I'm not doing this on NERV computers. If you want to steer clear and have 'plausible deniability' as Fletch put it, I wouldn't blame you."

>>3737186
>>No, this is fine. Maybe you can help me with understanding this stuff
I want to trust Vic. And he might want to exert some kind of control over his life inside NERV

>>3737186
>No, this is fine. Maybe you can help me with understanding this stuff.

If I had to guess Dis may be Terminal Dogma's counterpart.

>>3737186
>No, this is fine. You can help me with understanding this stuff.

It's our chance to cuck Nate.

>>3737186
>>You can stick around if you want. Just... not so close, okay?

“No, this is fine,” you tell Vic, shaking your head slightly, “Maybe you can help me understand this stuff a little better. Fair warning, though – this might not be totally safe to mess around with. There's a damn good reason why I'm not doing this on a NERV computer. If you don't want that risk hanging over you, you should back off now. Make sure you've got some of that “plausible deniability” stuff that Fletch likes so much.”

Vic studies you closely, considering your words carefully. “No, I think I'd like to see this,” he decides, “After getting that... letter, I'm not really in the mood to play nice.”

“Wow, NERV better watch out. They pissed off the wrong big brother,” you remark, shooting him a crooked smile, “Come on, pull up a rock and get a look at this. How good is your science talk?”

“Not my best area, but we'll see what we can find. Slide over a bit, would you?” Vic urges, flapping a hand at you. As you move aside, Vic fastidiously plugs a mouse into the laptop and starts to scroll through the document. You watch his face as he reads, his lips silently moving as he repeats certain passages to himself. “According to this,” he declares after a moment, “Pieces of this “Excalibur” retain incredibly potent cutting power, surpassing anything that current technology can replicate.”

“Oh,” you murmur, squinting at the incomprehensible babble on the screen, “So why can't they just SAY that?”

“Maybe they're showing off too,” Vic jokes, and you both laugh briefly. Reading on, Vic frowns as his laughter trails off. “Now, this is odd. Maybe you'll understand this better than I do,” he continues, “It says here that Excalibur's hilt is still a powerful tool, although they don't call it a weapon. It's an amplifier, and a control unit. Controlling what, though, I couldn't say for sure. It just says here that it might be used to amplify “abilities” of the user, albeit at a risk of “Ego collapse”. Again, whatever that means.”

AT abilities, perhaps, and this was being held in Temple? You don't dare say it aloud, but an unpleasant idea starts to take shape in your mind. “Is that it?” you ask, hoping to change the subject, “Let's check out something else.” Quickly taking the mouse from Vic, you click on a file named “Elysium”. This, you can understand a little more, largely because it's a repeat of what Konstantin already told you. When you reach new details, you slow your pace again.

“So it says here that Excalibur's hilt could be used to control Lilith somehow, to force her into compliance. That must be how Konstantin hoped to create...” you muse, scowling at the screen, “But it's all so vague! Control her HOW?”

A warm weight presses lightly down on your hand as Vic takes the mouse, his hand covering yours as he guides you to a new file and clicks it open.

[1/2]

>>3737286

Summoning up a sketchy diagram, Vic lets out a thoughtful murmur and leans closer in. You lean in too, a faint horror clawing up at the back of your throat. The diagram – oddly medical in appearance – shows a humanoid skull, pierced by a set of clinical lines. Presumably, drawing Excalibur itself was a little too violent, not clean enough for whichever scientist produced this drawing.

“Is this how Konstantin was hoping to control Lilith?” you wonder aloud, “By jamming a fucking sword into her brain?”

“It's like a lobotomy,” Vic murmurs, covering his mouth in polite disgust. You both stare into the screen for a long moment, the stark and simple image exerting a hideous power over the both of you, and then you finally manage to click away from it. Time to look at something, anything, else.

-

Keeping close consultation with Vic, you skim through the rest of the files Konstantin squirreled away. You come across maps of various locations, NIHIL bases marked as “compromised” or “abandoned”. It paints a grim image, of Konstantin constantly fleeing from one nation to the next, always running from his former colleagues. Some of the bases have names, others don't, but ultimately one site remains. Dis, located in...

“South America somewhere, he said,” you mutter, squinting at the grainy map, “Man, I wish I hadn't slept through geography class now, I don't recognise none of-”

“It's Brazil. The Amazonas region,” Vic explains, “Good place to hide something. Even after Second Impact, most of the region is still covered in rainforest. The parts that aren't were torn up pretty badly. Earthquakes, that sort of thing. The government didn't have the resources to repair the local roads or infrastructure, so it all just... fell into disarray. It's considered one of the most lawless places on Earth, with warlords and bandits controlling most of the region.”

Blinking in wonder, you give Vic a questioning look.

“I saw a documentary about it once,” he mutters, blood rushing to his cheeks as he looks away, “It was pretty interesting, so I remember it well. Don't give me that look...”

Shaking your head and blurting out a hasty apology, you look back to the map. Dis. That must be where Unit 05's remains were taken. Probably guarded by whatever is left of Konstantin's mercenaries, maybe even under Coraline's command now. You try to imagine it, picturing her retreating in the sweltering jungle to brood and lick her wounds, but it's hard. The image just doesn't click.

A knock at the door causes you to both to startle up, and you hurriedly slam the laptop closed as the door opens. “Vic, have you seen... ah, Holly, you're here,” Monroe announces, giving you both a funny look as she senses the furtive mood, “I'm not... interrupting anything, am I?”

“It's not what you think!” you insist. Monroe just raises an eyebrow.

[2/3]

>>3737286
>A warm weight presses lightly down on your hand as Vic takes the mouse, his hand covering yours as he guides you to a new file and clicks it open.
OTP

>>3737346
T-to lewd!
O-off to Akun with this filth!

>>3737341

“Anyway, I don't want to intrude, but head office wants to speak with you,” Monroe tells you, giving you a warning look, “I don't know what it's about. Just general... recent events, perhaps. It's been a busy few days, busy for all of us, and they probably just want to check in directly. Normally, we just pass along reports, but apparently... well, no matter. They DO want to speak with you as soon as possible, but it's not urgent. Not “drop everything and run” urgent, at least.”

“Uh, right,” you mutter, “So we can finish up here?”

“I suppose that depends on what you're finishing up, and how long you need to do it,” Monroe replies, struggling to keep a straight face as she backs out of the room, “I'll take you to see them when you're... finished.”

Blushing angrily, you wait until the door clicks shut again before letting out a groan of dismay. You start to bury your face in your hands before Vic speaks up with a question. “Who was this “Konstantin” fellow anyway?” he asks, only to recoil at the look that must pass across your face, “Or... maybe you don't have to answer that. I won't pry if it's a private matter. Just forget I asked.”

What must he have seen on your face, to cause such a sudden reversal? Sighing, shaking your head, you slump across the desk and lapse into a glum silence. Maybe you should just go and face the music, deal with whatever shit head office is about to dump onto your plate next. Looking away from you, Vic starts to busy himself with fastidiously neatening up his desk, although he's really just aimlessly shuffling books and papers about. Not looking at you.

>Time to go. You can't keep head office waiting forever
>You're not done here yet... (Write in)
>Other

>>3737372
>Thank Vic for his help, remind him of the need for secrecy.
Holly the pilot can barely get away with what she does, Victor needs to be careful.

>>3737372
>Time to go. You can't keep head office waiting forever.

I wonder who and how many there are going to be waiting for us.

>>3737372
>Time to go

>"He was a big cheese who defected to nihil"

>>3737372
>He was part of the group the bosses are from, but disagreed with their ideals so he created his own organization. He uh... passed away recently. By the way make sure you only ask me those off hand questions because a civilian shouldn't know that name. I'm serious about that.

>Time to go. You can't keep head office waiting forever

>>3737372
"You're okay, Vic. Just don't die on me, okay?"
>Time to go. You can't keep head office waiting forever

>>3737420
...that's unnecessary ominous for the poor guy. Probably shouldn't say that.

Straightening up, you rub your eyes and prepare to leave. You can't keep head office waiting forever, no matter how much you might want to. Before you go, though, you have a few loose ends to tie up. “Konstantin,” you murmur, the sound of your voice causing Vic's shoulders to tense up, “He was with head office once, until he wasn't. Ideological differences. I was told he was our enemy, but now... I don't know. Doesn't matter much now, I guess. He's not going to be causing any more trouble.”

“I... see,” Vic offers dubiously, finally turning to give you a look of concern, “Is this what your life is really like, then? Sneaking about in the shadows, keeping secrets from the commander, trying...”

Silencing him with a gesture, you slowly shake your head. “Thanks for your help, Vic. I guess I don't need to remind you about this, but don't go talking to just anyone about this stuff. We're both keeping secrets now, y'know?” you tell him, “Are you starting to regret helping me yet?”

“No,” Vic answers honestly, meeting your gaze and holding it, “Not at all.”

“I...” you pause, fumbling for the right words, “I gotta go.”

Good enough.

-

Monroe's good cheer has vanished by the time she has escorted you to the Communion Room, the camera above the door swivelling around to fix upon you. Neither of you says a word for a moment, just waiting as the door silently slides open. Monroe remains in place as you enter, the unusually dark room seeming to swallow you up. You always lose your bearings in these places, the perfect darkness rending distance and direction meaningless. Only the faint shape of the statues guides you towards your designated spot.

Standing in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by the statues, you wait for them to wake. They do so slowly, one at a time, and not all of them light up. With a muted spasm of fear, you realise that 02 – Elrow – is absent.

“It's still a long road until paradise,” SEELE 04 begins, their synthesised voice deliberately sexless, “But we walk it willingly, for our reward will be eternal!” This proclamation hangs in the air for a long moment, the other statues holding their silence as if testing your response. You bite your tongue, fighting down your urge to speak. Eventually, 04 speaks up once more. “It has been a trying time of late,” they announce, “But great progress has been made. Largely in part because of your bravery, your initiative, we have dealt a great blow to our enemies.”

“My bravery? My initiative?” you repeat, hands forming fists down by your sides, “Is THAT what you call it?”

“But you WERE brave,” 04 insists, “Placed in that situation, many would fail, would fall at the first hurdle. You did not. You prospered.”

“I stabbed a man!” you yell back, “I stuck a knife in his gut, and I... I...”

Pitiless, the trio of statues just gaze down upon you in silence.

[1/2]

>>3737447
Don't try to butter us up. It's insulting. That was a clear case of us being expendable enough to use as bait cause you had a spare 02 pilot.

>>3737447
>many would fail, would fall at the first hurdle
I love the implications already.

>>3737460
I think Holly has more AT power as implied by the voice, so she may be not that expendable, especially if they need that power replicated somehow.

>>3737473
Probably but I don't think Holly knows that. To her these cunts threw her to the wind after talking about getting her replaced after Germany. They deserve nothing but disdain.

Actually, I have a very important thought and question. Why is everything about SEELE sounds so bloody british? They have this weird arthurian theme going on, the SEELE surnames sound all british, but the organization name is bloody kraut all of the sudden. What's up with that thin misdirection? They didn't have a proper loicence for SOUL or something?

Is 04 the bloody Queen?

>>3737447

“Our erstwhile colleague has been defeated. His rebellion will die with him, in time,” SEELE 04 continues, with what could be a note of sadness creeping into their voice. Sadness, or weariness, or perhaps just resignation. “His movement was only ever held together by the promises he made – without him, it will surely fall apart. But, the threat that it represents is not truly over,” they warn, “Even defeated, the remnants of his organisation may yet strike out at us. Pity them, but do not hate them. They do not know what they do, the senselessness of their actions.”

With your gaze fixed on the floor, you think for a long, slow moment. “Where's El...” you begin, cutting yourself short and correcting yourself, “Where's 02?”

“SEELE 02 is attending to matters of their own. They were not deemed essential to this meeting,” 01 answers, their voice hard and grating.

“SEELE 02 has a great many public responsibilities,” 03 adds, “They work tirelessly to advance the cause of mankind, to spread stability and prosperity to all corners of the globe. When the Lilim threat has been resolved, their work will build a better world for us all.”

“But the remnants of 05's organisation will always be a threat to this new order,” 04 reminds you, “They cannot be allowed to fade into obscurity and further spread their dissent. Either they are brought into the light and allowed to confess their sins, or they must be stopped. But this is not a burden for one such as you – you have struggled hard enough already. Let us shoulder this burden, my child.”

You try to swallow, but there's a lump in your throat. It's like the noose is already closing around your neck, and nothing you can do will tug it free. Your head hurts, the dry air choking you. It's always like this, when you're in this place, but it's not usually this bad...

“Can you help us?” 04 asks, almost pleads, “Can you help us build this better world? You have spoken with 05. We know this. What did he tell you? He has another sanctuary. We know this. We must uncover this site and neutralise it, before his legacy is adopted by another. The infection must stop here.”

“This too is your duty,” 01 barks, “You are a servant of mankind, are you not? Tell us!”

You think of Konstantin's disk, safely hidden away in Vic's laptop. That's what they really want. All these compliments and dutiful reminders are just steps along the path that leads them there. But... they're right, aren't they? Konstantin's forces need to be stopped... don't they?

Your head hurts.

>Tell them about Konstantin's disk
>Keep Konstantin's disk a secret
>Tell them... (Write in)
>Other

>>3737518
>>Tell them... (Write in)
All that he said was that Unit 05 is operational, and somewhere in South America.

>>3737518
>Keep Konstantin's disk a secret

"Gee guys I'd love to tell you, but he didn't say anything to me. I felt like I was making progress but then he died. Bummer."

>>3737518
>Keep Konstantin's disk a secret
Fuck these guys.

>>3737518
>Tell them... (Write in)
"He told me... that you're a bit of a cunt Leighton. You too Kinsley. He didn't give you up though 04. I hope that thought sticks with you as you remember how horrible his 'suicide' was."

>Keep Konstantin's disk a secret
"Other than that all he talked about was his Elysium plan and asked about Karina."

>>3737520
That's practically giving away half the disk since it's also the last sanctuary. Let's not.

>>3737518
>keep konstantins disk a secret
Don’t engage. Don’t give them any more than we have to

>>3737540
We could always give them an incorrect location if we get pressed for one, though.

>>3737550
Then they find nothing and then know we lied to them. Better to pretend that he didn't give us shit on it.

>>3737557
If they don't find anything, that means that they aren't looking hard enough.

>>3737550
Don't they have a mind-reading Lilim to verify such a claim?

>>3737540
Support this madman. If they are hiding from each other, this will upset their plans somewhat. If possible, ask them what's with the mysterious Illuminati setup anyway when they are already in top positions?

>>3737569
The jokes on them though because Amon will probably figure out what we are up to and go along with it.

an alternative to that is that we wipe our own mind before we submit to being tested.

“I don't know...” you begin, trying to force down the dry pain in your head and form the words, “I don't...”

“You spoke. You MET with him, not once but twice,” 01 barks, with 03 adding in their growl of approval, “We KNOW this!”

There is a snarl of static from 04, causing the other two statues to fall silent. “Enough. We are... pushing you too hard. I can see that. You must understand, we wish to move as quickly as we can. The longer we delay, the more we will have to do. But you, you need not concern yourself with this. Take as long as you need to gather your thoughts. We have no desire to force you into making a rash decision,” 04 murmurs, “Find your clarity, then think back. What did he tell you?”

Drawing in a sharp breath, you feel the iron band loosening from around your head. “Not much. He was slow to trust me,” you explain, choosing your words with care, “I think... I think he was just starting to open up to me, but it was still... we were just getting started.” Pausing here, you force yourself to look right up into 04's blank stone mask. Even the statue they use is androgynous, broad shoulders atop a torso with the suggestion of feminine curves. “Now he's dead,” you spit, “He'll take his secrets to the grave.”

This, at least, silences them all. For a few seconds. “Impossible,” 01 grates, “He would have been desperate. He WOULD have talked.”

“Sure, he talked,” you hiss, growing bolder now, “He said that you were kind of a cunt, Leighton. You too, Kinsley. He didn't name you, though, 04. I think he was still sweet on you, in a way. Maybe you can think about THAT when you think about his “suicide”. Whatever you did to him, it couldn't have been pretty. It scared the shit out of everyone here, even the hardened soldiers.”

Anger like this should feel good, but... there's no fun in throwing shade at a bunch of expressionless statues. It's no fun if they can't bleed.

“He would have talked,” 01 repeats, their voice lowering to a deadly hiss.

“He asked about Karina. He wanted to know if she was happy,” you mutter, your anger souring and turning to disappointment, “Have any of YOU ever cared about that?”

None of them answer this. The silence is so long that you almost wonder if there's some other discussion going on behind the scenes, a conversation that you're not privy to. 01 is the first to leave, the light around their statue fading into nothing. 03 follows soon after, leaving you alone with SEELE 04. When they next speak, their voice is more natural – still filtered through something that twists it, transforming it, but it's more human than ever before... and definitely female.

“Holly Reynolds,” she murmurs, “Effective immediately, you are stripped of your role as pilot of Unit 02. You will be retained in NERV while a new pilot can be trained, and then you will be dismissed. We have no more use for one whose loyalties have grown uncertain.”

[1/2]

>>3737580
oooof

>>3737580
Eh, this was happening sooner or later with how they've been acting. Shutting 02 out like this is evidence of that as well. They just wanted some Konstantin info before getting rid of us. We just sped up the process a little.

>>3737600
Cutting us loose like this may also be an attempt to get us to go join up with NHIL / Coraline and track where we go.

>>3737580
Haha, time to steal 02 and go to South America.

jk.

unless...

>>3737605
NIHIL and Elysium is pretty shit too. I say we just train Dakota to the best of our ability and see what happens.

And I mean that anons, don't take anger out on our replacement. These cunts are the ones we should be angry with and Dakota shouldn't get killed because we are trying to spite them by mucking up her development somehow.

>>3737622
If we do leave Avalon for some reason,most likely that we go home or we go to join Nhil it may be worth it to tell Monroe to call us if Unit 02 needs to be deployed and time permits our recall.

>>3737580

“Dismissed?” you repeat, your voice dropping to a whisper, “You can't do this...”

“I can, and I have already done so,” 04 replies, and beneath the softness in her voice you can hear real steel, “You are something truly special, but even you cannot be replaced. There can be no place for defective parts in the machine that we're creating. You could have been so much more than you are now, had you not insisted on this... childish defiance. You've left us with no choice.”

Without conscious choice, without a single thought, you lunge forwards and slam your fist into the statue. Pain explodes up your arm as your fist connects with the solid stone, and something inside you breaks. Barely noticing the pain, you slump down to your knees and stare up into the dispassionate face. “Why are you doing this?” you whisper, “You're already on top, already rich and powerful. Why...”

“Riches do not concern me. Power does not concern me,” 04 answers coldly, “I have seen the workings of mankind, and it troubles me. We cannot continue along this path of mindless self-destruction, true, but Konstantin's plan was... is unacceptable. He would have turned his back on his physical form and fled into a pleasant dream. Sentimental, event to the last. We have our own vision for the world. I would see men united, brought into unity with the Godhead and given... guidance.”

“Brought under your control,” you hiss, “And I thought you weren't concerned with power...”

“Guidance, Reynolds, not control. I merely wish to curb mankind's most senselessly destructive desires. What good does it do, that tens of thousands of men slaughter one another over scraps of land?” 04 asks, “I have no interest in controlling mankind like a race of puppets. I truly do wish to see a world of stability and prosperity... the kind of stability that men have proven, time and time again, that they are incapable of achieving. Not even the horrors of Second Impact could lift the scales from their eyes.”

You're silent for a while, clinging weakly to the statue of 04 like an infant clinging to their mother. “Disharmony wounds us all, Holly,” 04 continues, a trace of sorrow entering her voice, “You know this. Your father closed himself off from you, from his family. Your mother's mind frayed and fell apart. I cannot cure you of this pain, but perhaps future generations could be spared it. I only ask for you to cooperate with me. To... follow my guidance. It's not too late, Holly. Unit 02 could be yours once more.”

With these final words, 04 fades out and plunges you into blackness. Into your own thoughts. A world of harmony, a world of peace and unity... under their control. Their “guidance”. But then, would that really be so bad?

>Perhaps not. Peace and stability are worth any price
>Men need guidance... but not SEELE's guidance
>It would be a crime. Men must be free, no matter what
>It would... (Write in)
>Other

>>3737668
>Men need guidance... but not SEELE's guidance
I'm under no illusions that mankind isn't a rowdy bunch that needs structure to truly prosper, but I feel that SEELE pretty much encompasses the cancer that made the world before Second Impact so shit. They are relics that bring about corruption and rigid, close-minded thinking.

>>3737668
>It would be a crime. Men must be free, no matter what.

>>3737668
>Men need guidance... but not SEELE's guidance

SEELE sucks

>>3737668
>It would...
All I know is fuck SEELE.

>>3737668
>>3737580
I'm still lost as to why we trust Konstantin all of a sudden after being anti NIHIL each thread

>>3737668
>Perhaps not. Peace and stability are worth any price

>>3737705
I'm personally still anti-NIHIL. Doesn't mean I'm pro-SEELE though.

>>3737668
>Men need guidance... but not SEELE's guidance

>>3737668
>SEELE has to go. I don’t know much beyond that

>>3737705
It's more that we know that if he could not get his way he would have preferred that none of them do o if that is our goal it works out, although i feel would prefer to understand all possible options before making the choice as to witch to pursue.

>>3737668
>It would be a crime. Men must be free, no matter what
Even if men deemed unfit to govern themselves, I don't recall anyone giving special privileges to a bunch of cowards who are afraid to show their faces.

>>3737718
"Mankind needs guidance but not SEELES guidance" sounds like the Illuminati Holly option and that's pretty based admittedly

>>3737668
Switching too
>Men need guidance... but not SEELE's guidance

“Not them,” you whisper to yourself, “Anyone but them.”

That's right. Mankind has done great harm to itself, but hasn't SEELE done more harm than most? For all their claims to righteousness, Second Impact is a crime that stains their hands with dirt that no amount of lofty goals and aims can wash away. They're not the solution to the problems of the old world, they're the manifestation of them. Offering up countless lives as sacrifices, spreading their web of control across the globe, strangling any hints of resistance...

“And what of Konstantin?” a soft voice asks, “Does he have the answers?”

“No... but... I don't...” you murmur, “He was our enemy, but he never stopped reaching out to me. He died here, in this base, just so he could try and pass his legacy down to me. He was just as twisted as the rest of them, in his own way. Just as willing to throw lives away so long as he could justify it with some bright, brilliant future. It's just... when he's sitting there right in front of you, and he's just asking if Karina is happy, it's so hard to see it that way. He just looked... so old. So frail.”

A low, sickly chuckle. “Men are frail. Weak. Does that make them righteous?” it asks, “No. I think you wanted to believe in him. He offered you the barest flicker of trust, of respect, and you clung to him like a drowning woman.”

“I didn't!” you snap, twisting around and staring up into the blackness. The ceiling seems to plunge so high into the sky, soaring and spiralling away from you.

“You all need something larger than yourselves, something to place your faith in,” the voice mocks, “Something you can beg to, pleading for scraps of your precious... guidance. You're all so desperate, so why not bow down and accept SEELE's rule?”

“Because they need to GO,” you hiss, “Isn't that enough for you? What more do you... what do you WANT FROM ME?”

Laughter rings out, descending over you like a shroud.

-

“Easy, easy, let me help you up,” Monroe murmurs, her steady hands closing around your arms, “Oh, Holly... you're bleeding. Your poor hand...”

“Punched a statue,” you mumble, “Bad idea, huh?”

“It's fine. It's okay. I know how you feel. Sometimes, I have this whole list of things that I want to hit. Never solid stone, mind you, but you never know,” she answers, feigning good cheer as she helps you limp from the Communion Room. It's lit up, you realise, lit by stark white lights. Smaller than you thought, you numbly think to yourself, almost cramped. “I'm going to take you to the infirmary now,” Monroe adds, her arm encircling your shoulder, “We need to get that hand looked at. I think you might have broken a finger.”

“Hope it wasn't the middle one,” you remark, trying to smile, “That's my favourite finger.”

“You must get a lot of use out of it, these days,” Monroe chuckles.

[1/2]

>>3737786

“I should start charging you admission,” Doctor Weick murmurs, smiling to himself as he binds your finger in a tight strip of white gauze, “And then costs for treatment, costs for materials used, use of a bed for the night... the costs, they add up.”

“Send her the bill,” you reply, nodding to Monroe, “How much is it at this time?”

“Oh, I think I will round it up to a box of pastries. I also accept donuts,” Weick decides, “The good ones, though, with the heavy cream.”

“I'll see what I can do,” Monroe promises, giving you both a firm nod before retreating from the infirmary. There is a short snippet of conversation as she's leaving, but you don't catch the words. Glancing around, you see Vic entering as Monroe leaves. He approaches, pauses halfway, then makes up his mind and crosses the rest of the infirmary to sit beside you. Weick doesn't react, except to smile again as he puts the finishing touches to your dressing. Once that's done, he nods his approval and leaves you be.

Vic looks down at your hand, wincing a little at the sight. “I can't leave you alone for a moment, can I?” he asks, “Nate could get herself in trouble, sure, but she never ended up in hospital. Well, almost never. There was this one time with the... well, never mind that now.”

Swallowing against your dry throat, you look up and meet his eyes. “I'm not Nate,” you remind him, the words heavy in your mouth.

“I know that,” he replies, his eyes widening in surprise, “I wasn't trying...”

“I got fired today,” you blurt out, “Fired, dismissed, demoted, whatever you want to call it. I'm not a pilot, not any more. If I'm not a pilot, what am I?”

Vic puts on a thoughtful expression. “I guess that makes you a regular human being like the rest of us,” he decides eventually, “That's not so bad, is it?”

A snort of surprised laughter escapes you here, and you shake your head in weary resignation. “I guess I had it coming. I've been pushing my luck for ages now, and something had to give eventually. I'll still be hanging around, for a while, but even that won't last forever. I'll be training the new girl, but once she's ready to take over...” you shrug, “Well, I guess that'll be me. Back to living on the farm. Going from an ADM Unit to a tractor... sure is a step down, huh?”

“You never know,” Vic suggests, “The next enemy that appears might look like corn.”

“Corn?” you repeat, spluttering out a laugh, “Really?”

“Cut me some slack here,” the young man complains, “I'm trying to be optimistic.”

Yes. Yes he is.

>So I think I'm going to pause this here. Sorry for the delays today, but I'll be aiming to continue this tomorrow.
>Thank you for your contributions today!

>>3737825
Thanks for the run.

>>3737825
Thanks for running.

Us gone means we gotta confront Claudia about her killing the driver and really get her ready for leadership. She is going to need to get Monroe's trust back if she is going to do this.

>>3737825
Thanks for running!

Coraline still likes us right? She has to like us because she has no other options.

And now neither do we :(

>>3737838
Oh, I think Coraline still has a soft spot for us. Maybe she likes us a little too much, but where's the harm in that?

>>3737834
Hey, random murderous outbursts are a perfectly acceptable quirk for a leader to have. Debate me.

>>3737825
Ironically after getting fired we are still pretty busy. We still gotta try and heal Huang with Bergmann, spread the news to the other girls, have that Claudia peer to peer, and train Dakota.

>>3737888
Do we resemble Reed at all.

>>3737888
Hey Moloch, did Konstantin imply that Unit 05 was pilot-able by anyone which is why they wanted any pilot?

>>3737967
Is it time for Holly to take over the remnants of NIHIL, and become the saviour the world needs?

>>3737977
Taking it for ourselves is certainly an option if we can pilot it. Something to keep in our holster.

>>3737935
We don't look exactly like her, but we have a very similar "vibe". She was pretty rough and cocky, almost tomboyish. The sort of girl who would carry a knife!

>>3737967
Since they were rebuilding Unit 05, NIHIL had the freedom to build it to suit any pilot. It might be a crude, Frankenstein's monster kind of job, but it would work. They do - did? - have another trick up their sleeve, but that's [redacted].

oh god you morons, what did you do? Where did this sudden surge of NIHIL support come from? Openly defying SEELIE, the incredibly powerful people in charge of running the defense of mankind? I don't like SEELIE either, but the choice is binary, at least until the Liliam have been dealt with.
But we'll never get 02 back now. Even if anons were inclined, Holly wouldn't go back begging to get it back. Actually, I'm surprised this didn't come with a massive Ego hit, but I guess that doesn't matter anymore.

One thing we're not doing is running to NIHIL remanants. There's stupid, and then there's fatally stupid.

File: KaoriS.png (231 KB, 900x700)

231 KB PNG

You're confined to the infirmary for a while longer, despite your protests, and Vic stays with you for most of it. Never really talking about anything in particular, you just settle into an easy groove. He tells you about the time Nate ended up in hospital, the result of her patting a dog she really had no business patting. At least she didn't need too many stitches, Vic had remarked, although any stitches at all were too many for his tastes. You replied with an anecdote of your own, about Claire picking a fight with some guys twice her age. Except, was that Claire or you? Your memories aren't always crystal clear.

“It seems like we only ever talk about other people,” Vic remarks as he's getting up to leave, “Maybe we should start living for ourselves.”

“Maybe,” you agree with a wan smile, looking past him as you hear the door opening. Kaori enters, looking about her with a vague confusion before approaching your bed. “Wow,” you tell her, “You were only gone for a few days, but you're getting lost. Talk about being a ditz.”

“Don't call me a... whatever that is,” Kaori replies sourly, “And I wasn't lost, I was just appreciating the facilities. The ship I was staying on was so old, and the infirmary there was filthy. I swear, the walls were crawling with rust.” Sighing heavily, she sits down beside your bed and gives you a probing look. “They told me to take a few days off, to treat it as a holiday, but I couldn't relax at all,” she explains, “They told me what happened to you. The short version, at least. I was worried about you. I just knew I'd get back and find you in a hospital bed.”

“Hey, I didn't end up here because of... of THAT,” you stress, “I just... punched something I had no business punching.”

“Don't you always?” she sighs, “Who was it this time?”

“Hey! What are you trying to say?” you protest, frowning at her, “For your information, I punched solid stone. That's why I busted up my hand.”

“Ah, solid stone. That's much better,” Kaori agrees, nodding solemnly. You can tell that she has more to say, a whole lot more, but she holds her tongue for now. Maybe this just isn't the right time or the right place for what she has to say. That just begs the question of where IS the right place or time. A candlelit dinner, perhaps?

Probably not. Although...

“What are you grinning about?” Kaori asks sharply, tapping you on the shoulder, “Don't tell me you've been self-medicating!”

“Of course not!” you assure her, pausing as you spot Monroe entering the infirmary, “But hey, can we catch up later? I think the chief wants me for something. She's got that crazy look in her eye.”

Kaori glances around, then winces. “Oh huh, she really does,” she murmurs, “Well, good luck I guess. Don't let her work you too hard.”

As if.

[1/2]

>>3739413

“I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is, Huang is due to arrive here in the next hour or so, and with everything else that's been going on, I've barely had a chance to think about her,” Monroe begins, launching straight into it, “The good news is, Fletcher might have something. I asked him to see if Joe had any useful information for us. Oh, Joe is the officer we recovered from Site A-11. He wouldn't tell us his name, so Fletcher's people just started calling him “Joe”. You know, “Hey Joe”, like the old song.”

“What old song?” you ask, trying to process everything that she just said.

“You're a philistine,” Monroe sighs, “But to date, Joe hasn't been telling us much of anything. We can't force him to talk either – men like that, they've been trained to resist any kind of torture. The best you can do is try to undermine their loyalty, sway them over to your own side. Anyway, that's a slow process. When we told him that Huang was loose, though, he suddenly remembered how to talk. Seems like she scares him. He told us about a fail-safe they tried to build into her. It didn't quite work out how they intended, but... well, Ingrid can explain it properly.”

Of course she can. Sighing inwardly, you start to heave yourself out of bed. Monroe hastens to stop you, gesturing for you to stay still.

“Hold on, slow down there. There's no rush to get started. Huang isn't even here yet,” she warns, “You should take some time to... prepare yourself. This might be tough work. You don't want to push yourself too hard, do you?”

Letting out a frustrated breath, you gesture around at the infirmary. “I broke my finger, that's all,” you insist, “Don't tell me to rest. I don't want to just lie in bed while... while important shit goes down all around me!”

“I'm just saying...” Monroe begins, only to shrug, “Okay, I get it. You don't want to sulk in here. That's fine. Maybe it's better to stay active – Karina was asking after you, so you could always go and pay her a visit. Don't let her rope you into watching any of her TV shows though, okay? We're working to a schedule here, even if it's not deadly urgent.”

She's still trying to baby you, trying to keep you from stressing yourself out at all. Not that you can really blame her for that, but... it's annoying, being treated like an invalid. Hanging out with Karina might be fun and all, but is it really the most pressing concern right now?

>Taking time off is important too. You'll see what Karina wants
>You'll need to see Bergmann sooner or later. Might as well be now
>Claudia is still an issue. You need to settle things with her
>There's something else... (Write in)
>Other

>>3739418
>Taking time off is important too. You'll see what Karina wants
This may be time sensitive, so we may want to talk to her first.

>>3739418
>Taking time off is important too. You'll see what Karina wants

>>3739385
>NIHIL support

Try rereading and come back to us cause that's obviously not the case.

>Openly defying SEELIE, the incredibly powerful people in charge of running the defense of mankind?

They've done nothing to inspire any kind of loyalty, shut out 02 from this meeting so they could bully Holly into giving info on Konstantin, were already pretty set on replacing her since Germany, and threw her to the wolves as bait. Fuck em.

>I don't like SEELIE either, but the choice is binary, at least until the Liliam have been dealt with.

That's what they want you to think. Their way or the highway and use their power to get people all nice and scared about going against them, but I doubt the situation is as binary as they try to make you think.

>>3739418
>Monroe, I appreciate you're trying, but can you drop the kids gloves? Just making it worse.
>But I will go check on karina.

>>3739418
>>Taking time off is important too. You'll see what Karina wants

“Hey, chief? I know you're just looking out for me, but you don't gotta be tiptoeing around me all the time. I'm a big girl, I can take a hit,” you tell her with a resigned sigh, “But I was planning to go see Karina. Just... take off the kid gloves next time, okay?”

“No promises,” Monroe replies with a wan smile.

As expected. Hopping out of bed, you spare the older woman one last frown before nodding and leaving the infirmary. Walking feels good, as if you had been confined to the bed for a matter of weeks rather than hours. For all your protests, it might be nice to take some time off... even if you're looking at an hour of freedom at most. That's barely enough time to do anything except indulge in a little idle chatter.

Taking the elevator down, you make your way to Karina's quarters. Cam is absent, likely still in hospital, but a different guard sits at the doorway. He doesn't even look up at the sound of your approach, his attention fixed on the newspaper he reads. Karina herself is waiting in the kitchen area, leaning heavily against the counter as she waits for a pot of water to boil. As you start to approach her, the guard folds up his newspaper and leaves, giving the two of you a little bit of privacy. As much privacy as you ever get in a place like this.

“Hey, Karina?” you call out, voice pitched low, “Monroe said you wanted to talk with me. What...”

Karina doesn't reply. Her shoulders tense a little, so she heard you speak, but she keeps her back to you. Creeping closer, you watch as her shoulders tremble softly. Is she... crying? Doubt lances through you. What if she knows about Konstantin and the strange relationship she shared with him? Monroe wouldn't have told her... would she? Fearing what the ailing girl might say, you force yourself to draw closer. Reaching out a hand to touch her arm, you hear a breathless little cry escape her lips. Then, with a sudden burst of motion, Karina whirls around and practically falls into you, throwing her arms around your neck and clinging to you.

“They told me what happened,” she whispers, her words causing the pit to fall out of your stomach, “Thank you, THANK you!”

“Thank...” you repeat, feeling suddenly very foolish, “But-”

“I don't know what I would have done if Cam had... if she hadn't come back,” Karina continues, and realisation starts to dawn, “Commander Monroe said that if it hadn't been for you, for what you did, she might not have... made it.”

You try to get a word in edgewise, but nothing quite comes to your lips. In the end, you just pat Karina awkwardly on the back and listen as she whispers her thanks again and again. It's a little much, perhaps, but it feels... nice.

>Ego increased by 5
>Current Ego: 56/80

[1/2]

>>3739431
>but I doubt the situation is as binary as they try to make you think.
Not supporting NERV is supporting NIHIL. Unless we've got a spare ADM we can hijack, SEELIE are the only ones that can fight Lilim. ADMs are required.

>>3739477
>Not supporting NERV is supporting NIHIL.

This statement is completely wrong. You're as close minded as SEELE mate. NIHIL is effectively dead anyways without Konstantin's vision and direction. Their resources may be up for grabs though.

>Unless we've got a spare ADM we can hijack, SEELIE are the only ones that can fight Lilim. ADMs are required.

Unit 05 in South America if we decide to do that, but that's a decision for later when we are finally dismissed. Right now we got a lot of shit to do.

>>3739465

When you finally manage to prise Karina off you, she lets out a skittish little laugh and falteringly turns away, busying herself with the motions of making tea. Neither of you says a thing until that's done, and you're both sitting back down with steaming bowls of tea in front of you. “Ah, I'm sorry, I never... asked how YOU were feeling,” Karina yelps suddenly, looking up from the low table and avoiding your gaze, “I'm such a terrible host...”

“No, it's fine, you're not a...” you begin, only to shrug, “I'm okay, considering. I guess I ruined everything, but that was going to happen eventually. It always does, sooner or later.” Karina greets this admission with a confused stare, and you slowly continue. “I got dismissed. I won't be piloting Unit 02 from now on. It's... I let my temper get the better of me, and I ended up mouthing off to the wrong people,” you admit, “Like I said, it was going to happen sooner or later.”

“Well that won't do at all!” Karina huffs, “I'll... I'll go on strike! If they're going to treat you like this, I shall refuse to help them!”

“No, don't!” you protest, wincing at the sound of your own voice. As much as Karina's suggestion is touching, you fear what they might do to her. If she's really so disposable, her threat of going on strike might not hold much weight. They might just replace her with a more... obedient girl. “The others need you too, remember?” you add, lowering your voice, “You're a part of the team, and this is bigger than a single girl. Just... let me deal with this in my own way.”

“Your own way...” the sickly girl repeats softly, “What's that, then?”

“I'll let you know when I figure that out,” you remark with a shrug, “Right now, that's still a work in progress.”

With a soft murmur of understanding, Karina looks down into her bowl of tea and sinks into a thoughtful silence. You do the same, although your thoughts keep skittering from one subject to the next. One minute you're thinking about Konstantin, about her “father”, and the next you're thinking about the way her body felt pressed against yours. It's... confusing to say the least, both disorientating and awkward.

“Is the tea fine?” Karina asks stiffly, still looking down into her bowl, “It's a different type. Cam normally does the shopping, you see, and my new... escort is still learning. It doesn't taste quite right to me.”

“It's fine enough,” you answer, taking a sip and barely tasting it, “I'm not exactly a tea expert, though.”

“Ah,” she murmurs, “Is there something else on your mind, then? You seem... quiet.”

You couldn't hide it forever, could you?

>Evade. You're still worried about the dismissal
>Lie. There's nothing wrong, you're just tired
>Be truthful. She deserves to know about Konstantin
>Other

>>3739501
>>Be truthful. She deserves to know about Konstantin
We should also tell her that we figured out who killed Wilson.

>>3739501
>Be truthful. She deserves to know about Konstantin
After she learned about Wilson she expressed her desire for people to be honest with her even if it hurts.

And man this is going to hurt.

>>3739501
Yeah, but it's on of those things knowing about might mess with you a lot sorta of things. I can tell you, but I am giving you a head's up first.

>>3739481
Lilim are trying to destroy the world. ADMs are the only thing that can destroy Lilim. SEELIE is the only group that controls ADMs. What remains of 05 is far from operational, and made from infected bits. Thus, SEELIE must be supported unless you want to see the end of world.

Have I missed something?

>>3739501
>Be truthful

She's got until the Lilim are all dead left to live.

>>3739548
Apparently Unit 05 is operational an has relaxed pilot requirements, so Holly should be able to do so.

If I had to guess so can Coraline.

>>3739549
Amon is a slippery shit though, and as long as he lives, she will too.

>>3739501
>>Evade. You're still worried about the dismissal
Telling her she had a father, who just died, and that he was working against NERV, isn't going to do her any favors, and could cause loyalty issues with her later.

>>3739548
05 in South America has had it's infected bits removed. Those infected bits were in the Chinese defect Titan.

Also stop calling it SEELIE. It's SEELE.

“I guess there is something on my mind,” you begin carefully, cautiously, “But I don't know if I should tell you. It's likely to be one of those “ruin the moment” kind of things. Ruin your whole day, maybe. You really want me to go there?”

Karina tilts her head to the side. “I don't really understand,” she admits, “But... it sounds like it's hurting you, whatever it is. I don't want you to go through this alone.”

You've got to laugh at that. If she really knew what you were going to say, would she really be worried about YOU? Bitterly, you realise that you were hoping for the opposite answer, that she would beg you to keep your mouth shut, but you're too far down this path to turn back now. “So, I don't know how much Monroe told you about it. About any of this,” you begin, “After that whole night with Cam, we captured a guy. He was...”

“NIHIL,” Karina offers, filling in the gap you leave, “I was told. He was the head of NIHIL. Commander Monroe said it was a great victory, but... she didn't sound all that happy about it. Nobody ever told me for sure but, ah... he's not here any more, is he? He's not... anywhere.”

That's one way of putting it. “He told me something, before he... He told me something, and I can't be sure how true it is. Maybe he was lying, or maybe he was just mistaken, but he said that he was... shit, he said that he was your father,” you blurt out, forcing the words to come, “It was like an artificial thing. He didn't know about it until later, but they took some of his... stuff and used that.”

Karina just stares at you, her eyes wide and uncertain. “Did you just say...” she begins, her voice wavering, “He said he was... he told you that he was...”

“Yeah,” you mutter, nodding slowly, “It took me by surprise too.”

She's more than just surprised. Karina looks blank, beyond understanding. It's like you've started speaking in a foreign language, and she has just the barest idea of what you're saying. This must seem like a hideously cruel blow, not just to learn that her father has died, but to learn that he was your enemy all along. As your words finally start to sink in, Karina's gaze drops low as she hangs her head. With a tiny patter, tears fall to the table.

“I'm sorry,” you mumble, shifting awkwardly in place, “I shouldn't have-”

“No,” Karina interrupts, sniffing softly, “I'm... I'm not going to turn away from the truth. No matter how painful it is, it's better than not knowing. Before this, I thought I... I thought I came from nothing. Now I know that I have... that I had parents. I AM a part of this world. Did he... did he say anything about me?”

“He asked me about you,” you answer, “He asked me if you were happy.”

Drawing in a shuddering breath, Karina nods. “I am... I think,” she admits, “I just wish I could have told him that myself.”

[1/2]

>>3739553
Forgot about its reconstruction. But wasn't it still made with infected bits? Even if it's "functional" that seems very risky.
>spoiler
I doubt it. She aged out, which I assume is different from specific unit compatibility.

>>3739564
Wait, that doesn't match up. Karina's 05 was made from the uninflected elements. The infected remains were sent off to be destroyed, which is how they were stolen. So SA 05 can't be also be made from 05 uninflected bits.

>>3739598
You can make new, uninfected ADM parts. They do that every time they need to repair our ADMs.

>>3739575

also It may be worth asking Bergmann about it as she was read up on what we recovered from China so we know that Nhil knows how to make people better pilots as i doubt that Huang had a better than average ratio

and if whatever they did to her was performed on Coraline, an old pilot they only need to improve her ratio slightly.

>>3739566

“There's something else,” you begin cautiously, “It's about Doctor Wilson. We've got a pretty solid idea of who-”

The sound of the door sliding open cuts you off, and you glance around to see Monroe standing in the doorway. Looking back around at Karina, you realise that she didn't hear the door at all. She might not have even heard you, judging by her glassy, unfocused eyes. Murmuring an apology that falls on deaf ears, you get up and hurry over to Monroe. “Sorry for butting in, but Huang arrived earlier than expected. We're moving her into Ingrid's laboratory now, and it's all hands on deck,” the commander explains, “Even with all the safety precautions in the world, having her down here is a risk. A pretty big risk, to be honest.”

Glancing back to where Karina sits, you wince. “Can I get like, a few more minutes?” you plead, “We were right in the middle of something.”

“Sorry, but no,” Monroe apologises, “We're on the clock here. As soon as we're through, you can finish up here.”

Still looking back to Karina, you call out a soft farewell. She doesn't look around, doesn't even look up. When you leave, she doesn't even notice you go.

-

“It's a safe word, essentially. They inserted it into her mind through a form of drug-induced hypnosis. Rather crude, but you make do with what you've got. A phrase that, when triggered, would partition away this “Other”. Unfortunately for them, it didn't work,” Doctor Bergmann explains, occasionally glancing at Huang's bound, motionless figure, “It sank too deep within her subconscious. It was too easy for the Other to just... bury it. You could yell the phrase into her ear all day, and it wouldn't make any difference.”

Swallowing nervously, you look around to Huang. The girl has been strapped to a tall, vertical stretcher, a heavy helmet completely covering her head. At a guess, you'd assume that she's being bombarded with the same subsonics that her previous captors used, anything to keep her from focusing on an escape attempt. It seems so excessive, keeping her bound like this, but... they can't just be doing it for fun, can they?

“So... what do we do?” you ask dubiously, “I mean, I'm assuming that you have a plan. You look too smug to NOT have one.”

“You go in deep, and deliver the trigger phrase directly into her mind,” Bergmann answers with a a shrug, “Think of it as a form of intrusion. Less harmful than the sort the Lilim use against us, but the same basic idea. Of course, you shouldn't take this as a perfect solution - there are some drawbacks.”

Of course. There always are.

[2/3]

>>3739653

“First of all, partitioning away this Other would prevent Huang from accessing anything it knows. We would risk losing a unique source of information on the Lilim,” Bergmann explains, “Second, this might prevent the Other from influencing her mind, but it won't do anything to counter the physical contamination. Barring some miracle, that will continue to spread... and Huang will be perfectly aware of what is happening to her.”

“Fuck,” you mutter, “Is that the last of the bad news?”

“Not quite. An intrusion attempt would also come at some risk to your own mind. The Other isn't just going to lie down and give up without a fight, is it?” the doctor concludes, “I'm starting to understand why my “esteemed” colleague favoured a more direct solution.”

“We're NOT doing that,” Monroe snaps, “I refuse to even entertain the possibility. Not in my base, not ever.”

Bergmann spreads her hands wide. “That's an admirable sentiment, Diane, but you're not the one going in there,” she remarks, “You need to be more flexible.”

“Well... what other choice do we have?” you ask, looking between the two women, “I mean, do you have any other ideas?”

“An induced coma. It's not as cruel as it sounds – I've been told that it's not unpleasant, like being in a permanent dream. I understand that the Chinese kept her in a state much like it, although theirs was less reliable. Sometimes, she was able to rouse herself and torment them with... well, I'm sure there was no malice involved, but she lashed out with her powers. With a little care, we can avoid that,” Bergmann explains, “And, best of all, we would still have access to her knowledge. Short, controlled dives into her mind would present really very little risk.”

Grimacing, Monroe gestures for you to wait as her phone buzzes, hurrying out to take the call. As she leaves, Bergmann leans down and looks you in the eye. “But if you truly think her life is beyond saving, a single injection could end it all quite painlessly,” she murmurs to you, “One mustn't think of it as cruel. Some might even consider it a mercy.”

She pulls back as Monroe returns, giving you both a weary look. “Okay team, lets talk plans,” she states, “What do we want to do? Holly?”

>I want to use the partition. Give me the safe word
>I think we should induce the coma. It'll be peaceful, at least
>I don't think we should prolong this. Huang deserves a bit of mercy
>I wonder... (Write in)
>Other

>>3739719
>I think we should induce the coma. It'll be peaceful, at least.
We can always attempt the partition when our Ego improves.

When did Bergmann and / or Monroe figure out that Holly could do that?

>>3739719
>There's no way we can mental surgery it out of her? If not gimme the safe word.

>>3739719
>>I wonder... (Write in)
Would it possible to completely excise the Lilim? Would that stop the physical contamination?

>>3739719
If we can’t excise the lilim without going in ourselves, we should put her in the coma

>>3739719
>>I want to use the partition. Give me the safe word
>>3739736
But I also like taking it a step further like this suggests.

>>3739719
Would it be possible to transfer huang’s souland only her soul into another lcl vat and have it’s imprint build her a new body?

“Explain... exactly how this safe word works,” you ask, “How would we do this?”

“You and Huang would go into the test plugs. That would allow me to synch up your AT Fields and establish contact,” Bergmann explains, “It's a more refined method of our early experiments with Natasha. Do you remember those? Fascinating results, fascinating...”

“Oh right, I thought you meant...” you begin, only to cut yourself short with a quick shake of your head. You thought they were talking about going bodiless, but apparently Bergmann had other ideas. The test plugs, you suppose, are easier for her to control. “Well, I guess that works. I mean, if you think it works. Is there really no way to just cut the Lilim out of her completely, though?” you ask, “I was thinking, if we could excise it completely, maybe that would stop the infection spreading.”

“It's not that simple, I'm afraid. It may be possible to destroy the Other entirely, rather than just sealing it away, but that's unlikely to tackle the physical problem. The contamination has woven itself deep into her body, even down to the DNA. It's not something we can just cut out,” Bergmann explains with a sigh, “Lilim contamination is dangerous, to put it lightly. There's a good reason that ANY experimentation of this sort was forbidden by head office.”

Drawing in a slow breath, you study Huang in her miserable bindings for a moment. “Keeping her in this coma would keep her safe, right?” you ask, “She'd be safe, and we could see what else we could learn. I don't want to just give up on her!”

Monroe gives you a tight, tired smile, reaching forwards to quickly pat you on the arm. “I need to go,” she murmurs, apologetic and nervous, “Just a little errand I need to run. I'm sorry about this, but... I'm sorry.” Glancing back over her shoulder as she goes, she practically flees from the laboratory. Alone with Doctor Bergmann once more, you slump down into the chair and give Huang another glance. She squirms slightly within her bonds. How much of this can she hear through that heavy helmet?

“This is just... so fucking bad,” you mutter, “Why would they even do this to her? She's just a girl, she never deserved any of this.”

“Some people go too far in the pursuit of knowledge,” Bergmann replies, without even a trace of irony in her voice, “I hope it was worth it. I wonder if I should thank them – I was always curious about Lilim material, if head office had it banned for a good reason or just out of superstitious fear. Now I know.”

An idea slowly forms in your head. “Pilots lose compatibility as they grow older,” you murmur, “Would an injection of Lilim material... reverse that?”

“Oh yes,” Bergmann answers, without even needing to think about it, “And more besides, I should think.”

[1/2]

>>3739846

It's never really silent in the laboratory. Computers hum, and leather straps creak as Huang shifts and stirs. You're not really sure what you expected from Bergmann. This is the first time you've really spoken since you learned about... Claire... but the doctor seems utterly oblivious to that. You weren't expecting an apology, but you thought she might mention it at least. It's all forgotten now, as far as she's concerned. Even now, she's too busy typing away at her computer to pay you any heed, to even look at you.

“You really don't care about her, do you?” you ask suddenly, the accusation spilling easily from your tongue, “You just want to study her, to see what else you can learn from THEIR crimes. Do you really-”

“Shh,” Bergmann scolds, “I'm trying to think.”

“You're trying to THINK?” you snap, “Did you hear a single word that I-”

“I'm thinking about what you said. You wanted a way to save little Huang, don't you? Perhaps I was hasty, before. There might be something in the UN research archives that we can use. I recall seeing a project that was proposed, although it was never developed. Too expensive, not a good ratio of costs to benefits,” the doctor explains, finally looking around to spare you an irritated look before turning back to her computer, “Here. One of 02's pet projects. They believed that ADM Biomass could be adapted to human medicine... to regenerate human flesh.”

You blink slowly as these words sink in. “But that's...” you stammer, “That's amazing! Why didn't they-”

“Because ADM Biomass is only available in very limited amounts. It would only ever be a cure for the richest and most powerful, those deemed “deserving” of it. It seems that 02 was not happy with that idea,” Bergmann explains, “But I wonder...” Turning around in her computer chair, she gives you a firm look. Her single eye burns with a cold light. “How cruel would you be, if it meant saving this girl? Would you burn her to the core, burn her from the inside out, if there was a chance of rebuilding her as a human?” Bergmann presses, “This is not some neat little cancer that can be cut out. The scalpel will do us no good here, we must use the torch.”

“This is getting kinda weird,” you admit, backing off a step, “You wanna switch back to plain English?”

“Fine. As simple as I can. Destroying the Other, rather than partitioning it, could cause Huang's body to break down. But, if she was given an infusion of modified ADM Biomass at the same time, her body – her human body – might repair itself,” Bergmann concludes, “Of course, this is all highly theoretical. Not even theoretical, really. It's more of a... a guess. An optimistic guess. It might all go horribly wrong, even assuming that I can get my hands on a sufficient sample of biomass. They don't just hand it out to anyone who asks, you know.”

But still...

[2/3]

>>3739959
Damn

We should ask Huang what she wants maybe.

>>3739989
Even then it sounds unethical. 'Hey, we have a plan that we have no confidence in, but boy do we want to know what would happen if we go through with it. Also if it fails you're screwed, but you're screwed anyway, so why not help us both, am I right?'

But hey, maybe the local orphanages have a fresh stock of non-aryan twins, maybe we could go for a raid to cheer us up later, in case this experiment fails, ja, Frau Doktorin?

>>3740015
but it's not the end of the world; yet, If Huang were to end up getting gooped as a result of the procedure, assuming of course that the conditions required are met, it may be possible for Holly to come out of this having picked up a 3rd and possibly 4th soul.

>>3739846
>“Some people go too far in the pursuit of knowledge,” Bergmann replies, without even a trace of irony in her voice,
Sounds like her, all right.

>>3739959
>“This is not some neat little cancer that can be cut out. The scalpel will do us no good here, we must use the torch.”
Makes sense. But it sounds like a horrible idea, for several reasons.

>“Because ADM Biomass is only available in very limited amounts.
Though this doesn't seem right. It's limited in the quantities that ADMs need, but any human making use of it would need a miniscule amount comparatively.

>>3740051
Head down to engineering and ask if we can get a spoonful real quick.

>>3739959

“Let me list everything that could go wrong. The experiment could fail completely, and little Huang gets nothing but an excruciating death. Huang's Other could fight back and destroy you, which would also be bad. The biomass might not have the desired effect, reducing Huang to an undifferentiated mass of flesh,” Bergmann recites, counting off on her fingers, “While we wait for the biomass to arrive, she might cause trouble here. Even in a coma, her Other might be reaching out to fellow Lilim.”

“Wait,” you blurt out, “Can it do that?”

“I don't KNOW,” Bergmann stresses, “We don't understand her any more than we understand them. The subsonics should prevent her from lashing out at us, but Lilim may communicate on an entirely different level. A shared consciousness, a psychic bond, anything of that sort. It's a risk that we have to consider. A more immediate solution wouldn't pose these risks.”

So you DO consider it. Then you realise what Bergmann is saying. “Hold on, we're right back where we started!” you protest, “You're saying we can partition the Other off here and now, or we can put Huang in a coma while we figure something else out!”

“Yes,” Bergmann agrees, “But now we have a theory to work towards. Before this, we were just hoping that some new idea would come along. You should be proud of yourself, you know. Asking all these questions makes my job harder, but this time it might have opened up a whole new possibility. Did you hear that, Huang? You're making us all go to a lot of trouble!”

Huang stirs again, her head swaying briefly from side to side. “Uh...” you murmur, lowering your voice, “Can she hear us?”

“Oh, probably,” the older woman guesses, “She was heavily sedated when she came in, but that's probably wearing off by now.”

“Oh,” you mutter, turning to look at Huang, with her tight bindings and the heavy steel helmet encasing her head. Looking at her, you feel the strange urge to apologise. Either way, you're right back to where you started – being asked to decide this girl's fate. Lucky you.

>It's a risk, but I say we go ahead with this biomass experiment
>It's better if we settle this quickly, with the partition
>Let's give Huang the choices, let her take her pick
>Other

Sorry for the delay/second vote. I just want to be extra sure about this one

>>3740057
>>It's better if we settle this quickly, with the partition
Too many unknowns, too many risks.

>>3740057
>>Let's give Huang the choices, let her take her pick

I'm leaning towards the biomass attempt, but this is her life so she should get a say.

>>3740057
>Let's give Huang the choices, let her take her pick

>>3740057
>Let's give Huang the choices, let her take her pick.

>>3740057
>>Let's give Huang the choices, let her take her pick

>>3740020
Well, my point was more about whether we should feel good about this decision, because it just so happens one of the outcomes can be described as 'good'. But since the chances are unknown, we can't in good faith describe this as a rescue attempt. Bergmann simply doesn't care about it, she's fine either way.

>>3740057
>It's better if we settle this quickly, with the partition
Just do what has been planned.

>>3740064
>>3740065
>>3740071
>>3740075
She begged to be killed, I assume you won't respect that decision. So her options would be - do you want to be a guinea pig in one experiment or another.

>>3740057
>Let's give Huang the choices, let her take her pick

ETHICAL

>>3740084
Asking a second time is still the right thing to do as she may change her mind when presented with the additional options, although her being drugged up while making these choices is probably not the best of ideas if we wanted clarity.

>>3740084
This time there is potential light at end of tunnel and she isn't around doctors that treat her like a monster and want her dead. She might want to try for life.

“I think we should give Huang the choices, let her decide on her own,” you venture, “I mean, it's her life. I don't know if I'd want someone else making this choice for me, if I was in her position.”

“And it handily absolves you of all responsibility for the results,” Bergmann muses, tapping her lips with one slender finger.

“God, do you always have to be so-” you hiss, cutting off your curt words with a click of your tongue. The worst part is, you know that her words have an edge of truth to them. It's easier when someone else makes the decisions, easier for you to live with the consequences. You can dress it up however you like, but that doesn't change anything. Shaking off your unease, you approach Huang and look up into the blank, expressionless mask of her helmet. “Uh...” you begin, “Can you hear me? Can you understand me?”

Slowly, Huang nods.

“Okay, so... we've got a couple of options. First of all, we can do this partition thing. That's easier for both of us, and it's probably going to be a hell of a lot safer too. We can get it done today, and you'll have your mind back,” you explain, “But your body... that's a work in progress. Do you want to try that?”

A pause, then Huang shakes her head. You can sort of understand why. Living in full knowledge that her body will be slowly taken over by an inhuman infection... that's hardly living, is it?

“What about the biomass experiment, then?” you ask, but Huang is already nodding, “Hey, slow down! It's going to be painful, and risky, and... look, you don't have to do this, okay? You don't have to put your life on the line like this, we can give you some time to think it over and-”

“Holly,” Bergmann interrupts, “It looks like she's nodding to me. I think she wants to try the experiment.”

“That's not...” you protest, only for your words to trail off with a sigh. Turning back to the bound girl, you lower your voice. “Huang,” you murmur to her, “Before, you said that you wanted to die. Do you still want that?”

Slowly, she shakes her head. Before, death must have seemed like her only chance at going out as a human being. Now, with the possibility of a cure dangled in front of her, she's not so willing to go out without a fight. You can... respect that, in a way. But then, why do you feel so bad about this?

-

“I can start the preparations soon,” Bergmann decides, idly tapping keys on her computer, “Engineering should have some biomass. We're supposed to account for every bit of it that we use, every last drop, but... well, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.” Slowly, numbly, you shrug, and Bergmann sighs at your lack of enthusiasm. “Oh, come on now,” she scolds, “What's wrong?”

“We're forcing her into this,” you mutter, “And pretending that she had any choice in the matter. It's like... it feels like something that head office would do.”

[1/2]

>>3740145
Holly no. We did what we could. Don't pretzel think yourself into being more miserable than the world is already making you.

>>3740145

Your doubts remain adrift in the still air, with Bergmann turning her attention to the preparations instead of worrying about little things like “morality” or “ethics”. Suddenly unable to stand sharing the same air as her, you start to blunder out of the laboratory. As you reach the door, Bergmann calls out your name. “You feel bad about this, don't you?” she asks, without looking around, and you slowly nod. “That's good,” the doctor concludes, knowing your answer even without needing to see it, “That means you're still human.”

Shuddering, you turn tail and rush from the lab. You don't stop running until you're inside the elevator, slumping against the wall and dragging in a rasping breath. Only once the elevator is moving do you remember Karina, and your unfinished conversation. “Later,” you tell yourself, “Can't let her see me like this. Totally uncool.”

A shrill little giggle escapes you, echoing strangely in the elevator.

-

Your day doesn't get any better when the elevator reaches the upper level. Stepping out, you spot Monroe speaking with an unpleasantly familiar figure. Matheson – you'd recognise that wig anywhere. Shrinking back behind the corner, you clap a hand over your mouth to keep yourself from... well, you don't know what you might do. Scream, or cry, or just let out a groan of frustration. They all seem equally possible right now. Slowly, you regain some of your calm and peer around the corner again.

Monroe doesn't look particularly happy to be entertaining another guest, you note, and you can't really blame her. Matheson being here is a bad sign, bad for you and bad for the whole base. Pressing your back against the wall again, you consider your next move. Even if you might not like the answer, you want to know what she's doing here. Monroe might be willing to tell you later, but that would be a polished answer. Not the real thing. Not the raw, rough truth.

>They haven't noticed you yet. Best to just slip quietly away before you get in more stress
>To hell with Matheson. March right up there and demand an explanation for this
>Join in their conversation. Be calm, be polite, be utterly professional
>Other

>>3740201
>Other
Eavesdrop

>>3740201
Backing >>3740207

>>3740201
Supporting
>>3740207

I wonder who she's going to talk to this time.

>>3740229
My guess is either another Claudia grooming session since she is lead now or trying to get their claws into Dakota as soon as possible.

>>3740255
You would think that Head office wouldn't blindside Monroe like that as it appears that the first she knew about it was when she got the phone call.

She may also want to talk to Holly in an attempt to verify what we said to the Council.

>>3740268
I always assumed Matheson and Head Office were thick as thieves so I think she already knows about our dismissal and what was said in the Communion room, but I'm not 100%.

>>3740283
I would have to agree, though i can't think of any other reason why they wouldn't have notified Monroe about her coming to Avalon so it would have had to be a recent event for her to return unannounced.

Urging yourself to calm down and think, which are two things that you've often struggled with, you flatter yourself back against the wall and listen closely. Their conversation is one carried out in low voices, but not so low that you can't catch a few snippets of back and forth.

“I know that it's early, but I want to get started as quickly as possible. Fisher is still very new here... untainted by any existing influence, if you'll excuse the unflattering language. I want to speak with her as a girl, not as a pilot,” Matheson explains, her voice patient and calm, “I've seen her early notes. Rather sparse, if I might add, but enough for me to be concerned. She suffers from a rather extreme form of claustrophobia, but your people have consistently underestimated the severity of her... condition. Why is that?”

“Now hold on a minute!” Monroe hisses, anger caged within her voice, “Those reports came from YOUR people, not ours, and they said that her... condition was mild at worst.”

“Really? That IS interesting. I have my full notes here. Would you like to read them?” Matheson purrs, and you hear the rustle of papers being passed over, “I can quote the relevant page numbers and passages if you prefer, but-”

“I don't understand...” Monroe groans, “The copy you sent us-”

“Will show the exact same thing,” Matheson interrupts mildly, “Now, I'm not in any position to cast blame or condemnation, but what do you think head office would make of this? Forcing a troubled young girl into a high pressure role like this? I suppose that might be normal around here, but it might still raise a few eyebrows... especially since you have no formal support network here. I'm going to have to ask to speak with Fisher, and then we'll see how we can proceed from here. If she requires more extensive therapy...”

“Yes, yes of course,” Monroe mutters, so low that you can barely hear her, “Maybe we should discuss this more in my office...”

There is a soft laugh, growing softer as the women retreat. Before their voices fade completely, though, you catch one last comment. “Don't blame yourself, Diane,” Matheson purrs, “Disharmony wounds us all, you know, even the best of us. Now then...”

Then silence, leaving you alone once more.

-

In a daze, you wander back to the dorm. It's quiet there, at least. You're not sure where the others are, but that doesn't seem very important right now. What seems important is that they're... not here. Creeping into your own room, you lie back down on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. Maybe you're wrong, you try telling yourself, maybe you're reading too much into Matheson's words.

Extensive therapy, she said. Does that mean she's planning on sticking around this time?

God, you hope not. She gives you the creeps.

[1/2]

>>3740297
>Forcing a troubled young girl into a high pressure role like this?

The fuck. The same head office that order that Holly be used as bait and never gave a fuck about any of the girls being thrown into the robot before? This is all an excuse for this therapy to mold Dakota into what they want. Get up Holly, you need to talk to Dakota before Matheson does.

>>3740316
You should also consider that Holly's first
deployment was into combat with no experience or instruction in the use of them as the leader of her pair.

>>3740297

Distraction. The sudden craving for a distraction, any distraction, descends upon you like a pall, and you scrabble for your NiPad. Gnawing at your thumbnail, you dig through your maze of folders and subfolders until you find the entrance to the Labyrinth. Fearing what you might find there, yet unable to turn away, you enter. There's a single item waiting for you, an audio file with an indecipherable string of numbers and letters for a name. Plugging in a set of cheap headphones, you urgently hit the “play” button.

Coraline's voice, rough and breathless and desperate.

“This might be the last time you hear my voice,” she begins, “Maybe for a while, maybe for good. I'm going travelling. I... I have to get away from here. You probably know why by now. It all went wrong here, and now... god, it happened so quickly!” She laughs, but the sound is pained. Closing your eyes, you picture her with one hand clasped to a bloody wound, the other clinging to her phone as she recites her message to you. “I know... I know it could never have worked between us, but I wish we could have gone travelling together, just once,” she continues, “It's all falling apart now. The old man... he's probably gone now too. I told him that this was a bad idea, but he... he wouldn't listen.”

“Don't feel bad,” she adds, her fevered words causing you to wince, “Just stay safe, won't you? I lost Reed, I don't want... to lose...”

Trailing off here, her voice fades into nothing. After a few more seconds of soft hissing static, the recording clicks off. Unnoticed, the NiPad slips from your hands and falls to the floor, ripping the earbuds out of your ears.

“I'm not Reed,” you whisper to yourself, “I'm not Reed, I'm not Nate, I'm not... I'm ME, why can't that be good enough?”

-

Swallowing down your own unease, you slowly focus on the task at hand. Matheson is looking to get her claws into Dakota, and you can't let that happen. Knocking at Claire's door, you wait for a reply before barging in regardless. The room is both empty and full. Dakota isn't here, but a massive amount of clutter is. In the short span of time that she's been here, she's managed to cover the room in a layer of discarded clothes and junk. Feeling lost in the drifts of trash, you kick your way over to the desk and spot a note left there. In blocky, childish letters, a note has been left for you.

“Went out,” Dakota writes, “Went to the neat place. You know the one.”

“The neat place?” you repeat, “This some kind of code?”

She must have assumed that you'd know where she meant, trusting you to figure it out – and, of course, you don't have her phone number to check. You're not even sure if she HAS a phone. You're not in the mood for this Secret Squirrel bullshit, but...

>You'll just have to wait for her to get bored and come back
>But you've got an idea... (Write in)
>Other

>>3740408
>But you've got an idea... (Write in)
The 'neat and tidy' park we went to.

>>3740408
>But you've got an idea... (Write in)
it was either the Park that we showed her, or the cafe that we were at.

>>3740408
>But you've got an idea... (Write in)

It's gotta be the park. Right?

>>3740408
>Other
Since Holly already has flipped the bird to the Illuminati, why not continue the trend and confront Matheson head-on? Figure out where her goals lie in this mess, maybe fish something useful out of her.

I assume the 'disharmony' keyword from 04 is pure bait and I'm eating it hook, line and sinker. Also CAPTCHA is fucked for some reason for me.

>>3740451
is it working now?

it may be worth it to turn off our beacon so Fletcher can't be pressured into providing our location so we don't get interrupted.

“Neat and tidy, just like you hate it,” you mutter, crumpling the note up and sticking it in your pocket, “Is that what you're trying to tell me?”

The park. You didn't visit many places, just a cafe and the park, but that latter one is what really jumps out at you. Dakota wasn't shy about mentioning her distaste at how carefully groomed it all was, although that didn't stop her climbing a few trees while she was there. If she's trying to lead you somewhere, that has to be it. One question remains, though – why is she being so secretive about this?

You'll just have to ask her that yourself. Retreating back into your own room, you grab a jacket and hurry out of the dorm. Once you reach the surface elevator, you reach into your pocket and take out Fletcher's tracking device. Staring down at the little gadget for a while, you pop open the back and flick the delicate switch to the off position. “Sorry Fletch,” you mutter to yourself, “But I need some alone time. Gotta go climb a tree.”

-

When you arrive at the park, you slow your pace and look around, searching for some sign of Dakota. She's not immediately visible, leaving you with no choice but to start walking. Following the manicured path, you glance at various groups of people enjoying the weather. At one point, you pause to watch a young family savouring their picnic. They look so... happy, so content, and you feel a faint ache spreading through your body as you watch them. What's their secret?

A stinging pain jabs into the back of your neck as something hits you, and you whirl around to see Dakota sitting high up in a tree. Tossing a small pebble up and down, she draws back her hand and tosses it. This time, you jink to the side and the small rock plinks down to the gravel path. “You throw one more rock at me, and I'm gonna come up there and kick your ass,” you warn her, “You hear me?”

“S'fine, that was my last rock,” Dakota answers, “So you figured it out, huh?”

“It wasn't all that hard,” you reply, approaching and looking up at her. Fortunately, she chose to wear shorts today. “So,” you continue, “You want to explain why you're not back in the dorm?”

“I dunno. Got a bad feeling. I felt a disturbance in the force,” the young girl answers, “You remember that movie? We never had a TV signal out in the forest, but we had a generator and a stack of tapes to watch. A little treat for Friday night. Fun for all the family. You ever have something like that?”

“My folks weren't exactly the “having fun” sort,” you explain, hopping away as Dakota jumps out of the tree and lands beside you. Just like before, her fall is a graceless one. Most things she does end up being graceless, you've noticed. She's just that kind of girl.

[1/2]

>>3740477

“I wasn't sure if you'd figure it out,” Dakota offers as she dusts herself off, “Sure, you said it wasn't all that hard, but... most folk don't really listen to anything I say. Back in the forest, it was very “seen and not heard” for the kids. And me. Wait, do I still count as a kid?”

“I mean, yeah, you kinda do,” you admit, looking down at the short girl. She pouts, pulling up the fur-lined hood of her heavy coat and shrinking down into it. You'll never understand how she can stand wearing something so warm on a day like this, but she seems to have no complaints. Claire would wear a similar kind of coat when she went out “scavenging”, you recall, because of how much she could hide inside of it. One time, she boasted about packing in enough ingredients to make a three course meal. Talk about setting a bad example – no wonder you turned out so poorly. “You know, I could just give you my number,” you add, shaking off the memories, “So next time, you can just call me instead of-”

“Can't. No phone,” Dakota interrupts, “Do you have one? Can I see it?”

Sighing, you take your phone out of your pocket. As you to, you feel the crisp edge of paper pricking at you. The photographs from Konstantin's stash. As Dakota prods at your phone, immediately defeated by the lock screen, you flick through the pictures once more. When you stop at the picture of Konstantin and his woman, you take a long, hard look at it. Slowly, an idea begins to form. Add about twenty years onto her, replace her hair with a short, dark wig, and...

“Matheson?” you murmur.

“Don't talk to me about math,” Dakota groans, “Hate that subject. Hate it.”

That's not what you...

Oh, why bother?

>I think I'm going to pause things here, but I should be able to continue this tomorrow since I've got a free day. Aiming to start at the usual sort of time
>Thank you for your patience today!

>>3740515
Thanks for the run.

>>3740515
Thank you! I hope we try to get back in touch with Coraline again. I think it would be possible to sway her away from the NIHIL remnants and the Elysium plan and towards our own plans. She’d also probably be very useful for putting the data we got into use

>>3740515
Oh geez

Matheson is #4? I thought she was younger. No wonder she makes Bergmann run and hide.

Did we ever learn Dakota's compatibility score?

>>3740515
Dr. Matheson was 04 the whole time. Even has the same dumb disharmony line that >>3740451 pointed out. No wonder how easily she bullies Monroe.

Thanks for running.

>>3740588
Matheson looks good for her age. All those crushed hopes and dreams are good for the skin!
As for Dakota, her precise stats remain unknown - she's not an easy girl to test, after all. Imagine trying to bring a skittish cat to the vet, and you've got a good idea of what she's like

>>3740515
>Matheson is back
balls. We're not doing another meeting with her. Last one messed us up for a while.

>>3740585
>I hope we try to get back in touch with Coraline again
No way. She tried to have us kidnapped by people that tried to kill us. I've never liked her, but that cemented it. And would we trust her, or would she be trusted by anyone at NERV? Not with her track record.
If you wouldn't consider trusting that guy that took over the base for a while, what she's done is so much worse. He was just power hungry, she actively betrayed NERV and the UN.

>>3740842
Yeah but have you considered that NERV and the UN suck and deserve betrayal? Also I'd give Adrian another chance. Sure he said some mean things, but he was mentally distraught after getting publicly dumped by Monroe of all people.

>>3741533
NERV on it's own has been decent to us. I (and I think Holly) still believe in what they are doing in combating the Lilim. It's only when Head Office/SEELE starts sticking their nose in that things get fucky and make it so our (former) superiors have to follow orders even if it's to our or the other pilot's detriment.

Regarding Adrian, I hate to say it but, you might be right. With Caroline gone and our dismissal we might need someone cordial on the inside of the UN. Dude is a fucking wild card though. Would have to play that one by ear.

>>3740842
Well for what it's worth her message seemed to have implied that it was Konstantin's idea to kidnap us which does make sense since she knew we had a tracker and would know it was a bad idea overall. I wouldn't write her off yet. She's a misguided fool that's acting out emotion for her treatment by SEELE (not quite unlike us in a sense) and the loss of Reed. Does this absolve her of her crimes like Wilson? Hell no. But (and this is this anon's motive and probably not something Holly would start thinking of yet) Caroline could be useful if we decide to operate outside of SEELE's influence and her 'interest' in Holly could make her loyal to whatever cause Holly put's forth cause right now she's got nothing and is aimless/desperate.

But that's something to consider way later and circumstances might change with a thread or two.

>>3741533
>Yeah but have you considered that NERV and the UN suck and deserve betrayal?
Irrelevant. They're the ones with the ADMs, the only thing preventing the Lilium from destroying the world. Aside from maybe a single unit, in an unknown state, in the middle of nowhere a continent away, guarded by remnants of a hostile organization, built by studying scraps of an infected unit.

For what it's worth, once the Lilium issue is dealt with I'd be happy to see the UN torn down. But we need them for now.

Also wasn't biomass just stated to be hard to come by? How did they acquire enough to build an ADM wholesale?


>>3741578
>Regarding Adrian, I hate to say it but, you might be right. With Caroline gone and our dismissal we might need someone cordial on the inside of the UN.
I'd rather try to make a completely new contact than try to patch things up with him. But we don't need a UN contact anyway, NERV is our UN contact.

> She's a misguided fool that's acting out emotion for her treatment by SEELE (not quite unlike us in a sense) and the loss of Reed.
Considering how long she lied, the scope of that lie, and how much better of a smooth talker than Monroe, I doubt it's that simple. Plus, she wrecked a trained foot soldier in combat. That suggests there's another layer beneath the "poor misguided girl".
Surely you all understand "the enemy of my enemy"? Lilium will kill us all. We have to work together to deal with them. Then we can turn to infights and squabbles. But not before. A house divided cannot stand.

>>3741587
>Plus, she wrecked a trained foot soldier in combat. That suggests there's another layer beneath the "poor misguided girl"

Oh I'm not saying that's all she is. She obviously has some kind of knife skills and if she killed Wilson, which it seems like she has, she's got some crazy side to her too. I'm just saying that she could be useful and I'm personally not ready to write her off just yet. We'll have to agree to disagree on that.

>Lilium will kill us all. We have to work together to deal with them. Then we can turn to infights and squabbles. But not before. A house divided cannot stand.

Tell that to SEELE. They shut out 02 and just fired their top pilot because she didn't completely buy into their bullshit even though we'd still totally fight Lilims for them. You want us toe the line of obedience (which is something the temperamental Holly wouldn't do) for the greater good, but where is the compromise from them to put up with a little resistance? Oh no it has to be complete brainless, blind loyalty for them. Just keep saying your religious mantras of 'Paradise' and 'Harmony' and don't think little pilot. This system isn't sustainable. If it wasn't Holly it was going to be someone else.

>>3741609
>Tell that to SEELE. They shut out 02 and just fired their top pilot because she didn't completely buy into their bullshit even though we'd still totally fight Lilims for them.
That was stupid of them, but with a replacement pilot in the pipe and loyalty concerns with us (doubly so after we openly criticized them in front of them, plus the twin berserks), I'm not surprised they pulled the plug. If we slide further as an active pilot, we could have caused even more damage. What they should have done is damage control to fix our loyalty concerns, as pilots are rare and Holly is powerful and experienced, but these are rich fools used to getting their way.

>(which is something the temperamental Holly wouldn't do) for the greater good
She's always had a nasty temper, but even she understood the stakes. That's why she went along with this miserable situation for so long.


On the plus side, All those debates and concerns about ego's downward trend don't matter anymore. Without Lilium fights, the only ego drain is backing down from fights, and the stakes for running out of ego are much lower.

By the way, not that this is a good idea, but if we find out where Temple is we could theoretically go bodiless and float down to Excalibur.

Since it affects AT abilities, we may not need to be in our body to use it, and just finding it at all is valuable.

>>3741647
>concerns about ego's downward trend don't matter
Amon will start (continue?) showing up then or some other AT-field shenanigans will happen. Not to mention the classic 'get in the damn robot' scene is still very possible for various reasons.

Now that Holly has at least some confirmation about 04's identity, we can move to phase 2. Bergmann can likely do the simplest tests like she did on Huang to determine whether Matheson is actually carrying alien DNA. My hunch is that she carries Amon in some form. After that it is simply a matter of convincing Fletcher to isolate her. You know, for her own safety.

Mathewson being 04 is also supported by her mysterious actions. How could she have said one thing and then changed the records, both with Monroe and then in our first meeting, without help from Amon? Her insidious influence also lines up with how the entity that’s harassing us and inciting conflict (which is probably Amon) acts.
Also, I think we’re going to get reinstated eventually. Dakota will likely have a nervous breakdown, “get in the robot Shinji” kind of moment and Claudia can’t be trusted.

>>3741817
At this point, i think there are only 2 bodiless entities aside from Holly

>Amon, who floats around with pure power and intended to kill that doctor without leaving any evidence
>Matheson, who does espionage shit and digs her way for even more subtle manipulation while still moving her body

.....I think Matheson is going to Sing to Dakota.

>>3741879
I don’t think Matheson is bodiless, she just used Amon to edit records, mess with peoples minds, and do any other dirty work. Like in our meeting, she probably attacked us verbally herself, while using Amon to affect our emotions and change the recording to make us look delusional if we tried to report her or fight back.
Moloch, I forgot to ask earlier. Did NERV tell the UN Coraline worked for NIHIL? I know we were told she was working for the UN and lost her access to NERV, but I wasn’t sure if the UN was told about her full involvement.

>>3741879
Oh man I forgot she was in Nate’s interlude. Didn’t Konstantin also say 04 got big due to her work in medicine? That could be another piece of evidence 04 is Matheson

>>3741911
We don't know exactly who was told what by Fletcher, as far as we know he did report to the Council and they informed some of the people working with / around her.

>>3741912
pretty sure that was 03.

and Adrian is almost certainly Amon, read what Konstantine says about Amon then go back and look at his interactions with Holly

>>3741911
I dunno, all those types of memory manipulations smell less like the Amon we saw in the facility

File: DakotaF.png (283 KB, 900x700)

283 KB PNG

“So...” Dakota murmurs, losing interest in your phone as she peers over your shoulder, “Are those your folks?”

“Them? God, no!” you blurt out, “No, those are... that's a really fucking long story. How long do you have?” Dakota just shrugs, sitting down in the shade of the tree and waiting for you to continue. “That guy there is Konstantin. I never got his other name. Maybe he never had one, I don't know. Anyway, we all spent a long time thinking that he wanted to destroy the world, but I guess it wasn't that simple. It's more like he wanted to change it, to force mankind into a higher level of existence. Going beyond the physical form, something like that,” you explain, “He's dead now.”

Dakota remains silent, gesturing faintly at the woman before giving you a quizzical look. “And she... might be Matheson. I'll talk more about HER later, but for now we'll assume that's her,” you remark, “Otherwise, I'm gonna have to call her 04 and then you'll ask-”

“Who are 01 through 03?” the young girl interrupts, “Oh, uh, was I not supposed to ask that?”

Sighing heavily, you slip the picture back into your pocket. “She wanted something else, something way different to what Konstantin wanted. She wanted to keep the world as it is, only... less crazy, less irrational. Bring everyone together under one rule, even if that means messing with their heads,” you muse, thinking back, “It's creepy. Not overt mind control, but... suggestions, just nudging you in the right direction.”

“Fuck no. Miss me with that shit,” Dakota growls, “My folks went into the forest to get away from that stuff. They say the world is already too close. People need space to be free, to do things their own way. Least, that's what they said.”

But then, they probably didn't have running water or flushing toilets, so maybe they don't have all the answers. Of course, you don't say that to her. “So yeah, Matheson. She's... kind of a jerk, actually. Also, she's been looking for you. She's a therapist, or she claims to be,” you tell her instead, “I heard her say that you... uh...”

“Yeah yeah, I know. I don't like being underground,” Dakota mutters, scowling and turning away from you, “Go ahead and laugh.”

“I'm not going to laugh,” you promise, “God knows, I've got more than enough issues of my own to deal with. I'm not gonna start shit just because you... Look, I'm just saying that Matheson's dangerous. She already knows where your weak spots are, and she'll go right for them if you give her the chance. I don't know why, not really, but I can guess. I think it's to try and... break you down, I guess, to make you reliant of her. You need to be careful.”

Dakota considers this for a long moment. “You, uh, you sound pretty paranoid right now,” she points out, “You know that, right?”

“Yeah,” you sigh, “I was hoping you wouldn't... ugh.”

[1/2]

>>3742086

Sitting in the shade, you watch in cautious silence as a group of older teens wanders past, shouting and laughing to each other. Dakota shrinks down into her oversized jacket until they pass, waiting until their voices fade before relaxing slightly. “So... maybe this is over the line, but I gotta ask,” you tell her, “What's your problem with being underground?”

Dakota scowls. “Over the line,” she mutters, shaking her head, “Long story, anyway. Long, boring story, and I don't like telling long stories.”

“I see,” you murmur, looking away, “I won't pry, then.”

“Good,” she grunts, “So what do we do about this Matheson lady? Isn't she gonna get suspicious if I keep hiding from her?” Fiddling with her collar, Dakota glances about as a dog barks somewhere deeper inside the park. When it settles down, she looks back to you. “I mean, you sound like you've tangled with her before,” she points out, “What are our options here?”

Great, now she's looking at you like you're the expert or something. No pressure, then.

“Should I go and see her?” the young girl wonders, “If I know what to expect, she can't play any tricks on me... right? Besides, I've got a super good bullshit detector, so I'll know right away. What do you think? Should I just get it over with?”

>You can't avoid her forever. Just remember what I said and be careful. Don't trust her
>We'll go and speak with her together. Don't ever let her get you alone, okay?
>Just lie low for now. She's a busy woman, she can't stick around here for long... I hope
>I've got an idea... (Write in)
>Other

>>3742087
>You can't avoid her forever. Just remember what I said and be careful. Don't trust her.
The reason you are replacing me is because Head office can't trust me, they are trying to going to try and make you more compliant than i was. and if you need help with anything come find me and if you can't ask Kaori or Yulia for help.

>>3742087
>We'll speak to her together. Don't ever let her get you alone, ok?

Hopefully we can cover each others weak points like this and recognize when she's psychologically targeting the other.

>>3742087
>If she comes in with a recorder, step 1: trust yourself before the recorder. step 2: don't tell her you're following step 1.
>By the way, you're replacing me specifically, so everyone is going to be extra hard on you if they think you're following my advice.
>That being said, I punched solid stone, so maybe they have a point.

>>3742087
>Other
Well first off let's relay what we overheard to Dakota. The obvious bullshit with the files and lies about Head Office with 'high pressure'. That establishes her reason for being here disingenuous.

Second, that 'long story' you don't want to talk about and keep close to your chest? She 100% knows it and is going to use it, so be ready.

Third, 'Extensive Therapy' sounds like she might be here for the long haul, so this first meeting might go easy for all I know.

>I've got an idea... (Write in)
Holly could try going in first and confront her. She might get stonewalled or brushed off, but she might get information about the true motives. Also it's important to not let Dr. Matheson know that we know she is 04. Otherwise Dakota can't avoid this forever since it seems like 04 is set on this.

>Other
"No matter what happens remember that you can always talk to me about anything if you need to get something off your chest."

>>3742087
>We'll go and speak with her together. Don't ever let her get you alone, okay?
>I've got an idea... (Write in)

The plan is kinda simple. Need to buy some coffee (at least 3 small cups), stroll together to Matheson, saying that Holly realizes she has some anger issues and because of those she lost her pilot privileges, but here she is, becoming a better person and is willing to talk about those. Maybe Dakota wants to do that as well, but there's no reason to rush things, so we can have a short talk, maybe reintroduce each other, share some history, et c. Be extra careful not to divulge too much, always try to play the 'trust is a two way road' stuff, trying to get more out of Matheson. Admit being protective of Dakota if confronted, say she reminds of Claire, a topic for another day.

Get the cups to Bergmann for analysis, mark your own cup. If Matheson is alien-aids positive, we'll play from there. If not, well, something to think about.

>>3742116
>>3742119
I'm worried that if we are there 04 will make Dakota hear things from us that we didn't say to turn us against each other.

>>3742125
As opposed to us not being there to contest any claims she makes?

>>3742125
That's a risk we'll have to take. I mean, she can probably influence Claudia to slice Holly's neck while she's sleeping for all we know.

The only solution would be to suggest - mark thoughts, share notes later, do not react immediately. Suppose getting a notepad with a pencil will suffice.

>>3742116
>>3742119
>>3742125
yeah I'm against going together

>>3742129
I think that's preferable, really. Besides, then we get to go bodiless and spy on them if ever.

>>3742129
We can contest them afterwards away from 04. I'm just worried that her manipulative, silver tongue will spin shit we try to say against us, not to mention having ghost back up.

>>3742140
Arguing points afterwards is way worse than in the moment. I'm against sending her in alone.

>>3742138
My point is to come together, claim that we want to talk, but do not actually talk about anything specific, stall for time, divulge only bare minimum. Do the cups thing, leave together.

>>3742148
I feel like I'm behind on something. Why do you think (and Holly by extension) that Matheson is a Lilim?

>>3742151
Konstantin has warned that Amon has a human form. We do know that influence has happened (memory fuckery, the recorder episode), Matheson looks involved into this stuff as 04, so one of them must be under influence. Also I got the impression she looks much younger than she's supposed to be, but that could be my mistake.

>>3742151
Right after Mathson left, we were talking to Bergmann she mentioned that there was a small spike in both Holly and Claudia's readings and the only thing that we done recently was talk to Mathson.