In just a few minutes, the Gemini briefing room would be graced by Dr Moller and the operation would be explained to everyone. For many of the agents, this was something that had become pretty routine. For a certain elderly woman, this would be her first time being briefed inside of HQ.
Mika was already present, sitting in a chair waiting for the briefing to begin. The arriving agents would have a bit of time to converse before Fritzi made her appearance. She always arrived at these things right on time, save for when she was kidnapped by a mole.
It wasn’t long before Ashley entered and took a seat, being careful to leave an open chair between herself and her younger subordinate. In light of recent developments, it was safe to say that the Knight of Tomorrow was feeling more alone and isolated than ever. Despite her best efforts, Mika remained frosty towards her, Sokaiya was distressingly senile, and the twins were often far too busy attending to other matters to train or socialize with. That just left Raven, and as friendly and supportive as she was, it took more than two people to make a team.
In addition, while she and Gale had managed to lay the groundwork for a collaborative effort with Maverick Alternative, the high-tech heroine wasn’t so naive as to believe that it was anything more than an alliance of convenience against a common foe, one that would shatter the moment their shared objective had been achieved. Worse, none of her attempts to recruit freelancers into G.E.M.I.N.I.’s ranks had met with any success. Would it come as any surprise if she felt like a failure as a leader? After all, what
else could she be called? If she were more capable, surely she’d have the respect and admiration of her team, would she not? Surely, her current feelings of isolation were due entirely to her own failings, and thus, entirely deserved to be felt. As such, Ashley simply sat in tense and oppressive silence and waited for the briefing to begin.
Sokaiya had some trouble finding the right room, having checked a few on the way through the building until she finally found the right one. She slowly hobbled through the door, her cane taping against the floor with each hobbled step as she took note of the room's occupants, one whom she hadn’t met before and Orion who she recognized from the other day. Since Orion was here it meant she must be in the right spot so she could finally rest her old weary knees.
Pausing for a brief moment her wizened gaze searching the room, she hobbled her way over to the open seat between Mika and Orion and slowly lowered herself into it, leaning her cane up against the side of the table.
“If you sit there as stiff as a board for so long, you are going to give yourself back problems yungin, just sitting on pins and needles, I haven’t seen a body so rigid since that fella who got buried in cement, ain't nothin to make yourself miserable over once you get to my age ” Immediately noticing the tense atmosphere as she turned her gaze from Orion to Mika now, squinting her eyes as she tried to get a better look at her. Taking note of her current clothing choices which she found a bit much for indoors, but the white jacket caught her old eye.
“I don’t recognize you, but with that big white jacket, you must be the pharmacist, I could use a few prescriptions filled, or maybe a doctor….scientist? Now that I think about it, lots of folk wear big white coats these days….maybe you can help out ole stiff-necked by giving her something to loosen up before she gives herself a hernia.”Mika gave Sokaiya a good, long, hard stare. Her brow twitched a bit before she finally sighed.
"Sure." Mika got out of her seat and stood behind. Then, she firmly placed her hands on Sokaiya’s shoulders. She moved her hands to and fro in an attempt to work her muscles loose.
“Oh-Ho? I wasn’t talking about myself, but I won’t complain young missy, I think I like you already, you sure know how to treat your elders…”Raven entered the room not long afterwards.
"Hmm?" was all she muttered. It was, of course,
very unusual to see Mika doing something nice for anyone, let alone subjecting herself to something as intimate as giving someone a massage. Without taking her eyes off of Mika, she sat in Mika’s seat.
"I’m not a farm-ah-sis. I’m just wearing this coat because it kind of looks like the one Fritzi wears. I like her a lot. I’m not a doctor. You need to be smart to be a doctor." She almost scoffed.
"The last person who wore this jacket was a fool though. I don’t think they were a doctor either. They were weak and stupid and died like a coward. The only good thing about them was their appearance, so I took their jacket." She began to work the old woman’s back more aggressively.
"Never found her instrument. Would have been a nice decoration. Someone else must have picked it up because I couldn’t find them no matter how hard I searched. There was a lot going on that day." “I just hope that whoever might have found it will use it to help others, rather than harm them,” Ashley spoke up, her eyes still staring straight ahead, even if her body had relaxed some after being called out by Sokaiya.
“You can still become a doctor, you are still a yungin, ain’t nothing stopping a smart yungin like yourself from becoming whatever they want, as long as you bust your tail, most youngins these days don’t want to put in any effort”“ Finding herself enjoying the free unexpected massage that she was receiving. Even if she had meant Ashley, she wasn’t minding the attention one bit. Listening to Mika’s reasoning, she gave a small nod of her head, and a small smile appeared on her face.
“Ahhh, so you got it from someone else that you knew, most whippersnappers these days are fools, That jacket seems to suit you better than most, you are quite dapper, a real dandy, I was just telling Orion over here that I could help spruce her up and make her more classy, but she is a stubborn whippersnapper, but if you are after a particular instrument deary, I might be able to help” “Are you saying you have a way of gaining information about other espers’ grimoires?” Ashley inquired, her eyes shifting to look at the elderly agent, although her head still faced forward.
“Is that a benefit of all the contacts you made during your decades of freelance work?”Chuckling as she turned her wizened eyes towards Ashley with a smile
“Of course, but that is just part of it, I routinely explore the city almost every day to keep myself active,I like to cruise in my free time, you can learn quite a lot in a short time moving amongst the rabble, spending time chewing the fat with the locals, you yungins these days don’t talk face to face enough with the people, you’d really get the skinny and learn things you never dreamed possible out on the streets. Esper-less, lost, or known instruments cause quite the buzz, if you know the right fella’s you usually find what you are after, or information about it” “I see,” Ashley replied with a nod.
“And I’d imagine trafficking in such information is a particularly lucrative business,” she added in a more pointed tone, her head finally turning to face Sokaiya directly.
Mika stuck her tongue out to the side and
really dug in with her thumbs. Her body transformed, and Cerberus’s claws were around Sokaiya’s throat. Only now there were white hot cracks all over her face, With a flick of Mika’s wrists, her fingers flew up and
Himiko’s enchanted disguise was ripped from her body. Mika resumed rubbing the girl’s shoulders as if nothing had just happened.
"Did you hear about the mole in our operation?" Raven looked at Himiko, but her hand was on her scabbard.
"After we caught them, we set out to make sure future moles had a harder time. Imagine leaving our databases open so that just anyone could access them?"“That was a test,” Ashley added as she rose to her feet, transforming and raising her techno-wand to point at the unmasked traitor while doing so.
“And you failed.”Laughing as she was confronted she beamed from ear to ear as she was unmasked
“Oh I heard, I heard and learned quite a few things even before I arrived at Gemini, it is quite lucrative and eye opening as a business, It took you all long enough to figure it out, here is something that should have made it known immediately…all you had to do to learn my true identity from the start was to take the name Sokaiya Whimhokimia and solve its riddle” giving a shrug of her shoulders
“But you have all disappointed me on that front, especially if you didn’t figure it out until I gathered the information from the databases that I was after” clasping her hands in front of her as she remained calm and seated while Mika continued to rub her shoulders.
"Why solve some stupid puzzle?" Mika had stopped the massage, but left her very sharp claws on Himiko’s neck.
"Japanese people are not common. I knew you hadn’t killed yourself when I couldn’t find your guns.“ "Hate to break it to you, but you didn’t get the big payload you think you did." Raven bristled.
"What you logged into was a honeypot. The data you got? It was all incomplete information if not outright fabricated. I’ll never understand why people like you need to lie to get everything." “What I said was all true however, not once did I speak untruthful despite my disguise….” turning her golden gaze towards Ashley
“I gave you my honest assessment, whether you learned from it or not is entirely up to you, GEMINI is a flawed organization, so is Maverick, The Hand, The Inquisition, they all continue the same pointless and futile cycle, violence, the loss of life far too young, all to gain nothing, ask yourself truly, what has GEMINI or any of the rest actually accomplished? You wake up day in and day out, the mission changes, but they never end, there isn’t an end in sight, are you truly happy with this endless unchanging cycle of this world? Do you enjoy watching people die for an objective that never gets any closer?” The smile on her face was long gone as she took on a more serious tone as she addressed them. Letting out a small sigh as she turned her gaze upwards in a moment of thought.
Her eyes softened as did her tone of voice
“As for you Mika Fang, we are far more similar than we are different, I know your struggle and how there has been very little help to bring you inner peace and provide a satisfying justice for what has caused your life eternal turmoil, I can help you with this if you are willing to accept my offer, but it will not be a easy path, and I doubt you have much reason to have faith in what I say or can do for you.” "I wonder who’s fault that is." Raven rose to her feet.
Mika scoffed.
"That’s all she does is talk in riddles. It’s annoying, just don’t listen to her.“ “So what? We should just give up?” Ashley inquired of the captive freelancer.
“Focus only on our own personal happiness? Sorry, but not everyone is as selfish as you are. Some of us actually care about improving the lives of others, even if it looks hopeless. But since you seem to have all the answers,” the Knight of Tomorrow added with a contemptuous sneer.
“How about you tell us why you thought it would be a great idea to infiltrate G.E.M.I.N.I., and who’s paying you to do it.”Himiko’s golden eyes flashed with disappointment as she let out a sigh, tilting her head to the side, the threat of Mika’s claws at her neck not being much of a bother to her at the moment.
“I did not say you should give up, nor did I say to focus on your own personal happiness, you continue to only redirect and believe in your stubborn ideals that hold no real substance in how Pax Septimus actually operates, you are part of the reason why it looks hopeless, what I want is fairly simple, I want a peaceful world, a world that can co-exist without lines of division, division which will forever continue the cycle of futile death and destruction, Gemini, Maverick, The Hand, The Inquisition, and any other organization are all wrong,that's whose fault it is, its only with the removal of all of them can we find true peace under a new world” Trailing off for a brief moment as she made eye contact with Ashley with a frown.
“I’m not selfish, I’m Greedy, there is a difference, and because of my Greed I desire a new world, it tires me to see everyone repeat the same cycle over and over again, divided by the higher ups who benefit and gain from keeping everyone separate and in perpetual conflict, I’m not being paid a dime by anyone, I’m doing this of my own free accord for my own purpose as I’ve stated to you already, I greed for knowledge and information, with said knowledge and information it gives me power, with that power I can help reshape Pax Septimus and break the cycle once and for all…” her frown only growing as she continued with her explanation. Though she knew from previous encounters that it was difficult to get through to this bunch no matter what she presented to them.
“If you are so convinced that Gemini is truly helping you and is the right place to stay then so be it Mika, but don’t you find it suspicious that there hasn’t been a resolution, an investigation, justice served for what happened? I can sense something familiar about you, a connection, as I’ve said before, we are more similar than you’d like to admit, you can keep denying yourself the truth, wasting your talents and your future here, eventually end up dead, forgotten and tossed aside by Gemini like it has done with so many others, including your adoptive mother, but if you truly find me as annoying and full of riddles as you believe, yet don that white coat, your claws are already there, sharp and within reach of ending me for good and you can keep doing what Gemini wants you to do and you won’t ever have to worry about me again…just one slash is all you need” Himiko’s voice was soft, she was relaxed and calm, there wasn’t a ounce of fear or tension within her. She had given Mika a choice, but if she didn’t wish to take it that was her choice and the fate she had decided. But Himiko had seen something in her, the turmoil, the frustration, and the touch of the Mad.
“Do you really think abolishing all the factions in this city will bring peace?” Ashley scoffed.
“All that’s going to accomplish is create an anarchic power vacuum, and while I’m sure someone like you would thrive in such a situation, I doubt the same could be said for most people.”"It is a naive view of the world." Raven added.
"There’s no point in history when humans didn’t work together to achieve great things. Even when we were all in tribes, humans-." "How much longer are we going to talk about fill-loss-hippy with her?“ Mika’s claw bit into Himiko’s neck and drew a bit of blood.
"We need to decide what to do with her. She’s not a nice person. She’s said things that make me angry.“"That does not surprise me." Raven said under her breath. Then she looked at Ashley.
"What did you want to do? I don’t think we’re going to have a lot of luck finding common ground with an anarchist."“We’ll obviously need to confiscate her grimoire,” Ashley replied.
“Then we can confine her in a detention cell until Director Moller decides her ultimate fate.”Sighing as she shook her head unable to hide her disappointment
“You are the ones with a naive view of the world, still you make assumptions and claims that make you feel better about what you are doing, I never claimed to want a system of anarchy, or that I wanted no one to work together, the point of eliminating all the groups would to be to unite and create one system of equality, not divide further, but you have a pessimistic view, shaped from being a pawn of the never ending violent cycle of life that is Pax Septimus, insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results” shrugging her shoulders as she felt her own warm blood trickling down her neck, but the sting of the wound did very little to dissuade her.
“Not a nice person? At least I’m willing to be honest and was willing to help you, the truth making you angry is good, but you are angry at the wrong person, I had nothing to do with Su’s death, or Gemini’s refusal in the aftermath of it to do the right thing, you can confine me in whatever Detention Club you wish, but that isn’t going to change a thing, if you are that loyal Puddy, and hate me so much, why not end me, be done with my ‘threat’, just one slip of a claw and surely Gemini will cover it up as if it never happened just like they have done before” Leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms, a glow simmering in her golden eyes. She felt a sense of serenity she had not felt in some time, there was no reason to fear death. The only thing that bugged her was Mika’s stubborn loyalty, but she understood it. Gemini was her home with her parents and adoptive mother gone and it was not easy to leave your home at her age, the turmoil, frustration and anger would be hard to overcome as it simmered within her. It was obvious now why Oros The Mad held an interest in Mika and had wanted Himiko to deliver her to her back then, it was uncanny how similar of a feeling she got from both of them.
"Why do you keep repeating yourself? Isn’t that the definition of insanity?" Raven shook her head.
“Simple, you make assumptions and add in your own beliefs into my words to make it easier to judge me”Mika didn’t flinch, even as Himiko continued to barb her with her words.
"They don’t want me to kill you. I don’t want to kill you either. You’re dumb, not evil, maybe. We can’t all be together because we all want different things. The monsters want to kill all of us. We need to stand up to that. We can’t all be on the same team.“ She squinted her eyes.
"Hand over your grim-more, or we’ll take it by force. We won’t even have to kill you to do it, in case you were hoping for that outcome.“Sighing with a roll of her golden eyes
“What a narrow minded view, so what? Kill all the monsters because you believe they all want to kill you? Wipe them out until only humans remain? Then what, wipe out the humans that don’t agree with Gemini? Until there is no one left but Gemini so you can have your ‘peace’ and ‘justice’, yet I’m the dumb one that wants to create a new world were such divisions do not exist, I’m not foolish enough to believe it will be easy, or that all of the monsters, humans and other lifeforms of this world will be as agreeable, but it sure as hell beats continuing this fruitless cycle were no one wins” reaching her hand forward as she took the handle of her cane into the palm of her hand with a sigh.
“I’ve not resisted you, tried to attack you, or anything else, if you want to take it, then take it, I’m not stopping you Cerberus, but you may not be happy with what you discover when you do so…” The cane in her hand started to crumble away as pieces of obsidian dropped to the floor as it fell away from a golden revolver.
“A pity…I thought that you were ready to break the chains that have bound you…you lack conviction”moving with a deliberate effort as she took off her mask and set it on the table, before moving the golden revolver and placing it underneath her own chin with her finger tightly against the trigger. Letting out a big yawn, she kept it firmly pressed against her chin
“you bore me…“Likewise,” Ashley replied flatly, utterly unimpressed by Himiko’s overly dramatic antics.
“So, what? You’re going kill yourself for real, now?”Mika didn’t flinch or even motion to stop Himiko. Instead, she locked eyes with Ashley.
"She won’t have the chance.“ Then, her eyes glowed red, but only for a moment.
No sooner did Mika blink did Himiko’s arms start to change color. Her blood vessels turned black, and her pink skin went pale. Her arms fell to her sides, and her revolver skidded across the floor. Eventually, her arms turned black and fell off, rotting away in a matter of seconds.
Raven looked at the rotting flesh and then up at Mika.
"What did you do?" she said before picking up the gun.
"Did you think I was mass-sage-ing her for fun?“ Mika searched for her second firearm.
"When I transformed and sliced off her disguise, I got her with my poison. That way, when she got dramatic we could disarm her without wasting more time.“"But how did you know when she was going to do that? If you had been just a little bit early or late-" Raven stopped speaking when Mika tossed the remaining gun into her hand.
"She’s not that hard to figure out.“ Without her grimoire on her person, Himiko soon returned to her normal form. Raven circled around Himiko's back and started to cuff her. Mika moved in front where she could face her.
"Since I had to listen to you say things over and over again I’m going to repeat something to you. I only work for these people because I want to kill monsters. I am working with them because I want to be doing what I am doing. I have never seen a monster do anything nice. They eat our memories and farm us like a crop. I can do that better with a team.“ She pointed at Ashley.
"I don’t agree with everything she does. We do not go into a mission with the same ideas.“ She took a step back towards Ashley without looking away from Himiko. Then she stretched an arm around her squad leader’s waist and pulled her close, like she was an old drinking buddy.
"But we both want to protect the city, and agree enough on how to do it. If we were really as simple as you say, we would not be teaming up with our enemies to kill even more monsters.“ “E-Exactly,” Ashley stammered out her agreement, the Knight of Tomorrow’s eyes having gone wide at Mika’s sudden and unexpected physical contact.
Despite the circumstances, Himiko didn’t seem surprised or concerned. Sitting there quietly as she glanced down at her non esper form. It had been quite some time since she had been out of it, she had almost forgotten what she looked like. Long orangish red hair and dark tan skin that she had not seen in quite some time. But, more importantly she had noticed a glint of something new from Mika, something of great interest. Even as Mika spoke, Himiko remained silent, listening and looking her right back in her eyes, neither a smile, nor frown on her emotionless face.
She figured once they went through her revolvers and found that they were both unloaded they would come to the realization she had no true intention to kill, either herself or anyone else. It had been a test, one that Mika had dealt with in a way that helped Himiko gleam a little more knowledge. But it was obvious there wasn’t any point in trying to speak or reason with her. It was time to fold and move on, to turn her attention elsewhere.
“Fare thee well…”Mika slapped a piece of duct tape across her mouth.
"And stop asking me to kill you! I won’t do it no matter how many times you say mom’s name!“ She squared up her shoulders and strutted away from her.
"Someone else needs to go first.“Raven was frozen in shock.
"Well that just happened." She shook her head.
"I’ve got it from here, Orion. Good plan, it worked well.""It was a good idea.“ Mika said before rounding a corner.
“Thanks,” Ashley replied, a tired, yet appreciative smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Maybe she wasn’t as terrible at this whole “leader thing”, or as alone, as she’d previously thought…
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