[Atlas Tower]
In the main corridors of Atlas Tower, Daniel walks beside Weiss, heading toward General Ironwood's office. Their hands are intertwined, and at first glance, it might seem like a romantic scene… if it weren't for the fact that Weiss won't shut her damn mouth.
"When this is over, we should go look for new clothes for you," she says, glancing at him.
Daniel nods, without enthusiasm. "Yes, of course."
"And you should take some etiquette lessons too," she adds in a serious tone.
"Sure, of course."
He stopped paying attention to her a while ago. Maybe fifteen minutes. At first, he wondered if her way of speaking—so direct, so controlling—might be unattractive to the men of this world… but he quickly stopped thinking about that. He had more important things in front of him.
A floating screen from the system remains fixed in the corner of his vision.
[Mandatory mission – time remaining: 181:15:23]
Cheat your girlfriend
The timer is new.
"I have to admit, it gives the mission a touch of elegance," he thinks, watching it with a bit of admiration. But he quickly refocuses: that mission was already completed.
"Is the system supposed to allow more than one girlfriend?" he wonders, though he already knows the answer. He remembers the error messages that appeared when the mission was activated, so he assumes not. It shouldn't have been possible.
"This system is terribly made," he thinks, closing the screen with a mental gesture. He's not upset. Just curious.
"Now… how can I exploit this flaw?" he asks himself, visualizing the possibilities. Double rewards? Duplication of stats and semblances?
"If that ends up happening, maybe I should consider starting more relationships…" but as he explores the idea, a doubt begins to push its way into his mind.
"Why didn't the mission trigger with Rosella?" he wonders. Basically, she had already submitted to him. So, why didn't it activate?
He thinks about it for a few seconds, until he reaches a possible conclusion.
"Was it because it wasn't explicitly stated that they were in a relationship?" he questions, as the idea that the system requires literal wording gains strength.
"I should test it when I see Rosella," he says to himself, making a mental note: he has to get her to say out loud that they're in a relationship.
But before he can go further, a familiar sound pulls him out of his thoughts.
Beep.
A subtle beep, barely noticeable, but which his [natural polyglot] ability translates as: pay attention.
He looks up to see an Atlesian robot approaching from the opposite direction. It's the one that made the sound, and in its hand it carries a small package.
Daniel quickly assumes this is GLaDOS's doing. He doesn't doubt it. He knows she still has control over Atlas.
As soon as the robot passes by his side, it discreetly hands him the small package. Daniel takes it easily with his free hand. He immediately turns his head to make sure Weiss hasn't noticed. Seeing that she's still talking nonstop, he takes the opportunity and quickly tears open the wrapping.
The package is barely wrapped in a thin sheet of paper, easy to tear.
Inside, there is a small earpiece. He doesn't need to be a genius to understand what it means: clearly, he's supposed to put it on. It's probably to communicate with GLaDOS.
"Better than continuing to talk through beeps," he thinks, subtly adjusting the earpiece in his ear. As soon as he puts it on, he activates Neo's semblance to camouflage it. Since it's such a small object, it's no problem at all to hide it completely.
Just as he finishes adjusting it, GLaDOS's familiar voice sounds clearly in his head.
"Great, you understood the message. Congratulations. I didn't need a robot to shove it in your ear. Good job."
*Clapping sounds*
Daniel rolls his eyes. He doesn't even try to hide the gesture. If he could, he would reply with something sarcastic, but with Weiss beside him, speaking out loud is not an option.
GLaDOS, as expected, keeps talking without pause or the need for a response.
"Don't worry about the meeting with the general. Just go along with it, repeat what I tell you, and everything will be fine."
While he listens to the instruction, they finally arrive at Ironwood's office. There is no need to knock; the door opens on its own as soon as they approach.
Daniel's gaze goes straight to the camera at the top of the frame. The lens adjusts, focusing on them.
"Yes, I was the one who opened the door," says GLaDOS in a dry tone. "Now go in and stop wasting time."
Daniel sighs quietly and enters with Weiss. As he walks in, he gives the room a quick glance. The office has been partially restored since the chaos of the previous night. The most obvious damage has already been repaired, although there are still traces of the battle. They're not hard to notice if one pays attention.
Ironwood watches them from his desk. When he sees them come in, he adopts a slightly more relaxed posture.
"Welcome. Please, take a seat."
His tone maintains military formality, but he's trying to sound friendlier. Daniel nods and obeys without saying a word, just like Weiss, who sits next to him.
They both wait for the general to start the conversation, which doesn't take long.
"I really appreciate that you arrived so quickly. I know that after what happened last night, you'd probably prefer to be resting right now."
Daniel nods again, this time with understanding. He assumes the comment is especially directed at him, since from the general's perspective, he is still a civilian—one who has already gone through more than he should have.
"So I'll be as brief as possible," Ironwood continues, sitting up straighter. "First, the Kingdom of Atlas thanks you for your service and your actions in helping to save it."
As he speaks, he gives him a short but sincere nod of respect.
"There's no need to thank me," Daniel replies immediately. "My actions are what anyone would do if they had the ability."
Ironwood nods, visibly pleased with the response.
"In any case, Atlas will give you proper recognition once the situation stabilizes..."
Before he can finish the sentence, Daniel slightly raises a hand to interrupt him.
"I don't mean to be rude, but there's really no need for any kind of medal, title, or anything like that." He pauses briefly, choosing his words carefully. "I would prefer to keep my identity secret for as long as possible."
Ironwood frowns, more out of curiosity than annoyance.
"May I ask why?"
Daniel keeps his gaze steady, without lowering his tone.
"I'd rather not become a target of the person who orchestrated the attack on Atlas."
"I should tell you that we already know who the culprit is," Ironwood replies seriously. "My best hunters are looking for him as we speak. But I understand your concerns. If it makes you feel safer, we won't make your involvement public."
A slight smile appears on Daniel's face. He's more relaxed now. He has no interest in drawing attention, not now and not in the near future. In fact, he enjoys staying in the background, avoiding unnecessary eyes, and he intends to keep that low profile for as long as he can.
Although he can't help but wonder:
"Who did GLaDOS blame?"
The doubt surfaces for a second, but he doesn't give it much importance. As long as it doesn't affect him, it's not his problem.
"In any case, keeping your identity secret is going to be difficult," the general admits, his tone more cautious now.
Daniel nods. He's perfectly aware.
"I know. More people than I'd like already know my name, and over time there will be many more." He shrugs slightly. "But I'd rather not accelerate that process by making it public."
"We'll do what we can to protect your identity," Ironwood assures him.
"And I appreciate that," Daniel responds, this time with sincerity.
"Well," says the general, straightening his posture again. "I didn't call you here just to chat. There are important matters I'd like to discuss."
As he speaks, a holographic screen unfolds in front of them. The panel displays lines of data, figures, technical analyses… but one number in particular stands out in the center.
"After the Defense Committee and the security team reviewed and estimated the value of your blueprints, they arrived at this figure."
On the screen appears: $1.2 billion.
Daniel stares at the number without saying a word. Weiss doesn't react either, both of them maintaining a neutral expression, though for different reasons.
Weiss adopts a professional look—the same one she learned from a young age. Nothing in her face shows surprise, doubt, or enthusiasm.
Daniel, on the other hand, is too busy visually counting how many zeros are in a billion. Literally. He stays there for a moment, trying to confirm whether he's reading it correctly.
Weiss is the first to break the silence.
"Daniel agrees with the price and finds the amount acceptable for his blueprints," she says firmly, speaking for him. Perhaps believing his silence was due to the impact of the amount offered.
Daniel blinks, snapping out of his brief distraction when he hears her.
"Sorry, but I have to say I have no problem giving you exclusive rights to all the blueprints," he says in a neutral tone. "But I promised the Adel family they'd have access to the technology. Just the fabric, of course."
The general nods without showing any surprise. His reaction is calm, almost approving.
"That's fine," Ironwood replies without hesitation. "Pietro already mentioned it when he told me about you and your deal with the Adels. I'm glad to see you honor your agreements."
Daniel nods in silence, somewhat relieved that it doesn't reduce the money.
"You don't need to worry," the general continues with a firm tone. "We've already taken that into account in the total valuation of your blueprints."
"If you're wondering, the price is quite fair," says GLaDOS suddenly in his ear. "Maybe even a bit generous," she adds, "but that's because he's about to ask you for a few things."
Daniel narrows his eyes slightly, processing the warning. He lifts his gaze toward the general, a bit more serious now.
"I'm grateful and satisfied with the deal," he says, maintaining his composure. "But I get the feeling you're about to give me bad news, am I right?"
Ironwood's smile falters just slightly, and after a brief silence, he nods with a soft, weary exhale.
"You're perceptive," he acknowledges. "And you're right. Atlas and Mantle are going through a critical moment."
The surrounding screens update immediately, displaying the current state of Atlas.
"Yesterday's attack caused serious losses," Ironwood continues. "Not just infrastructure. We lost a large part of our Dust reserves. Several warehouses were destroyed, and the processing lines collapsed completely."
As the images change, he notices Weiss reacting with more tension. Her expression hardens when she sees the situation in the lower district.
"We've been forced to regroup the population and restrict the Dust used in the generators," the general explains.
"Is the situation really that bad?" Weiss asks, and her voice sounds more strained than usual.
Ironwood's gaze becomes sharper.
"At this rate, in a few weeks the reserves will be gone, and the generators will shut down completely."
Weiss stands up at once, alarmed.
"If it's a matter of Dust, the SDC can help. We can start supplying from our emergency stockpiles, and—"
She doesn't finish. The general cuts her off sharply with a gesture.
"We've already tried to contact the SDC," Ironwood says calmly, but those words don't ease Weiss. Her fists clench tightly on her legs, clearly holding back a stronger reaction.
"Is the amount of money he's asking really that high?" Daniel asks, genuinely and directly confused. They just offered him an obscene sum for his blueprints. Does that really pale in comparison to what Jacques Schnee is demanding?
"The amount is considerable," the general admits seriously. "It would throw Atlas into a crisis if we agreed to it... but that's not the main issue."
"What else could he possibly want?" blurts out Weiss, already indignant.
Ironwood's expression tightens. He doesn't respond immediately.
"He wants a seat on the Atlas Council."
As soon as he says it, Weiss looks horrified.
"You can't let that happen!" she exclaims, raising her voice more than she probably meant to.
Daniel watches her, puzzled. He doesn't understand why it's such a big deal for Jacques Schnee to have a seat on the Council, but before he can ask, GLaDOS's voice comes through the earpiece, clearly noticing his confused expression.
"Jacques is the head of the SDC, one of the most powerful companies in the world. But also one of the most notorious for labor exploitation, corruption, and corporate manipulation," she explains bluntly. "If he gets on the Council, he'll be able to influence political decisions, block regulations that hurt him, and basically operate without oversight. He'll do whatever he wants."
Weiss seems to realize his reaction and sits back down stiffly. Even so, her gaze remains tense.
"I'm sorry," she says, regaining control.
"It's fine. That's a normal reaction. I don't want Jacques on the Council either," the general replies seriously.
Then he turns his gaze to Daniel, his tone firmer.
"I'll be direct: GLaDOS told me you might have a solution."
Weiss blinks, surprised. "GLaDOS revealed Daniel's project to you?" she asks, a hint of alarm in her voice.
"No," the general clarifies, shaking his head. "She only said he might be able to help. She didn't give me any details."
His tone shifts—more direct, but less commanding.
"I'm aware of what I'm asking. I know it's a huge responsibility for someone your age." He pauses briefly, looking him straight in the eyes. "I'm not going to force you, but if you do have a solution to this crisis, you could be saving thousands of lives."
Silence falls for a few seconds. Both Weiss and the general watch him without a word.
Daniel takes a quiet breath and finally breaks the silence.
"I have a solution," he says calmly, adjusting his position in the chair. His voice is firm, clear. "GLaDOS, show them the blueprints for Project: Jaeger Core."
Immediately, a hologram unfolds across the general's desk. The generator's design floats in layers: technical schematics, internal diagrams, composition details, and functional breakdowns, all perfectly organized.
Ironwood studies the projections, brow furrowed.
"What exactly am I looking at?" he asks, eyes still fixed on the schematics.
"I call it the Jaeger Core. It's, in simple terms, a fusion core," Daniel explains in a calm but focused tone. "Basically, it's the heart of a reactor where light atoms fuse at extreme temperatures to form heavier atoms. In the process, a tremendous amount of energy is released."
He slightly turns his head toward the general, making sure he's following.
"It's the same principle that powers the sun. Just... controlled."
Ironwood slowly nods, taking it in, clearly processing every word. It doesn't take long for him to ask the most obvious question.
"Can this power Mantle's generators?" the general asks, a note of urgency in his voice.
Daniel smiles at the question.
"It can power all of Atlas and Mantle together, easily, and at incredibly low cost."
The general doesn't hold back. "Does it really work?" he presses.
Daniel nods with conviction, without hesitation.
"I can guarantee it."
As soon as he hears that, the general lets out a long breath, visibly relieved. A smile forms on his face before he realizes it, his body instinctively relaxing. But Daniel stops him immediately.
"Don't celebrate just yet," he says, raising a hand to cut the enthusiasm before it builds. "I didn't design the Jaeger Core to power cities. At least not originally."
The general's expression shifts, alert.
"Then what was its original purpose?" he asks, more measured now, clearly intrigued.
Daniel smiles again, this time with a touch of reservation.
"That's a secret... for later."
Ironwood watches him closely for a few seconds, evaluating whether to press further, but ultimately nods without pushing.
"I see."
"And how long would it take you to modify it for urban use?" he adds, now sounding more practical.
"I'd say half a day," Daniel replies without hesitation, repeating what GLaDOS is feeding him through the earpiece.
The response seems to please the general, who nods again, visibly reassured. However, that calm only lasts a few seconds.
"However," Daniel continues, his tone more serious now, "I need to make it clear that I'm not willing to sell the blueprints to Atlas."
The general's smile freezes instantly. He doesn't lose his composure, but there's a clear effort to stay relaxed. His expression shifts from anticipation to something much more rigid.
"I assume you have a good reason for saying that?" he asks, attempting neutrality, though the pressure behind his voice still seeps through.
"Yes," Daniel replies firmly. "This is a technology I can't hand over exclusively. I intend to build Jaeger Cores in other kingdoms as well. That's been part of my plan from the beginning. So giving Atlas full control just isn't an option."
There's a brief pause, only a few seconds, but the impact is clear. Still, the general doesn't seem as frustrated as one might expect. His expression gradually changes, becoming more contemplative.
Weiss, who had remained silent until then, gently reaches over and takes Daniel's hand. She gives him a soft smile, subtle, but full of pride.
"But that doesn't mean Atlas can't have a Jaeger Core of its own," Daniel continues, without looking away from the general. "I'm confident we can come to a fair agreement."
"I believe we can make it work," Ironwood says with a slight nod.
"How long would it take to build one of these?" he asks next, staying on track.
Daniel falls silent for a couple of seconds, doing quick mental math while GLaDOS gives him the exact figure through the comm.
"Two weeks," he finally says. "If we have all the necessary materials."
The general is about to ask another question when GLaDOS's voice cuts through the room, loud and clear through the speakers.
"Confirmed. Atlas already has the materials necessary to begin construction of the Jaeger Core."
The general nods in acknowledgment.
"Thank you for the confirmation."
"So you can start right away?" Weiss asks, her barely contained excitement slipping into her voice.
"If only it were that simple," Ironwood replies, slowly shaking his head. "And if only I had the authority to approve something like this on my own. But a project of this magnitude requires full Council approval."
Weiss frowns, this time making no effort to hide her displeasure.
"But surely they'll agree, right? I mean, how could anyone object to this?"
The general shakes his head again.
"It won't be that simple," he says, letting out a short breath as he shifts slightly in his seat.
"The Council won't commit Atlas's remaining resources to a generator that hasn't been tested yet. We're going to need Pietro's formal endorsement as a scientist, confirming that the Jaeger Core works. And of course, we'll need my direct support as well."
He pauses.
"That said, I'm confident they'll approve it. But until then, all we can do is begin mobilizing materials and selecting the construction site."
Daniel and Weiss both nod silently.
"And about the price…" the general continues, turning to him, but Daniel raises a hand, cutting him off before he can finish the sentence.
"You'll have to discuss that with my financial advisor," he says, tilting his head toward Weiss, still seated beside him.
She blinks, clearly surprised by the mention. She wasn't expecting that.
"That seems reasonable," the general replies after a brief moment of thought, though his expression tightens slightly. "But I have to ask… isn't there a conflict of interest?"
An awkward silence follows. Daniel and Weiss exchange a quick glance, not quite understanding.
"Could you clarify?" Daniel asks, direct.
The general shifts his attention to Weiss before responding.
"If the Jaeger Core works as you've described, it would mean billions in long-term losses for the SDC. And she…" he gestures slightly toward Weiss, "…is the direct heir."
Daniel stares at him intently.
"Are you asking if Weiss can be trusted?"
Before Ironwood can respond, Weiss speaks up. Her voice is calm, but firm.
"I understand your concerns, General," she says, looking him straight in the eye. "But let me be clear: I follow the ideals of my grandfather, Nicholas Schnee. Not my father's. My goal is to help as many people as I can—not to maximize profits."
She holds his gaze, pausing briefly.
"I hope that's enough to answer your question."
The general studies her for a few seconds longer, then nods, his expression softening slightly.
"I'm glad to hear that," he replies, in a more relaxed tone, but he doesn't stop there. "There's still something I want to discuss with you," he adds, turning his gaze back to Daniel.
"And I assume GLaDOS has already mentioned it to you."
"The creation of another GLaDOS unit, dedicated exclusively to the control and management of Atlas and Mantle," Daniel replies without hesitation.
The general nods immediately, as if he'd been expecting that.
"The GLaDOS unit has shown exceptional capability in administration, control, efficiency… and decision-making," he says seriously.
"Frankly, I can't imagine a functional Atlas without her presence."
Daniel already knew that: GLaDOS had informed him beforehand. Still, he decides to play along.
"I had already considered your request, General. And I can handle the creation of a new GLaDOS unit—or at least an equivalent version—designed specifically for the safety and oversight of Atlas."
He pauses before continuing, this time with a firmer tone.
"But of course, that means Atlas will have to agree to certain conditions. Among them: no disclosure of the technology… and under no circumstances may it be dismantled or replicated."
As Daniel lists the conditions, the general shows no signs of discomfort. His face remains neutral, attentive, even slightly pleased with the terms.
"Acceptable terms," he replies bluntly. "Do you need anything else?"
"Yes," Daniel nods immediately. "I'll need a lab to begin construction of the new GLaDOS unit and to make the necessary modifications to the Jaeger Core."
He pauses for a couple of seconds in thought, then adds, "I'd also like it to be a private lab—just for me—but with surveillance, for safety. Do you think you can arrange that?"
The general nods naturally, as if everything had already been planned.
"GLaDOS already prepared a lab with everything you'll need," he informs him. "And I've assigned some of my best huntsmen to keep watch over it. You won't be at risk."
Daniel smiles, satisfied. "Perfect."
"The Council meeting will be tomorrow," the general continues without missing a beat. "That will be the best time to present the modified Jaeger Core."
"It'll be ready," Daniel assures him confidently. He adjusts his jacket and stands up. "If that's all, I'll take my leave. There's a lot to get done."
"You're free to go," Ironwood replies as he rises as well, offering his hand in farewell.
Daniel and Weiss stand without another word. They leave the office with steady steps, walking together through the long corridors of the base. They remain silent for the first few seconds, until Daniel breaks the silence.
"The amount they gave us for the schematics—did it seem fair to you?" he asks, glancing sideways at her.
He'd already heard GLaDOS say it was very generous, but he wanted Weiss's opinion directly.
"It was more than expected," she replies without hesitation, folding her arms. "But, considering the requests they made, I can only assume it was a strategy to win your goodwill."
She sighs, resigned. "I suppose now it's my job to estimate how much they should pay for full usage of the Jaeger Core."
She pauses briefly before continuing.
"And also for the creation of the new GLaDOS."
That makes Daniel turn his head and look at her, curious. "We're charging them for the GLaDOS too? I didn't think we were going to bill for that."
Weiss brings a hand to her forehead, clearly frustrated. "Of course we're going to charge them for that!"
As soon as he hears her, a mocking smile spreads across Daniel's face. "I thought you followed your grandfather's ideals. What happened to not chasing maximum profit?"
"Don't twist things," Weiss replies, turning toward him with a firm gaze. "We're not charging abusive prices. The Jaeger Core and the new GLaDOS are technologies of extremely high value. Atlas can afford them, and all we're asking for is what's fair."
She pauses briefly before adding, in a more serious tone:
"And if you really plan to build a company, you're going to need way more capital than you have now."
Daniel nods slowly, processing each word.
"But if you're worried that the amount they paid us for the schematics was excessive," she continues calmly, "you should know it doesn't even represent one percent of Atlas's annual budget."
He blinks, clearly surprised. "How do you know that?"
Weiss shoots him a dry look that says more than any explanation could.
"Ah… right. Heir to the SDC. I guess you already know that kind of thing."
They soon reached the lab sector. Two Huntsmen were already stationed at the entrance, standing alert and upright. As soon as they saw him, they snapped to attention.
"I guess this is where we part ways," he says, stopping in front of the door.
Weiss nodded without saying a word. She stepped closer, gave him a short kiss on the lips, and offered him one last look before turning and walking away down the hallway. Daniel watched her until she turned the corner.
Upon entering, the door sealed behind him, and he immediately activated the lock from the inside.
He quickly placed Aegis on one of the nearest worktables and stretched forcefully, letting out a low groan as he released the tension in his back.
"Ahhh," he grunted, shaking out his arms a bit. "I'm guessing it's safe to talk in here?" he asked aloud, directing the question to the air.
"It is," GLaDOS responded through one of the many speakers mounted along the lab walls.
Immediately, the lab's systems came to life: robotic arms began to move, reorganizing tools, calibrating panels, and preparing materials.
Daniel watched the scene with curiosity as he approached a central table. "So… you're going to build them a 'GLaDOS'?" he asked, emphasizing the air quotes with his fingers.
"If you mean something functionally similar to me, then yes," GLaDOS replied with total calm.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't think you'd want to help Atlas. Looks like you're changing…"
He tried to keep talking, but GLaDOS cut him off without hesitation. "It's to maintain control over Atlas and divert resources and funds without me having to be present."
Daniel let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, I figured it'd be something like that."
"If you're bored, I left you a few things to keep you entertained over the next few hours," GLaDOS added.
That caught his attention. Daniel looked around and quickly spotted a small set of weights in one corner of the lab. He walked over casually, picked one up effortlessly, and examined it.
"Aww, how thoughtful. You were thinking of me," he said in a mocking tone, swinging it in one hand.
"Shut up and stop distracting me from my work," GLaDOS replied instantly in her usual tone.
"Love you too," Daniel responded with a smile before returning to Aegis to begin his workout routine.
For the next couple of hours, he focused on exercising, repeating sets mechanically. Although he kept his discipline, his lack of interest soon became obvious. Eventually, he dropped a dumbbell onto the bench with a long sigh.
"I'm bored."
"You could still train a bit more," Aegis suggested from nearby.
Daniel shook his head, lifting one of the weights with one hand and spinning it on a finger like a toy.
"These things are way too light. I'm not getting any real effort out of this."
"I figured that might happen," GLaDOS commented. "That's why I also left you that box."
Daniel turned his head and noticed a small wooden box sitting on one of the tables. It had no slots, no locks, no visible mechanism of any kind. He walked over, examined it closely, and frowned.
"What is this?" he asked, turning it over in his hands.
"A puzzle box," GLaDOS replied. "After analyzing your cognitive capacity, I calculated it'll take you at least six hours to open it. I put a banana inside for motivation. Have fun."
The mocking tone didn't go unnoticed. Daniel looked at her, clearly offended, then turned back to the box as if it were challenging him.
"A few hours? Come on… there's no way a stupid box is going to beat me."
[Two hours later]
"Stupid box! And stupid GLaDOS!" he growled, slamming the box down on the table in frustration.
"I'm not doing this anymore. I have better things to do than sit here solving a pointless puzzle."
"Don't give up," GLaDOS replied, amused. "You've almost solved 10%."
"Shut up!" Daniel snapped, grabbing a screwdriver from the tool bench. He walked over to a ventilation grate.
"Going out that way?" GLaDOS asked curiously.
"Yeah," he answered, starting to remove the screws. "I'm going to look for that cat Faunus. Neon. I really want her Semblance."
It didn't take him long to remove the grate. But just before crawling into the shaft, he paused for a second.
"Oh, almost forgot," he said, walking back to the table, grabbing the wooden box, and hurling it hard against the floor. It broke open with a dry crack, releasing an intact banana that bounced slightly on the tiles.
"I earned this!" he declared, picking it up and starting to eat it without a trace of guilt. He paused only to look at Aegis.
"I'm guessing you're not coming?"
"To watch you fuck? No, thank you. But how considerate of you," Aegis replied sarcastically.
"Figured as much," Daniel said, finishing the banana and heading back to the vent. Without much thought, he slid into the duct.
"Try not to get spotted," GLaDOS warned as she watched him disappear.
"Don't worry," he replied from inside. "I'll be very discreet."
As he crawled through the ventilation shaft, Daniel mentally traced the route toward the dorms. He wasn't worried about getting lost. Ever since his body had changed, his senses were far beyond normal, especially his sense of smell. Once he got close, all he'd need to do was follow Neon's scent.
With a faint smile on his face, he picked up the pace. He knew exactly what his next objective was.
-/-
More images of things that might (or might not) happen in the future:
[Images]
-//-
Author's Note:
Did you like the chapter? I hope so! It turned out pretty long, almost 5.3k words… I honestly didn't expect that.
I'm surprised by how many comments in Spanish I find—since I also speak Spanish!
Other than that… hmm, not much else to say. I've had little time lately, so I haven't been able to write chapters during the week.
Oh, and I also wanted to let you know that there are lots of +18 chapters coming, quite a few, actually, and some back to back (if my timeline doesn't change). So leave your ideas—I love reading them! Or maybe a review, I don't know… maybe that'll motivate me to write faster.
Anyway…
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER: THE GREAT CAT VS DOG SHOWDOWN!
Now it's personal.
[Image]
Kisses and hugs. 🐈❤️🐟