I wake up, now back in my body. I hear the aquanauts down one of the halls… are they cooking something? It doesn't smell like anything I've ever had before.
Diantha is sitting on the sofa near me. "Morning," she says. "You awake yet?"
"Uhm, Diantha, right? Mostly," I reply, sitting up. "What's up?"
"You're Gen 3's leader."
"I suppose so. Are you Gen 4's leader?" I ask, trying to be cordial.
"Fight me. One on one." She stands up, looking resolute.
"Uh, sure." I also stand up. "Weapons or no?"
"I don't have any right now. Meet me in the battle room."
"This place has a battle room?" I'm impressed. What doesn't this place have?
"Hmph." She walks down the hall.
Vernicia watches her go. "Weird. I thought she'd warmed up to us by now," she says.
"She's warmed up to us," Rurin clarifies.
I shrug and walk down the way Diantha went. Sure enough, there's the battle room behind a silver door with a fist painted on it.
Inside, Diantha is standing there, arms crossed.
"I know that look." I take off my gauntlets and toss them on the floor.
"Good." Dia immediately comes at me with a punch to my face, which I parry.
Then I reply with a high kick, which Dia flips backwards to dodge. Then her foot comes up and nails me in the stomach. I've taken worse, though. I grab her leg and throw her back.
"Tch!" Dia hop-skips away before I can follow up.
"Huh. You're pretty fast," I remark. "If your kick had more power, I'd have been in trouble."
"I want you to know something," she says, dropping her stance.
"Heh?"
"What I was doing before you and your peeps blew up the House of Steel," she says.
"This again? Er, I mean, s-sorry," I stammer.
"Shut. Listen," she instructs with a firm finger. I silently sit down.
"Fern actually had a dream about it a week earlier," she says. "He said it would kill him and maybe one other person. I didn't believe him, though. I believed in the power of defying fate."
"Er, what does fate have to do with…" I trail off at her glare.
"But when it happened, I was forced to choose," Dia continues. "Hate you for killing my peeps, or love you for freeing us? I admit, it took me a while to see the other side of things."
She starts pacing in a circle. "You should know, while we were at Tasmil I snapped at Verni and almost blew our cover. I still don't know if what you did was warranted or necessary, and maybe we'll never know, but at least you took the chance and made the mistake, right?"
She pauses, standing still again. I squint, trying to gauge if she wants me to respond or not.
"It made me realize how… afraid I was. I'm still afraid, even now," she sighs. "You, on the other hand… well. I suppose there's a reason everyone follows you."
"Um…" I scratch my head. "Are you gonna challenge me for the throne?"
Diantha looks at me funny for a second, then shakes her head. "Hells, Kit… you're so stupid."
"S-shut up! I don't need to hear that from you!"
"I've already made up my mind to fly with you. Despite everything that happens, you never look back, for better or for worse," she continues. "You know, there are only two ways we'll be free from this miserable existence – destroying the powers that made us, or dying in the process."
"Dying, huh," I murmur.
"Angie always believed we'd get another chance. If not in this life, then the next. And you were already trying to fight them… even if you were being reckless and dumb about it. And while I'm alive, well, birds of a feather should stick together, yeah?"
"Um…" I twirl a ponytail.
Diantha rolls her eyes. "I swear there's a breeze blowing between your ears."
"Quit that," I protest.
"Then quit looking like your brain cell is overclocked!" She boops me on the nose, then saunters out of the battle room.
"What…" I stare after her, befuddled.
Afterwards, I find myself back in the foyer. My pack is on the couch where I'd tossed it last night. Hum, my pack…
I pull out the watertight bag of clothes I'd purchased in the Seaburgs. The receipt is in there too… subtotal, 55.59 darmas. With how excited that saleswoman was, I guess it's a lot. Can't believe I forgot about it until now.
The outfit looks just as nice as it did in the dressing room. The seals those Seaburg people use really are top-notch.
As I finish securing my scarf and sash, Vernicia walks in, then stops short upon noticing me.
"Oh, hey Verni," I absently acknowledge, observing myself in a mirror.
"Kit." There's a dangerous tone in her voice, for some reason. "Where did you learn to dress like that?"
"Some saleswoman in the Seaburgs. Youya, if I remember correctly."
"How in the HELLS did you afford a Youya fit?! You!" Verni's looking really agitated now. "Or… no, don't tell me… did you really? I mean, I would never, not from Youya, but you probably don't respect their couture like I do… still, I didn't think you'd have it in you…"
"What? I didn't steal it." I hand her the receipt.
"Huh, an outlet in Shellshuck. Noted." She hands it back to me. "I won't ask where you got the funds. Scoundrel's honor."
"I didn't steal the money, either!" I aim a kick at her, and she deftly dodges it. "Jim gave it to me. I told you about him, didn't I?"
"In passing. Why'd he give you so much?"
"I dunno," I shrug.
"Why'd you spend it all on clothes?"
"Uh… that… wasn't planned," I feebly reply. "She was just… really convincing."
"Ah yes, the infallible salesman's tact. I'll have to give you pointers on resisting it later."
Off to the side, I notice the Guy also staring at me. Then he sees me watching and quickly walks back to the desk. What's up with him?
"I knew it," Vernicia whispers. Then she claps my shoulder. "It's a good fit! You should keep it a while."
"It is comfy," I nod. I wonder how durable it is…
The following night, my ghostly self rises into the sky. I briefly wonder if I should try that tower again, but if the aquanauts haven't been able to get in for years, what makes my chances any better?
(Found you,) something says. (Follow me.)
I turn and see another spirit floating near me. (It's you! …um, who are you again? I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves,) I tell her.
(No time for that. We gotta meet up before they find her.)
(Who?) I'm slightly confused.
(I think right now she's out walking her pets,) the ghost says. (Good thing she's close.)
(Uh…?) With little else to go on, I follow her past the coast. Flying over the trees is someone I never thought I'd see again.
(Pex? Pex! Y-you're… she's alive!) She's covered in dirt, but otherwise she looks okay. And the long leashes she's holding are connected to four bizarre winged creatures I've never seen before.
(Hey, Pex,) the ghost says. As we draw closer, the creatures grow excited, making strange warbling sounds.
"Guys, stop tangling the lines! Hi, Macy," Pex says, looking at her. "Find anything interesting?"
I look at the ghost as well. (Macy. You're Macy?)
(Yeah,) Macy confirms. (Where'd you find your pets?)
"Hmm… some kinda facility by a lake further inland," Pex answers. "Super pretty, but there was this thing guarding the place. Real cold, real mean. I hope these fellas are important."
The pieces suddenly fly together in my ethereal mind. (W-wait! Are those pets the protoforms?!)
On closer inspection, I can see similar traits – tough scales coating their bodies and four slim wings. Other than that, though, they're clearly more like animals, with four legs and slightly curved beaks. Scaly bird dogs.
I look back up at Pex, but she still doesn't see me.
Macy looks over at me. (Seems like you don't know how to unveil yourself yet.)
(Uh… does that mean she can't see me at all?) I ask, feeling glum.
"Hum?"
(Nothing. So your pets are protoforms?) Macy asks. What did she call it, unveiling? I'll have to figure out how that works later…
"Yeah. P181, P182, P183, and P184, according to their tags."
(Well, I'm glad it went well for one of you,) Macy replies.
"What happened with the other guys?"
(Larry's investigation led to a dead end in the midlands, and Roy's led to his death. You're all that's left.)
"Ahh, crap," Pex mutters. "What about you?"
(Gen 3 and Gen 4 are working together,) Macy states. (They'll be able to succeed where we and Gen 2 didn't.)
"Good. I'll stay on the search."
(Watch yourself. The powers are starting to get serious.)
"Don't worry. I won't yield even if they catch me." She flies down into the trees, the protoforms following close.
(Well, that should do for our updates.) Macy turns to me. (See you later?)
(Y-yeah,) I reply.
WHFF!
Morning arrives in the submarine mansion. I'm still not sure how my ghost mode ends with me getting sleep, but honestly I'm not complaining.
I start walking around the mansion. Might as well take a look around while we're here.
As I walk past a side room, I hear Quill's voice: "…a rail-thin person, wreathed in white flames! And the very next day, his daughter turned up missing."
"N-no kidding?" Diantha sounds scared, for some reason.
"That isn't the end, isn't it?" Vernicia asks. "Come on, does it come back for his son, too?"
"Hey, quit getting ahead of me," Quill replies.
Some kinda ghost story, I guess? Funny, those don't scare me anymore. I wonder why.
Later I end up walking back to the foyer, where the Guy is still sleeping at the desk. The laptop is on, humming quietly.
I pick it up. The files he's unlocked are cluttering the screen, but at least they're clearly labeled. I start clicking through them.
Most of the files are emails and letters with half the words in them blacked out. Not too useful. One file catches my eye, though – it's labeled ATECH_VIPPersonnel1. I open it.
It's a roster! With photos and names!!
The document starts with a roster of investors, but half of the names and pictures are blacked out. The rest of the list, though…
(183) Murane Imran – Terminated
(183) Samuela Imran – Owner of Sirius Tower. Terminated
(183) Zina Lars – Terminated
(183) Noren Lars – Terminated
(183) Sophocles Laker – Researcher. Terminated
(183) Delia Laker – Mage and researcher. Terminated
(183) Damiel Borohon – Terminated
(183) Melinda Borohon – Seer and ex-researcher. Detained
(184) Senna Foxx – Lead researcher. Terminated (See special investigation logs)
(184) Burnie Foxx – ########### ##########'s CFO. Terminated
(184) Tori White– Terminated
(184) Troy White – Mage. Terminated
(184) Marlow Obe – Terminated
(184) Hexanna Obe – Mage. Terminated
(184) Sally Halley – Terminated
(184) Orson Halley – Researcher. Terminated
My parents… I've never seen their faces before now. My mom's intense gaze, my dad's light blue hair. Both labeled Terminated. I sigh inwardly.
My gaze then wanders back to Melinda's entry. Detained. I guess that isn't true anymore. How old is this document anyway?
Then there's Senna Foxx… what did she do to warrant a special investigation on top of termination?
I scroll down to a smaller roster of keepers. Fortunately, far fewer things are blacked out.
(K181) Mac Torvalt – Terminated
(K182) Ember Villi – Unknown
(K183) Joseph Adams – Active
(K184) Alana Nikos – Active
(K185) Bertram Lee – Terminated
(K186) #### ### – Terminated
I recall my biotool ID, 183-A. I also remember the aquanauts talking about Bertram. These lists seem to match up with what we know so far, but… what's the point when most everyone here is dead?
My gaze wanders down to the bottom of the document. There's still something else. I scroll down and see a lone blacked-out photo.
(F0) ### #####-##### Cryos – No access. Submit all inquiries to K183.
K183? Weird. I never heard Joseph mention anyone named Cryos before. And I obviously can't ask him now. But if this person is on the roster, maybe they're important.
"Oh well," I sigh, closing the laptop. "We'll figure this stuff out eventually. I hope."
"Yo, fly guys," Ana calls. "Zed's making breakfast. Get it while it's hot!"
"Mmph?" The guy stirs. "What time is it? I don't usually sleep in like this…"
"Morning, Marc," I say. "I still haven't found the clock, so no clue."
"The laptop has a clock, doesn't it…?" He sits up, blinking for a moment. "Wait! Did you just call me by my real name?"
"Don't let it get to your head! I was just trying it out for size, is all," I say, then I quickly leave before he can reply.
Later in the day, I hear Rurin and Vernicia up in the loft on the third floor. I fly up to take a look, but as I land, my foot slips on a thing of paper and I fall over.
"Oof! What the," I mutter.
"Hey, watch the goods," Vernicia chides.
"Goods?" I pick up the thing I slipped on – an issue of a comic I'd never heard of.
"Oogh, it's ripped," Rurin says. "That issue was meh, anyway. You wouldn't be missing much if you skipped it."
"Or slipped it," Verni snickers.
"Janine's bringing up food soon," I tell them. "Where'd the others go?"
"The main archive, I think. There's a lot more where these came from."
"How'd they even get this stuff down here? Like, without it getting ruined," I wonder.
"Bubble tanker. It's a thing in underwater homes apparently, especially if there's no aquarail access," Rurin explains. "It's basically a sea elevator boat wagon."
"A… what?"
"Told you she wouldn't get it." Vernicia tapes the ripped issue together. "You'll need to see it for yourself, really. Or just use it. You can get topside without ruining your clothes."
"Oh!" That does sound helpful. Less tedious than trying to swim every time, anyway. I mean, obviously the aquanauts would be fine, but even then…
As they continue sifting through the rest of the comics, I pick up an issue of Furry Knight. I remember seeing these in the safe house's rec room, but… #177? Have there always been this many issues?
Diantha bumps me with her foot. "What're you spacing out for? Hold these."
"Huh?" I'm suddenly carrying six books in my arms. "H-hey! Where am I supposed–"
"They're good reads," Dia tells me, then smirks. "I'm sure even you can understand them."
"Shut up! Don't patronize me," I retort, walking to a cozy-looking corner. "Just 'cause I don't read much doesn't make me illiterate," I grumble. What did she even dump on me? I look at the titles – Legends of the Grand Titans.
"Hmm?" I open the first one.
Once in the past, Titans walked the land, the sky, and the sea. Cities rose and fell, peoples came and left, but the Titans yet remained.
Four Titans stood more powerful than the rest: Lana-Bo'zan of the plains, Terk-Lan of the sea, Bom'basan of the sky, and Musuphan of the sands. They were called the Grand Titans. These are the tales of their blessings and curses, wanderings and musings…
I close the last book. Lana-Bo'zan really is the coolest. Nothing can beat a woman who towers over mountains.
"Oh, really?" Marc is now standing over me. "Is she like a role model? You could say you look up to her."
"Wh-!" I look up, face reddening. "Shut up. Don't read my mind without permission."
"Since when have I ever needed permission? And anyway, your resistance is way too low to stop me even if you wanted to," he replies.
I begin to wonder if his skin-armor can withstand a full force Shurikit special.
"Okay, fine!" Marc raises his hands. "I was just curious 'cause you've been reading those books for the entire day. Have you even eaten?"
"I'm still fine. Where'd my comrades go?"
"The dining hall. I think the aquanauts made something else. They're really good cooks."
"Right then. I'll let you off this time," I decide, then fly down towards the dining hall. Sure enough, Rurin and Vernicia are sitting with the aquanauts, eating tasty-looking food.
"There you are, Kit." Vernicia waves. "What's up?"
"The other day, I figured out where the protoforms went," I begin.
"Awesome! Spill the beans," Rurin calls.
"Heh heh… Pex has them," I triumphantly declare. "Wherever she is now, the protoforms are safe!"
"So she made it out alive after all," Vernicia nods. "How'd you find her?"
"I… uhm, it's hard to explain, actually," I reply. "But the point is, we don't have to worry about them anymore."
"I'm glad some progress is being made," Marc puffs, out of breath.
"Yeah? As if you aren't a walking clue!" I turn on him. "Tell us about your silver bits!"
"I told you, I don't know much, so don't be too disappointed," he tells me. "First of all, my plating is called biometal. It's been a part of me all my life. And because of it, I can wear any of the AE-designated battlesuits."
"Sounds like a lot of info to me," I note.
"You think so? I know nothing about its origin or how it does what it does," Marc shrugs. "Also, apparently I've got some connection to this secret project called Cryos. I mean, that's what I picked up from Kisha."
"Oh yeah, Cryos was in one of those files you unlocked. But there wasn't any photo," I recall.
"It's 'cause he's a legend," Quill chimes in. "Bertram told us about it once."
"For all the talk about him, though… no one really knows exactly what he is. Or was," Janine says.
"Well, someone's gotta know besides Joseph, right?" I twirl a ponytail. "Though considering what I read, he's probably the only one who maintained consistent contact with him."
"That… doesn't really help us," Rurin mumbles.
"I know! but it's better than nothing," I reply. "If we can somehow hunt down this Cryos person, maybe we can get answers about A-Tech and Joseph and maybe even Atticus and whoever else is at the top!"
"So he isn't just a myth?" Zed looks intrigued.
"He can't be; there's documentation of him. And it's there for a reason," Marc tells him. "So if we can learn about him somehow, we'll have our biggest lead yet."
Vernicia shrugs. "Better than nothing."
"Umm… wait a sec, guys." Rurin looks like he's realized something.
"What?"
"If Joseph was the only one who worked with Cryos… and this project was so top secret that not even his own son would know about it… hey, have you ever seen Joseph without long sleeves? Or pants?"
"Um…" I think for a second. "Hmm?"
"I've always wondered why he used a cane when he's not even that old," Vernicia says.
"Maybe Cryos was unsuccessful," Rurin speculates. "Like, it affected his body in a bad way, and now he's kind of crippled."
"Um, wait. The roster listed Joseph and Cryos as separate people," I tell them. "If he really was Cryos–"
"Classic diversionary tactic!" Vernicia raises a finger. "If we THINK they're separate people, then it'll dispel any suspicions, and the secret would be safe!"
"Guys, listen! If they're the same, we'll be double scuffed," I remind them.
"Oh yeah. Joseph is dead." Rurin sits back down.
"Cryos would be dead too, huh…" Vernicia closes her eyes, now deep in thought.
"As it stands, we have no real way of knowing right now. I'll go crack more files later, though. Maybe something will come up," Marc says, turning to leave.
Rurin sighs. "Another needle, another haystack."