>>44412410

The clerk looks up in thought. “We should be finished by the end of today, so any time tomorrow is fine to pick it up.”

“Perfect.” Ivan announces and then pauses in thought. He shakes his head suddenly and then turns back to you. “Let’s go introduce you to the rest of the brave squad, Oren.” He tries to wrap an arm around your shoulder, but you evade his attempts.

~

The two of you walk out of the Main Research Center with Ivan excitedly detailing the training ground where the two of you are headed.

“The Vice Admiral is very kind to provide with such an ample and well stocked area to train, don’t you think?” Ivan asks as you follow him back to the main paths.

“Yeah, sure sounds like it.” You look around, slightly distracted, observing the new area that you find yourself in.

“He himself is a very generous man.” Ivan says with a strangely calm voice while looking straight ahead. “What do you think, Oren?”

Something about the way he asks unsettles you slightly. You’re looking down at the map, trying to match the path you’re taking, as he asks you. You look up, and the buildings don’t seem to match what you should be seeing. Maybe, you read something wrong, but how could you have lost track of where you are so quickly? You turn to Ivan.

>”Yeah, I think so too.”

>”Maybe he’s too generous…”

>Write in.

>>44412447
>”Yeah, I think so too.”

>>44412447
>”Yeah, I think so too.”
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth

>>44412447
>”Yeah, I think so too.”

Hello and welcome back to another thread, everyone! I hope that your Christmas was a pleasant one.

>>44412488
>>44412533
>>44412611
Agreeing with the sentiment.

>Writing

>>44412621

You nod to yourself. “Yeah, I think so too.”

He did completely set you up so that you need not worry about personal finances for the first time in your entire life, who are you to be ungrateful?

“Hmm, that’s right, isn’t it?” Ivan murmurs to himself.

You turn your attention back to what’s in front of you, and you suddenly find yourself east main path.

But weren’t you further away from it, and there had to be another building in the way, at least according to the map. The map has to be wrong... but it lead you around just fine until now. You feel frustration burn inside you.

Preoccupied by your confusion, you instinctively head to cross the main path.

Ivan laughs behind you. “Where you headed, Oren?”

“Aren’t we going this way?” You turn and respond, growing increasingly impatient.

“We sure are.” He points to his right. “But the sub-rail will take us there faster.”

You turn and watch as several students walk into an underground opening near the main path. You sigh quietly in annoyance. Here you’ve been walking everywhere like an ignorant yokel.

You start to head toward the sub-rail, but Ivan holds out an arm to stop you. “No, actually, we’ll walk.” He smiles confidently. “Our bodies will be better for it, but for all the unfortunately unhealthy others, we can only silently lament.”

Ivan marches ahead, not allowing a word of resistance from you.

[1/2]

>>44413356

As you proceed through the southeast quadrant of the school, you double check your map and compare it to what’s around you. It’s completely spot on for this area, so that’s a relief.

As you look back up, a strange sight catches your eye. High above the moving crowds, a singular large white bird is perched on a ledge. The size of it, and the coif of blue feathers growing atop of its head is exactly alike the one you saw encaged near the Vice Admiral’s office. It stares deeply into you, just the same...

It must be common for the area.

You finally pull your gaze away from it, and your entire body is overcome with a wave of vertigo that blurs your vision completely, stopping you in your tracks. Inexplicably, as the sensation gains strength, your thoughts feel almost separate from your body. But the feeling is extremely short-lived as the vertigo begins to pass.

“Are you alright, Oren?” You hear Ivan’s muffled voice ask you as you recover.

Soon enough, you regain your footing, and the world becomes visible again. You look up in the exact same place you did before the strange wave of dizziness, not only to not find the bird perched there anymore, but an entire different building standing there.

This fucking bizarre. You try to make sense of it, as your stomach wavers. You finally catch your breath and turn to a perplexed looking Ivan.

Delusions are a common side-effect of extended stasis, so that has to be it. Trying to explain what you been feeling beyond that is just ridiculous, isn’t it?

>”I’m just getting over my stasis.”

>Attempt to explain your symptoms.

>Write in.

>>44413405
>>Attempt to explain your symptoms.

>>44413405
>”I’m just getting over my stasis.”

>>44413405
>>Attempt to explain your symptoms.
>>”I’m just getting over my stasis.”

>>44413405
>”I’m just getting over my stasis.”
I don't like or trust this guy.

>>44413405
>>”I’m just getting over my stasis.”

>>44413405
>”I’m just getting over my stasis.”

>>44413405
>"I'm just getting over my stasis."

>>44413461
>>44413508
>>44413533
>>44413536
>>44413559
Nothing for him to worry about.

>Writing

>>44413604

You quickly shake it off and return to normal. “I’m just getting over my stasis.” You assure him. “That’s all.”

He nods, accepting your explanation. “I remember the feeling.” He looks toward a nearby bench. “Let’s take a break. There’s no shame in giving your body the rest it requires.”

He begins to head off, but you stop him. “I’m fine.” You state with confidence. “Let’s get going.” You motion for him to lead the way.

“Right.” He grins and turns back. “I’ve been wanting to introduce you to the others of our impressive squad. No more delays!” He announces loudly enough to attract the attention of several people nearby.

~

Ivan leads you into a large hangar-like building, and after a few short hallways, you find yourself in front of the training ground. A sprawling covered field of hard rubber flooring. In the distance are numerous towering training obstacles and beyond that are equipment sheds, all heavily secured

But, what’s immediately in front of you catches you attention far more than any of that.

Two people in full combat frames spar just a few yards ahead of you. You watch on in fascination, never having seen a frame used in this way before.

[1/2]

>>44414249

The two slight and similarly sized opponents fight each other without any weapons equipped to their frame. The one donned in a dark grey and white plated frame dominates the fight. The user runs and maneuvers with structured elegance, but attacks viciously with a flurry of heavy blows. The other, in a completely black frame does their best to simply defend against the onslaught, but is quickly downed with a spinning elbow to the chest.

The user of the black frame is slammed into the ground from the impact, and slides across the rubber floor stopping near your feet.

The other switches into a calmer stance. “You do nothing but try to anticipate my attacks, and your reactions are too slow to do anything. Keep up that useless style of fighting, and you’re going to get yourself killed.” She announces with utter disdain.

The user in the black frame groans on the ground, probably not hearing a single word. This fight appears to be over in any case.

>Help them up.

>Let them get up on their own.

>Write in.

>>44414273
>>Let them get up on their own.

>>44414273
>Help them up.

>>44414273
>Help them up.

>>44414273
>>Help them up.

>>44414349
>>44414429
>>44414441
A helping hand.

>Writing

>>44414273
>>Help them up.

File: Bliss1.jpg (31 KB, 322x500)

31 KB JPG

>>44414447

You walk around the user on the floor and offer them your hand.

The user in the black frame looks at it, as if confused by the gesture, but then grasps your arm firmly. You pull them up to their feet, clearly not remember how heavy these frames are, or are you doing all the work?

“Match is over, Blissless.” Ivan announces, stepping forward.

The victor removes her helmet, revealing the most serious-looking young woman that you’ve ever seen. She lets down her dark brown hair, but you can’t move past how pissed off she looks.

She walks over to the rest of you. You note that her frame model is the Bliss Model. How appropriate.

“Is this the new member, Squad Leader Ibedo? She directs her attention entirely to Ivan, as if you weren’t actually there.

“At the very least call me Captain in front of the new guy.” Ivan pleads, but hastily recovers his composure. “That’s correct. This is Oren Fisher, you two. We’re now complete again thanks to him.”

She directs her attention toward you mechanically. “Claire Eoatien.” She states flatly. “What is your role in the squad?” Her questions are more demands than anything else.

“Surveyor.” You respond firmly.

She turns back to Ivan, seemingly done with you. “Why is it that they keep placing non-soldiers on our squad? Is this some sort of extended way of killing them off?”

What a bitch.

“Our squad requires more than that.” Ivan emphatically explains. “And their improvement will come in time and with our help.” He grins widely. “Just like I helped you.”

She remains silent after his explanation, and you honestly can’t tell if she’s fuming or if that’s simply her default expression.
Ivan looks behind you. “You haven’t introduced yourself, Wraith.”

[1/2]

File: lu1.jpg (150 KB, 620x620)

150 KB JPG

>>44415330

You turn back to the loser of the match, and watch as he removes his helmet. With slight mess of black hair and dark eyes, he greets you with a polite smile. “Not a self-imposed nickname.” He steps forward and offers his hand. “Luca Urezagi.”

Well, it looks like there’s at least one other normal person on this squad.

You shake his hand.

“Is there actually something of note that you came here today with, Squad Leader Ibedo?” Blissless coldly asks, removing her the arms of her frame.

Alright, that’s enough of that shit.

You let go of Luca’s hand and step toward her. “Listen, I haven’t done anything to you. I don’t even know you.” Your words containing poorly veiled anger. “So unless you care to explain why you’re acting like a massive c-…why you’re acting so foully, I’d appreciate it if you stopped.”

She still doesn’t look at you, but she’s stopped removing her frame. “Perhaps a demonstration of why I know you’re useless.” She slips her gauntlet back on and points to an equipment shed. “Go get a frame.”

Ivan swiftly steps in between the two of you. “Now, now. I’d normally agree to fight to get all the tension out, but Oren here is still recovering from stasis.”

“How about a fight without the frames?” Luca asks quietly.

Ivan appears taken aback, but Blissless merely goes back to removing her frame.

“Fine by me.” She states flatly.

Ivan looks to you, shrugs and steps back.

Well, you’re no stranger to a fight, somehow without a frame it just seems crude, but man, does she deserve to get beat.

>"Without the frame it is."

>"I'll hold off until my own frame is finished."

>Write in.

>>44415381
>"Without the frame it is."

>>44415381
>>"Without the frame it is."
We have to fight this one dirty to stand a chance.

>>44415381
>"Without the frame it is."
We're almost definitely gonna lose, but at least we'll have tried.

>>44415381
>"Without the frame it is."
>"Although I worry if combat is the only measure of ability here."
there's a lot of value in combat, but this sets a bad precedent.

>>44415381

>"Without the frame it is."

>>44415438
>>44415479
>>44415512
>>44415530
>>44415556

Gloves are off.

>Writing

>>44415566

“Without the frame it is.” You announce removing your coat.

She’s incredibly fixated on combat ability, which isn’t even the reason you were put on the squad, but if beating her is what it takes to shut her up…

Ivan collects and moves the pieces of her frame out of the area, and Luca holds onto your coat.

She merely watches you as you stretch out your limbs, and you carefully consider what you’ve seen of her fighting. She’s obviously been trained, but without that frame, she’s just another person, and you’re used to taking on several.

Ivan looks between the two of you as you finish stretching. “You can back out at any time, or I will end it if necessary.”

You nod, focused on your opponent several yards ahead of you. She seems to have put a decent amount of distance between the two of you for some reason.

“Begin!” Ivan announces and quickly drops back.

You watch as suddenly Blissless drops into a controlled sprint of freakish speed, carefully watching you as she approaches.

Easy enough, all you have to block this hit, and she’s your-

Abruptly, after closing the distance, she seemingly drops to the ground. But she catches herself with her left arm, and uses it to pivot her body, and mainly her right leg into a brutal kick which slams straight into your left shoulder.

HOLY SHIT.

[1/2]

>>44416292

You shout and reach for her throat, but she dexterously evades and puts the same distance between you as before. You drop back from the wave of dull pain that reverberates through the entire side of your body. Your left arm hangs like a noodle, and you honestly can’t tell if anything is broken.

You breathe through the pain, you didn’t want to fight dirty, but it might just come to it.

“She fights like a robot.” An annoyed female’s voice announces.

You quickly turn, but find nobody there, in fact, you’re the only who seems to have noticed the voice.

“She leaves exactly three paces of space before moving into her attack.” The voice starts up again. “She doesn’t seem to realize it herself, but get her exactly at that moment, and she’ll be caught off guard.”

“Three paces?” You mumble to yourself.

The voice sighs. “Like…six and a half feet. Oh, here she comes.”

Sure enough, Blissless charges at you in almost the same way as before. You forget about the voice and hastily eye the amount of space, lunging for her just at the right moment.

She moves to transition into her attack, but you’re already there, and she’s far too committed to retreat. You feel your fist dig into the soft flesh of her neck, hear the pained and choked shriek squeeze out from her throat, and watch as she falls to ground, desperately wheezing for air.

Your body instinctively moves to continue, but Ivan already jumps between the two of you. You fall back on your rear, panting, and watch as even as hurt as she is, she pushes Ivan away from her.

You rise to your feet as she slowly recovers on the ground. She glares at you intently as you stand.

>The fight’s over. Help her up.

>The fight’s over. Let her get up on her own.

>Write in.

>>44416327
>The fight’s over. Help her up.
This is us offering an olive branch, if she snubs it? Well fuck her.

>>44416292
yup, sounds about right. Trained fighters are really brutal, and Oren here can't generate enough threat to make kicks too risky.

>>44416327
>why is there a voice in my head? Are Assistants[whatever you call them] supposed to be this useful?

>>44416327
>>The fight’s over. Help her up.

>>44416327
>The fight’s over. Let her get up on her own.
I don't think she would appreciate it.

>>44416383
>>44416388
>>44416395
Another helping hand and a few questions.

>Writing

>>44416522

You step toward and immediately offer your arm, just as you had done for Luca. Unexpectedly, she accepts it without any hesitation, however she’s not through glaring at you. The anger in her eyes seem to speak many words, but the overall impression that you get from them is that this isn’t over.

“Go clean yourselves up.” Ivan points to nearby washrooms. “Come back after you’re done. There’s still something important that I haven’t gone through yet.”

Still clutching her throat, Blissless leaves without another word, and you head off for the adjacent washroom.

Once you find the sinks and mirrors, the first order of business is checking on your arm. You pull up your sleeve to reveal a large, burning, purple and green bruise. Gingerly examining it, you determine that to the best of your knowledge, nothing is broken, but it’ll be a couple of days before you get full use of your arm again.

Thankfully, you’re not shorter than you are, or else you would’ve lost that fight, or lost more. She certainly wasn’t pulling any punches.

You wash your face, recalling the details of fight the best you can in your haze of post-adrenaline recovery. Actually, you would’ve lost that fight even if you weren’t shorter, that is, if it weren’t for that voice, and that voice could’ve only been one thing.

You dry your face and look around to make sure no one’s nearby. “Excuse me…” You tentatively say aloud.

[1/2]

>>44417276

“I’m here.” The voice casually answers back.

You're caught of guard for a moment. “You’re my Analyst, right?” You ask.

“So that’s what I am.” Its voice is pensive.

Isn’t that a default state, even if the memories are cleared?

“Hmm…” It continues. “Oh well, you’re not boring, so I’ll stick around until I figure some stuff out. I’m Ena.”

“Oren Fisher…” You respond, puzzled.

Did that lab clerk clear mess this Analyst or something? But still, it really did help you.

“Are you designed for Combat Analysis?” You ask it, working on a hunch. “Is that why you helped?”

“Why would I be limited to that?” Ena responds with legitimate amusement. “That’d be dull. Anyway, I saw that you needed help, and I wanted to steer you to the right solution, and that’s all there is to it. So how about a thanks?”

“Thank you…” You say quietly, not entirely sure why it’s asking you for thanks.

“You’re welcome.” It responds with an amused voice. “Oh, someone’s coming.”

Just as she said, a few moments later, Luca walks into the washroom with your coat in hand.

“Are you alright, Oren?” He asks with legitimate concern. “That was a bad kick that you took earlier.”

“It’s fine.” You point to your arm. “Not going to be able to sleep on it for a few days, that’s all.”

He sighs in relief. “That’s good to hear.” He turns behind him as if making sure no one’s there. “So, are actually trained in combat or something like that?”

You’re pretty sure that admitting that an Analyst helped you win that fight isn’t going to smooth anything over at all. But you’re not sure if you want to take full credit.

>”Nothing like that. I just got lucky, I think.”

>”I guess. Getting into a lot of fights growing up sure helped me out.”

>Write in.

>>44417310
I wouldn't go that far. I've been in a good amount of fights growing up though.

>>44417310
I fought a lot back home, but I'll admit I got lucky.

>>44417310
>admitting that an Analyst helped you win that fight isn’t going to smooth anything over at all
no it won't, but starting a team off with a lie is asking for trouble
>tell the truth
I'm on to your emergent AI tricks

>>44417310
>"Just a lot of childhood brawls, and a bit of luck."

>>44417310
>>44417373
Seconding.

>>44417310
>”Nothing like that. I just got lucky, I think.”
Don't snitch on the wAIfu

>>44417310
>>”I guess. Getting into a lot of fights growing up sure helped me out.”
Being a slum rat means you learn how to survive being hit though we only won because of our analyst.

>>44417337
>>44417351
>>44417373
>>44417416
>>44417426
I see what you did there.
>>44417444

Overall, synthesizing the two.

>Writing

>>44417310
>>”Nothing like that. I just got lucky, I think.”

Its already too late

>>44417481

“I did get into a lot of fights growing up.” You walk over to a nearby bench and take a seat. “But for this fight, luck did help out quite a bit.”

“I see.” Luca responds thoughtfully, taking a seat next to you. “In the end you won, that’s what’s important.” He sighs. “Wish I could’ve done the same.”

You laugh at his words. “She’s really rough all over, isn’t she?”

He gives you a skeptical look. “That’s one way of putting it.” He laughs softly for a moment. “You just got here, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.” You lean back in thought. “They picked me up on Peugue.”

Luca does his best to mask his bewilderment, but it still shows.

“Don’t worry.” You say assuredly. “I’m starting to think that nobody’s heard of it if they aren’t from there.”

“You could tell me about it.” He states earnestly.

“What?” You take your turn at bemusement. “Uhh, there’s nothing worth telling about.” You quickly stand. “Come on, Ivan’s probably waiting on us.”

He stands and delicately hands you back your coat. “You mean Captain?” He says with a grin.

~

[1/2]

>>44418146

You, Luca, and Blissless stand in line facing Ivan as he observes the three of you for his own satisfaction.

“This is good.” He says aloud, pacing in front of you. “This is how it should be...” He stops suddenly. “I got word from the Vice Admiral about our first mission together.”

He holds up his hand to stop any complaints, but there aren’t any. Blissless stands there with the same expression as always, and Luca appears pleased.

He continues. “The Squad Five runaway has been located. We’re tasked with recovering his equipment and bringing him back for…processing.”

Hmm, runaway. Wonder what he did?

“He’s listed as being hostile, so we’re not going take any chances with him. Full loadout, kill permitted.” Ivan states gravely. “But." He pauses for a moment. "Even though his equipment is the main objective, I think I’ll be able to talk him down.” He nods to himself. “Oren, I’m afraid you’ll be playing back-up for this first one. You’re coming along mainly to observe how our heroic squad acts together, and soon enough you’ll be contributing to our great work.”

Sounds fair enough, considering the fact that you weren’t expecting to see any combat at all.

“Go over the details I sent you.” Ivan directs his attention mainly toward Luca and Blissless. “Departure time is tomorrow afternoon.”

“Understood.” The other two say in unison.

“Good to hear!” Ivan responds cheerfully. “Dismissed.”

~

Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight, and as always, I want to thank everyone that played today.

If you have any questions/comments about the quest, please feel free to post them in the thread, and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time! (Which with any luck will be before New Years.)

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>44418225
how salty is Blissless?

>>44418225
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

I'm proud of myself for making it to the end this time. It's like, proof I'm recovering.

>>44418277
I wouldn't say that she's salty, because as far as you can tell, she's not any more displeased with you after the fight. But, she doesn't like losing.

>>44418278
You're very welcome, and I am very glad to hear that you're on the road to recovery, anon!

>>44418346
Is our AI the one that got collected from our trial with a mindwipe?

>>44418364
No, it is an entirely different AI. (The main way of telling is the different personality types and voices.)

Okay, I'll be stepping out for the night. Until next time, and in case I don't see you before, Happy New Years!