Rapi: "Did you really just take up your post yesterday, Commander?" I nodded my head as her eyes went to the ground.

Rapi: "How can a complete amateur be sent to replace a Commander killed in the line of duty... What were they thinking

Marian: "...What?" Marian's response to what Rapi just said

Rapi: "...Nothing." Rapi then turns her attention to me, "Anyway, you're the Commander of this squad from here on out. If you don't have any objections, I'd like to go over our current courses of action.

Kenji: "I'm fine with that."

Rapi: "Okay, I'll brief you. 46 hours ago, we lost communication with a Nikke squad that was patrolling this area. They went completely dark, so we decided to send out a search party. During our search, an accident resulted in the death of our former Commander."

Kenji: ('I wonder what happened to their Commander...)

Anis: "The only problem is that the deceased Commander was the one who knew the coordinates to our destination. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" I just sighed.

Kenji: "Sadly, no."

Anis: "I figured as much."

Marian: "I know the coordinates."

Anis: "Yeah, I figured that too." Anis said but realized what Marian just said, "Huh?"

Marian: "That information was input into my system when I was sent out on this operation. I'll take the lead. Follow me." Marian offered herself.

Anis: "Oh... Okay."

Marian: "And you, are you called Rapi?" Marian questions Rapi as Rapi looked at her with questioning but normal like on her face.

Marian: "You failed to protect your former Commander. Who are you to call someone else a novice? They're putting their lives on the line just like we are."

Kenji: "Marian..."

Marian: "If I ever hear you talk like that again, It'll be the last time."

Anis: "Whoa, let's settle down! No need to get all riled up."

Rapi: "Fine, I misspoke. I'm sorry."

Marian: "Don't apologize to me. Apologize to the Commander." Rapi turns towards me.

Rapi: "I'm sorry."

Kenji: "It's fine..."

Anis: "They didn't get themselves into a tizzy? But your definitely not an ordinary Commander." She said with a smile on her face.

--------------------------------------------------------

After fighting the Raptures, the three of us looked at Marian who look like there is something wrong with her.

Anis: "Are you okay? You don't look so good. "

Marian: "I don't know what it is, but I feel a bit..."

Rapi: "Let me do some maintenance. Take off your top." Rapi demands which causes Marian's cheeks to turn pink.

Kenji: ('Huh?')

Marian: "Wh-what? Right here?

Anis: "Is there a problem?"

Marian: "What I mean is... the Commander is right there..."

Anis: "You don't actually think the Commander sees you that way, do you? Relax. To them, we're just emotionless fighting machines. The last thing they're thinking of when they see us is sex, trust me. isn't that right, Commander?" I didn't even answer, all I did was turn away. 

Anis: "Well well, so you DO see us that way! Interesting!" Anis gave me an unamused look on her face.

Kenji: "I didn't even say anything!" I looked at Anis and she was going to say something else but Marian spoke.

Marian: "I'm fine. It's probably just a smalmalfunctionon due to these new surroundings."

Rapi: "Take it off." I looked at the ground and I can hear Anis's voice again.

Anis: "Don't make such a fuse, will you?"

Marian: "I-I said I'm okay!" 

Rapi: "In the event of a malfunction, it is required that we conduct the necessary repairs. This isn't an option.

Marian: "...I see."

Anis: "Good all right, Commander. Please turn the other way and don't turn away until we say so." I decided to close my eyes and my back was to them as I could hear Rapi.

Rapi: "Everything seems okay."

Marian: "I told you."

Rapi: "Let's keep going." 

Anis: "Hey, I saw that!" Anis said that which I was confused about because I haven't even opened my eyes nor turned around but I could also hear Marian gasp. "Just kidding."

--------------------------------------------------------

I was checking on my watch that I now realized that I have and then...

???: "Do you... copy?" I checked around to see where that voice came from.

???: "Ark Control to surface. Do you copy? Rapi, Anis?"

Rapi: "Communicating... This is Rapi, Shifty, do you copy?"

Shifty: "About time we get through! What's the situation on your end?"

Rapi: "The new Commander has arrived. The operational coordinates have been confirmed and we're proceeding as planned."

Shifty: "Excellent. We had quite the score back there when we lost contact with the transport ship.

Anis: "You look the transport ship straight into the middle of an enemy camp? What were you thinking?"

Shifty: "What?"

Anis: "It's completely obliterated. With friends like you, who needs enemies?"

Shifty: "Raptures in that area have no anti-air weapons."

Anis: "What?"

Rapi: "Shifty, can you send me the data for the transport ship's black box?"

Shifty: "Sure, once I'm done analyzing it. It won't take long."

Rapi: "Okay, thanks."

Shifty: "Just a sec." Then suddenly my watch screen started glowing from the sleeve of my jacket as I moved the sleeve and then Shifty appeared in a hologram from my watch.

Shifty: "Well then. Hello, there! I'm Shifty, an operator from the Ark Intelligence Department. I will be assisting you throughout the operation from here on out. Nice to be working with you."

Kenji: "Same here!"

Shifty: "Yep!"

--------------------------------------------------------

Shifty: "High-class energy detected ahead, most likely Lord class."

Anis: "What? What something that big doing here?!"

Rapi: "I suggest we retreat."

Kenji: ('I want to remove those Raptures but don't have that much energy with them after last time...')

Marian: "What about the missing Nikkes?"

Anis: "We leave them behind. Only 0.2% of Nikkes who go missing are ever recovered. You, of all people, should know these search parties are just for show."

Marian: "Well I can't pretend like they don't exist either!"

Kenji: "Is a Lord that dangerous to deal with?"

Shifty: "Yes. They are the ones who lead high-level Raptures. Their combat capabilities are unparalleled. Judging from the simulation, our chances of success are high, but there's also a high probability of us sustaining heavy losses... And a 24.35% probability of total annihilation."

Marian: "Commander, should we pull out?" I shook my head.

Kenji: "I don't wanna give up on the search because of that."

Rapi: "Then please give the order. That's all we need. We follow the commander's orders no matter what."

Kenji: "Let's continue the operation."

Rapi: "Yes, Commander."

Anis: "Commander, you do realize that this could be a suicide mission, right? So long as our brains remain intact, we Nikkes are no worse off. It's a different story when it comes to humans. You're fine with that?"

Kenji: "I'm fine, I'll make sure that doesn't happen... ('I hope this is the right decision I'm making but I'll be disappointed in myself if this goes downhill...')

Anis: "Okay, understood."

Marian: "Commander, please walk behind me. I'll protect you." Marian walked up in front of me with me behind her.

(5 minutes later)

Shifty: "Battle over. Damage report?"

Rapi: "Minimal damage. Sufficient ammo remaining."

Anis: "Same here."

Marian: "Some damage to the left clavicle. Heavy damage to the lower right projector. The left eye was grazed by a stray bullet, but no irregularities in identifying targets. Overall damage rate is 17.05%. Still combat-capable."

Shifty: "Very well."

Kenji: "That seems high..."

Anis: "Yeah, are you sure that's not too high?"

Marian: "it doesn't matter. We're almost there. Let's pick up the pace."

Kenji: "Well, it matters to me." I walked up to Marian and put a bandage on Marian.

Marian: "Commander..." Marian's cheeks turn pink not expecting me to do such an act.

Anis: "Commander, what on earth are you doing? That kind of thing is useless to a Nikke."

Marian: "No, it works." This made Anis confused as Marian continues, "It feels like I'm greatly being healed... from the inside." As both Rapi and Anis went silent.

Marian: "Commander, I could use another bandage here as well. Thank you. The pain is gone already."

--------------------------------------------------------

Marian: "We're here." Marian said as I looked around to see nothing but a mess.

Anis: "No sight of any vanguard."

Marian: "They're here."

Anis: "What? There's nothing here."

Marian: "Let's look around." She said she was just confused about why she said that as she started walking alone.

Anis: "Hmm? What is she doing?"

Shifty: "Rapi? I've finished analyzing the black box from the transport ship. I'm sending you the report."

Rapi: "Yes, Commander." Then suddenly with a click, Rapi points her Assault Rifle at Marian in the distance.

Kenji: "Wait Rapi! Why are you pointing your gun at Marian?"

Rapi: "Marian, stop right there!"

Marian: "Roger."

Rapi: "You shot down the transport ship?" Rapi's comment made both Anis and I confused.

Marian: "No."

Rapi: "There were two explosions inside the transport ship. They were caused by the explosives meant for this operation, which would never go off without an external detonation signal. That detonation signal originated... from you, Marian."

Marian: "No."

Rapi: "What are you trying to achieve?"

Marian: "We're here."

Rapi: "Start talking, or else I'll put a bullet between your eyes."

Marian: "We're here. We're here. We're here." Suddenly her eyes turned red. "Over here. Over here. Over here. Over here. Over here."

Shifty: "She's been corrupted! When did this happen?"

Kenji: ('Wait corrupted?! Does that means...?!')

Rapi: "Just my luck!"

Kenji: "How is she corrupted?"

Shifty: "Her central nerve was taken by the Raptures!" My eyes went wide knowing the situation is going to get worse than it should be.

Marian: "Over.... heeerrreee..."

Shifty: "She's sending out a distress signal! Stop her!"

Rapi: "I've got her in my sights! Please give me the order!" I hesitated and closed my eyes thinking about something until a great shock is caused.

Shifty: "I'm detecting a high class energy in front of you! Those vibrations... They're! A Blacksmith!"

Marian: "Over... heeerrreee..."

Kenji: "What is a Blacksmith?"

Shifty: "Codename Blacksmith! It's a Tyrant! They capture Nikkes on the surface and use them for Rapture parts!

Marian: "Over... heee..." Marian being corrupted was interrupted by tentacles being wrapped around her from out of nowhere and disappearing into the building.

Kenji: "What the....!!" 

Anis: "It absorbed her into it's body!"

Rapi: "I'm willing to bet the same thing happened to those missing vanguard troops. We may be able to save them. Even Marian."

Anis: "What are you thinking about?"

Rapi: "After the Blacksmith captures Nikkes, it keeps them for a while before anything. Judging by when they disappeared, there may still be some time left. What do you want us to do?"

Anis: "Do you have to ask? Let's just get out of here!"

Kenji: "No, we're not leaving them not after what I saw. We're fighting that thing..." I said with a serious look on my face.

Rapi: "Yes, Commander."

Anis: "Are you two out of your minds? We're gonna die!"

Rapi: "The least we can do is try. For them."

Anis: "Have you found it?"

Rapi: "I don't know yet."

Anis: "Okay, let's give it a shot then."

Kenji: "Girls. Go into cover." Both of them looked at me with shock and confusion in their eyes.

Anis: "Wait! Commander, you can't fight that tyrant! You'll die!" Anis said with a curious look on her face as I didn't take my sight off of the Blacksmith.

Rapi: "Commander, I know that you are upset but-" 

Kenji: "Please just get into cover. I don't want to get upset at you two or hell, I for sure don't want you two to get corrupted too." Kenji said with my eyes turning yellow and then I summoned my weapon.

Anis: "Holy crap!"

Shifty: "Wait! Commander can fight?!"

Rapi: "I remember him killing a bunch of Raptures an hour ago so I guess... so." Rapi said looking at her Commander with a surprised look in her eyes. I turned around as my sword started to on fire and I swing it at the Blacksmith causing the area around them to explode into flames.

After the smoke stopped Kenji was nowhere to be found but the Blacksmith suddenly looked up and the two of the Nikke did also to see their Commander was in the air with one hand on his sword and his eyes turn back to blue but it was glowing.

https://youtu.be/U9e3MFZI3zE

(5:11 - 5:15)

Every part of Blacksmith and blood was on the ground with a small amount of fire. Rapi and Anis who had their eyes closed because of the quick explosion caused by their Commander but open their eyes back up to him catching his breath still looking angry until his eyes landed to Marian as he ran to her but when he saw her he dropped his sword on the ground.

He stopped at his track to see Marian but her left arm and right leg was missing, her left eye sclera was black and her eye socket was red, there was blood coming down from her eye.

He dropped on the ground looking at Marian with shock, dispair, and heartbroken in his eyes, thinking that he was going to protect the three of them but he completely failed to protect one of them.

Shifty: "We all know the rules. Any Nikke who has sustained brain damage is to be disposed. According to the law, the execution... must be carried out by the commander." Kenji's eyes went wide even more now knowing that he have to execute the first nice person that he ever met.

Rapi: "This pistol is for when we must self-terminate, but humans can use it as well. Just... get in close." Rapi gave me the gun as he just looked at it. 

Anis: "Perhaps I should do it."

Rapi: "No... We Nikkes cannot execute our own kind." He grabbed the gun and slowly got back up on his feet but couldn't aim the gun at Marian but somehow did but now he could pull the trigger.

Rapi: "No time to hesitate, Commander. If we don't get this done, she will probably become an irregular soon." The arm where he's holding the gun went down a bit not wanting to pull the trigger.

Rapi: "Commander!"

Marian: "Over.... here." Marian hold the pistol with her own hand and put it back to her forehead shocking the Commander.

Marian: "Comman...der! Thank you... for your... bandage." Not Kenji but Marian's finger push Kenji's finger to pull the trigger.

*BANG!*

Kenji: "..." 

Rapi: "No signs of life."

Shifty: "Offical confirmation of death. Our investigation mission is complete. Head back to the Ark." Shifty demand as Kenji decided to bandage Marian's eye that was cover in blood.

Anis: "Damn it."

TO BE CONTINUED........