The three of them reach the ARK as Kenji is still a little hurt by Marian but he has to move on from what happened.

Anis: "Shifty. Marian. What's going on?"

Shifty: "That corruption code implanted into Marian's brain must be acting as a navigator. It guides Nikkes to the Blacksmith's location. That way, they're having their 'food' delivered straight to their doorstep."

Anis: "But she was acting completely normal before she went haywire."

Shifty: "That's probably because of the Commander. A Nikke's highest priority is protecting their Commander and obeying any orders given. I'm willing to bet the problem started when she met the Commander. That's when her priorities were shifted out of order."

Kenji: ('Wait, she was already corrupted when I met her?! She looked completely normal to me...")

Shifty: "She was completely defenseless when in close proximity to the Blacksmith. That means the corruption was quite severe."

Rapi: "When did it start?"

Shifty: "What?" Shifty said with a confused tone in her voice.

Rapi: "When was she first corrupted?"

Shifty: "During the operation, I suppose... Ah, yes."

Rapi: "You said she was the one that sabotaged the transport ship, right? She must have already been corrupted at that point and that transport ship came from the Ark." They could hear Shifty gasp in surprise.

Shifty: "Were the Aegis Barriers broken?"

Kenji: ("Aegis Barriers?")

Rapi: "No, the Aegis Barrier are strong. They'd pick up any corruption in an instant."

Anis: "Rapi, what are you trying to say?"

========================================================

Rapi: "HQ is calling us in?"

Kenji: "I guess you girls will be coming with me, I don't know where this is going to lead."

Anis: "Aw man... not this again."

Rapi: "What?" 

Anis: "So few of you, and yet Commander somehow took down a Blacksmith only for a few sec but It's always the same old routine at the end."

Rapi: "I agree with how a commander was able to take down a Blacksmith with those strange power but we did perform exceptionally well during this last mission."

Anis: "Let's get this over with. The sooner we go, the sooner we can leave." Anis looked at her Commander who was looking at his phone and then he spoke.

Kenji: "He asks you two to be armed."

Anis: "Really? What an odd request." Anis said as the three of them continue to walk over to the Deputy Chief's office.

 ========================================================

Anderson was waiting on the new Commander and his Nikke inside his office until he heard knocking on his door as he opens the door to see them.

Anderson: "Ah! So nice to meet you all. I'm Anderson. Deputy Chief of the Central Government Command. We can dispense with the formalities. Address me however you wish."

Kenji: "Lord Anderson." Kenji joked as Anderson closes his eyes and shakes his head then sighed.

Anderson: "Like naills on a chalkboard. Anderson will do just fine. I called you in today because I wanted to conduct a little test. Nothing too difficult. You can relax."

Kenji: "A what? Test? 

Anderson: "From here, go straight to the Simulation Room. There will be someone there to fill you in. That is all."

Anis: "Um... You called us here just for that?"

Rapi: "Anis." Rapi looked at Anis with a still serious look on her face.

Anis: "What? I'm just asking!"

Anderson: "I simply wanted to meet you in person. No other reason. I believe we're done here."

Kenji: "May I ask you a question?"

Anderson: "One moment." Anderson looks at his wristwatch for a second. "I suppose I have time to answer one question. Just one."

Kenji: "It seems that Marian has been corrupted while still in Ark. Do you know anything that the three of us don't?" Anis and Rapi was surprised by that question.

Anis: "Commander! This is not the place to be asking such questions!"

Anderson: "Marian? Doesn't ring bell... Oh yes, the other NIkke who fought with you, right? I heard she was destroyed. I'm terribly sorry, but I'm afraid I have nothing for you. We're conducting an investigation into the operation as we speak. The only thing we ARE certain of is that the Aegis Barriers are impenetrable. Now, if you don't mind, I have other business to attend to." Before Kenji could stand up...

Anderson: "Hey, you. Let's say someone did corrupt one of your Nikkes. Maliciously. Let's say they were so powerful, that you wouldn't stand a chance against them. Tell me, what would you do?"

Kenji: "We just have to wait and see..."

Anderson: "I see... This sounds like if there's reasonable cause for what's been done, you'll just accept it. I know what happened to that Blacksmith, your secret safe with me. You may leave now. I'm sure we'll meet again."

TO BE CONTINUED........