Narrator:It's time for Nikolai's first mission as a commander. Let's see how well he does.

*Nikolai couldn't sleep that night, as he could alone thing about what his mission could be*

Nikolai(mind):I've never had any kind of experience as a commander, how am I even supposed to command?!

*Before Nikolai knew it, dawn arrived. Nikolai was then greeted by the Counters squad*

Nikolai:"Today's the day..."

Rapi:"Good morning, commander Nikolai. Are you feeling ok?"

Nikolai(mind):Of course not, I didn't get any sleep!

Nikolai:"I'm doing fine."

Anis:"What's wrong? Had a fun dream last night, and didn't want to wake up?"

Nikolai:"No, I don't remember most of my dreams anyway."

Anis:"Seriously? Well, that's tough."

Neon:"How could you not remember your dreams?! I had the best dream last night."

Anis:"We don't dream either, Neon."

Neon:"But I swear I had one. I was showing off my shotgun, and blasting it everywhere."

Rapi:"That wasn't a dream, Neon. You were doing that in real life."

Neon:"Really?! So that's why I didn't have any ammo in my shotgun this morning."

Anis:"What a bummer indeed. Anyway, let's not keep the Raptures waiting."

Nikolai:"Right..."

*Nikolai nearly fell over, as he tried to walk with the girls to the deputy's office*

Anis:"Jeez, Nikolai. You need to hit the gym, we won't be able to carry you in the middle of a Rapture attack."

Nikolai:"I would go to a gym, but there isn't one in the outpost."

Rapi:"If you want, Nikolai. We'd be happy to train you."

Neon:"Yeah! I'll be your drill sergeant from now on! Drop and give me 20!"

Anis:"I think he'll break something if we train him."

Neon:"Aw man."

Rapi:"We are almost there. Hang in there, commander Nikolai."

Nikolai:"Ugh..."

Nikolai(mind):I'm getting a headache, and I don't think it's because of tiredness.

*They made it to the deputy's office, and all four saluted at Andersen*

Andersen:"You're here early, perfect."

Nikolai:"Couldn't sleep, so makes sense I'm early."

Andersen:"It's only natural to be nervous. Now, your mission is to retrieve database on a certain Rapture we are in pursuit of."

Nikolai:"Ok, what's the Rapture and where do I go?"

Andersen:"I was getting to that before you interrupted. The Rapture you're collecting data for is called Chatterbox, and the data is stuck in a research facility on the surface. The location should be set on your Nikkes' transmitters."

Nikolai:"You guys have the location?"

Rapi:"Affirmative."

Anis:"Yessir."

Neon:"Oh right, we do!"

Andersen:"Unfortunately, you are only allowed to bring 3 Nikke with you on this mission due to the desire to preserve their models."

Nikolai:"Alright, doesn't seem too bad anyways."

Rapi:"Understood."

Anis:"Convenient limitations, but whatever."

Neon:"I'm already excited for this!"

Nikolai(mind):This could also be a test to see if I'm eligible to be a commander. That's why I'm only allowed to bring 3 girls with me.

Andersen:"Another commander is helping us with taking down Chatterbox. If you do good on this mission, maybe you can join him."

Nikolai:"Another commander..."

Andersen:"Alright, dispatch immediately."

*Nikolai and the Counters squad left Andersen's office, and headed towards the elevator that leads to the surface*

Nikolai(mind):Oh boy, let's just get this over with.

*Nikolai took a deep breath, then the doors closed automatically. All four of them were taken up by the elevator, and were released on the surface*

Rapi:"The research facility is a long way from here. Would you like us to carry you, commander Nikolai?"

Nikolai:"Huh? You girls don't need to carry me, I think I can do it."

Nikolai(mind):I'm only a little out-of-shape, hopefully it'll be fine.

*A few hours of walking later*

Nikolai(mind):Ugh! My legs hurt so much! Why am I so out-of-shape!

Anis:"You good, Nikolai? You're looking a bit exhausted."

Nikolai:"I'm fine. Just didn't have any coffee, so I'm still pretty tired. Hey, Rapi? How much longer do we have?"

Rapi:"About 20 more miles. Which will take us around 3 more hours till we get there."

Nikolai:"Seriously?!"

*Suddenly, Nikolai heard a gunshot. There was a rapture chasing behind them. All four of them took cover, as the rapture opened fire on them*

Nikolai:"This, on top of the walk, is brutal!"

Anis:"Stop complaining! We're under attack for crying out loud!"

Nikolai:"Right, I can see that."

Rapi:"Awaiting your orders, commander Nikolai."

Nikolai:"Orders?"

Anis:"Yeah! We need a game plan here."

Nikolai(mind):I don't know what to do in the situation! I've never been shot at, let alone in a warzone!

Nikolai."I don't know, just shoot it!"

Girls:"Yes sir!"

*Anis loaded her rocket launcher, Rapi readied her assault rifle, and Neon cocked her shotgun. They all shot at the rapture*

Nikolai(mind):Oh god, why did I agree to be a commander?! I don't wanna die!

Anis."Ugh!"

*Anis stops shooting, as she hides behind cover*

Nikolai:"Anis, what's wrong?"

Anis:"Grr...you! That's what's wrong! 'Just shoot it', Neon can't hit the rapture from this distance because her gun isn't a rifle. I get you're scared and all, but we need a leader here. Otherwise, we will die here."

*Nikolai saw a hole in Anis's side. A rapture bullet managed to hit her, and the wound was gushing out blood*

Nikolai:"Anis! Crap..."

Nikolai(mind):I should have some first aid on me.

*Nikolai pulled out a first aid kit, and wrapped Anis's arm in a bandage*

Anis:"What are you doing?"

Nikolai:"You're injured, aren't you? You're even bleeding."

Anis:"Nikke can't bleed, it's just fluid for our core."

Nikolai:"That sounds like blood to me."

Anis:"We can't even feel pain. This bandage isn't going to help much, you know?"

Nikolai:"Yeah, but your 'fluid' isn't falling out anymore. Right?"

Anis:"Heh...yeah, you're right."

Nikolai:"I'm sorry for being a bad leader."

Anis:"You were only scared, it's your first battle. However, now we need a real game plan. One that doesn't seem obvious."

Nikolai:"Fair enough. Rapi! Neon! Regroup over here!"

Rapi and Neon:"Yes sir!"

*Rapi and Neon avoided the rapture's gunshots, and hid with Nikolai and Anis*

Nikolai:"Scrap that old plan, it clearly wasn't working."

*Nikolai analyses the rapture*

Nikolai:"If there's an aiming system for the rapture, shooting that should render it's fun useless."

Rapi:"This rapture model uses infrared cameras in its aiming system."

Nikolai:"Really? How do you know that?"

Rapi:"I analyzed the rapture while we were fighting it."

Nikolai:"Ok, where exactly is the aiming system?"

Rapi:"Right above the barrel of the gun. However, it's protected by a layer of armor that my bullets can't penetrate."

Nikolai:"Hmm...how about from different angles? Like from below or above?"

Rapi:"It doesn't have any armor from below."

Nikolai:"Perfect. Ok, here's the new plan. Rapi, you cover Neon while she sneaks below the rapture and blows through the bottom. It should take out it's aiming system, and maybe it might shut the rapture down. Ready?"

Rapi and Neon:"Yes sir!"

Anis:"Hey, I think you're forgetting someone."

Nikolai:"Anis, if you can still fight, try to see if you can penetrate that armor. If normal AR bullets can't go through, maybe a grenade launcher can."

Anis:"Talk about wishful thinking, you've got it."

Nikolai:"Ok, move out!"

*Rapi and Neon move closer to the rapture. Rapi readies her gun a fair distance away from it, as Neon runs through the streets  to stay in the rapture's blind spot*

Nikolai:"Get the rapture's attention!"

*Anis and Rapi started shooting at the rapture, and hid whenever it started to shoot at them*

Nikolai:"Ok, Neon should be able to take down the rapture."

*Neon makes it underneath the rapture's body, and dodged its robotic legs*

Neon:"This is it!"

*Neon spotted a blinking light within the rapture's layers of armor, and shot it multiple times. That was actually the rapture's core, and with the core destroyed, the rapture started to power down*

Neon:"I've got it!"

Nikolai:"Nice! Now it shouldn't be able to shoot us."

Rapi:"Nikolai, I think Neon hit the rapture's core. It's going to fall onto her!"

Nikolai:"What?! Neon, the rapture's gonna fall, get out of there!"

Neon:"Huh? Whoa!"

*Neon noticed the rapture falling over, and managed to run out before it fell on her*

Neon:"Phew! That was close."

Nikolai:"Neon! Neon, are you ok?"

*Neon ran back to Nikolai and the others*

Neon:"I'm fine! I've defeated the rapture! My firepower was no match for it."

Nikolai:"Hell yeah, great job!"

Neon:"Thanks, Nikolai!"

Anis:"Now th-ow. How about we keep going for the research facility?"

Nikolai:"Oh no, we need to retreat. If another rapture shows up, we could be having more than a single bullet in us."

Rapi:"That's not an option, commander Nikolai. We can't fail this mission."

Nikolai:"Huh?"

Rapi:"Andersen told me, this mission will determine if you're fit to be a commander."

Nikolai(mind):So this is a test, but if something were to happen to any of us...

Nikolai:"..."

Anis:"Like I've told you multiple times, don't worry about me. Nikke are supposed to be disposable anyway-"

Nikolai:"Like hell you are!"

*Nikolai's shout surprised everyone*

Nikolai:"Sorry, that was too loud. None of you are disposable to me, and that's why we're going to carry you along the rest of the way."

Anis:"Heh, so you want to continue the mission?"

Nikolai:"Yes, we will be punished if we fail it, right? We've got no choice."

*Nikolai went to lift Anis on her feet, but he couldn't make her move an inch*

Anis:"Yeah...Nikke are supposed weigh tons, so normal people won't be able to lift us up."

Nikolai:"I-I see...Rapi, Neon. Help me, please?"

*Rapi and Neon easily carried Anis from each of her shoulders*

Nikolai:"Now I feel embarrassed."

Rapi:"It's not your fault, commander Nikolai."

Neon:"Let's go infiltrate the secret base!"

Nikolai:"We're just getting data."

*Nikolai and his team made it to the research facility without anymore raptures appearing. They rushed back to the elevator, and managed to make it back by dusk*

Nikolai:"We did it!"

Anis:"Yep, but I'm gonna need to get this arm replaced when we get back."

Nikolai:"You say that like it's a bad thing, at least you get an arm back."

Anis:"Right, but Nikke we're made to have their parts replaced so-"

Rapi:"Everyone, the elevator is here."

*Anis and Nikolai paused their conversation, and the elevator took them back to the Arc. Nikolai and his team reported back to Andersen. He congratulated Nikolai on passing his test, and they were dismissed for the day*

Nikolai:"Phew, now Anis is getting her arm fixed, or replaced I guess."

Nikolai(mind):Rapi and Neon went back to their dorm already, and left me to go back to my room. I need to get there immediately!

*Nikolai managed to get to his dorm, and fell onto his bed*

Nikolai:"I need sleep now more than ever."

*Within moments, Nikolai fell asleep on his bed*

Narrator:And that's how Nikolai's first ever mission went. He finally shook away his nerves, and defeated a rapture with his own strategy. Stay tuned for what happens next for him.

Hey bros, it's me, the author. Another week, another chapter. I have no announcements about the book to make, so here's what has happened to me in the game.

How did I get so lucky in my first ten pull of the event?! HOW?! The April Fools event got me to like Andersen, and got me in the spirit of April Fools, because the game did the event a full day before April Fools. Anyway, I haven't made any progress with the story, but I did manage to get enough Tetra gems to get one Tetra unit, and it ended up being a rare, my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. Now then, here's the meme of the week:

Poor Elysion. Well, that's all for now. I'll see you guys next time!