Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Chapter 43.1: An Arbiter's Role

???, Dream World

"So, what's the occasion?"

Alpha, taking a more focused pose: "We need to talk about what to do next."

"Next steps? Why?"

Alpha: "Look, you're an Arbiter, whether we like it or not. Arbiters have powers not only of this world, but of a collection of worlds. They are, in your terms, the admirals of the Siren Forces in multiple realities. Some come and some go, but this reality stays the same."

Siren admiralty, eh?

Alpha: "An Arbiter is assigned at least one Enforcer, a set of Elites, and a group of worlds to experiment on."

"Right."

Alpha: "Enforcers are... unique among the Sirens as they are the personal protectors of the Arbiters. Many Arbiters don't give personalities to their Enforcers, though I've heard that one rendition of Lovers did to hers before she died. Apparently, they have an Observer Beta there. Anyways, to get to an Arbiter, you must destroy, or at least neutralize, their Enforcers. The names of the Enforcers are often associated with the meaning of their Archetypes."

I look at her, a bit confused about the last bit. "I'm not sure I follow with the 'naming' thing..."

Alpha: "Do you know the meaning of your name, Arbiter XIII?"

"Death: The End of Everything."

Howell, shaking his head: "No. She's talking about the arcana, not the common wisdom."

Now I'm really confused.

Howell: "Death is the transition card in the arcana. The ending of the old and the beginning of the new. With a death comes a subsequent rebirth. So, if you get your own Enforcer, she'll likely be named something like 'Rebirth' or 'Cycle' or something."

Alpha, nodding: "Empress has Harvest, which, in relation to how the card is meant to represent 'growth' and 'fertility,' makes sense."

"Ah, now I see." I nod my head. "As for the Elites, I'm guessing you mean yourself, Alpha? Alongside Tester and Purifier?"

Alpha: "Not just us, there are three others. Omitter, Compiler, and Observer Zero."

"'Zero'?"

Alpha: "She, as an Elite, has apparent dominion over Arbiters in some realities. It's odd."

"Hm. I get the idea on the whole 'multiple world' thing. Hazarding a guess that each 'world' has a version of you Elites?"

Alpha: "Ding, ding, ding!"

"Cool, so... what're my options? Like, what should I do now?"

"You know that answer."

Alpha: "Yeah, I know, but still. It's there." She shrugs. "Next on the list would be go solo, like, to a certain extent, the Ashes."

"Who?"

Alpha, shrugging: "I'm sure other Alphas can tell you everything, but the Ashes to me are an anomaly. Empress never gave me an exact explanation, but apparently, they're... clones? Copies? They're something, likely from Point Zero, the origin of the Sirens. Apparently, the reason we're doing so many interdimensional tests is because we're trying to find the original Point Zero so we can go home, or something."

"You sure don't seem to care."

Alpha: "Look, no matter how I fight it, I'm stuck here. If I leave, you'll have nobody to control your abilities and outbursts, likely killing everyone. I've accepted my new role, now. Anyways, like the Ashes, they hop between dimensions, mucking up things for the other Arbiters. Consider them drifters."

"I hear ya... Next option?"

Alpha: "Stay right where you are. You'll live forever, at least until something goes very wrong, like losing your Wisdom Cubes or getting a cancer or something."

"Thank God I quit smoking. Wait, cancer? Why?"

Alpha: "The Wisdom Cubes inside of you heals you by rapidly accelerating the rate of replication of your cells, ensuring that they stay the same after the duplication. Since cancer cells are also cells from your body, they'll get boosted as well. Once they take over, it's all over. Skin-borne cancer can be dealt with, albeit gruesomely, but internal cancers, like of the liver, breasts, or lungs, will kill you. Seeing as, you know, they're inside you."

I sit down, thinking for a second.

"I mean, obviously, I'm gonna stay where I am and live my life with the Azur, but after Hirata's death, I don't know what'll become of me." I shake my head. "Maybe I can help another worlds' Azur Lane Commander, or help the world from the shadows as a mercenary."

Howell: "Not the worst ideas I've heard."

Alpha nods.

"Right." I exhale a breath I didn't know I was holding. "I guess next up on the list is Eva here." I nod in her general direction.

Eva had stopped looking at the figures and has sat herself on the floor, but her head shoots up once I mention her name.

"It's clear as day she wants out. I wouldn't blame her." I sigh and lean back, extending my arms to act as a brace against the table. "Who would want to be in this situation?"

I shake my head. "Like I said, I'll find a way to break her out."

In an instant, panels of light surround me, becoming screens of data and information. "So, this is what you see when doing your usual things, Alpha." I move some of them around until I come across the right panel. Reading what's on it, my face scrunches up. "I see..."

Howell: "You see what, exactly?"

"Alpha, how long do you expect the girls at base to worry about me if I disappear for a day or two?"

Alpha: "Hm? I'd say... roughly 1-4 hours. Maybe more if you tell them you'll be off somewhere for the day."

"Enough time."

Alpha: "Enough time for what, exactly?"

I look to Eva.

"Just a quick salvation run."