"You did well." Commander Anderson began, smiling at The Commander as he sat in a chair with several bandages around his right forearm, shoulders, and neck.
"The Heretic Fragment has been safely secured. We will transport it in a high-density 12-layered security strongbox called an Atlas Case. The component analysis is currently in progress." Ingrid explained, standing beside Anderson. "We'll have the results soon enough."
"And Matis?" The Commander asked.
"Cold sleep. The corruption won't proceed any further, but they'll be out of action for the time being." Anderson replied.
"...No memory wipe?" The Commander asked.
"Syuen is... strongly opposed to it." Anderson answered with a sigh.
The Commander rolled his eyes, but expected no less. He was saddened to hear they'd be subjected to suspended animation, but it was out of his control.
"Anything on Vapaus?" The Commander asked.
"No more than the information you've given us. No record of origin or it's composition. But as I said, we'll find out soon enough." Ingrid replied. "There's the bullets you have, and Rapi, who's been exposed to Vapaus. It isn't tied to a single entity. It's only a matter time."
"And the facility?"
"If we correlate the results of the investigation with the circumstances before and after, I can get a rough picture of what the results will be. I'll be convinced once the composition of the Heretic Fragment is analyzed." Anderson responded.
"With that, return to the Outpost and get some rest. Updates will be relayed as soon as they come in." Anderson ordered with a nod.
"If you're going straight there, I'll come along." Ingrid added, making the Commander shoot her a confused look. "Consider it an escort." She explained, but he knew there was more to it.
•
The Commander was sitting at his desk, Anis and Neon sitting on his bed with wary gazes. He was currently ignoring his visitors, Ingrid and Syuen, the latter having brought Mihara and Yuni.
Syuen and Ingrid were standing closer than he'd like, but Rapi was within sight so he wasn't too worried.
"Ingrate," Syuen suddenly called for him, but he paid the insult no mind. Knowing that he heard her, she continued. "How much for the Vapaus? Name your price." She asked.
"Of course your grimy little mitts got your hands on that information..." Ingrid spat through gritted teeth.
"I'm a CEO, too. You and Anderson couldn't keep it from me forever—" Syuen turned back to the Commander.
"You have it, don't you? Sell it to me." Syuen ordered. "I'm willing to pay, so hand it over." He could hear the frustration in her voice growing more and more apparent the longer he ignored her.
"If I terminate the NIMPH, that allegedly means I can cure Matis of the corruption. Hurry and name your price. Sell me the Vapaus." Syuen continued.
"All of a sudden you care for the lives of Nikke." The Commander muttered. "Not for sale." He added.
"Then give it to me as a gift." Syuen replied with a shrug.
"You're being awfully stubborn." Ingrid butt in. "You must forgive my bluntness, but Matis nearly sabotaged the entire mission. They destroyed the bridge, became corrupted, and put the Commander, Counters, and Absolute in danger." Ingrid said with venom.
"After everything you've done. Every life you've risked. Every mistake you've made... you ask me for the solution to the problems you've created." The Commander bounced off of Ingrid's comments, and still stared into space.
YOU ARE READING
Nikke: Case Files of the Commander
Fanfiction[On Hold until more story chapters release] Long awaited is humanity's salvation from the Raptures, and only one man has proven capable of making any progress. With the Counters by his side, follow the Commander as he battles the mighty threat that...
