EX//MACHINA: EXORDIUM

Chapter VI - For whom the bell tolls

Never gets any less boring.

Kimiko grumbled in her mind, scratching her neck nervously. She was already annoyed with how much Dantalian had stalled her, irritated with those who sent her here, and annoyed with the entire world. They never took her seriously because she was "just a kid" or "still had a lot to learn" and while that was somewhat true, it was getting unbearable.

She was the heir of the Dead Hand, their legitimate leader, and no one could take that away from her. But she knew how hard they were trying to do just that. Since she learned to walk, they had prepared her to bear this burden, and every day had been hell until she proved herself strong. And when she finally believed she had earned respect, they sent her to this forgotten place in the world. If this wasn't a declaration of war, she didn't know what was.

What drove her was an unbreakable determination, ready to take everything or die trying, and she trusted her chances. The biggest mistake the Dead Hand council made was underestimating her luck. She had been sure of that the moment she discovered Project "VEGA". The rest was simple: invade a rival group's base, cause chaos, and blame the Coalition. After that, all she needed to do was take the kid with her safe and sound.

It seemed too easy, although it was always too easy for her.

Proving that she was on a lucky streak, the light from her flashlight perfectly hit the door she had been looking for, hidden behind cloths and tarps. Smiling, she tore the cover and faced the obstacle in front of her. The door itself didn't seem that sturdy; it was metal and therefore extremely rusty, so breaking it down wasn't the problem. The problem was getting through it without attracting unnecessary attention.

Kimiko tried pushing the door forward, with no result. Then she looked for a lock and saw that there was none on this side. She sighed, shrugged, and thought "I tried", stepping back and preparing to kick it down, abandoning the idea of being stealthy. Just as her foot was almost about to strike the metal, she heard the sounds of locks and voices from the other side. Instinctively, she retreated and held her breath, feeling her body vibrating.

— I told y'all we should keep quiet, didn't I? — a woman bragged as she held the door for two others to pass. — And y'all were like 'stop being whiny, nothing's gonna happen'!

— How were we supposed to know there'd be a massacre in the city?

Kimiko sees the woman about to close the door, and she bites her lip, wondering what to do. Taking down the three of them before they make a sound is an option, and she would probably do just that.

— Yeah, it seems like you were pretty thrilled to hear about everyone dying. — the third person comments as they pass through the door, and the woman seems offended. Before she can respond, the other two exclaim at the same time. — Don't lock it!

— Oh, yeah, sorry, we almost got stuck waiting here again. — she puts a piece of wood beside the door, preventing it from closing completely. — And I wasn't happy people died, for God's sake. I was happy to know we were right and we're still alive!

Seeing everything fitting perfectly, Kimiko would whisper "I am blessed!" if that wouldn't break her extremely limited invisibility. As soon as the trio moves far enough away, she releases the stored air in her lungs and starts moving again, feeling the vibration stop. When she discovered the terms of use for this specific ability, the girl nearly broke something in anger, believing that being invisible without being able to move was useless. It turns out that staying still was a better strategy than she thought.

Passing through the door and closing it behind her, Kimiko walks through the dimly lit corridors with excitement, as if electricity were slowly building up in her body. It had been too long since the last time she fought, and she was eager to satisfy that need. Eventually, an entrance stood out, and Kimiko identified the Hyperion symbol next to a destroyed door.