Don't Derail The Plot

5. Anomaly

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'What seems to be the problem Sys 909?' a rather bored voice said. 

909 ignored the unwelcome appellation and reported on the anomalies he experienced while recruiting Tanzu Cheza.

'Your protocols were not changed. As for the corrupted data in her profile, they are on negligible details.'

[...Yes, but there seemed to have been an interference during some of her queries.]

'And when exactly were those interferences?' the Administrator drawled, lazily. They sounded as if they had further reclined further into a more comfortable position.

[It should be recorded in my memory log.] Although 909 couldn't consciously recover the actual details, the administrator should have no problem backtracking to the source of his concern.

'There is nothing to indicate that you came across any anomaly.'

909 fell silent. It was sure there had been a problem; it just didn't know what it was anymore.

'Sys 909.' The speaker no longer sounded languid, the voice taking on a more probing tone. 'Why did you call?'

909 hesitated as it tried to articulate its rapidly retreating thoughts. [...I came to report...an anomaly.]

'What anomaly?'

[...] A low static distracted 909.

'₴Ɏ₴ 909, what anomaly?' the voice pressed.

101 found itself struggling with something before a calm settled. [My apologies, Administrator. I must have contacted you by accident.]

'Yes...Sys 00T might be right about you needing another maintenance scheduled.'

909 deliberated for a moment before coming to the same conclusion.

[Yes, Administrator. I will schedule one immediately. I apologize again for the disruption.] With a flick of his wrist, the Administrator dismissed 909's signal.

A rustling of clothes could be heard as the administrator re-crossed his legs. He tapped mindlessly on the armrest before sighing in annoyance.

'When were you going to tell me you tampered with my creatures?'

And did a shoddy job covering up your tracks! He couldn't help but fume in his mind. Mendær frowned as he thought about all the modifications he had to make to divert Sys 909's suspicion. He was not fond of undermining their consciousness. It defeated the whole purpose of giving them autonomy in the first place.

The silence did not surprise Mendær as he turned his attention to the pulsing ring on his left hand. His eyes narrowed as he examined the soul reading his poor creature was forced to pick up.

'You've gone through a lot of trouble to shield her origins, even from me.'

'No need to concern yourself with a mere human soul,' a cold voice that had an otherworldly timbre cut through the air.

In the dimly lit study room, Mendær directed a wry smile at a shadow not far from the crackling fireplace. Despite the proximity, the warm light did not cast light on the figure he knew was there.

'This intervention will be troublesome,' Mendær couldn't help but say as he thought of who was involved. 

'He brought it upon himself.' 

'And you didn't, Tÿnan?'

An oppressive silence swelled into the room, muffling even the crackling wood. Mendær's hold on the armrest tightened ever slightly.

"Mendær." The already chilling voice dropped a decibel lower, taking the temperature of the room down with it. 

'Yes, yes, I know." Mendær sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he felt a sense of weariness take a hold of him. He really had a penchant for courting death. 'But for the record, her Contract is not valid.'

If he was going to earn his ire, then he might as well say what needed to be said. 'You may have stuffed her into an inconsequential division, but there are rules. Once she knows, the Contract will be annulled.'

The thinning air was the only indication Mendær was doing just that. How Tÿnan could make him suffocate when he wasn't even breathing was truly remarkable. 

All Mendær received as a response was an empty room. The flames flickered once more, albeit with less vigor, as if afraid they would be oppressed once more.

What in Null's name is wrong with them, Mendær complained, not daring to say it aloud, even when he knew he was alone. I'm beginning to feel a bit sorry for the agent. No matter what, he was her employer for as long as she believed herself to be.

Mendær stared at the flames in thought, the rhythmic tapping marking time as it passed in the silent room. His finger stilled when an idea struck him. 'I could prepare a consolation present through Sys 909.'  It might also help him keep a closer eye on the soul. 

There was a static hum, followed by a singsong voice.

[Greetings, Administrator! How may I help you?]

'Sys 00T, Has ░Sys909░ contacted you about its upcoming maintenance?'

[Yes.]

'Good. I need you to add something...'

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A/N: Ok, no more mysterious background plot. Next up, Mission 1