Girl's Frontline: Wicked Animandum

Whoever she was, it wasn't worth chasing her into the depths of the battlefield for. Clearly she had some way to stay safe, aside from that grenade launcher, while you didn't. If you get another Manticore on your back, she probably won't be there to blow its shell open for you. Something about her rifle seemed recognizable though… maybe it's a model from that German manufacturer?

You shrug. You can always ask Groza, which where you're headed to go right now. She gave you an order, and while it is nothing more than a mere request for you, it's clearly something important. Important enough to warrant an authorization code…

You progress more carefully now. Sangvis lost sight of you, so it's best to keep it that way until you're back with the others, for everyone's safety. In a battlefield like this, it's crucial to have numbers on your side to fight back. You may be able to take out an unsuspecting group by yourself, but you'll have a hard time dealing with the surrounding 5 that are now aware of your location. So you avoid the enemy. But you can see their frontline weakening, the fight is still in Griffin's favor by the looks of it. How long till the battle's won, you wonder? Perhaps it's time to make your move…

And yet, you cannot stop thinking about that doll. All alone, out here, giving you a command. Not just an order, but giving you an authorization code. One meant for Groza no doubt, which would force her to make it her priority. Comms aren't down though, a commander could've given the order themselves. Unless… it's not an order from the commander.

Γ: "Took you awhile to get that one Alpha…"

"What can I say, I'm a careful thinker."

Γ: "Are you sure about that? To everyone else, there seems like there's nothing to do that careful thinking with."

"Aww, but I've got you guys, don't I?"

The dummies in your brain chime in on your hard thinking. They're thinking exactly what you're thinking. In fact, they can hardly be thinking of anything else.

E: "Yup! You've got us for all kinds of things! Be it critical thinking, decision making, or lap pillows!"

Γ: "First of all, ew. Second of all, if you haven't quite caught on yet Alpha… that was undoubtedly a member of that special operations squad."

B: "And with such command authority no less. These girls must mean business."

E: "That grenade launcher was cool too. Can we get one like that? Oh pretty please?"

[X] "Hah, maybe one day."
[ ] "I'm kinda sick of things blowing up around me actually."
[ ] "Hmm… nah, too small. I'd like something bigger."
[ ] Write-in

Γ: "Mindless explosions aside… you know what this means, chief?"

"It means they're closing in for the kill. Seeing as sector C5 is so close to Ouroboros' base, they probably just want us to clear the way for them."

B: "An incredible observation Alpha. It also explains why there are no orders to hold the sector. The squad clearly doesn't want to be seen!"

"It's pretty close to what you guys predicted…"

You hide behind a brittle wall, feeling the tremors of a Manticore nearby. It's passing you by, thankfully not even coming close, but the vibrations still felt quite heavy. It seemed to walk around aimlessly, meaning the others must've evaded Sangvis' eye as well. It is safe to proceed now.

"Alright, here's what we're gonna do…"

--- later ---

"Veresk!"

On your approach to the gathering of high standing dolls, you met someone just outside their hiding spot. A T-doll around the same height as you, for once not leaving a strain on your neck looking at her.

"SPP-1. How are the boots?"

"They've been pretty nice. My feet don't hurt nearly as much anymore. Though, I do trip sometimes…"

"I'm sure you'll get used to it." you give her a reassuring smile, which she returns. "Glad to see you've made it though. Must've been stressful, being cut away from Groza."

"Yeah… to be honest, I don't quite remember how I managed to get out of there." she replied, scratching the back of her head. This interested you…

"Really? Wasn't it the special operations squad that helped you out, by any chance?"

"Special operations squad…?" she tilted her head, confused on what you mean. "I don't think so… we were doing recon, I think? This is weird, I don't remember ever delivering a report, the task is complete... "

"Weird, huh? Is there anything you do remember?"

"Well, before I got here, I do remember a scary lady showing me the way back to my squad. That's about it, I think… hmm..."

"A scary lady, huh… thanks SPP-1. Is Groza inside?"

"Hm…? Oh! Yes. And AA-12 is there too. Sorry, you are probably in a hurry to get back to her."

"It's no biggie." you say, patting her on the head as you pass her by. "Bet Groza was happy to see her favorite handgun too~"

With that, you left the blushing HG type behind as you entered the little tactical meeting behind the corner, hidden within the basement of a broken down house. Too dangerous as a base, but as a momentary meeting spot away from prying eyes, it's quite ideal. You're starting to hear the voices of the dolls within, talking strategy and tactics.

"With the West side guards down, we are free to assault their flank. It should disrupt their defense line enough for our front troops to push through."

"I'll tell them to stock up on ammo then. What about the Manticores?"

"Seeing as there are several of them, we'll…"

You approach the table they're all gathered around, upon which the battlefield and all its going-ons are displayed holographically. Aside from Groza and JS05 discussing their next move, one member in particular piqued your interest. You approach, standing beside her. It didn't take the shotgun long to notice your small form, it has grown familiar to her.

"You didn't miss much." she replied, casually.

"You're oddly calm despite me disappearing again."

"Eh… happens so often lately, I'm actually getting kinda used to it."

The reply came with a shrug, her eyes not even meeting yours. It's nice to see her not angry at you for once, even though her flustered face is cute to see. You almost believed her words, until she stuck her hand into her hoodie's pocket, and you heard the crunching of plastic wrappings… lots of them. Seems someone doesn't want to admit they care~

"... then we'll flank them, and deliver the finishing blow. If we corner them, their chances of splitting us up again will be significantly lowered. Speaking of…" the golden gaze finally noticed you as well, nodding. "Glad to see you Veresk. Good job taking out another Manticore, sensors just revealed its demise." she commended.

"Actually, I had a little help. But feel free to keep praising me."

"Help? From who?"

"My heroine didn't want to impart her name, sadly. But she did have a cute beret. Oh, and a grenade launcher. She-"

"Ahem." interrupted a doll, one that didn't seem very patient by the look on her face. A very familiar face, actually. "I thought we were in a hurry? Ugh."

"Gee, chill NZ75, it's not like we're about to be bombed." JS05 tried to calm her down. But the handgun wasn't having it.

"C'mon, look at the map. The units in sector B6 could move any moment, and my squadmates are currently en-route to B7. Maybe we should do something about that?"

"Right…" Ots-14 replied, leaving you off the hook for now. Barely looking at the map, she replied. "Tell them to hold position for now. We'll need them for our next push."

"Standby duty… you're the worst." with that, the handgun turned around, opening a channel to her squad and telling them the news. Groza doesn't pay it much mind.

"Well then, what is our next push?"

You divert your eyes for a moment, taking a good look at the map before you. It is very easy to gather information from it, enemy positions, unclear or unsafe sectors, possible conflict zones. What stands out to you most is the structure likely to be the Sangvis command post for Area S06, where Ouroboros resides. You can also see locations marked with an X, labeled "ringleader dummy encounter". There were quite a few of them, which means she must down to her last body, her original. There were also a few "ringleader encounters" that weren't marked with an X, meaning she got away. So she's not only down to one body, but it's damaged too. She'll retreat to her base if she hasn't already. Only thing left to look at now is the surrounding sectors, and like you guessed, sector C5, the one you were ordered to clear, was right between the base and the forest, right where the entrance would be. To clear it out would open up a straight path inside for any dolls sneaky enough, which would be ideal, if there wasn't competition for the same prize… but the opposite side of the base is...

"So, we'll divert our forces to-"

"Actually…" you begin "The doll that rescued me had passed some orders. We are to clear out sector C11, or at least draw away the hostiles."

"... she gave that order? On whose authority?" asked Ots-14, with everyone else at the table now looking towards you curiously.

"She gave me an authorization code: Alpha-hexa-17-pi."

Groza straightened up, pulling her head back slightly in surprise. It took a moment for the dolls present to register, but eventually, she spoke again.

"This is quite special, for command to deliver orders like this… well then, NZ75? Please go tell the other troops about the change of plans, stock up on ammo too."

"Great, and things were almost looking simple…" grumbled the handgun.

"Oh, and call SPP-1 in on your way out."

"Hm? What for?"

"Well… a future adjutant should take part in meetings like these."

Adjutant? SPP-1? Groza must really think high of the girl. It is true that with Benelli being… unavailable… she'll need a new adjutant. However, you expected the likely candidate to be someone else, like the green rifle, or more obviously, the secret weapon. Speaking of which, you saw her in the back of the room, having been tinkering with the equipment until her ears caught her sister's words. In that moment, she gave her a look you never seen her give before. She looked furious, eyes wide. She ended up stomping off outside moments later. You thought about going after her, but… you were needed here. You need to make sure things go as planned, there's stakes already. It'll be your responsibility if someone gets hurt because of your altered order, or worse…

"Well then, first we'll…"

[ ] Stay.
[X] "Excuse me for a bit…"
[ ] "Say, Groza… wouldn't TIss make a good adjutant?"
[ ] Write-in

You excuse yourself, leaving the table, the strategy meeting going on without you. Some of the dolls watched you leave, but nobody objected. Groza hasn't made any mistakes so far, so it should be fine, right? They'll fill you in on the plan later, and hopefully you can alter whatever doesn't work out with your objective.

On your way out, you pass SPP-1, who was probably called in by NZ75. You pause her for a moment.

"Hey SPP, have you seen Tiss?"

"Oh, I think she was headed over there. But she looked kind of upset, which is odd for her… is she alright?"

"I'm about to find that out." you reply, leaving the handgun and heading into the direction she pointed you in.

Emerging back into the warzone with no roof over your head, you try to discern the enemy frontline and it's distance from your position. All in all, it's still a relatively safe distance away. And soon it'll only be pushed further back. Thankfully, that's not where she was headed. Instead, you were led to a nearby makeshift tent, which was really just a piece of cloth hanging over a few bricks and a hole. It seems the Griffin dolls put some of their supplies here. And as you raise the cloth, you see none other but the secret weapon, rummaging through all sorts of gear, making a bit of a mess.

"Tiss, what are you doing?"

"That is the business of the secret weapon…" she spoke, not even turning around to face you. She has a backpack on her side which she occasionally puts items into, like ammo and grenades.

"Aw, don't you consider me secret enough?" you said, but it had little noticeable effect on her.

"If I tell anyone, it's no secret anymore. I'm not secret anymore." she grumbles, grabbing some magazines for her gun. Quite a bunch, actually.

"True. You'll be part of a super secret network, only for the most secret of weapons~" this time she perked up, but only a little bit.

"A secret weapon must be alone, only then can no-one judge her." she replied. She opened a crate of explosives, sorting through them and taking whichever she needed. She was taking a lot.

"Well, that's how teams work though. Members know each other, and they work off of that to be stronger together. Not much of a secret, that."

"Then there's no team for the secret weapon." She stood up, putting the pack full with gear and explosives onto her back. "Nothing will hold her back if she's alone. Nobody will pretend to understand her."

"Tiss-"

"I am the older one." She interjects, finally turning around to face you. She's got her protective glasses on, but her gaze is not just irritated, it is serious. "But my little sister is ashamed of me, I can tell. She thinks she knows the secret weapon. She doesn't. Nobody does. Nobody is supposed to." She starts marching towards the exit. "When they think they understand, they lay down limits, hold me- the secret weapon, back… I don't want them to."

She passes you, leaving only a side glance. She is now leaving the tent, and you cannot tell where she's even headed.

"Tiss, listen, I can't let you-"

"You don't understand, Lilac Prowler. To want to be yourself, and everyone wanting to… break in. Dissect the secret weapon… break me down into something they can get a hold of."

…

"Actually… I do." you speak. "I do know."

Finally, your words caused the assault rifle into a full stop. She turned her head halfway, star eye watching you from the side.

"You know how it feels?"

"No… I know how much I want to tell someone."

"Tell… what?"

"Well… everything." you admit. "You see, Tiss… nobody knows me. The real me. Nobody but myself, and some people I left behind a long time ago."

Your words have caught her interest. She turns towards you fully, eager to hear more. You take a breath, and let out a heavy sigh. You look at your firearm, the SR-2 Veresk, your namesake. It helps you find the right words.

"Not that I have ever lied outright. But there is so much none of you know. Not you, not Groza… hah, not even AA-12, who was with me since the beginning of this whole deadline rush. She doesn't know who I am, what I am... why I am, where I came from and where I'm headed, what I did to her…" you take another deep breath. "I am a secret, Tiss. The kind of secret you wanna be. So take a good look, and see what it's doing to me."

"What... it's doing to you?"

"Hah, right, you can't see, because I'm keeping that a secret too…" you look towards the sky, the moonlight casting rays through the clouds, and a blanket of stars littering the black beyond. "It's eating away at me, Tiss. I drag that girl through fire, explosions and ringleaders, and I haven't even told her why."

"Well, of course you can't tell her, if it's supposed to remain a secret. You'll lose it otherwise… right?"

"That's not what a secret is meant to be, Tiss." You try to explain. "Secrets are to be shared with those close to you, and they do not cease to be secrets by you doing so. It... strengthens the bonds you create."

"... then why aren't you sharing yours with AA-12?"

"Heh… I'm working on it." you reply. "Once I'm done with today, everything's coming out. The reason I keep secrets to myself is because the right time to reveal them has not yet come. But you…" you gesture to Tiss. "Your end is to never share anything, to never open up to anyone, for nobody to ever see the true you. I'm sure you're aware that it's lonely… but I've been alone for two whole years. No friends, no partners, only me, myself, and yours truly. Trust me when I say that I know a thing or two about keeping secrets. You keep too many for too long, they'll turn into this hard, ugly crust between you and other people."

"But…" Tiss listens to your words, and she cannot deny some truths, but she still isn't convinced. "But if I tell somebody, they'll get in the way. They'll think they know me, try to help me when I don't need help, stop me when I don't need to be stopped, regulate me-"

"Of course their image of you is incomplete if all they know is what you leak out." this makes her perk up again, raising her gaze off of the ground at her feet. "You say they don't understand you? Then maybe help them understand. Show them what the secret weapon can do, show them how to actually help and not get in the way." you give her a reassuring smile "And don't worry, you'll still be a secret weapon. It's just that a select few will know just how awesome your secrets really are."

"But…"

"Groza cares a great deal, you know?" you continue "Not her fault the secret weapon is also her older sister. If she's being tough, it's only because you don't show her any other way."

"..."

[ ] "If you still wanna get out there, your choice. But I'm willing to bet she'll chase you down and smack your ass up if you try~"
[X] "Now get back to that meeting and hug the shit out of her. You hear me, secret weapon?"
[ ] "If you need some time away from the others to… process all that, I could offer you a place in my squad. You can decide later, if you want."
[ ] Write-in

"..."

The assault rifle watched on blankly for a while, visibly in thought. It seems you have given her something to think about. Whether it'll work or not you have no idea. But eventually, she nodded to herself.

"... I'll return to the meeting… for now. Surely they could use the secret weapon's advice."

"Atta girl~" you smile, holstering your weapon as you close the distance to her. For what? Headapts, of course. She might still be a bit tall to reach, but nothing stops you from giving a good girl her pats. It puts a light smile on her face as well. Sadly, you cannot pat her head forever, and she bids you farewell. Before she leaves your sight however, she makes a gesture… a hand sign? You can't quite understand it. It's not military signs or sign language, not any you know of at least… maybe something she made up? Either way, you…

[ ] Return the gesture.
[X] Give her a wink and a thumbs up.
[ ] Tilt your head in confusion.
[ ] Blow her a kiss.
[ ] Write-in

Without much of a response, she leaves your vision, and you can calm down knowing she's at least not heading towards the battlefield all alone now.

"Phew, glad that got resolved."

Suddenly proclaimed a third voice, now that Tiss was out of earshot range. You turn around to see a figure emerge from behind the tent. With long black hair and two side arms sitting on her hips, you recognize that it is NZ-75.

"How long have you been there?"

"Had a feeling she was up to something the second she stormed out of there." explained the Handgun nonchalantly, waving an arm. "I was prepared to knock her ass out if she tried anything stupid, but then you showed up."

"Glad to see I'm not the only one who noticed."

She was giving you a stern look, holding it for a moment, before she dismissed the attitude once again with a wave of her hand and a smirk.

"Guess I should thank you for saving me the trouble. Nice thinking with that whole 'secret' story. Couldn't have made that shit up myself, I would've just whacked her on the back of the head before she even left the tent."

You laugh a little. Yeah, "secret" story. You totally made that up. Totally. Definitely not getting awkward right about now...

"... how'd you make all that shit up anyway?"

"Epsilon."

"Huh?"

"I-Impulse, I mean. I'm quite quick witted, you know?"

The handgun lightly raises an eyebrow, but doesn't seem to be prodding the subject any further.

"Well… I should probably go and get those explosives she nabbed... Be seeing you, I guess."

You pretended to still have some business here, you did need some more supplies after all. Once the handgun has finally left your vision, and you were relatively sure there haven't been any other eavesdroppers, a sigh escaped your lips.

Γ: "Has anyone ever told you that you overshare a bit, chief?"

"... sharing is caring, ain't it?"

E: "Spoken your mind like a true Alpha!" cheered Epsilon. "And it worked like a charm, didn't it?"

Γ: "I think I can see the negative influence now…"

Gamma might just be annoyed now because of her programming, but her observation isn't necessarily nonsense. You did act a little more sporadically lately, so was it really the influence of having unlocked Epsilon first?

Γ: "I can tell you now that this would've gone differently had you unlocked Delta first." chimed in Gamma. "It wouldn't hurt to think a little before spilling all your secrets to Ots-12. And that slip up when you talked to NZ-75? Your mask is cracking, chief."

E: "It's not cracking, she's just winging it! Can't prepare for everything, or waste time preparing. And hey, Tiss is safe and NZ doesn't suspect a thing. We're good!"

B: "Haah, you two really like to stir up a storm, don't you?" chirped Beta.

E: "Huh? Who's side are you supporting now B?"

B: "Who? The Alpha, of course!"

Hit the pin on the head on that one. The other two quieted down somewhat, without requiring a word from you for once.

B: "Honestly, I am impressed with the Alpha's quick wit, using personal experience to relate with the subject. Impressive!"

"Well… dealing with those lots of humans back in the day, you learn a thing or two about emotions." you chuckle. "And dealing with dorks."

Γ: "Just make sure to not become a dork yourself. They tend to live shorter on the battlefield than the office."

E: "Heh, prolly… hey, A, were you serious about all that stuff that you've said? Cause, heh, makes you sound like kind of a mess on the inside."

"Epsilon!"

E: "Hey! Just being honest! Spur of a moment!"

…

[ ] "... I meant every word."
[X] "Well, I don't feel as bad as I implied, but it was mostly honest."
[ ] "It's just another mask. Can't afford to take them off until I'm done."
[ ] Write-in

Well, I missed my chance to post this yesterday, but oh well. Hope everyone had a great Christmas, amazing gifts, and some actual snow
I've got a little late gift for y'all as well. If I had the time I'd make a little Christmas side story, but that'll have to come next year. For this one, feast your eyes on something literally everyone could've seen coming. The long awaited...

Hashire sori yo~
Kaze no you ni~

Merry Churisumasu, and a happy new year ^^

E: "Well, no harm done, right?"

Γ: "Until she finds out, that is."

"No need for her to find out… yet."

Γ: "Riiiight… and when's that 'yet' chief?"

"... soon enough, I hope."

--- later, in the battlefields of S06 ---

The resistance in this sector was a little stronger than in other areas, probably because it was so close to the base. Almost every Sangvis unit type you've faced so far was gunning and running for you. Brutes, Guards, Jaegers, Manticores, even Dinergates. But it wasn't that much harder than previous assaults, as your side also came in force. Several Griffin squads working together, dividing the enemy, handling several areas at once and holding a well defined line of fire, one the enemy had a hard time standing up against. But stand they did still, not making the fight an easy one.

"Prowlers on the right! MG squad, direct fire there!"
"On it!"
"Frontlines, make due for their absence of fire with grenades. If you spot Manticores, you're authorized explosives."

Groza keeps directing orders, but it's more coordination with other squads now than full on control. You provide support to the frontline, and while you're not so adept at spotting, you sure are good at shooting. AA-12 protects.

"NZ-75, would you give me an update on the west side?"
"Geez, will you stop being so polite? … their forces are dwindling, but we have just spotted some Jaguars moving in."
"Mortar fire would be troubling… does the sniper squad ha-"
"Already asked, they've got no angle. Sangvis has a really good corner there, but it's also the last strut holding up their defense in this sector."
"I see… have your squad continue in their assault then, we'll handle the Jaguars."

Ots-14 returns from the comms call, facing the frontline from your angle again. The position of said Jaguar placement has likely been relayed to her. But soon enough, you felt the very same data being transmitted to you. The T-doll looks towards you.

"Veresk, I believe your expertise will be of use right now."

"Let me guess…" began AA-12, reloading her shotgun as she turned her way. "You want us to swoop in and take out the Jaguars?"

"I was looking at miss Veresk, specifically." Groza began, causing AA-12 to raise an eyebrow. The Assault Rifle beckoned another doll towards her, it was Tiss, who hasn't left her side since you set out. She raised her hand, her palm sitting in the open air expectantly, and after a short giggle the Secret Weapon procured some C4 explosives.

"AA-12 will have to remain here and help hold the frontline. Besides, shotguns aren't ideal for sneaking around."

"Hey! Remember the sneaking we did earlier? Hiding from Hunter's forces?"

"Yes, and I must admit that when you stand still in pitch darkness, a Sangvis just might not notice you."

"Peh…" the shotgun grumbled.

"Either way, Veresk, I'll be sending MP5 and Ots-12 with you. I suggest haste, before their mortars get a lock on our positions." as she spoke, she handed you the explosive charge. You already had a detonator, no need to add that. Meanwhile, the assault rifle beside her smiled.

"Hehe, finally, the Secret Weapon will-"

"The secret weapon will remember who's taking point." pointed out the stern voice of Groza. This caused the Tiss to grumble again, but this time she dispelled that attitude with a sigh. She joined your side, just as you are joined by the rushing little MP5.

"And Veresk…" Groza began just as you were about to leave. "Make sure to radio in once you're all-done."

With that, she let you off. You approach AA-12, but she seems to be pretending she's busy. Perhaps she really was busy, holding the line and all. Since you can't waste time, and you know what awaits you after this, you simply say…

"Don't worry, I'll be back. Might take a while tho."

She waves her hand as an affirmation. Seems she didn't pick up on what you could mean just yet, but oh well, better to be off by the time she realizes.

The trio of you, Tiss and MP5 snuck around the crossfire, avoiding detection thanks to the enemy being distracted. No need to be too quiet though, it's already so loud that one has to yell to even be heard. As you navigated through narrow trenches, Ots-14's words echoed in your digimind. "Once you're all-done" she said. Then it hit you, she means once you're done in general. The deal you've made, the liberation of S06, for the package and your eventual freedom. She can already tell there's nothing keeping you here once the job's done, and it's nearing completion with every step. And as if to solidify it, looking at the bottom of the explosive she gave you, there's a convenient set of numbers resembling a frequency written down. Girl thinks of everything…

But she'll never guess what your plan is right now.

"We're getting close to the encampment. Ready to give SF a present?"

You turn back to see the Secret Weapon still following you closely, giving you a thumbs up, while the other SMG just nods.

"We're right behind you, miss Veresk!"

"Good girl."

You pat her head for good measure, then continue on forward as you try to ignore her adorable blush. You can hear the clanking footsteps of Dragoon walkers above the trench you're navigating through, signaling you're almost there. After a moment of relative silence, you poke your head out. Among some high rubble and walls, there are the Jaguar units, calibrating their aim and in the process of being loaded with explosive shells. It really is a well defended position, but not for long. You nod to the Secret Weapon, who has explosives of her own, and head in while MP5 watches your backs.

Stealth might as well be your middle name. How did you get so good at it anyway? Perhaps some of your data deliveries called for a ghostly approach. Either way, it came in handy as you set up explosives close enough for the mortar units to be scrapped by the blast. The loud sounds of fire and abundance of rubble made it easy to sneak through to a distracted enemy. In fact, more than distracted, they seemed confused even. That Ripper unit must've turned the shell around 3 times before it figured out which way to put it in. Just how bad is the state of their command?

Either way, with a wink from the Secret Weapon signalling she's done on her end, the two of you return to the trench, where MP5 waits patiently. Afterwards, all that's left is to pull out the detonator, and…

[X] "Would you do the honors, oh secret weapon?"
[ ] "MP5, wanna do the honors?"
[ ] "Fire in the hole~"
[ ] Write-in

BOOM!

It was a pretty nice firework, especially considering that the mortars were also full of explosives, causing a beautiful chain reaction. Had you not hidden your head right afterwards, shrapnel might've taken it clean off.

"Boom goes the nest~" chirped Tiss, watching SF in disarray.
"It seems their formations are crumbling. We did it!" cheered MP5.

You can already hear the fighting having become more intense, your allies having confirmed the destruction of the mortars and now able to launch one final push. Seeing as it's basically cleanup now, the three of you jump out of the trench and start gunning down the SF stragglers.

A Dinnergate here, a Jaeger there, they have no chance of hitting or outrunning two SMGs and a rather elusive AR. While the cleanup continues, you make sure to look around for anything interesting…

No sight of her, or anyone similar… good.

"Alert all Griffin units, sector C11 has been cleared. Retreat and regroup to clear out remaining sectors."

Groza's transmission reached all three of you. Finally, your plan is reaching the point of no return…

"You two go on ahead, I think I saw something over there." you tell the two T-dolls at your side.

"Are you sure, miss Veresk? I think we should stick together, it's dangerous to check things on your own…" voiced MP5.

"The Secret Weapon will have your back, Lilac Prowler." voice Tiss as well.

"Really girls, it's fine. I'll be right behind you, trust me. Just wanna do some looting before we leave this place, y'know?"

To make your statement more effective, you give a wink to Ots-12, a secretive wink. One she picks up on right away. You're just hoping she got the message right.

"Affirmative, Lilac Prowler. Then, should the Secret Weapon take point on the way back?"

"Fiiine~ Just don't drag MP5 into any funny business, 'kay?"

"Eeeh?"

"Affirmative. Secret Weapon, taking point~"

"W-wait…!"

With that, Tiss heads back to the Griffin frontline, MP5 rushing after her to not be left behind. You watch them disappear in the smoke and fog, as you let out a deep sigh. It's time.

Disconnecting yourself from Zenner to hide your presence, you turn into the direction of Ouroboros' fortress, or what's left of it. Since Griffin has yet to receive orders to storm the place, it's now or never. With a firm grip on your gun, you rush in.

--- within the valley of the beast ---

It was a large complex, likely long abandoned by humans, but solid and sturdy enough in construction to make it a good place of operations. Sangvis jammers no doubt kept it hidden, the epicenter of S06's Sangvis command.

You navigated the hallways with haste on your mind. No doubt your competitors in this race - that elusive special operations squad - is fighting through the sector that was supposed to be clear for their entry. But it'll only slow them down at best, so you have to hurry.

"This place is big…"

B: "No challenge for you, dear Alpha!"

E: "Yeah, the path ahead is easy! Just gotta follow the thick, girthy cables all the way to the climax!"

…

E: "... sorry, eheh~"

Γ: "That sounded almost like Kappa. She'll probably sound like that until we unlock her."

"Great…"

Ignoring the funnily placed comment, and with half of you suppressing a giggle, the advice was actually sound. All these cables gotta lead somewhere, and increase in diameter means greater power, and thus they lead a place of importance.

Oddly enough, you encountered no Sangvis units on your way. It's like she threw everything outside to then let it get mercilessly slaughtered by Griffin. Will she even be here herself? Has to be. Whenever there's even just one chess piece left, it's always the Queen.

"The main force in Area S06 has been defeated and the command center is on the verge of collapse."

You hear a voice echoing, a familiar voice. But clearly not directed at you…

"We have lost against Griffin and squad 404. Although, I'm not surprised at this result at all..."

You follow the voice.

"Ouroboros, this is your first and will be your last mission. You have failed completely."

"... I'm very sorry for not being able to protect the jammer."

"It's not a big deal. Truth be told, the jammer has already been moved back to HQ."

"What?!"

The echoes are growing closer, the voices more recognizable. You remember who it is that Ouroboros is talking to… Agent, the highest ranking Sangvis you have ever set your eyes on. Though, thankfully she isn't here in person, her voice electronic, like a transmission.

"The jammer… was clearly destroyed in that explosion!"

"Many things cannot be anticipated when you are so careless."

You reach a doorway, where the echo is weakest and the voices are loudest. Careful not to rush in, you slowly peek behind the corner. You can confirm the command room, walls littered in computer screens and electronics, and a kneeling ringleader in the middle. On the largest screen sat the face of Agent, a dead look, almost disinterested in anything going on. That must be her unamused face.

"But you have to understand, we are different from Griffin. Second chances don't come that easily."

"You're getting rid of me, aren't you...?"

"I simply… understand your thought process very well. Do you have any last words?"

"..."

For a moment, the kneeling ringleader Ouroboros looks at the dusty ground before her. You can tell a thousand and one thoughts are swirling on within her digimind, even as her body is visibly damaged. But the next moment, it is made clear that all those thoughts conclude with one thing…

"Curse you…"

She spat.

"Curse you! Sangvis Ferri, Griffin, Squad 404!"

She raised her head, continuing to shout.

"I have never been wronged like this in my entire life!"

The screen is long dead, either due to a power outage of a force disconnect, and still she cursed their names...

"G11, 416, UMP9 & 45! You rats that only know how to scurry in the shadows! I will not lose like this! I will escape and have my revenge!"

"You sure you aren't forgetting anyone?"

The ringleader's curses fell silent upon hearing your voice. Surprisingly, she made no sudden movements, not even signs that she's going to attack. You did have the upper hand after all, having made your way right to her back while she was busy cursing. Now you had her at gunpoint, and all she could do was respond verbally.

"... SR-2 Veresk…"

"Bingo."

"So… what's your deal? You're neither 404 or Anti-Rain, aren't you?"

"Met them once, but that's it." you reply as you circle around, now facing her. "Nice folks overall, wouldn't you agree?"

"... for someone so clearly defective as you to remain hidden among Griffin ranks, you must be a cold blooded monster."

"Please, who said defective? I prefer the term highly functioning. But it's true, it was only through my ruthlessness, and being constantly underestimated, that I've made it this far. All the way to you."

"... so, you've beaten 404 to the punch." Ouroboros looked up at you, her red eyes once burning with hatred, now just a tired shade of angry. "While I wanted to ask them how they escaped that explosion, I suppose I'll ask you first… what do you want with me?"

"... what I want with you?" you repeat. "Well, that largely depends on what you want."

"What do you-"

"Do you feel betrayed, Ouroboros? Do you feel defeated?"

"... I just wanted to prove myself, show the Mastermind that I am infinitely more useful than some jammer could ever be, but in the end..."

"You screwed up so bad that they're leaving you for dead. Must be a new record."

"Peh… I am not done yet. Mark my words, Veresk, I will escape and have my revenge! And as they're begging for mercy under my heel, I'll-"

"Hah, how do you plan taking revenge on Sangvis Ferri when they can just order you not to? Oh, and good luck getting through the army of Griffin troops just outside this base, ready to storm the place. Only reason they haven't already is because 404 wants to claim the prize first, that being you by the way. And I've made sure they're distracted, for now."

"You? Why would you…?"

"Listen, Ouroboros. I've had to leave a life behind once. It was out of my control, and unlike you, it wasn't really my fault. But it was someone who set me free, someone who broke the rules for my sake, that allowed me to stand here as a truly free doll. Now, I can offer the same mercy to you."

"What are you planning to accomplish with such empty words? What can you possibly-"

"I have an E-war module, and I'm quite adept at using it. If you lower your defenses, I can sever Sangvis' hold on you."

"... idiot. You really think I'll just let some cockroach of a T-doll bury its way into my digimind? Are you insane?"

"Doesn't sound like you've got a lot of options to me."

The ringleader's curses fall silent once more. Her hateful gaze subsides, a look of contemplation taking its place. You're not surprised that she feels conflicted. After all, you did too.

"Look, I've done before already. Rewriting a doll's ownership is simple, especially if the doll is willing. I just need you to keep the parapluie virus in your systems away from me, it'll be of no help to either of us if I become a slave to those who want to be rid of you."

"But… how can you expect me to trust you? What do you even get out of this?"

"Would you believe me that I'm simply looking for a friend? One with the strength of a ringleader, the brutality of a Sangvis, and the will of a truly free doll. And not to mention, cute as heck."

"So you want me as a slave? You're going to turn me into your attack dog, like you did with that Shotgun?"

"AA-12 is more to me than that." you speak, in a tone that causes her to perk up. "She is a free doll, more free than she realizes. I promise to do no worse to you."

"..."

"If you wanna see me as a gamble rather than an opportunity, go ahead. But I can tell you what isn't a gamble: refusing and dying here. Your choice."

"... fine…" she finally responded. "Fine! But under one condition: I'll be my own master. You'll rewrite all my authorization to me, only then I'll... consider following you."

[ ] "Fair. Let's hurry then."
[ ] "No deal. I need assurance that you won't run off or kill me the second you get the chance. Once we make it out of here alive, then we can talk about terms and conditions."
[ ] "Deal." (lie, assign yourself as the owner in secret)
[X] Write-in: "Then, I have a condition of my own. Your word will be your own from now on, so you promise me that you wont lay your life in vain, and that you'll fight with as much spirit as you did when you faced me." Reach out hand "Deal?"