It's Turbin' Time (Library of Ruina Modded/Arknights)

3.6 - Binding Chains

You sigh and take a look at the demoralized Sankta in the ground.

His state is really sad.

Afterwards, you materialize a chain in your hands. It glows softly. You'll have to carry the prisoner with you all the way back to Rhodes Island, and hand him over for interrogation. That will probably make things easier, all in all. Unlike what happened with Capone, you won't have to threaten anyone to get answers.

Good, you'd rather have this guy go undistorted. You don't have a good track record in interrogating Terrans.

The chains wrap themselves around the man, and he doesn't even blink nor twitch. He simply continues to breathe slowly, staring at the gun in your hand.

…what's with him and the gun, anyway? It just jammed. Those things happen.

Well, they don't happen if you've got good guns, obviously. If Emil's gun jammed you'd sue Erasure Workshop. It's outlined in the supply contracts, very proudly.

Subsection 4.9.2.1 of article section 12, agreement 2 - In the case of a weapon malfunction, you are entitled to compensation equal or inferior to 165% of the value of the product, provided the malfunction was recorded and less than 12 months have passed since the less maintenance check-up.

It goes on for another three paragraphs of essentially repeating the same thing, but that's just how it is.

One thing that is vital to a high-grade Fixer Office is to know exactly what you're buying, and for that you have to know the ins and outs of the Workshop business. If you don't read every single line of every single contract, you'll find yourself scammed sooner or later. It's not really practical to buy each product individually, so you just strike contracts with suppliers and buy some pieces of gear individually.

Yes, things start getting complicated when you stop having just yourself to deal with. Solo Fixers really don't know the trouble they're avoiding.

Both Emil's Anti-Blue ammunition and the more conventional bullets of Sleepy and Nicole are from Emptiness Workshop, you buy combat rations from a general supplier that also is contracted under R-Corp, and so on.

…you haven't spent more time reading contracts and arguing with people about them than actually fighting, but it's close.

Most Fixers just hire someone from Öufi to do the work for them, but you like to do it yourself or with the help of your coworkers. It's always good to know how to do things yourself. Having some outside help is good and all, but you should always have the ability to get stuff done within the Office itself.

But now, you've gotten yourself into a deal very similar to a Wing, or to an Associate Fixer. You don't need to care about things like managing Office budgets or helping Wympe in making trade deals with your associates. You just have to do what you're told.

While it is more convenient, it's also disappointing. It might be complicated, but you like having an independent organization. It's much more freeing.

Oh well. Ignoring that little convo into your previous life as a Fixer, you just have to take this guy back to the building, while avoiding any more trouble. There might be more assassins, who knows. You should also keep his gun with you. It might be of help.

You place the gun in your belt, and take the chained Sankta in your arms.

It's not going to be a long walk. The guy might get a little spooked by the high speeds, but eh. Who gives a shit.

---

You fall into the ocean.

The experience never gets easier no matter how many times you try it out. It's incredibly annoying to have to return to this dreary, dark, cold place every time you wish to find someone.

But as Angela's assistant said, once…

"This is this and that is that." you mutter.

The form of the human collective subconscious are shaped by your belief. Sieghart saw this place as a plane of pure light.

To you, whose first and foremost experience with mankind's wishes was the dark form of Cogito, the Well of Humanity resembles a vast sea of pitch-black waters.

You sink into the tides. Each drop of water is of a color that cannot be truly observed. It is so blackened that light cannot pass through its form.

In truth, this place could be likened to a vast abyss, where all desires, all wishes and all hope can only sink into oblivion.

You know that it is not truly like that. This is only how your flawed self observes it.

But knowing changes nothing. This place responds to what you feel.

And as such, you reach into your heart for an answer.

And something rises from the seafloor. A vast surface of metal, stone and cement. Something that has been built and destroyed in this very place, two times already. Once by you, and once by X.

An island in the abyss- the main Facility of Lobotomy Corporation.

You grasp the cold steel as it emerges from the blackened ocean, allowing the momentum to take you to the heights above. You breathe out in relief. You are wet and uncomfortable, but a man must retain his dignity. You must look proper, even in this hellish sea.

You look at the sky above, seeing the light of the upper world. And you see what you were looking for.

A vast, spinning pillar of black water- akin to an immense tornado- is rising from the sea. Something is forming out of this ocean and into the true world. It seems that the oceans have moved. You arrived just in time for X's resurrection in Kazimierz.

You breathe out again, and the decayed corpse of the Facility rises again. It moves through the water in a way that can be likened to a ship… and it enters a route of collision. In a few seconds, it will enter the pillar.

The waters open.

You enter the storm.

---

Right now, there are two people crossing the streets of the Infected district.

Two knights, to be more precise. "Flametail" Sona, and "Ashlock" Greynuty. They are simply on their way back to the Pinus Sylvestris headquarters.

If things had gone through their set course, without any sort of… meddling, their eyes would be somber. One of the knights in their ranks- the Infected knight, lacking any title, known as Jamie, would have perished today against Olmer Ingra.

But such an event did not happen.

During the Capture the Flag match today, the audience was struck speechless- as the Infected knight found new strength, and smashed Ingra to the ground in front of all of Kazimierz. He then met the Mirrored Knight, Linette, and many believed he would be soundly defeated- but then, the timer of the match ran out. Linette found herself the winner, as she bore the flag, but Jamie had obtained more than enough points to proceed to the next rounds.

Linette had then simply tossed the flag away in the direction of her opponent, in one of those unceremonious and mocking gestures that she had been so fond of, in her previous Major.

Jamie took it, and the general populace of Kazimierz had taken to believing that it was a way to mock the Infected knight. The narration of Beats really did paint it that way. So, with the belief that Linette was an Infected sympathizer quelled for now- nevermind the fact that she was still donating money to them, if more in a more discreet manner- had painted her as a fan favorite yet again.

There's a particularly racist saying floating around some knights nowadays. It says that the devils work hard, but the K.G.C.C works faster. It's a bit nonsensical, but it's very rude to Sarkaz and some folks like it, so it goes on.

Nevertheless, the two knights of Pinus Sylvestris didn't know where the hell Jamie pulled that strength from, but they were happy about it all the same.

In fact, had Jamie died, a riot would be in the books immediately, even if they would not like it. This time, the riot will not happen, and if it happens, it'll have to be for a different reason.

Iwona was currently drinking cheap swill with him in some bar somewhere, but Sona wasn't really one to drink with Iwona. Greynuty did want to drink with them in celebration, but she also wanted to stick by Sona for the moment, so off they went back to the Pinus Sylvestris headquarters.

On the way through, Sona almost steps on something.

"What the-" she says, dodging the puddle of black liquid forming around the doorstep of an abandoned store. "What's this?"

It's some sort of black goop.

It's dripping from a rupture in the roof and accumulating in the floor, it seems. It aggregates in a large puddle, its dark surface opaque, yet mesmerizing.

"Ugh, why do people leave this stuff out here?" mutters the red-haired knight. "It's just disgusting. What's this stuff supposed to be?"

"Probably some industrial spill. Don't touch it." answers Greynuty.

"...I mean, why would anyone spill this sort of stuff here, of all places?"

"Maybe they were carrying it and it splashed around? There's still people- oh." she says, with a pause. Industrial byproducts here in the Infected quarter?

"It could have been leftovers from one of those… accidents you told me about, Ashlock."

"...it could. But… it's probably nothing, let's just go."

Their good mood is somewhat ruined, but they can fix it when they get back to where they're supposed to be. Right now, it's just a puddle.

Or is it?

Unknown to both of them, the puddle is indeed "industrial," in the strict meaning of the word. It is an artificial compound and it is often seen being produced by a corporation.

They keep walking, and leave the puddle behind.

It's a puddle. Why did they think so much about it? That sounds strange, right? But this is no normal puddle. It's a puddle of something we call "Cogito."

A squelching sound emerges from the puddle. Something starts to form- something white. The two are almost on their way to leave the area, but they hear the noise and turn their heads- just to see a skeletal hand emerge from the waters.

It tries to touch the ground, but it has no sense of touch. Muscles start to form around its surface, and it slowly drags itself out of the puddle, forming into an arm, then into a torso. The process is utterly disgusting, and the girls can do nothing but watch in horror.

Skin emerges next, and the body finds itself once again becoming complete. The puddle's contents are sucked by the flesh like a sponge, and soon, all that there is in that street is a half-formed man, a partially muscled, partially skinless skeleton.

It then opens its jaw, and howls in agony. The girls are already unsheathing their weapons- Greynuty's cannon is opening up.

Threads form around the skin as it finishes covering the chest. A pair of black pants, a shirt, a labcoat- all of those form around the body, as if woven by some sort of invisible nest of spiders. And as it finishes howling, horns sprout from its skull- the black horns of a Sarkaz.

The man that stands in the alley, panting, is "X."

He smiles shakily.

"Oh boy, did that one hurt." he mutters, before realizing that someone is pointing a cannon at him. "...huh?"

In that moment, he makes a choice. A sincere choice in the heat of the moment. He could unleash his weaponry and drive them to insanity, but that's not a choice that even occurs to him. Instead, he utilizes the ALEPH-class Abnormality at his disposal in a much more mundane way.

In a flash, a horse-like creature materializes under his feet, seemingly made from a set of black and red censor bars. He takes two "threads" formed from its flesh- not that they are really threads, they're much… different from that. It's complicated, and it's a strange creature.

Well, he takes two strands of material, and uses it as reins. The creature gallops away, taking him along, and the two girls stare at the scene, completely and utterly dumbfounded.

Then they give chase, and the ethereal observer known as "Abel," who was watching the entire scene, slaps himself in his nonexistent face.

"Damn it all."

---

The Capture the Flag match has ended, and as of now, the match between Tytus Topola and the Radiant Knight has as well.

Rest assured that Beats' commentary remained appropriate and that he absolutely didn't take every single opportunity to mock Tytus.

Totally, trust me on this.

Of course, a Major announcer is technically supposed to be unbiased, but not a single person has ever cared for those rules and the audience loves it anyway. Plus, it's not like Tytus Topola is someone who matters, right?

So, the match is over, and Margaret Nearl is not liking the experience of being near the crowd once again. The reporters haven't changed at all, she realizes.

Of course, she anticipated this. There is a reason as to why Nearl constantly left the arenas without saying a word, and rejected pretty much every single proposal for an interview or a PR stunt. She's felt it all before.

"Ah, sorry." she tells a crowd of pushy corporate reporters. "Could you just let me through?"

The reporters don't.

"Miss Margaret, what are your views on the near-victory of the Pinus Sylvestris Knightclub and its Infected knights nowadays? Do you support their goals?"

"Madam Radiant Knight, do you have anything to say about the recent return of the veteran Mirrrored Knight? Do you think she can achieve a Grand title thisr?" time? Do you think she will be a problem?"

"Ah, Miss Margaret, is it possible to reveal anything about the possible state of your infection? Does it align you with the other Infected knights? Can you confirm if the Knights Association's measures to keep it confidential are a disservice to the spectators and the other knights?

"Madam Radiant, there are reports of you getting close to a few Sarkaz women, and there are rumors that you have been living with them for almost half a decade! Who are they to you? Give an explanation, please!"

"Madam Radiant Knight! Please respond–do you intend to become the spiritual leader of the Infected knights? Will you be the second coming of the Blood Knight? What are your thoughts on the recent-"

Margaret Nearl simply closes her eyes for a second.

"I won't be answering your questions." she says.

These simple words are all that it takes to incite yet another cacophony. She sighs.

"Can we take that as an admission? Then what relation do you and those Sarkaz–"

Before the reporter can finish the question, someone waltzes onto the stage with all the confidence in the world. The mirror-covered armor catches the various lights of the arena, shining brightly and blinding nearly everyone involved.

"Ugh- my eyes!"

"I can't see!"

"She's so- she's must so shiny!"

Right now, the Candle Knight, Viviana, planned to step herself into the scene. However, she will have to wait, as she nearly trips in her own feet after receiving a disorienting flash directly into her eyes.

The shine dies down, and the armor ceases to function as its mirrors grow opaque. Soon, all that is left is the knight known as Linette, with a shit-eating grin in her face.

"Yo, Radiant."

Nearl blinks.

"...and you are?"

"Mirrored Knight. Nice to meetcha. Lemme tell ya, you look real different from your uncle."

"I am, yes."

"May we "walk and talk," miss? Get someplace away from all those noisy critters? Would it be an issue?"

"Ah, yes. No, it's not an issue."

As the two knights walk away and the Elafian Grand Knight simply stares at the scene in confusion, a worker of the arena steps into the chaos.

"I'm sorry, please keep your distance–the press conference will be held at a later time, please can everyone just be patient for now! Patience, please!" he futilely says, as the reporters continue to scream questions at the top of their lungs.

"Mirrored Knight, Linette! She was waiting outside the arena for the Radiant Knight!"

"Give the schedule printout to me... that's right, they'll meet each other on the field if Nearl beats the Candle Knight... hey, get a snap of this, quickly! Snap it!" screeches a reporter as the workers try desperately to push everyone away.

It's hard work, being an arena servant. You really don't get much respect, and the wage isn't all that worth it to begin with.

But hey, you get benefits!

---

You're almost there. The man hasn't moved an inch.

But he's changed, it seems. He's snapped out of his funk and is now watching you with a silent intensity. It seems he's looking for an opportunity to escape.

Heh, good luck.

Anyway, you wonder if Abel found X.

"I did." he says in your head.

Hey, he's back. How was the trip?

"Terribly uncomfortable. He's already gotten himself into trouble."

Oh dear. What kind of trouble?

"When he formed his body, he unfortunately could not do it in a private location. Two bystanders- two young knights- watched him form in the middle of the street. It was a gruesome sight, and they have taken to pursue him, while he fled with the assistance of his Abnormality."

That sounds awful. But wait, how exactly did he… did he terrify them into submission or something?

"If only. He materialized [CENSORED] and fled on its back. Thankfully, it is covered in the censoring effect."

Will you have to go and bail him out, then?

"Arabella appears to be in the vicinity. I do not exactly know what she is doing, but she is nearby. I could pinpoint her location to him, while warning her."

She won't believe a random voice in her head. He could tell X to… well, give him instructions to tell Arabella that "The Steel Determination" asked her to help in the situation. It will sound believable- no one in this world knows that title, or at least you think so. Use the password "4A-99X1458," too. You gave your entire Office passwords after the case of the Stolen Hephaestus Sample. That one was a nasty Star of the City, all in all.

"Hm. I could also tell him to simply come to this building. He appears to be losing both of them right now- [CENSORED] is quite fast when it wants to be. Hopefully there will be no further trouble. Well. It is your choice."

[ ] Tell X to come to Arabella for help.

[ ] Tell X to come to the Rhodes Island building.

---

Having made your choice, you're here in the RI shelter. You handed out the Sankta no problem, and he muttered something incomprehensible. He'll probably be tortured by the Wing agents for information, the poor guy. You have no doubts that Sharp guy can be a nasty interrogator, from what you got of him.

Now, what was that about WhiteNight and the Apostles? That sounds like pertinent information.

There's also that vision you told Abel about. The monster.

"I told you about classifications, correct?"

Yes, ZAYIN to ALEPH. Danger classifications, no?

"Yes, but somewhat misleading. In this case, the Plague Doctor was a ZAYIN Abnormality. It could cure an employee that completed work processes and would bless them with a permanent enhancement to all capabilities- mental, physical, and emotional."

Like, connecting emotionally? Charisma?

"Indeed. Once it has blessed 12 Apostles, it would breach, triggering the "Advent," and transform into the ALEPH-classed WhiteNight. In addition to this, Plague Doctor ignored the temporal resets as well. Once blessed, the employee would remain on its "tally" no matter how many times one returned to the beginning. Only the complete destruction of the iteration of the Manager- or in my case, ceasing to work as the Manager- would return it to its ZAYIN state."

…So, you guess it killed the blessed employees. When it breached, you mean.

"No. It converted them into those monsters you saw."

Oh, you see.

So all you have to do is kill Adam, before he gets 12 Apostles. That is, can't he just go and get some? Is WhiteNight picky? Only people of a certain level?

"Technically, yes. It never blessed janitorial staff, only Agents. But otherwise no. It will bless even the most incompetent of employees without restraint or care."

So why hasn't he picked up some random gaggle of knights? If they're anything like the Fixers you know, there's bound to be a fuckton of people desperate for even the smallest scrap of power. He could advent right now and make Andoain into some sort of monster.

What does it mean to be an Apostle, actually?

"Immortality. While WhiteNight remains alive, it's impossible to put one of them down. They are also extremely strong physically, possess powerful supernatural abilities such as: psychic attacks akin to the Reindeer team, only drastically stronger. A charge dealing physical and mental damage that can turn even a powerful fighter into paste. And some Apostles are chosen to guard WhiteNight personally. These Apostles are enhanced, and can simply ignore all defenses and directly cut through your very soul. An attack that was likened by Kali to these moments she truly believed she would die."

…Kali? The Red Mist? If she used these words… so… killing Adam before he Advents is the only way to go.

"Likely yes. That said, I do not know why he has not Advented yet. I do not have a good notion of his personality beyond a certain facet of haughtiness."

That's terrible, you suppose-

"Uh. Sieghart?" says Hibiscus.

"What happened? Did the shooter-"

She shakes her head.

"No, it's just that one of your friends arrived. The other ones had some trouble."

Oh great! You'll have some help with this whole clusterfuck, at least for now.

"Who?"

---

Character Sheet Unlocked: Andoain (Under the faction "WhiteNight")
Character Sheet Unlocked: Sleepy (Under the faction "Turbulence Office")

---

[ ] Nicole arrived first- she's used to going around the world with RI for some time.

[ ] Wympe arrived first- she wrangled her way past the legislations even while technically not existing in any country's records.

[ ] Capone arrived first- he just had his papers with him, and he makes a habit of keeping it all in order.

---

A/N: And back to our regularly scheduled programming. Have a Sleepy sheet for your trouble.