"Are you sure? For a doll to be MIA, it is pretty much the same as being presumed dead."
"... it's better this way." you say. "They'd ask questions otherwise. I don't wanna drag them into this."
"It'll certainly be easier on me." Groza replied. "The commander will be delighted to have you off his back, and nobody will bother digging through your file. Not like there's much in there in the first place."
"You saw it, didn't you?"
The assault rifle flashed a smile. "Not much of a page turner. Might be due to the missing background information… StG44's been wondering whether it'll ever get an update. But we've got our answer now, it seems."
You chuckled slightly at the mention of that name. "She's in on this too, huh? She's not upset that I'm… leaving?"
"Leaving? You never really were part of Griffin. You never swore an oath. And yet you fought with us, co-operated, and kept your promises. Even if it the outcomes might've been a little… questionable." she said, looking at Ouroboros.
"Well, that's a relief…" you sighed, about to take another sip out of your cup, only to notice you have already reached the bottom. Guess tea time's over.
"... do you have it with you?"
"Of course." Groza reached inside the pocket of her coat to retrieve the object most important to you. The black flash drive, always in the back of your mind, the thing your digimind simply would not allow you to ignore. You take it from her hand, feeling it's minuscule weight, incomparable to the weight of your task associated with it. Ouroboros and AA-12 eye it suspiciously.
"... that's it? The thing you gotta deliver?"
"Yeah. This is the last stretch… this day was two years in the making. Quite a deadline, lemme tell you." you clutch it lightly, stashing it into your inner pockets.
"And what then?"
"Well…" you begin, starting to get up. "Before you two came along, I was having a little chat with our little black boa over here. About a certain jammer that was recently moved out of Area S06." You turned towards the Ringleader, who despite her irritated gaze took over, AA-12 letting her speak.
"You already know how the jammers deployed here operate using captured Griffin dolls to interfere with your Zener network. G&K has successfully liberated or destroyed most of the ones in Sangvis' possession, though some were extracted in time. Among them was… a jammer containing a high ranking elite T-doll, which was deemed extremely valuable, for whatever reason…and the T-doll in question happened to be your comrade, M82A1."
"You know where they took Barrett?"
"Vaguely, yes." answered the Ringleader to Groza. "The jammer was transferred deeper into Sangvis controlled territory, into Area S08, under the jurisdiction of Alchemist."
"Alchemist…" mused Groza. "What are they planning to do with her?"
"Nothing. The jammer will remain on standby there until it's required in future sieges. However, Agent has become very cautious in its use. I doubt any Griffin troops will ever get close enough to even destroy it."
"S08… isn't that a desert?" questioned AA-12.
"Yes. Copious amounts of sand in the form of dunes are defined as deserts. What an effective grasp on the concept, shotgun."
"Oh when I get a grasp of your throat-"
"12. Ouroboros." you speak, keeping the two from each other's throats. They still exchange hateful glances, but otherwise stay put. When things quieted down, you reached into your pockets to pull out another fragile item that is no less important. The core of a T-doll, dormant, yet tainted. "I may not have been able to save them…" you begin, turning around to Groza. "But I can point you in the right direction. With this intel, Griffin should be able to launch an operation into S08, and hopefully find Barrett." you offer her the cube, once the heart of her adjutant, now but a poisoned soul. "Not much else I can do. Hope this evens the scales just a little bit?"
The base leader looks at the offered core of a doll, her gaze riddled with emotion, yet stoic. You're hoping that this'll settle all debts, right all wrongs. If not, then at least prove to Griffin that you're no threat to them. After a while of waiting for her to accept the core, you watch as she stands up from her seated position, considerably taller than you, like most dolls. Her golden pupils look you in the eyes as she finally responds.
"Veresk… the deal was clearly to bring both my adjutant and my best sniper back home. Clearly, that end has not yet been fulfilled." her words cut the previously cool air like knives, as if all the appreciation for your actions was thrown aside. "To believe that even with this information, high command would launch an operation for the reclamation of one lost, corrupted T-doll, may as well be considered laughable. Therefore..." suddenly, her expression changed, to that of a… smile? "... I suggest a more covert operation, carried out by an unknown third party, and spearheaded by a nimble, roguish T-doll. All overseen by an… envoy of Griffin, a specialist in night operations."
It took a moment for the information to sink in, but once it all fell into place, you returned her smile with a sly one of your own.
"How did you know I wanted you on my team?"
"Your message wasn't exactly subtle." she chuckled. "Anyway. This is my price, Veresk. Promise to uphold your end of the deal, and I will join you in your travels."
"You don't mind leaving Griffin behind?"
"Only temporarily, of course. We'll see how long this partnership lasts. So, what do you say?"
[X] "Deal. After my business is finished, we'll see what we can do."
[ ] "With only the four of us? Not a chance. We'll have to grow stronger first. So stick around until then, 'kay?"
[ ] (lie) "Of course. They won't know what hit 'em."
[ ] Write-in
"Splendid. It is a pleasure to be working with you, squad leader Veresk."
"Likewise, Groza~"
With the negotiation over with, the newest addition to your team is most welcomed. It is still a surprise, you thought you will have to do more convincing, but the golden assault rifle was once again one step ahead. The shotgun was much more surprised, staring wide eyed at the sudden turn of events. Seems she's a bit out of the loop. The Ringleader seemed less impressed, observing her nails in a disinterested manner.
"So, my first order to you, will be to guard my most treasured serpent while I go out and conclude my business. She still has some repairs to go through before she can join us." you order to your new subordinate, as she looks to the former Sangvis with suppressed disgust.
"AA-12, will you accompany me?"
The shotgun, flashing a gaze to the ringleader, then back to you, reluctantly lowers her weapon, finally freeing her from the constant threat of fully automatic shell fire. After a sigh, she asks. "Where to?"
"I'll lead the way. See you two soon~"
"Yes, see you… wait." suddenly interrupted the Ringleader, her grey eyes looking at you. "What should I address you as? Clearly Veresk is unsafe, if you're officially MIA."
"She does raise a point." commented Groza. "And Heather isn't exactly safe either…"
Of course, your identity will have to remain a little more secret from now on. There's still dolls among Griffin that knew you, and even if you're discovered, it'll be even worse if it is due to the Ringleader before you mentioning your name, confirming the Sangvis scandal. Thankfully, you already have the perfect alias set up.
"Just call me V."
"V… fitting."
"Oh, and just so that our little snake isn't discovered to be alive either…~"
"Please stop calling me that."
[ ] "Groza, would you give her your coat?"
[ ] "AA-12, would you give her your hoodie?"
[X] "Get yourself one of those G&K uniforms."
[ ] Write-in
...
--- forest path, en-route to delivery point ---
…
Their timing was convenient. Since you've escaped from 404, you were repairing yourself with whatever functionality you could restore to that little outpost's repair bays. You were just finishing up when they arrived, and that warm tea was just what you needed to get the coolant pumping again. Ouroboros still required repairs though, and Griffin repair bays couldn't do much for Sangvis models, so she had to perform those manually. Groza will watch over her for the time being. As for you…
"... you've been kinda quiet since we left."
AA-12, who was walking beside you, didn't respond at first, aside from frowning slightly. She did eventually though.
"... you didn't ask me whether I want to join you."
"Yet."
"Why?" she asked. "Why not just ask me already?"
"Well… that's cause I've got something to get off of my chest, first."
The shotgun made an audible yuck sound. "What, about this task of yours or some shit? The reason you got that Sangvis bitch on your leash?"
"C'mon, don't be like that~ And she's not on a leash."
"So she's what? Your bodyguard?"
"Hah… nah. You're my bodyguard, AA-12."
"Oh fuck off." that didn't seem to flatter her at all. "That's all I ever was to you, wasn't I?"
"I'll admit, that's why I chose you at first. But that's not why I wanna keep you around. You see-"
"Hold it right there. Before you go any further, I've got shit of my own to say first."
"Oh?" you raised an eyebrow. She has a confession of her own? But what could she… oh, right…
"So, since… when… as we… ugh, fuck it, no simpler way to say it…" she took a deep breath. "StG44 allowed me to go with you only to spy on you. There, I fucking said it. I've been sending back reports since day one. And Ots-14 was in on it too. I'm sorry, it's just that you were an unknown at the time, and-"
"It's alright, I knew."
"... what?"
Suddenly, the T-doll halted her steps, as if frozen in place. You stopped as well.
"You knew? S-since when?"
"The night we arrived at that settlement with those humans."
"... you… knew… all this time…" she muttered.
"You don't need to apologize, I knew StG would keep an eye on me somehow. I wasn't afraid though, since I wasn't planning to betray her trust."
"But… how?"
This time, it was you who took a break and a deep breath. You were contemplating on how to tell her, rehearsing it in your head hours before. Sadly, it was hard to play out the scenario with only your three dummies to play as the shotgun in question. In the end, you decided it'd be best to just take it head on, like everything in your way until now.
"... you know I have an E-war module, right? Not many dolls are outfitted with one, and even less know how to use it covertly. Back in the day, my occupation was data delivery, but oftentimes I was also tasked with data extraction, corporate espionage, and data theft. We could say I was specialized in the acquisition of competitor property. And not just data…"
You gulped. The shotgun was still listening, her gaze… confused? She does not yet know where you're going with this…
"The company I worked for has died, but they gave me one last task before it did. Problem was, I had to wait two years to deliver. Two years spent in isolation, hiding outside of city walls, traveling… only myself to keep me company." she did not realize how literal that statement was. "When I finally had someone to travel with, a companion, I was… afraid. I didn't want to lose them, not so soon. But she was bound by contract, and if she was ordered to abandon me, neither of us would have a say in it. So… I did what I was best at."
You turned her way fully, looking up into her still confused eyes, now with a hint of disbelief. Time to hammer the nail in.
"So one night, I entered her digimind, and… transferred her ownership from G&K to myself."
"... you did... what?"
"... I deleted Griffin's hold on you, and… temporarily assigned myself as your owner."
A second passed. Two seconds. Several more. She blinked. She shook her head. She took a step back. Her face twisted, the lollipop falling straight out of her mouth.
"AA-12, I-"
"Oh my GOD!" she exclaimed, holding her head, unable to stay still. The revelation hit her like a truck. "Heather! This is just… how could you?!" her eyes were wide with disbelief, shock and anger, all mixing together into a volatile mess, all directed towards you.
"I know what I did wasn't right from a moral standpoint, but thankfully I never had to use my authorization on you. And I never will."
"What?! Am I supposed to believe that? After the stunt you just pulled?!" she exclaimed, all emotions turning to anger more and more. Tears were beginning to weil up in her eyes. "You expect me to just let you own me and trust that you'll never order me around?"
"You won't have to." you speak, your words cutting through the air like a knife. "Because I'll relinquish my control over you. Right now."
"... wha… you… you will?" the shotgun says with a breathy voice, her fury halted.
"Yes. I'll make you a completely free doll, just like you deserve to be."
"... then do it."
Nodding your head, you extend one of your hands, gesturing for her to take it. She's reluctant at first, an understandable fear, but she takes it anyway. You waste no time getting to work. Not hacking is needed this time, you do practically own her right now. It is completely effortless to see every one of her functions, and every ability to modify and affect them. And of course, the central permissions center, where all of this can disappear with the flip of a switch. You'll be locked out, and she'll have control over her body and digimind all to herself. However, the feelings you left behind will never fade.
"... it's done." you speak.
A moment of silence passes. AA-12 still holds your hand, staring at you. There's conflict in her eyes, you can tell. She doesn't know whether to scream, to thank or to cry. But you know she'll force herself to pick one eventually. Even though she doesn't like whatever she ends up doing.
Eventually, she lets go of your hand. The awkward silence continues, until one of you breaks it. You decide to give her a push, present to her the choice which might very well decide her life from now on.
"AA-12… now that I can ask you, and you can choose of your own free will, unaffected by orders or forced allegiance… will you join me?"
"... I don't think I can, Heather."
Her words, quiet in comparison to her shouting, yet piercing like bullets, hung in the air.
"I never meant to hurt you…"
"Yeah? Well… you've got a real shitty way of getting that across."
She says it with the anger having almost dissipated from her eyes, only the other associated emotions left behind. Sadness, resentment… betrayal.
"So… is this it?"
"... I'm afraid it is."
"What will you do now?"
"... fuck if I know. I'm a free doll now, right? I can do whatever I want."
"..."
"..."
"Well… at least it was fun, wasn't it?"
"... I… guess it was a little fun."
"Oh c'mon, a little?"
"Stop pushing it…"
"Yep, sorry…"
"..."
"... you sure I can't convince you on this?"
"... don't think so."
The two of you stand by yourselves in the forest clearing, the sun shining above through the leaves, the moment lasting longer than it should. She's not the same T-doll as the one you met in that fated town, now wiped off the map. Maybe you aren't who you were back then either. All thanks to the journey you've had together, from the Fortress of Solitude, all the way here to the edge of Area S06. How you hoped it wouldn't end like this…
[X] "I'm gonna miss you."
[ ] "I wish you luck."
[ ] "It's been an honor, AA-12."
