The Hangar. East of Frostholm. 09:10 AM.
02 was sitting on the roof, watching the clouds slowly shift in the cold sky. Winter was finally acting like winter. She had been spending more time up here lately, preparing teaching methods for Beta. The G-Bots were always loud, so finding quiet space was important.
Pi descended softly and landed beside her. "Captain, Gamma is about to test her crystal power. We should go watch."
"Sure—" 02 paused and looked at her. "Wait. Where did you come from?"
"The sky. Obviously," Pi replied flatly.
02 looked up. "Right… and why were you spying on me?"
"Our father assigned me to monitor you and prevent your departure." Pi grabbed her arm lightly. "Come, sister. Let us observe Gamma's performance."
02 laughed. "Why are you talking like that?"
"Because someone with no real name except a number keeps saying I sound like an automated voice system. I am attempting to change my speech pattern so that number-holder stops mocking me." Pi stared at her.
02 burst out laughing. "So it reached you. I mean… I wasn't wrong." She lifted Pi slightly. "But you don't need to change. Sometimes I enjoy talking to my favorite voice message."
"That is a strange hobby. You need better entertainment," Pi said calmly while being held.
"Let's go. Gamma's yellow glow has been intense lately." 02 carried Pi downstairs.
"This is an embarrassing way to be carried," Pi said.
"Would you prefer the princess style?"
"No. That is worse. Put me down."
"You walk too slowly," 02 replied. "We would arrive next year."
"Is this revenge for spying on you?"
"So you admit it." 02 smirked. "You remind me of someone from my old team who loved doing that."
"Oh. The granny squad."
"For the tenth time, it's E-UNIT," 02 corrected.
Pi tapped her shoulder. "Important update: I do not care."
"I could tell by your excitement," 02 replied.
They entered the training room. Beta immediately ran to 02. "Captain!" she saluted. "You came to watch? Uh… why are you holding the voice device like that?"
Pi struggled. "Release me. I am going to fry her CPU."
02 and Beta laughed. 02 sat in her usual chair and placed Pi on her lap.
"You are treating me like a doll," Pi said.
"You look like one," 02 replied, gently patting her head.
"That is… strangely effective. Continue."
Beta tilted her head. "Captain, were you always like this with your old team?"
02's expression became serious. "No. I was stricter. I trusted their abilities."
"You don't trust mine?"
"I do. But they were identical to me. Exact copies. If I could do something, they could too." She glanced toward Nick. "I hated when they said, 'You're better, you're the captain.' That was just an excuse."
Beta nodded slowly. "You were born to lead."
"I was not born, Beta," 02 said quietly. "I adapted."
Nick clapped his hands, brushing off dust. "Alright, Gamma. Everything is ready. Follow the red and white line."
The team had built a race track using energy shields as barriers. From above, it looked like a capsule shape, two half-circles connected by straight lines.
Gamma stood behind the white starting line.
Nick opened his holographic PC. "Start at normal speed."
"Roger!" Gamma began running. Her metallic footsteps echoed in the room.
"One minute and a few seconds," Nick said after checking the data. "Twenty-five kilometers per hour. Good." He continued, "You have two advanced modes. The first slows the world to half speed. The second nearly freezes it, you process faster, see everything, but can't act freely. Analysis only."
"L-Like p-pausing t-time?" Tau asked.
"Exactly." Nick smiled. "Stay near me. You help simplify my theories."
Tau covered her face, "S-Sure…"
Nick turned to Gamma. "Limiter unlocked. Try the first mode."
"Okay!" She activated it. Her yellow visor slid into place.
Then she vanished.
The shockwave pushed everyone back. A yellow trail burned across the track.
CLANG!
She slammed into the energy barrier during the turn and fell flat. Her HUD flickered.
Nick rushed over. "Gamma, are you okay?"
"Totally!" She jumped up. "Just a small mistake. Again?"
Nick hesitated but nodded. "Alright."
She reset.
Again, she launched forward,
CLANG!
Same result. This time her HUD glitched harder. Her eyes flickered.
Nick helped her up. "We'll pause the experiment until I adjust the trajectory control for tight turns."
"N-No!" Gamma's voice distorted. "I want to succeed!" The glitch faded. "Please. One more time."
"Gamma…" Nick said softly.
"Please, Father!" Her yellow glow flickered unstable at the edges.
02 stepped forward, took Nick's PC, and pulled Gamma back to the line. "Hey! What are you doing?" Gamma asked.
02 adjusted Gamma's stance and typed quickly.
"The issue," 02 explained calmly, "is instant acceleration. You're hitting maximum velocity too fast. Your CPU can't stabilize. I'll add a three-second acceleration curve. Not that extreme, just enough."
Gamma blinked. "You've done this before?"
"I used to fly between skyscrapers," 02 replied. "You learn when to slow down. Reduce speed slightly before the turns. Accelerate again at the last twenty percent."
Gamma smiled brightly. "Roger, Captain!"
"And stop kneeling so much."
"Okay!"
02 raised her hand. "Ready… go."
This time there was no shockwave. Gamma accelerated smoothly. As she reached the curve, she slowed slightly.
"Use your hand!" 02 shouted.
Gamma placed one hand on the ground and slid through the turn perfectly. She accelerated again, cleared the second curve, and finished the lap in six seconds.
Each time she passed 02, she shouted between breaths:
"Thank… you… Captain!"
As she reached her, she stopped suddenly and jumped onto 02's back.
"Perfect run! Thank you!"
02 adjusted her balance and smiled. "You're welcome. I had the same problem in early training."
Gamma dropped down and started pushing her toward the exit. "Let's celebrate!"
"Wait—the data—"
"It won't disappear! Let's go!" She pushed 02 out of the room. Beta and Pi followed.
Nick picked up his PC and watched them leave. Tau, Alpha, and Delta stood beside him, still processing what happened.
Tau spoke quietly, "I… I h-hate her… f-for some reason."
Nick sighed. "Don't. She's always been this good. Hating her will only make her stronger." He didn't look away from the empty doorway.
The Courtroom. Theria. 10:00 AM.
Reaper landed at the entrance of the courtroom. The massive doors opened as he walked inside and made his way to the throne. Obsidian was already waiting near the doors with Chrome, and both joined him as he moved forward.
Obsidian spoke first. "Your order is complete, Lord Reaper. I went to the nuclear facilities in Lakewarm, southeast of Theria. The area is secured. No biological life remains. We are currently testing the access codes Chrome provided. Some have already worked."
"Excellent." Reaper sat down, adjusting his cape. "This will make negotiations easier. Only four countries possess nuclear weapons. The UNG tried to dismantle them years ago, but Altea's former regime refused. Even our neighbors have none." He leaned back. "I appreciate how events have unfolded."
"Indeed, Lord Reaper," Obsidian replied. "The timing favors us."
Reaper narrowed his eyes. "Explain."
"We received a formal invitation from the president of Kasparia." Obsidian projected a holographic screen. "He proposes opening diplomatic relations. His message states: 'We would be honored to be the first nation to recognize you officially.'"
Reaper let out a dry laugh. "They surrendered quickly. How did the last UNG meeting conclude?"
"Poorly." Obsidian brought up another screen. "Kasparia and Veridian Coast left the session. They implied they may align with us. The other continental nations pressured them to confront us alone."
"They lack unity," Reaper said calmly.
"Exactly. We are in a dominant position. If we execute your civilian custody plan correctly, we will also gain moral leverage. Your first strike on Metromania was never recorded. No survivors."
"History is written by survivors. We can label it a revolution if necessary," Reaper replied coldly. "Prepare the visit to Kasparia. And schedule a meeting with the city engineers. Elysium requires structural redesign."
Chrome tilted his head. "For what reason?"
Reaper's voice carried faint amusement. "Behemoth requires wider doorways to move freely."
Obsidian and Chrome exchanged subtle laughter. Chrome added, "He will interpret that as divine criticism and begin removing parts of himself to please you."
Reaper paused. "That is possible. Do not let this comment reach him."
"Understood, Lord Reaper," they answered in unison.
Chrome continued, "We have also secured every eastern data center once owned by Altea. All human archives, intelligence records, and strategic files are now under our control. We possess critical information on every country in the region."
Reaper rose from the throne. "Then we proceed to the next phase." He looked at Obsidian. "Establish an intelligence agency. Name it 'Metis.' Deploy operatives worldwide. I want continuous information flow." He then turned to Chrome. "You will direct it. My trust in you is absolute."
Chrome dropped to his knees, overwhelmed. "Thank you, Lord Reaper."
Obsidian bowed as well. "Your commands will be executed without hesitation." He dissolved into a dark blur. Chrome stood and exited quickly.
Reaper remained still. "11."
Clank.
She descended from the shadows and knelt. "Yes, Machine King."
"Coordinate logistics. Begin full transfer of all civilians in our custody, those from the east and from Theria. Allocate as many units as necessary. This step is vital for Elysium."
11 stood, lowering her cloak. "As you command. Thank you for your trust."
"You deserve more than trust," Reaper said evenly. "You have proven your capability many times. Elysium depends on you."
She froze. Her processors spiked beyond acceptable thresholds.
"11?" Reaper tilted his head slightly.
She stepped closer and dropped to her knees again, fists clenched tightly. "I am unworthy of such praise." Her voice was steadier than her hands. "Thank you, Lord Reaper."
"…Very… well," Reaper replied.
11 rose, her composure restored. From the shadows behind her, the E-PHONEUS units emerged and aligned in formation. At her single nod, they dashed toward the exit with near-teleport speed.
Reaper sat alone once more, thoughts accelerating. 'Elysium had its general. Its intelligence director. Its assassin unit. One position remained.' And only one candidate existed.