The Command Center's briefing room carried the organized chaos Arthur had come to expect when assembling the full Monarks squad. Nyx sprawled across two chairs, her Generation-3 frame taking up space with characteristic disregard for protocol. Scarlet stood near the tactical display, arms crossed, crimson eyes tracking Mihara and Yuni with predatory assessment. Lyra sat quietly in the corner, her audio recorder resting on the table—insurance against memory fragmentation. Rapi maintained perfect posture beside the door, while Anis had somehow acquired a can of Sparkle-Fizz despite the early hour.
"Alright, listen up," Arthur began, standing at the head of the conference table. "We have a new mission, authorized by Deputy Chief Andersen. Sector Forty-One reconnaissance and potential high-value target acquisition."
"Sector Forty-One?" Anis lowered her soda. "That's deep in contested territory. Heavy Rapture concentration, minimal intelligence. What's the target?"
"An anomaly. Rapture unit displaying unusual behavior patterns, possibly communicating with other units using human speech."
Silence crashed through the room. Even Nyx straightened in her chair.
"Talking Raptures," Scarlet said flatly. "That's not possible."
"Intelligence suggests otherwise," Arthur continued. "Which is why Central Command wants it captured if feasible. And why we're getting reinforcements." He gestured to Mihara and Yuni. "Squad Wardress will be joining us for this operation. They have specialized capabilities relevant to capture missions."
Nyx's golden eyes narrowed. "Missilis corporate toys? No offense, ladies, but we don't usually run with manufacturer showpieces."
Mihara's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. "None taken. We're aware of the Monarks' reputation. Three Tyrant kills, unconventional tactics, legendary independence. We're curious to see if the stories match reality."
"They do," Rapi said quietly. "Commander Cousland leads from the front. If you can't maintain that standard, you'll be a liability."
Yuni's smile widened. "Oh, I like her. So serious, so protective. Tell me, does your devotion come from programming or something deeper?"
Rapi's hand moved fractionally toward her weapon. Arthur raised his prosthetic hand in a calming gesture.
"Stand down. We're on the same team for this operation, which means establishing mutual understanding." He looked at Mihara and Yuni. "I need to know your capabilities. Real capabilities, not corporate promotional material."
Mihara stepped forward, her coat shifting to reveal more of the geometric leather beneath. "I use assault rifles, primarily close-to-mid range engagement. My specialty is pain distribution."
"Pain distribution?" Lyra asked softly.
"I can swap sensory feedback with targets I've marked. Their pain becomes mine, mine becomes theirs. Useful for interrogation, capture scenarios, or combat situations where enemy morale is a factor." Mihara's voice remained clinical. "I'm also a masochist, which makes the feedback loop sustainable during extended operations."
Anis choked on her soda. "You're telling me you voluntarily feel what you do to enemies?"
"I prefer it that way," Mihara said simply.
Scarlet's expression shifted to something between respect and concern. "That's insane. Effective, but insane."
"My turn," Yuni said cheerfully. She moved to the center of the room with theatrical grace, one hand resting on the whip at her hip. "I use a rocket launcher, medium-to-long range. My specialty is sensory manipulation—I can control how targets experience physical sensation through direct contact or extended engagement. Pain amplification, nerve stimulation, complete sensory shutdown. I've also mastered emotional torment and immobilization techniques."
"You're a sadist," Nyx observed.
"The finest kind." Yuni's smile never wavered. "I can't feel anything unless I'm in physical contact with others, so I've learned to make every touch count. Sadism isn't cruelty; it's expressing love through sensation."
"That's a fucked-up definition of love," Nyx muttered.
"Is it?" Yuni tilted her head. "You express affection through violence and crude humor. Mihara and I simply took it further."
Arthur intervened before tensions escalated. "Your abilities are disturbing, but potentially useful for non-lethal capture. That's why Syuen assigned you, and why Andersen approved the joint operation. But integration requires trust, and trust requires training together." He checked his tactical display. "I've arranged simulator access at the Ark. We'll run combined exercises to establish coordination protocols."
"When do we leave?" Rapi asked.
"Thirty minutes. Gear up, standard loadout. Wardress, you'll travel with us on the AZX."
The squads dispersed to prepare. Arthur caught Scarlet's arm as she passed.
"Problem?" he asked quietly.
"Those two are predators, Arthur. Different kind than we're used to, but predators all the same. You trust them in combat?"
"I trust that their loyalty to Syuen makes them predictable, and predictable can be managed." He met her crimson eyes. "But I need you watching my flanks. If Wardress turns problematic, I'm counting on you to handle it."
Scarlet's expression softened fractionally. "Always."
The armored train to the Ark carried both squads in its reinforced passenger compartment. Diesel handled the controls with practiced efficiency while Soline monitored the tunnel defenses. The journey took forty minutes, giving Arthur time to observe squad dynamics.
Nyx had cornered Mihara, apparently fascinated by the taller Nikke's Generation-3 specifications. "Your muscle density is insane. What kind of lift capacity?"
"Approximately forty percent higher than standard Gen-3 frames," Mihara answered. "Syuen wanted durability and strength. The aesthetic modifications were secondary."
"Aesthetic modifications," Nyx snorted. "That's a polite way to say they built you like a corporate wet dream."
"Yes. They did." Mihara's lack of shame seemed to impress Nyx.
Meanwhile, Yuni had engaged Lyra in conversation, the pink-haired sadist apparently intrigued by the sniper's audio recorder. "Memory fragmentation? That must be terrifying, losing pieces of yourself."
"It is," Lyra admitted. "But I've learned to cope. The recorder helps, and Commander Cousland arranged for therapy sessions."
"He takes care of you," Yuni observed. "All of you. That's rare in commanders. Most treat Nikkes as expendable equipment."
"Arthur's different," Rapi said from across the compartment. "He shares our risks, values our autonomy, and fights for our dignity. That's why we'd follow him anywhere."
Yuni's expression grew thoughtful. "Interesting. Very interesting."
The Ark's simulation facility occupied a secure level near Central Command, featuring advanced holographic projectors and physical environmental controls. Arthur had used it during his initial training, but this would be the first time bringing the full Monarks squad plus reinforcements.
The facility coordinator, a bored-looking technician named Harris, barely glanced up from his terminal. "Commander Cousland. Deputy Chief Andersen authorized your access. What scenario?"
"Urban combat, heavy Rapture presence, non-lethal capture objectives. I need environmental complexity and target variety."
Harris's fingers danced across his keyboard. "Simulation Seven-Delta should work. Ruined city sector, multiple Rapture classes, civilian structures for tactical complications. Capture parameters?"
"One designated high-value target, multiple defenders. HVT needs to survive intact."
"Done. You've got four hours."
The simulation chamber stretched a hundred meters in each direction, its walls projecting seamless holographic ruins. Within seconds, the space transformed into a devastated cityscape, complete with collapsed buildings, debris fields, and environmental hazards.
Arthur gathered both squads at the insertion point. "Objectives are simple: locate and capture the HVT without lethal force, neutralize defenders as needed, extract without casualties. Wardress, you'll take point on capture. Monarks, suppression and perimeter security."
"What's the HVT's designation?" Scarlet asked.
"Rapture communication node, hardened shell, moderate defensive capability. The challenge is subduing it without destroying the core."
"That's where we come in," Mihara said. She chambered a round in her assault rifle. "Pain compliance is effective on units with sensory feedback systems."
The simulation activated. Rapture signatures bloomed across Arthur's tactical display—multiple Lesser-class units surrounding a Master-class target designated as the HVT.
"Lyra, elevated position, mark targets. Nyx, suppression on the clusters. Scarlet, Rapi, Anis, adaptive response. Wardress, move on my signal."
The squads flowed into action with practiced efficiency. Lyra's enhanced frame absorbed her rifle's recoil as she climbed a ruined building, her sniper scope painting targets with laser designation. Nyx's Screamin' Eagle roared, rockets screaming into Rapture formations and scattering them with explosive force.
Scarlet and Rapi moved like shadows through the rubble, their weapons barking in controlled bursts. Anis lobbed grenades with casual precision, collapsing a building section to block Rapture reinforcements.
Mihara and Yuni advanced through the chaos with disturbing grace. Mihara's assault rifle chattered, each burst perfectly aimed, while Yuni's rocket launcher sent precise shells into enemy formations. When a Lesser-class unit charged them, Mihara met it head-on, her hand touching its chassis.
The Rapture convulsed, its movements becoming erratic. Mihara smiled, a beatific expression crossing her face. "There we go. Feel that? Your pain is delicious."
The unit collapsed, systems overloaded by feedback.
Yuni engaged another group, her whip lashing out to make contact. Where it touched, Raptures froze, their targeting systems failing as sensory input scrambled. "Shh, don't fight it. Just experience."
"They're fucking terrifying," Anis muttered over the squad channel.
"They're effective," Arthur corrected. "Keep moving. HVT is breaking for the east corridor."
The Master-class unit proved more challenging. Its armored shell resisted conventional weapons, and its defensive systems were sophisticated enough to avoid Mihara's touch-based ability.
"Lyra, can you pin it?" Arthur called.
"Affirmative. Targeting mobility systems." Her rifle cracked once, twice. The HVT's left leg assembly shattered, dropping it to the pavement.
Yuni moved in, her whip coiling around the damaged unit. "Got you. Now let's see how sensitive you really are."
The Rapture's struggles intensified, then abruptly ceased as Yuni's sensory manipulation took effect. "Complete nervous shutdown. It can't move, can't resist, can barely process input. Perfect for transport."
"Secure it," Arthur ordered. "Nyx, perimeter. Make sure we're not getting flanked."
The extraction proceeded smoothly, both squads working in coordinated efficiency despite their differences. When the simulation ended, the facility's lights returned to normal, revealing the holographic ruins fading to bare walls.
Harris's voice crackled over the intercom. "Clean run, Commander. Twenty-three minutes, zero friendly casualties, HVT secured intact. Impressive."
Arthur gathered both squads for debrief. "Good work. Wardress, your capture techniques are exactly what we need. Monarks, excellent support and suppression. Questions?"
"Yeah," Anis said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Are all Missilis specialists this creepy, or did Syuen special-order the nightmare fuel?"
Mihara laughed, a surprisingly genuine sound. "Special order. We're unique even by corporate standards."
"That's what worries me," Scarlet muttered.
But Arthur saw the shift in dynamics. Respect had been established through competence, the first step toward functional cooperation. It wasn't trust—not yet—but it was enough to build on.
"We run two more scenarios, then mission planning," Arthur said. "Deployment is in twenty hours. Make them count."