The walk through the Ark's corridors felt longer than usual. Arthur dismissed his squads to get rest and medical attention, keeping only his personal escort as he made his way to the administrative levels. His goddesium legs carried him forward with mechanical precision while his mind churned through the complications piling up like debris after an explosion.
Deputy Chief Andersen's office door was already open when he arrived.
"Commander Cousland," Andersen said without looking up from his terminal. "Close the door."
Arthur complied, taking his usual seat across from the Deputy Chief. Andersen's office was sparse as always—functional, devoid of personal touches. The man himself looked tired, the lines around his eyes deeper than Arthur remembered.
"I'll get straight to it," Andersen said, finally meeting Arthur's gaze. "Have you had any involvement with the Protocol squad?"
Arthur kept his expression neutral. "I know of them. Why?"
"So you've heard about Exia's attempt to hack the Central Government."
The words hit like physical blows. Arthur forced himself to remain still, to keep breathing normally. "Is she—was she discarded?"
Andersen's silence stretched for three heartbeats. "Hacking the Central Government is among the most serious offenses a Nikke can commit. The punishment is execution."
Arthur said nothing. His throat felt tight.
"Triangle Squad was dispatched to neutralize her," Andersen continued, his tone carefully neutral. "When they breached her position in the Outpost's sublevel, Exia had already incinerated her own brain. The shots Triangle fired were... merely confirmation."
*She killed herself,* Arthur thought. *Rather than let them take what was in her head.*
"The timing is suspicious," Andersen said, leaning back in his chair. "In the worst case scenario, this could be another Heavenly Ascension operation. We're investigating possible external manipulation. Someone may have pushed her to attempt the hack knowing she'd be killed for it."
Arthur remained silent, the weight of the lie he was about to tell settling over him like armor.
"Commander?" Andersen's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, sir." Arthur met his gaze. "Just processing the news. Exia had a reputation as one of the best."
Andersen studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Indeed. A waste of talent." He pulled up something on his terminal. "Now, regarding your surface deployment today. Did you find anything useful?"
The question was carefully phrased. Not accusatory, but probing. Arthur had prepared for this.
"We encountered heavy Rapture resistance," he said. "A Harvester and Lord-class simultaneously. The facility we investigated was mostly gutted—anything valuable was stripped or destroyed decades ago. We eliminated the threats and withdrew."
Andersen said nothing for several seconds. The silence grew uncomfortable.
"I see," he finally said. Then, almost casually: "You should know that CEO Syuen tampered with the Ark's communication network approximately six hours ago. She issued a filter ban on a specific word." He paused. "Vapaus. Does that mean anything to you, Commander?"
Arthur felt his pulse quicken but kept his breathing steady. "No, sir. Should it?"
Another long silence. Andersen's fingers drummed once on his desk.
"No, I suppose not." The Deputy Chief's expression revealed nothing. "This conversation is concluded, Commander. But if you learn anything in the meantime—anything at all that might be relevant to the Ark's security—I encourage you to share it."
"Of course, sir."
Arthur stood, saluted, and left. He maintained his composure until he was three corridors away, then stopped and braced himself against the wall. His hands—goddesium and Cerberus-engineered—were steady, but inside he felt like he was coming apart.
Exia was dead. He'd asked her to investigate, and now she was dead.
The journey back to the Outpost passed in a blur. The AZX train rumbled through the underground tunnels while Arthur stared at nothing, seeing only Exia's face—her oversized headphones, her difficulty speaking aloud, the way she'd type messages instead when words failed her.
He should have ordered her to stop. Should have pulled rank, threatened consequences, anything to prevent her from hacking the government. But he'd been too focused on the mission, on getting his squads to safety, on—
The train arrived at the Outpost station. Arthur disembarked and made his way to his office, knowing the Monarks would already be waiting.
They were gathered in the common area outside his office. Alpha and Bravo teams both, their faces somber. Alisa had been treated—her damage already fixed. The medical teams at the Outpost worked fast.
"Everyone inside," Arthur said quietly.
They filed into his office, the space becoming crowded with ten Nikkes plus himself. Arthur moved to his desk but didn't sit. He looked at each of them in turn.
"Exia is confirmed dead," he said. "She killed herself before Triangle Squad could capture her."
The words landed like artillery shells. Alisa's eyes immediately welled with tears. Scarlet's jaw clenched. Rapi's composed mask slipped for just a moment, revealing grief underneath.
"That's it?" Anis's voice was sharp with anger. "She's just dead and we do nothing?"
"What do you propose?" Arthur asked.
"We march up to Missilis HQ," Anis said, her hands balling into fists. "We have a nice, friendly chat with Syuen. See how she likes being on the receiving end of—"
"And what would that accomplish?" Rapi interrupted, her voice quiet but firm.
Anis whirled on her. "It would accomplish making that bitch pay for what she did!"
"Would it bring Exia back?" Rapi met Anis's glare without flinching. "Would it change anything?"
"It would make me feel better," Anis shot back.
Alisa's tears were flowing freely now. "She died because we involved her. Because Syuen's cover was about to be blown and she couldn't allow witnesses."
"Exia died because she chose to hack the Central Government," Rapi said, and though her tone was gentle, the words were inflexible. "That decision was hers. And it's classified as one of the highest crimes a Nikke can commit."
Anis opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. Her shoulders slumped.
"Rapi's right," V said quietly. "We have nothing to gain by starting a fight with Syuen. It would only draw more attention to what we're trying to hide."
"So we just accept it?" Anis's voice cracked. "She was trying to help us. Trying to find the truth about Vapaus, about how to save Marian. And she's dead, and we do *nothing*?"
Arthur stepped forward and placed a hand on Anis's shoulder. She flinched, then leaned into the contact.
"We remember her," he said. "We honor what she tried to do. And we make sure her death meant something by continuing the mission."
A knock at the door interrupted them. Every Nikke in the room immediately went on alert, hands moving toward weapons.
"Commander Cousland?" The voice was unfamiliar—female, calm. "My name is Novel. I'm from Protocol squad. I have a message for you."
Arthur exchanged glances with Rapi and Scarlet. Protocol squad. Exia's unit.
He opened the door carefully. The Nikke standing outside was petite with short brown hair and an unassuming appearance. She wore civilian clothes that resembled a classic detective look, rather than tactical gear, and carried what looked like a magnifying glass and an ordinary tablet.
"Novel," Arthur said. "How did you find me?"
"Exia told us you might need to be reached," Novel replied. Her eyes flicked to the gathered Monarks behind Arthur, then back to him. "You're wondering how I knew to come here. You're deducing that I must have a message from Exia herself, delivered posthumously. You're correct on both counts."
Arthur felt hope flare in his chest, painful and desperate. "She's alive?"
"She was very thorough. Before she attempted to hack the Central Government, she prepared contingencies." Novel glanced down the corridor. "This isn't a secure location for this conversation. May I suggest we move somewhere more private?"
"We're already in my office," Arthur said.
Novel's expression didn't change. "I meant somewhere more secure than a government-monitored facility, Commander. The Outpost may be yours, but its communications infrastructure is still connected to Ark systems." She paused. "However, if you'd prefer to receive Exia's message here, where it can be recorded and analyzed by Central Government monitoring protocols, that's your choice."
Scarlet stepped forward. "Where do you suggest?"
"Protocol maintains a technical sublevel in this facility," Novel said. "Exia's personal workspace. It's shielded against external surveillance. We can speak freely there."
Arthur looked at Rapi, who nodded fractionally. Then to Scarlet, who shrugged—a gesture that said *your call, Commander.*
"Lead the way," Arthur said.
Novel turned and walked down the corridor with unhurried steps. The Monarks followed, a procession of armed Nikkes moving through the Outpost's passages. Several residents stopped to stare, but one look at the group's expressions was enough to keep them silent.
They descended three levels, moving through sections of the Outpost Arthur had rarely visited. The technical sublevels were Protocol's domain—a warren of server rooms, cable conduits, and equipment that kept the facility's systems running.
Novel stopped at an unmarked door and pressed her palm to a scanner. The lock disengaged with a heavy click.
"Inside," she said. "Quickly."