Silence stretched through Protocol's cramped sublevel operations center as Arthur's question hung in the air. The hum of server racks provided a steady backdrop to the weight of the decision before them.
Scarlet was the first to break the quiet. The red-haired squad leader stepped forward, her athletic frame tense with barely controlled frustration. "I hate the idea of bringing corporate CEOs and government officials into this," she said bluntly. "Every time we've dealt with the higher-ups, it's ended badly. Syuen just tried to kill us. The Central Government erased the Vapaus records and executed—" She glanced at Exia. "—almost executed Exia for trying to find the truth."
"But," Scarlet continued, her tactical mind overriding her emotional response, "Rapi's right. We can't do this alone. If we want to save Marian, if we want to understand what Vapaus actually does, we need resources we don't have. Equipment. Intelligence. Access to people who've fought Heretics and survived." She looked at Arthur directly. "I trust Andersen. He's backed us before. And Ingrid... she helped Lyra and me when we needed it, even if her methods were invasive. They're the best options we have."
Nyx raised her hand enthusiastically. "I agree with Scarlet! Deputy Chief Andersen has always been straight with us. And CEO Ingrid is intense, but she gets results. If we want to help Marian, we need their support."
Miranda's calm voice added weight to the consensus. "Commander, from a strategic perspective, maintaining complete operational independence is unsustainable. We've demonstrated exceptional combat capabilities, but intelligence gathering and political maneuvering require different skill sets. Andersen and Ingrid possess institutional knowledge and connections we cannot replicate."
Anis crossed her arms, her skeptical expression softening slightly. "I'm not saying I like it, but... yeah. We need help. Real help. The kind that comes with backup squads and secure communications."
One by one, the others voiced their agreement. Even V, typically reserved, nodded her assent. "The alternative is continued operations in the dark. That benefits no one."
Arthur absorbed their input, his goddesium fingers finally stilling. He looked at Rapi, whose composed blue eyes held steady confidence in his judgment, then at Exia, who typed a brief message on her tablet.
*They're right. We need institutional support. Just... be careful how much you reveal.*
"Alright," Arthur said quietly. "We bring Andersen and Ingrid into this. But on our terms. I'll control the flow of information. Agreed?"
The squad nodded in unison.
"Good." Arthur turned to Exia. "Can you arrange a secure meeting with the Deputy Chief and CEO Ingrid? Somewhere private, off the record."
Exia's fingers flew across her keyboard. Within seconds, she held up her tablet.
*Meeting scheduled for tomorrow, 0900 hours. Andersen's private office, Level Seven. I've routed the request through encrypted channels. No one will know.*
"Thank you." Arthur looked around at his squads. "Dismissed. Get some rest. We'll reconvene after the meeting."
As the Monarks filed out of Protocol's sublevel, Rapi and Scarlet remained behind. Arthur didn't need to ask why—they were his second-in-commands, his partners in command and in life. Where this path led, they would walk it together.
---
The following morning, Arthur stood outside Deputy Chief Andersen's private office on Level Seven of the Ark's administrative sector. The corridor was unusually quiet, free from the typical bustle of military personnel and civilian administrators. Exia had done her work well.
Rapi stood to his left, her composed demeanor radiating calm professionalism. Scarlet flanked his right, her tactical mind already mapping potential responses to whatever came next. Both wore their standard combat gear, ready for anything.
Arthur raised his goddesium hand and knocked.
"Enter," Andersen's gruff voice called.
The office was as sparse as Arthur remembered—functional furniture, minimal decoration, and walls lined with encrypted data terminals. But today, it wasn't empty. Andersen sat behind his desk, his weathered face unreadable. Across from him, perched elegantly in a reinforced chair, was CEO Ingrid of Elysion Industries.
Ingrid's sharp gaze swept over Arthur, Rapi, and Scarlet with the precision of a master engineer examining a complex mechanism. Her chestnut hair was pulled back severely, and her immaculate business attire contrasted starkly with the military setting.
"Commander Cousland," Ingrid said smoothly. "Deputy Chief Andersen mentioned you had information worth a private meeting. I'm intrigued."
"Please, sit." Andersen gestured to three chairs positioned opposite the desk.
Arthur settled into the center seat, Rapi and Scarlet taking positions on either side. He could feel the weight of both officials' attention, calculating and intense.
"One month ago," Arthur began without preamble, "I received something from the Pilgrim known as Snow White. A bullet containing an unknown crimson substance. She told me it might be the key to saving Marian—the Nikke corrupted into the Heretic Modernia."
Andersen's expression remained neutral, but Ingrid leaned forward with obvious interest.
"My squads deployed to a pre-war munitions facility to analyze the substance using equipment not connected to the Ark's networks," Arthur continued. "We discovered the substance is called Vapaus. However, all records related to it have been systematically erased from Central Government databases."
"Vapaus," Ingrid repeated, her eyes gleaming. "Finnish origin. It means 'freedom.' How poetic. What does it do?"
"We believe," Rapi interjected carefully, "that Vapaus is designed to interact with NIMPH—the nanomachine system that maintains Nikke cognitive functions. Specifically, it may disable or destroy a NIMPH permanently."
Ingrid's reaction was immediate and intense. "Fascinating. A substance that could make a Nikke's consciousness as permanent and fragile as a human's. No backups, no memory redundancy. The implications for preventing corruption are—"
"Extensive," Andersen interrupted, his tone measured. "Commander, you said this could save Marian. Elaborate."
Arthur chose his words carefully. "If Heretics maintain their corrupted state through a modified or hijacked NIMPH variant—potentially incorporating Rapture nanomachines—then Vapaus might sever that connection. It could restore the original Nikke consciousness by eliminating the corruption mechanism."
Andersen's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of something Arthur couldn't identify. "A Heretic brought back to our side. Specifically, one as powerful as Modernia. The strategic value would be immense."
"More than that," Ingrid added. "Understanding how Vapaus functions could revolutionize how we approach Nikke corruption entirely. We need more data. Specifically, we need combat intelligence from squads that have engaged Heretics and survived." She turned to Andersen. "Absolute and Matis both have documented successful encounters. We should send the Monarks to interview them immediately. Better yet, send them to the battlefield site where those engagements occurred. Direct environmental analysis could—"
"No." Andersen's single word cut through Ingrid's enthusiasm like a blade.
The CEO's eyes narrowed. "Deputy Chief, the potential here—"
"I understand the potential, Ingrid." Andersen's tone was firm but not unkind. He gave her a pointed look. "We need to discuss this with some of the others before we proceed. You know who I mean."
Ingrid's expression shifted through frustration to reluctant understanding. "Very well. But we shouldn't delay indefinitely."
Andersen turned his attention back to Arthur, his weathered face hardening. "Commander, you mentioned Snow White provided this bullet. Tell me exactly what happened."
Arthur recounted the events on the surface—the elevator failure, Snow White's rescue, their journey through the wasteland, and her apparent sacrifice to secure his return to the Ark. "She gave me the bullet just before the end," he concluded. "She said it was for Marian. That it might save her. I didn't see Snow White actually fall, but..."
He trailed off as Andersen's face underwent a remarkable transformation. Shock flickered across the Deputy Chief's features, followed by something that might have been hope, then carefully controlled neutrality. The entire sequence lasted perhaps three seconds, but it was enough to surprise both Arthur and Ingrid.
"Deputy Chief?" Ingrid's voice carried genuine curiosity. "Your reaction suggests—"
"My reaction is irrelevant," Andersen said curtly. "We're discussing operational matters, not personal speculation."
Arthur studied the older man's face, his tactical mind working through possibilities. Andersen's response to Snow White's name had been visceral, deeply personal. Could he have known her? But that seemed impossible. Snow White had served in a government squad during the initial Rapture invasion, before the Ark was even constructed. That was over a hundred years ago. Unless...
No. Arthur dismissed the thought. Even if Andersen were old enough—which he wasn't—the odds of a connection were infinitesimal.
But the question lingered.
"We'll place this mission on hold temporarily," Andersen said, his tone returning to professional efficiency. "Ingrid and I will discuss the situation with our allies and determine the best approach. However, Commander, you should prepare the Monarks for a possible joint operation with Absolute. If we proceed, you'll need to coordinate with Elysion's premier combat squad."
"Understood," Arthur replied.
Ingrid cleared her throat. "One additional matter, Commander. I'm aware of your... personal relationship with Maxwell of Squad Matis."
Arthur felt Scarlet stiffen slightly beside him, though her expression remained neutral. His relationship with Maxwell—Nora—was well-documented, but hearing it stated so clinically was jarring.
"Matis operates directly under CEO Syuen's command," Ingrid continued. "Given recent events and Syuen's clear hostility toward you and the Monarks, I strongly advise you not to share any information about Vapaus with Matis. Regardless of your personal connections."
The warning hung heavy. Arthur thought of Nora—brilliant, eccentric, loyal. Could he trust her with this? Did he have a choice?
"I understand," Arthur said carefully. "Operational security takes priority."
"Good." Andersen stood, signaling the meeting's conclusion. "We'll contact you within forty-eight hours with next steps. Until then, maintain normal operations and keep this matter contained. Dismissed."
Arthur, Rapi, and Scarlet rose and departed the office. As the door sealed behind them, Scarlet exhaled slowly.
"Well," she said quietly. "That could have gone worse."
Rapi's red eyes were thoughtful. "The Deputy Chief's reaction to Snow White was... unexpected. There's history there."
Arthur nodded, his mind already racing ahead to what came next. They had institutional support now—but also new constraints, new complications. And somewhere out there, Marian existed as Modernia, corrupted and dangerous.
But perhaps, just perhaps, not beyond saving.