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Quiet, the room is quiet as the cloak sits lightly over their shoulders, opposed by the suit, which had been somewhat tight, but not unbearable. A slightly darker blue, with gold trimming along the edges, the red armband wound over it, feeling as if it’s cutting off the circulation in their arm. The rifle in her hands feeling heavier today, maybe it’s a sign of something. It's color scheme similar to that of the cloak, being part of the same set, with a black barrel and yellow bolt. Not like tragedy doesn’t happen here daily, it’s practically written across every wall, her first few days went by without a hitch, but it took a swan dive after that, and now there’s were at least one causality every day. She shouldn’t be surprised, it happens constantly in the city, it's not something that you can escape in a place like this. The manager's incompetence is the primary cause of many deaths, but no agent can simply oppose them, not even her. The only option left, without rebellion, is simply to put their trust in the manager, as they have done time and time again. How do they still have so many clerks? It feels like there’s a breach every day that kills a few, and if she’s deployed to the scene, then…
It’s warm, the sheer amount of people in the room raising the temperature due to the less than amazing air conditioning. Every agent got moved to the center of the information department, even those who were just employed, and her of all people. The girl’s never been deployed with others after she got her rifle, and when she asked the Sephira for a reason why, they said “Don’t question the managers orders”. From what she’s seen however, she’d be a bigger threat to them than any creature in this facility with her weapon. Not to mention her experience has gotten to the point that nothing in this facility as of current is a ‘real’ threat. It’s still strange though, usually this happens at some point during the middle of the day, before the Qiploth deterrence fails and something starts to either try and break the things in here out, or just go on a killing spree. But that’s not it, after all, the day just started, it’s not even close to the time where some event would happen, much less, she could reasonably handle them on her own. The first order is given, and someone leaves the room, before coming back, somewhat confused, but they’re quickly sent back out, and the girl is given orders to wait in the hall. Strange, but she follows the order regardless.
As they enter the hall, she finally speaks to ask through a walkie talkie to their current Sephira. “Why am I being told to wait here?” It’s quiet, and they watch the other agent in the hallway hesitate, sticking around to see if they could hear the answer. “You are to do as you are directed, without hesitation, Agent. Do not waste your time asking questions.” The other agent begins moving as a voice comes through to yell at them for lounging about. They look down at their PDA, showing their assignment before they enter the abnormalities room, it doesn’t even take 30 seconds before they quickly rush back out, and into an elevator on the other side of the hall from the girl, the clerks nearby hanging about, raise their heads at the sudden panic on the face of the agent running out. The girl’s PDA blinks, notifying her of a new directive given to her, the suppression of Ppodae.
The clerks back up from the unit, some of them beginning to reach for their pistols, probably wondering why the agent would run so fast, before the alarm above the unit sings out, with blaring red lights blinding anyone unfortunate to be looking at them. The answer came quick, as an imitation of a dog that’s transformed into something else, becoming about human height, with what would’ve an impressive amount of muscle, had it not been just for intimidation, quickly exits the unit the agent ran out of and begins to start tearing at the closest living thing, being an unfortunately curious clerk, probably new. The clerks try to draw their pistols. Time seems to slow down as she realizes something, the hallway is still full, the clerks scattered about, but she has the suppression order. She knows what happens when she fires this rifle. But she can’t hesitate, that’s grounds for termination. She’s seen so many people die, but she’s never been the one to pull the trigger, metaphorically or literally.
It feels distant, the memory, the kick of the rifle, the purple hallway becoming splattered with red and chunks of flesh, the once nearly serene silence replaced with the sounds of bullets ripping through flesh. Medical supplies that went unused, as there was nobody left who could be helped. Their faces stopped in terror, unable to register the danger that was about to leave a chunk of their flesh burnt, and splattered. Why should she care? Why should she regret this, they didn’t even know her, and she didn’t know them, they just got in the way, right? There was no choice she had left other than to follow orders, right? As the final shot rings out, and the abnormality melts back into its unit, the newbie agent that was sent into the elevator steps out. The look on their face is painted, unable to hide their reaction, their unfamiliarity with corpses becomes clear, as they see her stand among the carnage.
…It’s always a bloodbath when she’s deployed, and so she’s deployed alone. Apparently, one time they did deploy her alongside other agents, or at least it sounded like it, talked about offhandedly by the manager, before being brushed away. She never remembered being deployed with other agents, though. It’s nearly time for the day to start, so it’s time to check what the assignment is today. It’s nothing, really, they typically go for much longer than what the assigned energy output is for the sake of ‘training the newer employees!’ Her first day went nearly ten times over the quota just to help her learn the ropes, when they still cared about the fatality rate, but it wasn’t like that it took that long. What’s worrying is that the quota is starting to increase past what they typically make each day. Maybe it’ll start reducing the time they have to rest and recover. But those are thoughts for the her of tomorrow, and the days after that, assuming she survives, of course.
That can be addressed later, it’s time to get to work. The ‘perks’ of being the most experienced employee is that you have firsthand experience with the abnormalities, along with the scars, both physical and mental to prove it. She drifts to when they finally employed another agent, she immediately introduced herself to them, “My names Alyssa, how about you?” a mistake, on her part she supposed. Maybe she forgot where she was employed, doubting the tales of danger, thinking that if she was good enough, they would live, trying to accept the burden of others without thinking about the consequences. That name from back then is buried, a file left in the manager’s office, scrubbed off the face of the earth without its original meaning, like it was never a person. It’s a memory Alyssa has tried to bury, so many times, and yet it stays. Breaking the surface, allowing waves of emotions to come through again as she reads the report for today as written by the other agents, and seeing that there was a death. They had seen each other that morning, but strangely, she disappeared soon after that, never seeing her again, even after she passed by her department’s main room. Usually they’re close enough to see each other as they go to their assignments, but she didn’t pop up. Alyssa attempted to maintain their composure as they spoke, “How did she die?”
It’s clear that she failed to, anger seeping through every word. The other agent responded rather calmly, “The Singing Machine.”
What? That damn machine? The machine that they have already been told that, in the managers words, has been ‘practically dissected and understood, it’s a non-issue.’ “How?”
“When they we’re sent in, it appears that the gift given by the machine caused them to go over the edge, and leap into the machine.”
Avoidable. Entirely avoidable, and yet it happened anyways, but it’s not like we have a choice, right? We’re all stuck here, to follow orders from someone, somewhere, that’s unseeable, unreachable, and indifferent to all our suffering. Not like the seraphim are any help either, they’re all too incompetent or self-absorbed to help any of us in a way that matters. The rage and sorrow from the girl's memories wells up in their stomach again, but they have to push past it and look at their missions from each department for today. She had heard that they’d get a disciplinary apartment soon, and that the Sephira of that department had an “Extreme, and inefficient hatred towards the abnormalities.” the girl had already put in an official request to be transferred to their department the second it becomes available. She was then told that “The Sephira cannot decide things like that, however, we can try and talk to the manager for you.” It's a pointless reassurance, it means practically and literally nothing. At least their missions have something they can agree with, putting those damn abnormalities down. Time to put their rifle to use.
Even if they just come back, I’ll make them suffer.
The elevator is familiar, something that the girl was used to, it’s to keep them close to the action, so they can react to where the threat goes to next. Through the radio, they hear the agent from the All-around helper’s room declare it’s breach “Why did they make the roomba so fast?! Nearly took my head off!” They head down to their floor, and watch as the agent rushes into the elevator, and out the other side, their eyes showing a momentary surprise on seeing her. The girl takes a step into the hallway, keeping a hand in the elevator to keep it open. The abnormality drags itself out of its room, wildly flailing blades around it hitting the frame of its door, screeching against the metal. It pulls its small metal body, with its limbs that have been replaced by blades to stare down the hallway with its red glass eyes before charging. The girl steps back, and the elevator slams shut, the abnormality slamming into it, the loud thud reverberating through the small metal coffin.
No time to hesitate, she punched the open button on the elevator, the buttons and metal complaining at the excessive use of force. She takes a deep breath as the door opens, the pipe in her mouth, a gift from one of those devils, burns bright. The rifle begins to light up a circle, taking deadly aim at everything before them, all that dares to stand in its path shall be pierced. A brief moment passes, short as it is, the complete silence between the sound of the rifle preparing its shot and the sound of it firing is always the worst part. The bullet fires, the blue trail it leaves in the air as it finds its target making its strength clear. There is no mercy for those who stand in its path, no matter who they are. It rips a limb of the abnormality clean off, sparking with both electricity and the blue flames leaping to anything they can grab. Like clockwork, the girl pulls the bolt of the rifle back, loading the next bullet with precision close to that of a trained soldier. Another shot rings out, and another limb gone as the robot pathetically tries to get upright, to fight back. Yet again, the rifle fires, it's shot finds its way into one of its eyes before it finally manages to stand, trying to fight. Not like it mattered, the girl was prepared for it, using the rifle to block the blade coming at her neck. They didn’t flinch, why would they anyways? Not like they care one way or another, they just want the machine to suffer, to understand that emotion, to regret its existence before the end. But it won’t, it’ll come back, like nothing happened, and then it’ll start again, a loop to eternity. It stalls, trying to use its remaining limbs to keep its balance, but as it attempts an attack, it knocks itself off balance again. The girl slams the rifle into the abnormalities center, crushing what looks like its head. It is returned to its unit shortly afterwards, the hallway silent.
The abnormality is back in its containment unit, with faux kindness, trying to care for those in there, but failing to at every turn. A failure of a creation, no matter the way you looked at it. It’s disgusting, to think that someone would ever think to make a mistake such as that. But that’s not the girl’s objective right now, her current assignment is to move to yet another elevator, sitting outside the containment unit of the mentally ill thing that’s undeserving of name or title, who’s breathing is so loud it can be heard even from the elevator next to its unit. There’s a brief moment to think, walking over to the designated spot, to try and figure out how these people are still alive, none of them as strong as her, nor as experienced, yet they are sent in, and survive all the same. Maybe it’s the safer one’s they’re sent in on, the ones they know. But that’s what happened with the one person she got to know, and yet she’s still dead, left there to rot. These people are all weaker, undeserving of the same titles as the one’s she has lost. But it’s time for the execution, waiting for the abnormality to leave his unit, purposefully aggravated by the agent. She doesn’t wait to fire, pulling the trigger the second the abnormality leaves the containment unit, pulling its attention. But the other agent didn’t leave yet. A scream hits the girl's ears, forcing them to be aware of the person at the end of the hallway, trying to make it through the door with a hole burnt into their shoulder. But they do limp through, allowing her a sigh of relief, as she raises the rifle to finish the job.
They saw her, not like it matters though, she’s the only one with the rifle, the only one allowed to use it. Her reputation is in the dirt as it is, being referred with both spite and reverence, as the one to gather information about new abnormalities, but also the most protected, the gear she’s been given being the “best of the best”, according to the manager and Sephira, at least. “She’s a psycho, I get that being here takes being a little unhinged, but she’s fully off the wall. Did you see what happened that day? The hallway filled with bodies? That was all her! I saw it with my own two eyes!” They didn’t, nobody saw what happened that day, but it’s not that they didn’t know. That was her, but she didn’t have a choice. They’d have done the same thing, in her shoes. But it’s time to move on, there’s another one that’s going to be suppressed.
They’re sent to the hallway, this time, instead of an elevator. A bit more spacious, but there’s still clerks wandering about, trying to manage, something. Why are they always everywhere? Do they not hear about the same things we do? Do they not understand the danger that these things bring? The agent is sent out of the containment unit, before leaning against the wall next to the door. They turn to look at her as she enters, and seem to start to say something, before hesitating. She recognizes them, they’re friendly, despite the situation, and have tried to talk to her several times, but luckily Alyssa was always sent somewhere else before they had the chance to. They’re hesitating, of course, because everybody knows who she is, what she did, of course they’d hesitate. “Hey, I’ve heard about you.” The girl feigns surprise, “Oh, what have you heard?” Again, hesitation is clear on his face, searching for something to say, “I’ve heard that you go to the newer abnormalities first, and that you’re the most experienced, yeah?” They chose their words with a scalpel, trying to avoid angering her, but she’d never take it personally.
She considers not responding, but they’d just bother her more “Both are true. The manager likes sending me first to test the waters, and I’ve been here since day one.” The next question they want to ask is practically written on the wall, but their common decency makes them stop themselves. But it’s a chance to push them away, to make them stop talking to her, so she continues, “I know what they say, so yes. I did what they said I did. I pulled the trigger in the hallway that day on a direct order from the manager. There were no witnesses to the action, other than me, everyone else just saw the carnage.” The boy goes quiet, seemingly both ashamed and scared of learning what they said was true. But he still looks up and asks, “What’s your name?” The girl sighs, “You read the manual?” The boy curiously shakes their head, as the girl recites “Personal connections between agents is not directly against the rules, but due to the risk with the position, is heavily discouraged.” They remember the passage, clear as day, the one they ignored, despite everything.
It almost seemed like they had pity in their eyes before they said, “Well, call me selfish if you want, but I don’t think I have to worry about that with you, considering your experience!” Perhaps it was visible in Alyssa’s gaze, but he turned their head away as she looked towards the boy, before carefully picking their words, “Do you want me to be deadly honest? Even with my expertise, I cannot guarantee anyone’s safety, no matter how fast I am, no matter how strong, no matter how hard I may try, there is still times where I can do nothing to protect others.” The boy waits, as if allowing her to continue, and so she does, “I have failed once to keep another safe, so please, don’t try to befriend me thinking that you’ll be protected from everything when I’m there. Letting your guard down is lethal, no matter where you are here.”
The silence drags on for an uncomfortably long amount of time, the boy sitting there and staring at Alyssa. Eventually, they reach a hand up to their ear and nod their head before turning to the girl. “I’m heading back in, make sure you’re ready.” Alyssa silently raises her rifle, aiming down the hallway as the other agent heads into the chamber. She couldn’t be more aware of the time passing as they’re in there. It’s a lower danger level, the fragment of the universe being a TETH, but she can’t let her guard down. The alarm begins to blare, and the boy is running out as fast as they can, the abnormality’s legs and tendrils reaching for them as it leaves the unit. It’s chasing him, but it won't be able to catch him before the bullet rips through its body. The tendril begins to approach him, brushing against his head, diverted by the E.G.O. suit, as they reach the elevator and slams the door shut. They made it, good. Now, to handle this thing.
The rifle feels heavier than usual, the girls head growing increasingly clouded. Why did she tell him any of that? It’s unusual for her, and it’s not like she’s needed help before, nor has she sought any before, so why now? One more remains, before the day proceeds as usual, and they resume trying to extract the suit and weapon from one of the newer abnormalities. A conceited judge, believing its own ‘justice’ to be perfected.
The girl moves to the lower levels, her mind still stuck on the past, and is standing at the end of a hallway, next to Void Dreams containment unit, waiting for someone else to come so they can anger it into leaving. Despite her attempts, the past still eats at her.
She stands in front of the abnormality, standing tall above her like a statue, watching her with piercing eyes, despite lacking a proper face. She’s trying to ignore it, denying its existence despite the feeling like it’s aware of her, and all that is ‘Alyssa’. It feels different, this time though, their gaze switched from that of someone trying to figure out a puzzle, to that of a bystander watching, patiently waiting for a bridge to collapse, wondering who it’ll take with it. Apparently, all they need is the rifle right now, given the armor already sits on her shoulders patiently waiting for its other half. For some reason, this one likes the just, and while she hasn’t heard the story for this abnormality, it feels wrong. Something in her mind is telling her, screaming, that this is not a ‘just’ creature, that it isn’t right. Times up, time for her to leave, she turns to the door, before a hand on her shoulder makes her turn back. She shouldn’t have looked back, but she did so instinctually, and the abnormality had set something on the floor behind her. It seemed to be a pipe, laying there, waiting for her. There weren’t any regulations regarding this in the files, so is it fine if she takes it? Alyssa stands in place, staring at it for a moment, before walking over, and picking up off the floor, before leaving. She makes no move to acknowledge the abnormality further than she already has. A voice comes through a receiver, on the surface, it’s meant for everyone, but silently, it’s directed towards Alyssa. “The EGO weapon, Magic Bullet, has been extracted, expect a reassignment of weapons tomorrow.” She can feel the pipe and cloak yearn for their other half as they sit on her body.
"It's a lower risk abnormality again but stay vigilant." The voice coming through the walkie talkie reminds her about the abnormalities tactics, making sure that she's prepared. It is supposed to put people to sleep, not that dangerous, but it’s reportedly addictive. She moves to lean against the end of the hallway closer to the target, facing the entrance. The agent that comes in is familiar, same as the last one, waving as they move towards the entrance, stating “It’s Alyssa, right?” Of course they’d learn, they’re new. “Yes.” No point in lying, no point in them asking either, it’s on her armband, next to her designation of captain.
“My names Kari, if you’d like to learn.”
Of course they’d just say that. Of course they’d ignore her warnings.
The girl ignores them, waiting for the boy to enter the unit and begin the process of getting the abnormality to breach. It takes a minute, trying to aggravate it, before the alarm signifying its escape begins to blare. Alyssa aims down the hallway, ready to fire when they see the other agent escape the hallway. The second she hears the door on the other end close, she pulls the trigger.
There’s this story about a hunter.
It screams, loud enough that her ears began to ring, and feel on the verge of bleeding. It doesn’t deserve to scream, to express its agony. Again, they pull the trigger, forming another hole on the creature.
You see, they made a deal with the devil.
It seems to be weak, but why should the girl let up? Another shot, aimed at its mouth.
They received a rifle; it’s bullets capable of hitting anything.
Pull the bolt back, load another shot. A screech from it is cut short, distorted by a new hole taking the place the things mouth.
However, in exchange the devil placed a curse on the rifle's bullets.
It’s barely moving, not that the girl cared, it hasn’t returned to its unit, it’s still in sight, she’s still going to pull the trigger again and again.
The seventh bullet would pierce the hearts of those the hunter loved.
It’s burning from the flames from each bullet, hopefully it feels every moment of it.
In the story, the hunter shot everyone he loved, leaving nothing for the seventh bullet to pierce.
The creature's eye remains, lingering behind, like its mocking her. She loads another bullet, aiming at the remaining piece of void dreams body.
But Alyssa wasn’t the hunter.
The door to the hallway opens, something, someone, yelling to Alyssa to calm down. She’s already pulled the trigger by the time she realizes there was someone else in the room. There’s no sound, and then something drops to hit the floor. There’s a chunk missing of their chest, with worry written on their face. A burning pile of ash sits between it and Alyssa. Alyssa recognizes the face that the body wears. Through the ringing from the shots, she could’ve sworn that someone was laughing at it, this mistake.
But that doesn’t matter now, as both had become a devil.