…..
The next day. Counters was reunited with a particular nikke squad.
Varakiel: Alright let me get this straight, you want counters to escort you to a set of coordinates where you don't have a single idea what's in there?
Rupee: pretty much, yeah!
Dolla: I wonder how you can be so calm about it.
Varakiel: About what?
Dolla: you lost marian to the pilgrims. Do you realize how much that technology of hers is worth? They let a veritable gold mine slip right through their fingers!
Yan: jeez, you're pretty clueless yourself. Not everyone is as money hungry as you are. She was their friend. They've been through a lot together. First the entire ark gangs up on 'em, and now she's been kidnapped by some strangers, how could they not be torn up about it? Is clear that the commander is hiding his emotions pretty well, isn't that right?
Varakiel: Something like that.
Yan: called it.
Rapi: are there any special reasons for nikkes from Talentum to tag along in this operation? Business is your forte, not combat. There's no need for you to join us in this mission.
Anis: Come to think of it, you're right. Commander, are they holding anything over you? Maybe a private loan or something? Were those money making strategies just lies? -_-
Varakiel: nope.
Dolla: haha. Nothing like that.
Rapi: The commander is very good at financial management after all the outposts have grown by a lot in such a short time. I am not well versed on it, but I can tell that's not a small feat.
Yan: Indeed, his financial acumen is marvelous.
Dolla: Indeed from having nothing to building a city from scratch, if he wasn't a commander he could possibly become a new member of the big three in the future, but we are getting out of the theme, the contents of the contract are very simple. If you escort us to a specified point on the surface, any profits we make will be split right down the middle. That's it. The three of us found out about these coordinates through different sources. We all agreed that this is an opportunity which may pan out quite well for us financially.
Varakiel: is that so…uhmmm….i am not short on money but the mystery does attract me.
Yan: So you agree commander? She is being too modest, we all operate in different business fields, it's rare for all three of us to agree on something. The fact this has happened means…
Varakiel: that there's a gold mine there.
Yan: bingo.
Varakiel: very well, the counters squads agrees
Dolla: great, so sigh here please.
...
Some time later….
Rupee was recording with her phone while being escorted by varakiel and the squad.
Rupee:....do you see it? The blue sky! The bright sun! It's exactly how the books describe them. If we continue on our way, defeating raptures as we go, we can get our hands on some high-tech artifacts that have been buried in the ground for over half a century. It might be dangerous, but I'm not worried. Our handsome and capable sweetie will protect us!
Varakiel: of course *wink*
Rupee: oh my! And he's confident to boot! Anyways! With a handsome hunk protecting us, will we be able to obtain any high-tech artifacts? Stay tuned everyone, and don't go changing the channel!
Varakiel: Is this going on tetra TV?
Rupee: you betcha it does.
Varakiel: Cool, let me give you some feedback. I have seen your previous chapters.
Rupee: ohhh! Go ahead.
Varakiel and Rupee get closer and begin to talk.
Neon: What is this?
Dolla: don't mind them. It's a common thing that mall owners do. Streaming gets them on Tetra TV, where the SJ's help give their malls some added exposure. Rupee runs one of the largest shopping malls in the ark.
Yan: that and the fact that emotional marketing is all the rage these days. The more you put your product out there, the more valuable it becomes. There's no better story that something having been obtained up on the surface through blood, sweat and tears. So the more she goes on camera and shows off, our piece of the pie gets bigger and bigger.
Anis: ugh, it's all about money with you people -_-
....
Rapi: commander, 9 o'clock.
Varakiel: I see them.
Anis: they're moving like ants in a straight line. I think they're transporting something.
Varakiel: Can you identify what they are transporting?
Neon: I can't quite make it out, but it's very shiny. A jewel…or some electronic part. Something of that sort.
Varakiel: ah, I see it.
Dolla: !!
Rupee: !!
Yan: !! I smell something.
Rupee: I've got a good feeling about this.
Dolla: we'll find what we're looking for at the end of that line. By the way, they seem to be heading right towards the coordinates we're aiming for. This can't be a coincidence.
Varakiel: The mystery deepens, great, let's follow them.
Rapi: Yes, commander.
Neon: yes, master.
Anis: wait. Are you guys out of your mind? You're just going to take Talentum at their word and barge straight in?
Neon: but. But. anis. If there's a treasure to be found here, we won't have to worry about money ever again.
Varakiel: Hey this isn't about the treasure, I want to know what is this, don't worry we will be fine anis. I promise. And neon, i think i provide enough resources to everyone already isn't? Perhaps are you unsatisfied? I told you that you should tell me if that was the case.
Neon: n-no master we all have a great life in the outpost i just spoke out of my mind sorry.
Yan: Wow, rookie. Just how much have you been spoiling these ladies?
Varakiel: not enough apparently…
Yan: I see.
Dolla: it doesn't have to be a frontal assault. We can sneak in from behind and snag the treasure that way. Let's hurry and catch up to them.
...….
Anis: Tell me something. What made you suddenly decide to come up to the surface? If you're part of Talentum, you should be well off. There shouldn't be any reason to put yourself in danger like this.
Rupee:...
Dolla:...
Yan:...Don't you ever watch the news?
Neon: sure. National defense news. They're always introducing sweet new firearms.
Varakiel: I watch cooking with mustang.
Anis: such thing exist? -_-
Dolla: no, she meant news channels that deal with social issues, stuff like that. Missilis stock prices have been cut in half. It's been all over the news. Their investors lost a small fortune.
Anis: what? That sack of monkey br…i mean, syuen's company?
Dolla: yes. Unfortunately, we were one of those investors. In order to make up for our losses, we have to start taking risks. Like coming up to the surface.
Varakiel: OxO (woops, i think that is my fault, i didn't expect her to invest too much in vapaus…well she needed to taste defeat once maybe she will change for the better….maybe.) Do you know why is that?
Yan: ugh, on top we have one of their researchers who became a sort of whistleblower, exposing all sorts of malfeasance. And then we have some sort of research for some kind of super weapon against raptures. After that, people's faith in the company plummeted, and so did the stock prices.
Rapi: commander isn't that?
Rapi whispers in varakiel ear.
Varakiel: collateral damage rapi….
Rapi: I see..
Dolla: it seems the commander was aware of it. Did you also invested on missilis?
Varakiel: something like that….
Dolla: Well it seems it wasn't as big as us so I must say you're very lucky.
Yan: to be honest, not focusing on a sole market was a major issue, a super weapon? Leave that kind of thing to elysion. Don't you agree, commander?
Varakiel: *cof* no comments, i am almost like missilis, a jack of all trades.
Yan: I see. As an investor, it's a different story though.
...…..
Anis: it's bizarre…those raptures are circling around the same spot.
Neon: think their directional sensors are broken?
Anis: all of them at once? Fat chance.
Yan:....dolla, you've been recording their movements this whole time, right?
Dolla: Sure enough. Based on analyzing the record, those raptures aren't moving around aimlessly. Rather, they seem to be patrolling around the coordinates. That we're aiming for. As if they're trying to protect it.
Varakiel: It seems they detected us already.
Dolla: most likely. So what do you want to do? Do we charge straight in? Or give up and go back?
Varakiel: charge straight in? What are we? Brutes? No dolla, we have technology.
Varakiel then takes out a raincoat from his backpack.
Anis: isn't that?
Neon: is the thermal camo!
Dolla: thermal camo?
Varakiel: I'll sneak it and attract them while you neutralize them in a pinch attack. Off i go.
Varakiel then turns invisible and moves to the coordinates.
Dolla:...invisibility and thermal camouflage? Will he be okay?
Neon: don't worry the commander is like a shadow they'll never know is there until he strikes.
Rapi: Everyone ready.
...…..
Rapi: enemy neutralized.
Anis: whew, that was easy, the commander support always works wonders.
Neon: can't wait to see what this mystery is all about.
Anis: me, too. I admit it is more exciting than sneaking into the commander's room in the middle of the night to use his bathtub and those hand-made products he got.
Rupee: !!
Dolla: !!
Yan: !! O-O
Anis: what!? I'm not the only one.
Anis looks over at neon.
Neon: don't look at me! Other people do it too.
Neon looks at rapi.
Rapi:...no comments.
Varakiel: So that's why they run out 3 times faster than they should….not that i mind.
Varakiel says as he walks back to them.
Varakiel: Is everyone okay?
Rapi: just small bruises there and there.
Varakiel: good.
Rupee suddenly starts to record again.
Rupee: wowee, what a scandal! Our dashing commander seems so prim and proper on the outside, but in reality? He's a lothario who seduces poor young nikkes by luring them into the showers.
Varakiel: lothario?
Rapi: is a womanizer in italian commander…
Varakiel: ha!
Rupee: and that does unspeakable things to them!
Varakiel: And that's a slander, I am not a lothario, I take full responsibility for such things.
Rupee: my my!!! Can you tell me more!?
Varakiel: no, it is private information.
Rupee: b-but…don't you know? Sex sells! I bet our viewers will double because of this!
Anis, neon and rapi cheeks blush a little.
Yan: And the three of you agree? Well well, alright stop kidding around we need to hurry up and move. If we hit the jackpot with this one, we'll all be able to have anything we want, private hot tubs included.
...