[ NINE ]

It's about 11:50AM when I'm sitting in a glitzy waiting room with several screens on every wall, showcasing recent advances in Tetra Line's entertainment works. Every so often, a low-volume speaker plays some of their music-focused NIKKE squad's latest hits. I'm in my commander uniform, but I can't help but feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, even if this room is basically devoid of people. I'm horribly plain compared to this dazzling gold room, and I can't even say the place bridges into tackiness with the magnificent balance in its design. To the west of me, there's a door that sits shut until about the 11:55 mark. By that point, it slides open, and a woman steps out.

"Commander Nine, was it?" She asks, bowing to me once she approaches from the doorway. I stand up from my seat and dip into a polite bow in return, if only on gut impulse.

"Yes," I say.

"This way," she invites. "Monsieur Mustang will see you now."

I step through the threshold and the woman follows suit, shutting the door behind me. The only problem is, the office I enter into is as empty as the room before. Mustang's desk is massive, almost large enough to pass off as a mini-stage, and there are various fixtures around the room that make this place feel more like a miniature runway than a business office. I am seated into a rather plush loveseat, which I sit in rather stiffly out of nervousness. Where... Where is Mustang?

The woman who showed me in shuffles out quickly, and suddenly, I'm shrouded in darkness. All the lights cut out, and the windows are covered with blackout curtains that completely seal out the simulated daylight of the Ark.

I sit in silence, too petrified to move.

Then, a beat begins to play. It's a groovy little thing.

‘Oh yeah~!’ Plays on the speakers. It’s Mustang’s theme!

"EEEEEEE-NTERTAINMENT!!!★"

His voice comes from everywhere at once, and I feel my heart jump a bit. A stage light flashes on the desk before me, and there he is -- checkered black and gold bodysuit, impossible box-like heels, and his unbelievably heavy looking set of lights built in a tail feather fashion on his back flashing right back at me, standing on top of his freakin' desk like a madman in a pose I could never replicate, one leg held up on the vertical as he balances on one very painful looking heel. He's absolutely pulling it off, though. The room is booming with a fantastic groovy beat, and I'm, well, physically incapable of not being entertained like this.

I provide him with applause. He's everything I'd hoped he'd be.

Fabulous.

The man seems pleased with my response enough for him to spin on his heel a few rotations until he was back on his two feet. He strikes another pose, and points directly at me.

"Toi! Commander Nine, oui?!"

"Ah, y-yes! I am Commander Nine."

"My, my, what a funny little surnom! I'd understood your name on ze papers to be 'Nico', non?"

Ah, so that was the old commander's name, then? I hadn't bothered to find out. "It is. But I prefer Nine!" I decide to just go with it.

"Very well!" He booms, and with a spin he's vaulted off his desk and into his chair. "I am Mustang, Tetra Line's C! E! OHHHHH! It is a pleasure, non, an absolute la joie, to finally meet you! EN★TERTAINMENT★~!"

His shouting is a little hard to keep up with, but it isn't like it's dissonant by any means. His voice is strong and pleasant, so even if he is a bit loud, I'm ready to accept that that's just how the man is. I can roll with it, I think. Maybe. I’ll be really tired by the end of this, but that’s just how it’ll be.

"The honor is mine, sir," I reply.

"Oh, s'il te plaît, Commander! Monsieur! It is simply Mustang to you!"

"Alright," I say. "Then, please just call me Nine."

"Zen it shall be as such!"

This man's a riot, I absolutely adore him even more in person compared to in the game. I'm grinning ear to ear with delight, and the music he’s playing is exactly what I'd hoped I'd hear -- it was just like in the soundtrack for the game!

"I understand you wanted to meet with me," I say, working to keep our banter lively.

"Oui -- I did! You are correct," he says, and with a rather rehearsed gesture on his terminal, the music lowers to a more ambiance level for us to speak. He waves his hands rather intricately, and rests his chin on them. His bravado calms down with the music's quiet, and he speaks in a strong yet compassionate voice; "Premier ordre d'affaires, my dear Nine. I must apologize for my girls -- Die x Four."

I find myself losing my smile, but only enough to make me a bit sullen with my expression. "No, I should apologize..." I trail off though, because I can't let myself speak about Vapaus to him. Sure, a cure exists, but I know just how dramatic a cure it is, and how unachievable it is for someone like me to obtain it.

"But, pourquoi? You have done nothing wrong. In fact, you are a hero to ze story! Your actions were heard by my ears, and the tears I shed of shame were enough to flood ze room. This is why--!" He flashes his hand forward, and six tickets fan out with a rainbow sheen to them. I recognize them from the game itself -- they're incredibly expensive Tetra Line VIP tickets. Is he bribing me...? "I must begin my journey to make it up to you for such a douloureux experience. Zhese are ze beginning of my apology to you for having to execute one of my girls for such a gaffe!"

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He wasn't bribing me, at least not outright -- the man was genuine, and doing everything he could so far to alleviate the stress I underwent. Everything he was doing so far was relatively par for the course for a corporation, though... I suppose this is all he wanted to speak with me about?

"With zhis, I must begin my next conversation with you. Allons, we shall treat zhis exchange in my hands as a promise not to worry again about another Tetra Line girl causing you trouble in your life, my dear Nine. Not only these tickets will represent such a thing -- you have my word!"

"I really appreciate your kindness, Mustang," I say, neatly gathering the tickets from his hands and tucking them in my coat. There's enough for everyone in Purem, myself included. "You didn't have to do that."

"But I did, my dear Nine! My heart could not handle leaving you out in ze rain after such a stressful ordeal. I trust ze eye you received is working well, yes?"

"It is. It's like I never was injured."

Mustang claps.

"Bien! Tres bien! It is such a relief in my own heart to know you are well."

He leans back and clasps his hands in his lap.

"Now, to ze main course."

"Hm?" Wait. That wasn't all?

His bright expression turns a touch serious. He's still practically gleaming, but the corners of his mouth turn downward just a touch as he loses his joviality for a moment.

"I understand zhat you are in possession of a NIKKE of male gender, my dear Nine."

"... Ah," I say, and my prayers that Mustang wanted to speak about Clear have been answered, so I smile a touch. "Yeah. His name is Clear. Strange, isn't it?"

"Oui, most incompréhensible. I believe you may have a quite ze mystery."

"I've actually found out a little bit about him while doing a bit of research."

"My, you have? And here I was, thinking I would be dropping the bombshell on you!"

"Wait, what?"

"Tell me, what do you know so far, my dear Nine?"

As much as I want to know what bombshell he’s on about, he's ready to eat up anything and everything I could give him. I need to be careful with that. I shut my eyes and let the soft beat of the music in the room guide my train of thought to be concise. I finally part my lips to speak.

"Clear is a NIKKE from an old line known as Mies. There is one article on the internet mentioning them; it dates back to the First Rapture Invasion. His brain is that of an individual who was assigned female at birth. The science involved with how that works is beyond me, but he’s proof that the process works."

Mustang snaps his fingers, and I open my eyes back up to see what he's doing.

"Incroyable★!" He says, and I'm waiting for more context. "Zhis lines up with my information perfectly!"

"What information?" I ask, and for a moment I'm literally at the edge of my seat.

"It is something you would die to know, my dear Nine! I am quite proud. I do not like bringing zhis up, but do you know how long I have run zhis company?"

"No," I lie. "I do not. How long?"

"I have run it since it was ever made!" He says with flair, throwing his arms in the air. "Do not go talking about zhis with others, but I have quite ze history in my little brain! As such, I remembered Mies!"

"You do?"

"Oui, I was just a boy, but I remember -- and I found them to be simply beau!" He claps his hands together. "I even know who made zhem. Would you like to know?"

"What -- would I?!" I scramble from my seat, standing anxiously with my hands on the desk. "Please, tell me!"

"Non."

"Wha--?!"

"Not until I receive one promise!"

"... Yes, what is it?" I'm losing sanity.

"Zhis meeting stays between us."

"You didn't even have to ask."

"Then! It was my father who made Mies a reality, mon Nine. Is that not dazzling information?"

My jaw drops.

"Yes! Alas, he was killed by his own creations," he says, dropping another bombshell on me without mercy. I'm absolutely floored.

"What...?!"

"Indeed. My father was killed by his own creations during ze First Rapture Invasion, and zhe project was abandoned. Corruption -- zhere is no other way it could have happened. I was not zhere to witness ze crime then, though. I was in ze Ark when it happened." He wipes a shed tear from his immaculate face. "He was a good man, my father!"

"That I'm sure -- do you have access to any of your father's documentation from back then?"

"Non. It is utterly unreachable!"

"Nonsense!" I blurt. Nothing relevant in this world is impossible to reach, I’m willing to bet, which is why…!

"I am not convinced your girls could reach such a perilous place!" He says, and with that I finally understand why he's being cagey. I'm just another random commander, after all. So what if I took out Pai Die? So what if I have one of his father's NIKKEs? I deflate a little.

"You're right," I finally say, "As is, they're probably unable to reach somewhere dangerous. But with your support, I could get them to a place where even tyrant class Raptures would run!"

Mustang whistles in impress and claps finely.

"Ohhh, si magnifique, Nine! A bold statement from such a small body!"

"H-hang on, s-small body?" I cut in. My query is unheard.

" -- Zhen, I suppose a little faith is needed from myself, is it not?"

I push myself away from the small body comment and double down.

"I just want to cure Clear's condition. I have reason to believe he's stronger than any other NIKKE in the Ark right now. We just need to get him walking again," I determine my words solidly, my voice strong against the music in the room.

"Such passion! Such devotion! It is pure.... EEEEEEE-NTERTAINMENT★!! Okay, my dear Nine, you have my word -- I will provide coordinates to ze research facility in which Mies was made. However, do not go foolishly! I want you to be trained up before going out anywhere crazy! I cannot provide everything, but I can provide my unwavering support in this endeavor, now more than ever!"

"I really appreciate it, Mustang. You're a great guy."

"Ohohoho! Mon cheri, I am simply fabulous! Now, come! We shall walk together! Zhis concludes our meeting, unless you have anything else to add★~?"

"Nothing at all, thank you, Mustang."

"No, thank you! Let us make this a great journey for the both of us!"

He leads me out of the office and to the elevator, and the moment the sliding doors shut I brace myself against the wall and groan. I love the guy, but what a draining experience…! That being said, I... I can't believe the breakthrough I just made with his help. With this, I could learn more about Mies. What I want more than anything is paperwork on who Clear was before he was a NIKKE. If I can find that, maybe I'll have more context on how to help him. I'm full of hope as my eyes flutter shut. The next thing I know, I'm in my bed at my apartment taking a midday nap.

[[ CHAPTER 20 END ★ ]]