Nova found himself in the familiar airship that was present in Arcturus’s memory. The memory started with Arcturus and Kori walking through a corridor with a tray in Arcturus’s hands. He was going to have his lunch in his room, which was on the far left side of the airship. This required him to move past the main deck the control system was. Because it was lunch time, nobody was there.

It was by chance that he passed by the main deck. It was by chance that there were some crew members in that room. It was by chance that he had overheard their conversation.

“I don’t understand why we have to risk our lives taking that red-haired brat onto the isolated island. There’s nothing there? Is Mr. Hope seriously crazy about making us do this?”

“You got a hefty amount of money for this request, right? I’d say shut up and accept it. Besides, remember the other part of Mr. Hope’s request? To kill him once we reach the island? He said that he’d give us an even bigger sum of money if we do manage to kill him.”

Arcturus and Kori were hiding on the wall as they eavesdropped on their conversation. Kori saw Arcturus grip the tray tightly as the two men continued talking about how to kill Arcturus when the chance came.

Arcturus rushed towards his room with Kori following suit. He slammed the tray onto the desk, making the plates and bowl bounce in unison. He stared at the food; it consisted of half a loaf of bread with soup and salad. The aroma did not please him; all he could smell was the rage fueling within him.

Kori looked at him with worry. He slowly reached out and tugged Arcturus’s sleeve. “Are you alright?”

“Kori, tonight, I want you to eliminate everyone in the crew.”

“Why don’t we wait for a few days to see how this all plays out?”

“No, do it today. What if they try to kill me tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?”

Arcturus was looking at Kori with the coldest glare he had ever seen on him. Kori felt scared. Arcturus wasn’t this sort of person, but he could not disobey his master. “Alright. Tonight, I’ll eliminate them.”

“Do Ally and Support Shifties have the capability to kill?” Nova asked the current Kori.

“All of us Shifties have knowledge of killing. The information is implemented onto us. We know all humans’ vital spots. While we have this knowledge, we aren’t trained to kill unlike Combat Shifties.”

“It was a risky move on Arcturus’s part, then.”

“On the contrary, since I am more durable and have less weaknesses than the average human, it would make me a terrifying foe, despite not being oriented that way.”

Nova agreed with his words. The ones that people underestimate were definitely the most dangerous. The crew had underestimated Arcturus and Kori, which was why they paid the price of doing so.

Nova snapped his finger. The memory transitioned from them being in Arcturus’s room to Kori leaning against the wall, hiding himself in a blind spot where no one could see him. He closed his eyes.

I sense three people in the main deck. Kori opened his eyes and then took a good look at his hand, which shifted from a regular hand into a knife. He started reciting where humans’ vital spots were as he charged into the main deck. Because of his short height, he decided to focus on the solar plexus as it was the only place where he could successfully complete his task.

Stabbing the first man in that vital area was a success. He repeated the same to the second and third. Their blood pooled out. He stared at the corpses for a few seconds before he rushed out to search for more prey.

As he stepped out, Sayaka spoke to him. Do you think we should move the guy on the control panel?

No need.

In a short amount of time, the airship became stained with blood. When Kori finished his final kill, he had returned to the main deck to see Arcturus panicking. “Is something the matter?”

“The self-destruct button activated.” Kori could hear Arcturus type on so many keys on the keyboard; he could tell he was trying to use as many codes as possible to find a way to rectify the vehicle’s upcoming action. “What should we do?”

“I’ll find a way to nullify this. You dispose of the corpses. Throw them into the ocean or something.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Yes, Arc.”

In Kori’s perspective, Arcturus was the second most intelligent human being he had laid eyes upon. In addition to being his ideal human, he also found his intelligence ideal. He had faith that Arcturus would be able to stop the self-destruction.

Because of his strength, disposing of the corpses into the ocean was a quick and simple task that he completed. On his way back, he noticed a door that was slightly opened. He took a peek in and saw a small lifeboat.

We should take that with us just in case Arcturus cannot stop the system.

But, he can. I believe in him.

Arcturus may be intelligent, but the human mind is no match for technology, especially if the machine in question is as complex as an airship.

Why are you uncertain?

I know that you see Arcturus as perfect, but humans are all flawed. I just want you to understand not everything can go as you expect and that you need alternatives.

Despite his frustrations with Sayaka not fully believing in his master, Kori decided to do as she said because he trusted her as well. He grabbed the lifeboat and some rope that he had found at the corner of the storage room. When he got out, he noticed a difference in altitude. The ocean was a lot lower than he had seen before.

Worried, he quickly tied the end of the lifeboat and then tied the other half of the rope onto a pole. He threw the boat so that it was floating and staying idle until Arcturus rode on it.

Looking at the boat from above, there’s only room for one person.

You could ride the boat in your rabbit form…

I could…but I don’t want to.

Why? Sayaka sounded very confused. This isn’t some movie where the actor does heroic scenes in the end. You could actually die and not be with Arcturus anymore. Are you really okay with that?

I made up my mind.

Kori. Sayaka was very furious with his stubbornness.

Sayaka, I don’t understand why I’m thinking like this myself. A part of me wants to go while a part of me refuses. It’s very conflicting.

You’re afraid.

Afraid? Of what?

You are a product of Hope Corporation. Nathaniel Hope created you as the very first Shiftie–in fact, you’re just a prototype in itself. You are afraid of Arcturus resenting you after learning of Nathaniel Hope’s true intent on bringing Arcturus onto this journey. You’re afraid that your master might resent you for being associated with him. You’re afraid of losing your purpose–to serve and protect your master until the very end.

It felt as if Sayaka was probing him. He won’t resent me…would he? The uneasiness proved Sayaka’s point. He hadn’t given it much thought before, but she was correct; he was afraid of what happened after they escaped the airship. The way he sensed Arcturus’s ire when he had learned the harsh truth and the way he wanted the crew member eliminated had terrified him. He was worried about whether he’d be on the receiving ends of those eyes sooner or later.

He won’t resent you. He’s spent too much time with you.

That’s a relief.

Sayaka hummed. Thinking about it deeply, I think this might be a good idea–to stay behind.

Elaborate?

I died and was forcibly put into your body as your source of life. And then you were created and developed a soul of your own. Both of us are victims of that nefarious man. You didn’t ask to be born. I didn’t ask to be put in your body. Perhaps, being destroyed can be a good way for that man to be taken down a few notches. Let’s show him that what he has created isn’t truly perfect and that both soul and Shiftie can and will rebel against the creator himself. You can fulfill your purpose and die for your master and your master alone while I can finally be a free soul.

Processing her words gave him confidence. I like that. Let’s do it.

Nova became in deep thought. It had never occurred to him that the relationship between a Shiftie and their earring was technically one of non-consent. Souls wanted to be put to rest in the Spirit Realm, but Nathaniel Hope had disrupted the very flow of such order. He had inherently misjudged Kori.

Yet, Kori’s inherent clinginess towards his purpose confused him. Was it a Shiftie trait to cling onto their purposes? Was it fear to go against what they were created for? It made him wonder if Kori was afraid of his free will in a way.

“Kori, why do you insist on keeping to your purpose?” He needed to know; he wanted to understand Kori, but he also wanted to understand a Shiftie’s mindset most of all.

Kori looked him straight in the eye and replied without any hesitation, “Serving our purpose is what we are created for. We Shifties are created to serve humans in any way possible.”

“But you have free will. Why couldn’t you go against it? If you have lived, Arcturus wouldn’t have been so mentally affected by this…”

“You already saw in a past memory. Shifties developing a free will is something seen as unsightly.”

“Arcturus doesn’t care about that.”

“I care about it.”

Nova had a good grasp of Kori’s mindset; he wasn’t sure if this applied to all Shifties, however. It was true that he was absolutely devoted to serving his purpose, but he could tell Kori was afraid of disobeying. Despite him having free will and having the capability to go against his reasons, he chose not to because he believed he had to be the same as his people.

No, you are incorrect with that assumption. Souhait remarked, He is still serving his purpose to protect and devote himself to Arcturus, but he is also rebelling. He chose to die for his master, but rebelled against his creator.

Realization came to Nova now that Souhait had explained another theory. He quite liked that idea more than whatever he had conceptualized. He smiled as he turned to Kori. He patted his head to show how impressed he was.

When he focused back on the memory, he saw Kori’s ears perking. He had sensed something, which was why he rushed back into the airship to check up on Arcturus.