"How's everyone doing?" Tsuki made sure to check up on us using the radio every now and again, that included Shina who seemed to have gone back to look after LCSW in our absence. The detour was a lot worse than we thought, having to cut through V Corp then take a turn to L Corp.

"We're managing, everyone is antsy being in an unknown Corp." Fixit answered for me, I continued looking out the window, seeing if I could pick up any info on what the Corp's whole gimmick was about. "So, those N Corp people from earlier, they're Nagul and Hammer right?"

"How do you know them?" Tsuki's voice over the radio was mostly clear, but there still was an ounce of interference.

"They're pretty easy to notice, dismembering people with prosthetics and all that, whole purity speech they keep spewing about."

"Hm...well, either way you're right. None of you have any prosthetics, but considering you're still teeeechnically, augmenting your bodies, they might attack you regardless."

"The fact they can tell is ridiculous" One of the male agents voiced their comment.

"Hm?" I had to sit up to make sure I was seeing correctly.

"What?" Though she couldn't turn, Fixit still somewhat leaned in my direction when I made the noise.

"What...is that thing?" In the alleyway was a wax angel statue. Some of the agents in the back moved to the other side of the van to see what I was talking about, yet they all had the same puzzled thoughts. Soon, its arms flickered with fire before being engulfed in it. "Fixit...speed up"

"I can't really do that, there's people in front of us." Every L Corp agent had that feeling, after so long using their gear, intertwining with who they are, we've grown to have an instinct for Distortions and Abnormalities, their sorrow, anguish and pain.

"That isn't going to matter in a moment." The Wax angel continued to grow in size, the fire burning more brightly until a pair of charred wings spread open behind it, alerting everyone nearby of its presence. "There's your opening!" People were sprinting away, giving us just an ounce of an opening.

The van accelerated quickly, i could tell it was difficult for Fixit, but from whatever department she was from, she was skilled at driving, curving around crowds until the van was hit with something akin to a cannon.

"Fuuuuu-" I could barely tell who was yelling, as they were also cut short when we slammed into a wall.

"Agent down!" I looked back to see what they were talking about, when I did, I saw a massive dent and hole in the back of the van, and one of our agents was charred by fire, they were already unresponsive. I turned back where Fixit was trying to start the van again.

"This thing is gone, we need to get out." I fired the rifle at the back door, breaking it open. "Everyone out!" Fixit and I unbuckled while the other agents got out and defended the van. I could hear people screaming and fire crackling, and another charge coming towards the van. "Brace!" Fixit and I did our best to cover ourselves when the charge hit the van, this time we went through the wall and the van toppled over to the point we were upside down.

When my eyes opened again I could only see black with my breath slowly going away. One of the doors were banging, at first I was confused until I recalled where I was, Fixit was still nearby, trying to kick open the door.

"Manager!" The agents called for me. More charges started going off, the screams, though still there, were far less than before. "Manager!!"

"where...is my rifle?" I tried to feel around, but all I got were new cuts from broken glass. My voice was barely audible once I had registered I even spoke.

"Oliver!" At first I thought Tsuki spoke through the radio, but it was broken, that wasn't possible, her voice meant she was here. I tried to kick the door on my side, but no matter what I did, punch, kick, shoulder bash, it wouldn't open, and I only became more drained from the limited breaths I had.

"Oliver" Leo's voice again...over and over, every day I'd hear it.

"Manager! It's a distortion!" I leaned against the van door. They sounded like they were just outside

"Goddamn it Oliver, we can't open it from out here" Taylor was helping them as well, but from the sounds it, it wasn't working.

"Then...get back" I didn't wait, I didn't have the time too, my rifle came to me, I don't know how...I couldn't care how, all I could do now was press it against the door and fire.

"Oliver!" Their voices were normal again, no muffling or haze, and I was able to breathe. I threw myself out.

"Fixit!" I turned around and waited for her, it took her a while, but she found her way, crawling out of the smoking van.

"Oliver, you need to look" Taylor pointed outside, carefully, I walked out and had my breath taken away from the sight. In the sky was the same wax angel, almost triple the size of what I saw before, its arms wrapped around itself while its wings let out bursts of fire down onto the district.

"We can look at it on the news later, we need to get out." Fixit tugged on my arm.

"Oliver!" Tsuki regrouped with us along with her agents.

"Yeah yeah, we're all here, can we get a move on!?" Fixit regained our attention to the matter at hand.

"Right, we need to go! We'll take the backstreets"

"Really!?" One of the agents seemed unwilling.

"Backstreets is much easier to manage than an inferno, if you don't come along I'll drag you, we're not leaving anyone" After a quick moment the agent seems to have regained their composure. With the holes in the building we could maneuver ourselves into the backstreets, yet, the firey inferno could still reach us, blasts, beams of fire impacted the ground enough to shake us, but we kept moving.

"Where the hell are the fixers!?"

"Taylor we are fixers, and we're running, who in their right mind is gonna take it down?" Tsuki shot down his hopes for a distraction.

"The Hana Association? The V Corp guys!? Anyone competent enough to kill i-" In a fraction of a second I was reminded what sorta world we lived in, the Angel who I thought was shooting recklessly was learning how fast we were going, and once that info was learned, made one clear shot through Taylor's chest, I wished there were more words, something to show that Taylor has lived through it, but it was bad enough to immediately drop him.

"TAYLOR!" His motionless body feel on the back of Fixit, I thought she'd just leave him but for some reason, maybe due to her obligation with the prescript, she picked him up and kept running, fast enough to still keep up. I could tell Taylor was burning on the inside from Fixit's pained expression.

"We can't keep going straight, Manager!"

"Tsuki"

"What?"

"That workshop, is it nearby?"

"Uh...yeah...actually to our right!" Without asking, Tsuki dove into the right building, bursting through the door, even if it meant the result would be her tumbling down a few steps.

"Everyone, down!" We all started to leap down the stairs, the last agent who came in quickly shut the door and joined us.

"Cognitive Workshop huh?" Fixit was stuck looking at the sign, the logo of the workshop left some questions. Of course the middle portion was the name, the font used was unknown to me, but that wasn't as important as the rest, atop the name looked to be a spirit, like it was wrapping around the top of the name gently, all the while the bottom looked like the opposite, going in the other way, yet still holding on with malicious intent.

"Hopefully they can help Taylor" Fixit being In the front of everyone made it impossible to forget Taylor's condition.

Upon entering the main area, it was clear this workshop had a following, people all in mysterious or overkill outfits were the main customers, but what surprised me was seeing Liu people here.

"I thought they got their stuff from a different workshop?" Fixit turned to Tsuki, it seemed she treated her like a know it all guide, I was going to comment on it but it seemed Tsuki was alright with it.

"Oliver Office, come here" One of the Workshop attendants were motioning for us to join them, yet I couldn't divert my eyes from the Liu, the moment the attacks from the Angel became more obvious, they perked up and sprinted outside, Taylor having a hole in him probably didn't give them hopes.

"Oliver" From my diverted focus, the others had made it to the attendant without me, it didn't take long to join them however.

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"Can you help Taylor!?" Weapons, armor, that could all wait, we weren't in LCSW so I couldn't rewind if Taylor died here.

Upon hearing my words the attendant snapped their fingers, causing a few differently outfitted people to walk over.

"We'll handle your friend, please do not worry and enjoy what we have to offer." With no other choice, and with my permission, Fixit handed Taylor over to them, while we followed the attendant. "From the name, you can take a well educated guess on what weapons we have to offer, a section of the Liu had even become interested upon hearing how superior it is"

"Ahhuh" I was barely even focusing anymore.

"It's a shame we can't show you any weapons, as they are custom built for the wielder, however, I can tell you of the amazing perks of the Cognitive Workshop." We came to a stop. Beside the man was a TV showing the Liu fighting. It was normal at first, until somehow fire appeared on the enemy they were fighting.

"What the"

"Huh!?" We were all surprised, even Fixit, though only her expression changed.

"The Cognitive Workshop makes special weapons for associations and offices worthy of them, seeing as you have a grade 1 fixer and old L Corp agent as your Office Leader, we had deemed you high grade enough to handle such weaponry, with the first weapon with whatever perks you want for free"

"This doesn't say what you're doing though" Normally, someone testing another person's weapons would be enough for someone to stab or hit you with the weapon you insulted, or the very least they kick you out, but this attendant was different, nothing about them changed, not the stance, expression, or even how they spoke.

"You see, lately, people have been developing EGO, or If they cannot, become distorted. People with EGOs or distortions, have some...unique thing to them. Someone seeking pride, hoping they prove themselves to their higher-ups, someone who only wishes to avenge the one they loved. Both of those, constitute fire, but...isn't it a shame it only lasts for that short duration?" I had never heard of those people getting EGOs...or rather, had I seen anyone get an EGO lately? "Everyone has an EGO deep within them, one that can be tapped into, as such, here we are."

"I doubt everyone's EGO involved fire" The man smiled at Fixit.

"Of course not, however I never said it just tapped into EGO, this workshop can tap into any part of yourself, that burning passion, that desire to cripple the enemy, to shock the life out of them, or perhaps-" They turned to the door we entered, before turning their head to me. "Heal a dying friend"

"No way in hell this is cheap, no, no way it even works as well as you're saying."

"Of course not" At first I thought he repeated himself, but no, he spoke in the same volume and tone...no why was he even honest about it? "It is mentally draining, thus, why we only give it to those worthy. Someone who worked at the old L Corp, more so, one who survived it, would be mentally capable of wielding such a weapon."

"What if I choose a gun?" The more I spoke, the more excited the man seemed.

"All the bullets we can give ya!"

"Bullshit!" Tsuki spoke up. "Bullets are expensive, The thumb even resorts to using their rifles as close ranged weapons"

"Are the thumbs tapping into that mental desire to fire?" I started to process it all, Cognitive, Sanity drain, desires.

"You brought me because I was from L Corp"

"Correct"

"You...you're an old agent too aren't you? You have the golden bough"

"A golden bough, there are more than one of course. It isn't just the main branch that has one."

"Golden Bough?" One of the agents questioned.

"Golden Boughs...it's hard to explain. They're capable of so much. Powers, that so many desire. You're painting a target on your head" The ground shook again as the Angel from above continued their terror.

"So we are, now, I see you already have a weap-"

"That free weapon..." I spoke recklessly. "Will be made for Taylor"

"Oliver Sir, may I ask you not make a choice so haphazard-"

"That weapon...will be made for Taylor"

"...Then I will have one of my loyal attendees ask him what weapon he'd desire."

"good"

"Ahhem" They cleared their throat. "It seems I was rather wrong, you are more emotional than I had first though Oliver"

"At least I still act human'"

"Hmph, I guess one can have their priorities, though I had thought the elimination of Sephirah Hod was the utmost one" With precision he turned and began to walk away. I felt like my blood was boiling, more than the burns from the angel, but I couldn't go hostile now, it's too risky. This place was grand sure, with all the weapon showcases, their unique way of dealing damage, but a human has emotions, a human should prioritize the people they still have...maybe that's what I was doing wrong...No, Leo still takes first sight, the way he died, Hod's...it's all her fault, that won't change, not his death, not how he died.

"Oli" Tsuki almost shoved me to help regain my focus.

"What?"

"We'll have to leave Taylor here for the time being-" Tsuki changed to a whisper as she leaned closer to me. "LCSW is asking for us"

"Can we change Taylor's medical treatment to there?"

"He's still critical, if we take him now he'd barely get out the door" I looked down at our Abnorm bracelets. "Taylor's weapon should be done by the time we return as well."

"Right, no time to wallow in self-pity now"

We made our way out of the Workshop, the angel was gone, but its wave of destruction remained. Charred bodies were scattered around, vehicles were either ash or unrecognizable, and the Liu were walking about, along with a woman a part of the Liu in an extravagant outfit, wielding a longsword.

"Huh...didn't expect she'd be here" Tsuki, acting as our resident know it all seemed to recognize her. "It's the Southern Branch Section 1 Director of the Liu"

"Pretty long title"

"Well deserved, considering they're looking into this whole situation."

"I'm just glad we didn't have to deal with it"

"Agreed" Fixit was scratching her neck, seemingly indifferent to the director. "I know my limits...though it surprises me you didn't know of them." Though we had begun walking, Fixit turned away from our path and looked to me.

"I try to stay low"

"Yet people call you a grade one fixer"

"Maybe it's some messed up memory, that or people grade me higher for being an L Corp agent."

"One who kept their EGO gear."

"Right...Point is, I can't go around getting to know every Association member, but if I had to pick one association I had to go under, the Liu would probably be my pick."

"How did I not expect that?" Tsuki seemed to be actually affected by my answer.

"They're pretty good at fighting, the fact they go into wars with just their hands or kicks is something to applaud"

"Gotta point there." My mind, though only temporary, was able to forget about Taylor's condition. It wasn't just that either, the agent who died in the van, the fact that nothing could be done, like they were just destined to die. This was the world we lived in, no second chances, no mercy to people who deserve it, just a horrid city that deserved to die years ago.

"Hey" An unfamiliar voice called out to us, when I turned over I saw one of the Liu members walking over. "You were the people who were in the workshop."

"is that so?"

"If I was gonna hurt you, you'd have a burning foot in your chest, so if you will just hear me out"

"Go ahead" We all stopped in our tracks, letting the Liu guy explain.

"You came down into the workshop, which was after the angel already started to attack, so you had to have seen it."

"Guess we did, maybe we didn't."

"Our director is looking into the possible distortion, but seeing as we weren't here, we could use any info, maybe what It did before it distorted."

"What do we get in return, info isn't free."

"What do you want?"

"People who say that typically aren't good at negotiations"

"How about a home in a nest?"

"Bullshit, you know how hard those are to come by? Even soldiers in the smoke war don't get that shit"

"Depending on the info we might be willing to push what we can do" I looked over to Tsuki and Fixit, the response of shrugging didn't help.

"Fine, guess I'm meeting the director after all" The Liu member guided us over to the group investigating the distortion, upon hearing the steps of not only us, but their follow member, they turned to greet us after the Liu guy explained.

"Director Xiao, I've found some people who may have some information about the possible distortion" The Director, Xiao, held out her hand. Seeing no reason not to, I took a hold of it and gave it a shake.

"Director Xiao" It was like the last three seconds were rewound.

"Oliver, Leader of a fixer office."

"Formalities done, I trust that you may have information about the situation that transpired here." The way the director spoke was in a way of elegance, from the manner of speaking to how she did.

"Right, well, we saw it before it distorted, sorta. It was in an alleyway in the form of this small wax angel statue, however we noticed that it started to grow in size up till it spread its wings. After that it started burning the place through these beams on its wings. Our van was scorched, and our agent couldn't do a thing, that's just how destructive it was. If it was just some guy then they'd be executed for the broken taboos before murder."

"...It's a shame to lose an ally" Getting sympathy from someone above me, who could probably crush my skull if they wanted was somehow warming.

"It is, though knowing the Liu, I expect you know from experience. Isn't all though, the angel isn't dumb either, it was able to figure out how and when to fire a beam in order to hit another fixer of ours. He'll be fine but the accuracy of the hit isn't something to scoff at."

"How about where it came from?" A Liu member with Xiao spoke up, he looked different compared to the rest, but they all wore the same crimson jacket

"Well, I can tell it didn't just come from nowhere, my theory is the library, people have been going in and out, I wouldn't doubt that someone saw a person die and distorted from it.

"It's all the very well possible"

"Exactly, your director gets it, anyhow, that's pretty much it. Heavy burns, grew in an alleyway, its wings are pretty blinding too, and seeing as it kept going until most the district was destroyed-"I assumed this part, as anywhere I looked was burnt down. "I'd assume it kept going in one of those directions. I'll be waiting for my reward" A few of the members seemed confused until the one I spoke to before whispered beside Xiao, she seemed calm upon hearing about a nest permit.

"If you information turns out to be useful, we'll send it to you in a few weeks." My eyes widened on their own, no possible way I was getting one for real...Leo...if you were in a nest.

"Hope your investigation turns out well" I couldn't help but politely bow before returning to the others. "Let's get back on our way."

"Guess that means it turned out well."

"I'll have you know Fixit, if all goes well I'll have a home in the nest instead of sleeping at LCSW or in my office."

"Thought you hated corps?"

"That doesn't deny the fact they're safer"

"Yeah, guess so, hey, agents" Fixit faced the other agents. "I need to borrow ya real quick"

"But Sir Oli-

"Oliver'll live, Tsuki too" Fixit started to walk in a different direction, mainly towards the blown up van we were leaving behind.

"No way she's trying to fix it" Tsuki mumbled to herself. The van was probably beyond repair, but some parts may be salvageable. "Well, if she's gonna be doing that, how bout we go for a drink?"

"But I'll be buying?"

"Nah, my treat, in a few days we'll be going all out on LCSW, so I need ya in high hopes."

"Course, I'll go check on Taylor after." Tsuki's expression changed, but it was hard to tell what it meant, it was like peace and sorrow together.

"Oliver, have you been focusing on yourself?"

"The hell is that meant to mean?"

"Everyday you sound like you're gonna distort yourself." I couldn't deny the possibility of it happening, the fact I hear Leo's voice every now and again.

Tsuki led the way, getting out of this district was difficult considering our way of transport was destroyed, and I'd doubt I'd be allowed in a W Corp train ever again. What also didn't help was the silence, walking all the way over to the border of the district in complete silence.

"Due to certain events we're requiring full identification"

"Huh...That's new" Tsuki was ahead of me, she handed her ID to the border control and spoke her name.

"Alright, you're good to go" I tried to slip past with Tsuki, but right before I could get past the border control gripped onto my arm. "Identification sir"

"Oliver, Grade one fixer"

"Full name"

"...Oliver Reid, Grade one fixer and previous L Corp agent" The guard looked through my soul even with that helmet on.

"Alright, you're good to go." The agent let go and allowed me to regroup with Tsuki.

"That name..."

"We'll discuss it later...like you said, bout time I focused on what I want."