January 1st, 2880
Tokyo, Area 11
G-Island City
9:20 AM
Angela and Aeron neared the base of the monumental Space Development Corporation building, the historic monolith of an office block looming over them in the morning light. The two stopped short, taking in the sight.
"To be honest, I was expecting a lot worse."
Angela regarded the tower's state. Besides a few broken windows and a general dark stain to the once alabaster architecture, she felt the same feeling of grandeur from the sight as the first time she had seen it as a child. For what lay beneath the relatively unassuming corporate facility, it was a wonder that nothing seemed to have happened to it for the 10 long years Angela had been away. To her side, Aeron, who had only very recently learned of GGG's existence, merely smiled as he imagined returning this place back to its bustling old self. "Surely GGG has a lot of security measures to keep vandals and the like away," the young noble replied. Angela started to walk again before replying back. "That is true, and I'm sure the UN has been sending somebody over to make sure nothing's happened, but..."
The two came upon the front entrance and Angela pulled out a distinctly high tech looking keycard and swiped it through an electronic lock, the doors taking a moment to shudder uncertainly before opening with a jaunty jingle. "We learned the hard way that if somebody wants to get in bad enough, there's nothing we can do about it until after the fact," Angela said at length, remembering a few all too close shaves with Zonder infiltrations.
Despite the stark exterior, the interior of the offices was more chaotic. The UN seemed to have cleared the place of anything important with little regard for whatever else was left behind before dissolving GGG. Papers still sat unfiled across various desks along with countless loose sheets strewn across the floor accompanied by vaguely organized sacks full of office supplies and old belongings. Aeron coughed as a light stream of dust dropped in front of him from the rafters, causing Angela to sigh at the state of things. "I wish we could sort this out but It'll have to wait until we have a little more than just 3 people." Aeron looked quizzically at his new colleague. "What do you mean 3?" Angela smirked as she adjusted her glasses. "I'll introduce you later. As much as I'd like to see him again, I'd rather not welcome him back with all this still laying around."
Angela lead Aeron up to the director's office. "This is your office from now on, 'Chief'," Angela said wryly. "The desk has a button to go down to the base but don't touch it yet, I need check if it's even still powered. Just wait here for a bit." The scientist walked off down the corridor, leaving Aeron to take in the dusty walls once more. A faint but sharp noise down the hallway startled him from his cursory inspection. A light flickering from an open doorway caught Aeron's attention almost as much as what it illuminated; On top of pile of papers lay a distinctly gold file folder with GGG's green emblem emblazoned on it. 'Did the UN miss this one before they packed up?' As he stooped to inspect the file, a more clear and especially close noise matching the one Aeron had heard earlier sounded off right behind him as something metallic picked him up and locked firmly around his neck. A blade appeared in the edge of Aeron's vision as whoever grabbed him spoke.
"So you finally worked up the nerve to come to me directly, huh? You don't know how long I've been waiting, though I'm surprised they didn't send in one of their freaks to off me."
Aeron attempted to struggle but the robotic arm holding him was well beyond his meager strength. "What.. Who are-"
"Don't play dumb, I know BioNet has been tailing me after I hit that Refrain operation. Since you must be a grunt I might let you go if you tell me who-"
"Shin?"
Angela had returned to find the situation unfolding but whatever the specifics were she only needed the sight of the blonde haired cyborg behind Aeron to dispel any actual fears. Shin's eyes darted forward with intensity before softening as something clicked in his mind. A vision of a bright eyed young girl looking up at the cyborg shifted into the reality of the white haired woman standing before him.
Shin's grip faltered and the knife within his hand clattered to the floor. "Angela...?"
Aeron took the opportunity to quietly dislodge himself from the cyborg's now limp hold and retreat behind Angela as she herself slowly stepped toward Shin. "Shin, what are you..." Angela quietly questioned, her thoughts slow in forming from a sudden onset of emotions. "Angela, it really is you," Shin smiled warmly as his eyes flickered. "It's so good to see you a...-". The cyborg took a step and froze before slowly going limp and collapsing onto the floor. The sound of Angela calling his name echoed through his head as things went dark.
Tokyo, Area 11
G-Island City
9:20 AM
Angela and Aeron neared the base of the monumental Space Development Corporation building, the historic monolith of an office block looming over them in the morning light. The two stopped short, taking in the sight.
"To be honest, I was expecting a lot worse."
Angela regarded the tower's state. Besides a few broken windows and a general dark stain to the once alabaster architecture, she felt the same feeling of grandeur from the sight as the first time she had seen it as a child. For what lay beneath the relatively unassuming corporate facility, it was a wonder that nothing seemed to have happened to it for the 10 long years Angela had been away. To her side, Aeron, who had only very recently learned of GGG's existence, merely smiled as he imagined returning this place back to its bustling old self. "Surely GGG has a lot of security measures to keep vandals and the like away," the young noble replied. Angela started to walk again before replying back. "That is true, and I'm sure the UN has been sending somebody over to make sure nothing's happened, but..."
The two came upon the front entrance and Angela pulled out a distinctly high tech looking keycard and swiped it through an electronic lock, the doors taking a moment to shudder uncertainly before opening with a jaunty jingle. "We learned the hard way that if somebody wants to get in bad enough, there's nothing we can do about it until after the fact," Angela said at length, remembering a few all too close shaves with Zonder infiltrations.
Despite the stark exterior, the interior of the offices was more chaotic. The UN seemed to have cleared the place of anything important with little regard for whatever else was left behind before dissolving GGG. Papers still sat unfiled across various desks along with countless loose sheets strewn across the floor accompanied by vaguely organized sacks full of office supplies and old belongings. Aeron coughed as a light stream of dust dropped in front of him from the rafters, causing Angela to sigh at the state of things. "I wish we could sort this out but It'll have to wait until we have a little more than just 3 people." Aeron looked quizzically at his new colleague. "What do you mean 3?" Angela smirked as she adjusted her glasses. "I'll introduce you later. As much as I'd like to see him again, I'd rather not welcome him back with all this still laying around."
Angela lead Aeron up to the director's office. "This is your office from now on, 'Chief'," Angela said wryly. "The desk has a button to go down to the base but don't touch it yet, I need check if it's even still powered. Just wait here for a bit." The scientist walked off down the corridor, leaving Aeron to take in the dusty walls once more. A faint but sharp noise down the hallway startled him from his cursory inspection. A light flickering from an open doorway caught Aeron's attention almost as much as what it illuminated; On top of pile of papers lay a distinctly gold file folder with GGG's green emblem emblazoned on it. 'Did the UN miss this one before they packed up?' As he stooped to inspect the file, a more clear and especially close noise matching the one Aeron had heard earlier sounded off right behind him as something metallic picked him up and locked firmly around his neck. A blade appeared in the edge of Aeron's vision as whoever grabbed him spoke.
"So you finally worked up the nerve to come to me directly, huh? You don't know how long I've been waiting, though I'm surprised they didn't send in one of their freaks to off me."
Aeron attempted to struggle but the robotic arm holding him was well beyond his meager strength. "What.. Who are-"
"Don't play dumb, I know BioNet has been tailing me after I hit that Refrain operation. Since you must be a grunt I might let you go if you tell me who-"
"Shin?"
Angela had returned to find the situation unfolding but whatever the specifics were she only needed the sight of the blonde haired cyborg behind Aeron to dispel any actual fears. Shin's eyes darted forward with intensity before softening as something clicked in his mind. A vision of a bright eyed young girl looking up at the cyborg shifted into the reality of the white haired woman standing before him.
Shin's grip faltered and the knife within his hand clattered to the floor. "Angela...?"
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