Location: Outside of the Federal Archives Building Compound

Time: 1:57 PM, January 4th, 2108

“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting here for someone to show up.”

I met the Chief at the entrance of the barricade. All of the other police and government employees were ignoring us.

Why? Was I that disliked? I knew that it was an emergency, but at least acknowledge my existence.

“Considering I was on the other side of town without a car, I think I made it here pretty fast.”

“Without a car? Then Oliver didn’t come?” At least she didn’t try to lie about being happy I was the one who showed up.

“Nor did Kanon. They’re currently pursuing the enemy through a different outlet.”

“Huh? Stop trying to phrase things like you know anything.”

“Don’t write of my importance so easily, I’m the only help you’re getting for this one.”

“I figured Oliver wouldn’t show up, but I didn’t expect Cannon to go with him.”

“Yeah? Can you believe it? She just wasn’t interested.”

“Well, no point in worrying about it now. We’ll just have to handle it with the two of us.” True to her word, she didn’t seem very worried.

“Hmm, a tempting proposition, but allow me to make a counter-offer. Let’s just wait until Vier finishes whatever he’s doing.”

Vier was a vital part of my plan. If you’re curious, my plan was to let Vier and Karen handle it.

“Not an option. I didn’t mention this before, but my father gave us a time frame: thirty minutes, and it was issued at 1:31.”

A time frame like that meant I was right. There was something the government wanted to keep hidden in the Archives Building. Ah, I really didn’t want to find out what it was.

“So we’re supposed to solve this in the next few minutes?”

“Yeah, but that’s not happening. We’re going to go over our time limit. That’s why everyone here is giving us the cold shoulder. We just have to finish this as fast as possible.”

I really didn’t want to, but I brought it on myself. No point in complaining about it.

“Ah, this sucks. I don’t want to. Let’s just give up on this one and wait for Vier.”

I knew it was pointless, but I didn’t say I wasn’t going to do it.

“Stop whining and look at the bright side, this is a great chance to become a hero and defend justice.” The Chief sounded way too optimistic.

“What am I, a little kid? I couldn’t care less about being a hero. And I hate to burst your bubble, but no one is ever going to see us as defenders of justice.”

The Chief ignored me and started talking to the officer at the gate of the barricade. It was an impressive barricade. It looked solid, at least three meters high, and surrounded the entire area.

I wonder what it was made of. They built a three meter wall surrounding an entire block in like, fifteen minutes, but the building across from my apartment had been under construction for over a year. Someone explain that to me.

“Come on, hurry up Alec.”

Based on her initial report, there were four hostiles still within the barricade. I was hopeful the Chief would fight three, leaving one for me. And if they were hacking into a computer or something, one of them would be busy with that. Then we’d only have to fight three. Using our original numbers, I wouldn't have to fight anyone.

I followed the Chief through the gate.

“Wow, this palace is actually pretty nice. I didn’t realize there were areas like this downtown.”

The barricade was enclosing at least a block, but there was only one building. The rest was just grass, with some trees and rows of well maintained shrubs. It definitely didn’t have the unpleasant atmosphere I was expecting from something called the ‘Federal Archives Building.’

“What? You’ve never been? This area is really popular. Around lunchtime this place is packed. You never came here with your friends? Oh, my apologies, that was rude, wasn’t it? Of course you never came here with friends.”

“It wasn’t rude until you added that last part. Let’s just get it over with.”

“Of course. We will complete our mission perfectly.”

It was a hot day, but I could suddenly see my breath. The Chief had gotten better containing her stigma, but she still had a ways to go.

“Humans.”

“Huh? Alec, was that you?”

“No. Don’t forget the sound of my voice so easily.”

“I’m up here, humans.”

We both looked up. There was a man sitting on a tree branch.

He jumped down. His complexion was dark. He was probably Middle Eastern, or maybe Indian. For the most part he looked normal, but his eyes told a different story. They were red. And I don’t mean bloodshot, I’m talking about his irises. They were bright red, practically glowing. No matter how you looked at it, those eyes couldn’t be natural.

He looked familiar. I couldn’t say where, but I knew I’d seen him before.

“You humans are the soldiers of this civilization, correct? You don’t seem like the others. You are of a higher status than the fodder hiding behind their wall, correct?”

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t care why you tried to kidnap Oakley, or what you’re looking for in the Archives Building. I’m ending this now.”

The temperature lowered even further as the Chief took an aggressive stance.

“Calm yourself, female. I am not one with those you’re hunting.”

“Ha? I’ve seen the security footage. You’re with them.”

“You misunderstand, female. That was repaying a favor. Those humans assisted me in gaining access to this civilization. In exchange, they request my aid in capturing their objective. Now that I have done that, our relationship is over. I have no desire to support their goals, just as they have no desire to support mine.”

“That doesn’t make it any better, if anything, it makes it worse. You still worked with them. You’re a criminal now, and I’ll make you face justice.”

“Don’t be foolish, female. I am above your human laws. Male, you will listen to my request, correct?”

“Yeah sure.” I gave a natural answer.

“Alec?”

“Let’s just listen. It doesn’t seem like he wants to fight, and he gave up his chance to ambush us. It’s not like we have to do what he wants, we can just hear him out.”

I definitely wasn’t trying to stall for time in hopes of Vier showing up.

“I don’t agree. I won’t listen to a single word from someone like him.”

“Male, I am on an important quest. You humans have held onto our possessions for far too long. I am currently in the process of reclaiming them. I have heard this city houses a powerful artifact. You shall tell me its location, correct?”

“An artifact? We’ve got lots of those.” She said she wasn’t going to listen to a single word, but apparently her curiosity got the better of her.

“It’s not so simple, female. I do not care for artificial constructs produced by you humans. I am searching for real artifacts. Those made by the gods.”

“You keep calling us humans, but what does that make you? An aberration?” I’d never heard of an aberration that gives away its identity so easily.

“Your ignorance insults me, male, but I am benevolent, so you shall be forgiven. I am not one of those monstrosities you call aberrations, and even though I have taken this form I am not one of you humans. For I, am Enki, one of the gods.”

“This guy is crazy.”

For once, the Captain and I came to the same conclusion.

“Agreed. You were right, we shouldn’t have tried talking. And that ridiculous backstory, about being a god, it’s too memorable to forget. I read it once before. This is the guy from the report about Kanon, the one she’s here to find.”

“That makes this even simpler.”

“I had hoped you humans would have retained some of my wisdom, but apparently not. You wish to capture me then, correct? That is something I cannot allow. It would seem our relationship is going to become a confrontational one.”

I couldn’t detect any sign of an augmentation, so I should have been able to end it quickly. I would expand a barrier from inside him, and he’d pop like a balloon.

It didn’t work. I tried to force it again, but I couldn’t activate my augmentation inside of his body.

“Your expression is easy to read, male. Your companion attempted the same tactic, but her face did not show failure as yours did. I have already told you, I am one of the gods. Don’t be foolish enough to think your pitiful grasps at power that don’t belong to you could activate inside my hold body. Durendal.”

A medieval looking broadsword appeared in Enki’s hand. He started charging in our direction.

The Chief jumped back while I stood my ground. I’d already dealt with a sword once today. Something so simple wasn’t an issue for me.

Sorry, Enki, you picked the wrong opponent to use an edged weapon against.

I covered my entire body in a protective barrier.

Then I had a thought. What did he call his sword? Durendal? That could be a problem.

I tried to avoid it, but I wasted too much time being arrogant. His sword cut a few inches into my right side as I stepped back.

My barrier was cut through without any effort.

Enki’s hit connected, but it wasn’t as fatal as he was expecting. I didn’t think he cut into my intestines. He must have thought one blow would finish me, because he didn’t follow up on his attack. I managed to put some distance between us.

“Chief.”

“Clench your teeth, this is going to hurt.”

The Chief put her hand on my wound and it froze shut. Even though it was cold it felt like she was burning me. I knew it would cause more damage in the long run, but I needed to stop the bleeding.

“And that piece of metal will never be able to touch me, let alone hurt me.” The Chief was imitating my voice.

“Shut up. That sword is special. You heard its name right? He called it Durendal.”

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“Yeah. You know the augmentation that runs in the Glaif family?”

“Of course. How many times do you think I’ve heard them brag out their swords that can cut through anything?”

“Well, their augmentation is based off of the legendary sword, Durendal.”

“So you’re saying this guy has the same kind of augmentation as them?”

“No. I think this guy is using the real thing. He’s a wanted person, remember? If he came here looking for our artifacts, doesn’t that mean he’s already found some?”

“Correct, male. This is the holy sword Durendal, the sharpest sword in existence. Your pitiful defense won’t even slow it down.”

“We’re fighting with mythological weapons now? Why don’t I just whip out my Holy Grail and we can use that as well.”

“Female, you possess the Holy Grail? You will give it to me, correct? That will speed things up greatly.” It’s almost sad how seriously he responded to a joke.

“Alec, explain something to me. Let’s say this guy has duradal or whatever, then who does that make him? You’re not honestly expecting me to believe he’s some kind of god?”

“No, he’s just a thief with an entertaining backstory. Somehow he’s able to store the artifacts he steals and summon them later, but it doesn’t matter how. We can figure that out later.”

“You insult me, male. I am above your human laws. I am merely reclaiming what is rightfully ours.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever. I’m done thinking. You have a sharp sword, but that won’t be enough to beat us two on one.”

“Two on one? I feel like we’ve been forgotten.”

A new voice. A man walked up behind Enki. He was tall with dark hair. His stylish clothes were embroidered with a pattern of red chess pieces.

“Not fair, not fair at all Enki. You tried to fight these people without letting Sara know. Stop trying to steal all the fun. Right? Right.”

Next was a woman's voice. I hadn’t met her, but I could recognize her from the kidnapping footage. Sara.

I didn’t know how it happened, but at some point she was standing beside Enki.

“Humans, our relationship has ended, but we have reason to fight together again, correct?”

“Eh? Are you talking to Sara or them? Sara doesn’t care if you’re a god or a Buddha or whatever, talk in a way that makes some sense. Like Sara. Sara’s got no idea what you’re going on about, right? Right.”

“She’s right. Use our code names at least. Red and the Duchess. It’s not that complicated.”

“I have no need to remember the names of humans.”

Two versus three? I couldn't say I was exactly excited over those prospects. Unfortunately I wasn’t like the other members of the ARA. I couldn’t confidently walk into any situation assuming I’d win. I’d have to assume defeat was the natural outcome, and work my way back from there, trying to find a path to success.

“Ah, well, it’s looking like I’ll have to reveal myself.”

A man appeared beside me. He was ripping up a rectangular piece of paper as he spoke.

He was slightly shorter than me, and looked Japanese. Honestly, he looked similar to Kanon. I’d never met him before, but his sudden appearance didn’t seem out of place.

“Huh? Who are you? You were here from the beginning? Or not? You’re working with us? I think?” Kanon was just as confused as I was.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve been with you guys most of the day. I work for the Kamiya family. Sorry, but I’ve been using a talisman to prevent any recollection of me from moving from your short term to long term memory.”

Despite everything he said being news to me, it didn’t feel strange. If anything, the scene felt more complete with his revelation.

“You work for Kanon?”

“Exactly. I’m sure she’ll explain everything later, but for now, you should understand why I’d work with you. I’m here to capture Hassan, the one calling himself Enki.”

“Male, you work for that female? The one who persists in following in my wake?”

“Of course. I couldn’t leave everything to the boss's daughter, could I?”

Kanon’s subordinate, who didn’t bother giving his name, threw a new rectangular piece of paper at Enki. There was something written on it, but I couldn’t tell if it was a foreign language or just symbols.

Enki tried to knock the projectile away with Durendal, but the paper stuck to the sword.

“Male, what is this supposed to be?”

Durendal disappeared, and it didn’t look like Enki did it on purpose.

“What? Durendal.”

Enki was holding his hand out, but no sword was appearing in it.

“You won’t be able to use that sword for a while. Did you think I came here without a plan? With these I can seal the artifacts you’ve stolen.”

A handful of identical paper slips dropped out of his sleeve and into his hand.

“They’re not permanent yet, but they’ll last at last a day.”

“This is why I can’t stand you humans. Learn your place. Gáe Dearg.” A long red spear appeared in Enki’s hands.

Kanon’s subordinate rushed forward. Enki stabbed his spear into the man's body, but the body itself exploded into a cloud of smoke. All that was left was a slip of paper that had been impaled by the spear. The writing on it was different, but the design and size were the same as the other slips of paper.

His real, or at least what I’m assuming was his real body, leapt out from a row of shrubs and attached another piece of paper to the shaft of the spear. Just like with Durendal, the spear disappeared.

“You insolent human. Don’t think you’ll be forgiven. Moralltach. Beagalltach.”

New broadswords appeared in Enki’s hands. One was comparable to Durendal, while the other was noticeably shorter.

Kanon’s subordinate retreated back through the shrubs, and Enki chased after him.

“Wow. Even though she’s not here it looks like Cannon is being more useful than you, Alec.” The Chief managed to focus on the important details.

“Fine with me.”

Sara started laughing.

“What’s with this city? What’s going on? Sara can’t keep track of anything anymore. Right? Right. It’s too fun! Sara is ready for even more fun! Red, make some weapons.”

“I was planning on it, but don’t think you can order me around.”

Red crouched down and placed his palm flat on the ground.

“Remember.”

Countless weapons bloomed from the ground all around us. Dozens of knives, swords, and guns were sticking out of the ground. I could recognize the spear Enki used earlier, so his other weapons were probably there as well.

“Welcome to my garden.” Red threw his arms out while speaking.

Sara continued to laugh as she picked a World War II era grenade up off the ground and pulled out the pin.

“Alright! Let’s get started! Sara is ready!”

Alec was not ready, but it didn’t seem like his vote was being counted.