《Date A Live: Prelude》Chapter XIV: Goddess & God
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After Mio disappeared with Shinji's body, Isaac unloaded his gun and threw it on the ground. Soon after, Ellen and her troops came running.
"Isaac! Where did the girl go?"
"She's gone. But the boy accompanying her won't be a problem no more."
"But we came for her! Then we failed..."
"Yes, it's a shame she fled, but shooting her would not hurt her anyway. This way, she's not wandering around anymore. If all goes well, she'll take care of herself. But now, we have a new priority. Where's Elliot?"
"He's not with you? Then he must have left by himself."
"No matter. We will proceed with the meeting. Every government that allies with us will be told of the Spirit's existence. The public can never know, for they would decide my morals, emotion... But the rest will realise what a danger Spirits are."
***
Later when Isaac flew back to the UK alongside Ellen, he attended the meeting between him and all prime ministers that were under his heel. They didn't have to come so swiftly on notice, but they were compelled. By both their greed and fear. Isaac took the stand.
"Thank you, every man and woman who has attended this meeting. I have called this meeting in the name of Deus Ex Machina Industries because we have found the cause of spacequakes, and I thought all of you should know."
Isaac's words caused an uproar, but everyone settled down on Ellen's gesture.
"The spacequakes were not orchestrated by nature, but an entity. A creature that looks like us, humans. It imitated a human girl, it spoke perfectly, it commands unspoken powers. In collaboration with Japan, we have located her based on her unique energy signature and tried to subdue her. Unfortunately, she escaped using powers even beyond the capacity of a magus. Way beyond limits."
Isaac continued.
"I had the chance to talk with her myself before she escaped. She confessed her sins to me without a hint of remorse and called herself a Spirit. We consider spirits and ghosts to be fable urban legends, but now one has appeared, causing destruction and chaos for humanity! Every single disaster your nations have faced, all because of her! But, she's still out there."
Everyone was overwhelmed by the information.
"What would happen if the public learnt a Spirit playing god and destroying humanity was roaming free? That's why I trust you all understand, this information can never reach the common folk who acts before he thinks. Deus Ex Machina Industries are however willing to supply our alarm systems to everyone who needs them, with more innovations on their way."
The silence was kept in the room, with only Isaac still speaking.
"What if I told you cities didn't have to be rebuilt by hand, taking years of hard work? What if, just as quick as this "Spirit"—Or as I call it, enemy of humanity erases them like dominoes, we could restore them? Everything can be realised with enough effort and sheer will, and that's why the DEM as the only organization in the world will supply Realizers, as we use the Spirit's own power against her. Her power to cause destruction will be our power to realise our salvation. We will make the impossible possible."
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Isaac took one last breath before finishing his speech.
"I know these are trying times, but I thank you all for taking the necessary steps to guarantee the survival of both humanity and your populaces. Deus Ex Machina Industries and Asgard Electronics will always be at the ready to assist anyone in need, for we all share the same goal. Humanity's victory over all its enemies. Thank you."
With his speech finished, Isaac stepped down and everyone gave him their applause. Convincing anyone that an all powerful being existed was difficult enough, but securing his organization's position as perhaps the strongest and biggest in the world following these events? Isaac could do it, and so he did. Everyone flocked to him, and later, some countries would even create their own troop divisions against Spirits exclusively. The massive improvement his organization made in technology thanks to the Spirit's power alone was immeasurable.
***
Back at the HQ of DEM, Ellen and Isaac met to talk face to face.
"Isaac, what about that girl we took? Mana Takamiya. What do we do with her?"
"Sending her back would be a waste of both our resources and time. What would you suggest, my dear Ellen?"
Ellen smirked.
"Well... We do need some lab rats, don't we? This near gear we're making, hehe..."
"I agree wholeheartedly. She's a perfect candidate for our prototype suit. Proceed with my blessings."
"One more thing, Isaac. What do we do about her parents?"
"Administer amnesiacs. They don't have to remember anything, especially not that they harboured the Spirit and had children."
"Understood. I'll notify our division in Japan."
The DEM experimented on Mana's body and created customized special gear for her. The experimentation had some irreversible side effects on Mana's body, including shortening her life span, but she gained inhuman strength. Isaac chose her as one of his champions and trump cards should he ever require her, also wiping her memory so she would be completely under his thrall.
***
At another meeting of the board of directors, Isaac explained everything he also did to the prime ministers in addition to a few internal matters.
"We are expanding our company and creating at least one division in every nation that makes use of our aid. Continue searching for the Spirit and analyse all you can after her appearance in Japan. Start diplomatic talks with every country even willing to hear a word from us. Any objections or question?"
"Yes, I have one. Well, a few of us do."
"What is it, director?"
"All these measures are costing us a lot, and I along others think they are not necessary."
"The cost is worth it, I assure you. We must think about the long game here."
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"I don't think so. If we did things differently, less wastefully, we could have a lot of large profits. I trust the other directors see this too, no?"
Some were considering it.
"Well, director, I think I know how to run my own company."
"Your decisions are showing otherwise. But to really see, I propose we hold a vote of trust for Sir Isaac Westcott. As board of directors, we must make sure everything is done in the best regards for the company, and not our own goals."
"Fancy way of saying you want to take over the company, I assume?"
"I'm only saying your decisions put us at a loss. My colleagues, do you—AHH!"
Ellen, who walked up behind the director, took his arm, and twisted it, breaking it.
"Anyone else feel like reducing this company to a bunch of pig throughs for the executives? Or betraying us? You think you can just take over after we rose it up with our own sweat?! We, magus born, won't let you roll us through the mud!"
All the directors were startled, some shocked, some stood up. But Isaac was still sitting, relaxed.
"I trust the good director has learned his lesson, nonetheless, expect a letter of termination. Oh, and the bill for your broken arm. Ellen?"
"Gladly."
Ellen took the director out of the room with her.
"Now, I hope everyone hasn't forgotten our goal. It's not to hoard as much money doing as little as possible, it's to establish a presence in the world. Our end goal will grant us much, much more than that. We are making technology that will advance humankind, improve it. We will hunt down any foreign enemy of Earth, and only then will we celebrate. That is our mission. We are the miracle the people need. We are Deus Ex Machina. Your directives are clear, so meeting adjourned," said Isaac. No one dared to stand against him now, nor did they question his magus identity. If nothing else, this granted him more respect, and Ellen began proclaiming herself as the Greatest Wizard.
But in the end, Isaac's true goals were only known by him and Ellen.
***
After the letting Mio and Shinji go, Elliot ran away. He didn't wish to be a part of DEM anymore. Karen soon followed him, also leaving DEM. Isaac didn't consider them traitors, merely lost comrades. When Elliot and Karen met up, Karen hugged Elliot.
"Oh, Elliot... It's worse than I could ever imagine."
"I... I know. Isaac led us on all this time, but I always had that one speck of hope he wasn't. Alas, I was wrong. Whatever do we do now?"
"We can't let Isaac succeed. But I heard his speech, and the Spirit escaped."
"She was accompanying a boy named Shinji Takamiya, and their family had given her a name as well. Mio Takamiya. She... loved him, so I let them pass. But in the end, it was useless. Isaac must had gotten them anyway."
"Really? Then it is just as I thought, the Spirit is as human as any of us. All this time, Isaac wanted to use her for his own gains. And everything was returning to normal, but if Isaac upset Mio, then who knows what she'll do next?"
"I know. That's why we must stop Isaac and save her. If the world keeps coming at her with nothing but hostility, she will destroy it. We have to show her how much kindness the world has."
"Are you saying we...?"
"Yes. We create our own organization and do as much as we can to slow Isaac down. If his DEM gets control over everyone with god knows whatever things they have planned, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
Karen loved Elliot. She realised he may not have the same feelings for her, but she was still determined to help him.
The two then went on to find allies of justice who would go on to become members of Elliot's organization known as Ratatoskr. Their goal was helping the Spirit, later Spirits by peaceful means. They realised the Spirit's held so much power that their true incantation would destroy the world, so they went exactly the opposite route Isaac's DEM did.
They remained in secrecy, as not many were supportive of their cause. This organization would later serve as the key element, the counterbalance to Deus Ex Machina Industries and Asgard Electronics. Without it, Isaac would have no competition, no rival.
Mio watched over humanity with a cautious eye, only focusing on her one goal, to ensure Shinji became her eternal lover. She never forgot what Isaac did to her, what he stole from her. Decades would pass in almost eery silence since that day, until Mio's plan was put into motion once Shinji was old enough. Her creation, the second pure Spirit known codenamed as Princess would soon arrive herself to Earth in a fiery blaze.
The Spirit of Origin, Mio, only ever smiled when her son, her creation, her lover thrived. However, his name was no longer Shinji Takamiya. The Itsuka family who adopted him would give him another name which would be recognized by many. They named him... Shido Itsuka.
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