Tears on the Mausoleum Floor [Adventure, NDE, R]

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Those tentacles were certainly fast and strong, but July had exposed their weakness. They had no defense against his electricity. The first tentacle to be wrapped up into the bola screeched in pain, violently thrashing to try and shake the attack off. Unfortunately, the lightning greatly weakened it. After a second of struggling, it submit to July’s hado and went limp.

The rest of the tendrils would be wary of the captain’s new weapons and begin to be more cautious. Rather than aggressively charging at him, they’d attempt to surround him and strike him from behind, pulling back if the bola draws too close to them. Daiji, recognizing the advantage of sticking with his family head, would swat away the nearest tendrils and rush to July’s side. “Keep that bola ready. We can keep moving forward like this.” Together, the pair of Kasumi’Oji could watch each others’ backs and move past the tentacle-infested tunnel to safety.

In this case, safety just means past the 30 meter stretch where the tentacles stood. July and Daiji would finally be free of their first obstacle, but it wasn’t quite accurate to say they were safe. And after a few minutes of travel, July would be reminded of that painful fact. With the poor lighting, he’d only be able to see about thirty feet ahead, and the first thing to come into his field of vision was the edge of a crimson pool on the ground ahead of him. The closer they drew, the more blood they’d see stretching the ground of the passage. “We’re getting close to the security room,” Daiji commented as he eyed the blood. It seemed that there was resistance against the invaders at some point, but that was over now.

By the time that July reached the edge of the pool of blood, he’d begin to see the island of bodies at the center. There were about six or so, all sprawled beside each other. Some overlapped in uncomfortable positions, half their faces dipped in the blood. July might recognize a couple who have spent some time in the Kasumi’Oji manor, maybe even know them by face. But instead of meeting his gaze as they did before, their lifeless eyes stared past him as though he were a ghost.

From this point forward, a trail of spread-out bodies guided the pair like dots on a treasure map. Eventually, they guided them to an area in the tunnel that had a large, open rectangular passage on the side. “That is the security room.” If July began to step around the bodies to enter the security room, he’d notice large pieces of broken glass were also scattered around the ground right be the entrance. Upon peering in, he’d notice that all of the technology in the room was completely destroyed. The computers were barely recognizable. The screens were shattered. Several other bodies littered the floor as well.

Daiji examined the damage. “There’s nothing to salvage,” he said. “Whoever reprogrammed the defenses decided to wreak havoc to the system after they left. We’re cut off from everything, even the information center. Whoever attacked didn’t come to steal our secrets. They had to have known that I had something valuable in this location. We have to hurry.” July’d have the opportunity to explore and do as he wished in the security room, but when he decided it was time to move forward.

After another ten or so minutes of walking, July and Daiji would approach the end of the passage. He’d find that it led to a dead end- a large concrete wall. But interestingly enough, a lone mirror, 2.5 meters tall and 1.5 meter wide, was imbedded into the wall. He’d notice his reflection in the mirror looking back at him.

“These defenses were installed before my time by someone from the Hana Kasumi’Oji administration. I don’t know what lies ahead, so we have to be more cautious from this point on.”

The mirror and surrounding area didn’t appear particularly dangerous at first glance, but if July carefully examined the mirror with his energy sensory, he’d notice very small traces of reiatsu flowing through it. It contained flickers of spiritual energy, but spiritual energy nonetheless. Things were not as simple as they appeared.

[July Kasumi'Oji]

Oh no… Look at all the blood. Such needless waste, such a tragedy. With a capital T! Tragedy! And it’s quite ominous. With a capital O! Ominous! If this were a novel, I would imagine that this was the foreshadowing for a powerful foe. Oh the drama. With a capital D! Drama!

July’s reaction to the horrible scene was perhaps atypical. Sure, he understood the significance of the carnage, but he preferred to consider the situation as culminating narrative tension. A spooky entree. Daiji was probably feeling precisely the same way, right? His uncle, while being a stodgy old fool, did seem to love his political machinations. Perhaps he had read Machiavelli? July had read Machiavelli once. A rather trite book, somewhat saucy in parts… Or was that the book he had read while pretending to re-read Machiavelli? Who could know? Exciting times it had been, regardless.

July danced among the blood and associated viscera, his thoughts as light as his feet. He had seen similar and worse situations in his lifetime. The very first raid, the death of the Renaissance leaders, Roman gladiator fights - time was the best way to learn to stomach spilled blood. History was very good at desensitising one to the messy parts of life. But it did no one well to dwell on it! One should always have a positive outlook, even among the bloodstained annals of history. Nobody wanted another portrait of a dour-faced sourpuss adorning the walls of family mansions. Life and liveliness was what was required!

”Oh dear, oh dear. While they weren’t very elegant, they were certainly thorough~”

July had taken notice of the blood, the broken bodies, the broken glass, the destroyed systems. Well, this was a clue of a kind.

”Daiji-kun - do these systems relate to the operations of the plant? Or just further security systems?”

Were these people simple ‘vandals’, destroying something they didn’t like? Or were they saboteurs, taking down a strategic location. They didn’t seem to want to continue the plant’s production, so perhaps they were simply political opponents. Or just evil. Or maybe that could apply to all the previous hypotheses. But there was no time to dally. The intruders had obviously not placed much importance on this location, and neither should they. Onwards and upwards! Or downwards. Who knew what kind of architects that infernal Hana had employed.

”Well, well. This seems very fun, doesn’t it Daiji-kun? Any thoughts?”

Perhaps his ‘uncle’ would be more enlightening. His precious factory had quite the comprehensive security system after all. But was this even part of the plant? It seemed counter-intuitive to have another barrier after the place where all the cool information and computer systems were. Unless it was a barrier designed to separate, rather than simply deny entrance to the unworthy. But if that was the case, then the repercussions for being a little… violent would not be too severe, surely? He would like to take the gamble. He could deal with the 7 years bad luck.

”Daaaaaiji-kun, please erect a suitable barrier. I know you can do it, don’t you remember that certificate you got for your performance in Kido class? I found it in the closet. Your grandmother would have been so proud. And I am too.”

July ran his hand through his uncle’s hair as he ran by. He would let Daiji reply, of course, and he had faith that his uncle would not let him die here. July was his ticket to the Family Council after all. As well as the source of his funding. Though, this would be a great time to off July. In fact, if Daiji decided to, July would definitely congratulate him in the next life. But once Daiji confirmed that he was ready to erect the barrier, July would throw the steel bola with all his might straight at the mirror. What kind of reaction would it produce? Surely the sparks of reiatsu would put up something of a fight?

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

”Daiji-kun - do these systems relate to the operations of the plant? Or just further security systems?” Daiji’s gaze danced between the destroyed computer system and the bodies littering the floor as he tip-toed after July. “Mostly security,” he began. “But it includes basic information about Kasumi’Oji projects – mostly project titles protected by high-security passwords. And all my personal projects are quite well protected. They require my own life force to gain access, so I’m sure the intruders failed to learn anything particularly useful about the family’s operations.”

”Well, well. This seems very fun, doesn’t it Daiji-kun? Any thoughts?”

“We proceed,” Daiji stated very matter-of-factly. His patience for July was wearing thin. While the 8th Division Captain miraculously managed to maintain his light-hearted nature, Daiji was not so relaxed. And July was not making things easy for his dear uncle. ”Daaaaaiji-kun, please erect a suitable barrier. I know you can do it, don’t you remember that certificate you got for your performance in Kido class? I found it in the closet. Your grandmother would have been so proud. And I am too.” Daiji was visibly annoyed. While he was usually quite in-control of his emotions, his eyebrows developed a peculiar twitch. He was forced to shut his eyes and slow his breathing for several seconds before he was ready to respond.

“I will erect a barrier,” he muttered with a subtle hint of bitterness in his voice. While July was certainly getting on his nerves, he did all he could to maintain his composure. Daiji extended his hands in preparation and watched carefully as July cocked the bola back. The Captain would even see his perfect throwing form in the mirror. He really put his back into it, his entire body working in unison to propel the bola forward with more might than he even thought he could muster. It was a perfect throw, one with the maximum power that July could give it. Even July’s reflection seemed proud of him, its eyes gleaming brightly The bola spun in the mirror with so much force that the poor glass’s fate appeared sealed.

Or at least that’s what it looked like to July. But the moment that the bola made contact with the mirror, it fell flat as though all the momentum behind it suddenly vanished out of no where. Did the mirror somehow negate its force? Did it have some sort of impact nullification property? What was going on?

“What was that.” Daiji’s words sounded more like a statement than a question. He erected no barrier, instead staring at July with a look of irritation. “Next time, throw the bola with the intent to break the mirror. Don’t waste any more of my time, July. I’m growing extremely tired of your games.” Did Daiji not see that epic throw? That mirror definitely should have broken, yet Daiji blamed July for the failed effort to move on rather than the mirror. Something fishy was definitely going on.

OOC: So I realized that because July is all on his own for this adventure, it’s difficulty level is no longer accurate. I have bumped it up to Extreme. My the odds be ever in your favor.

[July Kasumi'Oji]

”Oh, Daiji-kun~ Please, be a little more observant next time~”

July chuckled and smiled outwardly, but inwards he was a little perturbed. Had the mirror changed Daiji’s entire perception of July’s throw? It had seemed extremely obvious to July that he had thrown the bola with more than enough strength to shatter the mirror. Everything had fallen into place. No other kind of mirror could have withstood the impact. Well, no mirror that wasn’t spiritually enforced. But this was different. This mirror was more than just ‘durable’ in the traditional sense, though. The bola had not ‘bounced’ from the mirror like it would have off a durable object. No, this was something almost entirely different.

Impact nullification? Energy absorption? But it had to be more than that, was there some kind of illusion? July swung an arm wildly - keeping an eye on his mirror image and his own arm. Was there some kind of distortion of perception? The test would probably not prove much, a working hypothesis would be that the mirror only affected things that touched it directly. But if it was somehow draining energy from objects that touched it… Then touching it themselves would probably a little risky. Perhaps Daiji would be willing to take on the burden of science himself? To touch the mirror and take the risk? He was a scientist after all.

There was at least, however, another test July could perform. If the bola, which now lay on the ground, had been entirely ‘drained’ of its ‘spiritual’ properties by the mirror, what July would try to do next would not work. By segmenting another portion of his Life Force, July attempted to add animated components - a simple set of tentacles on each ball of the bola - as the technique Plasmatio allowed. If that didn’t work, well, perhaps Daiji would have to be an offering after all. Well, before that…

”Daiji-kun, could you please try shooting something at the mirror? Consider it a chance to reaffirm your superiority~”

Life Force: 5900/6400: -200 to add animated components to a Plasmatio weapon

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

”Oh, Daiji-kun~ Please, be a little more observant next time~” Daiji scoffed at his family head. Be more observant? He needed July to take things seriously for once in his life. But to be fair to the pair of Kasumi’Oji, their recent hostility wasn’t completely their fault. Something strange was going on with this mirror, and because if it, Daiji and July were not on the same page at all.

”Daiji-kun, could you please try shooting something at the mirror? Consider it a chance to reaffirm your superiority~” Daiji wisely bit his tongue at the rude wisecrack. His patience was being pushed to its greatest limits, but he’d do his best to maintain control and some form of respect for July. So Daji pointed his open right palm toward the mirror, staring his reflection in the eye as he began his attack. “Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle!

“Hado #63: Raikoho!”

Raikoho was an incredibly powerful lightning technique. With Daiji’s reiatsu strength behind it, July might expect to see an electric blast the size of a freight train ramming into the mirror and shattering the obstacle completely. This was not the case. Instead, July’d see a thin streak of electricity not much thicker than the strings of his own release. The fragile lightning barely maintained its integrity as it approached the mirror. As its final act, the lightning gently brushed thee surface of the mirror before fading into nothingness.

“I… I don’t understand,” Daiji said, his baffled gaze dropping to the hand that cast the kido. “How impenetrable is this mirror? If my kido couldn’t break through it, we need to use an attack with even greater power than Raikoho. Even with the incantation bolstering my spell, it wasn’t enough.” Now that July saw the result of Daiji’s attempt, if he animated his bola once more, he’d notice that the life force-spawned weapons were still capable of sprouting tentacles from their surface.

Perhaps he learned something new about the nature of the obstacle before them.

[July Kasumi'Oji]

July would never be so judgemental as Daiji had been. He did not enjoy punishing people simply because they were more stupid than he was - it was just not the done thing. So, when his uncle proudly put a great amount of effort and emphasis into his incantation and his Kido. The searing energy and heat it should have created! July could picture it, but sadly all he could do was picture it. No amount of acting could have allowed him to pretend that Daiji’s technique was anything more than a whimper. Not quite the freight train of lightning that he had built it up to be. Sad days for the sad man.

So, there were now a few possibilities. The mirror did not seem to drain, nor did it seem to reflect or nullify per se. The mirror itself seemed to impose a condition on the casting of the spell. Although July and Daiji had invested a huge amount of effort (huge, huge effort indeed) into breaking the mirror with their most powerful techniques!, neither of them had appeared to the other as putting any effort into it at all. Was the mirror overwriting reality through altering their perception of the world around them? How truly bizarre… But, if that were the case, the answer would be self-evident. Surely it could not overwrite it if there was no perception to alter?

”Daiji-kun, please try again? I have an inkling of an idea.”

July would wait until Daiji confirmed, and then covered his eyes and ears - humming loudly to himself as he blocked out the ambient noise. If he could not see, and therefore impose, the weakening of Daiji’s technique perhaps something about their situation would change?

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

”Daiji-kun, please try again? I have an inkling of an idea.”

Bitterly obedient, Daiji waited until July shut his eyes and blocked his ears before pointing his palm at his reflection in the mirror. “Hado #63: Raikoho!” July might expect to see a flash of light shine past his eyelids, but instead, there was no visual indication of the spell. He’d barely hear a cackle of lightning as a result of the kido. Daiji was growing more and more frustrated, directing his irritation at July. “Did you enjoy your nap, July? Are you ready to actually contribute now.”

[July Kasumi'Oji]

”Nononono - no!”

July slapped his forehead with vigour - possibly the most frustrated Daiji had ever seen him. Not that his useless, Mr ”top-of-his-Kido-classes” uncle was doing anything to help. He just fumbled about saying the most unhelpful! things all the time, prattling on like a wound-up music box full of wound up pride. Well, July would show him a wound if he uttered a single word of useless nonsense once again… July lived for the game, loved the game, was fascinated by the mirror, but his uncle just saw nothing - was nothing, is nothing. Pathetic. A player who didn’t even understand that there were rules to be understood.

”Well then, Daiji-kuun why don’t you come up with a clever solution? Oh wait, you don’t even understand the problem.”

The mirror was messing with perception, July knew that. His throw was perfect, as was (he assumed) the “top o’ the ’63 Class” Raikoho fired by Daiji. Each of them had believed completely in the strength of their own attack. But the other had seen only a pathetic imitation, a pale reflection of the original. But cutting out the observer did not seem to remedy anything. Perhaps the attacker was the one who could not be aware of their own attack? Time to break out the old July-o-tron 400 (soon to be upgraded to the 600 model once this was all over):

1 - An attack was made on the mirror.

2 - The attacker views their attack as perfectly successful.

3 - The observer sees the attack fail pitifully.

4 - What the observer sees is what actually happens.

5 - Attacker’s reality corrects itself to align with observers reality.

And it’s also a mirror? ”A pale reflection… What do you think, November?” As usual, there was nothing but a baleful wail from the corner of July’s soul in response. ”Helpful, as always.” July paced, pondering for a moment, his eyes alight with the thrill of the puzzle. What if a technique had no reflection, no visible way to make it weaker? ”Now that you’re up to speed -“ July had made no attempt to bring his uncle up to speed, he did not appreciate teammates who refused to believe there was even a game to play ”-try firing an invisible technique at the mirror. And if that doesn’t work, try it with your eyes closed!” July’s eyes glittered in excitement. Who could guess what would happen next?

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

”Try firing an invisible technique at the mirror. And if that doesn’t work, try it with your eyes closed!”

“I don’t have any invisible spells, but I’ll try with my eyes shut.” Once more, Daiji humored his infuriating family head and shut his eyes as he cast his spell once more. “Hado #63: Raikoho!” To his surprise, the thunderous boom of lighting was shortly followed by the shattering of a mirror. July would witness the incident with his own eyes. Daiji’s kido finally manifested in its full form, breaking the mirror on impact. It seemed that July had figured it out.

“Clever…” Daiji thought to himself, walking over and kneeling beside the pieces of now transparent glass. “Hana Kasumi’Oji was more clever than history gives her credit for.” As Daiji examined the interesting trap that they had just surmounted, July – with his superior senses – might pick up on a very subtle beeping coming from down the corridor previously blocked by the mirror. This corridor seemed narrow, and made a couple of winding turns before opening up into a well-lit laboratory.

July’d find a rectangular lab bench at the center of the room, but along its walls, there were dozens of liquid-filled cylindrical tanks. Dozens. The room was about as large as a three bedroom apartment, and so it could fit quite a few of the tanks. But what was truly peculiar was the contents of the tanks. They appeared to resemble humanoid forms, most of them just pieces of skeleton and muscle etched together. But about ten or so, scattered around different areas of the room, were complete human bodies. July’d have a few seconds to scan the room before Daiji followed up behind him.

“This is the project I mentioned earlier today,” the scientist said as he began pacing along the walls, observing the various incomplete bodies as he moved past them. “Gigai. Well, improved gigai. Many are still works in progress, but they are quite promising. We’re on the brink of success.” Daiji was quite proud of his work, but more importantly, he was happy to see that none of the tanks suffered any damage. On the other hand, things were not all well in the laboratory. July’d notice as Daiji walked that the man would strategically place his feet with each step, ensuring to walk between the dead that littered the floor – about fifteen of them total.

“This is what I sought to protect,” Daiji told him. “And…” Daiji suddenly stopped, as if something unsettling caught his attention. “I believe you should recognize this one.” He gestured toward a tank just two spaces away from him, one that contained an all too familiar face. “The records refer to her as November. Considering that you go as July, I assume that was her name as well. We are doing our best to bring her back in some way or another.”

July might wonder what lengths Daiji had to go through to acquire November’s body after she passed away so long ago. But that wasn’t all. Why was Daiji so concerned about November? Why did his attitude shift so suddenly when he drew close? July might be compelled to look around the room a bit more closely and find out what wasn’t adding up.

He’d look and look and look, but nothing obvious seemed out of place. Novemeber was surrounded by other unfamiliar faces. The one immediately to her left was also complete – a youthful, handsome blonde man who was certainly modeled after the typical Kasumi’Oji appearance. And there was another person in the tank beside the blond man, one obstructed from view by Daiji’s body. But there was one part of him that July’s eye would catch, the top of his head. Maybe his hair? But there didn’t seem to be any. Yet he didn’t look bald either. There was something over the man’s head, something bone-white in color and unnaturally smooth, like some sort of mask.

OOC: I realize now that I have no idea what November looks like xD Can you pick an FC for her and send a pic over? lol

[July Kasumi'Oji]

OOC: Post #100 for July - huzzah!

”I think it speaks more to the intelligence of the man who guards his lab with unknown security systems, than the intelligence of Hana-chan... But what do I know!”

July skipped ahead of Daiji, avoiding the shattered glass of the mirror. Now, now. He had to take it a little easy, after all. Daiji had been instrumental in destroying the mirror. One spiteful Raikoho at a time. Ugh, it could have been anyone else! Himitsu could have been here! But now, here in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of nothing, July was stuck with naught but his ‘uncle’ for company. Even ‘Hana-chan’ would probably have been more fun, what with her ‘marvellous intellect’ and ‘superb strategies’. Well, look who was alive and Captaining the Kasumi’Oji now? July had finally turned the tables. But now, here she was - here to taunt him with trifling obstacles.

”Well, well, well… What have we here Daiji-kun?”

July skipped into the lab first, swishing between Daiji and the wall. Large green tubes lined the wall, filled with liquid and… ‘parts’. July, of course, recognised the essence of the place. It was as if someone had seen a bad drawing of the lab in which July had been birthed, and attempted to replicate it. An expensive replication, to be sure, but a crude one. July didn’t quite remember quite so many extraneous pipes, and the dead bodies strewn across the floor really took the tone of the whole place down. He would have to give Daiji a lecture on the ‘scientific aesthetic’ once this was all over.

Fifteen dead on the floors, but not a single piece of equipment touched. How bizarre. July bent down to the dead on the floor, and performed a cursory examination of the nearest corpse. How had it been killed? How recently? July’s Analysis, Healing Expertise and Instinct all kicked into overdrive, trying to glean as much information as possible about the situation. Why kill the people, but not damage the laboratory. Easy, the attackers wanted the research for themselves. Understandable, of course. Daiji was essentially breeding soldiers - like the Mod Souls of old. And what evil organisation wouldn’t like a ‘just add water’ army?

“This is what I sought to protect, and… I believe you should recognize this one.”

July looked up from his examination, only to be struck by a sudden, sharp, spiritual pain. Like a scissor had cut some of the stitches that held his soul together. Now, now… down girl. July made no movement or indication of the pain - he was quite adept at pretending to be something he wasn’t, after all. His examination done, he drifted calmly over to the tank Daiji stood beside, putting his gloved hand to the glass. Of course this person was familiar. Daiji knew all too well. It was quite pathetic of him to draw July in like this, after all. A cheap shot, so to speak.

Not that July was particularly perturbed, though. He could see November whenever he wanted! And after all, she was the reason he was alive after all. What a generous sister she had been. So altruistic. Much better than Daiji. And possibly better than Himitsu too - though he was becoming a close second. Kind of. A few toffees short of a draw, perhaps. But now, here in a tank, was November. Her dark hair, her closed eyelids concealing violet irises - a stark contrast to July's own. The dark sheep of the family after all. Well, August was probably the darkest, but he had his own problems.

Look, November, they exhumed you. I’m so proud~

July turned to Daiji, and perhaps his uncle would be surprised to see a tear in the Captain’s eye. That was the appropriate reaction for someone to have having seen their dead sister floating in a tank, correct? And July was more than content to give Daiji the ‘bog standard reaction’ for now. No need to let him realise that July was more interested in the other tanks. Another ‘Kasumi’Oji’ in a tank, bearing all the classic hallmarks of the noble house. But the one with the mask, that was much more interesting! Daiji would simply have to elaborate. And if he chose not to, well, that would be almost as much information to go off.

”Daiji-kun, I’m going to have to ask you to explain what’s in the tank behind you~

And by the way, in case the tear didn’t alert you, I am very upset. So upset, in fact. Perhaps I should get a therapist. Perhaps your masked fellow could help me? Or maybe you could grow me one?~”

[Himitsu Kasumi'Oji]

Is everything alright?

July’s sudden emotional spike would shortly be followed by Himitsu’s concerned voice being projected into his cousin’s mind, undoubtedly the work of the little ladybug hiding on July’s body. It seemed to have notified Himitsu of July’s internal state. While the Captain could hide his feelings from those around him, Volucris had a direct glimpse into July’s mind, and the insect could tell that not all was well.

Daiji, on the other hand, wasn’t quite aware of the effect November had on his family head. July’s face and expression was as stoic and controlled as ever. Perhaps that stoicism made Daiji suspect deeper emotions stirring within July, but there was no way to be sure whether he had truly succeeded in attracting July’s curiosity.

”Daiji-kun, I’m going to have to ask you to explain what’s in the tank behind you~”

“A side project,” the scientist respond, perhaps a little too quickly and curtly.

Easy July, we’re not alone, Volucris warned as it transmitted muffled sounds of footsteps and voices to the Captain. The fact that those sounds were still muffled to the insect indicated that it could barely perceive them despite its superhuman senses. However, the sounds seemed to come from beyond the wall past Daiji, as if there was a separate, sound-proof room with no door connecting it to the lab Daiji and July currently stood in. At least no “traditional” door, but perhaps a secret entrance of sorts? Who knew.

”And by the way, in case the tear didn’t alert you, I am very upset. So upset, in fact. Perhaps I should get a therapist. Perhaps your masked fellow could help me? Or maybe you could grow me one?~”

“I regret that I was forced to keep this from you, July, but it was a project from Azumi’s time and not one I could give up on. But now you can see that we’re on the verge of greatness. Therapy will be unnecessary when you control the most powerful Noble family in history – one that will dwarf the legacy of Sozen Kuchiki. The bakkoto trade will be unnecessary when we control the greatest army to ever exist. Wouldn’t Himitsu be satisfied when we accomplished his goal without driving the family to bankruptcy? Wouldn’t you be happy if we can grant November a healthy life?

“I humbly ask you one final time, July. Lend me your support.” Daiji, for the first time July had seen, looked to his family head with genuine vulnerability as he delivered his plea. July’d certainly have a choice to make, but he’d also understand that the situation was not what it seemed. There were others still there, somewhere on the other side of the metallic walls of the lab. And the door connecting them was hidden. Where could it be? July’d have to subtly investigate, but where to look? The computer systems and large screens in the corner? The cylindrical tanks lining the walls? Maybe even hidden behind Daiji? There was no obvious correct answer that July would find with a simple glance, but if he craned his neck around Daiji just enough, he might get a glimpse of the full mask worn by the man in the tank behind the Kasumi’Oji scientist.