ALL NOVEL Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Can Nikkes Even Have Kids?
"So…when did this actually start?" Shifty's question left the group in silence.
Marian had departed directly from the Ark on her transport and hadn't been anywhere else beforehand.
Given that she had detonated the transport, it was likely that the infection had already taken hold before she boarded.
That left only one possibility.
Which meant… it had to have come from within the Ark.
"Are you saying the Ark's defenses were breached?!" Shifty gasped.
This was no small matter.
If the Rapture virus infiltrated the Ark, it could spread quickly, becoming a massive catastrophe.
"Like that'd happen so easily," Anis said, leaning back against the cabin wall with her arms crossed. "If the Ark couldn't stop that, we'd have been done for ages ago."
"True."
Shifty thought it over and admitted she might have overreacted.
Mo Chen, on the other hand, sighed inwardly, glancing toward the Ark's direction.
These Nikkes would never imagine that the very entity they fought to protect was actually the puppet master behind countless Nikke sacrifices.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze on him. Turning, he saw it was Rapi, watching him.
Mo Chen gave her a "What's up?" look.
Rapi didn't respond, just shook her head gently and sighed deeply.
She had never seen a Commander like this.
One who would risk so much… for a Nikke.
If the Ark found out, there was a high chance he'd be detained. His rank would be stripped, and he'd face criminal charges—likely prison.
Meanwhile, deep within the Ark, in the Operations Command Center…
"…That concludes my report."
Shifty was updating Andersen at Command.
"Defeated Black Smith?" Andersen sat behind his desk, scrutinizing the mission report displayed on a transparent screen, pondering. "A Commander with no real combat experience completes a mission within days. And with a team of Counters Nikkes at that."
The Counters unit was a class between the standard and elite Nikkes.
They were stronger than mass-produced units, but their hardware limited their combat capabilities, so they were typically deployed for low-intensity missions.
"Yes, that's correct," Shifty replied, flipping through the report. "Oh, and one of the Nikkes was corrupted and destroyed."
Andersen chuckled, shaking his head as he closed the report.
"Ms. Shifty, your humor seems to be improving."
It wasn't that he doubted her; the situation was just too improbable.
No matter how skilled or fearless a Commander was, they couldn't bridge a gap that wide in terms of sheer firepower.
A Tyrant-class Rapture required caution, even for the Ark itself.
Shifty noticed Andersen's disbelief and felt her competence was being questioned, so she protested.
"Do you want me to upload the combat data for verification?"
"No, that won't be necessary," Andersen waved it off, then paused to think. "Here's what we'll do: I'd like to meet this Commander."
"I have an opening tomorrow at 3 p.m. Please arrange it."
"Understood. I'll relay your request," Shifty noted, then asked, "Is there anything else?"
Andersen thought for a moment. "Bring the Nikkes who participated in this operation as well. Have them fully armed."
Decades ago, humanity faced relentless assaults from the Raptures, suffering devastating losses. In a last-ditch effort to preserve the final remnants of civilization, they retreated underground to a fortified sanctuary: Ark.
In the years since, it had transformed into a highly developed stronghold. The descent on the elevator alone took an hour.
Upon entry, everyone was subject to thorough screening to prevent any Raptures or Rapture-infected Nikkes from infiltrating. It was Ark's most critical line of defense.
Even Mo Chen wasn't exempt.
After the screening cleared him, he let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed his guess was right: Ark couldn't detect his system.
The massive gate swung open.
"Three individuals cleared for entry. Welcome back," came the automated system voice overhead.
Behind Mo Chen, Rapi and Anis stepped forward.
Mo Chen turned to Rapi and said a quiet, "Thanks."
He was grateful for her help in concealing the truth about Marian.
If Ark got wind of it, they'd undoubtedly act swiftly, given the implications for humanity. If they could analyze and understand how Marian resisted the Rapture virus, it might lead to advancements that could not only help Nikkes resist infection but also potentially develop a means of countering the virus itself.
As for Marian, she'd surely become a key research subject, likely whisked away to the lab for dissection and analysis the moment she returned.
So this time, Mo Chen left Marian behind.
Besides, he wasn't entirely certain the Punishing Virus wouldn't draw attention in Ark.
The same went for Rose: both stayed in an abandoned base on the surface.
Mo Chen didn't worry about them. Marian and Rose were strong and had a force of Raptures infected with the Punishing Virus to protect them.
Marian didn't fully understand why she couldn't go with him. Still, she listened, and after his patient explanations, she seemed to accept that she couldn't follow. But her expression—those glistening eyes and a nearly tearful look—nearly made him change his mind.
Though he didn't have a daughter, Mo Chen couldn't help but feel a hint of what a father might feel.
He suddenly found himself wondering if Nikkes could have children.
His gaze drifted to Rapi beside him.
Sensing something, Rapi turned her head, raising an eyebrow as if to ask, "Is something wrong?"
Caught red-handed, Mo Chen cleared his throat and waved dismissively. Maybe he was thinking too far ahead.
Rapi had no idea what was on his mind, but she looked at him as if he were some rare specimen.
"I've never met a Commander like you before."
To humans, Nikkes were weapons against the Raptures, just tools.
No Commander had ever treated them as people, let alone taken such risks for them.
Mo Chen just shrugged. "Well, you've met me now."
With that, he started toward the exit—or rather, Ark's entrance.
Watching him walk away, Rapi felt that unfamiliar feeling deepen.
He wasn't like any other Commander…