"nailed it."
It wasn't until he heard the girl's words of comfort that Officer Maloney dared to open his eyes again. He glanced warily at Maggie and was relieved to see that his eyeballs weren't trying to leave his face as they had been. However, the chaos is far from over. There were still some half-melted holes in the wall, and Mr. Mulligan was in terrible shape. He was still breathing and his head hadn't moved from its position on Maggie's lap, but the officer asked Joe if he was recovering from what had just happened. Not just physically, but mentally as well.
Thank goodness I have an unfathomable wise man within my ear who will surely have the answer.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"He's just exhausted," Maggie replied calmly. "A few days of rest and adequate nutrition should be enough to promote full recovery."
"That's good. I've called an ambulance and they'll take care of him. Until then, we have to carefully move him, and you, into the elevator. The titanium-reinforced barrel should make it harder for the gunman to shoot again."
"Your vigilance is commendable, but unnecessary. I've already dealt with invaders."
"Ah. Is this what the eyes are about?"
"Yes."
Maloney shuddered to think of the horrific damage someone like Maggie had done to criminals, but he still needed to bring in what was left.
"Can you tell me where his or her body is?"
"You're wrong about me, Officer Grant Maloney. I didn't kill the shooter. I just made sure he never endangered another sentient life again."
"If you don't mind what I say, that's... very kind of you."
"I assure you, this is not mercy," she said coldly.
A chill ran down the officer's spine, but he mustered up the courage to persevere.
"I...I'm still going to arrest him. It's due process and all that."
"I understand. Kevin Baker is currently in elevator number three on the fifty-sixth floor of super skyscraper 2561-A."
"Isn't that...a few kilometers away?"
"Yes. 4.5 kilometers to be exact."
"Damn. Alright."
Maloney was momentarily taken aback. Hitting a target through several walls from that distance is quite a feat, although the girl's ability to fight back so quickly and decisively is equally impressive. Regardless, he tried to inform his colleagues of the suspect's situation but found himself unable to do so. His headphones were unresponsive. He carefully removed it and examined it, only to find that it had been reduced to a useless pile of plastic and wires. Nearly all of his electronic equipment was in a similar state, no doubt a side effect of what Mahraslak was doing. It's unfortunate, but there's no rush. Within a minute or two, reinforcements and medical services were on the scene.
As he waited in the hallway, the policeman was secretly grateful that the apartments were so well insulated. In an emergency, the last thing he needs to do is deal with panicked civilians. If anyone dares to stick their head in the "eye thing," things can get really bad. Thankfully, the residents of the skyscraper were unaware of the attempted murder, and had all gone well, they would never have known. The hole in the wall might let them know what happened, but that problem has been solved.
Swarms of hand-sized spider-like maintenance robots swarmed out of the walls, busy scanning the corridors. The tiny machine fills the cavity with some kind of insulating foam, seals it with a polymer spray, and then spray paints over it. They even cleaned up a few drops of blood. Once they were done, there was no physical evidence of what happened. However, they do document everything before cleaning. The maintenance robot host will compile an incident report with a variety of images and analysis that will allow local law enforcement to virtually recreate the crime scene.
Of course, it doesn't end there. Maloney is passionate about investigating the mysterious gunman. There were so many problems he couldn't wait to solve. Who is this Kevin Baker? Why did he shoot Maggie? Did he know who or what he was targeting? More importantly, where and how did he get a weapon capable of precise destruction at such a long range? An energy weapon? In addition to solving mysteries, the simple cop also felt the sting of opportunity, which fueled his ambition. If he can solve this case, he has a chance to be promoted and engage in truly meaningful police work.
Unfortunately for the aspiring detective, the answers to most of the puzzles arrive right in front of him when the three men emerge from the elevator. Judging from their uniforms and bulky weapons, they were definitely military. On the left is a ginger-haired woman who seems to flinch when she looks at Maggie. On the right is a dark-skinned gentleman typing on a wrist-worn console. The middle man was the most nervous of the three and, as the police correctly guessed, the most senior. He is older and has gray hair with a bushy mustache and a crew cut, both of them gray with age and stress. His left eye and arm were outfitted with very obvious mechanical prosthetics, and the expression on his scarred face made it clear that he really didn't want to be there.
Maloney's adrenaline is still a little high, so he makes the rather risky but responsible decision to confront these armed strangers.
"Stay where you are and identify yourself!"
He shouted to them with one hand raised, gun holstered in the other, and the three stopped in their tracks. The two soldiers behind him raised their hands, but held no weapons. The commander motioned for them to stand down and immediately introduced himself.
"Major Gordon Archer, 206th Imperial Assault Force, under the direct command of the Occult Expulsion Agency. These are my subordinates, Psychic Agent 2nd Class Sarah Johnson and Staff Sergeant Damian Bennett. By the Imperial Majesty's Majesty Fate, I order you to leave this topic."
Maloney hesitated. Although they look and act alike, it's possible that these three individuals are imposters. However, the weapons they possess are absolutely real. Even if they weren't military, there was nothing he could do to stop any of them once things turned violent.
"…Yes, sir." He wisely stepped aside.
Three soldiers passed him without saying a word, and the major patted Maloney on the shoulder to comfort him as he walked. The young man could have sworn he heard the words "Well done, kid," even though the senior officer's lips didn't move. Despite this, Major Archer, Agent Johnson, and Technical Officer Sparks approach Maggie cautiously.
"Observer McGrack?" the person in charge said loudly.
"We meet again, Major Gordon Archer," the girl said quietly. "Why did you come to me in person?"
The man made a face. He was sure the damn monster knew exactly why he was there. But if this was how things were going to go, then he had no choice but to accept it.
"I'm here to take you to a secluded place. Now it's time for us to meet face to face."
The girl looked up at them, her face expressionless and emotionless.
"I refuse," she said bluntly.
"I'm afraid I must insist."
AJ and Spa
ks raised his weapon at Maggie.
"This is unwise," she told them calmly. "I must fulfill my obligations and any attempt to prevent me from doing so will be met with appropriate measures."
Then she held Joe's head in her lap again and stroked his cheek slowly.
"Professional? Do we start blasting or what?" Bennett asked.
"Don't fire," he ordered, then turned to the girl. "What are these obligations?"
"Keeping Joe safe and healthy."
“We can provide excellent medical assistance.”
Maggie looked up, her eyes turning with hostility.
"It's your fault that he's like this!"
"I assure you, Lieutenant Baker did not fire on my orders."
The girl's anger softened momentarily. There was no hint of deception in that statement. She thought—apparently incorrectly—that the sniper had been told to shoot her. In retrospect, it makes sense for him to take action on his own. By the time she "finds" him, his mental state has been shaken, even unstable. It exposed a lack of belief and a sense of self-doubt that should not be present in a career soldier fresh off a mission. However, this does not excuse him and the Major.
"Under the laws of your military, commanders in the field are legally and ethically responsible for the actions of their subordinates. This includes acts of insubordination or dereliction of duty, in which case your failure was one you could not have foreseen or prevented. these behaviors."
"I know, damn it!" he shouted. "I know. I shouldn't even be doing this, but you're forcing me by killing the Lieutenant."
"Kevin Baker is not dead."
"What about...Burnett?"
Sparks quickly checked the console on his wrist, then looked back.
"His neural implant reports no vital signs, sir."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Well, technically it's not transmitting at all, but the only way-"
"Idiot!" the major shouted. "Tell me first!" Contact the second team and ask them to find him quickly!
"Elevator No. 3, on the fifty-sixth floor."
The three soldiers stared at the policeman who had just walked from behind.
"That's what Muggs told me before, sir."
If the girl hadn't accidentally blown up every electronic device in sight, the base's surveillance team would have known about it.
"Well, you heard what he said! The Major yelled again. "Go find that bastard and get him back to base so I can grab his damn foreskin and hang him up."
"Go right now, sir."
"And Burnett? If you do that again, Queen, do me a favor and I'll shove my boots up your ass and make your breath smell like shoe polish."
"...Yes, sir. It won't happen again."
"Agent, keep your defenses up," he turned to the next agent. "Let's wait and see how things go with the Lieutenant before we relax."
After a few tense minutes, when Maggie was alone in the hallway with Joe, the Major finally heard back from the rest of the team. They found the disobedient sharpshooter still alive and conscious, but huddled in the corner of the elevator, screaming incoherently. He also made himself dirty. Team doctors had to sedate him in order to bring him back to base quickly and quietly. It's clear that his brain was hit so hard that the chip in his skull was fried, although the extent of the damage to his psyche has yet to be determined.
"What exactly did you do to the lieutenant?" the major asked Maggie.
She replied deadpan: "I planted a severe fear of guns in his mind."
In other words, the reason the sniper is in this bad state is because the portable particle cannon at his feet has been discarded. Archer isn't too happy to hear that, since it means his sniper is no longer fit for duty, but Maloney is visibly relieved to learn that's all the girl did. Given her previous comments, the police officer was imagining something worse, which is why he decided to address the issue.
"Mags, didn't you say you have no mercy?"
"I didn't. I retaliated in the way that duty demanded. No more, no less."
She didn't care that she was being attacked, but in doing so, the shooter indirectly and unintentionally hurt Joe. By taking away his ability to shoot, she ensured he would never make that mistake again. However, she realized she was not addressing the root cause of the problem. The man fell in love with her because he was ordered to do so, possibly by accident. If she leaves things as they are, there's a good chance something like this will happen again. Or worse, the military could target Joe and get to her, and she's already shown she's incapable of reacting faster than the speed of light. Maggie is not stupid enough to think that she can protect him if she engages in open hostilities with 3BE's army.
In short, even though she hated what they were doing, her best option was to accept these bellicose soldiers' initial offer.
"Major Gordon Archer," she looked up at the officer. "I reconsider my previous position and hope to negotiate a long-term non-aggression treaty."
The man was obviously taken aback. He stroked his beard for a few seconds before making a decision.
"Good. Arranging a formal hearing will take time—"
"No. With you. Right here and now."
She wanted to strike while the iron was hot, as the old saying goes.
"...Okay, but I have to report to my superiors anyway."
"This is allowed."
"Bennett, cordon off the floor and make sure no one disturbs us. While you're there, tell local law enforcement that we've taken care of the situation and evacuate the area."
"Yes, sir. What about the ambulance?"
They both looked at the girl and the injured man on her leg.
"That's not necessary," Maggie said, then demanded, "Cancel your gunship. I can hear it circling the outer wall, its engines at an uncomfortable frequency."
The technologist cast a questioning look at his commander, receiving a firm nod in response. He was busy carrying out his orders while the girl slowly and carefully lifted Joe off the floor, carried him into his apartment and put him into the pod. He needs rest, nourishment, and safety, which the possessed machine can provide. She really should have done this sooner, but he was stable and she felt guilty about leaving him, so she put it off.
Maggie looked at Pod and Joe hanging together and smiled to herself. She felt as though she had a better understanding of why humans were so ambiguous about their intentions. This is not just because they are emotional, but because their feelings are often at odds with their rational side. There she was, ready to sit down and talk to a bunch of thugs, and she could barely stand the sight of them after what they'd done. It's the best thing to do, but the thought of it is off-putting. As a creature that had lived solely by logic for thousands of years, this inner conflict was new and foreign to her. What happened next, however, was nothing personal. It's not the time to let off steam yet, so Maggie does what many people wish they could do.
She forcibly changed her mental state, put herself in a neutral state, and walked out with a calm smile. Without saying a word, and without hesitation, she shoehorned bits of material from the walls and floors into a set of basic yet elegant concrete furniture. There was a wide table in the middle with three chairs on one side, one on the other, and a fifth against the wall. Taking the hint, the soldiers sat down opposite the girl, while the policeman - who, by the way, really doubted he should be there - played the role of witness.
"Okay. Just to reiterate, I'm Major Archer and these are Sergeant Bennett and Agent Johnson. We're here at the request of Cadet III because Lieutenant Baker disobeyed orders and fired about ten minutes ago. Gun"
"Observer McGrack," the girl introduced herself formally, "but I must insist that you call me Mags."
"We'll see. The thing is, we don't know what your motives are, so why don't you help us and tell us why you're here?" he said straight to the point.
"I'm negotiating a non-aggression pact."
"That's not what I meant, you know!"
The girl tilted her head slightly, but the weird smile on her face did not waver at all.
"No, I don't know, Major Gordon Archer. Perhaps you should be more careful with your questions."
"She's a real person, sir," the policeman said from the side.
The soldier let out a ragged breath.
"Why did you enter this reality?"
"Go study it," she replied simply.
"For what purpose?"
"I'm a seeker of knowledge. That's what I do."
Major Archer sighed. To be honest, he wasn't sure what he was expecting, but there was no way he could believe this seemingly innocuous reaction. Frankly, he didn't want to talk about it at all. Unfortunately, the third class student suddenly became very demanding and he didn't want to risk letting her go. Such people usually become very sensitive whenever they don't get what they want, and if Major Archer knows about his cosmic entity from behind the veil, which he thinks he does, it won't end well. He might have wanted to start a fight, but that was before he knew his opponent wasn't actually dead, just...completely incapacitated.
So, like Maggie herself, he had to ignore his own feelings about the incident and do whatever he could to make the best of this mess.
"What happens once you gain all the knowledge from us?"
"Not sure. I'll probably move on to the next unknown territory."
"Suppose you do that, and you keep learning things from various worlds and dimensions until you know everything. Then what?"
“In this way I will gain omniscience, and my purpose will be accomplished.”
It seems like the ultimate goal of a super nerd is to become a know-it-all. While this is indeed a scary prospect, the Major does believe there is a motive.
"You said you wanted a non-aggression pact. Why? He changed the subject.
"To ensure Joe's safety and health."
"Why do you care so much about that random fool?"
"I had an obligation to him. I won't go into details, but I know I had an obligation to protect him from harm at all costs."
",right? So, in theory, if we reject your agreement and try to conquer him or you, what would you do?"
"I will retaliate by any means I deem necessary."
"What's the meaning?"
"In order of severity, they are negotiation, bribery, cyber warfare, brute force, psychic attack and disintegration."
"Oh, please. Why bother talking when you can throw us through a wall or two with a wave of your hand?"
"For, Major Archer, although batons may be substituted for conversation, words will always retain their power. Language provides the means of expressing meaning, and for those who are willing to listen, language is the articulation of truth. Allen Moore, 1983."
The soldiers looked at each other, confused by this incredibly obscure quote from centuries ago.
"Oh! I got it!" Maloney shouted from the sidelines, then immediately remembered his situation. "I'm going to shut up now."
"Okay," the Major politely ignored him. "Here's the thing, I've been on more than fifty missions involving people like you. Do you want to guess how many of them ended with a pleasant chat over tea and bike rides?"
"...It's ironic, isn't it?" the girl noticed.
"Very good," he continued. "It seems they didn't call you The Observer for nothing!"
Some might question whether it's a good idea to speak kindly to third-class students like this, but the Major feels it's necessary. If the girl's ego is so fragile that she reacts negatively to such a minor provocation, she could very well turn into a full-blown Cthulhu in an instant. Any agreement with such a capricious creature was absolutely unlikely to last. Thankfully, Maggie didn't take offense to those words. Quite the opposite. Her smile grew wider and her eyes narrowed, though it was hard to tell whether it was in mockery or amusement.
"Indeed. I've been studying the subtleties of sarcasm lately. I'm sure I'll soon master this elusive concept."
No one in the room could tell if she meant it or if she was just mocking herself.
"These distractions aside," she tightened her expression, "I now understand the reasons for your hostility toward me, Major Archer. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of my nature."
"Ha! That would be nice. Well, let's hear it. How are you different from other sentient nightmares I've encountered?"
"I'm a person of order, not chaos."
"All right……"
After hearing this, the veteran nodded slowly. He wasn't quite sure what to make of that statement. He cast questioning glances at AJ and Sparks, but they seemed as clueless as he was. The only person who seemed to understand what the third-class student was talking about was the policeman who stood by and nodded, but the Major was not convinced that he wanted to hear his opinion. It's possible McGrack had lassoed him, and if Archer was going to be spoon-fed cow dung, he'd rather catch it at the source.
"What does it mean?"
"I don't want to spend the next 56 hours fully explaining the differences between these cosmic forces. For the sake of brevity, I will summarize my point. There are two types of cosmic entities - two factions, because there is no better term. Those who cross the line into this reality are usually born into chaos. They crave senseless destruction, often engage in deliberate deception, and encourage malicious breaches of obligation. People like me, born of order, have Completely opposite emotions.”
"So what, are you that indescribably terrifying?"
"You're good at sarcasm," she pointed out, then continued. "But no. By your standards, some of my relatives would be considered tyrants, oppressors, and slavers, though they rarely cross the veil like I do. They prefer to control things remotely from the other side. It's more efficient that way. "
“All I hear is, ‘I’m not like other sentient disasters.’ That’s not a reasonable argument.”
"I know my words alone will not convince you, so I ask that you consider my actions as well as my words."
The Major was reluctant to admit it, but upon closer inspection, the reports from Sergeant Bennett and Agent Johnson did corroborate her statement. Yes, Mahratrak caused a few minor damages and displayed some anomalies, but nothing worthy of revenge from his team. His opinion also made it abundantly clear that the entity was aware of their surveillance activities, but that it took no action to hinder their investigations or cover up its own actions. It behaved so well that it really drove the major away. It's unsettling to watch her because they don't know where and when things are going to happen. In some ways, this constant surveillance is more stressful than the usual excessive firepower approach to solving problems. He wasn't about to raze a skyscraper or two just to drive this thing back to where it came from, but deep down he was kind of happy that his stupid subordinates had given him an excuse to do something.
Major Archer suddenly had an idea. He never quite understood why the Supernatural Expulsion Agency wanted him to take such a passive wait-and-see approach to the monster. Typically, they would not hesitate to let him subdue a Level 3 threat with force, even if they knew full well that doing so would result in severe collateral damage. Such orders are given and carried out under the concept that unless dealt with quickly, these monsters will cause more harm in the long run. In all of these cases, however, the entities in question have shown themselves to be extremely hostile to sentient life.
That's clearly not the case this time. In fact, it could be argued that its presence does more good than harm. Whether intentional or not, it highlights a potentially catastrophic vulnerability in 3BE’s digital banking services. Being able to patch it up before any foreign power or nefarious individual misuses it is worth the hundreds of pounds of "ghost money." "In fact, that's an understatement. This trade is so distorted in value it's downright criminal.
The problem is that maybe, just maybe, the restrictions that have tied the Major's hands so far were put in place to avoid unnecessarily irritating an "orderly man." "If that's the case, then how come he didn't know these things were obviously factional?" These were disturbing questions, although the weary soldier already had a premonition of the answers. It's because the Paranormal Expulsion Agency is run by a bunch of selfish fools who think their precious secrets are more important than the lives of countless people. Granted, there are things humans should never know, but the idea that not all cosmic entities are a collection of madness and murder doesn't seem to be one of them.
After a few minutes of awkward silence and thought, Archer made up his mind.
"Okay, I'll tell you the truth."
"Didn't you say your name was Gordon?"
The man's train of thought was immediately interrupted by Class Three's first real sarcasm. There was no reason for this statement, and Maloney had to hold back his laughter. Agent Johnson just stared blankly, while Sparks winced and twisted his hand as if to indicate it needed repair. As for the Major, he took a deep breath and subtly pretended that nothing had happened.
"What do you think about this contract?" he asked the big question.
Maggie raised her hand, and an ominous piece of parchment appeared on it. The soldiers had seen her do this once or twice, so they expected it. The major picked up the conjured document and read it carefully. It details exactly what this girl wants in no uncertain terms. She hopes to obtain 3BE citizenship, with all the rights, privileges and protections that come with it. It implicitly asked the military to refrain from hostile action against Maggie and her acquaintances. Being a girl, she also explicitly lists this condition on the next line, while also including Joe, eliminating any wiggle room in the contract. In return, she promises not to take any action harmful to the Empire and its people, unless her existing obligations require otherwise.
It was this last admonition that prompted the major to ask questions that, in retrospect, he really should have looked into more carefully.
"Joe Mulligan. What's your relationship with him?"
"I refuse to answer."
This is the first time Maggie has done this. She loves spreading knowledge and information and therefore has no hesitation in answering any and all questions posed to her. However, revealing that Joe is her anchor and that their existences are connected only puts him in greater danger. The commandos have realized that she has resurrected herself through him, and no doubt plan to eliminate him should things turn violent to prevent this from happening. If they also knew that Maggie would be very weak without Joe, they might have gone to Joe immediately.
"We'll find out soon enough," the Major said ominously. "Go on, talk about these agreements you've been making. I think if someone is stupid enough to break their promise, something terrible will happen, right?"
"Yes, there will be consequences."
"What are the specific consequences?"
"I will be forced to completely annul this agreement, freeing me from its obligations."
There was a brief silence, and the major waited for the girl to continue, and then realized that she had finished.
"...That's it?" he asked, wanting to make sure.
"Yes."
"Looks a little...light, doesn't it?"
"This is a reasonable response to a party's breach of the terms of the agreement."
"Well, yeah, but you're a damn level three. Shouldn't you skin them alive, or eat their souls or something?"
Maggie's calm smile turned into her usual vaguely smug giggle.
"What did you say, man?" she borrowed Karen's words.
"……Um?"
"This act of violence will accomplish no good and will not advance my goals. It is a waste of time and energy that I strive to avoid. Unless my other obligations require me to do so, I believe There is no reason to resort to such measures."
"Then what's the point of signing agreements and contracts?" He raised his arms in annoyance.
“Statistically, people are 153% more likely to comply with the terms of an agreement if it is presented in a formal way.”
She's not entirely sure why this is the case, but she can't argue with the data. That's not to say she couldn't sign a soul contract. She just didn't feel the need to use them when dealing with humans. The same is true for Joe. The supernatural connection between him and Maggie is neither enforced by nor dependent on their deal. Even the document he signed in blood did little except make him feel better about the whole thing. Well, it will serve as an official record and make things easier if Maggie's peers or elders ask her about her actions and activities.
"But what's to stop you from breaking your promise?!" Archer.
"I don't have that choice. Once I agree to an obligation, I have to fulfill it to the best of my ability. That's why I reject terms that I'm unwilling or unable to abide by."
Well, and she would piss off the Inquisitor Agraktar, but she thought mentioning the elder's name would complicate things unnecessarily.
"As if I can believe it!" shouted the man opposite her.
"Neither your belief nor your disbelief changes the facts, Major Gordon Archer."
These calm words helped the old veteran realize that he might have been a little too excited. He mentally took a step back, reminding himself that this kind of transaction was really not within his power. In fact, he and his team were prohibited from entering into any agreements with Level 3 entities. Such a thing should be obvious, but his superiors expressly don't allow it. Considering what he has been told today, Archer realizes it may be more than just redundancy on the part of the bosses.
"In any case, I cannot agree to your request, either personally or on behalf of my country. As mentioned before, I will have to inform my superiors of your suggestions before I can give you a reply."
"I understand. I thank you." She bowed deeply.
"Your gratitude is unwarranted and not worthy of gratitude at all," he replied mockingly.
"You're kidding, but I think this was an enlightening encounter for both of us. Goodbye, Major Gordon Archer."
"snort."
The three-man commando stood up from their seats and quickly left the scene. They piled into the elevator and onto an external landing platform, where their gunship awaited them.
"Sparks, you recorded everything, right?" the major asked on the way upstairs.
"Yes, sir."
Not just video and audio, but the various measurable outputs it emits. This was his unspoken work during the impromptu meeting. As for Agent Johnson, she's there to protect her team from any potential telepathic attacks. She won't last long against level 3 enemies, but at least it will buy her allies enough time to fight back. The fool was certainly relieved that things didn't come to that. As her silence during the interrogation indicated, she sensed no suspicious psychic activity.
Except Maggie kept winking at her without anyone noticing, but that was to be expected at the time.
