[Operation D13 Rescue Countdown]
[Time left: 5 days, 15 hours]
“Do not even give her words any heed.”
Even with Hunter’s warning, a part of Izabel was tempted to confront Eye right then and there. Common sense dictated that she herself was not impacted, nor did anyone close to her in a significant manner - yet, Izabel couldn’t shake the indignation from being used and fooled. It was a new feeling, an entirely unpleasant one, but one that she was given the privilege to feel with her Mirror Device being tampered with.
Another experience that was denied from her, yet felt bitter all the same.
“Deep breaths. Take it as a lesson, do not drown in your anger.”
Hunter was right, as much as Izabel wished that she could go back in time and beat herself up for the mistake, imagining such a fantasy scenario would give her nothing but wasted time.
Izabel was so lost in her own thoughts, that a touch on her shoulder was enough to startle her.
“Are you alright, Hunter?”
With that, Izabel was snapped out of her thoughts, to see Barnett, clear concern conveyed in the latter’s gaze.
“You’ve been spacing out.”
Izabel shook her head, getting the lingering thoughts out. “I’m just thinking. How do you feel? Cordis themself personally promised to get you out of the facility you are being held in, after all.”
“Honestly, after the initial relief subsided, it’s how they are going to pull such a thing,” Barnett admitted. “If that plan got discovered, Dome-9 will have the same situation as Dome-13, not to mention, after two Domes are discovered to have similar enemies, the Primeras will be even more wary. Once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern.”
“Perhaps it would be more accurate to say ‘twice is enemy action’ is their motto. I have seen how thorough they can be when any indication of potential threats are detected. They seem to underestimate the denizens of this world, though.”
“Hence, we have this situation in Dome-13, that could possibly spread to other Domes if we don’t stop it.”
As the discussion has concluded, the two were teleported back to the virtual space beneath the massive tree. Right as they landed, it didn’t take long for them to hear the sound of approaching footsteps, and the two, including their Mirror Avatars, looked towards the source.
Even to the biggest fools, it was clear that Eye possesses a presence that commands attention from those around her. Background noises bend to her presence, emphasizing each sound she made in a way that was almost unnatural.
“So, we meet again, Hunter. Your teammate as well, it seems?”
“Eye, let me get this out of the way. If you pull a stunt like before again…”
“The deal has concluded, Hunter, let us,” Eye stopped close to Izabel, lifting the latter’s chin with one finger, forcing Izabel to meet her golden eyes glinting with something deep and dark, “Start again. We promise not to repeat the incident.”
“One, yes, it’s Barnett, and two, Eye, do you know what personal space is?” Barnett asked.
With her blood boiling from the sheer condescension, Izabel narrowed her eyes, the color shifting into a fiery orange-gold for a split second, and slapped away the hand on her chin away with a loud smack.
“Good call.”
“Whoever you are, are you truly there, or are you taking a backseat while letting your Mirror Avatar do whatever she wants?” Izabel gritted her teeth. “I want the host of Eye, not Eye the Mirror Avatar.”
“That is where you are wrong, Hunter,”
Gold shifted back into green, the color so vivid it was almost glowing even in the absence of metallic color. Flaxen hair, tied into a ponytail and gathered on her right shoulder, reaching down to her breasts, frame a beautiful visage with no visible flaw. Next to her, her Mirror Avatar simply stood with an expression of confidence more befitting a would-be winner in an invisible board game.
Izabel noticed one flaw, however, the fact that a stark taint of cotton-candy pink has bleached the roots of Eye’s hair.
“We are one, my words are mine as much as they are hers, and vice-versa.”
“To me, it looks more like you left all the heavy lifting to your Mirror Avatar,” Barnett said. “Your individuality, your body, is no different than puppets on strings you both are so fond of commanding.”
“Oh, how cute. For your information, we are very much in agreement with each other, so there’s no need to worry your little head about that.”
Eye leaned down, trying to meet Barnett’s gaze. Even though from her eyes Barnett was still hidden behind the disguise, Barnett could feel the woman’s gaze piercing her.
“Get away from me. No wonder Adler finds you such a nuisance.”
“How cold, you are hurting my very fragile feelings.”
“Gross.”
“Eye,” Izabel took a deep breath, “If you are finished with taunting my teammate here, we all need to actually prepare. That goes for you, too.”
Not wanting to listen to her reply, Izabel tuned her out. Hunter, realizing the situation, helped without a word, humming a tune only Izabel could hear, a sort of upbeat tune that in moments, bore a feeling of longing, of familiarity, of standing in the precipice of fate.
Without intention to guide them, Izabel stopped in front of the door to her private virtual room.
“Thanks for, you know, getting me out of that situation,” Claire said.
“It’s nothing much, really.”
Before Claire could reply, a notification appeared in front of her eyes.
[The window of opportunity for your escape is coming. Return to the other side as soon as possible.
Remember - do not hesitate. You will need to do things that woule seem impossible. Follow my instructions as close as you could in the given situation.
Regards, Cordis]
“What is it?” Izabel asked, then added after looking at Claire’s expression. “Something about your situation, considering how you look?”
“Right, uh, yeah.”
“Can I help? I mean, if it’s possible.”
Another notification appeared on Claire’s device.
[You must do this alone. - Cordis]
“... I don’t think so, but, thanks.”
“Hunter, do you have–” Izabel couldn’t even finish her question, as Hunter shook her head.
“No. In addition, remember that enchantments in this virtual world would not carry over.”
Izabel sighed.
[If you would like, you may watch. However, you will have no communication with her. Would that be acceptable? - Cordis]
“That’d give me some peace of mind,”
[It has been done. Her position will be visible to you when you exit the virtual world. - Cordis]
Izabel smiles at her teammate, even though deep down, she was upset, her inability to provide any help despite Claire having helped her was seeping into her thoughts.
“All I can say is, good luck… Claire.”
Claire nodded, resolution brimming in her gaze. Next to her, Barnett gave a thumbs-up.
–
(POV Switch: Barnett / Claire)
She caught a whiff of the scent of a sterile room before her feet even touched the ground.
The dark, inky substance that sealed the three walls of the room was a source of comfort, yet, much as they could cover her activities and give a modicum of privacy, there was nothing it could do to cover the glass wall and the door across where she would sleep. It was a strange contrast, seeing her room covered in comforting cover, while the outside remained as white, pristine, and unnerving as they had always been.
Down in her soul, she could feel a gnawing need, a pit that needed to be filled.
After having a taste of freedom, the memory of it became such a potent drug. Even as her rationale screamed that a freedom from this cage was not one that could be so easily attained, her heart still yearned for it, to feel the outside world again.
[Are you there?]
A message appeared in front of her vision. She did not need to ask who that was, nor did she need to answer.
[It seems that you are held within a cell in one of the lower levels.]
“Tell me something I don’t know, Cordis.”
[The layout of all the floors are similar, and I assume you are already familiar with it, though here is a layout of the floor plan just in case. The most pressing matter here is the detection tools.]
A flash of light spilled out from the Mirror Device on her wrist, and when her vision cleared, red criss-crossing lines appeared on the other side of the glass wall and door.
[These are relatively basic, so there was no need to worry, as it functions more as a sensor to detect if any unauthorized living beings are moving outside. As you could see, there are gaps between them, and I can disable them for a few seconds should you encounter a tricky portion. However…]
Claire waited for the message. Even though Cordis didn’t communicate using their voice, she could sense their hesitance.
[You cannot use the aid of your Mirror Avatar in this escape attempt.]
Claire stared at the message, and so did Barnett. They looked at each other.
“I can’t agree to that. Cordis. What game are you playing here? are you trying to lead her into a trap?”
[Of course not, and I do not appreciate such an insinuation.]
Claire flinched. Even though it was just a line of text projected in front of her eyes, there was an unmistakable sense of hostility emanating from the reply. Barnett, however, remained in her refusal, touching Claire’s shoulder as a gesture of reassurance.
“Then there better be a very good explanation~”
Barnett’s voice has reverted back to their usual sing-song tune, but even fools could tell that, should Cordis step a toe out of line, the consequence won’t be pretty to witness.
“Calm down, Barnett. There must be an explanation,” Claire said. “Also, remember, we don’t know what she could do to you.”
[There is. It is true that some of the detection tools are basic, but remember, the Primeras are neither blind nor stupid, and you ar not the first person to try escaping - or as they would put it, you are not the first one who did not appreciate their attempt to make you whole and happy again–]
Claire felt bile rise at the back of her throat, the burning feeling serving as an emphasis of her disgust. Then, she continued reading.
[-nor would you be the last one. They have hidden Mirror Device detection tools as well, using the signal emitted by each Mirror Device to identify between intruders and visitors. Normally, there is no way to deactivate the device, but I can jam the signal it emits during the duration of your escape.]
“... How is that related to me being unable to use Barnett’s power?”
[The signal would also cut off your connection to your Mirror Avatar. To be clear, you are still able to access their power. For example, if you materialize their weapon, you would still be able to use it after the connection was cut off. What you cannot do is access your Mirror Avatar’s observational assistance and any alteration you made to your Number Distribution will be reverted at the time of the signal jamming. In other words, you will need to use what weapon they could give you.]
“That is easy. Hold out your hand, Claire~”
With some skepticism, Claire did as Barnett requested, and a spear appeared on her hand. It was an ornate weapon, made of polished silver, a pair of vines awash with blue and green glow slithering on its surface. The blade portion of the spear sported a deep, captivating red.
Claire gave it an experimental twirl. It felt a little heavy.
“Let me help you, just change up the numbers~”
“Remember, no changes to the numbers will apply after we open this door, Barnett. We very much just established this.”
[What is your decision? Remember, time is not on our side.]
Claire took a deep breath, her brows furrowed in concentration. A few tense seconds passed, before she let go of the spear, letting it disappear. Her eyes were glued to the outside halls, the machines wandering outside still oblivious to her enmity.
She outstretched her right hand, fingers reaching towards the door.
“Barnett, give me one of your vines on my arm, 100 cm long, with thorns only on the length not touching my arm.”
