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Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: And the Abyss Stares Back... without Question

Nagisa returns to her chair and shows them records of what happened. "Listen well, you three. What happened in New Osaka is inseparable from the task I want you three to do."

Alya, Yuki, and Masachika put their attention towards Nagisa, listening to what she has to say.

Even after the establishment of the Quarantine Zone, we haven't given up on this planet.

We deliberately made the treaty with loopholes we can exploit.

We were waiting for someone we can really trust...

...And enter Алиса Михайловна Кудзё (Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou).

She is steadfast in her stance against A3's terrible policies and actually thought of people's wellbeing.

As Nagisa explains Alisa's feats, Yuki looks down onto her own palm, comparing herself and her achievements to Alya.

"Right... Compared to her, I gave in too early every time the masked man asked us to approve A3's terrible policies."

"Alya in other hand... even though she was pregnant like me, she never gave up on what she believes in."

"I remember... Back then, when she was still whole..."

"Many times, she brought everyone together to not approve any of it."

"I mean, to be fair, I still need to take care of my parents, then Alya, and lastly Masachika now."

"I should have complied; it was the best choice. I am not Alya either, so I shouldn't risk myself and-"

She pauses and squints her eyes in realization that she's trying to rationalize her actions back then.

"...Who am I making excuse to?"

"I mean, am I really that insecure?"

"No no no, I am not insecure. We are friends and allies, damn it! I can't do this... not now, not to her..."

"Yeah sure, she's a rare foreign beauty, she has bigger boobs, she has bigger resolve, she has courage, and she got his baby without raping him."

"It's like destiny itself set them up together..."

"Alya is his beloved girlfriend, she is the one he chose to support in school and... chose to follow with... to college..."

"...And I, uh..."

"...Fuck that! So what if she's not blood related to him? Incest in wincest!"

"I mean, she's just the one he chose to spend his life with... The one who wouldn't bring problems to him if she got married with him... The one who could have given him healthy non-incest babies... "

Yuki diverts her gaze towards Alya.

"...Seriously, what advantage do I have against her?"

"..."

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck..."

"The only advantage i have against her now is that my body is still whole and that I have money."

"If Alya got her whole body restored, and accepted Nagisa's gifts..."

"Then I... would she..."

"Would he..."

"Would they..."

Her thoughts and heart darkened by her insecurities, and she realized what she must do.

"No... I am not letting him away... Not after everything!"

"I... Alya... Should I... Do I have to..."

"...Make sure she didn't make it?"

Masachika shakes Yuki's shoulder, calling her out from her own thoughts, worried for her wellbeing, "YUKI!! OI!! WHAT'S WRONG!? ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?"

"Oh! Ah, where was she again? Sorry, I dozed off! Can you repeat that again?" She said in cheerful tone, trying to not make him worry. "I'm alright, why the worried face, brother?"

Masachika grabs her face gently, his arms shaking with concern, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE ALRIGHT!? YOU SUDDENLY WENT SILENT AND..."

"And... you are crying... now..." He said to Yuki, his eyes began to tear up as well.

Yuki now realizes that her sight has been blurry, and her cheeks are wet with tears.

"Ah... Fuck..." Yuki said to herself, busted on her lies.

Nagisa, with blinding speed, suddenly throws her Photon partisan at Yuki, missing on purpose and grazing her cheeks.

The spear went through the sofa and floor effortlessly.

Alya also appears to be offline for some reason.

Yuki and Masachika are shocked by the attack. They froze in place, afraid to make any sudden movements.

Nagisa slowly steps towards Yuki and speaks up.

"You ingrateful and evil wench. I have pardoned you of your evil and lifted your responsibility to bear the consequences."

"I even included you in my plan to save the world and offered you many rewards beyond your wildest dreams."

"And yet, here you are, scheming in your wicked heart to kill one of your own and hurting people you claim to love!"

"Do you think I wouldn't notice?!"

"I even had to turn Aida off just to spare her from seeing this."

"I will not suffer you anymore." Nagisa said while pointing to Yuki.

Yuki, still shivering in fear, tries to wriggle out of her current situation, feigning ignorance, "W-w-what are y-yo-you... t-ta-talking... about, Ms... Nagisa?" 

"You still dare lie to me?! Haven't I told you that we know everything there was and is!?" Nagisa exclaimed.

Masachika realizes that Yuki had offended her somehow and steps in to defend her. "T-this must be a huge misunderstanding! We passed your test, didn't we!?"

Nagisa replied, "... You still don't get it." She said with annoyed tone. "But fine, to make you understand, now I want you to think of a number and few random things, Mr. Masachika."

Masachika then did as she instructed, waiting for her response.

Nagisa then says, "You were thinking about 11 and 7, birthday, lances, sages, foxes, convenience store, and every possible way that your sister might have offended me."

"You also thought of ingredients such as Salt, Soda, Sugar, everything you find too much on E-Negi."

"You are now thinking how the hell am I supposed to know that and how to defend your sister from me."

Masachika finally realized, what Nagisa just did in utter disbelief, saying "...Fuck me jogging, YOU CAN READ MINDS!??" with worried expression.

Nagisa nods, confirming his answer.

"Correct. And this wench dared to scheme to kill her own ally, to harm everyone she claims to hold dear."

"Even after I have WRITTEN on the front, after all the crimes I have pardoned from her, after all that I have promised for her, after EVERYTHING I HAVE EXPLAINED ABOUT A3 AND YOUR STUBBORN LEADERS!!!"

"Ms. Yuki is already planning to kill Ms. Alisa again!"

"Even after knowing what she has went through..."

"EVEN AFTER KNOWING I AM NOW EXPLAINING THE EXACT SAME TRAGEDY THAT FELL UPON HER, KNOWING HOW EVIL THE PERPETRATOR IS, JUST FOR HER OWN SELFISH PURPOSE!!!"

"I don't need someone evil like you, but you have heard too much."

"I would leave her fate to Ms. Alisa but she's currently losing parts of her brain."

"What say you, selfish and insecure wretched woman, so love-starved you would kill others for it?"

Masachika's jaw dropped as he looks towards Yuki. He can't believe what was she thinking about eliminating Alya, and worried about how she will escape Nagisa's judgment.

Yuki can only stay silent and frozen in place. Her survival instincts are screaming at her to not move even a millimeter off her current position.

However, she knows she can't stay silent.

She decided to speak up, honestly confessing everything in front of everyone.

"You're right... About me."

"I have no excuse. I am indeed selfish."

"I need my brother. I'm hopeless without him."

"I'm... afraid he will be gone again."

"I rationalized my decision, thinking that since I have a lot of disadvantages compared to Alya, it's just fair if I do some... underhanded things."

"Heh, for fuck's sake, I am her blood related sister, suffered asthma during my childhood, stuck under my terrible grandfather's tutelage."

"Are those not enough of handicaps to justify my actions?" She said while grinning.

"I know very well that I'm not the chosen one... nor that I'm worthy to be one."

"...Else I won't ever need to resort to raping my own brother." Yuki said while caressing her swollen belly.

"You are doing the same thing as what that masked man is doing." Nagisa reminded her.

"...I know." Yuki said, agreeing with her.

"If only destiny guided me to love someone else, maybe it'll be easier."

Yuki looks toward the gate and recount what Alya said about it.

"The evil will drown and pass away, But, since mercy triumphs over judgment, help will come to those who repent."

"You are right. Humanity's biggest problem is their heart." Yuki said to Nagisa, affirming what she said before.

"Please forgive me. I... I will become stronger, so I will not be swept away by my wicked heart anymore." Yuki said, apologizing while bowing her head towards everyone else in the room.

"Alya, Ms. Nagisa..."

"...Masachika."

Nagisa can tell that she deeply regrets her vile intentions and really wishes to change herself.

In response, Nagisa swiftly extends her hand, and recalls her spear back into her grip.

"You're forgiven. Do not make the same mistake again. I expect you to change for the better." Nagisa declared.

Masachika looks at Yuki with a stern look.

"I know... It's too late now that you saw my actual dark side. Don't waste your breath..." Yuki said while looking down in shame and guilt.

Masachika flicks her forehead hard

Yuki yelled in surprise, "Ouch!"

Masachika starts scolding her sister, "My foolish otaku sister. Have our baby taken all the nutrients for your brain?"

"Did you forget what I said to you back then in my apartment, my lovely little gremlin?" Masachika said, reminding her of what he promised her.

He then grips both of her shoulders and speaks up, trying to etch his words into her psyche.

"I would never hate you, Yuki."

"Your darkness is probably what grandpa-"

"No. Gensei Suou forced you to adopt that darkness."

"You killed him, but his ideas about fear are still in your mind."

"Now, watch as I kill it for good."

"I'll declare it loudly, as many times as you want, with Ms. Nagisa as our witness..."

Masachika stands tall and firm, before doing the unexpected.

"I LOVE YOU, YUKI!!! I AM A GREEDY MAN, AND I WANT BOTH ALYA AND YOU!! I WILL MAKE YOU MY SISTERWIFE!!! I WANT YOU TO BE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN!!" He yelled with repressed shame, reciting the line of a doujin she often read.

"Big bro... You..." Yuki said, stuttering and flabbergasted.

"There... I said it!" Masachika said as he turns his gaze back at her.

"That's why, keep smiling and laughing. It suits you better." He said to her while caressing her cheeks gently with his right hand.

"Fucking smooth... This is exactly why I fell for you..." Yuki said, resting her head on his palm while holding it close.

Nagisa coughs, trying to get the incestuous lovey-dovey siblings' attention back at her. "Ehem. May I continue?"

"Oh! Right... please continue..." Masachika said as he sits down again.

Yuki follows him shortly after, "Please do, Ms. Nagisa."

Alya turns on again, unaware of everything that just happened.

Yuki grips both Alya's and Masachika's hands affectionately, while vowing to herself to not waver or give in to her insecurities again.

Alya just take it that Yuki just needs something to grip.

Nagisa then restarts the hologram and starts her explanation over.

Even after the establishment of the Quarantine Zone, we haven't given up on this planet.

We deliberately made the treaty with loopholes we can exploit.

We were waiting for someone we can really trust...

...And we found Алиса Михайловна Кудзё (Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou).

She is against everything A3 stands for and is more than willing to talk with us.

We invited her to talk with us in New Osaka, and thanks to Ms. Yuki's help, she was able to do so...

I had my trusted mentor, Chelsea, that is not affiliated with Oracle fleet, to escort her.

We successfully made contact and convinced her to join us.

We then told her where Mr. Masachika's cryopod is, then entrusted her with a container containing necessary equipment for her.

Nagisa shuts the hologram screen off and stands up.

"Sadly, it ended as we all knew it. The container is stolen and Ms. Alisa suffered greatly, being killed by A3's military under the masked man's command." She said while turning her gaze at Alya.

"She didn't even have a chance to tell anyone your cryopod's location, so we unfroze you ourselves, Mr. Masachika."

"Fortunately, Ms. Yuki's act of bringing Alya to our Dealer saved her just in time."

"Anyway, on to the strangest part: despite everyone's effort to keep the meeting a secret, the Central Cabinet leader, the masked man, found out about it."

"She had the perfect alibi to be in New Osaka to monitor the A3 propaganda advertisement, and yet, she was suspected."

"That masked man is also immune to mind reading, our patron deity couldn't get a read on him, and he actually fought my mentor back."

"Considering how normal humans shouldn't even be able to fight back against us, he is an anomaly."

"He is definitely not one of us, so there must be something more to this."

"We must stop him before he uncovers what is in the box."

Yuki raises her hand and tells Nagisa, "It might be too late. The weapons are in their hands now."

Nagisa replied, "The stolen weapons are one thing, but there is one more thing in that container that they must never utilize."

"Inside the container we gave to Ms. Alisa, lies the worst weapon there is..."

"The Abyss System."

"...What is that?" Masachika asked in horror, knowing that if Nagisa is calling it the worst weapon, it must be something truly horrifying.

"System of absolute order: a brainwashing and mind control system." Nagisa explained.

"WAIT A MINUTE! WHY ARE YOU GIVING ALYA THAT!?" Masachika protested.

"Due to the stubbornness and prolonged suffering of everyone under A3, this extreme measure was approved."

"We only intend to control A3 leaders with it, so we entrusted both weapons along with the system to Ms. Alisa in order to keep humanity's fate still resting on humanity, and to make sure this entire operation is truly meant for humanity's benefit."

"Then... they probably have obtained it. They opened the box already, presumably by harvesting the information from Alya's other brain part." Yuki said, in gloomy tone.

"No. They only got the weapons for now. We would know if the system were unlocked." Nagisa replied.

"There would be no need for making terrible policies if they could just enslave everyone there, right?" 

Yuki nods and then asks her, "Is retrieving the Abyss system is our highest priority right now?"

Nagisa nods in response, "Correct. Which is why..."

"You all have several missions, such as..."

"One, at all costs, reclaim or destroy the Abyss system before they are able to get access to it from Ms. Alisa's other brain part."

"Two, reclaim Ms. Alisa's other brain part."

"Three, persuade as much Central Cabinet members to join our cause as possible. If cooperation is impossible, termination."

"Four, complete tasks assigned by Oracle fleet."

"Five, in addition to point three, do everything it takes to uproot A3's administration over the Quarantine Zone before it implodes by its crookedness."

"Sixth, in addition to point five, do everything it takes to support the Quarantine's Zone desire to join Oracle fleet's side."

"And lastly, terminate the masked man when the opportunity shows itself." 

"I'm giving you three the title of 'Liberators' and enlisting you all as part of our fleet."

"Failure is not an option. Remember why you fight against A3. Remember what we offered you as reward."

"Nod if you want to join."

Alya, Yuki, and Masachika steeled their resolve, and nodded in agreement simultaneously with Nagisa without hesitation, seeing that they already committed high treason against A3 anyway.

Nagisa grins with satisfaction and tells them, "Perfect. I expect great things from you all."

The gate behind them opens slowly as Nagisa points to it.

"Now go. Our business here is done, but your business down there has just started."

"The dealer will provide you with your tasks and equipment after you all arrived on Earth."

As Yuki, Alya, and Masachika walks toward the gate, Masachika stops in his track and asked Nagisa, "Hey... Why does Oracle fleet even bother saving other realms? Why even care at all?"

"Simply put... Empathy and love, I suppose." Nagisa answered.

Hearing that, Masachika, Alya, and Yuki smiled, with hope returning to their mind, satisfied that the aliens they feared is actually dignified and above all, compassionate.

After they left her room, Nagisa closes the gate, leaving herself alone in her room.

"Godspeed, Liberators." Nagisa thought to herself, praying for their success before returning to her business.

And with that...

Masachika, Alya, and Yuki returns to Earth through the way they came, starting their journey to tear A3 down.

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