Black Out

Aimi continues her search through the files of AMDO.

Red lights fill the building, alarms blaring as soldiers rush for the cells on the deepest floors. Tenki has gone home, but this has left them with no chance of stopping the rampaging warrior. Each of their attempts to stop Cato is met with thundering counterattack; shaking the building yet this is not enough to pull Aimi from her discoveries.

Each discovery is worse. Every request to treat those they capture with humane treatment, her promises that they would not be harmed, each a lie that build her frustration until she tosses a gun at the screen.

Aimi remains still as glass rains over her. She feels none of the cuts as her mind races, AMDO is far from what she believed.

“Aimi!” Tosen said, “Where is the intruder?”

“They are heading for the cells. You can reach them if you head there now, but you won’t beat him. It’s best we let them do as they wish.”

“Absolutely not. Chika, bring the experimental weapons. If we lose anymore then we will be in trouble.”

“Trouble?” Aimi said, “If their plan is to leave without causing trouble outside, is there really a problem?”

“Aimi, do you believe they only appear here? Nothing is more important than maintaining our position near the peak of this world’s power. Come on, we’ll need you as well.”

Aimi nods, allowing the five captains to go on without her. She leaves the room, not following the captains but heading towards another of their deepest floors.

Second to last of the deep floors is the research center. Aimi avoided the floor, understanding that magic is harvested here. She fooled herself into believing the old harvests were the worst of it, but it has been years since she ventured into the realm of their scientist.

A group of ten guards protects the door; their role is to remain in position at all times, even with the danger tearing though the building at the moment. Most would struggle gain access inside, but Aimi only receives salutes as she walks past the guards.

Now inside, Aimi waves a scientist over.

“H-hello. Are we going to be alright?” The scientist said as they covered their head due to the building shaking.

“I don’t know. It’s been some time since I have toured this area. May I ask, were our requests ever met?”

“Your request?”

“Yes. Five years ago, we asked that you find a different way to harvest their magic, or not to do it all.”

“Oh. Well. It did change.” The scientist steps away until he is grabbed by Aimi, “Ow! You’re hurting me.” He said as he picked at Aimi’s hand.

“What has been going on here?”

“I’ll tell you! Please let go first!”

Aimi pushes the doctor towards the labs. His walk is slow as he leads Aimi to the first door on the right.

“We have a new method. But all that is different is that our harvest is much more efficient. We believe we gather at minimum 80% of what they carry.”

Inside is a large tube with the body of a man inside. Much of the body is decomposed, kept together only by the fluid they rest in.

“Why are they still in there?”

“We believe it may be possible for them to create more. And, some of us research their bodies.”

“What else?”

“Ms. Aimi. I understand that you are vehemently against hurting them. I urge that you not go deeper into our labs.”

“Show me.”

The next lab is a well-lit space. There are multiple tables with weapons sitting inside, though Aimi is only thankful for the lack of bodies. The development of weapons means little to her, but those lying on the table are unlike any the soldiers carry at the moment.

“New weapons? Have they diverted your efforts towards weapons more effective against those with magic?” Aimi said as she picked up a rifle.

“In a sense, yes. Not just those with magic however, against anyone.”

“Hm?” Aimi drops the weapon, wiping her hands on her pants as she stares at the rifle resting on the floor.

The rifle resembles a standard issue given to their soldiers, the differences only apparent when within reach. Much of the weapon has the skin of a person stitched onto it. And, near the center of the stock is something that resembles a beating heart.

“What is that?”

“An experimental weapon.”

“Experimental?! That, is that…”

“Yes. The heart of one of those captured. We have found a way to keep their heart alive, much of it inside the stock. Their skin allows magic to be stored and acts like a conduit to transfer it into the chamber.”

Aimi drops to her knee and barfs. A fit of coughs follows as she struggles to catch her breath, her eyes never leave the gun but it is the blur caused by tears that give her a respite from the disgusting creation.

“How could you make something like that? What part of that is meant for the protection of our people?”

“Ms. Aimi, our role is to remain powerful. Others are doing the same, we are doing what we can to keep an advantage.”

“Disgusting. They are people as well.”

“Invaders. Dangerous. You have an honorable goal of protecting everyone, we are here to arm you with all that is needed for that purpose. We share the same desire after all. Aimi?” The scientist steps back, the eyes looking his way resemble that which he has seen many times during his experiments.

This time, however, they are no restraints between them.

“Run!”

Their last words, the scientist falls to the ground after a bullet pierces their skull. The shot is never heard by the guards outside the thick walls and doors of the floor. Not the first, or those that follow.

Aimi rides the elevator to the top floor of AMDO. All of the leaders of the organization have an office on the floor; they will choose to bunker within the well-fortified rooms of the floor as Cato continues to ravage the building.

The shaking stopped some time ago; another danger has the soldiers of AMDO in a frenzy.

Blood drips from Aimi’s clothes and hands. She rests against the wall of the elevator as she recovers from a twenty-minute-long blackout. She came to in a lab full of bodies, that of scientist and guards. The prolonged battle ended with her victory, but her right leg shakes as she places weight on it and her hands are sore.

“My head hurts.” Aimi said as she exited the elevator onto the top floor.

“Who goes there?!” Higaraki peers from his office with his gun raised. The only combat trained person on the floor, he lowers his weapons as Aimi walks towards him, “Good grief, what is going on down there? Have we neutralized the threat?”

“Not yet. There are a couple left I believe.”

“A couple? There were more?”

“Yes. Many more. I never thought they were this many, or that any of you would allow this to happen. All that I have been fighting for is a lie.”

“What? Aimi, what are you saying?”

“Higaraki, did you order them to create weapons?”

“I see. You saw what was inside the labs. I suggest you not let it bother you; it is necessary for the safety of our people.”

“Is that what you tell everyone?”

“It is the truth. Is your conviction wavering?”

“If the protection of our people requires the torturing of another, then we are no better than the threats we protect against.”

“Then what do you suggest? Allow magic to invade and kill us all?”

“I don’t know.” Aimi’s voice cracks, “I don’t know the answer. It is dangerous. But they are people. That gun I held, the skin grafted onto it had the tattoo of someone I captured. I told them they wouldn’t be harmed, that if we found a way to send them back we would.”

“That is… unfortunate. But you have no answer, we must do what we can.”

“No. No at the cost we pay, this can no longer continue.”

“Aimi.” Higaraki raises his weapon, his arm soon falling to the ground, “Gahhhh!”

Higaraki slams against the wall, another kick from Aimi forcing him to the ground. As he gasps for air, he looks for his weapon. His detached arm still holds the only chance for survival he has. His attempt to crawl fails, collapsing as even adrenaline cannot help him move after his hip and ribs have been shattered.

“Aimi.”

“Quiet. You’ll alert the others.” Aimi said.

“You’ve gone mad.”

“I believe the opposite. Goodbye sir. Rest assured, I will protect our people.”

Aimi steps forward, stumbling to her knees which gives Higaraki a final chance to survive. As Aimi falls, he attempts to lift himself. His desperate effort removes his bodies natural restraints, but even that is not enough to fight against the might of someone in AMDO’s armor. She slams his body down, kneeling on his back before reaching for the kill.

Aimi snaps Higaraki’s neck, killing her first target and eliciting worried movements from the next. The entirety of AMDO has been corrupted, it falls to her to take responsibility.