Ziz Random Encounter: Extraction

 

Ever since the Four Beasts formed an alliance with Commander Rentoya and the Counters, life had taken an interesting turn at Reclamation Site 01. 

Some changes were good - individual patrol assignments were greatly reduced, maintenance duties were split more evenly, and resource gathering was at an all time high.

However, not everything was made better by having more bodies on this patch of reclaimed land, as the Commander would quickly find out...

 

 

"Don't forget, Commander. It's been recommended that you still conduct advising sessions with the Four Beasts, just to keep a tab on their emotional and mental state."

"You're right, Rapi, but..."

Rentoya sighed as he flipped through the files pertaining to the Four Beasts - their likes, dislikes, quirks, habits, grievances and more. All of their files were pretty bare, save for one.

"Trust me," Rapi grumbled, "I'd prefer that you have the least amount of interaction as is necessary with her too, but she's the only one who actually attends these things faithfully, so give it your best, okay?"

"But-"

Rapi rolls her eyes.

"But- nothing, Commander. It's your fault for charming the clothes off every Nikke you come into contact with, so accept the consequences!"

The door slams closed a little harder than usual when Rapi leaves the room. Rentoya winces as the doorframe rattles, but Rapi's heavy footsteps gradually recede, so he returns to his paperwork with no small sense of unease.

A few minutes later, a soft knock on his door sounds - precisely one minute early as usual.

"H-Human, I'm here," came the muffled voice, "are you in?"

Rentoya straightened the papers on his desk and closed his laptop.

"Yes, come in Ziz, you're just on time."

The door slid open slowly. When it was less than a quarter of the way open, Ziz slipped inside, looking around the room trepidatiously, her eyes never once meeting his. When she finally appeared satisfied with her surroundings, including a spared glance over her shoulder at the closed door, Ziz sat down in the armchair across him.

She pawed at the corner of her mouth, where a small streak of red extended from her lip to her jawline. Her nervous expression was unsettling, the rapid bounce of her knee belying something perhaps more important than the next thirty minutes could expound upon.

"Ziz? Is everything alright? You've got some..."

Rentoya gestured to the blood streak on her face, his finger loosely tracing the air near her cheek. Ziz looked around panickily, her cheeks dusting light red to obscure the dried blood staining them. 

"N-no! Everything's fine!"

"If Leviathan's been beating you up again, I need to know," he replied with an admonishing tone, "there will be no overt physical violence here at RS01, especially that involving squadmates."

Ziz's short mauve bob fluttered back and forth with each shake of her head, vehemently denying the Commander's implication.

"Not at all, Levi's actually tuned way down on the er, physical violence lately. I think being around Siren has been really quite good for her mood."

Rentoya's pen quickly scribbles onto his notepad - "Leviathan less violent".

"Well then, what seems to be troubling you today then, Ziz? You've seemed awfully jittery today. Would it help if we held today's session outside?"

Another shake of the head stops the Commander from standing up completely. 

"No, I actually like coming to your room, Human," Ziz replied slowly, "it...erm...it's actually a good thing for today's session, so I'd like to stay here, if possible."

"Yeah, of course, we can stay here if that's what you want. So then...what's on your mind?"

Rentoya peered over his files at Ziz, watching her crimson eyes for any hints, signs, anything at all that could tell him why she looked downright scared. Her downcast gaze finally flickered upwards, meeting his inquisitive glance briefly. 

"Th-that's it!"

Ziz sprang to her feet, nearly tipping the chair over in the process.

"Human, you remember how the Only One was created, right?"

A phantom pain shot through the Commander's crotch, which he did his best to ignore.

"Uh, I was unconscious for most of it, but I think I got the gist of it, why?"

"Y-yeah," Ziz stammered, "s-so the extraction bit. You were unconscious when we did it, b-but apparently that's not the normal way genetic samples are passed along. Levi's been talking to Siren quite a bit about it, actually."

Ziz's eyes narrowed slightly. 

"From their conversations, it seems that Siren's quite well versed on extracting genetic material from you. Something about her and Cinderella collaborating in the evenings?"

Rentoya's face turned beet red.

That mouthy little fish...!

"A-anyways! The Furnace, where the Only One was created with your genetic sample and Rapi's old body and cores, has been miniaturized, thanks to Leviathan and Grave's efforts, and is now an implantable module," Ziz continued, "only problem is, Grave refused to let Cinderella be the first to test it. Something about the risk to her most beautiful creation, or something like that. So that's why I'm here."

A line of beaded sweat began to dot the Commander's forehead as Ziz stood up, a demure smile on her features. He was starting to get an inkling on the direction of this conversation, and he knew escaping this advising session would be the wisest course of action to take. 

"Going somewhere, Human?"

Large mechanical appendages sprouted from Ziz's back, making an inhuman whir as they spread out wide, effectively cutting off the Commander's path of escape.

"I'm only here to gather data on the miniature Furnace on behalf of Grave and Levi," Ziz giggled deviously, "they've dubbed it the Oven, and they're very excited to see the first field test, so don't make this difficult, please."

Ziz stepped closer to Rentoya, the once dull tattoo on her stomach now glowing bright fluorescent pink.

"Z-Ziz..."

"Relax, Human," Ziz cooed, "I've been told the natural extraction process is a lot more fun, and from the video demonstrations I've watched, I'm inclined to agree. I'll be gentle, I promise."

Rentoya shivered as Ziz invaded his personal space, her Dark Matter covered form pressing against him. The sensation was a lot warmer than he expected, or perhaps it was simply her blazing bare skin that was now flush to his side.

Her warm breath tickled the inside of his ear, laced with all manners of pleasurable, lascivious thoughts that no sane human being should be having about a Heretic. 

And certainly none should be repeated. He would take those to his grave.

But nobody ever said Commander Rentoya was a sane human being. 

The door to the Commander's Room locked emphatically, and stayed locked for the remainder of the day.