Shinigami
Administrator
The central command center is abuzz with scientists. Hundreds of monitors remain the only lightsource within the crowded and dark room. Upon these screens, scene after scene of the day's events unfold on loop. At small desks, surrounded by screens and monitors of their own, scientists type and calculate, program and code. Like a hive of hornets they buzz around, one collective mind. They focus on their footage, gathered from around the various surveillance cameras planted throughout the Seireitei. Their recordings and streams are observed meticulously, making sure no minor detail is amiss, that the raw data collected here today would remain forever in the lexicon of the Research and Development Department.
“Barrier down, breached by CC.”
A monotone voice calls out to the head of the command center, observing the scene at the Kuchiki Manor as it unfolds.
“Established visual on Artifact, in possession of C10. Follow?”
“Negative, prioritize assets.”
“Assets in possession of CC.”
Suddenly, a bright red bar comes across a majority of the screen. The large black Kanji flashing amidst the red LED reads:
Proximity Alert: Main Gate
A small section of Shinigami stop their typing to turn and seek direction.
“Sir, C2 has arrived at the main gate. Should I let th-”
“Lost visual of Assets and CC!”
The room suddenly goes quiet. The suspense in the air becoming palpable. Sweat drips from the head operator's brow, as every Shinigami scientist in the room swivels in their chairs to face him. None know how to proceed, they have no way of tracking the Commander’s movements, as they just recently discovered.
“Can we follow the Asset’s energy signi-”
“There are none sir….”
“So where the hell did he-”
Suddenly, a muffled and static voice breaks through the silence, coming from one of the many monitors. It displays an enraged Captain Mukuro, standing before the Main Gate of the Twelfth Division.
“YOU IDIOTS THE COMMANDER SENT ME HERE!”
No one remains still now. The entire room has burst into a frenzy. Red alert. Red lights flood the room, as papers and documents go flying into the air. Like madmen, the shinigami Scientists rush to deliver orders, send messages down the line. The Commander sent him, so the Commander must be coming here. The entire Twelfth division suddenly bursts with activity. Every individual firing off at every cylinder, literally sprinting to their posts.
“We’ve got a Code Purple! Code Purple! Everyone to your stations Now!”
“NOW FUCKING OPEN UP BEFORE I-”
BZZZZZZZZZ
The massive gate opens up, revealing a perfectly immaculate Twelfth Division. It is as though all of the hustling and bustling never occurred. A welcome party of researchers await the enraged Captain with smiles and closed eyes. Accompanying them, are three strange machines, clearly some newly fashioned suspended animation pods. Each pod has a team of thirty scientists, some tinkering with various dials, others writing strange recordings into tablets made of Reishi. The Scientists are obviously already in the know, and far too enthusiastic about the arrival of the “assets”. Their eagerness to work on these new playthings borders on aggressive, poorly hidden behind their friendly demeanor. They are so focused on presenting themselves as happy and hospitable hosts, that they forget to greet their guest.
“Cough, Cough, HACK!”
One researcher breaks the silence. He would be considered odd looking, if it weren't for the company he kept. If anything, it's a relief that the attention fell on this sickly man, as he appears to be relatively normal and down to earth. Despite the fact that he is currently tinkering with a pair of pliers deep into a prosthetic eye. Still, he pays no attention to his fidgeting, as he greets the Captain.
“Hey there Captain, you uh...you said the Commander sent you?”
SLAM
SLAM
SLAM
Without warning, every window, every door, is suddenly sealed shut with an iron shudder. The entire institute is engulfed in darkness for a moment, as a loud voice booms over the speakers.
INTRUDER ALERT!
The backup generator kicks in, as red lights illuminate the main entrance’s courtyard. With their eerie red glow, comes a fateful shadow. The silhouette of a massive figure stands directly in the middle of the welcome party, causing many to gasp in horror and retaliate by jumping back. Hardly the Second Division, these scientists and researchers fail to draw their weapons, and some trip over their own feet and attempt to crawl away.
“INTRUDER ALE-”
CRACK
The Speaker suddenly concaves within itself, crushed by some unseen hand. Red lights flickering on then off. There is a moment, a silence. Appearing with no warning or indication, as he had before, the Commander allows those present to regain themselves, before finally speaking.
“Nyūraku Kurotsuchi”
The Commander calls out a specific name. The name of a scientist some may consider forgettable amidst the plethora of specialists found within the Twelfth Division. Nyūraku stands with the welcoming party, his arms folded, a genuine and welcoming smile across his closed-eyed face. He does not appear shocked at all, rather he appears as though he’s simply happy to be included. Not even a high seated shinigami, it is a miracle the Captain even knows the man’s name, let alone picked him out of the line up, and chose him specifically. Then again, it’s rumored that the Commander is familiar with the names of every Shinigami that serves beneath him.
The Commander, not acknowledging Captain Mukuro, drops the limp bodies of Captain Oda, Lieutenant Yugure, and Arashi Suta. They fall like dead weight with a heavy thud onto the floor. There they lay limp in a pile, as though a series of discarded rags, their blood staining the sanitized white tiles of the Institution. However, Shobatsu seems to pay them no mind. He does not turn his head to face anyone, but rather looks forward into the horizon as he speaks.
“You have two months to save the lives of these Shinigami. If their affliction has not been stabilized by then, I will return to execute them myself. Failure is not an option for your Division. I leave this task in your hands.”
The shudder slides open, bathing the courtyard once more in natural moonlight and fresh air. Having realized who their guest is, the security division of the RnD institute are quick to correct their error, and return the Twelfth Division into a more hospitalic atmosphere.
“During this time you will prepare living arrangements for Captain Mukuro and one Katsuo Oda. You are also granted exclusive access to any assets that remain within the Kuchiki Compound, this includes the corpses of those who have fallen.”
TAP
The Commander’s cane gently taps against the white tiles, and he turns to face the entrance. He takes a step, then another, walking casually, appropriately slow for his age.
“That is all.”
Without needing to hear a word of response, the Commander calmly walks towards the entrance. The main gate begins to slide open once more, as the Captain patiently strolls outside. His stride takes him past Captain Mukuro, and the moment their bodies are parallel, time seems to slow down. The Commander speaks directly to Captain Mukuro, his tone unfamiliar to the assassin. It is no different than the emotionless and authoritative tone he always speaks in, and yet there is a nuance to it only discernible by the most intuitive perceptors.
“She will live. She is Safe. You are dismissed.”
With his final words spoken, and the day's events having reached their end, Captain Commander Shobatsu Murasaki takes his leave, and embarks on a peaceful stroll back to Central Seireitei.
It is a calm and quiet night.
