Chapter Text
Heels clicked against the polished floor of one of the numerous hallways of the Minos Bureau of Crisis Control. Familiar teal hair framed the sharp features of the ever-reliable second-in-command. Nightingale stopped before an unassuming steel door, barely paying attention to the name on the adjacent wall, and knocked firmly three times.
“Chief? It’s Adjutant Nightingale. Are you still asleep?”
There was no response. Nightingale glanced at her device - eight-thirty in the morning - three hours more than her superior’s usual waking time. The morning assembly was an hour ago, and the latter had missed it. Chief Elysia, or simply Chief to most people, always kept up with the routine unless she got caught in another mission. The briefing for the first assignment would be in thirty minutes from now; most of the Sinners to be dispatched had already arrived in the conference room.
“Chief, is everything alright?”
The adjutant tried again, a little louder this time. She hid the worry from her voice; she knew that her commanding officer had been running herself ragged again this past week. Last night was especially grueling. Nightingale only heard bits and pieces from the Sinners involved, but it seemed the Chief had gotten hit with a Mania-charged attack from one of their targets. There were no visible injuries from what she had glimpsed upon their return, but a proper medical checkup had to wait in favor of rest.
Nightingale knocked again. “Chief? Chief Elysia? If you’re alright, please answer. If not,” She hesitated. It was a last resort; she would never dare to disrespect the other woman’s right to privacy. However, if something was wrong…. “I apologize, but I will have to come in.”
The teal-haired woman waited a full minute to be either turned away or invited inside, to no avail. The person on the other side remained silent. With a heavy sigh, she tapped a few keys on the authenticator device beside the door and tapped her identification card. The door split and slid open with a hiss, and she stepped in reluctantly.
The room was bigger than the rest of the crew’s, but the layout was nearly the same. Before the current Chief, codenamed ‘SHEPHERD13’, woke up prematurely from her sleep, the place was empty, save for the standard furniture and equipment that furnished other living quarters. Months after she took office, various knickknacks added color and life to the otherwise dull and stifling environment. The adjutant recognized some of Hecate’s sketches, a knitted beanie from Hella, a flower bouquet arranged weekly by the former Garden members, and even a statue gifted by Enfer. There was even a shield at one corner, whether from Cinnabar, Demon, or Rahu, she could not tell. Other presents seemed out of place but were still important and well-cared for.
Nightingale let her gaze stray longer before focusing on the blanketed lump in the middle of the king-sized bed. She quietly approached, not wanting to startle her superior of her presence. “Chief?”
The figure wriggled slightly but did not emerge from its covers. The adjutant did not want to disturb the other person’s fitful rest, but there was a lot of work to be done. She reached out, touched the fabric, and shook her. She did it gently and carefully so as not to surprise the other woman and get unintentionally slammed by the Shackles.
“Chief, it’s time to wake up. The Sinners are waiting for you.”
Now that Nightingale looked closely, the Chief appeared smaller. Even if the latter was curled tightly in her sleep, her petite form seemed tinier than it was supposed to be. There was a groan - higher in pitch - and a small grumbling voice. It was one that definitely did not belong to her commanding officer.
“Noooo. Don’t wanna….”
The teal-haired woman froze from where she was standing. Chilling dread crept along her spine as those words - that voice - reached her ears. Too small. Too young. Not Chief’s. The body lock was only momentary as years of training kicked in. The adjutant was used to dealing with strange and dangerous scenarios, given that it was part of her job and that the reckless and headstrong Chief would flirt and dance with Death nearly every day.
So, Nightingale did what she was supposed to: breathe, shoot down fear, and act promptly before the situation spiraled out of control. Whether it was a Sinner or an unknown intruder, she must move swiftly for the safety of the Chief and everyone within the MBCC. With one hand, she pulled out her gun from its holster and, with the other, gripped the thick blanket. Her weapon clicked, ready to fire, and she pointed it to the hidden figure. It remained still, oblivious to the barrel pointed at it.
“Chief,” The adjutant’s warm voice was gone, replaced with frigid cold. It was a silent warning - the last chance for surrender. “It’s time to wake up.”
There was no waiting; the fabric was torn off in one smooth motion, unlike the tension in the air. There was no struggle, shouts, or gunfire, just the covers falling into a heap on the floor. The second-in-command, who was prepared to arrest the impostor, stiffened not at the non-resistance but at the sight that welcomed her. Words lodged themselves in her throat as the awaiting madness finally revealed itself.
“What in the world...?”
A child - a little girl no more than five years old was nestled in a fetal position in the center of the bed. Oversized pajamas nearly swallowed her tiny frame. Waist-length hair, the color of storm clouds, radiated like a dark halo against the white sheet. The small, round face scrunched into a frown but did not wake.
The teal-haired woman was at a loss for words. The barrel of her gun dipped as her grip faltered. What was a child doing here? Where was Chief? Her eyes flicked toward the curtains, and she hurried to check the windows. The sunlight allowed her to see the surroundings better, but there was no sign of unlawful entry. Not even a fight had occurred. Everything seemed to be in order. Then, how?
The adjutant put down her weapon and reached for her communication device. The line connected almost immediately, but she did not wait for the confirmation. “This is Adjutant Nightingale. Put the entire bureau in lockdown and send an investigative team here in Chief’s quarters. This is an emergency! Chief is missing. I repeat! Chief is -”
“Mommy…?”
Nightingale paused abruptly and snapped her head in the direction of the voice. The little girl swayed as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyelids. She blinked at the harsh sunlight, mindlessly searching for the said person. The latter nearly stumbled when those platinum eyes met her gaze.
“...Chief?”
The resemblance was uncanny; it was like the adjutant was looking at the younger version of her commanding officer. There was no way she would mistake the other woman for another. Whether she wanted it or not, she had seen numerous pictures and reports. All was to ensure she was well-informed of who she would serve.
However, the child before her was different and vulnerable. Her cheeks were round and full of baby fat, untouched by the daily physical exertion of running around to protect DisCity. Her wide eyes were innocent and untainted by the horrors of the ever-spreading Mania. This was Elysia, the famed and feared Chief of the Minos Bureau of Crisis Control, but at the same time, not. This was someone who had yet to grow and sharpen into the most effective weapon humanity created against Mania.
“You’re not Mommy,” The little girl frowned. “Who’re you? Where’s Mommy?”
“Adjutant?” The device buzzed on the said woman’s limp hand. “Is everything alright? Are you still there? Hey, hurry up! Get the investigative team immediately! Something might have happened to -”
“Wait.” Nightingale swallowed dryly. She pursed her lips, trying to keep her voice even. The child - the Chief was looking around anxiously for her parents. The confusion in her eyes had started to devolve into fear. “Put the bureau in lockdown, but don’t send the investigative team here yet. Instead, send three people from the medical team. Make sure not to include any Sinners. They must remain in their cells and not be informed about the situation.”
“What’s happening -”
“Just do as I say.”
The adjutant ended the call without another word. She gripped the window railing with a trembling hand as she tried to keep her balance. The morning sunlight suddenly seemed so bright that her head started to hurt. She had been in life-threatening situations and worried too much over her superior’s safety and well-being. But this? This was different.
“Mommy…?” A tiny voice whimpered. “Mommy? Daddy? Where are you?”
Nightingale tamped down the bitter taste on her tongue. Now was not the time to let emotions take over logic - she had to do something. She straightened and slowly approached the age-regressed Chief. Considering the latter failed to recognize her, it was safe to conclude that she did not have memories of her later years.
“Chief.”
The little girl ignored the older woman - the title bore no familiarity to her. The latter knelt beside the bed until she was at eye level. She had to look harmless so as not to frighten the kid more.
“Elysia.”
The child flinched at the sound of her name and turned to the adjutant with teary eyes. Nightingale smiled gently and lowered her voice to a soothing lull. Her occasional interactions with the young Sinners at her commanding officer’s behest were finally put to good use.
“It’s okay.”
A lie.
“Your parents have to go away for work. It won’t take long. They asked us to take care and play with you while they’re gone.”
Another lie.
The adjutant reached out an open palm. “My name is Nightingale. It’s nice to meet you.”
The young Chief stared at the offering. “Mommy and Daddy really said that? Y-You’re not lying?”
“Of course not. Why would I?”
“T-They always tell me if they’re going away.” Elysia stammered. “Grandma...Grandma plays with me, but… she’s gone. Mommy and Daddy said Grandpa took her far away to somewhere pretty and isn’t going to come back….” She sniffed. “I m-miss Grandma. I miss Mommy and Daddy.”
Nightingale winced. She had touched a sore spot for a little girl treasured by her family. So much for being informed. Still, she schooled her expression to kindness. She could not falter here. “I’m sure they miss you, too.” She assured her. “You will see them, I promise. It’s just for a few days. We’ll have lots of fun, okay?”
“R-Really? You...You promise?”
“Promise.” The teal-haired woman drew a familiar sign above her chest. “Cross my heart.”
“You can’t take that back!” The child exclaimed. “Only bad guys break promises! Daddy said so.”
“I know, and I really do promise.”
Elysia nodded slowly in understanding. “...O-Okay.” She clumsily wiped her wet cheeks with the sleeve of her nightshirt. “Okay.”
The adjutant smiled, reaching out to wipe the tears with her thumbs. She would not normally do this as it was improper, but the situation called for it. This might be the Chief, but she was now a child and must be carefully treated as such. The teal-haired woman only hoped whatever her commanding officer was afflicted with would not last long. They had to find a solution quickly. After all, the MBCC never had the luxury of time.
Hurried footsteps echoed faintly from the hallway, and the second-in-command felt her communicator vibrate. “Adjutant Nightingale. The medical team has arrived outside the Chief’s quarters. Permission to enter?”
“No need. I’ll be out in a bit.”
Nightingale stood up and turned her attention back to the young Chief. “We’re going to meet some people, okay? Don’t worry, they’re good people. They’re not going hurt you.”
Her de-aged superior nodded and spread her arms wide. Nightingale paused, wondering what was wrong until she saw the expectant look in those wide eyes.
Oh.
The adjutant slightly bent down and allowed a pair of tiny arms to wrap around her neck. Her arm slipped underneath the child’s rear as she gingerly adjusted the nightshirt-turned-dress around the latter’s fragile form. Elysia gripped at her uniform until wrinkles formed, but the older woman paid it no mind. They marched toward the door and into the fray of confused and astonished faces.
To say it was chaotic was an understatement. Nightingale was just glad she managed to keep a neutral face amidst it all.