AGG: Rise: Assault Order’s Regular Life

Assault Order’s Regular Life

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 1750

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I need no sleep; therefore, I have much time to enjoy.

Li Song says it’s important to sleep, to rest the mind, but I find experiencing human culture more important. 

Especially since I do not know what will become of me after everything is settled.

So, I go against his very nice advice every night, and meet with my minders to the other side of the Cradle.

“Hello, good evening.” The young human in the nondescript vehicle sits up straighter when I address him. There is fear in his eyes for a second, before he calms himself and clears his throat, while lowering the window with one hand and deactivating the camera feed of the drone that followed me the moment, I left the room I was given. “I would like to go to the Moscow Arcology.”

“Miss, uhm, I don’t know who you are, but you shouldn’t be out so late at night.” The line is delivered very well, but he is not as convincing as Li Song. Thus, I have no trouble simply replying to his attempt to persuade. “Why don’t you go back—

“I want to try borscht and I do not want to trouble you, so I am telling you to take me there. Otherwise, you will be in trouble for losing me.” The Cradle is large for a human, especially without any functioning trains or transports. However, such is not the case for me. I can be wherever I wished in the Cradle within a few minutes without breaking anything on my journey. Moments, if I didn’t care. “I also want to try Chicken Kiev and Beef Stroganoff, because they also sound delicious.”

The young human was able to reply, perhaps to continue feigning that he was not watching me, until a chirp resounded through the cabin and the audio systems activated on their own.

“Agent, your mission is now to escort Assault Order.” The voice was familiar to me, but also different. It must be an offshoot of the AI in the Preservers Communicators. I had my own Communicator, which they used to track me and contact me, but it did not have an AI. It is too bad, because I would’ve liked to have a friend who I can speak to at all times. It would be very neat. “Assault Order, you have been allotted extra funds for your current endeavor, under the condition that you visit a single shop.”

“Okay, what is the shop?” I opened the door behind the driver’s seat and listened to the AI as the vehicle activated. The engine was completely silent, and my camera could not take pictures of it, but the insides were very firm and rubbery. It was not very nice to sit on, unlike the “gaming” chair I purchased. THAT was very comfy and I liked to sit on it very much, even though I knew not what “gaming” meant without a VR dive or in an Arcade. “Will I get to eat something there?”

“Unfortunately, no, but you’ll have more to spend on other foods.” The reasoning was acceptable, so I accepted, despite my disappointment. “It is winter garments store. One where you can purchase clothes similar to what you own now. Of course, whatever you get shall be paid for by the Soviet Union.”

“My wardrobe is empty, so I can fit many clothes. Does the Soviet Union know this?”

“I am sure that the Soviet Union will be very pleased, if your entire wardrobe came from them.”

There is something here that I did not understand.

Why would others be happy if I filled my closet with clothes at their expense?

Humans are strange, but I will not argue, as I would like more clothes. Even if they are poorly made clothes, I would be happy looking upon a full closet. If they are better, comfier clothes than what I have, then I will be ecstatic, perhaps to the point where I shall sing the praises of those who gave them to me.

Hmmm, that might be what the Soviet Union wants, but they will have to give me very nice clothes to get it.

I must convey this fact to make sure nothing bad occurs.

“If they want my praise, the clothes must be very comfy.” I conveyed my thoughts to the AI. The Driver coughed a few times, until clearing his throat again. He was surprised by my words, probably because he expected me to be scarier. However, I am not scary to anyone who I mustn’t fight. That includes almost all of humanity. “The whole closet must be comfy.”

The AI did not speak for a moment, before gentle laughter left the speakers, and conveyed her thoughts. 

“The store has been changed and said it is guaranteed to be the one with the best, warmest, and softest clothes in all of Moscow.” 

“If that is true, then I will be very happy and praise the store very much.”

“And, I’m sure that would make the Union happy and praise you too, Assault. Now, take care of yourself, and try to be kind to Stephen here, okay?”

“I am a very nice girl.”

“You sure are.”

…

I visited the clothing store of the Soviet Union first. 

According the Li Song, the Soviet Union is a communist state, which once opposed many other countries in the world before all unified to fight against the Chimera. It is difficult to remember all the history and politics, but I know that the Arcologies made everyone much happier, and allowed it to become a place where all earned the same wages for their work. 

How, I did not know, but the humans in the Arcology seemed very happy.

Children were having snowball fights in the street. Elders spoke with one another over hot tea and rolls, while snowflakes fell lightly around them. Couples walked with each other arm in arm. There were also many Drones using homunculi bodies and spending time with their human counterparts. They compose many of the couples. 

It is very different from Tokyo, louder and with romance much more obvious, but it is just as nice.

And, the food is much better.

“Well, you’re enjoying yourself.” Stephen takes the seat next to me with his own table. I’d believed he’d requested his own table since there would be no room for his own meal upon mine. However, such was the case. All he was having was a stout bottle of beer and a pork cutlet. I stared at him in horror. “What?”

“Why are you not eating more?” The food in Moscow is delicious. The Chicken Kiev is fried chicken filled with butter and herbs. The stroganoff is pasta laden with cream, beef, and mushrooms. The borscht is… a disappointment of a soup, lacking in any meat whatsoever, but still tasty enough to finish. However, unlike the other two, I have only ordered it once. “Is there something wrong with your stomach?”

“Yes. I am a mere human being, so this fills me up.” I ignored the roll of his eyes and his fancy, elegant gesture towards his food.

“How horrible. So much amazing food exists, yet you can only eat that much for every meal? And, you are mortal. You will die before trying everything that is delicious.” A human’s existence is so cruel. They cannot eat their fill without hurting themselves? I would weep, if my circumstances were the same. Just thinking of only eating one bowl of stroganoff, never attempting to eat it together with the Chicken Kiev atop, and doing so again after finding it delicious sent chills down my spine. “How do you continue to exist knowing that?”

“…You’re serious. You’re really serious. There wasn’t a single joke in any of those sentences.” 

“Why would I joke about something so horrible? Would you like me to buy you something to make your life more tolerable, Agent Stephen?” 

“Assault Order, I derive pleasures from other things besides eating. My hobbies are different from yours. I prefer piloting on my off time, and collecting pictures of landmarks, instead of filling myself with food.”

Ah, I see. Not all are driven by the same drives as others. Li Song explained this to me very kindly, and I’d understood that was why he fought against my creator, but that advice was true here as well. The notion was as strange this time as it was the last time, I encountered it. 

Truly, humans are strange… but there’s now that there’s no need for me to worry about Agent Stephen, I can eat without guilt!

Hooray for humanity’s differences!

…

I entered my room, blinked, and greeted my companion.

“Oh, hi Tacky!”

“Do not “oh, hi” me, Assault! You spent another night gorging yourself with food and providing information to our foes!”

“Yes. I did.”

“That… that was very irresponsible of you, especially when the final duel is quickly approaching!” He fumed and paced in my room, and I put my bags on the floor, before riffling through them all. I made sure everything was in its place, before taking one and holding it towards my brother. “What’s this? Some sort of tribute made to you in exchange for your loyalty?”

“It is very tasty food that I want everyone to enjoy, even our Creator.” I had it all packed correctly, so that everything will be nice, warm, and crispy. While I enjoyed the beef stroganoff very much, it’s taste is very strong and very filling. It wouldn’t be to Tacky or creator’s tastes at all, and everyone else liked anything, so it was fine. “I made sure to pick something you would like this time.”

“…very well, then. There’s no reason to refuse this, especially since it won’t sway our hearts in the slightest.” He hesitated for a second, before shaking his head taking the bag. His ire faded away easily, as he looked upon me and the rest of the bag. “I see that they have provided you goodly garments. Did they ask you for anything in return?”

“No, just what I thought about them. They were nice, so I said they were nice.” 

“Good. That is fine.” Tacky huffed a moment, before looking at the clothes with a more approving glare. Then, he looked upon my new coat, and gave swift nod. “It is very nice and you look good in it, sister.”

Then, with that last word, he returned to our creator.

Just as he always did every night I chose to travel instead of sleep.