Chapter 2: Fatal Obsession

- Daily Life -

Written by: The Masked Eidolon

Edited by: No one, fuckers!!!

.

.

I finished off my second cup of tea and went to town on a lox bagel with cream cheese and capers. I heard that salmon was good for the brain, which was great since I needed to be at peak mental capacity today.

First off, I would need to find a way to avoid mentioning my theory at Kuro's morning meeting. I already had a few ideas on how to go about this, but they all involved some kind of risk.

Second, I would need to identify where Michi kept her motive pamphlet. She couldn't destroy it thanks to Monocavy's 14th rule, so hiding it somewhere is the only way to keep it safe.

Then, after I've found its location, I'd need to cook up a plan to take it, Ocean's Eleven style. If I got caught in the act, she would no doubt kill me on the spot to protect her identity. And I wasn't about to let that happen, so a nice, hearty salmon breakfast was essential.

Oh, and the taste certainly didn't hurt either.

As I was finishing up the last bites of the bagel, I noticed someone else walking into the dining hall. Chaos. He had a serious expression on his face as he adjusted his collar, which meant that he was ready for business.

Eden: Hey, Chaos. You're a morning lark, too?

Chaos jerked his head in my direction, caught off guard. When he saw me, he gave a light grin.

Chaos: Yeah, always have been. I'm surprised you're not a night owl, though.

I snickered.

Eden: Looks can be deceiving. By the way, what's the plan for today's morning meeting?

Chaos: We're going over the items on the second floor. It's been completely scouted out by now, so briefing everyone on what's there should help the group.

Eden: Sounds good.

Chaos nodded as he sat down and unwrapped a pre-made breakfast sandwich from the fridge. He then took a big bite out of it, causing some of its contents to spill down onto his plate.

Eden: ...

Should I try to convince him to bring up the mole theory? If he did, it would save my ass while being congruent with what I told Michi an hour ago. But on the other hand, if he appeared to be too much of a threat, then he would almost certainly be killed... if not by Michi herself, then by the mastermind's machinations.

Should I take that risk if it could lead to Chaos' death?

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

No... not for Chaos, at least. He's far too valuable to the group alive, and I already placed him in the hot seat enough with my earlier comment.

I sighed.

I'm gonna have to use the other method.

There's about a 50% chance I sign my life away doing this, but I'm kind of desensitized to death threats by now.

Over the next few minutes, each student began to arrive in the dining hall, one by one. I made myself another lox bagel and nibbled on it to pass the time, but a tap on the shoulder startled me and I bit down into my tongue.

I started tasting the pungent iron of my blood as I looked over at the offender; Michi, of course, because who else would it be; and then she sat down next to me.

Michi: Ooh, what's that? Smoked salmon?

I gave her a glare.

Eden: Lox.

Michi's eyes lit up.

Michi: I see. I've always been more of a gravlax person myself, but on occasion I don't mind the bold simplicity of a lox bagel. Mind if I have a piece?

Eden: ...

Eden: Sure...

I cut her a slice of the bagel and she picked it up, smiling.

Michi: Thanks.

Michi then began to slowly savor the chunk of bread and fish, all the while looking like she was on cloud nine.

Eden: ...

What on earth is she so sprightly about? This blockhead just gave me a concrete method to out her identity an hour ago, and now she's yapping about gravlax and the nuances of cured salmon. She can't possibly be this clueless, can she?

Eden: ...

Wait, maybe showing me the pamphlet is precisely why Michi's in such a good mood. From the beginning, she said she wanted me to try and defeat her, but that's a very tall order without anything to work off of. So she may have figured the motive pamphlet was an easy ticket to the battle she's been looking for...

Almost as if she sensed that I figured something out, Michi popped the rest of the bread in her mouth, gave me a quick smirk, and then turned her attention to the rest of the group.

I quietly scoffed.

If she really had the arrogance to purposely give herself an opening like this, she was just going to regret it a hundred times more when it leads to her downfall. Our feud might just be a game to her, but the consequences for losing are immeasurable. I'm going to remind her of that very soon.

After a few more seconds passed, Kuro finally arrived at the dining hall and triumphantly stood right next to Chaos at the head of the table.

Kuro began to make a drumroll on the table with his hands and everyone else quieted down.

Kuro: Ah, what a delightful second morning of my leadership! Monocavy may act like the top dog of this bunker with his motive pamphlets and machine guns, but make no mistake, I am the one in charge here!

Kuro then looked around the room to see if Monocavy would respond, then went back to addressing the class.

Kuro: Everyone, go ahead and give me a big "thank you" for the job I've done so far!

All of us looked around at each other, slightly uncomfortable. Kuro didn't seem to notice and kept jabbering on.

Kuro: Ready? We'll start in three, two, one...

Kuro then pointed at us and grinned.

Insert: Uh... thank you...?

Fdeys: Thanks...

Jiren: Thank you very much, Kuro "Him" "The Elephant" Ouji-sama!

Yuki: ...

Michi: ...

Lgp: ...

Chaos leaned in and whispered to Kuro.

Chaos: Hey, do we really have to do this? I think it'd be better to just get to the point...

Kuro: Why, of course you do!

Kuro gave Chaos a dramatic point.

Kuro: It's a subject's job to be grateful to their leader! Especially when it's me!

He then turned to the rest of the group and crossed his arms.

Kuro: I know you can do better than that, everyone! Go on and thank me!

Everyone: ...

Everyone: Thank you, Kuro...!

Kuro let out a satisfied exhale and plopped down on his seat.

Kuro: Finally! Sheesh.

He snapped a few times and pointed at Chaos again.

Kuro: Say, Chaos. What do our lackeys have to report?

Chaos: I was just about to ask our classmates what they found.

Chaos turned in Vysko's direction.

Chaos: Vysko and Dark. You two were definitely paired up, what did you guys find?

Vysko: We were in charge of searching the new clinic. It had a lot of miscellaneous stuff like bandages, blood packets, and medicine, along with the syringes used to administer it. I'm guessing Monocavy doesn't want us to catch some disease and die without being murdered.

Dark: It also had a lot of drugs if ya wanna get hammered. But me personally, I'd stay away from that.

There's a rudimentary clinic here, huh? Maybe we could use it to stop potential murders.

Eden: Is there anything in there that could save you from a stab wound?

Vysko: No, there is not. Blood transfusions could potentially help, but the packets weren't marked with a specific blood type, so using them is gambling with your life.

I frowned.

Eden: I see. Well, thanks for the info.

Vysko: No problem.

Chaos gestured to the next pair of students.

Chaos: Yuki and Insert, I saw you two together. What area did you explore?

Insert balled his fists and grimaced.

Insert: We explored... the game room.

Yuki put on a youthful grin.

Yuki: Heh! Still mad you got reverse swept in foosball, Insert?

Insert: I had you dead to rights! If you hadn't kicked me in the shin every time you were about to get scored on, you would've lost!

Yuki: I don't know man, sounds like a skill issue to me.

Insert's scowl suddenly morphed into a cocky grin.

Insert: Let's have a rematch, then. Public. With everyone watching so you don't cheat.

Yuki: ...!

Yuki matched his coy smile.

Yuki: I'll consider it... if you give me fifty dollars.

Kuro slammed down on the table with his fist.

Kuro: Enough yap! What did you two find? Tell me!

Yuki: Alright, alright, we will. Jeez. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

Insert's expression returned to normal.

Insert: I mean, did we really find anything useful? It's a game room, to be fair. There's not much of anything there besides arcade machines and board games.

Yuki lowered her voice.

Yuki: Actually, did we even look...? I think we may have gotten too wrapped up in that foosball match...

Insert: Uh...

Chaos: ...

Kuro: ...

Eden: ...

These idiots...

Kuro leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and he was not happy.

Kuro: Unbelievable. You're telling me you two didn't even complete your jobs? Your very simple jobs?

Insert: ...

Insert: Uhm... I mean...

Yuki held her hands up.

Yuki: In our defense... it's a game room, what were we supposed to look for? Chess pieces that we could whittle down into shivs?

Kuro: No, you ignoramus! You were supposed to look for anything that could get us out of here! There's tech in that room, right? Maybe something could've been used to talk to the outside world!

Insert and Yuki both looked at each other with thousand-yard stares.

Kuro: Instead, you two decided to engage in vast amounts of nincompoopery! This is the very antithesis of the based way you all should be acting!

Chaos: It's alright, Kuro. We can check out the game room as a team after this meeting, and give those two some reminders on what needs to be done.

Kuro waved his hands frantically.

Kuro: No, no! They need to learn a lesson, somehow! There needs to be some kind of consequence...

Insert: ...

Yuki: ...

Kuro furiously pointed at the foosball duo.

Kuro: You two! Insert, Yuki! You're not allowed in the game room for... a month!

Insert: ...

Yuki snorted.

Yuki: Okay, mom.

Kuro cupped his hand around his ear.

Kuro: What was that?

Yuki: ...

Yuki slowly frowned as she realized Kuro wasn't joking around.

Yuki: Okay...

Yuki: ...

Yuki: Boss Kuro...

Kuro then stared down Insert.

Insert: ...

Insert: Ok, Boss Kuro.

Kuro then returned to his normal sitting position, satisfied.

Kuro: There. Now that that's over with, who's next on our list?

Everyone stayed silent for a few seconds out of uneasiness. Up until now, it was an unspoken rule that all of us were basically equals, even if one or two people were leading the discussions. But now that this guy was acting like a wannabe dictator and doling out punishments, who knew how far he was going to take things? His current penalty for Insert and Yuki was small, but so was their offense. If things keep escalating further and further, there may come a point where the people rebel against him...

Kuro snapped everyone out of their trance with a few claps.

Kuro: Well? Who's next?

Chaos straightened himself and took a sip of his water.

Chaos: Avi and Cosmos, you two were partners, right?

Avi nodded.

Avi: Yeah, we checked out the Songwriter lab. It was pretty disappointing, not gonna lie.

Cosmos: Don't say that. There was a lot of cool stuff in there you can use for your songs. Instruments, synth boards, and even some radios for inspiration listening...

Avi: The songs I write won't get airplay if I'm dead... if it's not getting me out of here, it's junk.

Vysko: Hold on a minute, Avi.

Vysko turned to face the group.

Vysko: Would anyone here know how to rewire a radio to send out transmissions? If so, we could use them to contact the outside world.

Before anyone else could say anything, Yuki spoke up.

Yuki: No, that's not possible. You can't just rewire a radio and make it communicate both ways. That's not how it works.

Vysko: Why not?

Yuki: Because you'd need both a microphone and a transmitter module to add to the original thing. Both of which we probably don't have.

Yuki rested her head on the table and gave us a cheeky smile.

Yuki: Trust me on this one. I used to make signal jammers in my backyard all the time, so I know what I'm talking about.

Cosmos: Isn't that... illegal?

Yuki: Yeah, so what? It's not like the cops can hear us from this place. And even if they did, we're all Ultimates. They won't prosecute.

Eden: ...

Eden: Is that how you managed to stall our network's information systems?

Yuki laughed.

Yuki: Mmm-hm!

I sighed.

Eden: I'm gonna report you once we get out of here.

Yuki pouted.

Yuki: Snitch!

Chaos cleared his throat.

Chaos: Moving on, who checked out the Reviewer lab?

Jiren raised his hand and pointed at Oof.

Jiren: Us two!

Oof: We didn't find much except typewriters and printers and shit. We couldn't cook.

Chaos: Anything else?

Jiren and Oof both shrugged at the same time.

Jiren: There was simply nothing worth renting out.

Kuro: ...

Chaos: Well, alright then. Onto the last pair, Michi and Fdeys. What did you find?

Fdeys sighed.

Fdeys: Sorry, but we found jack. We went into the Linguist lab and there was nothing but language textbooks.

Chaos looked a little hurt.

Chaos: Really? That's all there was?

Michi: Yup. Not a single other item.

Chaos slowly facepalmed, muttering under his breath. I managed to hear a stray "pendejo" and "сука блять," but couldn't decipher anything else.

Eden: Is that everyone? Because there's something I'd like to share as well if we're all done.

Chaos took his hand away from his face and looked at me.

Chaos: No, not yet. Me and Lgp checked out the Landlord lab, and unlike everyone else, we actually did find something useful.

Chaos turned over to Lgp.

Chaos: Mind telling everyone what it was?

Lgp: Sure thing. Other than all the household objects in the lab, there were two security cameras in there, ready to use and each connected to their own output tablet. Me and Chaos put one of them in the bladed weapons room here on the first floor, and the other in the new blunt weapons room on the second floor.

Chaos: Hear that, Oof? You don't have to guard those rooms anymore.

Oof gave Chaos a salute.

Oof: Appreciate it.

Chaos let out a worried sigh.

Chaos: Unfortunately... there's a catch to all of this. The supplies on the second floor replenish every day at 5:00 AM, so two more security cameras would've been restocked today. But me and Lgp only found one when we headed down this morning. That means someone here staked out the place and grabbed a security camera in secret. I don't know what on God's green earth they're doing with it, but it can't be good.

I instinctively looked over at Michi and she looked back at me with a blank stare, although she couldn't stop the faintest hint of a smile from corrupting the edges of her lips. So she definitely took the camera. This probably has something to do with her giddy mood earlier, but what? What could she possibly be planning to do with a random security camera?

I pushed the worries out of my mind for now, because my classmates were already theorizing on what the camera was going to be used for.

Jiren: Maybe they're going to set it up in their dorm, so that they'll know if anyone enters their room!

Cosmos: That doesn't make any sense. Simply being in your dorm would give the same information.

Jiren: Ahhhh, right! You always make the best contributions, Cosmos!

Cosmos: ...

Fdeys: They could be aimin' to put it in someone else's room, to spy on them and know when's the right time to strike.

Yuki: And you think no one's gonna notice a big-ass camera at the top of their dorm? Think again, beefbrain!

Vysko: It doesn't have to be at the top of their dorm, you know. It could achieve the same job underneath a bed or desk...

Insert: But then all you'd see is the underside of some furniture.

Chaos suddenly raised his voice a notch.

Chaos: Guys, calm down. It doesn't matter what the culprit is planning to do with the camera, alright.

Avi: Why not...?

Chaos: Because we're never gonna know why they took it. So the best thing we can do is keep our guard up, simple as that.

Chaos looked around the room.

Chaos: Got it?

Everyone: Got it!

Chaos: Mmkay. So, with our leader's permission, we should be able to end our meeting now.

Kuro shook his head and opened his mouth to speak, but I did it before him.

Eden: I actually have one final theory to propose, if that's all right with everyone.

Kuro eyed me approvingly and closed his mouth.

Michi also eyed me, but with suspicion in her gaze.

I ignored her and pressed forward, ready to enact my plan.

Chaos: Yeah, that's no problem, Eden. Go ahead.

I stood up and put both my hands on the table.

Eden: I think that one of us could be an undercover mole working for Monocavy.

Everyone in the room looked around at each other, entertaining the possibility of a mole, but likely confused on why I brought this up. About the reaction I expected. The only exceptions were Vysko and Dark, who were looking directly at me with disapproval in their eyes. They didn't fully understand what I was up to here, though.

I glanced over at Michi, who was playing it cool, but the slight smile I saw on her face before was completely gone. She was unprepared for this move on my end, and now she was rattled. Good. Let her be scared for a little bit.

Cosmos scowled, not seeming too happy with this new theory of mine.

Cosmos: What reason do you have to believe this?

Eden: Simple. If you take a look around this bunker, there's not any cameras to be seen. If that's the case, then how is Monocavy supposed to keep tabs on us? The answer, I'm afraid, is a mole.

Avi furrowed her brow at me.

Avi: You know, I'm all for expecting the worst, Eden. But this is just wrong. There are sixteen students accepted into the academy every year, and we started out this game with sixteen people. There's no room for a mole.

Eden: We lost our memories of our school years. Who's to say that the mastermind didn't kill one of us before the game began in order to implant his mole?

Everyone around the room quieted down.

Eden: Knowing Monocavy, it's certainly a possibility.

After a few seconds passed and my words sunk in, Insert was the first one to speak up.

Insert: I mean, I'd really hate to suspect our group... and I'd especially hate to suspect... uh...

Insert meekly turned his head away from Yuki.

Insert: B-but you gotta admit, Eden has a point!

Fdeys: Yeah, I've had this on the back o' my mind too. I don't think it's that likely, but we shouldn't rule out the possibility.

Jiren took a deep breath through his nose.

Jiren: Mm. I can smell the scent of someone who hasn't paid their rent. It's a distinct, metallic aroma with sprinkles of rosemary and coriander. If you work in real estate, you can't miss it. And I smell it here.

Cosmos balled her fists and lurched forward in her chair.

Cosmos: No! Everyone, this is unacceptable! Why are we starting this discussion up again after Monocavy has put us through so much? Unity is the best way to stand against him, and we can't have that if we distrust each other...!

Eden: Then how would you explain the camera situation, Cosmos?

Cosmos: I would explain it by looking at Monocavy's machine guns that can just pop out of concrete walls. His cameras could be tucked in there too, you know?

Eden: But then... you'd only be able to see the wall?

I chuckled a little.

Eden: Cosmos, you don't need to grasp at straws.

Cosmos: There are X-Ray goggles in the Sniper laboratory. It's really not a stretch to think that these cameras could be X-Ray, too.

Eden: ...!

I contorted my face in surprise.

Cosmos sighed.

Cosmos: Did you really not even think of that before making such a wild claim about a mole?

Eden: Well... to be honest, it didn't quite occur to me...

Cosmos let out another, even bigger sigh, and started massaging her temples.

Cosmos: Please, think about your hunches before you bring them up at our meetings, Eden. Sowing distrust between us is the last thing we need to do...

Eden: Yeah, alright... Sorry about that.

Jiren: Well said, Cosmos! Very well said! Every day I-

Cosmos glared at Jiren with the fury of ten suns, and he proceeded to quiet down.

Chaos: Is that all from you, Eden?

Eden: Yeah, that's all.

I sat back down in my chair and tried my hardest to hold in the ear-to-ear grin that was fighting to creep across my face. Because everything just went exactly according to plan.

By bringing up the mole theory at this morning meeting, but making a bad argument and letting Cosmos walk all over me, I ended up discrediting the theory rather than propagating it. This allowed me to both follow Kuro's orders and avoid increasing public suspicion on Michi. The best of both worlds.

I turned my head towards Michi, who just seemed confused as to why I did what I did. In response, I let the sneer fully take over my face and gave her a short wink, then turned away from her for the rest of the morning. She probably got the message.

Chaos: Does anyone else want to bring something up?

Nobody raised their hands or their voices.

Chaos looked over at Kuro.

Chaos: Well then, I think we can end the meeting.

Kuro nodded.

Kuro: Yes. As long as all of you understand not to shirk your jobs...

Kuro glanced across the room a few times, eyes darting from person to person.

Kuro: Then this meeting is officially dismissed!

.

.

After a nice, productive breakfast meeting with the class, I jumped back onto my dorm's bed for a much needed rest. The next order of business would be finding out where Michi is hiding her motive pamphlet, and then swiping it from her when she least expects it.

She kept it in her pocket during our conversation over tea, but it wasn't there during the meeting with Kuro. Makes sense, because she probably doesn't want to get pickpocketed. That begs the question, though, where would she hide it?

I doubt it would be slipped down the hatch in her room, because that would make the pamphlet unreachable for me and take away her enjoyment of our battle. I also doubt that she'd put it anywhere that's not in her room, because there's no way to ensure someone else doesn't just accidentally stumble onto it. So, it makes the most sense that it would be somewhere in her room, guarded by some kind of lockbox... and maybe even the camera she stole.

I mean, if you think about it, what else would she be using that thing for?

Deep in thought, I got off my bed and started pacing around my room. If Michi was using the camera to guard her pamphlet, the first thing I'd need to do is get my hands on one of the X-Ray goggles in the Sniper lab to see how things are situated. After that, I could come up with my infiltration plan.

Settling on a plan of action, I walked over to my door and put my hand on the knob when I heard someone crash to the floor right outside my dorm.

???: Fuck!

Eden: ...

I'd recognize that voice anywhere...

Opening my door, I was met with the rather unpleasant sight of Yuki picking herself up from a fall right outside my room. She was wearing one of the X-Ray goggles I was planning on picking up myself, no doubt to spy on me for whatever reason. Maybe she was trying to kill me? Who knows.

Eden: What are you doing, Yuki?

Yuki: ...

Yuki: Ungh... This is such a sorry state for me to be in.

She took the goggles off her eyes and wore them around her neck like a pendant.

Eden: Answer my question.

Yuki: Isn't it obvious what I was doing? I was trying to leak your secret! Duh! Why else would I be spying on you in your dorm?

Eden: I can think of another reason.

Yuki squinted her eyes and leered at me.

Yuki: You'd really take me for a killer? That's cold, even for you.

Eden: Whatever.

I closed the door to my room and brushed past her.

Eden: Just stay out of my way, will you? I have things to do.

Unfortunately, she began to follow me down the hallway.

Yuki: Wait! Can I at least have a peek at your motive pamphlet?

Eden: No.

Yuki: Please?

Eden: No.

Yuki: Pretty please?

Eden: No. Stop asking.

Yuki sighed.

Yuki: Then, can you just tell me who's secret you have? I want to make sure I'm not going after the wrong one, at least...

I stopped walking.

Eden: Wrong one? I thought you were going for mine.

Yuki: Yeah, I'm going after your secret. Not your pamphlet.

Eden: ...

Huh. She's going after my secret. And she doesn't know who has it...

Yuki: What, did you think I was just going after the unlucky schmuck who happened to be in your pamphlet? Nah, man, I'm going after you! Heh, heh...!

A smirk began to creep across my face.

I can "tell her" that Michiru has my secret.

And then Yuki can do my dirty work for me.

That way, there's no risk on my end.

I suddenly swiveled around to face my petty rival.

Eden: Is that a challenge, Yuki?

Yuki: You'd best believe it is.

Eden: Then how about this: if you can beat me in a match of foosball, best of three, then I'll let you look at my motive pamphlet. Deal?

Yuki's eyes lit up.

Yuki: Foosball...? Oh-ho-ho! Mr. Vice President thinks he's got the sauce today, hmm? That's a deal. You'd better guard your shins!

With that being said, Yuki trotted off across the hallway and towards the arcade room, ready to face me in a game of tabletop soccer. Was she ready to enter the other, deadlier game that I'm about to force upon her?

No, she's not.

But she's been a thorn in my side for so long that she shouldn't be surprised when I finally rip it out.

And then jam it straight into my enemy's heart.

Free Time - Start!

.

.

Surviving Students (14/16):

.

Eden - Ultimate Screenwriter

Vysko - Ultimate Collector

Michi - Ultimate Desperado

Kuro - Ultimate Reviewer

Dark - Ultimate Author

Fdeys - Ultimate Weightlifter

Jiren - Ultimate Landlord

Cosmos - Ultimate Therapist

Styk - Ultimate Sniper

Chaos - Ultimate Linguist

Dreamer - Ultimate Mime

Insert - Ultimate Fighter

Oof - Ultimate Chef

Yuki - Ultimate Script Leaker

Lgp - Ultimate Zookeeper

Avi - Ultimate Songwriter

.

To be continued...