I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 728

"…Didn’t you clearly say that teaching me wouldn't be worth the trouble in many ways...?"

"Well, that’s true. But I said that because we didn’t have time. When there’s plenty of time, it’s a different story, you brat. Having the company commander teach you alone would be a waste of time in its own way."

"…Yes, understood."

At ten o'clock in the morning, with the increasingly harsh sunlight lazily brightening the window of the dormitory, Rapland's subdued voice could be heard through the dense aroma of coffee.

On days with no missions, the Dagger Team was this relaxed and easygoing. By now, Rapland should have been getting used to it, but she found herself still feeling strangely out of place in this scene. Strangely, too, repeatedly.

The gap between the way things had appeared on the screen when she worked as an operations officer and what was happening here was dramatically different... but this dry explanation couldn't fully capture her emotions.

That is…

"Ugh, I feel dizzy... I slept too much."

"Don’t you think it's a bit much to walk around without a bra and just wearing a shirt and underwear with that violent body of yours, Logan?"

"You don't have to say it so indirectly, I’ll make sure not to touch you, you brat."

"You're out of your mind."

Such bizarre things were happening constantly in the Alpha-class mutant dormitory.

If Rapland were asked whether she had gotten used to being in a woman's body, she might respond with something like "I still don’t know"—but still, continuously witnessing these scenes, which caused her heart to drop in several ways... well, it wasn't exactly something she could get used to.

Thinking that, Rapland shook her head, but unfortunately, her tail was already wagging behind her. It was a fate of the canine species that emotions couldn’t be hidden.

Logan, who had been quietly watching, grinned.

"What’s up? You’re having weird thoughts again, aren’t you?"

"Isn’t it a bit harsh to apply such strict standards when you’re showing it so openly, Logan?"

"…Alright, alright. Just wear it. Honestly, I’m too embarrassed to wear a bra."

"Your mind’s gone out the window, thinking it’s less embarrassing to walk around like that than wearing underwear."

A few more offhand comments were exchanged, and Logan began grumbling while putting on his underwear.

In fact, the root cause of this bizarre scene was simply the fact that the gender of the testosterone-filled special forces member, who could proudly display their body, had suddenly switched to the opposite.

Though now a woman, someone who had once been extremely proud of their body, covering its curves and structure, had become a woman, and still with overwhelming physical abilities. Despite that, nothing about her actions had changed.

As a result, "skin-only" women had emerged.

But conversely, those whose actions had changed, or who had realized they were women through some means, could never go back.

Rapland, who had only recently escaped Riker Island, had to repeatedly remind herself that her body had changed. Even after arriving at Central Park, she was still not connected to combat. Her barely acquired position as a trainee operations officer was a clear sign.

'…At this rate, I won’t even be able to relay the orders…'

From the moment Rapland began staying at the Alpha-class mutant dormitory, things that were too complicated or difficult to transmit through the Icarus Gear were delivered through her own voice.

While the Dagger Team was roaming Syracuse, Central Park had been drafting and executing various measures that must not be disclosed to the outside, one of which had to be relayed specifically to the Dagger Team.

Though she didn’t know what they would be hearing, she was well aware that she needed to tell them when and where they had to go.

Of course, the recent scene almost made her forget that.

She forced herself to focus and, shaking off the vision still lingering in her mind, began to explain where the Dagger Team needed to go today.

A brief silence followed, and the mutants perched on their beds before speaking.

"I don’t have a clue what you’re trying to say."

"I don’t think you’re planning to send us far away... Anyway, it seems like the kind of thing we can only understand when we hear it in person. We’ve been in Syracuse for quite a while, so higher-ups must have made some decisions."

"I hope it’s not related to any operations. We just got back, and we need rest."

"We’ll find out once we listen, right?"

"Yeah, the rookie should get dressed and get ready."

That was a relief.

Rapland subtly looked around at the Dagger Team. The issue of the "Dagger Team’s intense training," which might have been waiting for her, naturally disappeared.

She was at the point where she had just completed basic military training, and on top of that, there was a mountain of things she still had to study as an operations officer.

Of course, if asked, she wouldn't be unable to do it, but there was this nagging worry, as one of them had put it, about not being able to catch up with the Dagger Team’s training.

Though she wasn’t particularly curious, she knew she would eventually find out.

Rapland thought this to herself as she shook her head.

"What’s this? Is this about the establishment of an additional task force? I guess this is the time to discuss it if not now. I wonder if we really need to call the Dagger Team for it."

"Olivia, weren't you going to make a reconnaissance team with that guy? Maybe it's something like that."

"It could be, but it probably isn’t the only thing. If it were, you could have just given me a heads-up."

"Well, we’ll find out when we go. Let’s get ready."

"…"

At least, had Olivia not openly mentioned why the Dagger Team was gathering, Rapland wouldn't have reacted this way.

Rapland’s eyes widened. Her gray eyes sparkled, but Olivia didn’t seem to care at all. Rapland quickly realized that it was because Olivia had the confidence that she would end up under her command anyway.

Rapland was momentarily stunned, but Olivia added dismissively.

"Should we take him with us?"

"Stop joking, Olivia. It’ll be a while before we can make use of that guy in the field."

"…Well, that’s true. I guess the creation of a separate task force is more likely now. I guess we’re the most experienced in the field, so they’re probably looking to us for advice on creation and operations."

"That’s probably the most likely. Right now, Central Park has no one to rely on but us."

That wasn’t wrong.

At this point, the Dagger Team was the only proxy for the military power of Central Park and the U.S. government. Having successfully carried out operations that seemed impossible, seeking advice seemed only natural.

While Rapland struggled to process the overwhelming amount of information in her head, the Dagger Team continued discussing what advice they should give to the task force being created.

Many opinions were exchanged, but the common theme that came up was one thing.

Luck.

"Some of the successful operations so far were a matter of luck, and honestly, without mutants, some situations might have been impossible to get through."

"Like the Volbox and Titan. Shooting mortars, grenades, or rockets with rifles is roughly the same. There are so many unexpected situations that it's a problem."

"It’s going to get worse. We don’t know what might happen."

"So, to prepare for that… task forces are one thing, but support officers and conventional firearms that can be deployed immediately are essential. Have laser-shooting drones been developed yet?"

"Well, maybe someday."

Rattle, whoosh.

As the four quickly suited up, as if the sluggish behavior from earlier had been a lie, once again, Rapland found herself facing the possibility of being left behind.

But it wasn’t a huge problem. After all, she was about to move to the shooting range with the 107th Military Police Company, and she knew well enough that there was nothing for her to do here.

Since the Dagger Team had just returned from a mission the day before, their wake-up time had been quite relaxed, and Rapland felt incredibly refreshed compared to usual.

At least for now, it felt like she was going with the Dagger Team.

"When you get back, your clothes will smell like gunpowder. That’s a sign you’re growing."

"…Yes."

"By the way, the average special forces member fires at least several hundred thousand rounds. Keep up."

"…"

Could she even catch up with that?

More importantly, if they weren’t shooting at the enemy but just using shooting practice to burn through hundreds of thousands of rounds, she couldn’t even imagine how angry the logistics officer would be. But, well, since these people were saying it, she had no choice but to believe them.

Thinking that, Rapland nodded, and soon the Dagger Team's direction diverged from hers.

Some were going to get covered in the smell of gunpowder.

Some were going to hear where Central Park was heading.:

"Let’s get to the conclusion. You all… Task Force Dagger, in the event that any members from another task force or even the entire task force defect, you are assigned the role of executing them. Understood?"

"…Execution, you say?"

"One defense contractor has fully betrayed the country, and more and more of the first deployment personnel are becoming unreachable. HQ is preparing for the possibility that even operators who received the Icarus Gear could betray us."

"…"

"Did you understand?"

Meanwhile, mere minutes after Task Force Dagger entered the room, they were met with a shocking revelation that made them question their ears.

"…Starting with the prediction of a task force defection, huh. That’s quite… an unexpected statement."

"Did it seem like that? Sadly, this isn't a prediction, it's the stark reality. HQ seems overly concerned. The direction of their worries might be a bit off though."

"…"

At that moment, Task Force Dagger fell silent.

The silence was immediately understood. The Dagger Team, in that moment, realized from their experience why HQ had no choice but to make such a decision. They suddenly found themselves looking at their hands. Hands stained endlessly with the blood of defectors.

It wasn’t PTSD. They were more than ready to stain their hands with more blood. However, they had momentarily forgotten that this was evidence of why Central Park had chosen such an option.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t surprising that the Dagger Team expressed discomfort.

"If that’s the case, why not just attach a bomb to the clock?"

"Stop joking. What HQ wants isn’t control or surveillance, but preparing for the worst-case scenario. Even if those two are just a paper-thin difference, someone has to bear the least bad option."

"…Is that so?"

"And judging by the fact that you’re not showing any further reaction after being told directly, it seems you all… understand the necessity of the option I just mentioned quite well."

Once again, silence fell.

It was a direct hit. Understanding and accepting were two entirely different matters, but at least the moment they understood, they were over halfway there.

The eleven members exchanged glances freely and then nodded.

Despite the difficulty in accepting it, the fact remained that, within HQ, those with the most advanced and specialized combat knowledge instinctively understood the necessity of the matter.

In short, it was this:

"…It’s been only a little more than half a year since the Omega Virus incident broke out, but in that time, countless things have happened… and in cases like this, only the worst-case scenario you anticipated is the one that actually happens."

"Just like you said. And as mentioned, unprecedented crises require unprecedented solutions. HQ believes, based on several months of experience, that you all could be that… solution."

"Maybe that’s true."

"But unlike Task Force Dagger, who have already proven their achievements, no one knows what will happen with the task force that will be created in the future."

What were they trying to say?

While Task Force Dagger wore strange expressions, the high-ranking official who had summoned them made a separate gesture with his fingers, and at that moment, someone entered the room, which was supposed to be only for Dagger Team and government personnel.

A relatively ordinary appearance. On his chest was the name "Jordan D. Royden," and beside it, the words "DARPA Senior Researcher."

It didn’t take long for him to sit down and open his mouth.

"Greetings. I am Jordan Royden, Senior Researcher at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It’s not something to brag about, but I’ve been responsible for a significant part of the Icarus Gear and its functionality development."

"Nice to meet you. So, you're the one who saved Task Force Dagger."

"Glad to hear that. Anyway, let’s get to the point. The data I’m about to share with you is crucial, a fail-safe switch for both you and HQ, and it is classified as highly confidential, so please keep that in mind."

"…"

As a researcher, he seemed to have no problem casually discussing such important matters.

While thinking that, he tapped the table with his fingers, and at that moment, a hologram was projected onto the wall. It didn’t take long for the eleven pairs of eyes to focus on the screen.

The first thing that appeared was the Greek alphabet—Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Eta…

Among them, Task Force Dagger was listed under Delta.

The explanation continued.

"Until now, only the most important developers of the Icarus Gear know that it has energy grades."

"Is that so?"

"As you might have guessed, the higher the energy grade, the more functions the gear can perform. It can even easily replicate physical enhancements. However…"

"…That sounds like it could have quite a significant impact on the body."

"Exactly."

A brief silence.

Although the impact on the body was broadly mentioned, its meaning was clear. No one in the room was unaware of the side effects the mutants had faced when they first wore the Icarus Gear.

The higher the energy grade, the more tremendous the burden on the body—no one could fail to make that connection.

The explanation continued.

"As the grade increases, the energy shield capacity grows, and physical enhancements also become possible. This is because you’ve all been wearing the Icarus Gear for a long time."

"From the way you’re talking, it sounds like the task force that’s about to be formed won’t have that. I understand now why it’s called a fail-safe switch."

"I’m glad you catch on quickly. According to the catalog specs, you won’t ever be outdone by any other task force. That’s all I can share for now."

"…So, does that mean the more we wear it, the higher the grade can go?"

"That’s probably the case."

The word "probably."

Instead of asking further questions, Task Force Dagger chose to remain silent, while Jordan Royden pointed at the Lambda grade with his finger.

"From here on, simulations are impossible. From the Epsilon grade and above… we’re not sure, but you won’t need to maintain human form anymore. You’ll shed that form entirely."

"…That’s the most shocking thing I’ve heard today."

"The higher the grade, the more the Icarus Gear will replace all physical activities and internal mechanisms with electrical signals, and ultimately… well, I can’t be certain about what will happen beyond that."

A moment of silence.

And then someone spoke.

"I came here thinking I’d be hearing what we need to do next, but I didn’t expect to be hearing that we’re planning to stop being human."

How should they take this?

One thing was certain: the silence that followed lasted quite a long time.

It wasn’t until 10 seconds later that Jordan Royden hastily continued his explanation.