Take Down Chapter 37: Pulled In Different Directions

“No need to rush into any decision. First let’s get Goha back, then we can talk about the future,” Mirio said encouragingly, “don’t worry, I’ll be with you all the way, I won’t let anything happen to you and if anyone stands in my way… I’ll Pants them.”

You had just taken a sip of your drink and you cough laughed with it in your mouth, sending it up the back of your throat and out your nose.

“Woah!” Mirio laughed, grabbing for a napkin so that he could hand it to you while you continued to cough and laugh with him chuckling along as well.

“You’re trying to kill me,” you choked out with a smile, wiping your face down then cleaning the table.

“I promise I’m not. That’s the furthest thing I’d ever want to do to you,” Mirio said with a bright smile, “your happiness is the closest thing to my heart.” He touched his hand to his chest and gave you a tender look.

“This would be a whole lot more romantic if I didn’t have drink snot hanging from my nose,” you said with an embarrassed laugh.

“Really? I find the drink snot attractive,” Mirio joked, “If you want I can phase right here to make my clothes fall off, would that make you feel better?”

“No!” you gasped with eyes wide, “please don’t, I-It’s not because of your body or anything but just…. social norms dictate the presence of adequate clothing in a public space.”

“….. Is that a science term?”

“No. Please, don’t take your clothes off.”

“Ok, if you insist,” he replied with a grin, making you laugh at what a innocent weirdo he is.

…………………………….

Back at the lab, Hansu, was already creating a device that he was going to use to be able to ‘capture’ Goha once Hawks had tracked him down.

“If I can connect some type of empty USB to Goha’s shell (body) when we’ve found them then I can isolate them and they can’t hurt anyone else until Y/N and I decided what we want to do,” he thought as he rummaged through drawers and pulled out parts and equipment he would need, “although. Maybe I should just do this by myself because Y/N has forgotten the main objective here.”

He scowled and pushed his glasses further up onto his nose as he opened a file on the computer and plugged the USB into the side of it then started coding to create some kind of software that would ‘hold’ Goha inside the USB- like some cyber pokeball.

“Goha could be re-written. I could use them somehow…” Hansu thought as he set the computer up to run its own auto analysis then turned away to make a little earpiece device that he would use to conceal the USB, “I don’t know how I would get Y/N to hand over the rights to Goha but maybe she would do it anyway because she doesn’t seem to be interested in the AI project at all anymore.”

He continued to busy himself, getting ready before you and Mirio were due to return in the afternoon, and in no time he had made a small device that he was going to use to plug into Goha’s headset once the rouge AI had been found.

“I’m ready to take you down, Goha, you’re ass is mine,” he thought with a smirk as he sat back in his chair and reached up to run his fingers through his grey hair, “you won’t even know what hit you.”

…………………………………

You felt better after talking with Mirio and after the hours lunch break was up you went back home to rest for a bit before heading into the office to dive in game again.

“It will be exciting to be interviewed in a game. Migata is very well known so there will be a lot of hype around it I’m sure. I’ll also get to show off my new class too!” You thought as you lay down on your bed and stared up at the ceiling your thoughts shifting from the in-game interview to real life and what your future held, “….could I really move to another job?” Your mind wandered, creating ideas of what a life without being the head of the robotics department would be like and in no time you had drifted off to sleep.

Mid-dream you heard an annoying noise- like a phone was ringing, but you couldn’t find it to turn the damn thing off. Enraged you woke up to find that the ringing phone in your dream was actually your phone in real life and you grabbed it and answered.

“Yeah?” you croaked as you pressed the phone to your ear.

“Where are you?” the voice of Hansu asked, “you’re supposed to be here. Mirio is here, we’ve been calling you.”

“Shit,” you groaned, sitting up and swinging your legs off the bed and walking to your bedroom door, “fell asleep. Be there soon.”

“Bye,” Hansu said then hung up.

“Ugh man! I wanted to get there a little earlier to talk to Hansu but I’ll do it afterwards I guess.”

In record time you got yourself together and ran for the door, eager to dive again with Mirio.

……………………………

“Sorry! I’m here,” you apologized as you stumbled through the office door, “ok, let’s go!”

You smiled warmly at Mirio who was sitting on the exam bed waiting with headset in hands for you to hop up onto your bed across from his so you could dive together.

“Mirio told me about the interview. Is that today?” Hansu asked.

You looked from Mirio to your gray haired assistant and immediately noticed the small device hooked over his ear.

“What’s that?” you asked him, pointing to the device and ignoring his question completely.

“I’m trialing a new piece of equipment for RFO,” Hansu lied, “more streamline. I’ll let you try it once I’ve ironed out the kinks.”

“Ok,” you replied with a shrug, “and yes the interview is today. I think?”

Mirio nodded, “you’ll get to see the main city on level 1 today- Dawn city.”

“Is that where it’s being held?” you asked.

“Yep,” he replied with a smile, “and it’s the first level in the game so everyone can access it. I have a feeling the interview will be a big event.”

You smiled excitedly and hopped up onto the bed opposite Mirio then lay down and let Hansu put the gear on you.

Once he had finished you looked across at Mirio and smiled.

“Link start!” you called excitedly, your body being sucked into the game and you awoke next to Migata on the lounge in Butterfli3 and O/N’s house

<<< Take Down Chapter 36: A Different Life

Take Down Chapter 38: Dawn City >>>