Arc: 1
Chapter: 11
Part: 2

Liberators of Society

Eventually... I manage to wake up.

"There you go! Sorry about before."

"W-what...?"

"You got caught in the guy's mental attack, it covers a wide area, so it makes sense that you'd get hit by it. If only someone would have calculated such a possibility!"

As I regain my vision, I see five people in front of me. As my vision clears up, I realize that it's four people, and one corpse.

Somehow... I recognize all of them. But, I've only met one of these people before.

"It looks like you guys didn't need my help, huh?"

Aroha is obvious, but there are 3 others. An around 6ft tall black guy wearing a fur coat which had coat tails that went down to knee length.

"I wasn't aware that the enemy's ability forced Body's Mind onto anyone who was stressed within the hotel."

So that's why I couldn't defend myself...

"Sorry, Nash. Wait, why do I know your name?"

"My ability causes those who do not defend themselves within its radius to live through my personal trauma. In return, I have to also live through yours. If left unchecked, for too long, our minds could meld together."

"Wait, does that mean-"

"No, Isaac, I don't have access to any of your lost memories."

"But we do have a proposition for you.""

This guy, if I remember correctly, is named Hermes. He has white hair, and is wearing a hoodie and sunglasses. It's hard to distinguish any other physical features considering how much of him is covered up.

"II-~lIlll--~-I?"

She's...

I can't recall any information about that completely armored figure, other than that it's a she. Not that I could ask her much, everything she tries to say just comes out as incomprehensible whispers.

Immediately after she said... whatever she tried to say, Aroha's eyes widened.

"Everyone, get to cover, now!"

I feel the ground under me start to collapse! Aroha jumps towards me, grabs me, and braces for impact!

All I can focus on is the deafening sound of the entire hotel falling apart around me! Although that doesn't detract points from the violent shaking and the sharp, mangled pieces of wood trying desperately to pierce my skin!

Why do I get a strange semblance of deja vu?

Moments that felt like ages later, Aroha helps dig me and her out of the rubble. During this time, I activate Mind's Body, and figure out a few things.

The first is that the armored lady in Liberators of Society seems to not have any mental energy... at all. It's as if she was constantly in Body's Mind? I wonder if that armor she's wearing automatically activates it? The second thing I learned is that everyone else in the Liberators of Society seems to have fluxuating levels of mental energy. Although I already knew this about Aroha, it's nice to get a confirmation that it's not just her. Finally, there was one other person who's mental energy I sensed.

"Messa?! Is that you I feel?!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. Elizabeth really got out of hand with her ability."

"Is she okay...?"

"She's dead. One of the support beams impaled her as the building was collapsing."

 

...W-what?

"I..."

"It's not your fault, Isaac. She used her own ability to level the entire building out of spite due to the fact that one of her allies, likely her boyfriend, was killed."

"As I was saying! " Hermes piped up, "we have an offer for you, both of you, actually."

"Didn't ask, don't need it, go fuck yourself."

"Just Isacc, then. Would you like to join The Liberators of Society?"

"Excuse me, what?!" Messa's energy suddenly spikes!

What?! Everything's happening so fast! I... gotta calm everyone down!

"It's okay, Messa! Just calm down!"

"The hell did we do to you?""

"YOU KILLED MY WIFE!!!"

 

"A survivor? No wonder you're such a powerful Psynesis user," Hermes says, with no caution in his voice, "but you likely wouldn't win a one on one fight with any of us, and we're not letting you get an even matchup like that."

"Why do you want me in the Liberators of Society anyway? I'm just some kid!"

"Because we know you're a good person, with the will to get even stronger.""

"Given what you guys do, I don't know if..."

"You've probably only heard stories from outside sources. I'll explain everything from our perspective."

"If you give him any bullshit, I swea-"

Before Messa finishes his sentence, the armored lady had already snuck up from behind him, with her swiftly binding his limbs and mouth!

"Please, just let him make this decision alone. We won't lie to him, I promise."

Nash breathes in deeply, before starting his great speech.