Alex looked at the girls, and they looked back at him with clear surprise in their eyes. But Alex himself was also a bit surprised, as he had only recently told them about Yamato's ability to slice through space. He had even tried to demonstrate how a portal opened so that they would have no doubts.
Under their watchful eyes, Alex quickly changed into comfortable clothes and let GIR go, who immediately dashed to the kitchen for a milkshake to refresh himself after a day spent burning heretics' apartments.
Shaking his head, Alex thought with some irony that he knew exactly what GIR was up to and headed for the armchair, feeling the weight of his exhaustion. Under the watchful gaze of the girls, who tracked his every move, he finally sank into the chair, stretching out like an old man worn out by a long day and dealing with people.
«Phew, I'm so tired,» Alex murmured, settling in comfortably.
Leaning back, he closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than a bit of sleep. The last two days had been exhausting: first, a mission from Padre to eliminate members of the Maelstrom gang, who had turned out to be fanatics worshipping the avatar of an outer god. Upon returning, Alex encountered Yog—another outer god who had come to him for candy, and that conversation made him realize that his presence in this world was no coincidence.
Then he met with Hanako Arasaka to gather useful information, which only confirmed a possible connection between the Arasaka family and an outer god. The next day, Alex had to kidnap Tanaka to uncover more, and then he investigated the apartments of deceased researchers and netrunners. Only at the end of the day did he find enough clues to understand who was behind this game.
«And how long are you going to act like an old man?» Rebecca asked, climbing onto him.
Alex felt someone settling on him but didn't even open his eyes—only Rebecca would dare to do such a thing. Unlike the others, she enjoyed climbing onto his lap or hanging off him like a little koala. Hearing her teasing, Alex frowned slightly, knowing there was some truth to her words.
«I'm still in my prime,» he said, opening his eyes and, with a smile, grabbed her nose.
Rebecca batted his hand away, giving him an irritated look.
«In your prime? Then why is the first thing you did when you got back to sit in a chair and groan like an old man?» she said, starting to poke him in the nose.
Alex had no real argument. He had been pushing himself hard, and unlike in Orario, where the goddesses' help eased part of his burden, here he had to handle everything himself, all while being careful not to draw unnecessary attention. Besides, the Mechanical Man could control any city resident, and he himself had no physical body yet, making it nearly impossible to defeat him now.
«All right, if you say so,» Alex replied, not wanting to argue, and gently tugged on Rebecca's cheek.
The other girls, watching their playful bickering, just sighed or rolled their eyes. Lucy, tired of watching them engage in yet another childish scuffle, stepped in to stop them. She was more interested in what Alex had discovered during his investigation and had been patiently waiting for him to share, all while Rebecca continued to tease him.
«That's enough, you two. Tell us what you found out,» Lucy said, lifting Rebecca off his lap.
Rebecca immediately began to struggle, wanting to return to Alex—her favorite spot was always on his lap, and she even liked to sleep there. Seeing her resistance, Alex simply picked her up and placed her back on his lap.
She smiled triumphantly, resting her cheek against him and casting a defiant glance at Lucy, whose eye twitched slightly. Lucy decided to ignore Rebecca but was already planning her revenge in her mind: tonight, she wouldn't let Rebecca fall asleep on his lap.
«GIR will be back soon; he's recorded everything. Some things need to be seen, not just heard,» Alex said, patting Rebecca on the head.
Lucy nodded, giving Rebecca a quick glance and nudging her lightly with her foot before returning to her seat. Rebecca felt the nudge and, turning around, stuck her tongue out at Lucy, who just rolled her eyes, ignoring Rebecca's childish behavior.
A loud slurp sounded from the kitchen — GIR had finally made himself a milkshake and was heading to the living room. His small, quick steps and prolonged sipping noises soon reached the room. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he confidently made his way to his favorite cushion, where he loved to relax.
"GIR, not there — over here. We're not finished yet," Alex called out as GIR was just about to settle down on the cushion.
GIR turned around with a look of clear annoyance, realizing that Alex had deliberately waited until he got comfortable to call him over. Of course, Alex wasn't holding a grudge, nor did he remember that time when GIR laughed at his grenade that didn't go off immediately. GIR had just moved to the cushion too fast for Alex to call him back in time.
«Stop giving me that sulky look and come here. The day isn't over, and you're already getting cozy,» Alex said, looking at GIR like a boss scolding a lazy employee.
GIR glanced at his milkshake, briefly considering throwing it at Alex. But he quickly dismissed the idea, realizing that doing so would strip him of all his combat accessories. Instead of being the mighty Ultramarine, he'd end up as just a robot in a green dog suit. Alex caught his look, smirked, and added:
«Just try to throw that milkshake at me, and I'll take away all your weapons — and forget about any new gadgets. Say goodbye to the Thunder Hammer, Power Sword, and especially the Adeptus Astartes armor I've been designing for you,» Alex said, squinting.
GIR froze, staring at Alex in bewilderment, as if Alex had just betrayed him. Realizing that Alex wasn't joking, he quickly hid the milkshake behind his back and stepped up to the table, ready for further discussion.
«You're kind of harsh on him,» Rebecca whispered, smirking, and gave Alex a playful nip on the hand.
«He spoiled himself,» Alex teased with a smirk. «If you start acting the same way, I'll take away your toys, too.»
Rebecca shot him an offended look and bit his hand again in retaliation for threatening her beloved «babies» she had collected herself. Alex ignored it, knowing it was time to focus on the main task — sharing what he and GIR had discovered. Suddenly, he noticed one familiar face missing from the room.
«Where's that lazy little one?» Alex asked, looking around and realizing Valerie was absent.
«She went to finish her show in her room, saying our conversations were distracting her,» Gloria explained with a smile.
Alex shook his head, deciding it was just as well. Valerie didn't need to see what he was about to show. The footage from the investigation would be disturbing, and it was better for her to hear about it secondhand from the girls. GIR, now standing on the table, connected to the screen, ready to display what he and Alex had uncovered.
«All right, first subject — Silas Johnson, a researcher working on the lower levels of the Arasaka lab,» Alex began, displaying information about the first victim.
A photo of Silas appeared on the screen. The girls leaned in, studying it closely to better understand who he was. GIR began playing the recording, showing how they entered Silas's apartment. The walls were covered with strange bloody inscriptions and eerie images of creatures that seemed to stare into one's soul.
«What language is that, and who are these creatures?» Kiwi asked, a chill running down her spine at the sight.
«The language is tricky — it's an ancient dialect unknown to me. As for the creatures… they're likely spawn of the Primordial Chaos,» Alex replied, shaking his head.
Seeing that there were no further questions, Alex continued explaining his findings until he and GIR came upon Silas's room, where he had taken his own life with a gunshot to the head. Alex immediately anticipated the girls' question about what could have driven Silas to such an act and why he left those bloody symbols and images of monsters.
«It's the consequence of a mere mortal coming into contact with the power of an Outer God. This fool, Silas, was experimenting with a fragment of such power, which sealed his fate,» Alex said, preempting their questions.
The girls were puzzled — what could have driven him to that state if he was merely studying a small crystal Alex had taken from Arasaka? Alex realized they underestimated the dangers of Outer God power and decided to clarify.
«The power of such gods doesn't lie in brute strength but in how they affect reality: their very presence can distort it. Even a weak avatar with just a fraction of their power can drive people mad. These scientists were exposed to the shard for too long, which led to tragic consequences.»
«Is there a way to protect oneself from this power?» Lucy asked with interest.
«Yes. For centuries, people have summoned avatars of the Outer Gods. To avoid going insane, one must seal their soul and mind within a protective amulet created through a ritual. However, the stronger the avatar, the less effective such an amulet becomes,» Alex explained.
Lucy nodded, continuing to listen. On the recording, Alex and GIR were examining Silas's home but found nothing significant. At one point, Alex placed his hand on Silas's dead forehead, prompting questions from the girls.
«Why did you touch his head?» Gloria asked.
«I was trying to read his memories, but his brain had already turned to mush, and I couldn't find anything useful. Besides, someone erased all records of Silas,» Alex explained.
The girls exchanged glances, realizing that Alex could read people's memories, and stared at him intently.
«You can read minds? Why didn't I know that? What am I thinking right now? Tell me!» Rebecca shook him excitedly.
«I'm not a telepath; it's more complicated. Reading memories isn't the same as reading thoughts,» Alex smiled, trying to calm her down.
Rebecca froze, remembering how Alex often dragged out explanations. She sighed and asked, «Can you explain it briefly?»
«There are two ways to read memories: the first is through the brain, like I did just now, and the second is direct interaction with the soul,» he replied concisely.
Lucy nodded, intrigued by all this magic, and found herself wanting to learn it when she visited Alex's homeworld, where she could study magic. She remembered Alex mentioning an elf girl skilled in magic who could help her if she decided to pursue it.
When Kiwi asked if there could be consequences from such interference, Alex added:
«There can be. If a person agrees willingly, everything will be fine. But if memories are extracted forcefully, it's possible they could end up, well, like a vegetable. To put it simply, the first method is like carefully examining a tree, while the second is like ripping it out by the roots to study it.»
Kiwi nodded thoughtfully at Alex's response. Although his explanation seemed a bit complicated, she grasped the main point. Seeing there were no more questions, Alex continued his account of the investigation.
He glanced at GIR, hinting that it might be best if he didn't disclose what happened to Silas's apartment if he wanted to keep his new flamethrower. GIR caught Alex's look and nodded vigorously, indicating he wouldn't let him down — especially since he hadn't yet fully enjoyed his new weapon and unleashed a true firestorm.
After they examined Silas's apartment, the recording switched to Ayla Ward's small apartment, which reminded Gloria of her old place where she used to live with Alex. The first frames from Ayla's apartment showed her hanging in the center of the room. The girls were intrigued, as, unlike Silas's room, there were no bloody symbols or other creepy attributes. They decided not to interrupt Alex and waited to hear him out.
The screen showed a moment when Alex attempted to access Ayla's personal computer, reviewing her files and therapist's notes, prompting more questions from the girls.
«Why did the first guy's place look like a horror movie scene, and this one — like the owner just lost all hope?» Rebecca asked, looking up at Alex.
«To answer that, I need to explain how madness manifests under the influence of Outer Gods,» Alex began. «There are several ways it can develop. The first is like Silas's case, where under the influence of power, a person loses control, begins painting bloody symbols, and acts strangely. The second is Ayla's case, where the sense of an ominous presence and constant paranoia slowly drive them insane. Dreams turn into nightmares, and insomnia gradually destroys their mind. In the end, death only worsens the situation, as their souls fall into the hands of the Outer God, facing a fate far worse than reincarnation.»
The girls nodded in understanding at Alex's explanation, realizing that Outer Gods were far scarier than they had imagined. They recalled the beautiful little girl who had visited their home the day before. On the surface, she seemed sweet and very beautiful, but who could have known that this little girl was far more dangerous than she appeared. And it was clear that she was the original, not some avatar that would have been much weaker.
Noticing that there were no more questions for now, Alex continued, showing footage from the next hacker, Jack Hill's, apartment. His place looked like a drug den, causing the girls to grimace in disgust. It was here that they saw the third form of madness: Jack had died of a heart attack after encountering something horrifying.
«Were you able to see anything in his memories? Since he died from fear, you should have seen what he saw, right?» Gloria asked, distracting Alex.
«No, nothing specific,» Alex replied, shaking his head. «Madness destroyed his mind, turning his brain to mush, so there were no clear memories left. And from the smell in the apartment, it's obvious he died a while ago.»
Rebecca was also curious about what had scared Jack so badly, but after hearing Alex's answer, she just shrugged and decided not to dwell on it. Wrapping up the account of Jack, Alex smoothly transitioned to the death of the researcher Weston Thomas.
This guy turned out to be useful by naming one of the key figures involved in these events. Alex didn't go into details, except to mention the recording of Thomas's last words. He asked GIR to play it so the girls could see for themselves what a person who had faced madness looked like.
On the screen appeared the gaunt face of Weston, as if he hadn't slept or eaten for a long time. When the recording finished, the girls froze: the name mentioned in the recording was known to anyone who didn't live under a rock.
«Don't tell me Arasaka is this deeply involved,» Lucy said, frowning.
«Sadly, it is,» Alex replied, looking at her. «In that lab from which you managed to escape, Arasaka was looking for what they wanted to use, and you were just expendable.»
Anger and sadness surged over Lucy. She knew Arasaka had used them, but now, learning the truth about the fate of the souls of her deceased friends, her fury ignited with new intensity. Her eyes reddened with rage and pain for those who were trapped in eternal torment.
«Can their souls be saved?» Lucy asked, looking at Alex with hope.
Alex saw Lucy's hopeful gaze and paused for a moment, considering how to respond. If her friends had died a natural death or from brain damage, their souls had likely transitioned to a new life through reincarnation. But if they had fallen under the influence of an Outer God, Alex didn't know if they could be saved.
He didn't want to deceive Lucy or give her false hope, knowing it was important for her to find peace by understanding the fate of her friends' souls. In that moment, it struck him whom he could ask — someone who could provide a precise answer to such a complex question.
«Alright, it's worth a try. Father, answer my question: are Lucy's friends' souls safe, or have they fallen into the hands of the Mechanical Man? If so, is there any chance of saving them?» Alex said, folding his hands and beginning to pray.
The girls exchanged surprised glances when Alex started praying. However, remembering who his father was made everything clearer. Once he finished, Alex waited for an answer, feeling a bit awkward. It was his first time praying, and while he had never denied the possibility of higher powers' existence, he always believed in taking responsibility for his own actions. The wait felt strange, as addressing his father seemed overly formal; it felt simpler just to send a message.
After a while, Alex's phone vibrated, and he saw a message with a reply:
[Their souls are safe. You can tell your wife not to worry. P.S. It's better to call next time.]
Seeing the response, Alex sighed with relief, but at the same time, his lips twitched into a nervous smile at the end of the message. What does «better to call» mean? Where could I possibly get the Creator's number? He imagined the scene of telling the girls, «I'm going to call God now.» Rebecca, sitting on his lap, noticed his confusion and laughed when she heard him mumble it out loud. A mixed grimace of relief and embarrassment crossed his face.
«In short, your friends' souls are okay,» Alex said, looking at Lucy. «According to the reply from my father, they weren't infected, and their deaths were caused by something else, so you can relax.»
Lucy sighed with relief, realizing that her friends' souls had found peace. Once she was assured she was calm, Alex was about to continue his investigation story, but Gloria, having caught his strange reaction, asked a question:
«Why did you have that face, as if you just swallowed a lemon?»
Alex exhaled and handed his phone to Gloria so she could see for herself. Gloria, Lucy, and Kiwi leaned in, reading the beginning of the message and becoming intrigued by the ending. The phrase «tell your wife» made Lucy blush slightly as she shot a shy glance at Alex, meeting his sincere smile. When they saw the last line, the girls couldn't help but smile, looking at Alex, who looked like he had eaten a lemon.
«Stop looking at me like that,» Alex mumbled, pouting. «Who knew you could just call? I thought you could only reach God through prayer!»
Deciding to change the subject, Alex continued recounting what happened next, showing footage of the Maelstrom gang members entering an apartment. He immediately explained that it was they who were covering up all traces for Arasaka by killing the laid-off researchers and net-runners.
By covering up the traces, if those laid-off people ended their lives, it was better to let those who could handle the dirty work without fearing it would tarnish the company's image do it. All Arasaka had to do was say they would do everything possible to punish those responsible for their employees' deaths, or simply claim they weren't involved and shift all the blame onto the Maelstrom gang.
After all, everyone in Night City was already wary of that insane gang filled with cyberpsychos.
Finishing his explanation, Alex moved on to the meeting with the last target of today's investigation. There wasn't much to say there, except to show what happens to people who embrace the madness of an Outer God and want to infect others.
They also showed the recording of how the last target died and who was responsible for the death — the leader of the Maelstrom gang, who had become the loyal dog of the Mechanical Man.
«Well, that's it. I learned a little, but as they say, better this than nothing,» Alex said, moistening his throat after the long explanation.
The girls pondered what they had seen, realizing that something truly serious was approaching. They were already alarmed by the ever-growing number of cyberpsychos, and it was clear that even more dangerous events lay ahead for them to endure.
«What's your plan?» Kiwi asked, drawing Alex's attention.
«It's the same as before. We wait, prepare, and arm ourselves for the day when everything goes to hell. The Mechanical Man will acquire a body sooner or later, and that's inevitable. Our task is to reduce his resources to limit the number of those who can help him. We'll start with the key members of Maelstrom, eliminating the most important and dangerous ones. At the same time, we need to find out who in Arasaka is supporting the Mechanical Man, excluding Hanako — she's been vetted,» Alex explained his plan.
«So the plan is to wait and eliminate anyone who can assist this god?» Lucy clarified.
«Pretty much,» Alex nodded. «By removing his important pawns, we'll force the Mechanical Man to act. The more obstacles there are, the more he'll rush. Despite his divine nature, he still possesses the arrogance typical of most gods. To him, humans are just cattle capable of feeding his power. So when faced with resistance, he'll want to eliminate whoever stands in his way. That's why he'll need to acquire a body.»
The girls agreed with the plan, understanding that their main task was to support Alex. He would take on the battle with the Mechanical Man, but they would have to protect G.I.R., who would need to cleanse the remnants of the enemy's consciousness. They would also have to fend off attacks from those who might try to interfere with G.I.R. completing his work.
To be continued...