When I woke up, I was back home, now lying in Lotus’ laboratory. The light from all the lamps was blinding me, as if I had stepped into a football stadium.

  "Good morning, Magnum.” She said, noticing that I had woken up, with a notepad in her hand.

  "What are you planning to do to me?" I growled.

  "I'm trying to help you, idiot," she side eyed me, "I'm going to run some diagnostics and see what's going on in your circuits and, most importantly, what's bothering you."

  “Hey! How do you know about that thing?”

  "Did you really think that the headband wouldn't have any kind of tracking chip?" She narrowed her eyes. "I know you got into fights, regardless of what I said."

  “Wow, you… you’re…” the words are fading from my mouth, I'm not used to someone being as caring as she is. I expected to be treated with distrust, fear, if not hatred after becoming a Cog, especially with how Kassidy acts.

  "Okay, now stay still for a moment, I have a few things to do.” Lotus said as a sort of scanning machine emerged from the bed, projecting a red line, like a barcode reader.

  After spending a few minutes analyzing every inch of my body, the machine returned to the bed and Lotus announced:

  “Magnum, I have bad news and terrible news. Which one do you want to hear first?”

  "Give me the bad ones.” I replied as a drop of cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

  "Regarding Kassidy, his sword's ‘Absolute Zero’ mode is capable of freezing all your components in a matter of seconds if he lands a direct hit." She adjusted her glasses. "I suggest one of two tactics: end the fight before he can even activate it, or stall it out, since it has a time limit. But you know how relentless he can be, so it won't be easy."

  “Got it… got it…”

  I swallowed hard. “And what about the horrible ones?”

  “Y… yo…” Lotus's breathing became heavy “you have a high capacity for symbiosis, allowing none other than Hideaki, the original humanoid Cog himself, control over you.”

  “WHAT?!”

  "That's right, Hideaki already possessed long-distance communication capabilities, and your symbiosis has only made it easier to control you!” She said, in tears.

  “So I have an insane killer in my head?”

  "Watch it!" Hideaki interrupted my mind. "You criticize Kassidy, and humanity despises me, but you also have no idea what led me down this path!"

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  "Was that him just now?" Lotus asked, pointing to my hand pressing the bandage.

  “Yep.”

  “If it really is Hideaki, then it's possible that he's trying to use you to free him from his cell, something he's tried with other Cogs before. But your aforementioned symbiosis facilitates communication and even opens up some loopholes for control.”

  “You call it ‘symbiosis,’ but that sounds a lot more like I have a parasite!”

  "Well, that's what Steel and I created the limiter for, but I see that it's already showing flaws earlier than anticipated." She shook her head. "Steel's hardware may be good, but it's rudimentary. I'll need a revision soon." She said calmly, but a tear still escaped down her cheek.

  “Is there any way I can help you?”

  “I only ask that you stay here while I work on this—”

  “Absolutely not!” I stood up with a stamp. “You already know very well that I refuse to stand idly by when the safety of my loved ones is at risk!”

  "I understand, but please stay here!" She began to cry. "You'll be safer here than picking a fight with that prince!"

  "Lotus, I can't lose anyone else after what happened to Thomas!" I said through tears. "You have no idea how much he meant to me."

  Lotus then took a deep breath, despite her shaky breathing.

  "...Fine. I'd normally leave this sort of task to Leona, but the brigade is busy rescuing victims from a house fire right now." She crossed her arms.

  "Here's the thing," she continued, "there's an old facility, Facility Theta, belonging to Machina Research, the team responsible for the existence of your people. What I want you to do is go there and gather some documents, because some disastrous things happened in those laboratories. It's good that you know what's written in them, especially regarding Hideaki. How about that?"

  "Right away!" I shouted, raising my fist. "Nothing will get you or the others while I'm around!"

  "Understood, I'll give you the coordinates in a moment." She turned to the monitor. "By the way, I suggest you call Saul; he could provide cover."

  "No way," I said, looking away, "he doesn't deserve to get involved in any of this. This is my battle, I started it, so I'll be the one to deal with it."

  “Then have it your way. Thanks for helping anyway.”

  “I'm just glad you haven't given up on me yet, especially considering how you acted on the day of the tournament.”

  “That doesn't change the fact that it was a very irresponsible thing to do.”

  As I headed for the door, my feet suddenly stopped, not at Hideaki's command, but due to my own hesitation. Do I really want to go there? Reading those documents could drastically change my worldview... if not my very being.

  “Lotus…” I turned to her, uncertainty on my face “if these documents show why the Cogs were made… whatever happened to Hideaki…” My fists tightened on the doorknob as I turned to the door. “I don't think I'd be happy with who I've become depending on what's in there.”

  "Then we'll deal with it." Lotus reassured me. "But, Cacto, none of this should dictate who you are. Just as you're doing your best to protect us despite the public's fear, discovering the truth will only make you more aware and know what not to do."

  “Heh… thank you.” I said, my throat swollen.

  Hideaki then whispered:

  “You'll hate every one of them once you learn the truth, Cacto.”