In the end, Ale decided to finish filling out the action report without thinking too much. The questions? Did anyone even want to see them? They were mostly the same from what Alexandra had filled before, even if they weren't that different from then and now. At least now each of them had their own sub Consciousness Stream unlike before that they were mostly emuting what they should be at that age.

  But the most relevant question that she ended up filling up was the one that asked if the mission parameters had been achieved. "Yes, because Alexa won the match." Ale had written at the end, and thought more about that. To be honest, this one should have been written by either Alexa or P4.

  P4 was out since bringing that thing out risked the destruction of their Consciousness Stream, and Alexa was pretending to sleep while she was writing this, so that was that. Even while the fault of the incident was being thrown her way, she was probably going to throw P4 under the metaphorical bus too. So that was also that.

  By the end of her chocote syrup-drenched pancakes, Ale was happier and starting to need to condense the sugar into crystals of glucose to prevent herself from going into hyperdrive like Alexa had done before, and honestly. That was kind of embarrassing. Imagine turning into a hyperactive gremlin just because some sugar seemed to interact in some weird way with your organism.

  Ale had noticed that no one else seemed to react like that to high amounts of sugar, that was interesting, had they messed up with their [Blueprint] at some point? Ale needed to check on that too during the maintenance.

  "So? Did you finish everything? Or do you want more pancakes from big sis?" [Big Sister] asked from the side with a knowing smile.

  Ale really wanted more pancakes, but part of her bugged at her.

  “[Host, eating more of this food may cause hardships to settle down and go into maintenance mode.]”

  That is to say, Main Core was telling her that they were nearing the limit of how fast they could shift the sugar from her bloodstream into crystals to prevent her from going into hyperdrive mode.

  "I finished," So Ale said showing the piece of paper with all the answers she had written so far.

  -Was excessive force used: Yes

  -Was your identity compromised?: No, Alexa put on the mask when asked and didn't remove it till arriving at the safe house.

  -Was the mission successful?: Yes, Alexa won the dodge ball match.

  -Did you make your best effort to keep the mission within the setup parameters?: Yes, Alexa and P4 did their work as best as possible.

  -Do you think there are ways to make these missions more easy for future minions?: No, the mission was well within the achievable boundaries.

  -Do you think you could have made this better?: Yes, if Alexa hadn't been put under extra restraints, the mission would have been easier.

  -Did the lieutenants at the zone do their work?: Yes, [Gabriel] helped Alexa and P4 survive.

  -Do you think you could have helped the lieutenant more?: No, Alexa and P4 were already under too many restraints; it was impossible to help them without removing the restraints.

  And so on and so on. Ale answered most of the questions, making their posture clear. They had done their best and the mission parameters had been fulfilled, that is to say. Alexa won the events she participated in. They managed to disable all the enemies they could, and those they didn't disable were because of clear instructions from the top. That is to say, instructions from [Gabriel] that prevent them from neutralizing those that were attacking them.

  Ale still didn't know why [Gabriel] had given that order, but that was that. He had said that [Haephestus' Forge] didn't attack civilians and whatnot, but those weren't civilians but hostiles. At least by all the definitions that Ale knew.

  "Let me see…" [Big Sister] said taking her action report and reading it, as she went going her face shifted from an amused smile to a neutral one, and finally setting in a worried face, "Was it that bad?"

  "?" Ale didn't know what [Big Sister] was talking about, how was that bad? "We achieved our mission objective though?"

  "....You had to kill several….here it says 25 victims…" [Big Sister] said covering her mouth, "And unlike me or golem you had to use your actual hands….you can't use your Core Powers to put a separation between you and…"

  "...?" Ale wasn't sure what the issue was here. Weren't they working for a [Super Vilin] organization? By all definitions she had seen and searched, they were expected to act like this. It was part of the reason that she was happy and comfortable within this organization; here, she could go about her day collecting samples and whatnot.

  Not that P4 or Alexa had bothered to do so, but then again, most of those seemed like baseline [Humans].

  "I was using the [Arm-Mament]," Ale said, raising her left hand and shifting it into the version that didn't have bigger cws, "Besides, they didn't have an active [Consciousness Stream] as far as we could tell."

  Not that Alexa or P4 had checked, but Ale was willing to believe Meli-Meli's [Core Power] worked by suppressing the native [Consciousness Stream] of her target and imposing her own atop them.

  That or she was splitting her own Consciousness Stream across multiple bodies, she hoped it was the first. The second would imply that it would be hard to counter and terminate her in case they ever ended in that type of [Test].

  "...." [Big Sister] set up the action report at the side and walked to Ale, in one swift motion she kneeled at her side and hugged her, "....everything will be all right okay."

  It was all right, already, Ale wasn't sure what was the correct way to answer that, so she decided to hug back and rest her face on the shoulder of [Big Sister], it was…comfortable here.

  "... I'll make sure that Eleanore doesn't make a fuss and compin about your security…We need to check on that Rogue Core User, Meli-Meli you said?" [Big Sister] said as they separated, the older girl had puffy eyes, but didn't seem to have red eyes or tears there.

  Was her [Crying] system broken?

  "Yeah, it was Meli-Meli. Her [Core Power] seems to be one that allows her to control other people." Ale said, nodding at [Big Sister], "I think you refer to them as [Mind Core] type? I didn't get a full [Blueprint] from her before, so I am not too sure about it."

  Really, that was weird, she needed to make sure her sensors were up to par, but she would need something that let her scan the whole body quick so the [Core] wasn't able to hide itself like it had done with [Stelr] and [Big Sister]. Because those [Cores] that didn't hide weren't that useful.

  The scan of [Golem] 's [Core Fragment] ended up saying that he was assimiting the materials in some way, by transforming it into [Mana] and then into [Solids]. It was…interesting, but Ale could do that by absorbing the materials into her [Banked Storage], so it was a moot point to her.

  It would be useful ter if she ever needed to increase her [Mana], but so far she hadn't seen any reason to do so. So it was left for ter perusal.

  "I see….well, leave it to big sister!" [Big Sister] said nodding at herself, "I'll make sure that this doesn't happen again…Your report says that Eleanore was there but decided to leave… I need to check on that too…."

  That was a problem? But [Eleanore] wasn't a fighter…was she?

  Ale didn't see a way for her [Core Power] to be useful in combat unless she was able to wrestle a vow or promise from Meli-Meli?

  But even then, what would be the point.

  "Okay…then I'll go to sleep." Ale said, nodding at [Big Sister] again, "I'll see you tomorrow then?"

  What was on the schedule for tomorrow?

  “[Tomorrow is scheduled an assembly to discuss about the incident, they will also encourage the students and reward those that stood brave against the wave of viliny…Or so the mail from the school read.]”

  So school is the same as always.

  "Yes, I'll be here to take you to school, and then we can spend time out. A girl's outing…maybe a couple hours in the park? Then at night….you can change into something more up to standard?" [Big Sister] said looking at her…and not looking at her.

  She was probably thinking about Alexandra, wasn't she?

  "Sure," Ale didn't mind, she was aware that [Big Sister] liked to spend time with Alexandra too if anything she was among the people that didn't seem to like having Alexa too much around.

  That was an interesting phenomenon, too, for people who only liked or wanted some of her aspects.

  So far the list has:

  -Eleanore, wants only Alexa.

  -Golem, likes Alexa and Ale.

  -Sylph, likes Ale and Alexandra.

  -Alexanders, would rather deal only with Ale.

  -Vulcanus, wants Alexa and Main Core.

  -Frank the bettle, Alexa…. doubtful if he would like Ale, and rumors say he would not speak to Alexandra.

  -Sam didn't seem to mind any form. Threats them all equally.

  -An, only knows Ale.

  -Glory, only knows Ale.

  Most people seemed to want either Alexa or Ale. Some had favorites among her forms, at least those that knew of her. And Ale was aware that they needed to find a system to deal with this, they couldn't have only one side coming out like this, they would need to find a way to spend the time equally among the three.

  Maybe if they were only two?

  But they were three, and the day couldn't be divided into three, at best it could be into two. And even that, it would be unfair to leave Alexa only with the time they were at school, she wouldn't get to enjoy things outside. And if anything, Ale was sure the girl would start throwing tantrums about wanting to do things outside school too.

  If nothing else, because she didn't want to be the only one stuck there, not that Ale could go to school either, their age and appareane was too different. And just like how Alexa wasn't comfortable wearing her appearance.

  Ale was not comfortable pretending to be Alexa or using her body. It was…weird.

  Just like how they had done when Alexa attempted to make Alexandra's body herself, the discomfort and body dysphoria were too strong to fix the issues. They had joked about how Alexa had run away, leaving a mess, but they all knew it had been because Alexa couldn't focus on fixing the problems while dealing with a body that wasn't hers.

  Even if the body was indeed hers, they recognized that appearance as Alexandra, and Alexa was not Alexandra. That was also part of the reason why they had needed to make that [Shapeshifter Core] to deal with those problems, it was more of a transtor really.

  "Call me if you need anything, okay?" [Big Sister] suddenly said, pulling her out of her musings about bodies and whatnot, "If you have nightmares, or want someone to hang around, be it as you are right now, older or younger…"

  That was nice.

  "Actually, you may want to process it as your older self I think…" [Big Sister] suddenly said, "But if you attempt to do so, call me first. You had a big panic attack st time, remember?"

  Panic attack?

  Ah….yeah….they had that event…When the prototype of who would become Alexandra noticed what they had wanted to do with Alexa. Ale still didn't really fully understand the implications, even if she logically knew what they had wanted to do to her. She…just didn't see the reason behind such an act.

  Especially when there were better ways to acquire [Blueprints] from others, she hadn't tried to do much either, and probably wouldn't try it anytime soon either, since it seemed like a slower and, honestly, more inefficient way; she could just bite chunks from whatever she wanted.

  And thinking so she decided to not share her view with [Big Sister], since she seemed worried about her mental state, or well, the mental state of Alexandra, that one seemed to worry about the most useless things if Ale was to be honest.

  "....someone has to worry, besides. I'll not have a panic attack over something as trivial as P4 dispatching [Enemies]."

  Of that, Ale also could be sure, it was stupid to worry about an [Enemy] after all.

  "Sure, I'll not change to Alexandra today. Either way, we will brush out our teeth, wash our face, and put on our pajamas." Ale said taking stock of what she needed to do before going to sleep, that is to say. Go to prepare for the maintenance round, this one would be important after all, "Then we will brush our hair and go to sleep."

  "Good girl," [Big Sister] said, ruffling her hair. It felt…odd; this was the kind of type that Alexa loved, and if Ale was to be honest, it felt more geared to please Alexa than to please her, and even so. She did enjoy it, just a little.

  "....I can ruffle your hair too while we wait for Alexa to finish doing csses or the assembly if you want it." "Shut it old hag."

  "If you have nightmares call me, Golem or even Billy." [Big Sister] said after ruffling her hair and making sure Ale would need to brush her hair for sure tonight, "I know that things are awkward between you and Eleanore, but if we don't answer, do call her. She…I looked around, and she genuinely cares about orphans like yourself or me. Half the programs that actually tried to help me when moving out were set up by her…."

  Ale knew that, not that those programs had been set up by [Eleanore], but that she cared about orphanage kids, but even so.

  "No," Ale said shaking her head, "Not yet, anyway. She hasn't apologized to us, or Alexa."

  That was important, her apology had felt more like it was apologizing for failing to bind them, or for being discovered than anything, at least to Ale. Perhaps she was biased since it affected them directly.

  And the other people didn't seem to…really put too much stock to it, [Billy] was genuinely angry but seemed to be more worried for Alexa and [Eleanore] on the same degrees. [Gabriel] seemed to be on the side of [Eleanore] more than hers, he had actively attempted to uncover what Alexa was after all.

  [Vulcanus]...Neither Ale nor Alexa had spoken to him. And he seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't speak to Alexandra, if anything.

  "If she apologizes then we will think about it," Ale said after shaking her head again, "But not before that, and even then…If there are indeed nightmares…and we can't find you. We will let Alexa deal with them."

  "....you will let…Alexa deal with them?" [Big Sister] seemed confused, "I could understand leaving your older self to do it, but Alexa?"

  Ale couldn't help but smile mischievously at [Big Sister]; no one seemed to know or really understand it, did they?

  "Yes," Ale nodded sagely at that, was this an [Alexa] thing? Perhaps, but it was what was right, "I was made out of a need for needing to achieve the minimum age for work within [Haephestus' Forge]."

  [Big Sister] nodded at this.

  "Alexandra was made out of a need to mesh better with the other minions and not stand out as much," Ale continued her expnation, "What do you think Alexa was made out for?"

  That seemed to confuse [Big Sister], "Out of love from your parents….? Not, since they abandoned you." Well, that was harsh. "....do you mean….Alexa is not your….original form? Eleanore did imply that there was more to it….but….was it true?"

  Whoops, spoke to much.

  "Not in that sense, Alexa is the closest thing we have to a [Base form] right now," Ale said quickly trying to sidestep the mine, "But what I mean…myself and Alexandra got made to fill a social role, but Alexa was not made to fulfill a social role."

  "Then what was Alexa made for?" [Big Sister] asked as they walked to the exit of the apartment.

  "To fight and survive," Ale said, opening the door, "Alexa is the one made for pure combat out of us, so if there is something scary on this floor, it isn't a [Nightmare] but Alexa herself, trust me on that one. Alexa is the most dangerous thing you have ever met so far."

  And Ale was 100% sure of that, the scrambled guy? He was merely crazy and a little broken.

  The theater guy? He was mostly weirdly dramatic.

  Alexanders? What was he going to do? Use his spiky head as a weapon? Annoy people?

  No, Alexa was the true monster. Because no one seemed to be on guard around her, and people attempted to help her for some weird reason. People just drove themselves into weird logic loops and leaps to justify all the weird shenanigans around her.

  Ale was sure that before Alexanders caught up to them, Alexa didn't exist on the files outside of the Saintsworths.

  And even then, she probably was more of a vague existence, some glitch made up by Main Core while they were escaping, and even that. The fact that Alexanders went that far to hide their existence…Why had he done that?

  Why was P4 like that?

  What was the deal with these blue screens that helped them understand their powers, understand [Core].

  What….what was the deal with [Core Powers] that didn't affect specific people.

  "....right…" [Big Sister] said looking confused.

  And even this, why couldn't she see this? Ale knew [Big Sister] was a powerful [Core User]; she probably had one of those [Mythic Cores] if Ale was to understand right how [Gabriel] had described them.

  But even when it was spelled to her face she didn't seem to truly believe it, Ale couldn't understand this, as if some kind of external force was making sure that everything moved right.

  "Trust me on this one, Alexa will never have a nightmare. Can you imagine her having nightmares?" Ale said at the end.

  "Oh….yeah, you are right. No way someone as adorable and cute as Alexa would have nigthmares, well…see you tomorrow…or well. I'll see Alexa tomorrow?" [Big Sister] said smiling and nodding, as if that even made sense.

  "You will see Alexa yes, I'll be around till breakfast, so if you come early you may catch me." Ale said waving a goodbye to [Big Sister].

  "Hmm….yeah, we'll see about that. Have a good night then," And like that, [Big Sister] left.

  “[That was dangerous host, you exposed too much data.]” Main Core's voice came out from her left shoulder.

  "Not like it worked, and besides, it served to prove a point." Ale answered while walking to the bathroom, she would indeed do what she said to [Big Sister].

  “[What point?]” Main Core answered.

  "That there seems to be some type of [Core Power] at effect that seems to cloud the understanding or data processing of the humans when it comes to Alexa." Ale answered grabbing her toothbrush.

  There were three toothbrushes and a hairbrush in front of the mirror.

  Hers was a yellow with bck stripes.

  Alexa's stuff was entirely yellow, and her hairbrush had a small duck painted on the back.

  Alexandra's stuff was bck though, there was only so many ways you could find variations of yellow after all.

  “[....data point added. Good catch host.]" Main Core answered and then kept quiet.

  As if they hadn't noticed that, Ale found that hard to believe that the one part of them that was fully focused on analyzing data hadn't found that behavior pattern before; they would really need to ask some hard questions tonight, wouldn't they?

  The only question was…. how many would they get answers for.