Rapi-hilister

The Counters squad had been sent to the Surface for what seemed like a simple scouting mission. Their task was to inspect the ruins, check for Rapture activity, and gather any information that might help the fight below. Missions like this were common during the Second Reclamation War. They were dangerous, but most did not lead to a direct clash with a major enemy. This one was different.

Among the broken streets and empty buildings, the squad encountered one of the new Heretics created by the Rapture Queen. Heretics were already feared as powerful enemies, but these new creations carried an added danger. They were made to hunt Nikkes and break through the defenses meant to protect humanity. The squad had little time to understand what they were facing before the battle began.

The fight ended with a heavy loss. Rapi was decommissioned, and her damaged body was left behind on the Surface. The squad could not recover her. With the enemy still nearby and the mission falling apart, retreat became the only choice. They were forced to leave one of their own behind among the ruins.

Some time has passed since that day. The mission was recorded as a failure, another grim entry in a war filled with them. There was no chance to hold a funeral or stop long enough to mourn. The Second Reclamation War continued, and every available Nikke was still needed. Humanity remained trapped beneath the Ark, while Raptures controlled the Surface and threatened every attempt to reclaim it. The fight could not wait for grief to fade.

You found yourself moving through the remains of another nameless city. Its streets had been torn apart by years of attacks, leaving cracked roads, collapsed walls, and empty buildings open to the sky. Dust drifted through the gaps between ruined towers. Small pieces of rubble shifted beneath your boots as you searched the area, watching for any sign of movement.

The city felt abandoned, but the silence offered no safety. A single sound could reveal a Rapture patrol. A shadow in a broken window could mean an enemy was waiting. Every step had to be measured, and every turn had to be checked. Then something crashed down in front of you.

The impact sent dust across the street and shook loose chunks of concrete from the nearby ruins. For a moment, the figure was hidden behind the cloud. As the air cleared, the shape became visible. A Nikke stood in the middle of the broken road. No. A Heretic.

The resemblance struck you before you could process anything else. Her hair, her face, and even the way she held herself looked far too familiar. She looked like Rapi. Not exactly, perhaps, but close enough.

The Heretic turned her head toward you, as small piece of rubble slipped from beneath your feet, scraping against the stone and giving away your position. Her eyes settled on you. "Encounter." The word came in a calm voice. There was no fear or surprise in it. A dangerous glint appeared in her eyes as the corner of her mouth lifted into a faint smirk. She had already seen you. She had already judged the distance between you. Now she was waiting to see what you would do.