Honkai Impact 3rd: The Uninvited Guests

*welp, Meritas once again here, hopefully with some decent content. We're moving along, and hope to kinda keep the writing going. For now tho, enjoy the chapter. Peace out and Deus vult*

Mark had been right about one thing—they did plan to take him to a cell. Of course, it wasn't much about him being willing to go or not, since a few guns were pointed at him from multiple sides.

"Come on now, you're all treating me like I'm some kind of war criminal. I just did the Major a favor and took the brunt of using the Nexus myself," he muttered, taking a deep breath as one of his captors simply smacked him on the back with the butt of the gun.

"That hurt, you piece of shit," he recoiled, shouting it a little louder than one would like. Of course, it ended with him getting struck once more flat-out in the back. The blow landed perhaps too harshly, since it cut off his breath for a second.

The Nexus suit was still on his body, lacking the energy source needed to operate, but in that very second, he simply kicked back like a wild horse, striking the valkyrie in the thigh, which came as a surprise to him as well.

Clicks all around as the guns were aimed at his head, yet he shoved it all aside with a sigh.

"Fuck y'all, ok? That bastard hit me first, so don't scoff at me. Now get me to that fucking cell now. I only have the Major to talk with. You all probably went against protocol by even using violence when the threat wasn't present, so I might chirp a little here and there."

Silence settled in, churning the air into a tense mess that strangled everyone present. He took a careful look around, and only then did he realize that everyone was—as was to be expected for the world of Honkai Impact—a woman. He turned around extremely slowly, taking a glance at the one he'd hit earlier.

"Oops, I kinda fucked up..." he mused, feeling awkward and bad.

'There goes me trying to be a knight in shining armor.'

He took another breath, this one deeper, stretching his lungs out to calm him down.

"Alright, sorry for hitting you. Just... take me to that damned cell before I act stupid again," he grumbled and just walked along, hands behind his back, carrying the exoskeleton along his body.

The valkyries just exchanged glances, and the one he hit didn't even expect an apology, and yet there it was. He had everyone thrown in for a loop, both from his behavior being unpredictable and the very appearance of his inside the secure ship making no sense.

"This way," said one of the valkyries, simply walking ahead, with him following along, keeping a bit of a distance so no one would get another idea and perhaps try to shoot him the next time.

The halls were pretty much empty, and the place they took him to wasn't a nice one at all. Bleak walls of a metallic grey, lacking any traces of shine. Just a table, two chairs, and items to restrain captives.

"Stand still," ordered one of the valkyries, to which he had no choice but to comply. Two other women dressed as what seemed to be some kind of scientist, or perhaps engineers with fancy white coats like doctors, came in and, somewhat fearful, got closer.

"It's alright; I don't bite unless asked," sighed Mark, stretching out his arms slowly, allowing them to start taking the exoskeleton apart bit by bit.

They worked diligently, carefully dismantling it into the core parts that the machine had put on his body. The cold feeling of steel lingered in his mind, and the 'diddy' hands were an image he wasn't going to forget anytime soon.

His mind was going to its own place, focusing on the strange situation at hand, and he only snapped out of it once the process had stopped for whatever reason.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, to which he noticed that they stopped because of the very specific spot that had a piece of the exoskeleton engrained there. He closed his eyes, cursing the living shit out of whoever designed that suit in that manner, yet he had no choice. To begin with, it wasn't even made for men, yet somehow, he managed to fit the bill and use it.

"I see; I understand. Just... I might need some clothes, perhaps my own from when those damned iron thingies undressed me."

One of the valkyries who was watching went out, probably to fetch them. Meanwhile, they took off the rest of the suit, focusing on his legs before working their way upwards, once again reaching the point where they had stopped.

His clothing delivery was accompanied by a weird machine that resembled some kind of medical device.

"It seems like the scanner is here as well. Don't worry; we just need to get some readings on your current condition."

Of course, they were going to test him for Honkai poisoning or whatever else would come from using the Nexus. Carefully, his hand went down, managing to somehow pluck out the device that had been crammed between his legs.

"You should change the design for this thing, you know? It almost castrated me in the process," he grumbled, then focused on the latex suit that was glued to him. The valkyries around were focused on him, as if waiting for some ploy to unfold.

"Can a man get some privacy to change? That thing took off my briefs too, so I'd be butt naked without this weird latex thingy."

Reluctantly, they did oblige, but some did steal brief glances his way without Mark noticing. It was subtle, but one had to consider that he was a dangerous individual, at least for the time being.

The cold reached his skin, only for a moment, as his briefs slid back on, followed by his pants, shirt, socks, and shoes. Still, he did hear the word Stigmata hushed between the valkyries, but he had no clue why. It did set off a flag in his mind, but he had no way to check.

"Phew, thanks. Now, you're free to hook me up to whatever machine; just don't kill me or something, alright?"

He chuckled awkwardly, seeing as his attempt at humor failed again.

'I should shut up. These people don't know what a joke is, like damn...'

He sat down, allowing them to hook him up to the large screen and get whatever readings they needed. Murmurs, exchanged whispers, notes taken, wide eyes—it all happened around him. Perhaps his body was already damaged slightly by the honkai energy, but who could say for certain except the ones next to him who had seemingly no plan of talking?

Soon enough, they left the room, taking the machine with them. One of the valkyries came over, carrying with her a strange-looking device that seemed like some futuristic pair of handcuffs. He just presented his arms, knowing that it would be way better than complaining or making any snide remarks, lest he end up with another hit to the head.

Everyone walked out, and he was left alone with his thoughts, pondering the situation as quickly and carefully as he could. There was no way to know for sure when, hopefully, Himeko would come in—or someone else, which did worry him a little.

'Let me get this straight really quick. So, I somehow ended up in the middle of this crisis. I used the Nexus, managed to get my ass in trouble. She's 101% going to ask me how I got in and try to pry out a supposed secret identity I supposedly have. What in the actual fuck do I do?'

And so, he thought... and thought... and thought some more. Ideas came and went, but no good excuse settled. He was about to just try and make up some complex lore to tell, yet the doors opened before his story could take shape.

"Great..." he mumbled as Himeko stepped in, wearing her proper outfit—proper as in not a dress but something to move properly in. The shorts she wore weren't shy in gluing to her skin, and Mark had to force his eyes up, trying to appear as calm as possible.

"Judging by your mumbling, I guess you're not entirely happy to see me," she said calmly, taking a seat right in front of him, settling her elbows on the table. Her chin rested in her palm as she tried to pry him open with nothing but her gaze. Mark just stared blankly at her, focusing on her nose bridge to give off the impression of constant eye contact.

"I see, so you like playing tough, huh? I should expect that much, considering that you somehow managed to crawl aboard the ship and find your way to the Nexus."

Mark sighed, putting his cuffed arms on the table, the large device clunky and heavy.

"Well, Major Himeko, I'll just be blunt like a stick, so you make your call if you trust me or not, ok?"

She raised a brow, crossing her legs while staring into his soul.

"I might as well hear you out, but don't think it means you're off the hook."

He nodded, and swiftly, in the calmest, most serious voice he could ever muster, more serious than he'd manage during funerals—since he'd usually laugh for whatever reason—Mark spoke out.

"I have no fucking clue how I got there, alright? Just think about it. What kinda logic does it make? You clearly didn't see me on any camera, and as far as I know, there's no way to just teleport inside, so again, I have no clue how I got there."

She blinked slowly, thinking him insane already—or at least that's what Mark thought from the way she looked at him.

"You're saying that you have no idea about how you managed to get here? What about your surname? Surely you have such a thing."

In that moment, he improvised like never before. Sure, he had one, but the name sounded so strange and unfitting for the setting that it would only get him in trouble even more, so he went with something simple.

"Willer. Mark Willer."

"Willer... and what about the stigma on your back?"

His eyes went wide, and he tried to pull his shirt up and look around, trying to see it but failing miserably. Himeko simply stared at him twirl in his seat like an idiot, failing to somehow pull the shirt up thanks to the cuffs.

"Wait, you..."

She stood up, walking over to his seat, grabbing the shirt herself, yanking it up. Her eyes widened as she saw the strange patterns on his back. She let go, allowing it to fall back.

"You have a stigma... and you're totally unaware of it?"

He nodded, flabbergasted.

"Heck, I sure as hell had no clue about it! Like, what the fuck! I have A STIGMA OF ALL THINGS?"

He sat up, springing to his feet like someone burned his butt. She looked at him differently, pondering his words carefully.

"You genuinely have no clue how you got here. No clue at all. To be unaware of yourself having a stigma..."

"Yeah, morning, Major. I'm not kidding. I'm as unaware as a damned wooden log tossed in the sea."

She motioned for him to shut up, glaring briefly at him. Her sharp gaze, however, had the complete opposite effect on him.

"Don't go telling me to shut up. Hell, I used that stupid Nexus instead of you, thus aiding you a little, alright? I don't exactly enjoy watching someone forcefully marching to their death, thank you very much. I'd rather become some human weapon myself instead of having you die for no reason at all."

Pause... long pause...

She pursed her lips, not even angry at him talking back, but rather surprised by the words that left his mouth.

"You speak as if you know me," she replied, trying to keep her cool.

A simple scoff was her answer, until he breathed out, giving in.

"Let's just say you remind me of someone, alright?"

The confines of the room seemed to shrink and cut off their breath. For a moment, every previous idea formed around him shifted slightly, and she found herself somewhat baffled.

"You sure are a smooth talker, that much I know. However, that doesn't change the... mysterious circumstances surrounding you. For the time being, you'll be under my watch, understood?"

With a nod, he confirmed it, thankful that imprisonment wasn't his punishment—or maybe worse.

"Got it. Also, since I do have a stigma, then maybe... just maybe... I could end up pitching in and learning how to actually fight. That suit is cool and all, but you know... it's cooler to fight with what's supposedly 'your own strength,' at least for a period of time."

Himeko found herself unable to fully hide the tiny smile that had formed in the corner of her lips, betraying her somewhat satisfied state.

"You have a long journey ahead of you, should you wish to live up to your words, but once again... don't think you're safe. One wrong move, and I will make sure you get what you deserve."

Her voice lowered, taking on a clear threatening tone, yet Mark, once again the unbothered idiot who was too focused on her looks, didn't even falter.

"Aye aye, Major. I got it."