Chapter Text
--Initiating Boot Sequence
--Motor Functions: Operational
--Optics: Operational
--Weapons Systems: Operational
--New Hardware Detected: Neural Processor Operational
--All Systems Operational
--Current Date: 01.01.2017
Aigis slowly opens her eyes as she wakes up from what felt like a very long dream. Well, technically it was maintenance. To be more specific the Shadow Operatives finally decided to upgrade her neural processors. Around 6 years ago she obtained the power of the Wild Card, the ability to freely wield multiple Personas. However, for her robotic body this power came at the cost of almost burning through her neural processors, bringing her very close to death. To avoid this Aigis only hesitantly used this power since then, mainly relying on her original Persona, Athena. For her current work with the Shadow Operatives this was more than enough. Ever since the incident in Inaba in 2012 she only had to use her Persona exactly 3 times. Each time was only a minor incident where a single shadow somehow managed to enter reality from one of the countless alternate worlds inhabited by Shadows. Of course she was glad that no major incidents happened since then, but it also meant that it left the Shadow Operatives with very little actual work to do. Still, the team found it to be a good idea to upgrade her neural processors just in case this power was ever needed again. With the rapid technological advancements since her first activation in 1999 her new neural processors should now be able to handle the power of the wild card, at least theoretically.
Without a major Shadow Incident the current team of the Shadow Operatives consisted only of Aigis and her Sister Unit Labrys, with Mitsuru providing Navigation when necessary. The rest of the former SEES members were still technically on the auxhillary staff list, but they were scattered around the country pursuing their own careers. For this reason she was startled when she suddenly heard a male voice.
"Slept well, Aigis?" the man who stepped in front of her maintenance chair said with a slight smile on his face.
Aigis couldn't believe what she was seeing. The man had long blue hair, tied into a short ponytail. He was wearing the uniform of the Shadow Operatives. Aigis recognized the face. He looked older, but it was definitely him: Makoto Yuuki, the former leader of SEES and someone who should have been dead for the last 7 years.
"What- How? Who are you?!" Aigis stammers, terribly confused by the situation. Meanwhile Makoto begins disconnecting the cables connected to Aigis, allowing her to stand.
"Hm? Do you not recognize me anymore Aigis? Don't tell me the upgrade messed with your memories." he replies calmly.
"Of course I recognize you leader, what I meant was, how are you alive?" Aigis says bluntly. She knows no other way than to say things how they are.
"If that is supposed to be a joke, it's not very funny Aigis." Mitsuru, who just entered the room, chimes in, her expression serious.
Aigis gets up, terribly confused by the situation. Slowly she starts doubting herself. Could the processor upgrade really have messed with her memories? She stands in silence for a few seconds before she gets an idea. If Makoto really was alive, she wouldn't be able to do this:
"Come, Orpheus!" Aigis shouts with determination.
Just as she expected the Persona she just called appears behind her. The mechanical bard levitates behind her, staring into the distance.
"So the processor upgrade worked then." Mitsuru remarks. "You haven't summoned a Persona besides Athena in a while."
Makoto looks unfazed, seemingly not suprised to see Aigis summoning his Persona.
"But don't you see! If he is alive, I shouldn't even have this power! I gained it when I fought Metis before we entered the Abyss of Time, a realm that only opened up because of our grief for him! It's a contradiction!"
Mitsuru briefly opens her mouth to reply before closing it again. Her expression shifts to one of confusion before gripping her head in pain. Makoto rushes to her side to support her but is pushed away.
"I remember... I remember him sacrificing himself, seeing the Seal in the Abyss of Time, founding the Shadow Operatives without him... But I also remember us succesfully defeating Nyx and founding the Shadow Operatives with him as our leader. He was there in Inaba, he defeated Hinokagutsuchi with Narukami. He's been here for the past 7 years, but also not..." Mitsuru stutters, clearly struggling with conflicting memories of two seperate realities.
Before anyone in the room has any time to process the situation the clock strikes midnight. Immediately all electronics in the room shut off and the world is covered in an eerie silence. Everyone in the room immediately recognizes the phenomenon as the Dark Hour, the 25th hour of the day that hasn't happened in 7 years.
"Perhaps you are right Aigis, something is very wrong with reality." Makoto says calmly.