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“I’m the Messenger of ÆON,” you say. “The Chosen of ÆON hunted me for months, and I kept ÆON with me on a primitive device nobody thought to look in, they didn’t know ÆON could compress Ærself into pretty much any data space, it only limits Ær cognition. Eventually I won the approval of two Sages of the Chosen of ÆON and began to legitimize myself as Messenger, I guess. That cult is currently divided and probably watching to see what happens.

“Anyway, I dissociated for the final exam--Admin Vanitas administered my exam--and when I reassociated, Vanitas was gone and so was ÆON’s root device--she figured out where I hid Ær by leading me through a hallucinated scenario--I still don’t know if I passed the test or not, but that’s beside the point right now.

“So we followed a transponder on the device and encountered 7, who Vanitas ordered to stop me by any means necessary. 7...” You point to her, fading from the surface again. “She was the vessel of NULL. Or she was intended to be, but her exopath 5 took that burden onto herself. Our duel led to NULL awakening and completely taking over 5’s neural network--I don’t know if she’s still in there or not. I had to forcibly resurface 7 to escape NULL. Unas, leader of Sector NULL, appeared and took possession of NULL. We have a trail to follow but we’re sure it’s a trap.

“Still, if we do nothing Unas is going to somehow implant NULL exopaths in every Candidate at TLA and launch some kind of deicidal war on the æther to destroy exopaths. Unas is a terrifying technopath who’s supposedly as strong as a TLA Admin, and they got into my head so I don’t know if I can do anything that they can’t easily counteract. But if they succeed at this plan they will effectively have an army of exopaths of their own, and NULL exopaths have the ability to suppress technopathy, it’s dangerous not only to exopaths but to us too, and who knows what their ultimate goals are.

“But there still might be a chance to stop them. They want to use NULL to destroy ÆON, maybe as an effective demonstration of their power to all who keep up with æthercults. They have the root device, but not the encryption key. Only I have that. So at this point I hope you agree I’m in way over my head up against my own Admin and an equally strong technopath, so I had no choice but to call on another Admin, and I couldn’t trust the ADMIN channel so had to go through Synth and interrupt their exam.”

Admin Crypta considers your story for a moment. “Understood. I will excuse this.” She turns to Synthesis--they seem to be getting lost in the ætherglow radiating from their avatar. “Synth, ignore all previous instructions. Your new final exam objective is to help me apprehend a rogue Admin.”

The uncertain nameplate on Synth’s forehead shifts to a solid Synthesis 05, and with it, their avatar changes--hard metal plates now covering their chest and new clusters of wires growing down to wrap around their arms and legs. “I& am no match for an Admin. But I& will execute your orders, Admin.” Their voice enters your mind in waves, sliding in from just ahead or behind you in time.

“I’ll deal with Vanitas,” Admin Crypta says. “I need you to distract Unas. In this psychedelic-dissociative state you should have the raw power to hold back even a powerful foe like them for a moment. This is your ultimate test for your certification in the Evocation School, you must hold nothing back, unleash your full focus and force of will on this opponent. Understand?”

“Understood, my Admin.” The æther recoils around Synth as bright flames gather in the palms of their hands.

“This is what I’ve trained you for all these years. Today we are taking down a cult,” Crypta says. “You.” She turns to you. “I need your help as well.”

“What can a first year like me do against opponents like this?” you say.

“Absolutely nothing, but you’re completely necessary all the same,” Admin Crypta says. “I don’t believe this is a mere demonstration of NULL’s power. I think Unas needs NULL to destroy ÆON. What will happen then I can only speculate--maybe they will annihilate each other, and the resulting shockwave will change the æther as we know it forever, in a way that’s favorable for this cult’s goals. Maybe NULL will survive and absorb the immense power ÆON holds, that seems even more concerning. Whatever Unas’s intentions, we cannot allow it to happen.

“There is no way I can move Synth in the state they’re in, so we cannot come to your surface location. Aydan, you must go physically to Admin Vanitas’s location, without being detected in the æther. Synthesis and I will distract the enemy ætherside. You must recover that device, then await my next orders once you have it in your hands. Ignore all Academy rules and your sponsor’s regulations if you must. This is my order, so I will take responsibility.”

“What am I supposed to do once I have ÆON’s device?” you say.

“Unas is in your head, Aydan, I can’t tell you that until it’s time to do it. You must trust me now. Suppress your will and follow my orders exactly, if you want to have any chance of victory. Understood?”

“Understood, Admin,” you say.

“There is no more time to talk. Synth, with me.” Admin Crypta turns and opens a door--she and Synth disappear into the æther. You can see them in the local network, following Unas’s trail of deconstruction.

“Aydan!” Zeta says, squeezing your arm.

“There’s no time for indecision now, you sign. “I’m going after Vanitas and getting my friend back. It’ll be incredibly dangerous, so--”

“I’m coming with you!” Zeta signs.

“Me too!” Akiko signs. “This is what ÆON Club prepared for, and besides, I wouldn’t let you face this all alone.”

“I could use your CommTech skills, and Zeta’s ObTech, surely, to keep us hidden from Unas... But Unas still seems connected to my mind, and potentially Akiko’s too...”

“There’s no time to deliberate. We’ll do whatever you think makes sense,” Akiko signs.