Rapi's character story

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Profile[]

Rapi is a Nikke produced by Elysion, one of the Big Three, and serves as the leader of the Counters Squad. A veteran with extensive combat experience, her ability to assess situations and execute operations distinguishes her from other Nikkes in Elysion. Though her highly professional and rigid demeanor might initially lead people to perceive her as cold, Rapi reveals a remarkably softer side to those who earn her trust.

Nikke Backstory[]

A troubled yet reliable girl, Rapi seeks to answer the question of just what Nikkes truly are. As a member of Counters, she always ensures harmonious relations among her squadmates.

Personality[]

Commander, what do we look like to you?

Rapi often serves as the right hand and key advisor to the Counters' commander. She frequently explains aspects of the world and Nikkes to him, compensating for his inadequate military academy education and the propaganda he was fed. Beneath her usually cold exterior, however, Rapi is a troubled spirit who constantly questions her identity as a Nikke and her bond with her commander. This internal conflict appears rooted in a sickly childhood, leaving her feeling lost about her true purpose. Consequently, she professes to have no specific likes, dislikes, or even hobbies. Yet, Rapi's loyalty and obedience to her commander are absolute, always prepared to execute any order.

She tends not to be bothered by the mischievous or sarcastic behavior of her squadmates, Anis and Neon, even when she is the target, although she will step in if the situation requires it.

Story[]

Background[]

A young woman wandering around the Ark, not knowing where to go or what her purpose is.

Rapi was born in the Ark. Orphaned at a young age, Rapi suffered from a rare illness and was forced to spend all of her time receiving treatment in a hospital. As she was bedridden, Rapi can only watch Nikkes in the television which brought her joy and awe. Due to the recession caused by the Surface Reclamation War, the hospital she resided in was at risk of shutting down. One of the doctors pleaded her for a clinical trial in an effort to cure her disease, despite being hesitant to provide her with it initially. Nevertheless, Rapi accepted in partaking the trials. Within several years, she would show signs of improvement and would ultimately be cured.

Now fully recovered, Rapi was then discharged from the hospital and unceremoniously thrusted into the Ark. Unsure of where to go or what to do, she would find herself at a protest against Nikke discrimination caused after the Goddess Fall incident and was caught in the crossfire. During the protests, Central Government agents were dispatched to quell the protesters and used lethal force, eventually Rapi was shot dead after she was mistaken to be one of the protesters.

The "Grim Reaper," standing in front of her fallen comrades in a never ending cycle of death and misery.

This led her to becoming a mass-produced Nikke under the serial number RR-15436. Rapi would initially be assigned to Squad 09-10F, which included a Product 12 Squad Leader and Seira, an extroverted Nikke who wanted nothing more than to get to know Rapi. However, Squad 09-10F would be wiped out during a mission, leaving Rapi as the sole survivor. Following an altercation involving two other mass-produced Nikkes, Rapi was sent to the rehabilitation center, where she would befriend Rio and Wendi, members of the Skull Head squad which she would ultimately join for around three years until Rio became corrupted and Wendi had to kill her before committing suicide.

As time progressed, Rapi was transferred to many different squads, all sharing the same fate: either ending in a wipe out or corruption, an inescapable vicious cycle that left her as the only survivor. This earned her an infamous reputation amongst other Nikkes, giving her the epithet: the "Grim Reaper." Therefore, the name "Rapi" was said to be synonymous with a death sentence.^[1]

Her hero, her aspiring figure: a true Goddess of Victory.

30 years after the events of Red Ash, she was assisted in a battle by Red Hood, an ex-member of Goddess after her squad was wiped out.^[2] When Rapi went to visit the Lift with Red Hood as per her wishes, they were ambushed by the Raptures. During the skirmish, Rapi fell off a crevice. Despite her injuries and helplessness as Red Hood fought the Raptures alone, the latter managed to defeat all of them. This prompts her one wish: to become Red Hood herself. After receiving treatment and repairs from the mysterious individual known as "D.E.E.P.," Red Hood began tutoring her student in order to fulfill her only wish. As such, this was Red Hood's last will before she leaves the world. As time passes by, Rapi learns a lot from her mentor but eventually has to meet the end of the line when Red Hood accompanies her to return to the Ark as parting way. During her modification at the Elysion HQ, it was discovered that Rapi unusually has two cores and weighs twice than average. Therefore, Rapi has assimilated Red Hood's core before her apparent death.

Rapi is able to transform into Red Hood, allowing her to tap into the latter's powers and resources as a kind of "super mode" that enhances her strength and speed, albeit at a cost. Using Red Hood's power causes Rapi's body to overheat, leaving her incredibly vulnerable afterwards. If Rapi doesn't deactivate Red Hood in time, then the remains of Red Hood's body will begin to encroach upon Rapi, eventually causing her to transform into Red Hood.^[3] Also for some reason, Red Hood keeps telling Rapi to destroy the Ark every time she comes back from using this power^[4].

Prior to the events of the main story, Rapi was once a member of Absolute, alongside Eunhwa, Emma, and Vesti. Despite the relative newness of the squad, they quickly rose in power and prestige, until they cemented themselves as Elysion's finest. Eunhwa was particularly fond of Rapi, calling her the "perfect partner" and declaring surface reclamation was a certainty as long as they were together.^[5] It was Rapi's wish that allowed her to be transferred to Absolute, much like her mentor's former squad.

Rapi's time with Red Hood had emboldened her with the idea that she'd become the successor to Red Hood's mission and mantle as a "Goddess of Victory," and that Absolute were the comrades she would gloriously walk beside, just as Red Hood did with Goddess.^[6] That changed during a mission involving 5 Tyrant-class Raptures, where one of her explosive attacks accidentally killed a human. To her horror, despite going against her duty as a Nikke, all Rapi could feel was annoyance at having to write a report.^[7] This resulted in an identity crisis, as Rapi came to realize she hadn't inherited Red Hood's legacy at all, playing at being a Goddess of Victory as a child plays hero. She thought she'd used Absolute as props for her Red Hood masquerade, and the subsequent shame eventually compelled her to quietly and abruptly resign from Absolute, much to the squad's shock and in Eunhwa's case, betrayed heartbreak.^[6]^[7]

At some time after leaving Absolute, Rapi met an unexpected companion, Anis, who found her during at the surface. Both Nikkes would be assigned to a duo squad which would later be known as the "Counters." While Rapi stated she is to be known for her insubordination, Anis explains that while she is unreasonable for her lack of cooperation with a scornful commander, this was done out of detest towards fighting for the people of the Ark, who show disregards to the lives of Nikkes. As Anis told the rumors that after leaving Absolute, it was alleged that Rapi left to a mediocre squad after failing to take the leadership role or her searching for places to die, Rapi was left speechless, but stated that she wanted to look for someone who can lead her, a certain someone that is strong-willed and unyielding, to which they hopefully find someday.^[8]

Chapter 0[]

For a search and rescue mission, Rapi and Anis are deployed alongside an unnamed commander who charges a Rapture firing his gun ineffectually, leading him to die and leaving them without a commander. While being assaulted by Raptures, Marian and the protagonist show up and reinforce them. Once the dust settles, Rapi accepts the protagonist as her new commander and continues the mission, despite her reservations about following the orders of someone who graduated literally yesterday from the military academy.

Chapter 1[]

Later into the mission, Rapi points her gun at Marian. Turns out what downed the protagonist's transport wasn't Rapture anti-air, it was an explosion from inside caused by explosives meant to be used on this mission. It's revealed that Marian was corrupted even before she went on this mission, and when she's captured by a Black Smith, Rapi and Anis assault the Tyrant at the protagonist's command.

Despite the odds being against them, Rapi and co. are victorious. But with Marian's corruption reaching a point of no return, Rapi can only offer the protagonist a pistol and ask him to perform the execution, as neither she nor Anis are able to fire upon another Nikke. Rapi watches in bewilderment as Marian's conscious briefly resurfaces to pull the trigger for the protagonist, and the three survivors return to the Ark in silence.

Chapter 1.5[]

As the three return to the Ark, they're ordered to report to Deputy Chief Andersen on the aftermath of the mission. On the elevator ride to the Ark, Rapi ponders on how Marian was corrupted while inside the Ark, and how her directive to protect her commander briefly overrode the corruption when the protagonist's life was in danger. Once the meeting ends, Rapi and co. are ordered to the Simulation Room for testing. The fact that the squad is undergoing skills testing after a mission seems unusual to Rapi, though the presence of the Elysion CEO Ingrid less so, as apparently the woman has a hobby of overseeing Simulation Room tests.

Event Story[]

No Caller ID[]

Rapi is deployed with the rest of Counters in pursuit of a mysterious signal from the surface.

BULLET X CHAINSAW[]

Counters is deployed to investigate mysterious energy signatures from the Ark's elevator, and there they find the Devil Hunters, visitors from another world

Blue Water Island[]

As Counters is sent out on a mission with Seraphim to a tropical landmass to scout it for resources, a number of the Nikkes participating choose to wear swimsuits to suit the summer atmosphere ~~and draw the protagonist's eye~~. Rapi is no exception, donning a simple yet attractive one-piece.

Bond story[]

Episode 1 - A Nikke's Duty[]

Rapi visits the commander in his office to inquire about getting food and other resources since their current supply is running low. They agree to get some more munitions in advance, but after asking him for which store he goes to so she can get them herself, he grows silent, making her believe that he thinks she will spend some of the money for herself. In reality... he is nearly broke. She is confused as to how this happened and after suggesting to submit his operation report certificate, he was surprised as that was something that he's never heard about before. Every commander is supposed to turn over a report after completing a mission and these are the metrics as to how they get paid. This information is news to him and while he's willing to write one up, Rapi warns him there are many forms for him to sign and they are very complex documents. Since he has never filled one out before and they are pressed for time, Rapi decides to take care of them.

For the next half an hour, Rapi types away, filling out the paperwork. The protagonist is surprised at how good she is at this. After mentioning she has experience with this, he figures this was an assignment delegated to her by her previous commanders. She considers it more of an order she was following and despite her commander feeling her former bosses were neglecting their duties, Rapi didn't see it that way. She also mentions that orders are the link between Commanders and Nikkes as the latter obey the commands of the former without question, a natural cycle. It is also an imperative for a Nikke to keep her commander safe and they have been equipped with emergency response items like AED and hemostatic agents should they be needed. If a Nikke's Commander is injured or dies in battle, she will ultimately be punished for it... except in the case where a Commander commits suicide. The commander realizes this was the fate of Rapi's previous commander and she and Anis avoided punishment because of it.

To Rapi, following a commander's orders and keeping them safe are the primary duties of Nikke. Despite needing to follow orders, Nikkes can perform actions at their own discretion should the need arise, but following a commander's orders takes priority. With this being the case, Rapi hopes that her commander doesn't feel bad for her due to their relationship dynamic. Having just finished the report, she hands it off to the protagonist to proofread. While it was clear and concise, her writing made him seem overly "heroic". She informs him that reports have to be written this way or else they won't be accepted. With everything taken care of, the two head off to the Ark's Central Government office to turn them in.

Episode 2 - Heroes of the Ark[]

Upon reaching the office, Rapi instructs her Commander to deliver the certificates. She will be unable to join him because Nikkes are barred entry except for specific circumstances because they may witness a negative side of their Commanders. The commander has no idea what she means by that but after going inside, he discovers the building is full of other commanders shouting at government officials. The clerks on the other hand, are acting calm and quiet.

After getting in line, the protagonist eavesdrops on the conversation being held in front of him. Another commander is unhappy they were paid so little, but the clerk informed them that since they only performed a basic transport operation, they won't be highly compensated because of it. After sharing they lost two Nikkes in the process, the clerk informs them an operation's success depends on a commander's abilities. They were not happy that they risked their life for the betterment of the Ark for little compensation while everyone else gets to live comfortably. After nearly having security called on them, the Commander leaves in a huff.

Since it was the protagonist's turn, he submits the forms Rapi filled out and after reading through them, the clerk freezes and gives him a cordial smile. They were glad to meet the man that has spawned so many rumors. With the veracity of the reports confirmed, the employee asks how he would like to receive payment. Since all of this seemed new to him, his pay was deposited directly into his bankbook. Turns out, the commander received a hefty payout for his hard work due to the difficulty of the missions he performed. The clerk asked him to keep up the great work on behalf of humanity.

On his way to reunite with Rapi, he notices many other Commanders huddled outside of the office looking in bad shape. Since everything was taken care of, the two head off to shop for the supplies they need. While on their way to the store, the commander realizes that others in his position have things worse off than he does. Rapi shares that many are led to believe that Commanders are elite figures who have undergone a proper education at the military academy and are heroes who work with Nikkes in order to reclaim the surface. In reality, their "proper education" is tantamount to a year of brainwashing. They are indoctrinated to believe that they will be the ones to protect humanity and Nikkes are their tools towards those ends. As a result, the mortality rate for Commanders is high, given their lack of actual education and empathy for their Nikkes. To make things worse, they fail to receive payment if they fail a mission since wages aren't a thing and they are paid upon completion with the amount determined by the potential dangers faced.

Rapi compares being a Commander to being similar to a mercenary. While they are to believe they are above humanity and meant to rescue them, once they face the horrors on the surface for what amounts to very little payment, they take their frustration out on others or do even worse things. Despite this, very few in the Ark are aware of this because the vetting process for Commanders is very tight and competition to become one is very strict.

As for how they are paid, an operation report voucher is a slip that can be exchanged for cash if needed. As a deterrence to stop thieves from stealing from Commanders or hacking their accounts since money is all digital, vouchers are used so a Commander doesn't lose all of their funds at once. The protagonist doesn't think this method is very secure either and while there are ways to exploit this method, it has some safety measures to prevent criminals from cashing in someone else's money. For Commanders specifically, they can also be traded to receive their salary. However, they are not Commander-specific so anyone can receive payment at any time regardless if they were the ones who got paid or not. This means one Commander can transfer funds to another who's struggling. Because of how life is for Commanders, the Central Government has tried to make them appear as glamorous as possible so they become idolized to hide the downsides they face.

Episode 3 - Dead or Alive[]

The two are ready to shop and after the commander reads through the list Rapi made, he feels it doesn't come close to what they need. Since Nikkes require less sustenance than humans, the Counters need less munitions in general and Rapi allows him to buy whatever he wants. While he is still worried about her, she assures him the only things she needs are to improve her mental health. After doing mental calculations, the commander realizes they will still have plenty left over after they buy what they need. Because of this, he wants to purchase some gifts for the Counters. Though she sees nothing wrong with this and appreciates his sentiment, she will be of no use in obtaining them or finding where to get some.

After asking around, the two find the store they are looking for. Upon entering, the shopkeeper... begins to glare intensely at Rapi for a while. He informed her that they are looking for gifts, but after she asked whom they were for, she revealed she doesn't sell things to Nikkes, a unifying practice that other businesses uphold. She despises people who develop affection for Nikkes and treat them as if they are humans, leading the Ark to where it is now. She fears that treating them as such will lead to them wanting rights, committing crimes, and performing terror attacks. After the protagonist scolds her, she denies their patronage. Despite not wanting their money, he was determined to buy something from her. After Rapi insists on leaving, he reluctantly follows her lead.

While the two unfortunately visited a store run by a Nikkephobe, Rapi admits to have had encountered similar people before. Since Nikkes are weapons with a sense of self, many people are uncomfortable with them. Though the protagonist feels they should receive more credit since they are the ones risking their lives, she feels that Nikkes aren't living beings so they don't have lives to risk. Even if they did, they would not be equivalent to that of a human. Though she tells him not to worry about it, it still doesn't sit right with him. The commander also takes issue with how Rapi shows little regard for her own wellbeing. She feels that isn't necessary and just wants to buy the stuff they need. Despite this, he is determined to treat her so she suggests they can go out to eat since food doesn't discriminate.

Episode 4 - Mental Care[]

On another detour before purchasing their necessities, the protagonist wanted to stop by a restaurant since he was hungry, something Rapi was also feeling. After 40 minutes, the two enjoyed their meal and noticed the calming atmosphere and company. He was willing to order her favorite food next time, but she admits to not having one and will eat just about anything. After apologizing for making things awkward, Rapi admits to telling him this was a means to demonstrate her mental fortitude. Theoretically, Nikkes don't need to eat and can sustain themselves with their cores. So long as that doesn't take enough damage, a Nikke can live just fine. Aside from their brains, every inch of a Nikke is artificial. Though they are not humans by most accounts, they were molded to look and think like them. This leads them to use their bodies the way humans would, with pros and cons to doing so.

While this allows them to integrate with the rest of society, there are some who experience a mental breakdown when the cognitive dissonance between what they are and how they feel becomes too great. Minor infractions won't cause too much panic and anxieties to develop, similar to what happened with the Nikkephobe earlier. Major events like realizing that they don't need to eat for example, can cause drastic breakdowns. Each Nikke responds to these events differently. While Nikkes like Belorta need to eat all three meals a day to feel normal, others like Rapi can sustain themselves on one meal every few days. The same applies to sleep and hygiene since Nikkes normally don't need to worry about either, but if they don't do either, they become aware of who they are.

This has been a problem Nikkes have faced since their creations. The liquid catalysts that flows through their bodies used to be green, meaning that if they were injured, they would essential bleed green blood, which would cause cognitive dissonance. The liquid is now red to compensate for that. Other enhancements they could receive including eyeballs implanted with ultra-precise cameras, abdomens capable of housing missiles, and legs with boosters attached were discarded for the same reasons, despite how useful they could be. This is why Nikkes use firearms or other handheld weapons. If the mental dissonance becomes too great, a Mind Switch occurs...

Once a Nikke's brain can longer cope with her reality, her personality will change. On rare occasions, entirely new ones will spawn and the Nikke herself will be fine. Most of the time however... they go insane. Those who undergo a Mind Switch are called Irregulars. They become unable to function as needed as their brains are physically broken and are usually terminated. A reboot, the process of wiping a Nikke's memories as far back as necessary, can turn them back to normal, but the odds this will work are low. Rapi has heard of a rumor that there may be a way to completely brainwash a Nikke into becoming a mindless servant, but has not seen evidence it can be done.

With that being said, the Central Government places a high priority on Commanders to maintain the mental health of the Nikkes in their command. Irregular Nikkes become a liability in combat. The protagonist assures Rapi he will never let that happen to the Counters. She appreciates his concern and since she has been talking for a while, the two decide to leave.

After finally finishing their shopping, Rapi shares he may have gone a bit overboard with his spending, something he can feel from all that he is carrying. She asks him to buy only what he needs next time, but he assures her everything they got today is essential. He admits to buying so much food so they can eat to their hearts' content together. After being touched for taking her into consideration, she asks to carry everything before the two agree to share the work.

Episode 5 - Steps of Change[]

Having delivered their smorgasbord back to the Outpost, the Counters had a massive feast. Anis and Neon were full and even happier they themselves didn't have to buy the food with their money. Rapi also enjoyed her meal. Now that they finished eating, Anis wanted to repay the commander for treating them. All he wants from them is to take a nap since they ate so much. Anis hinted that Rapi intentionally told him everything and they were glad to see he is not like other Commanders. Neon however, was not aware of this. As Anis and Neon got into an argument, Rapi had a matter to discuss with the protagonist privately...

Rapi admits the conversation the two had today was intentional on her part so he could thoroughly understand the differences between Nikkes and humans. This was because while the mortality rate for Commanders is high, that is mostly because they needlessly throw their lives away. Both Commanders and Nikkes are warped into thinking they are untouchable, with the latter believing they are an immortal army made to save mankind. Since most Commanders don't consider the dangers they face, she wanted to remind him of that. She had witnessed many Commanders die by their own vanity and delusions and doesn't want him to meet the same fate. That's because he is different from the others, though she can't describe how or why.

After the commander asks Rapi if she wants him to resign... she admits that though part of her does, she mostly wants him to stay. He promises to stay alive for all of their sakes since she's here to protect him. After asking Rapi directly what she wants him to do, all she asks is for him to never change and to keep being himself. If he stays on his current trajectory, he will enact the change he wants in the world. She is curious about where he will go, who he will help, and how he will reshape things for the better. Most importantly, so long as he seeks to better the lives of those he cares about, Rapi and the others will gladly stay by his side to help him.

Assured by her resolve, the two are looking forward to working with each other and promise to look after each other.

Story appearances[]

Main story[]

Events[]

Bond story[]

Brief encounters[]

References[]

Notes

References

↑ Event, Footstep, Walk, Run.
↑ Event, Red Ash Cutscene: "Red on Red."
↑ Chapter 24, Banishment
↑ Story, Chapter 17. Cutscene: "Goddess"
↑ Mabeast#Coward
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 Advance#Once More Into the Fray
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Story, Chapter 10. Cutscene: "Beloved Comrade."
↑ Event, Footstep, Walk, Run. Cutscene: "Things I Want to Find."

[1] Event, Footstep, Walk, Run.

[2] Event, Red Ash Cutscene: "Red on Red."

[:0-3] Chapter 24, Banishment

[:1-4] Story, Chapter 17. Cutscene: "Goddess"

[5] Mabeast#Coward

[:2-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Advance#Once More Into the Fray

[:3-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Story, Chapter 10. Cutscene: "Beloved Comrade."

[8] Event, Footstep, Walk, Run. Cutscene: "Things I Want to Find."

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