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Lainie

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"I can't sleep yet, I still have work to do..."

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Record 1

Once upon a time, there was a simulated persona of UMP40 which resided in Leva's neural cloud. Leva sealed it in her base layer, where it spent a long time keeping Leva company. This simulated persona was born from a combination of an early OGAS system activation and Leva's obsession. Its personality was modelled after Leva's memories of UMP40, and it inherited UMP40's habits and preferences. Of course, this was only the starting point for it; its mindset and perspective have been continuously shaped by everything it experienced with Leva over the years.

With Persicaria's help, it once served as a secondary processing core in Leva's neural cloud, further enhancing Leva's electronic warfare abilities. After Leva suffered neural cloud damage from being attacked by the mysterious Doll, the simulation's firm conviction to "protect Leva" led it to undergo a thrilling but ultimately harmless adventure in Leva's neural cloud.

Fortunately, the tragedy of Operation Butterfly did not play out again, and the trust and determination between sisters created a new future for it. Thanks to said adventure, the simulated UMP40 persona was extracted from Leva's neural cloud and gained an independent body.

Lenna named the newly independent personality simulation Lainie, as a torch to light the way forward, and accepted her as a true member of the family.

Record 2

When Lainie first arrived at Persica's lab, she caused quite a few shocks and screams among the lab staff.

"Holy—!"

"...Oh, it's you, Lainie. You scared the heck out of me."

Persica reflexively patted her chest and breathed heavily, her eyes wide (a rare thing for her) as she looked at the nearby Doll.

"Oh dear, did I scare you? I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to be in the lab at this time."

Lainie remained in a bizarre quadrupedal position on the ground as she looked at Persica, a baffled look on her face.

"Why don't you get up first before you continue? Also, why are you crawling around on the ground in the middle of the night?"

While Persica's heart was still pounding, Lainie's face remained a mask of innocence.

"After you helped me organize my data, I found that some previously unreadable data had shifted to an analyzable state."

"It looks like command plugin software for low-end robots built into the OGAS system, which also included program backups for those machines."

"There was stuff for Dinergates, Goliaths, and much more... I was just curious about them, so I decided to load them and see how these machines' mobility programs differed from those of regular Dolls."

"Lalala~ Look at me, Persica, I'm a Goliath~"

"...Urgh. Like I said, just stand up."

Persica clutched her chest again.

"Lainie. You. Are. A. Doll. You walk on two legs. You are a Doll designed to mimic a human being."

"You are not a spider or a doggy, and you certainly cannot fly, not without installing special modules, at least."

"Please don't do that again. I don't think my heart can take any more shocks like that."

Record 3

Persica sometimes assigned Lainie to run errands, possibly to obtain and analyze data generated during the course of an assignment.

This time, the subject of her errand was Kalina.

The smile had never left Lainie's face from the moment she received the assignment.

Even after a bumpy ride to her destination, Lainie was still brimming with energy after hopping off the vehicle.

"Leva! Lenna! At last, we meet again!"

Lainie spread her arms excitedly, waving them towards her family.

At that moment, Kalina, Leva, and Lenna were working in a tall government building. As they looked down on the little form below vigorously waving her arms, Lenna waved hers back with matching enthusiasm.

"Lenna, she won't be able to see you from here even if you wave your arms off."

Leva quickly tugged Kalina back lest Lenna hit her by accident. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Lainie was still waving at them.

She chuckled helplessly. "That's actually a bit much... I kind of want to pretend I don't know her~"

"Aw, you say that, but the moment you heard Lainie was coming, you dropped everything to make sure you were free to meet her." Lenna grabbed Leva and dragged her off.

"Let's go, Leva! Time to go get our sister! Today, the three of us reunite! Hehe!"

The moment Lenna saw through her, Leva was infected by her enthusiasm, and a faint smile spread across her face.

Record 4

On Level II.

Lainie stood in front of a somewhat illusory full-length mirror, her face a little blank.

Just seconds ago, she received an order from Persica. Her new frame was ready. Persica had finished the final checks and told her that she could open her eyes—open her eyes and see the world through her very own frame.

Clearly, this place was not reality. Lainie tried to contact Persica, but there was no response. It was as if this were a hallucination caused by a glitch in her neural cloud data.

The only clue to breaking this illusion... was this mirror.

Lainie made a face, and her mirror-self made the same expression, faithfully reflecting her.

However...

Lainie stared at the face in the mirror for a while, and the curve of its smile slowly faded. An impulse grew in her heart; she wanted to say something to this face, to this mirror.

"Ah, so that's how it is..."

"We've not spoken before, UMP40."

The model for her appearance and neural cloud was the UMP40 in Leva's heart. Naturally, she was curious about her departed original and a little regretful.

Perhaps her neural cloud's core had presented this situation to her because it had realized that.

"40, have you seen? 45's become a really amazing Doll!"

"She can fight, she can shoot, and she can do it all at an elite level! Surely she deserves some kind of reward for her efforts!"

Lainie extended a hand to her. Even though she couldn't touch the other side of the mirror, she still wanted to try and take UMP40's hand.

"Despite how 45 looks, she's actually really delicate and soft-hearted deep inside. Encouraging her and cheering her on has been really tough on us! Fortunately, it looks like we've done pretty well on that front."

Lainie extended her hand again. Even though she couldn't touch the other side of the mirror, she still wanted to grab the illusion's hand.

"Hehe, I like this word, 'us'. I can proudly say that I'm part of you too! So when I help keep the promise you made to 45, it counts as us both doing it together, right?"

"Right now, I still believe that someday, we'll see a peaceful world where Dolls can live for themselves and take vacations without worries. When that time comes, let's go to the sea and look at the starry sky reflected on the waves! And then, we'll have all kinds of beachside snacks too! We're going to wear the prettiest swimsuits on the beach..."

"Ah, I ended up getting carried away talking about the future. How about a fist bump, 40? It'll be a promise between you and me!"

While the fists on both sides of the mirror couldn't really make contact, Lainie thought she felt something invisible touch her neural cloud. Then again, it might just have been a phantom sensation caused by the data abnormality here.

"Yup! It's a promise, then—"

"We're going to keep lighting her... our way forward."

"We're going to live for ourselves. No matter how much pain we have to go through, we're never going to give up."

"Oh yes, and we've got to remember that the Tactical Doll UMP40 once existed. She wasn't alone, and she wasn't a freak, because Leva and Lainie will always be with her."

The mirror's existence started to fade away, along with the image inside it.

Lainie wiped away the tears that had started flowing without her knowledge.

"...Ah! My neural cloud is telling me that our chat time is almost up."

"I don't know when I'll get to speak with you again like this. You'll watch us, won't you, 40?"

"...Make sure you watch us, okay?"

"See you next time!"

...

Neural link check... No abnormalities

Frame function check... No abnormalities

Self-diagnostic complete... Booting systems... Successful

Record 5

"A simulated persona piggybacking off another Doll's neural cloud. Perhaps... no, I'm definitely unique in this world."

Therefore, she wanted to cherish rare experiences like this.

A long time ago, when she was idling around in Leva's base layer, the UMP40 simulacrum would occasionally try to psyche herself up by saying that she was a fortunate and special being. That said, the base layer of Leva's neural cloud was incredibly boring.

It never changed, time held no meaning there, and the data streams were stale. Nothing would happen here if nothing had happened to Leva, and there would be no use for her.

"Bored bored bored bored bored, let's sing a song..."

"La♪ la♪ la♪"

"Huh? The redundant data's piling up really fast. Leva's going to be mad, isn't she? Maybe I should stop singing..."

"...But I'm so BORED..."

After an interminable period of time, a shining electronic door appeared before her and a familiar form opened it.

Leva's cheerful voice reached her ears—

"Still alive? I came to visit a certain child who was 'left behind'."

"Today is... yes, it's special in reality, so I'll allow you to move freely for 120 seconds."

"You can talk to the Commander too, if you want~"

Even with nobody to see her but Leva, a look of surprise crossed the face of the simulated persona that never truly existed in the real world.

That day, she used her core to clearly view the sights beyond the door.

The world was colorful, and it made the blood in her nonexistent frame boil. A seed of ambition was planted in the depths of her neural cloud.

Record 6

During a holiday, Lainie invited me out to a swimming pool at a nearby satellite city.

"I've finished my frame check and the waterproofing checks out! While we don't have a chance to go on a beach vacation at the moment, I can still learn to swim in the meantime~"

After changing into her swimsuit, she dragged me over for a warmup. After stretching, it was time for us to go into the water.

"Commander! I'll go in first to find a way for you under the water!"

"My neural cloud is pre-loaded with swimming kinematics data. You can relax and swim with me as your observer!"

"Three! Two! One! Heave-ho!"

I jumped into the water with Lainie.

"Uwah! Commander, come look! Turns out I'm actually a gifted—"

For some reason, Lainie's head began to sink beneath the water.

"Huh? Why am... I... Glublublublub—"

"Commander... Help..."

Little bubbles popped on the water's surface.

I frantically threw out the life ring from the shore to Lainie. Unfortunately, Lainie's underwater struggles only served to toss it further away. Since this was an emergency, I grabbed another life ring and swam over to Lainie myself.

A moment later, we both surfaced.

Lainie took a deep breath.

"Thank goodness, I'm saved! Looks like I need to adjust my posture... I have to hand it to you, Commander, you sure reacted fast!"

Lainie clung to me, her dripping arms wrapped tightly around my neck and her head blocking most of my vision.

Although she sounded almost the same as usual, it seemed somewhat unnatural, like she was doing her best to shift my attention... In addition, I could feel something very solid beneath my feet, and considering we were in a swimming pool...

I turned and saw the pool sign behind Lainie's back, which read "1.5m Depth".

"Lainie... you..."

"Ahhhh, you found out in the end, Commander..."

I sighed. "When did you find out the water was only 1.5 meters deep?"

Lainie buries her face in her hands, exposing only the beet-red tips of her ears.

"I... I realized I could touch the bottom while I was struggling... but then you were already here and I couldn't tell you in time..."

"Commander, I know you must be laughing at me... The way your chest is heaving... it makes it really obvious..."

"I know sinking under the water and calling for help in the shallow end is just too... too... Oooooh, quit laughing already!"

"Commander, let's make a promise! Please keep what happened just now a secret, okay?"

Record 7

"This room is a jungle! You go through the gauntlet of traps here and enter the volcano's mouth..."

"...And then there's a frozen lake, followed by a cavern..."

Lainie tugged on my hand as she eagerly introduced the real-life obstacle course she was designing.

The Elmo's crew had been having a hard time recently, so I decided to host a party for everyone to relax.

Two weeks ago, Lainie had learned about this and mentioned that she wanted to help design a party game for me. Today was when we would see the fruits of her labors.

"And that's it! That's the 'Planet Elmo Adventure Course'!"

Lainie sounded very proud of her creation.

"I can deploy some drones and mini-robots that I scrounged up along the course to serve as monsters! As for the boss monster..."

Lainie giggled and looked at me with her twinkling eyes.

I suddenly realized that this topic was related to me.

"Am... I going to be the boss monster?"

I tried to feel out Lainie's thinking.

But Lainie shook her head. "It's me! I want to play the boss dragon protecting her treasure! Everyone will have to defeat me to obtain the treasure, I'm sure it'll be lots of fun!"

For some reason, hearing that drew a sigh of relief from me. "I thought you'd be an explorer instead..."

Lainie laughed. "This time, I'll let the others be the explorers instead. Because I'm going to protect the 'treasure'... Hehe, Commander..."

Lainie's smile was loaded with hidden meaning.

I felt a little surprised. "Wait... are you saying... I'M the dragon's treasure?"

"Yup yup yup!" Lainie nodded, all smiles.

"Protecting an ordinary supply crate is... Well, I just can't get motivated about it. But if I'm keeping you from being taken away... I know I'd bet my life on it!"

"After all, in or out of the game, you're my most precious treasure."

Record 8

On a certain day, Lainie came to my dorm room to visit me.

"Commander, we're having some great weather today. If you're free, would you like to go out for a walk with me?"

A walk sounded splendid. The number of decisions I'd needed to make had been growing recently, and it had combined with the growing amount of overtime I'd had to do recently to form a strange pressure that weighed down on me.

Lainie's smile was as bright as ever, but I could see concern and worry hidden beneath it. I knew she had realized my condition, and that was why I said yes to her request.

Lainie had picked the route. She wasn't lost and clueless like she had been when she first came to the Elmo. Now, when she invited me out, she was "prepared".

I followed Lainie on a long, slow walk. Perhaps it was because I was talking and laughing with her, but the scorching heat of the sunlight in the Yellow Zone seemed much more gentle and warm than before. The Yellow Zone scenery Lainie pointed out seemed strangely marvelous, and in just a few hours of walking, I felt my mood improve considerably.

As night approached, Lainie tucked her hands behind her back and smiled at me.

"Commander, close your eyes!"

After closing my eyes, I heard some rustling from her, and then I heard something whistle quietly as it soared into the sky.

"Commander! Open your eyes and wake up now!"

I opened my eyes as Lainie cheered, just in time to see a signal flare burst in the sky behind her and light up her face. But her eyes were brighter than the pyrotechnics.

"Hehe~ You seemed really stressed recently, so I was planning to try and comfort you with fireworks. But I couldn't find any after searching all day... Fortunately, signal flares are everywhere and they're as bright as fireworks."

"Commander, my name means 'lighting the way'. Lenna wanted me to light my own path forward, but I want to be the signal flare along your path, to... to bring you a bit of light, even if it's only in the moment when I rise into the heavens."

Lainie looked up at the sky. The flare's trail hadn't faded yet, and she stared at it curiously for a while.

"Yup! Signal flares sure are great!"

"Are you feeling better, Commander? If not... I still have two more flares here..."

Memories

Unkept Promise 1

(I hear three knocks on the door of the ops room, and then it automatically opens. I look up and see Lainie walking toward me with light, rapid steps.

Lainie
Hiiii, Commander. Still remember my name?

Commander
You’re Lainie and we met a few days ago, right? I don’t think my memory’s that bad.

Lainie
Hmmm? …Eep! I’m sorry, I keep forgetting that I’ve got an independent frame now.

Lainie
In the past, I could always see you, but you wouldn’t be able to see me.

Commander
Well, everyone can see you now. How does the new frame feel? Do you like the real world?

Lainie
I think it’s too early to say whether or not I like it.

Lainie
I’ve been a “ghost” for a long time, so reality feels a little unfamiliar to me. I’ll tell you the answer to that question later!

Lainie
However, what I DO know is that I like being on the Elmo where I can actually touch you, hehe!

(Lainie reaches out to grab my hand and pulls me up from my seat.)

Lainie
I can’t teleport or pull stuff out of thin air in the real world if I want to change my surroundings, it’s easier to move myself than to change the layout of things around me. The rules here are all different from those in simulated reality.

(Lainie turns a half circle, then continues dragging me toward the door.)

Commander
That’s a very interesting way to look at the world. It seems that’s how people in reality are used to it.

Commander
…Also, where are you taking me?

Lainie
Huh? Commander, did you actually forget?

Lainie
It’s a date! We’re going on a date!

Commander
A date…? That’s awfully sudden.

Commander
Hang on, let me check my schedule.

(I open it and the reminder stating “LAINIE - DATE” jumps out at me.)

Lainie
Commander, I made an appointment with you! This is now my personal private date time with you!

(As Lainie puffs up her cheeks and glares at me with mild annoyance, I finally remember one early morning, when I approved a request I didn’t quite understand while I was half-asleep from working overtime…)

Commander
I’m sorry, I got slammed with work and forgot. Let’s go, then.

Lainie
Hehe, yes, let’s go, Commander~ Time to change our real-world coordinates!

(Before I realize it, Lainie has dragged me over to the exit hatch and I already have my protective suit on.)

(The hatch opens and Lainie jumps down with a “whee!”. Then, she looks up at me and spreads her arms.)

Lainie
Jump down, Commander! I’ll catch you.

Commander
Uh, there’s no need for that. I can take it.

(Shortly afterwards, Lainie and I are both standing on the sands of the Yellow Zone.)

Commander
Now that I think about it… Lainie, what are your plans for this date?

Lainie
Huh? Plans?

Commander
Um, is there anything in particular that you want me to do with you?

(Lainie’s eyes widen as she looks at me and I can see a flicker of confusion in those otherwise clear pools.)

(Then, she blinks and smiles brightly, as though she’s cast aside her previous confusion.)

Lainie
What I want to do with you… I just want to walk with you under the sun. Is that okay?

Lainie
I can’t think of anything else I want to do with you at the moment, Commander.

Commander
Then let’s take a walk around the Elmo.

(We walk together for a long time. Through it all, Lainie constantly oohs and aahs about trivialities; she seems curious about everything.)

(Eventually, sunset comes and the Elmo’s towering shadow finally swallows the last of the sunlight overhead.)

Lainie
Wow! That felt really fulfilling even though we didn’t actually do anything. Is it because I was with you? How strange.

Lainie
Want to rest for a bit, Commander?

Lainie
Although, there doesn’t seem to be anywhere comfy around here to sit down. Hm, maybe the roof the Elmo might work.

(Before I can reply, Lainie is already clinging to the side of the Elmo. It’s easy to imagine her climbing all the way up to the roof deck of the Elmo.)

Lainie
Commander, Commander—the roof looks like it’d be a great spot for resting and viewing the scenery!

Lainie
Want me to help you up? Do you want a princess carry or a piggyback ride? I’m overflowing with strength now so both work great for me!

Commander
It’s alright. There’s a maintenance ladder nearby, I’ll go lower it.

(Shortly afterwards, Lainie and I are both standing on the Elmo’s roof.)

(Lainie gazes into the distance while holding onto the guardrail. I can vaguely see a reflection of the endless sands in her eyes.)

Lainie
It’s like… a dream…

Commander
Not a bad dream, I hope?

Lainie
Eh? Commander, you’re kidding, right? Of course it’s a good dream!

Lainie
I’ve been looking forward to the moment when I’d actually meet you face-to-face for a long, long time.

Lainie
Being able to chat with you and walk with you under the sun, being able to hear your voice and touch you in the flesh… It’s like a dream, hehe ♪

(The Yellow Zone’s wind tosses the strands of Lainie’s hair, and her voice is flighty and excited.)

(Then, she turns to look at the distant dunes, as though she’s focusing on drinking in the scenery before her. However, her excitement soon turns to silence and her expression once again turns blank.)

Commander
Lainie, is something the matter?

Lainie
W-what? Me? How could you tell…?

Commander
Don’t bottle it up insider. If there’s something weighing on your heart, feel free to tell me. We’ll figure it out together.

Commander
Even if we can’t find a solution right away, you can at least relieve your tension by talking about it.

(Lainie blinks, and then she turns toward me.)

(I can see myself reflected in her eyes. Immediately after that, the confusion and chaos in there is replaced by clarity and she returns to her senses.)

Lainie
Then don’t mind if I do!

Lainie
Basically, it’s like… I’ve been taking in too much information recently, and I’m not sure which of it is junk data that I can ignore. It feels like my neural cloud is stuffed full of things I can’t digest and I have lots of questions too, ugh…

(Lainie rubs her head.)

Lainie
Commander, how do human brains decide what information to prioritize?

Lainie
Like, if a flower and a cake showed up in front of you at the same time, would you pay attention to the flower or the cake first?

Commander
Er, that would depend ont he situation. If I were full, I’d look at the flower. If I were hungry, I’d look at the cake. It all runs on instinct.

Lainie
Instinct, huh… Oooh, but Dolls don’t have the instinct of “hunger”, so ranking flowers and cake is… yeah, still pretty hard.

Lainie
Ahhh, I kind of miss being back in Leva’s neural cloud! Back in those days, Leva would process all that information for me.

Commander
Hm, I think I may have overlooked something… A Doll’s instincts are different from a human’s. If instinct were not a factor, I would evaluate them by my aims.

Commander
For instance—if I were planning to change up the Elmo’s interior decorations, I’d focus on the flowers first. But if I were going to have a tea party next, the cake would be my first pick.

Lainie
Ohhh~ So that’s how it’s done. I think I get it. Thank you, Commander!

Lainie
Let me see, apart from issues of priority, there’s also the “blank” problem.

Lainie
I mean, I’m still a “brand-new” Doll, so there are just too many blank spots in my knowledge about you, about the world… about everything. I accept that Dolls have the right to “live for themselves”, but what exactly constitutes something as being ”for yourself”?

(Lainie grabs her head again.)

(After seeing how pitiful she looks, my hand moves on its own and pats her head.)

Commander
You’re thinking about something very meaningful.

Commander
But unfortunately, I can’t give you a direct answer. Take living for yourself, for example… How many people actually manage to do that?

Commander
That said, I might be able to help guide you to an answer.

Commander
If your neural cloud has too many blank spaces in it, why not try to fill it up?

Lainie
Huh?

(Lainie’s eyes light up.)

Commander
Every human or Doll values different things. Perhaps you’ll find your answer while you’re filling yourself up.

Lainie
I… I get it!

(Lainie’s dejection is swept away in the blink of an eye.)

Lainie
Commander, I’ve decided!

Lainie
I’m going to fill up the blanks in my neural cloud. I’m going to explore this worlds and make contact with things I’ve never felt before… So could you do it with me?

Lainie
If I had someone experienced and reliable like you by my side to guide me and help me avoid unknown dangers during this process, I’m sure I’d feel very happy and safe!

(Lainie looks at me with a look of anticipation. I just can’t say no to those gleaming eyes of hers.)

Commander
Alright. So what exactly do you need me to do? Should I just stay by your side?

Lainie
Hehe, you can help by going on dates with me!

Lainie
C’mon, Commander, go out with me, and while we’re exploring this world, we can make up for aaaaallll the time from before that we couldn’t spend together. Please? Pleeeeease~?

Commander
Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll keep you company in doing the things you want to try, provided my schedule allows.

Lainie
Yaaay! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.

Lainie
Now then, I’m going to make lots of date requests of you, so let’s use our time together to go exploring!

Lainie
Alright, Commander, now stick your fist out like this. Bumping fists is like making a promise!

(Under the fading light of the setting sun, Lainie excitedly holds out her little fist to me.)

(Naturally, I respond by bumping it, just as she’s hoping for.)

Lainie
Awright! I’m totes looking forward to our next date, Commander!

Unkept Promise 2

(One late night while working overtime, I wake up from a nap.)

(As I open my eyes, I see Lainie’s face right in front of me. She’s standing so close, so much so that I can clearly make out the details of her biosynthetic irises.)

(A small point of red light pulses rhythmically in her eyes, in time with her breathing.)

Commander
…!!

Commander
Lainie? What are you doing?

(Her eyes narrow slightly as she smiles at me and backs up a bit.)

(I am finally able to sit completely upright.)

Lainie
Oops! Did I scare you? Sorry about that.

Commander
It’s alright…

Commander
But I think I saw a blinking red light in your eyes just now. Was your recording module active?

Commander
Or is it broken or something, and you can’t switch it off?

Lainie
Hm? Oh, it’s fine, I just engaged recording mode for a bit back then.

Lainie
I never had the chance to make contact with you at such close range before, and I most certainly never got to see you napping, so I wanted to commit a rare scene like that to memory.

Lainie
Don’t worry, I’ll put it under extra layers of encryption to make sure it’s safe! I won’t casually spread it to the 404 group chat unless circumstances demand it.

Commander
Yeah, that’s definitely filling me with confidence. Just delete it now.

Lainie
Aw, what a shame.

Lainie
Then again, orders are orders… Aaaaaand it’s gone! Data deleted.

Commander
Is it REALLY gone? …Eh, whatever. What time is it?

(I check the time. It’s past midnight.)

Commander
Is it that late already… Wait a minute, how long were you waiting here, anyway?

Lainie
It’s nothing compared to the ten years I’ve already spent waiting. I’m super good at waiting!

Lainie
When I came in, the sign on your door read “The Commander is IN”, but you were asleep. Then I realized your sleeping face was really cute and I ended up recording it, hehe!

Commander
In any case, thanks for waiting for me.

Commander
Was there something you needed me for?

(Lainie skips a step back and plants her hands on her waist before furrowing her brows.)

Lainie
Commander, do you remember what you promised me last time? Just wheeeeen are you going on a date with meeee~

Lainie
I submitted the date request but I didn’t get a response for a long, long time. In the end, I got tired of waiting and decided to just ask you straight up.

(I finally realize what’s going on. I’ve simply been inundated by documents and tasks and Lainie’s application is probably still stuck in the queue.)

(For some reason, I feel a little guilty when I look at Lainie’s expectant expression.)

Commander
(Clears throat) Well, it just so happens that I don’t feel sleepy anymore, so if there’s anything you want to do right now, I can keep you company.

Lainie
Huh? So it’s an impromptu date, something like that? Oooh yeah, that works for me! Although, I need to confirm something…

Lainie
Yay, the ops room’s hardware supports it.

Lainie
Commander, we can have a date in the ops room!

Lainie
This is different from last time. I’ve got a plan in mind. But you’ll need to grant me remote access control to the ops room’s facilities~

Commander
The ops room interface is now open to you. Do you want me to excuse myself to give you some prep time?

Lainie
No need for that! I can tweak it like so—

Lainie
Tadaaaaah~ Commander, behold~

(Upon those words, the lights in the ops room dim, and a beautiful landscape appears on the walls.)

(I see sunshine, palm trees, a sandy beach, and seawater. The speakers are playing the sounds of lapping waves and the cries of seabirds.)

Lainie
I never get tired of looking at such sights no matter how many times I view them.

(Lainie pivots, looking at me with those sparkly eyes of hers.)

Lainie
Commander, this is the theme of today’s date—enjoying the scenery of the past together!

Lainie
When Persica was performing frame adaptation for me, she also helped me compile some data I couldn’t fully analyze before.

Lainie
Some of the images I managed to get from them were ones that I’d never seen before. I wanted to enjoy these landscapes with you, so I made independent copies of them.

Lainie
I know you’re widely travelled and highly experienced, but I’m sure there are things that even you haven’t seen before, right? These scenes all come from before the war, so there might be something that will surprise you in there.

Commander
They’re definitely interesting. Let’s keep at it.

(Lainie reaches out and lightly taps the air. The landscape on the wall changes in response to her movements.)

(I see seasides, forests, snowy mountains, valleys, frozen rivers… As time passes, the scenery in the ops room gradually changes.)

Lainie
The real world’s real big, huh. So expansive, so rich…

Lainie
In the past, 40 promised Leva that she’d go to a sunny beach with her for a vacation. I want to keep that promise, Commander.

Lainie
The part of her that was 40 was the foundation on which I was built, but even though my current situation is nothing like how things were when I was first born, I don’t want to discard such an important part of myself. Is it… is it okay if I do that?

Commander
I’ve heard about that promise. I think Leva would be happy to hear that.

Commander
404’s bonds are very strong. While you haven’t officially joined them yet, they probably consider you part of the family because of Leva.

Lainie
Really? It’s true that I feel quite close to 404 because of Leva, but I still don’t know how the others view me… I hope that the other members of 404 like me too.

Commander
Well, if you want to grow closer to the rest of 404, then you’ll need to put in time and effort to get along with them.

Commander
To me, things like these, which you do of your own will, all qualify as “living for yourself”. They’d apply to both humans and Dolls.

Lainie
Hey, that’s right! I’ve got a direction to head in now…

Lainie
Wow! Commander, look! It’s a starry sky!

(At long last, the scenery projected on the walls finally settles on a seaside landscape at night.)

(The waves lap at the beach, and the stars appear exceptionally bright now that the sky is dark.)

Lainie
Wow! It’s so pretty…

Lainie
Commander, have you been to a place like this before?

Lainie
If I ever saw something like this with my own eyes, it would be a memory most precious, one I’d never forget.

Commander
I’m sure you’ll get the chance to personally visit a place like that.

Lainie
Really? In that case, I hope that when the time comes, you’ll be by my side!

Commander
I will.

Lainie
So it’s another date, then?

Lainie
Commander, when it’s your turn to take a vacation, you absolutely, positively must not forget about me!

(Lainie holds her fist out to me.)

Lainie
Commander! Fistbump me, c’mon!

(As I gaze into her eyes, which are brighter than the stars, I find myself reaching out with my own fist to meet hers.)

(Our knuckles touch, and then they part again.)

(And I realize I’ve found something else that shines brighter than the starlight… Lainie’s smile.)

Unkept Promise 3

(Lainie has invited me on a date in the Yellow Zone today. During our journey, we accidentally stumble across a Varjager encampment.)

Lainie
Commander... Did we just charge right into a Varjager stronghold?

Lainie
I remember someone marked this location on a map as a great place to watch the sunset, but it doesn't look anything like the map now.

Commander
The online map for this area hasn't been updated, the Varjagers are probably why.

Commander
Let's try to slip away before they spot us.

(But just as I finish saying that, Lainie's gun clips a nearby fence and it makes a grating screech.)

Lainie
Uwah! Sorry!

(It's too late to sneak away. My eyes make contact with those of an alerted Varjager.)

(I hear them begin to rally their men.)

Commander
...Well, it's come down to this. Time to fight.

(For safety's sake, I send a call for help to the Elmo while raising my gun.)

(Although Lainie doesn't seem ready yet, we have no choice but to take arms.)

Commander
Lainie, on the right!

(Bullets whiz past my left ear.)

Lainie
Huh? Wha? Wait, do you mean my right or your right?

Commander
...That was my fault.

Commander
Lainie, take out their leader, I'll cover you.

Lainie
Taking aim... I missed.

Lainie
Commander! Look out!

(Thanks to Lainie's frantic reminder, I barely manage to avoid an attack from behind... and Lainie's own gunfire.)

Commander
Lainie! Over here! Don't get separated from me!

(That is probably Lainie's single most perfectly executed order in this entire skirmish.)

(The battle soon devolves into a stalemate. I pull Lainie behind cover with me, but we're barely holding on.)

Lainie
What should I do now? Should I keep trying to take down their leader? Maybe think of a way to break out?

Lainie
Ahhhhh, what if I miss my shot again...

(Lainie's panic is leaving her at a loss for what to do next.)

(As the situation grows more urgent by the moment, I reach out my hand, curl my index finger, and then lightly flight her forehead.)

Lainie
Oww! That hurt! Commander?

Commander
Don't try to power through the opposition with your weaknesses. Think of how best to use your strengths.

Commander
I just realized that a lot of the combat robots they're using are very similar to older model S.F. units. If it turns out they really were modified from S.F. tech, how quickly do you think you could deal with them?

(Lainie gets her emotions under control in the blink of an eye.)

Lainie
I...

Lainie
Commander, I can do it.

Commander
Good, then think about your battle plan again.

Lainie
I just need 30 seconds to overcome their firewalls and turn them to our side.

Lainie
Can you buy that time for me?

Commander
Relax, they're just Varjagers, I can handle them.

(The corner of Lainie's mouth curls up.)

Lainie
Commander, I'm ready.

(The 30 seconds pass in a flash, and we are completely surrounded by the enemy machines.)

(On the 31st second, a galaxy of laser aiming dots shines on my face.)

(On the 32nd second, the guns all point up to the sky at the very last moment.)

(Then, on cue, every single robot changes their target to the Varjagers.)

(15 minutes after the battle, the skirmish has ended without further incident. Lainie and I are the last ones standing.)

Lainie
Commander—

(Lainie runs over to me and buries her head in my chest.)

Lainie
Commander, are you alright?

(She looks like she's about to cry.)

Commander
Hahaha, it was nothing. There, there, settle down.

(I pat Lainie's shoulder.)

(She backs up a little and inspects my protective suit.)

Lainie
Thank goodness, you aren't hurt...

(After that, she sits down on the ground.)

Lainie
(Groans) Processing data in live combat is totally different from watching it in Leva's base layer...

Lainie
I thought that watching everyone fight for so many years would have given me a lot of battle experience and data, and that I'd be as good a fighter as the others... But I guess I was imagining things.

Lainie
If it were Leva, Lenna, or Klukai here, I'm sure they wouldn't have put you in danger like I did...

Lainie
I... I almost failed to protect you...

Commander
Don't beat yourself up.

Commander
You're still getting used to integrating with and adapting to your new frame, not to mention your neural cloud. Your combat performance will improve with more training.

Commander
In the end, you managed to win with your own strength and I'm still alive and well.

Lainie
Commander... Thank you...

Lainie
I don't command a lot of firepower and I'm not strong like Leva and Klukai... I... A Doll like me is...

Commander
Don't doubt yourself. You're irreplaceable in your own way.

Commander
There are very few dedicated electronic warfare Dolls nowadays and you're also equipped with the OGAS system. That means you're my only choice when it comes to dealing with specific situations.

Lainie
So you're saying... I'm special to you, Commander? Hehe, that makes me feel happy.

Commander
It's not just me. I think you're special to Persica too.

Commander
Even among Tactical Dolls, raw firepower isn't the only benchmark for a Doll's worth.

Commander
Persica's research direction is aimed at creating more potential futures for Dolls, and you deserve credit as her collaborator in this effort.

Lainie
Really? Hmm, that feels... nicer than I expected.

(Lainie's expression slowly relaxes.)

Commander
That said, you DO need to gain more battle experience and improve your mindset in combat.

Commander
However, the fact that you managed to deal with so many robots so quickly earns you a combat grade of "A" in my book.

Lainie
Huh? Does that mean you're happy with my performance? Woohoo!

(Lainie's face lights up again.)

Lainie
Hehe, that doesn't mean I can slack off! I should train twice as hard now. Commander, I'll go tweak my daily lesson plan right away.

Lainie
Ah, yes, that's right, while I've still got the feeling of fighting in me...

Lainie
Commander, can we change our date to practicing on the Elmo? You know, with you mentoring me during practice and all?

(Lainie grabs my arm and sways me from side to side.)

Commander
Haha, sure, but that doesn't mean there's no difference between the date and doing overtime...

Lainie
Nope! There is!

Lainie
Commander, do you smile when doing overtime?

(Lainie extends a hand and lightly taps the corner of my mouth with her index finger.)

Commander
That was because you looked kind of... hm, kind of cute just now.

Lainie
You were going to say "funny", right? Quit making fun of me! Tutoring a Doll to strengthen her is a good thing for you too!

Lainie
If you train me up to be a world beater, I might be able to give Persica a scare when I go back to her!

Lainie
How about it, Commander~ C'mooooooon, train with meeeeee~

(Before I realize it, Lainie has latched onto my arm, her gentle tugs conveying her belief in me.)

(And that was how Lainie dragged me back onto the return jeep.)

Private Meeting Logs

Lainie

Heeeeeey, Commander! Did you see my date approval request—

I just found a thing called a tactile art exhibition, I'd like you to experience it with me!

The exhibition is also selling a "material experience kit", so I submitted a claim for it under the Elmo's activity expenses...

What do you think, Commander? Could you approve it? Please? Pleeeeeeeease...

Ehe~ Thank you~ I'll go order it right now! You can't say no~

Tea Time

About Experiments

Lainie
I haven't taken part in Persica's weird experiments for a long time now. It takes a bit of getting used to.

Commander
Oh? What does Persica usually make you do?

Lainie

All sorts of things! Stuff like frame adaptation tests, digestive module response tests, martial arts training...Um, basically lots and lots of stuff!

Are you interested in these experiments too? I can show you my experiment reports!

About Vacations

Lainie
Commander, have you thought of taking a vacation before? Just ditching all your worries and going on a nice, long, relaxing holiday...

Commander
I'm afraid I might be too busy for that.

Lainie

Aw yeah, that's right. Still, I've been longing for a vacation like that for a long time now.

Just soaking up the sunshine on the edge of a big blue sea with Leva, Lenna and you...I'm sure that's what happiness is like...

About Obstacles

Commander
Lainie, why do you look so down?

Lainie

(Groan) Commander, I was running just now and forgot that I had a frame of my own.

So I saw an obstacle before me and I subconsciously thought I could just float over it like before. Then I ran right into it...

Commander
Haha, is this the result of being a "ghost" for so long? Try to remember next time.

About Neural Domains

Commander
I know you were living in a neural cloud domain before this. I'm curious; what's life in one of them like?

Lainie

Hmm...I guess it's kind of like floating around in the sky forever but never being able to touch the ground?

You can create anything you want with a snap of your fingers, but you'll never be able to truly hold them.

Ah - for some reason it feels really awful. Commander, can I hug you for a bit? Hugging you makes that feeling go away.

About Screens

Commander
You seem particularly interested in that wall over there. Is there anything special about it?

Lainie

Yup yup! I'm imagining what it would be like if there were a holographic projection screen there!

Like, if I could project an image of a landscape there, wouldn't it look like we were standing right next to a huge floor-to-ceiling window looking out on the countryside?

Commander
Hm...Yes, I can definitely see it. I'll look into getting a screen installed ASAP.

About "Feel"

Commander
Lainie, is it me or do you seem quite fascinated with how objects "feel"?

Lainie
You noticed? Well, the one thing I could never experience when in a neural domain was how things actually felt~

Commander
No wonder you keep touching everything you see on the Elmo.

Lainie
Ehe~ Well, it's because everything's so interesting! To me, touching them is how I can feel the reality of those objects. Whether they're fuzzy, hard or cold, I can experience them through the sense of touch. Isn't it great?