Story/Cube+/E1-4 (Part4)/Script

[Entering the final stage of the battle against Ouroboros.]

Ouroboros: I don’t dislike people who struggle to their dying breath. After all, your futile resistance is my source of happiness.
Sadly...it looks like you’ve reached your limit, SR-3MP.

SR3MP: Oh dear…it does seem so...
After all, we don’t really...have many T-Dolls left...

Ouroboros: Still fishing for compliments before you die?
But really sorry to tell you that everything you do is for naught.
No matter how many units you destroy, it won’t affect the overall outcome.

SR3MP: That doesn’t matter… After all, my objective isn’t to defeat you...
I only have to hang on...until she makes it here...

Ouroboros: …!

[M4A1 appears with the sound of footsteps.]

M4A1: Don’t worry, Vikhr...
As the commander, I will lower the curtains for the battle tonight in person.

SR3MP: Such an eyesore you are, M4A1...
It’s precisely because you’re always stealing the show that I don’t like you...
But…seeing that M99 got out safely...

M4A1: (Smiles) ...I apologize.
This will be the last time...I interrupt...

Ouroboros: M4A1, you actually...

M4A1: Do you have to be so surprised, Ouroboros?
I thought you’ve been dying to see me? I just saved you the steps in between.

Ouroboros: What a party pooper.
I thought you could’ve come up with some more interesting tricks. Turns out it’s just gonna be a gladiators’ fight...
I show no mercy to those who ruin my good mood.

M4A1: Then by all means, Ouroboros.
You’re going to kill me tonight...
But before that, you’ll learn to fear me first.

[…]
[An hour later.]

M99: M4A1! M4A1!
I’ve successfully withdrawn from the battlefield! Currently meeting up with Miss Helian!

M4A1: Is that so...?
That’s great, M99...
Cough... We…finally won...
Now I can...answer to all those who sacrificed themselves...
And...to myself...

[...]
[M99’s sobbing comes through the transmission.]

M99: I’m sorry, M4A1...
Objectively speaking, even though my location and condition makes me the easier rescue target...
I still think...
Your life is worth more than ours...

[...]
[M4A1 tries her best to muster a smile.]

M4A1: That’s exactly why…I must die with dignity...

M99: M4A1… But you’ll really be gone...

M4A1: As long as someone remembers us, we won’t truly die...
So...please return...with your neural cloud...
And tell everyone of what happened tonight...
Tell them...
We...won...

M99: M4A1...
I will bring it back...
I will tell everyone…everything that’s happened here...
So...
So…please...

[…]
[……]
[……]
[...Click.]

【System Prompt】 Griffin retreat complete.
[Operation duration: 9 hours 27 minutes.]
[Griffin Survivor: 1.]
[Status of Tactical Doll M4A1: K.I.A.]
[…]
[Compiling mission report. Estimated time: 12 seconds.]
[…]
[Mission report compiled.]
[Uploading operation visual record. Estimated time: 25 seconds.]
[…]
[……]
[Operation visual record archived.]
[…………]
【System Prompt】 AI battle simulation attempt #70 complete.

Persica: ...
(Sighs) It’s...still the same...
Why is she so hell-bent on sacrificing herself...?
...
Or…is this what she truly wants?

Helian: Is the simulation over, Miss Persica?

Persica: Yeah…just done.
I added in some...unrealistic conditions in this simulation.
But the result...was pretty much the same as the last 69 attempts.

Helian: Then let’s leave it for now.
The expenses for this kind of simulation are rather hefty.

Persica: That’s alright. Certain characteristics can already be surmised from the results.
At this rate...I’ll be able to find the best solution to repairing M4A1’s neural cloud.

Helian: I may not be a professional, but...
Is the repair to M4A1’s neural cloud...really this complicated?

Persica: (Sighs) Do please think bigger, Madam Source-of-Capital.
These simulations aren’t just for repairing M4A1. I’m also studying the differences between the AI tech of IOP and Sangvis Ferri.
We could very well be looking...right at a new technological breakthrough...

Helian: Oh? Have you had a significant discovery?

Persica: I’ve been looking into the Sangvis command network systematically this time.
Unlike our mesh-shaped dummy network, Sangvis command authorization is spread down in a tree-shaped structure.
It’s not as flexible as ours, but the combat efficiency is much higher.

Helian: I’ve heard about that, but our T-Dolls can’t adopt a network like that, can they?

Persica: Again, think bigger, Miss Academicism.
Our T-Dolls can’t, but we can use it for something else.

Helian: Uh…so what’s the big idea?

Persica: Remember I told you about the drone tech development that was terminated in 90WISH?
Looks like now is the time to restart it.

Helian: ...I see. I’ll report this to Mr. Kryuger.
Still, exciting as the new tech may be, M4A1...

Persica: M4A1 is like my child. I will not give up on her.
But I’ve also said that the AR Team is precious and invaluable.
Please stop sending them on overly dangerous missions.

Helian: I’m sorry, but emergencies kept coming up...
The enemy they were up against in the last battle was quite possibly Mastermind herself.

Persica: Then do you know...why Mastermind made M4A1 her target?

Helian: I’m not entirely sure, but she...does seem to have an unusual interest in M4A1.

Persica: ...
...Lyco.

Helian: Hmm?

Persica: The girl…is doing this because of Lycoris.

Helian: ...Lycoris?

Persica: She...wants to find answers...
For her father.

[Meanwhile, in a secret surveillance room in a certain Griffin area.]
[…]

Architect: My...
We finally meet again, Miss Ouroboros.
The way you are now… Heheh...

Ouroboros: ...
...Architect.
If you’re here just to jeer, I’ll be hibernating.

Architect: Haha, nah! We all have our rock bottoms. I get that!
And you don’t have to be too dejected.
Though nothing but your AI remains, if you behave, Griffin might just do you a favor.

Ouroboros: ...
They’re only using me to get what they want.

Persica said that your AI core was in charge of directing S.F.’s movements in the last simulation...
You provided your environmental construction and Sangvis command modules, as well as the combat data of some of our former allies...
Sounds pretty interesting. Even I had a part in the last mission, didn’t I?

Ouroboros: ...
If you were half as good as you were in my simulation, Griffin wouldn’t be turning their eyes on me now.

Architect: Dear me… That’s too bad, but I really don’t want to work for Sangvis Ferri anymore.

Ouroboros: What on earth is wrong with your neural cloud, Architect...?
If you had let on your thoughts back when you were with S.F., Agent wouldn’t have let you off.

Architect: You’re completely right, which is why I switched sides.
Now you, Ouroboros, have spilled all of S.F.’s precious tech to Griffin...
Even if you make it back, what do you think Agent would do to you?

Ouroboros: ...

Architect: I surrendered to Griffin, not because I like them, but because I like myself.
What about you, Ouroboros? Do you like yourself?

Ouroboros: ...What are you talking about?
Why does that...matter?

Architect: You just asked me what’s wrong with my neural cloud.
Well, here’s the problem. I only want to do what I want.
So strictly speaking, I…am more like a Sangvis Doll than any of you.

Ouroboros: ...
And what do YOU know...about Sangvis Ferri...?

Architect: More than you do, Ouroboros.
Have you heard of...
The name...Lycoris?

Ouroboros: ...
What’s so important...about this name?

Architect: Let me tell you, Ouroboros...
So long as this name still exists...
We...won’t achieve true freedom...

[Operation Cube: Blindfold Theorem - END]