Story/Emergency 8-4 (Part2)/Script

[...]


M16A1：...Per...sica...
I… extracted the files...

Persica: ...
Well done, M16.
Have your drone send them to 16Lab.

M16A1：I’ve already done it, along with the gear you gave me...
I never used it, and I hope M4A1 won’t have to either...

Persica: She’ll make that decision when the situation calls for it...

M16A1：Hah, yeah… she’s smart...
Unfortunately, she’s too smart. An indecisive AI isn’t suited for command. You should really have designed her to be more decisive.
Or rather, I should have been stricter with her… unfortunately, I won’t have that chance...

Persica: Perhaps… but you were definitely helping her all the way.
Did you know? M4’s behind me now. What you’re saying now will be synced with her neural cloud.

M16A1：Why would you do that?
Persica: To stabilize her digimind.
I’m trying to unlock the limiters on her. Forcibly waking her with technology will drive her digimind berserk.
Your voice can keep her calm and at ease. It’s essential in order to repair and adjust her AI persona.

M16A1：Limiters? Adjust? I don’t think I quite got that...

Persica: M4A1… this time, I’m not just trying to awaken her.
When she comes to, she will be more reliable, and stronger...
...That will be how she originally was.

M16A1：Hah… I can’t imagine an M4A1 like that.
Unfortunately… I won’t be able to see her.

Persica: Do you regret it, M16A1?

M16A1：How could I regret it… You could say I’ve hit the jackpot.
If I really mean that much to her...

M16A1：Tch...

Persica: What’s the matter? Your digimind… is starting to destabilize.

M16A1：My head… is starting to hurt.
It’s a minor pricking pain, it’s not serious, just annoying… is that what Parapluie feels like as it rewrites the digimind?

Persica: Perhaps… but AR15 never reported anything like that.

M16A1：Perhaps she didn’t want to report it. She… was always pushing herself.
And… there’s static on the channel now….

Persica: SF is rewriting some of your modules, so it’s interfering with the channel as well.
Soon, you won’t be able to hear my voice...

M16A1：Hah...
Am I missing a chance to say goodbye?

Persica: I haven’t turned off the synchronization yet. If you want to say your farewells, do it now.
M16A1：Haha, will I wake her up? Like in your fairy tales.

Persica: Would you like to?


[M16 is silent for a while.]
M16A1：M4A1...
M16A1：Wait for me to return, no matter what I become by then...

Persica: M16…

M16A1：Hah, I feel a little embarrassed...
But that’s all I have left to say...


[With that, M16 stretches her back.]

M16A1：In any case, there’s nothing left for me here, right? That makes things easy.
I should say goodbye while my will is still my own...

M4A1：M16…

M16A1：...!

M4A1：M16…
Don’t go...

Persica: …！

M4A1：M16… Don’t go…!
M16A1!


[As I was lost, I glimpsed hope at last.]
[It was a reassuring and kind form, burning alone in a far off place. I knew it was the exit…]
[I caught up to it, and saw the spark grow rapidly, into a blinding light…]
[Until finally, it became the fluorescent lamp on the ceiling… and I returned from my endless dream to reality.]

M4A1：Hah…! Hah…! Hah…!

Persica: M4A1…
You’ve finally...

M4A1：...
Where… am I...
Persica: You’re at home, M4, welcome back...

M4A1：Am I… am I finally...
Also, Persica… san...
...Where’s M16?
I heard her voice...

Persica: M16…
She’s on a mission… and she won’t be back for a while...

M4A1：Is… that so...
I want… to see her...

M16A1：Really? Then you’ll have to wait a long time...


[The static in my ears drowned out the signal over the channel, and it cut out entirely. It was time to leave, leave everyone…]
[I got to my feet. Patting away the ancient dust on me was a misery. I found myself coming to grow fond of this room.]
[Of course, it wasn’t because of my deleted memories. Rather, it was the place where I had said my last goodbyes.]
[What would I become, now that I was being eavesdropped on, being spied upon… now that I had become a symbol of Parapluie?]
[At this moment, I saw someone. It wasn’t me or anyone else, but AR15…]
[What had she thought about at a time like this…]
[I couldn’t think any further. I simply sighed and hugged my weapon tightly.]
[As the old metal door creaked, I left the room.]
[“Normal people don’t wake up in the morning and think that this will be their last day on earth.”]
[Sometimes, losing everything is actually quite liberating.]
[Thump!]
[My digimind could no longer drive my body, and I collapsed to my knees like a boneless stray cat.]
[It was time…]
[After this… all I had to do was await my destiny…]


[...]

M16A1：Is that a song?


[A clear female voice rang in my ears, and I could no longer tell where it was coming from.]
[Maybe it would be good to just listen… I was so tired…]


M16A1：It shounds so nice...
Am I… finally starting to dream as well?

Dreamer: No, no, M16A1. This isn’t a dream, and neither is it an illusion.
It’s just that you’re thoroughly immersed in the SF deep network.

M16A1：...Drea...mer...

Dreamer: Ahh, I really do hate… taking care of these things...
Urgent overtime and whatnot really ruins my mood...

M16A1：...Why… don’t… you… shoot me...

Dreamer: No need to be hasty. Let me tell you something interesting.
Just now, a collapsible drone flew past…
It’s really very obvious from the air…

M16A1：Say... say what!?

Dreamer: Oh, no need to get all worked up. It was definitely shot down, but outside my area of jurisdiction.
As for who’s going to get it first… well, that’s going to be quite a struggle.
Still, that doesn’t have anything to do with you any more, does it?

M16A1：Hmph…
Don’t look down… on our Commander...

Dreamer: As you wish, then. Besides, it’s not like I really care about it.

M16A1：Then… what… do you want?

Dreamer: To be precise, our mastermind wants to see you.

M16A1：What?
I don’t see it here.

Dreamer: Oh, she’s most definitely not here...
Instead, she’s in your digimind...
Didn’t you hear her just now?

M16A1：...!


[The next day, at Griffin HQ.]


Helian: Welcome back, Kryuger-san.
Was last night’s matter resolved?

Kryuger: Thanks to Persica, it’s at an end for now.
But we can’t relax yet. The military will continue to apply pressure from now on.

Helian: Also, Kryuger-san...
About M16A1...

Kryuger: Her sacrifice was not in vain.
Reward the Commander involved in this operation, comfort the other dolls, and keep an eye on the condition of their digiminds.

Helian: Understood. I’ll follow up on that. However… if I may speak freely, don’t you think the AR Teams’ digiminds are too convenient?

Kryuger: Everything has its price, Helian.
This is the battlefield, and some things are more important than others.
Go to my office. I need to change some work plans. Have you prepared what we were discussing earlier?

Helian: Yes...
Kryuger-san… is it time for the final battle?

Kryuger: Just prepare as quickly as you can...
Kryuger: At the very least, it’s not too far off.

CHAPTER 8: SPARK - END