Story/Normal 8-6 (Part2)/Script

[The battle ends. Dreamer and Destroyer’s offensive has been halted for the time being.]

M16A1: We’re going to pull out!
I’m going to destroy the gate now!
RO635: ...
M16A1: RO… what’s with you?
RO635: Sorry, M16. I have a very bad feeling about this, I keep thinking there ought to be a better way...
M16A1: Now’s not the time to suddenly be bothered by your conscience! We have a vital mission to accomplish!
I’ll finish my part of the job and you have to finish yours! Do you understand?
RO635: But… there ought to be other routes we can take!

[Persica cuts into the transmission.]

Persica: RO, let M16 go.
Your top priority is bringing File 7 back in one piece.
This is an order from me and Kryuger.
RO635: Eh? Persica-san...
M16A1: Don’t think too much about it, you’ll always have a chance to get your answers.
RO635: ...If that’s what you order.
M16, I’ll take you up on your suggestion. Blow the gate.
M16A1: I was waiting for you to say that.
M4 SOPMOD II: M16...
You...
M16A1: SOP2, back from scouting?
I’m going to blow up that gate. Be a good girl and stay with RO now, got it?
M4 SOPMOD II: Hey, when have I not been a good girl?
Still, M16, are you… really going to be okay?
M16A1: Haha, have you seen a more reliable doll than me?
RO, let’s meet again at home!

[M16 leaves the team and begins moving.]

RO635: Then we’ll be heading out too!
SOP2! Don’t just stand there, keep an eye on my signal!
Get moving, once we move up we’ll be able to meet M16 again!

[...]

M16A1: SOP2…
I’m sorry, you understood what I was trying to do...

[Half an hour later.]
[Boom!]
[The gate is blown open. RO and SOP2 pass through it successfully.]

M4 SOPMOD II: The gate’s open! RO, let’s go through it!
...Look! The chopper! The chopper’s just in front of us!
Where’s M16? Where is she?
RO635: Get on board first! SOP2, get to the chopper!
M16, we’re past the gate, where are you?
M16A1: …
RO635: M16？
M16! Where are you, answer me!
M16A1: Sorry, RO, there was a little accident...
The explosion just now blocked off my escape route...
RO635: Why...
M4 SOPMOD II: Oi! M16, are you in trouble?
Get to high ground, we’ll save you!
M16A1: No need for that… I’m in a place where neither you or the chopper can reach.
M4 SOPMOD II: How can you not do it!? You’re kidding, right!
RO635: Be quiet, SOP2! Let M16 act on her own!
M16, hide yourself well! The Commander will think of a way to save you!
And Persica-san, I’m sure she’ll-
M16A1: ...Say no more, RO.
Take care of SOP2 and complete your mission.
RO635: M16…
RO635: Is this what you meant when you said… “enjoy the present”?

[M16 does not answer, but simply makes a sign.]
[A perfectly ordinary sign.]

RO635: M16A1…
...Thank you for what you said to me.

[She hears it, and answers with a smile.]
[The chopper slowly draws away, and her form gradually shrinks, until she’s nothing more than a tiny spark.]
[Surrounding by smoke and icy ruins, the spark sinks into Base 0.]

[Will we meet again? I don’t know…]
[I just felt like she was lying from the beginning.]
[She never intended to come back in the first place. Everything she did was to save that person.]
[And she knew, better than we did, what that person meant to her.]
[“... I have my own priorities and I make my own decisions.”]
[“I change my actions depending on the situation, RO. You may not know that…”]
[And indeed, I only realised that too late.]

CHAPTER 8: SPARK - TO BE CONTINUED

[Please continue reading the Emergency Missions.]