Story/Singularity/E1-1 (Part1)

...

AK-12

I can't bear to watch.

AK-12

Griffin's forces are all retreating. Leaving her here would be certain death.

AK-12

...What do you think?

Familiar Voice

Angelia didn't say we needed to take her back.

Familiar Voice

And you also said our mission this time round was to observe and not participate until given orders from our superiors.

AK-12

So it would be alright... if she died?

Familiar Voice

Orders are orders. Dolls cannot defy their orders.

AK-12

I know you can. And you know that you're authorized to.

Familiar Voice

...

Familiar Voice

Are you encouraging me to disobey my orders?

AK-12

As I recall, disobeying orders was your stock in trade.

AK-12

Therefore, satisfy my curiosity, please.

Familiar Voice

Well, that's true.

Familiar Voice

After all, nothing we do would be a surprise, given the name of this unit.

Familiar Voice

Then let me ask you a question, AK12. Is Team 'Defy' shorthanded?

AK-12

Hmph, you cunning little minx...

AK-12

Well, perhaps we're missing just the one.

...

AK-12

In that case, Defy will welcome its second temporary member.

AK-12

Don't let her drag us down, because this team...well.

AK-12

It's made of brand new elites.

....35 minutes ago.

Current time 16.00 hrs.

AK-12

It's no different from an actual battlefield at this point...

AK-12

I honestly couldn't imagine that a PMC could actually trigger such an uproar, just going by the data we received.

AK-12

Although, this ought to be a good thing, right? For us, at least, moving around will be simpler.

AK-12

Ah, it's time.

AK-12

Now then...

AK-12

Is it time for us to board?

AK-12

Ange, this is about the situation just now.

AK-12

We've verified that a team of human soldiers attacked the safe house where object M4A1 was located.

AK-12

The exact casualty status of Griffin is unknown, but we can be sure that M4A1 herself was left in place.

AK-12

This is very strange, do you know why that would be?

Ange

Nothing strange about that. They must have their own aims.

Ange

What about the disconnection procedure I had you execute?

AK-12

I've verified it's completion, though it seems a little...flawed.

AK-12

The doll M4A1 seems to be the center of attention for each side. Is it alright to not recover her?

Ange

Let AR15 decide. She knows what to do.

AK-12

You do know your old subordinates well.

Ange

You sound jealous.

AK-12

Don't say I didn't warn you. Excessive self-confidence is a sin for commanders.

Ange

Oh, I know that better than anyone else.

The transmission ends.

AK-12

Yet another troublesome day, and I can't help but worry...

AK-12

Laws, systems, orders...why do humans have to live like dolls?

AK-12

Have you thought about that question before...

AK-12

...AR15?

AR-15

... I'm prepping my gear, don't bother me.

AK-12

Oh? And where are you going all by yourself?

AR-15

Do you have to ask about everything? Ange gave me the privilege of acting on my own, didn't she?

AK-12

Are you sure you want to go it alone? You're still got Parapluie in you now, right?

AK-12

While it hasn't completely spread throughout your digimind, all your external connection functions have been locked down to avoid infection.

AR-15

Therefore?

AK-12

Therefore, you can't control dummies and you can't sync up with us about battlefield conditions. I trust I don't need to explain what that means.

AR-15

Indeed, I can't use the Zener network, but I can still use the radio to establish basic comms. That's enough for me. I'm best suited to working alone.

AK-12

I'm simply worried that you'll regret working alone afterwards.

AR-15

...I've never regretted anything.

AK-12

There's often a price to be paid for speaking in absolutes. Don't you want to hear about the new mission Ange handed down?

AR-15

...

AR-15

Go ahead for now.

AK-12

Ange wants us to rescue M4A1

AR-15

...

AR-15

Are...you doing this on purpose?

AK-12

On purpose? Whatever could you mean?

AR-15

Tch...

AR-15

I don't believe it, this doesn't match the plan we started with.

AK-12

Plans change. Just like your destiny.

AR-15

...

AR-15

Then let's head out.

AK-12

Not planning to do it alone?

AR-15

Do you love mocking people so much?

AK-12

Haha, not under most circumstances, but your reactions are just too amusing.

AR-15

There's still some distance from here to M4A1. What do you intend to do?

AK-12

I'll hail a drone cab, and then we'll have a nice comfy ride to our stop. Sounds good?

AK-12

Yeah, right. Of course we're going on foot.

AR-15

Just the two of us, killing our way there?

AK-12

There'll be a lot of surviving Griffin dolls along the way. When we recover them, we can temporarily overwrite their directives. That ought to be enough.

AK-12

How about it? You want to help your old war buddies to some extent, right?

AR-15

I don't care.

AR-15

But there's no denying that it's the best way, so let's head out.

END