Story/Normal 9-1 (Part1)/Script

[A week after M16A1 went missing, in the AR Team’s temporary safehouse.]

RO635: Hey…SOP2.

M4 SOPMOD II: What is it?

RO635: Does the AR Team usually run into situations like these...

M4 SOPMOD II: What do you mean?

RO635: Like now… when they lose contact with HQ, are surrounded by hundreds of SF in a run-down and ugly factory, and have only one magazine left...

M4 SOPMOD II: Well… a year ago, I was in kind of the same situation when I lost contact with M4 and the others, only there weren’t as many enemies...

RO635: Which means… it’s worse now?

M4 SOPMOD II: Mm… kind of?

RO635: Yeah… yeah...

[RO suddenly gets to her feet.]

RO635: And you still opened fire at SF all of a sudden! Didn’t we agree we were going to sneak past that sentry post!?

M4 SOPMOD II: We could never have snuck past them in those conditions, could we?
So why not make the first move rather than let the enemy find us first?

RO635: I already disguised our signals, those low-level SF mooks couldn’t have told us apart from them!

M4 SOPMOD II: Even if they were looking right at us?
Wow… was it really so awesome?

RO635: Of course it’s awesome… No, wait! What I mean is that you have to trust me. I’m a commander and I won’t throw myself into the fire for no reason, understood?

M4 SOPMOD II: Yes, yes...
Still, that sounds really amazing. Is that some new 16Lab technology?

RO635: Hmph, the more impressive thing is that I can now count the number of enemies behind me as I run.

M4 SOPMOD II: But we’re not running now...

RO635: That’s why I said “now”! They’re surrounding us, get a move on!
Would you like to guess how many SF are chasing us, you troublemaker!?

M4 SOPMOD II: Lemme see… about a hundred?

RO635: Don’t bother looking, just keep running!
Ahhhhh! Commander, please! Find our position soon!

[A day earlier, in Griffin HQ.]

Kryuger: …What is it?

Helian: Kryuger-san, about the search for M16...
I believe there’s no need to continue looking. Pouring any more resources into this would only be a waste.

Kryuger: Losing an irreplaceable high-end doll is an intolerable state of affairs. We should not give up as long as there is still hope.
Besides, I gave that Commander my word.

Helian: Yes...
Speaking of which… will you really be taking the Commander with you to the dinner?
I believe it is not appropriate for someone of his rank to attend such an event, at least in terms of information security… I would advise you to reconsider.

Kryuger: The Commander has a right to know what’s going to happen, especially since we’ll have a hard fight ahead of us. This is to guarantee our future victory.
You’ve had more contact with the Commander than me, so you should know better. And right now, we have precious few avenues of retreat.

Helian: …I understand.
The Commander ought to be here soon. I’ll arrange for the two of you to meet as quickly as possible.

[At the same time, in the command room…]

M4 SOPMOD II: Really? Commander, we can keep looking for M16?

RO635: I can’t believe you actually persuaded Helian-san… you’re amazing, Commander!

M4 SOPMOD II: But we already swept the area where M16 vanished earlier, and we didn’t find any clues...

RO635: That’s true, but it also shows that M16 left that area on her own.
If she had encountered SF, there would have been signs of a firefight, don’t you think?

M4 SOPMOD II: Oh yeah!
That’s right! I knew M16 wouldn’t let herself be taken without a fight!

RO635: Therefore, we hope you’ll continue backing us up, Commander.

M4 SOPMOD II: Eh? You won’t be going to the frontline this time round, Commander?

RO635: The Commander has an important task and has to go back to HQ. However, the Commander will still be supporting us remotely, even if he’s not in the field.
Commander, M16’s disappearance is our duty, and I hope M4 will return to an AR Team at full strength… at least, as of my joining...

M4 SOPMOD II: RO… I’m sure it’ll be fine, there’s nothing to fear with the Commander around!
Let’s head out as soon as possible, M16’s still waiting for us!