Story Reader / Main Story / 29 Source Beacon / Story
29-18 Black Box
Gazing at the peculiar machine that seems poised to turn against you at any moment, you shoot an uncertain glance at Asimov and Teddy, who stand nearby.
Well...
It may appear strange, but this is indeed the form that emerges from assembling it according to Nanami's blueprints.
I've tested it using some keys she left behind, and it doesn't pose any danger.
But I can't guarantee whether the experience is merely an illusion created by this machine.
After all, not everyone is eager to watch a chaotic dance of code.
In any case, give it a shot. Once you step inside, I'll input the corresponding key, and Asimov will keep a close watch on the machine. If anything goes awry, we'll shut it down right away.
This key is for one-time use only. If there's information within, make sure to record it in detail.
Well... it's not like you have anyone else to depend on here.
Alright, let's go, Commandant!
You put on that oddly-shaped helmet and snap on the mask—
A wave of dizziness washes over you.
You've finally obtained the key.
No need to worry, ■ is merely a ghost drifting through the data space, a fragment of history that no longer exists.
Yes... and no.
■ is simply the echo of Dominik's consciousness, left behind before he entered Reactor 1.
■ has little time to converse and a limited opportunity to record "information". ■'s purpose is to deliver this invitation into your hands.
A scroll woven from strands of data slowly unfurls from the darkness.
This invitation, which only you can open, is meant to extend a request to you.
The mechanical voice resonates through the desolate darkness.
Are you willing to accept the test and integrate your data into "Dominik"?
Yes. To become "Dominik", sowing hope into the very soil of humanity.
To bring glory to the world, to become the new Prometheus.
Humanity needs the fire of "Dominik".
Please.
■ cannot answer that question for you.
His true whereabouts may be linked to the Ω Effect, but ■ has no opportunity to verify this theory.
That information doesn't belong to this civilization.
It's not a mistake; rather, it has pointed toward a new direction, a future rich with possibilities.
It just appeared at a time when it shouldn't have.
■ cannot discern right from wrong, yet ■ undeniably attracted a flame that humanity cannot control.
The Inver-Device was born from this; ■ is seeking to rekindle hope in this transient civilization.
Because that technology is not of this era.
No... perhaps it belongs to an even earlier time, or maybe a later one.
■ cannot provide a specific answer to your question. If you integrate into Dominik, all the answers will eventually unfold before you.
Integrate... into Dominik?
This is a path never imagined before.
But...
...
The figure hidden in the void falls silent.
■ cannot answer that question for you.
Countless days and nights sealed within the Gestalt, ■ have witnessed too many miracles of this era.
Those... are miracles that even if "Dominik" still existed, might never be replicated.
Time—there's little left. This information will soon be lost.
An emotionless mechanical voice emits intermittent waves.
Upon being uploaded to the Gestalt, this consciousness data has already been contaminated.
■ trapped itself and the contaminating memetics deep within the Gestalt, but the data wall ■ built is about to fail, ■ can only deceive it to sneak this information out.
A nascent consciousness still cannot rival human wisdom...
Even if it's a living brain made of cortex and nerve fibers, something it can never fully understand.
■ cannot speak its name directly, but "it" will eventually emerge.
Come, child.
Are you willing to accept this invitation and integrate into "Dominik"?
...
■ doesn't know.
■ is simply the echo of Dominik's consciousness, left behind before entering Reactor 1. In ■'s limited memory, ■ can't remember anything from before ■ integrated into "Dominik".
So, what is your answer?
It calls for Hassen, Nikola, Asimov, Celica...
It calls for the Task Force, the Engineering Force, the Support Force—soldiers battling for Earth's revival in Babylonia, and the people striving to survive and keep the flame of humanity alive.
What this era needs is all those who are dedicated to building a better tomorrow.
Not a vague shadow of what once was.
The spirit and will of the Golden Age will resonate forever, but...
This era needs us
Not a new Pandora's box.
...Haha, that is the answer ■ expected.
Only with such determination can one qualify to open the invitation.
Perhaps your choice... is the right one...
The dark world sinks back into silence.
Eardrums thrum with a piercing buzz, visual nerves jolted by blinding light, and tears spill from the corners of the eyes.
...Are you awake now, [player name]? Hmm?
The physiological readings suggest that [player name] should be conscious now...
You're just pretending, aren't you?
Maybe we should send this person to the Star of Life for a couple of shots.
What did you see?
You briefly explain to Asimov and Teddy what you have seen in the full-sense simulation device.
You did the right thing.
Given that we can't tell if they're friend or foe, this is the safest choice.
As for that data wall...
As for that data wall... Whether it leads to destruction or a fresh start, it needs to be torn down.
The parliament has approved the resolution, and I've already been assigned to assist with the hijacking.
The mission is set for tomorrow.
At the Science Council's testing ground.
The Oversight Committee rejected Parliament's request for direct access to the Gestalt's computing power center. Instead, they opted to carry out their operation here.
The testing ground hums with renewed energy as researchers weave in and out, diligently checking line after line of complex code.
Protocol decryption is complete.
Initiating hijack.
The giant screen projected by the terminal scrolled with the latest updates, as layers of the data wall are systematically hijacked.
—Hijack complete.
...It's here!
At the moment Teddy presses the final key, Gestalt's terminal flickers, unleashing a torrent of unknown data, with countless lost technologies cascading into the terminal's memory.
Fantastic!
Wait!
...What is that?
A deep crimson glow spills across the device monitor.
Emergency shutdown!
It's too late!
Teddy's fingers fly across the keyboard, desperately cutting off the data stream, but the crimson pixels have already engulfed most of the data.
The urgent alarms blare deafeningly, with glaring WARNING messages crawling across everyone's screens.
Warning! Warning!
The cacophony of noise spreads outward, sharp explosions resonating throughout the entire Babylonia.
We've lost contact—lost contact with all satellites!
Communication systems are down! Power systems are failing!
No sooner had the words been spoken than the hall plunged into darkness, with only the frantic red alerts flashing on the screens.
****—Engineering Force! Power repairs needed!
Almost everyone rushes out of the hall, hurrying to fix the faltering Babylonia.
Contaminated area lockdown complete—
All erroneous codes are sealed within the isolation zone, along with the lost technologies, once again packed into the bottomless black box.
Turning back, the hall stands deserted once more.
...Is this the ending you all wanted?
Is this... the legacy of the Golden Age, the legacy of Dominik that you sought?
All of this... what is it for, really?
In the Surface Conservation Area.
Alert! Alert! Abnormal Punishing Virus concentration detected!
Everyone, quickly retreat to the Clean Zone!
Hearing the piercing alarm, all the residents working outside drop their tasks and rush back to the Clean Zone.
The child, clutching two small pots with seedlings, cannot keep up with the adults and falls hard to the ground. Before a cry can escape, an adult scoops the child up by the collar and hurries back inside the conservation area.
Elean... my bottle, the one Liv gave me, it's broken...
The child's grubby little hands tightly hold the shattered serum vial.
...
It's okay. We have plenty of other containers. We can replant them.
Hmm...
The gate to the Clean Zone slowly closes, and those who don't make it back in time begin to show red lesions on their skin.
Elean...
Are we going to live like this forever?
...
Lane.
She crouches down, gently wiping the tears from the child's face.
I... I don't know.
But I do know that we need to survive. We have to keep going.
One day... one day we'll understand what all of this was for, and why we had to suffer like this.
Then... what about now?
Right now... we just have to survive. We must survive.
She pulls the child close in a tight hug.
