Story Reader / Affection / Ishmael: Parhelion / Story
After leaving Gray Raven, Ishmael walks alone toward the control room.
She runs into Hetero-Creatures now and then, but the creatures just wander past Ishmael like she is not there.
The pink-haired Construct walks calmly past the Hetero-Creatures toward the control room.
...Hmm?
As soon as she enters the control room, Ishmael feels something off about it.
The filing cabinets that should have been there are gone, replaced by a weird, open space.
The air in that spot is twisting and warping, and a Hetero-Creature unlike any she has seen stands in the middle of the room.
A Hetero-Creature... no, a Surge Mimicry.
You don't belong in this time.
Ishmael looks at a chair beside her.
She takes a step forward, and the chair looks like it has fallen over from another perspective.
But looking closer, the chair is still firmly standing on the ground.
Ishmael holds her hand out, waving gently.
"Displacement"...
Not just time, but space too.
Taking another step, she feels like she is walking through thick slime.
The control room looks like it is covered in the Red Tide, but it also seems to be just an illusion.
The Hetero-Creatures outside did get in through other entrances.
But not this.
This is where it all started—the "Dark Room" defense system got infected here.
But why did this place get infected?
The "Dark Room" is under attack by Hetero-Creatures, but Gray Raven can handle it.
What was supposed to happen here was "Gray Raven completing their mission by defeating the Hetero-Creatures with the residents of this base".
This control room shouldn't have been infected.
Something strange must've happened...
She ignores the Surge Mimicry, staring at the space in front of her, but her gaze seems to go past it.
Her eyes land on the distant...
Her eyes land on the distant ▊▊▆▎▂▌▁▄▊▆▄
<size=50>distant</size>
Ishmael looks down, fiddling with the dice in her hand.
No, that narration won't do. It's not the right time yet.
She stares off into the distance, gazing for a long while.
...It's not the right time yet.
Ishmael puts the dice away, her gaze cutting through the control room.
Huh? Hold on...
She squints as if seeing something interesting.
It's you...
The Surge Mimicry wails and slowly fades away. Something outside time seems to be stopping it from being there.
The "displacement" in the control room starts to dissipate.
Ishmael steps forward, like her next step will take her to another world.
Clack—
But then, something on the floor catches Ishmael's eye.
—A wooden 20-sided die.
Apparently, she has not put the die away properly.
The die has fallen onto the ground with the number 20 facing up.
Hmm... A critical fail.
Ishmael gives up her plan and steps back.
She moves to the side, quietly watching the Punishing Virus in the control room disappear.
Thought I'd run into you here.
She gives a knowing smile.
Then...
What's happening here is still "Gray Raven completing their mission by defeating the Hetero-Creatures with the residents of this base".
—Everything is as it should be.
Emergency Stairwell
Emergency Stairwell
Can you hear me, Gray Raven Commandant?
A familiar voice suddenly comes through the comms.
It's me. I've taken over the control room and removed the comms interference.
I'll be patching Lee and the base leader into the comms channel.
I'm in full control of the "Dark Room" defense system now.
I'll seal off most of the Hetero-Creatures and point you to the right path.
The large display before Ishmael has split into multiple smaller screens, showing surveillance feeds from various locations.
She can see [player name] moving down, and Lee leading the residents fighting back on B19.
Working with "Gray Raven" again... It's bringing back old memories...
She hits the broadcast button and makes an announcement to everyone in the base.
This is Ishmael. I'll be providing remote support from now on.
[player name], I've sent the best route through to your terminal.
There's a large number of Hetero-Creatures in the emergency stairwell between B13 and B14. I've blocked them off with barrier walls.
With Ishmael's info, you, Lee, and Hutu work together to get the evacuees out as fast as you can.
Ishmael's voice cuts through the static on the comms now and then.
The Type-52 light machine guns in corridor D5 on B19 are active.
...It's been... a while.
Even with her hushed voice, her odd comment has not gone unheard.
Of course, I've been a fan of the famous Gray Raven for a long time...
Alright, I've marked the armory in Zone A on B19. You can go there to resupply.
Ishmael changes the subject, marking a new spot on your terminal. Putting your questions aside temporarily, you signal Lee to lead the evacuees to the armory for weapons.
Seeing [player name] on the screen, she smiles a little.
Let's work together, just like old times.
Control Room
Five hours later
Five hours later, Control Room
After five hours of watching the monitors, Ishmael calmly presses the last button, sealing off the Hetero-Creatures that Lee and Lucia have pushed back.
All threats along the evacuation route are eliminated, and the rest are locked behind impenetrable barriers.
The screen shows the team on the first floor.
Gray Raven's mission is halfway done. All that remains is moving these 4000-plus people to the conservation area.
Ishmael turns away from the monitors, stands up, and walks to a corner of the control room.
The wall there recedes inward, slides aside, and reveals an elevator.
She steps inside, pressing the button for B21.
A moment later, the elevator doors open, and Ishmael steps into the small room ahead.
Motion sensor lights activate as Ishmael walks in. The room is hardly "spacious"—there is only a row of filing cabinets and a large computer glowing blue.
It is like walking into a strange, little library.
Ishmael walks to one of the cabinets and pulls out a box. There is only a vacuum-sealed disc inside.
Mission accomplished.
Target Conservation Area
Three days later, late at night
Three days later, late at night. Target conservation area.
Gray Raven has successfully led the "Dark Room" residents to the conservation area.
47 people died during the battle and the escape. Hutu held a small funeral for them.
Regardless, it is all over now.
Ishmael sits in a corner of the conservation area, quietly watching as you talk to Hutu and the conservation area supervisor.
A young person runs up to the conservation area supervisor with a folder. After a brief exchange, the two of them step away, leaving Hutu and you.
I must thank you for this. Gray Raven definitely lives up to their name.
Ishmael would notice how you hesitate briefly before asking Hutu a question.
Hutu visibly tenses up afterward.
Your conversation ends shortly after. Hutu leaves with his head down, looking somewhat shameful.
As Hutu walks away, Ishmael comes over.
Hey.
I just did what I had to.
What were you two talking about?
Is it something you'd rather not say? If so, you don't have to answer.
Ishmael gives a knowing grin.
Because he doesn't trust Babylonia?
The pink-haired Construct frowns, looking a bit confused.
Why was he so set on risking a move to the conservation area?
I inspected the whole "Dark Room" while I was in the control room—there were still tons of supplies inside.
After we got rid of the Hetero-Creatures, they could have lived there for another ten years, however high the Punishing Virus level is outside.
Ten years... Isn't that good enough?
Hope?
Hope, huh...
Ishmael thinks about that word over and over.
It feels like forever since she had "hope", but how long has it been?
She has been on a long journey, so long that her memories are a bit blurry.
Does she, as she is now, still hold onto "hope"?
Time changes a lot, but some things leave a mark, like that die...
...Please wait a moment.
She calls out to you, who is about to leave.
I have something I want to give you.
Ishmael pulls out a wooden 20-sided die from her pocket and hands it to you.
This is... "hope".
Seeing the die in your hand, Ishmael seems momentarily taken aback.
Keep going. Don't stop, just keep going.
That's what the person who gave me this die used to say.
It's yours now.
The conservation area supervisor comes over. It seems that they have sorted things out.
It appears that you are needed.
Ishmael smiles and says goodbye before walking into the crowd.
She sees a little girl asking a guitar player to teach her, and he smiles and agrees.
Watching the crowd, she listens to the sound of guitar swell again.
The twilight disappears from her view, and the cold, snowy wind hits her face again.
They have hope for the future, so they refuse to stay in a tomb...
The singer's voice echoes in her ears as Ishmael tightens her cloak and watches the bonfire dance.
Can you still bring them hope this time?
