Story Reader / Floating Record / ER06 When Day Breaks / Story
The mine lies in darkness, with only the weak red lights of malfunctioning machinery blinking in the gloom.
That last hit seems to have damaged parts of Trojan's frame. Vital fluid leaks from her forearms and ankles and drips steadily onto the ground.
Why didn't you go with them?
Taking a step back, Bridget keeps her wary eyes fixed on Trojan.
While Trojan has saved her life, the current situation makes it impossible for Bridget to fully trust the Construct before her.
...I really did plan to evacuate with them.
But the doors suddenly locked shut when I got in the elevator... The damn thing was built like a tank, and I had to use all my strength just to break it open and escape.
I dropped down the elevator shaft into this... um... hell if I knew where this place is. Hadn't even walked around much when I heard something over here.
Whether you believe it or not, that's exactly what happened.
Trojan doesn't appear to be lying.
If she were here on Kurono's orders to clean things up, she could have used any number of access cards to get through without ending up so... disheveled.
With wounds wrapped in bandages in a rush, Trojan wears a look of irritation.
I really hope my penny-pinching boss is willing to cover the damages, or this frame repair is going to cost me an arm and a leg...
I should've never come down to this cursed place. Were those memories really worth all this?
The nights without memories to look back on aren't so bad with some beer-like alcohol-flavor electrolyte. It's not even that expensive...
...You can get approval from Support Force to have your frame fixed.
Woah, really?!
Of course. Since you were assisting Support Force with this mission, I have the authority to request funds to get your frame fixed.
Well then, guess I'm gonna take you up on that offer, then.
...That's fine.
Trojan's hands freeze mid-bandaging as she turns a suspicious gaze toward Bridget.
You seem... a little upset?
...Sorry, I'm not very good at hiding my emotions.
In that mine tunnel we just passed... I saw my parents' belongings.
According to the rescue team's code of conduct, if anything happens to rescue workers, the responsible party must issue an accident report!
Dead or alive, I won't let them hide in the darkness forever.
I will find the truth of what happened to my parents. I refuse to let them fade into the darkness without a trace.
Ripples spread through Trojan's M.I.N.D. as hazy memories glint like shards of glass that reflect a blinding light.
...!
The "truth"?
...You remember now?
Nope.
Just some... very fragmented memories. Probably even more shattered than that Corrupted you just blasted apart.
Some things are better left forgotten.
You're probably right, but I'd rather remember.
With no signs of Corrupted in the vicinity, she allows herself to loosen up a little and lean against the corner of the wall for a rest.
Nothing but more trouble.
Maybe so, but what's life without its troubles?
Some things I remember very clearly, like...
My only failure was during a "rescue mission" here, back when I was still a rookie.
...
Though those memories are gone now, Trojan knows full well that Bridget's "failed rescue mission" was the very one that saved her life.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Really? Your medical rescue report doesn't specify who saved you?
...I honestly don't remember much about it.
Norman's researchers already told me that because of, um, because of the unique nature of my frame, the damage to my M.I.N.D. would be difficult to repair unless certain... certain issues could be completely resolved...
So, up until now, I've only been able to remember... a tiny fragment of my earlier memories.
Oh... I'm sorry.
It's alright, I don't really feel any regret about it.
I mean, I have this vague feeling that I probably wasn't a very good person before I lost my memories.
But from what I've seen, you've always been every bit the model instructor.
Hah... An instructor? Oh boy, never thought anyone would see me that way...
Trojan raises a finger to her lips, signaling Bridget to be quiet, then presses her ear against the rock wall to feel the tremors.
She seems to hear the sound of that "person" catching up to her.
It's not quite safe here yet... Let's keep moving forward.
Further ahead...
On the map An Jie gave you, you see that the general locations of things match up with where they actually are, though a few marked labs are actually traps.
We're at the bottom level of the mines now. The monitoring room is just up ahead.
The monitoring room...
Hmm... it's a bit of a pain, but I think we could request to use the elevator in the monitoring room that goes straight down...
A slight sting in her M.I.N.D. prevents her from pursuing that train of thought any further.
To the monitoring room we go. Those cunning bastards always leave a back door at the most critical area.
That's most likely going to be the mine's core control room.
Menacing footsteps echo through the corridor.
Can't... can't change it...
The footsteps pause as he appears to notice something and turns toward where the lights just came on.
There... you are...
For... the honor...
