Story Reader / Floating Record / ER07 Soaring Beyond / Story
Come see me.
...Hmm?
For a moment, his mind drifts into a daze.
Ahem...
The cold wind bites sharply as he doubles over, coughing. The wounds from the earlier attack begin to throb with a dull ache.
Did I black out again...
...Come see me.
The voice through the comm carries a hint of impatience.
...Got it, Veronica.
...
No further instructions come from the other end.
Step by step, his boots crunch through the snow as he ascends the stairs like a pilgrim on a sacred journey.
From this high rooftop, the snow-blanketed cityscape unfolds beneath, stretching as far as the eye can see.
The wind howls past as he comes to a halt, keeping a safe distance from the building's edge.
...
You know what to report.
The speaker remains facing away, with wind and snow whipping between them like a wall.
Cough... Humans continue to sow chaos here and there as usual.
There's an almost imperceptible complexity in his tone now, making him seem like a different person from when he entered the city not long ago.
But I haven't heard anything about that "usual" chaos requiring you to leave the city yourself.
The woman on the rooftop turns around, her stern expression as frigid as the winter air around her.
You're hurt. Was it the humans' doing?
Aleksei turns his head, revealing several distinct bullet holes and scratches on his mechanical arm. His hand instinctively tightens around the mechanoid memory units—something he's been desperately trying to protect.
It's just a scratch. Only the prosthetic part was damaged.
Wandering into a crossfire zone for no reason—were you trying to get yourself killed?
I was just trying to bring back some deactivated mechanoids in that area. You know, I am the best machinist in the city...
And my kin had to sacrifice themselves to protect you.
I'm sorry, I didn't expect those rebels to show up. I've managed to preserve their memory units though. If we can just connect them...
Is this all you have to offer as your explanation?
Veronica...
He lets out a soft sigh.
Tell me the truth.
...When I regained consciousness, I was already outside the city. It's been happening more often lately—maybe it's the rejection from the mechanical parts...
You should've learned your lesson by now. This isn't the first time.
...I'm sorry. I will...
Before he can finish, Veronica's features harden, evidently displeased.
It won't happen again, Veronica. When I snapped out of it, I was already in the city with that person from Kowloong. Given how tense things have been, I shouldn't have...
Hold on.
Veronica motions for Aleksei to hush. Turning her head, she listens intently, her features sharpening with renewed vigilance.
...It's happening again.
The faint sounds of gunfire drown in the relentless howling of the blizzard.
Wait for me at the Administrative Hall.
She turns and strides toward the source of the gunfire.
...It can't go on like this, Veronica.
Both humans and mechanoids have suffered for far too long in this endless cycle of conflict. The increasingly frequent clashes only serve to prove that...
—BOOM!!!
Now, the sound of gunfire rings out dangerously close.
You see it now, Aleksei?
This is what your beloved fellow humans are truly like.
Chaos erupts in the streets as the once-orderly mechanoids start to flash warning lights, electricity crackling through their metallic frames. Humans wielding makeshift weapons emerge from the shadows, ready for confrontation.
...
Head back to the Administrative Hall and tend to your wounds. I'll handle the situation here.
Don't worry about that Kowloong person. I'll take care of her by myself.
The female mechanoid turns around and leaps off the rooftop.
After parting ways with Aleksei, Hanying walks alone through the snow-dusted streets.
Most mechanoids in this city seem to merely follow their preset programming, or perhaps, they're acting on someone's directives.
But she finds that aerospace mechanoid from earlier rather peculiar. Despite there being no charging station, it stopped on its own and bowed toward that execution ground.
Such behavior resembles that of an awakened machine... If she could talk to it, she might learn more about this city.
She is in dire need of comprehending this city and locating the key left behind by Sage.
She glances back to where the aerospace mechanoid had previously stood, yet the space now lies vacant.
It left? But...
The dispersed footprints speckle the snow-covered terrain akin to droplets of ink, trailing off like an ellipsis.
Following the prints in the snow, she weaves through several alleyways. The shadows cast by buildings diminish steadily as the footprints meander across the uneven landscape, ultimately vanishing at the brink of a hill.
A sharp scent of rust cuts through the air as she realizes the rugged terrain is not that of a hill, but rather...
That of a graveyard—a mechanoid graveyard.
Rusted steel beams lie entangled beneath the thick snow, masquerading as an ordinary hill. Mechanical limbs protrude defiantly from the snow as wandering mechanoids scavenge for compatible parts—collecting, installing, discarding... endlessly repeating this desperate cycle.
Is this... the only way they can repair themselves?
Will we... meet again?
Following the voice, she looks over to find a mechanoid who, instead of using the debris for self-repair, is arranging the fragments into the shape of another mechanoid atop the ruins.
We... promised...
Yet no matter how well assembled, a shell without a core will never move again.
The mechanoids seem to refuse this reality, stubbornly fitting parts into the shells. Like a silent prayer, their signal lights flicker on and off, again and again.
There won't be... any response anymore.
We... promised...
Will we... meet again?
The little mechanoid busily repeats its "task" with mechanical precision.
An overwhelming wave of sadness suddenly engulfs her.
She feels as though she has become that empty shell herself, forced to witness her kin assembling her over and over, endlessly waiting for her return...
Such endless waiting... must be so painful...
Synthetic tears trickle from the female mechanoid's eyes as she sits down gracefully in the falling snow, slowly raising the instrument in her arms.
May this melody bring you some solace.
Her fingers gently pluck the strings, the melody flowing into the distance. The mechanoids, captivated by the music, slowly gather around her like children listening to a bedtime story.
The falling snow envelops the mechanoids in a frosty coat. Through the misty veil of snow, she notices their signal lights no longer flickering in distress.
Before she knows it, the small mechanoids wandering through the graveyard have all gathered around her, appearing from every direction.
Are you feeling better now?
Instinctively, she reaches out to pat a mechanoid's head. Seemingly unable to grasp such complex words, it simply blinks at her in response.
Thank you.
You are. Human.
Please, follow, me.
The mechanoid moves toward the place where it previously assembled its companion, pausing occasionally and glancing back to ensure Hanying is keeping up.
You are. Kind. Human.
But. Here. Human. Not safe.
Please, follow, me.
Sensing the mechanoid's intent to lead her somewhere, Hanying follows along.
This is...
The path gradually levels out, and scattered footprints appear once again in the snow.
Her enhanced optical sensors quickly discern the footprints—they belong to the mechanoid from the Foundation Plaza earlier.
Where have you been?
I went to the Foundation Plaza.
...Is it nearing that time of year already? Thank you... for always doing this for me.
She glances at her wheelchair, a bitter smile crossing her face.
Miss Yula, no thanks are necessary. I was also paying my respects to my kin.
The distant rumble of gunfire draws closer, and Yulia's smile fades, her expression turning grave.
The clashes between humans and mechanoids have been getting more frequent. The city hasn't known peace for a while now.
The girl remains silent, seemingly waiting for something.
Dimitri's shoulders slump, his small frame betraying a hint of resignation.
I'll try to stay inside as much as possible these days.
Mm. I don't mean to blame you.
Having received his promise, the young girl breathes a sigh of relief, her tone growing gentler.
You don't have any combat capability. It's dangerous for you to be involved in conflicts. And...
She glances toward a corner of the factory, where a figure in pale pink busies herself amid the bustling crowd.
I don't think we can take in any more guests here.
Another case of hypothermia... Thank goodness I brought extra portable heat sources...
Katina, your wound is still worsening... The treatment might sting a bit...
...Thank you. I didn't know you had such impressive medical skills.
Cough, could you please take a look at this kid? He won't stop crying, and I'm worried he might be sick...
Of course... He seems to have a fever, too. Do you have any extra clothes...
Under Liv's gentle care, the child stops crying, settled into another small bed in the corner.
But Miss Yula, those two refugees are helping us.
Those two... aren't refugees, Dima. That woman with white hair is a Construct.
Despite their attempts at disguise, Yulia recognizes the hair clip on the woman's head for what it truly is—an Inver-Device.
This is... something you taught me yourself.
Being one of the few awakened machines in Aerospace City, Dimitri naturally acquired some minor privileges after Veronica assumed control.
With these minor privileges, he obtained access to additional information from the outside world, which he shared with the young Yulia back then.
There are many Constructs taking refuge outside the city, and this lady is helping us.
I won't deny that, but she and her companion possess power that could pose a threat to us.
You have to look out for yourself, Dima. You can't always count on outsiders' goodwill.
I know how to identify suspicious individuals, Miss Yula.
Today, Governor Aleksei brought a strange visitor with him. After he left, she tried to talk to me, but I managed to lose her at the graveyard.
Yulia gives a slight nod. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices that the Construct has returned to her companion's side.
Everything has been taken care of, Commandant.
I never imagined the situation in Aerospace City would be like this...
Initially, you had imagined a city occupied by mechanoids to be similar to Constellia—sparsely populated yet orderly.
However, upon entering Dimitri's sanctuary, you were taken aback by the actual living conditions of the humans here.
Medical supplies are scarce, and people are displaced. According to the locals, only humans deemed "innocent" by the mechanoids can secure employment in the city that offers enough to survive.
The military's latest orders are to proceed with our investigation. Since this doesn't entail direct conflict with Babylonia, they likely won't send people into the city anytime soon.
Investigating Aerospace City is just one aspect of the mission. The communication from Asimov before departure springs to your mind...
Tsiolkovsky Aerospace City... You should be aware of this location.
It oversaw the launch mission of the Dawn-III spacecraft and conducted the research, development, and technical verification of Eden-I... This city holds considerable strategic importance.
Try to understand the situation inside thoroughly. If the data is accurate, the final structure being constructed in Aerospace City should be that... project codenamed "Bifrost".
Get me as much detailed information about it as possible... You have my thanks.
Clomp, clomp...
From outside, a strange sound reaches your ears, interrupting your contemplation.
Understood.
Despite the indoor clamor, footsteps echo loudly through the empty corridor leading to the factory.
Who's there?
Dima, hide yourself first.
Yulia grabs Dimitri's arm and urges him to hide away.
Not many know about this place... I'll stay to check if they're friend or foe. You need to hide, now!
No, Miss Yula, you should go first, and—
He maximizes his voice output capacity and shouts toward the crowd.
An unknown signal detected is approaching. Everyone, please take cover.
Panic erupts through the crowd as people push and shove their way toward the emergency exit.
Hurry, Dima! You need to get out of here too!
An unusual hint of anxiety seeps into Yulia's voice as she prompts the mechanoid beside her, all the while drawing the gun mounted on her wheelchair.
The rusty iron door lets out a hoarse screech, setting everyone's nerves on edge. The once-noisy crowd now stands frozen in place, afraid to make even the slightest sound.
A small mechanoid peeks out from behind the corner of the door.
Nia? It's you...
The crowd, seemingly acquainted with the small mechanoid, starts to stir back to life as the iron door creaks open wider.
Pardon my intrusion...
A woman in traditional Kowloong attire appears before the crowd.
A few minutes ago...
The small mechanoid's path mysteriously matches the footprints on the ground. Following its lead, Hanying enters an abandoned factory.
Distant voices and commotion reverberate through the space, still some distance away from her position.
...Humans?
The biosignatures don't lie—dozens of humans are hiding within this derelict factory.
Clomp, clomp—the mechanoid's footsteps echo through the empty factory. Suddenly, she notices an eerie silence has fallen. The previous commotion has dissipated, as though everyone is holding their breath, anticipating her arrival.
They seem to have marked her as an intruder...
Even though the small mechanoid has guided her here, the intentions of those residing inside remain unclear. She ought to remain on guard...
She cautiously pushes open the rust-covered iron door, revealing several ranged weapons aimed at her.
Her gaze sweeps across the room before settling on a human wearing basic combat gear.
Gray Raven Commandant... It's you...
This woman, though a stranger to you, evokes a peculiar sense of familiarity. Yet in your memory, you have never met her before.
Commandant... I'm Hanying. We briefly crossed paths back in Kowloong, but I've upgraded my frame since then, so you might not recognize me...
Even though you find this frame unfamiliar, there's something about her face that confirms her identity.
Oh, you remember me. How wonderful.
The chaotic scenes from that time flood back into your memory.
The mechanoid named Schulz appeared suddenly and attacked Hanying, who was supposed to be his "comrade."
Only when her vital fluid splashed out did you realize the truth—she wasn't human at all.
Even though you have only met once, her gaze toward you somehow exudes warmth and tenderness.
Perhaps there's another reason for this sense of familiarity... but the memories have grown too hazy to recall.
Hanying?
...Do you know each other?
I apologize for showing up uninvited... It's rather presumptuous of me.
I came here in search of... a friend I lost contact with long ago. Back at that plaza, I saw one of my kin, so I followed them here, hoping to ask if they had any information about my friend...
That's impossible. My tracks should have disappeared at the dumping ground.
Sensing no hostility from Hanying, the mechanoid hiding behind the wheelchair cautiously peers out to look at her.
I did lose my way at the dumping ground, but then I ran into another fellow mechanoid there...
This, is, thank you, right?
The tiny mechanoid emerges from beside Hanying's feet, speaking with a stutter.
So, you were the one who brought her here... Miss Yula, this fellow mechanoid named Hanying appears to mean no harm. Nia has told me everything that happened.
Yulia lowers her hunting rifle, yet her gaze remains wary toward Hanying.
Humans rarely refer to each other as "kin" precisely because the word is too simplistic to capture the complexity of human nature.
This hideout has always been secluded. Whether I welcome you or not hardly matters now that you're already here.
She closes her eyes and wearily turns her wheelchair halfway around, silently accepting Hanying's arrival.
