Story Reader / Extra Story / EX03 Lost Chapter / Story
The end of the passage glows red from the alarm.
Unable to see the other side of the wall, HNB1 readies his weapon and nods to HBG3. Whatever comes in will be destroyed by their coordinated attack.
————
Wait!
Ahh!
A stone flies through the dust, bouncing off of HBG3's chest and rolling to HNB1's feet behind him.
The dust disperses, revealing a human standing in place.
Scanning<<<<Assessing danger level<<<<
Don't attack. It's a human.
...
More precisely, it's a child.
D-don't come any closer!
The child in front grabs a small stone beside her, holding onto it like a weapon. She clenches her lips and her eyes brim red. Eyeing the two Tai'E units cautiously, she seems to be looking for an opening to escape.
Greetings. We mean no harm. Did you come in from outside?
Go away!
The girl throws another stone, but it bounces off HNB1's face with a clear "ding."
Hey, kid! Relax! Do you know how expensive I am?
Sensing increased heart rate and breathing. Emotional analysis indicates level one fear. Possibility to attempt escape—97.25%. We won't attack you, and you can't run away from us. Please, cease from resisting.
HBG3 puts the weapon down and quietly steps back.
...Alright alright, guess there's no other way.
Here kid, I'll drop my weapon too.
...
Where are your parents? Why are you here alone? Oh, you hurt your knee... Are you okay? Are you separated from your parents? What's going on outside?
HNB1, can you please turn off your human emotion module? It's interfering with my analysis.
If you don't bandage your wound, it'll get infected. Look... Hey! Wait!
Right as the Tai'E units are talking to each other, the girl uses this opportunity to slip between them like an alerted deer.
Please, halt—
Hey—! Now you're kicking me! I'm expensive!
HBG3 stretches out its huge steel hand and picks the girl up. The girl screams in the air and kicks her legs in vain.
You're safe now, human child. We have rescued you.
Let's see. There's sand in your wound. Looks serious...
There is an 82% chance of scarring.
...
Her hostility against you has increased.
Thanks for the explanation. But I'm pretty sure she's trying to punch you in the face, not me.
I don't care about... Ow!
Don't move. We need to sterilize the wound, or it will get infected.
Through my analysis of past human habits and behaviors, the non-therapeutic act of blowing on a painful wound can achieve psychological comfort.
I mean... it's not like you can blow air!
I have a ventilation system installed on my back. Want to give it a try?
HNB1, there is a 35% chance that the human will be dragged inside your ventilation system if you were to use it.
I'm just messing with her. I'm not one to hold grudges against some little girl—Alright, done! Here's a pretty bow tied up and... you're good to go!
You two are weird... But you don't have the virus... Thank you, I guess.
By virus, do you mean the effects of the "Punishing Virus"? May I ask, what is that?
Daddy said... The Punishing Virus will hurt people and make robots sick.
Robots?
Sick robots will... attack humans.
There are too many sick robots, so people have to fight them.
We were supposed to drive to a safe place. Daddy said a big boat would take us away, but our car was stopped. So Daddy told me to run first and he would pick me up.
Daddy told me to... stay away from mechanoids... and keep running to stay alive.
So I ran the other way... I ran for a long long time...
The girls eyes brim with tears and her nose sniffles as she shakes her head.
I ran for a long time until I ended up here.
You just mentioned a safe place. Do you know where that place is?
I don't know...
How does the virus spread? Is it airborne or...
I... I don't know.
...
...
If they were planning on evacuating by boat and the main city area is at war, a general range can be calculated by combining her path and the location of the city's port.
Our top priority now is to send the human child to the safe point.
You're not reporting back for duty?
We are Tai'E. Our top priority is to ensure human safety.
But we don't know anything about the virus. If it causes machines to go haywire...
But hey, we're still functioning normally.
Boom—
An explosion faintly rumbles in the distance. All three look in the direction of the noise.
We have to hurry.
Combined with the existing information, there must be malfunctioning machines in the city. The safest option would be to avoid them at all costs.
HBG3 activates his control screen, projecting the topographic map of Kowloong City out of his chest.
Do you see the map?
Wait... I didn't say I'd go with you!
I'm going back to the city! Daddy must be worried about me. He said he would pick me up!
Don't be silly. You hear that? That's the sound of war. If you just came from the city, you should know what happened better than us. You are a human child... Even if we go with you, we can't guarantee your safety.
I... I can protect myself!
I know what happened... That's why I have to go back!
Also... Why would I trust you in the first place!
...
Quit joking around. Regardless, I...
Okay. Then we shall go with you. It'll definitely be faster with us than just you alone.
Hey, G3!
Article 1 of the KCC Pulao Crew regulations, Tai'E shall not harm humans, or by inaction allow humans to come to harm.
Bleugh...
These are our instructions hardwired into our programming. I can't disobey, neither can you.
Of course, I know that! But if she really wants us to take her to the battlefield...
You and I don't know what's going on in the outside world either.
Alright, you win.
Okay then, kiddo. Let's get you to your place.
...
So, do you know how to read a map?
Well...
I can try.
