Story Reader / Main Story / 13 Fake Ascension / Story
...
Hiding in an inconspicuous corner on the streets, Murray is fiddling with his terminal and controlling the lure program in his guise.
Valeria and Yata are closing in on him, creeping to around ten meters behind.
An uncanny hint runs down Murray's spine. He stops controlling the terminal, and the lure program also stands frozen like a statue.
Murray turns around. Valeria and Yata walk out of the shadows from both of Murray's flanks.
Ah, as expected of Scarab. Faster than I thought.
Pah. Whatever you took from Gestalt, you're gonna spit it all out... piece by piece.
Don't try anything funny.
And if I refuse?
Then we'll be taking it from a dead body. Not much of a difference.
I see... So you've only been ordered to track and intercept, but not to eliminate.
Otherwise, I wouldn't even be standing here, would I? You don't want trouble unless things go south, yes?
Which means... we can strike a deal.
Yata remains unseen, but Murray can feel her appendages surrounding him. They remain at a slight distance, writhing around and checking.
Ahaha, you're learning... But it's okay, I've run out of welcome gifts.
Now then, back to the topic.
Murray spreads his hands. The terminal containing a whole host of data is laid bare before Valeria's eyes.
Do you know what's in this?
I'm not interested. And if it makes you feel better, we're not afraid of "things going south."
...
I see. You're "not interested," which is why you ask no questions. For Commander Nikola, you'd indeed be a handier tool than me.
That must be why he said he approves of my capabilities... but still sent you here.
No... Or perhaps, he really does approve of me—that's why he sent you here. If that's the case, my oh my, what an honor.
Murray's usual smile returns.
Well then, guess I better not disappoint him.
You done?
You're a smart guy. Cooperating is in your best interest here.
But... smart guys should remember to clear their access logs. Pity.
With that, Valeria motions to Yata. Her appendages immediately pierce through Murray's body.
But, he gives no reaction.
Surprise! The lure is the real one, and the real one is the lure.
The phantom Murray, now pierced by several appendages, is no longer moving, but voice is still coming out of his mouth.
Thank you for your cooperation.
And thank you for listening to my speech. That gave me enough time to unload the immersion program.
Quite a shame I don't get to see your expressions from the lure program, but I bet it'd make a stellar memory.
Blue streams of data begin to disperse from the "lure program" afar.
Dammit, V! Get him!
On it.
Valeria leaps onto the street, rushing for the dissipating Murray.
But before her hand can reach Murray, he completely vanishes.
...****.
Yata spits out an elegant pejorative, and rips her appendages out from the wall behind the false Murray, now full of holes.
Almost instantaneously, the Murray explodes before her.
Yata, what's happening?
Tch... It's a jamming smokescreen... Some dumb data weapon...
...
What's going on?!
An area alarm... I see.
So that's what he had planned...
That low-level smokescreen won't do much, but it's enough to alert the termination programs in this virtual space.
Tch, looks like they clean up everything with unknown IDs indiscriminately, which includes us.
Whatever it is, we can only... leave now.
Yeah.
