Story Reader / Main Story / 21 Spiral of Chronos / Story
Leaving the Science Council, Lee and Murray walk side by side down the hall leading out of the building.
This is when Lee would usually ask Murray about his work and health—except Lee doesn't say a thing after saying what he did just now, giving Murray no choice but to tag along.
Uhm... well?
Murray tries to make Lee stop, but to no avail. Keeping his eyes trained straight ahead, Lee carries on walking.
Seeing Lee so quiet reminds Murray of what happened when he was still a kid—when he went out of town trying to buy medicine from some "doctor." Milked dry and unable to go home, Murray was left crying alone in the rain until Lee found him.
Muddy all over and soaked in rainwater, Lee, with an umbrella in hand, was out of breath when he found Murray. Lee, however, didn't blame him at all. Lee held Murray's hand tightly the entire time on their way home.
Lee walked on quietly, all the while keeping his eyes trained straight ahead. Seeing Lee all tense from below the chin, Murray knew he was angry.
Walking next to Lee, however, it hits Murray that he's slightly taller now.
...
Lee finally stops when they reach a quiet corner.
Been a while since we last talked.
Murray looks around—and is surprised when he notices that this place is one of the few in the bridge area without monitors.
Murray quickly goes through in his head everything he's done recently to see if there is any loose end he forgot to tie up that gave him away.
As he does so and keeps his eyes on Lee, Murray casts Lee an excited yet confused look.
...I know, right?
It sure has... been a while since we last talked. I mean, you've been busy with all the adaptation tests.
Right, but I do have something I want to ask you about.
Lee opens his hand to reveal a tiny chip.
Wait, what is...
You aren't going to tell me you don't know what this is, are you?
That's exactly what Murray was about to do—except when he meets Lee in the eye, he knows there is no getting away with it.
Well... it's just something I used to help me survey mission bases.
I mean, because I can't exactly fight on the surface like you and the other commandants.
...Where did you come across it, though?
All messenger robots self-destruct post-mission and there is no exception. As long as Lee doesn't see what's inside the chip...
...Doesn't really matter where I found it. I recovered it and had a look at what's inside.
Gotta say the encryption was a real piece of artwork that could have deceived anyone... but me.
Because... you know, I'm your brother.
...
In the deafening silence that ensues, Lee's heart sinks.
As someone who knows Murray through and through, Lee knows that Murray is trying to hide something from him. Murray's silent admission, however, is proof that he can't possibly have been the one that sent him the weird set of coordinates.
Lee doesn't know who sent it to him and for what purpose—except these aren't what he's trying to find out at the moment.
So... when did you start getting yourself involved in all this?
Looking at Murray, Lee feels as though he doesn't know him anymore.
With the same gentle smile on his face, Murray looks flustered as he looks down to avoid eye contact with Lee. Moments later, he raises his head again.
Lee recognizes the look in those eyes.
...Because he, too, once told Murray the same "white lies," and it was himself that he saw in those same eyes back then.
I got these from working with the machines... Don't sweat it, though. Engineers get these all the time.
Listen to me. I might have to leave you for a short while, but don't worry. Everything's gonna be okay.
Yup, I'm fine. You know me inside out, right?
That's just part of the mission, and we gave Commander Nikola all the data we'd gotten from the mission afterward.
We did everything with his authorization, and you know what he is like.
Does that include coming in contact with an Ascendant?
...
I don't know what you're talking about, Lee.
Says Murray ever so softly, his smile no longer gentle.
Back at City 075... Lamia might have been able to copy the way you look, but there was no way she could have gotten her hands on your communication identification number when there was no connection.
She could have chosen to be anyone, but I guess she decided to use your code to earn our trust there.
And that can only mean one thing—you'd been in contact with her up until that point.
As expected… I still can’t surpass you after all these years, Lee.
Murray's heart sinks as he thinks to himself.
Only you can manage to deduce the course this way, Lee.
But... I really don't know what you're talking about.
Murray knows there is no point in lying anymore, but he refuses to give in.
It's been a long time since Lee saw Murray so sad—and so full of secrets.
Murray would always look at Lee with expectation, comfort, and admiration, Lee recalls last seeing Murray in tears when Lee himself was inside one of the glass pods down in Kurono's lab—when both Lee and Murray believed they'd never see each other again.
Ever since coming to Babylonia, Murray stopped being the adorable young brother he was, stopped asking Lee all the far-fetched questions he used to ask him, and stopped inviting him to art exhibitions.
"I'm fine," "don't worry"—these are the kind of messages that Lee, whose plate has been full with endless battles, would send Murray in response to his messages.
The concealed facts and emotions weave together, separating them and hiding them from the true meanings and thoughts lying under their words.
I trust you, Murray, and I'll take your side no matter what.
I just want you to be honest with me.
We'll never know what you need if you never say a thing.
And there are things that can go unnoticed if you always choose to be quiet about them.
...Why are you keeping me and your commandant in the dark about your frame's compatibility, then?
This question catches Lee off guard.
Well, that's because...
Because you never thought we'd be of any help to you, right?
You know full well I never saw you that way.
Why do you always choose to go it alone, then? And I thought we are family...
If you'd told me a little more about yourself, I would never have...
Mmmph...!
Murray stops in his tracks halfway through the sentence with a gasp.
Murray!
Rushing up to hold Murray so he doesn't fall, Lee sees how pale his face has become.
What's going on?! Why is this happening again all of a sudden?!
Without saying anything, Murray shakes his head with a frown as he presses a hand against his temple, apparently going through an excruciating headache.
Wait... is your Mind Beacon contaminated?!
Lee... I'm okay.
C'mon, Murray. You're anything but okay!
Murray smiles comfortingly at Lee. Having recovered from the episode, he takes a few deep breaths before standing up against the wall.
Phew, that came and went fast. I'm feeling okay now. C'mon, I'm a full-fledged commandant that passed the remote connection test.
Oh... but I suppose your commandant is probably more full-fledged than I am.
Murray has the same gentle smile on his face again, as though nothing had happened just now.
Lee was about to say something—then realizes that nothing he has to say is going to change anything.
We need all Constructs on standby to assemble in the Prep Zone.
We need all Constructs on standby to assemble in the Prep Zone.
We've detected an unknown interference of electromagnetic radiation. We're asking all citizens to follow evacuation instructions.
This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill.
As though trying to shatter the silence in between Lee and Murray, their terminals start beeping away as though the apocalypse were coming.
Highly concentrated Punishing detected on the surface...
Prepare to engage at once...
Unknown electromagnetic radiation that's suspected to be a new method of attack... Wait, does it have to do with the Mind Beacon contamination just now?
And they want all Constructs to head to the landing pad to get ready for engagement on the ground... That's a weird instruction.
Cerberus got an engagement notice, too. I need to go and get ready for remote connection
Just... be careful.
Hard-pressed to part ways with Murray now, Lee squeezes out these words.
I know. I won't be going to the surface because I'll be using remote connection. I'll be okay.
Each with their own orders to obey, Lee and Murray have no choice but to stomach their feelings of the moment as they part ways.
I'll come and find you when this is over.
...Sure.
I'll be waiting.
Babylonia Parliament Hall, twenty minutes ago.
With the executive meeting coming to a close, the air in the hall is somber with flustered councilmen.
Going back to what we were talking about just now...
...Babylonia is on the verge of reaching full capacity with all the refugees it has taken in since the Battle of Pulia Forest Park.
And just so we're clear—they are not mere numbers on the reports. They're human beings, and they need to consume resources to stay alive.
We're burning through our resources faster than ever, and we don't know how much longer it's going to take for our production lines to be built. For God's sake, we haven't even replenished the resources we spent on the previous battles!
If this goes on, we'll have no choice but to cut back on the amount of resources we assign to the residential area.
But this standard of production you're asking us to meet... is mission impossible...
Another thing to keep in mind is that the resources on the colony ship won't last forever, although the possibility of additional personnel was indeed taken into account when the resources were prepared.
And that's what we're looking at on top of all the conversation areas on Earth that can't fend for themselves and need our resources.
We need to pick up the pace with rebuilding the conservation areas on Earth and slowly help them get their production level back to what it was.
Speaking of conservation areas, the reports showed that there have been quite a few earthquakes these days. Why was there no warning? And we haven't seen a single report so far detailing the damage from the earthquakes...
Babylonia has lost contact with the majority of the surveying stations on the surface since the Great Evacuation. No one is manning those places now, and most of the areas that got hit by the earthquakes have yet to be reclaimed.
The only data we've managed to get our hands on are the spatial electromagnetic anomaly that a few satellites picked up, and we just can't tell the exact location and depth of every epicenter with that.
Most of the conservation areas that got hit wouldn't have been able to react in time anyway even if we had been able to send out warnings, because most of the earthquakes happened at night there.
We've managed to get in touch with most conservation areas now, and recovery efforts are already underway with Engineering Force in charge.
Command Central has sent the majority of Task Force and Support Force down there for recon, and we should be receiving a report in no time.
Now, the next subject on the list is the new Construct Restriction Bill submitted in conjunction by a number of councilmen. The bill seeks to implement stricter monitoring on Constructs—through such means as making M.I.N.D. accessible for scrutiny and monitoring their conversations, for instance.
With it, the light blue projector screen in the center of the hall shows a new document that lists out the restrictions to be imposed on Constructs.
...Any thought we would like to share regarding this bill?
Are we trying to limit their contact with the enemies when they're the ones out there fighting the war? I find that contradicting.
We need to bear in mind that we've seen a large number of defecting Constructs over the last two months alone, most of whom are still missing.
The whole business with "Ascendant Recruitment" is an open secret now among our Construct soldiers.
We came forth with the bill based on sufficient evidence that points at the possibility of there being secret agents among our soldiers sent by Ascendants.
We very well might have been able to minimize the damage we suffered had we started looking into the situation earlier, and I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, Commander.
...
People have grown weary from years of war, and we've been through only too many disheartening battles recently. It's only natural that our soldiers are going through a period of low morale now, and that's something that can happen whenever there is war.
Still, most of our soldiers are fighting the war with hope and determination. Are we really going to hit them with a bill that shows our lack of trust in them when what we should be doing is supporting them?
President Hassen, I know you've always been an advocate of "human rights" for Constructs.
But I'm not sure if it'd be a good idea to stand by the defecting Constructs.
Are you going to wait for them to attack Babylonia and take all the classified information we have here back to Ascendants?!
In the heat of the moment, this particular councilman stands up from his seat as he slaps the table. Distorted by the slap, his microphone sends out an amplified buzzing noise that threatens to split the ear in the spacious hall.
What are you doing?! This is the World Government's Parliament! Sit back down already!
The councilman who tries to stop him, however, falls to the ground with a punch.
Are you out of your mind?!
Tr... aitor...
Amidst the chaos that unfolds in the hall, the quiet mumble goes unnoticed.
Silence!
Right when Nikola was about to call the security in, a disconcerting emergency call forces its way through the channel into the Parliament.
Apologies! [BUZZ—] This is an emergency announcement! Please kindly [BUZZ—] terminate the meeting at once and find a place to hid [BUZZ—]!
What's going on? Just tell us what's going on already!
Commander! Thank God you're all still [BUZZ—]...
Celica seems to be running as she tries to speak. She tries to remain calm, yet her trembling tone betrays her. From her side, screams and the sounds of buildings crumbling down can be heard.
Celica? What's going on?!
About [BUZZ—] ago, we detected a strong reaction of the Punishing Virus on the ground. Babylonia has been hit with a strong wave of electromagnetic radiation, and it's caused a lot of [BUZZ—] to go mad!
Now, [BUZZ—] we don't know what's causing all of this... [BUZZ—] It's extremely chaotic now. Please stay away from the mass!
People [BUZZ—] that have lost their minds here are highly aggressive! Please stay away from [BUZZ—] carrying weapons.
Celica's warning call grinds to a halt with the overwhelming buzzing noises.
Wait, are these people...
Traitor...
They've gone mad... Wait, where is the security guard?!
You bunch of traitors!
From the corner in which he was just mumbling, the security guard roars as he aims his gun at the assembly of officers.
Trained squarely at Hassen's chest, the jet-black gun spits out a bullet before anyone can react—leaving the entire hall in shock.
