Story Reader / Main Story / 23 Wintry Shackles / Story
Understood. I will change the cruising direction right now.
As for her condition...
Discord looks back at the girl sleeping in the isolation pod to check her condition before answering Nikola.
So far so good. Her weapon has already been disarmed. I will work with Asimov to install her blocker.
Understood. I will do my best.
After Nikola hangs up, Discord looks at the fully armed members around her and lets out a barely noticeable sigh.
(Even Gray Raven can be abandoned when there is a need...)
What do we do next, Captain?
We have a new destination, so we need to adjust our route. Turn on the Omega purification system, power up the operation cabin and connect to the remote operating table.
The shuttle slightly trembles as it starts heading to the new coordinates. Lucia is pushed into the operation cabin.
I'll start installing the blocker now. Keep the shuttle steady.
We have entered the destination airspace. No suspicious target found so far.
Has the accuracy of the coordinates been updated?
We are updating them right now. The Science Council's locating system needs some time to calculate.
An alarm suddenly goes off inside the cabin.
What's going on?
We've been locked on by anti-air missiles! How did they find us? This shuttle has the most advanced stealth coating!
Is it from the surface?
No! It comes from the air! It's an unidentified fighter aircraft!
The entire cabin is lighted up by the red, flashing alarm. Ear-splitting noises fill up the space.
Let's get landed first. This shuttle is not armed.
There's no time! We must survive this wave first! Just grab something!
The pilot slams the button. Lots of metal foils are launched from the shuttle's tail, glowing in the sky like fireworks.
He then pulls up the control stick, trying to lift the shuttle up.
A loud explosion has shaken the cabin.
Brace yourself! Another wave is coming!
More foils were launched, but this time everybody heard something cracking after the explosion.
Left wing damaged! The fuel is leaking. We are going down!
The pilot tries his best to control the shuttle, preventing it from tumbling.
Everybody, evacuate the shuttle. Get into the escape pod.
What about her? The escape pods can only fit one.
Put her in a pod for now. We'll look for her after landing.
Shall we wake her up then?
...Turn on delayed awakening. The Science Council said as long as the blocker was working properly, waking her up wouldn't have much impact on the symptoms.
Roger!
Discord hesitates for a moment and adds.
Put her weapons inside too.
Hurry up! I don't have much chaff left!
Everyone, get into the cabin now! Prepare to eject!
She wanders in the empty darkness. With nothing to refer to, she cannot even tell the directions.
Is this a dream? Or the chaos in her M.I.N.D.?
Unable to find an answer, she can only take futile steps toward where "front" might be.
As she walks, the bubbles of memories begin to ripple.
Crying in the rain holding her sister. Deceived by the fake ghost on the frostland.
Fought hard on the Observatory of Kowloong. Saved the white bird from falling on the roof of the church.
Betrayed by many.
Loved by many.
Disgusted by how despicable and greedy people could be.
Touched by the beauty of humanity in the apocalypse.
Like the matches held by a little girl, the warm memories only lingered for a short moment in the chilling darkness.
When she reaches the end of the intersecting memories, she finally stops.
Where to go now?
What to do now?
The world is already beyond redemption. Why don't you just live an easy life instead of finding ways to change it?
Then why do you look so sad when you occasionally gaze at the ocean?
We all long for a home. Even the sturdiest ship will need a harbor. Even the strongest heart will need to feel warmth.
Home... But I...
Blood-stained memories suddenly come back to her. She has done something irreversible.
It has nothing to do with whether that person will forgive her or not. She has violated the unquestionable laws.
That person told her to not lose. But she already lost everything the moment her blade touched blood.
Perhaps there is only one thing she can do...
Isn't it too pessimistic to think you are alone? As long as you still have a place with people waiting for you, that place is your home.
You have been fighting for too long. It's time to rest. You can have a rest.
But there are many things she has yet to complete.
You can leave everything behind and come over. I have always been waiting for you.
Sister.
...
No!
I couldn't do anything to help Luna, but the Ascension-Network will never be my home.
I never leave everything to others.
My home is Gray Raven. I will never break it apart, or betray what I believe in.
Even faced with endless battles, I will not fear them. I will fight on.
Because we both have promised.
Because we both have the same goal.
To restore the world to its original shape.
To bring new changes to this world.
I will witness the future myself!
>>>>>>>>>>System rebooting<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>Reboot complete. Consciousness: Lucia, online<<<<<<<<<<
Lucia opens her eyes again. Apart from a few indicators, the cabin is completely dark.
She fumbles around and finally finds the button. The cabin door drops to the ground, letting chilling wind and snow in.
Lucia looks back at the escape pod and finds her equipment and comms device inside.
My equipment is still here, but someone seems to have added something to the Inver-Device. The comms device... has no signal?
For them to use an escape pod like this... Was there an accident?
Lucia examines the slightly deformed escape pod. She realizes the transmitter used to send distress signals was not activated.
Does that mean the enemy is not Corrupted or Hetero-Creature?
The escape pod's transmitter was manually disabled before launch. Whoever did this was probably trying to avoid being detected, unless there was a malfunction during the landing.
After a few more failed attempts, Lucia turns on her terminal and finds an unread message.
This message is for Lucia, our mission target. I am Discord, a member of the Purifying Force. If you are reading this message, you have already been separated from the escort team.
Based on the backup plan provided by the HQ, I hereby give you the following mission:
What is happening to your frame is related to a source that you keep receiving signals from.
If you find yourself lost and are unable to regroup with us, please locate the signal source. To self-rescue, you must attempt to destroy it—
The source of that signal... It must be Alpha.
Lucia is quite certain after recapping the memories that didn't belong to her during the hibernation.
Alpha... So this is what you have been fighting against.
Lucia gazes through the storm and looks at the mountain peak.
If you really think that way...
Lucia takes out her terminal and turns on the recorder.
This is Lucia from Gray Raven. The following recording is not subject to any form of coercion or interference. It is entirely of my own volition.
Lucia's voice faintly echoes in the snowstorm, like a solo piece before the finale.
...That's all.
After recording the message, Lucia puts the terminal back in the escape pod. She grabs the name tags and decides not to put them in.
She takes her equipment and walks toward the peak in deep snow.
I must put an end to this.
When Alpha opens her eyes again, there is no more Corrupted nearby. The sludge on her body has also disappeared.
Did I make it?
Thinking of the chaotic experience in her M.I.N.D., She looks a little exhausted.
She looks at her new frame. The white windbreaker flies in the wind, blending into the snow in the background.
A black bandage wraps around her crimson left hand, but it cannot contain the red electricity current leaking through the gaps.
The more she uses the power of Ascension-Network, the more she will transform toward the direction of its filtering.
This is my contradiction...
Her mighty power is constrained within an unbreakable shackle. A blade that cannot be sheathed will hurt not only others, but also herself.
Gray Raven... Huh.
She whispers the name that holds complex meanings to her.
Even Gray Raven can be abandoned when necessary.
Alpha puts on her poker face again as she recalls the fragments of memory.
They are still trying to exploit the situation for their own good. How foolish.
No matter what Gray Raven has accomplished, they are still a pawn.
She looks at the figure that slowly walks out of the storm.
Alright. Let me see what you will choose.
After crossing to the other side of the mountain, Lucia's vision suddenly clears up.
Only the sound of the snowstorm can be heard in the vast mountain peak. An expected figure has shown up.
Alpha...
Alpha has changed a lot from what Lucia remembers. Still, she recognizes her immediately.
I knew you would come.
Are you the reason behind my symptoms?
You already know the answer. Are you still hoping this is a coincidence?
I just want to find out the truth.
...The Ascension-Network is running a new round of filtering. You were incorrectly chosen as a target because our M.I.N.D. had the same root.
A new round of filtering?
That's none of your business, unless you also want to become an Ascendant.
...So this won't stop even if I destroy you, right?
Correct. Once the filtering has started, the Ascension-Network will not stop until there is a result.
Even if you manage to kill me, you will just have to deal with twice the stress.
Besides, you will never have the chance.
...
If you ask me, I suggest you go back and spend your final days with Gray Raven.
You can stop this filtering, can't you?
...So you saw my memories through the resonance of M.I.N.D.
Right, there is a possible solution.
Alpha did not deny it. She paused for a while and answered.
Let's work together then.
Do you even realize what you just said?
I saw your memories, so I know you want to stop the filtering to go against the Ascension-Network.
Wait a second. We are enemies. Have you finally decided to give up Babylonia for this path?
Lucia grabs the equipment she took from the escape pod.
Pushing you completely to the Ascension-Network will do us no good. I don't want to help it either.
It's our common enemy now. That gives us a foundation for cooperation.
What if I say no?
Lucia slowly draws her blade out. It gives a chilling reflection in the wind.
I'll just do my best to change your mind then. No matter what it takes, I will put an end to this.
I will go back to Gray Raven and those who are supporting me as Lucia.
It seems Gray Raven has become your weakness. It has taken away from you the courage to sacrifice.
Sacrifice may be an option, but it will traumatize those who are still living no matter what.
I have already hurt that person...
Lucia clenches her fist and puts it on her chest, right over the artificial heart.
But after going through so many things, I have also learned the feeling of heartache. I will never let it happen to others again.
That's why I promised them that I would "safely return."
Regardless of what I will be facing later. Be it a court-martial, surveillance, or even if I have to become a research subject.
I will end this once and for all, then go back to apologize to Commandant, and everyone who worried about me!
You just never learn!
Alpha also unsheathes her blade, striking the same stance as Lucia.
I once had expectations for you, hoping that you would unveil a different future for me.
Who would have thought that you only became more loyal to humans and ended up a convenient weapon?
Why would you do that? How does it benefit you?
The lack of trust between us means we can only cooperate temporarily.
I can't put all my hope on you. Now that I am no longer clueless like I used to be, I must take action.
You are digging your own grave.
Still better than doing nothing, especially when the threat is right in front of me.
If you really think that way...
Show me what you are made of then.
I'm also curious to know...
Whether you really can contain this power.
