Story Reader / Main Story / 24 Chaos Unsnarled / Story
24-16 The Freedom Defined By Herself
A few days later, in a confidential Babylonia meeting.
...The Task Force is still monitoring the situation and investigating the "Hetero Zone" even now.
The projections in the conference room switch between several satellite images tainted in purplish red. The Task Force appears like a dark gray dam in the photos, blocking off an ocean of omens.
We have deployed several sets of Omega Weapons since we were contacted. News from the frontline this morning suggested that we would need to double the deployment at the very least.
Double the deployment? We almost ran out of Omega Weapons after the Copperfield Aquarium! Some of our current stock is recycled!
The weapons we sent over the past few days have already pushed our supplies and resources way below the safety threshold.
To double it... I don't imagine anyone here wants to find themselves empty-handed during an emergency, right?
Are we not discussing the emergency now?
But...
I believe the Construction Department is worried about the confidentiality of this information.
And, of course, we're hoping to receive an analysis report that proves that the Clean Zone will not be affected.
The data will certainly explain everything. And confidentiality? Are you suggesting not to announce our reports openly and honestly?
What are you talking about? Of course not! I'm just worried that this incident will cause panic!
Ladies and gentlemen, please stop. We're here to discuss how to handle this disaster and the information discovered by our frontline squads.
Although dialogues around the construction in the Clean Zone might be closely related to the "Hetero Zone", I believe we can table that discussion until later.
...I'm sure I don't have to repeat how crucial the constructions and "cleanliness" of the Clean Zone are, right?
Naturally. The Publicity Department has also spent a lot of work on it... The Gray Raven Commandant sitting there also contributed to the publicity work significantly. You understand, President Hassen.
Since you mentioned [player name], let's hear what the Gray Raven Commandant has to report.
I recommend saving your thoughts and opinions until after the commandant is done. Perhaps you will see the situation differently afterward.
Hassen nods at you, gesturing you to step up and speak.
You loosen the chin strap of your hat before standing up from your seat at the back.
You have been sitting so far away from the center that it takes you much longer to reach the podium, and you get to "enjoy" extended gazes from everyone.
You have not worn your uniform since you were sworn in. It is extremely uncomfortable...
Are you [player name], the Gray Raven Commandant?
The following analysis and theories are made based on the experience of Cerberus, the squad involved in the encounter, and the investigation made by Gray Raven on the strange behaviors of the Hetero-Creatures.
The murmuring discussions begin to quiet down as the data model Lee helped made spins in the projection.
First of all, Gray Raven found the Hetero-Creature demonstrating group behavior during our investigation, which has never been seen before.
The conference room that just quieted down erupts into discussions again. Hassen gently knocks on his table, hoping the council will keep listening.
We used to classify the aggression from Hetero-Creatures as an instinctive behavior in the past.
It means they do not come up with a plan of attack. They follow their senses to attack their targets with the simplest, most straightforward strikes.
That was the only pattern of behavior they would follow.
At the location where the abnormal behaviors appeared, Gray Raven observed that some Hetero-Creatures were performing strategic maneuvers to allow other Hetero-Creatures to attack successfully.
For example, when a trench appeared between the Hetero-Creatures and their targets, some of them began to "form a bridge."
Even when "forming a bridge" would stop them from accomplishing their goal of "attacking."
Maybe you were overthinking it?
In your example, the Hetero-Creatures walking in the front would fall into the trench, obviously. Their bodies piled up, and the ones in the back could then walk on it like a bridge.
Fundamentally, they were still trying to approach their targets.
While the behaviors were similar, the key was whether they gained the "consciousness" to actively abandon their individual instincts and targets in order to help the group accomplish a goal.
What Gray Raven discovered was that some Hetero-Creatures were "giving their lives" to pave the way for other Hetero-Creatures.
It's hard to explain this phenomenon with "coincidence" when the price was their lives.
The councilman frowns while he looks at you, his knuckles white as he grasps the horror in what you said.
During our investigation, Gray Raven discovered an area where many dead bodies of similar Hetero-Creatures were amassed, but we didn't find a source that could deal that amount of damage.
If we assume those Hetero-Creatures took their own lives...
What did they become a bridge for?
Hold on...
Indeed. My theory is that these strange behaviors are somewhat connected to the appearance of the Hetero Zone.
Gray Raven's mission didn't just take place near the Hetero Zone. What was the point of building a bridge that far away?
How did they contribute to the Hetero Zone by dying?
The Cerberus members mentioned that the biofluids of the dead Hetero-Creatures inside the Hetero Zone quickly seeped into the ground before hatching as if being born again.
...I remember a myth about a god creating humans with clay. The god created a humanoid shape with the clay, and the clay came to life.
If the clay wasn't shaped to the god's satisfaction, it would get thrown back into the mud before being remade... Is that what's happening now...?
What about the electromagnetic disruption? The report mentioned that the squads encountered severe signal disruptions during battles.
The Science Council believes that the source of the disruption is akin to some kind of bio-electromagnetic signals, and it is related to the activities and the rapid proliferation of the Hetero Zone.
The disruption drastically decreased after Cerberus defeated the core enemies of the Hetero Zone and escaped the parameter, which could prove this theory.
Individual Hetero-Creatures still don't have the ability to disrupt signals.
So... all the dead Hetero-Creatures turned into water and gathered at the Hetero Zone through the soil? That's... Should we get someone to start digging...?
Squads on the frontline have been excavating, but nothing unusual was discovered apart from a higher-than-average Punishing Virus concentration.
The Science Council doesn't think we fully understand the Punishing Virus yet, so we can't be certain how it moved.
But there's another way to consider this if we think from the perspective of the Clean Zone.
All the locations where we observed the Hetero-Creatures changed, including the Hetero Zone, are spread outside the Clean Zone in an arc.
To exaggerate a little bit, you could say that a mere step outside the Clean Zone will land you in a highly dangerous area.
How could you say that?!
...If that's true, I agree that the extra Omega Weapons are necessary. How can we allow the first safe zone of humanity to be a cage?
The councilman from the Construction Department is so agitated that he stands up from his seat. No one responds to what he is saying, however, and he sits back down in silence.
It is true that we don't know how the Clean Zone—or the Inver-Hetero Tower—works.
The most popular theory in the Science Council is the "Absorption Theory"—the tower works like our Omega Weapon, absorbing the Punishing Virus before purifying it.
The main reason this theory is not universally supported is that no Punishing Virus is detected even at the edge of the Clean Zone...
While the effectiveness of our CPFs and Omega Weapon always diminishes over long distances.
That's the reason why we always consider "optimal range" when we deploy these devices and facilities.
Now, if the "Absorption Theory" is wrong and the Inver-Hetero Tower isn't "purifying" the Punishing Virus, how do we explain the disappearance of the Punishing Virus within the Clean Zone?
Simply put, we cannot guarantee that the existence of the Clean Zone hasn't caused unexpected mutations.
Mutations... If all Hetero-Creatures exhibit group behavior...
The councilman covers his mouth and stops talking.
Worst case scenario... they could develop their own species or even civilizations.
Everyone falls silent—as they recall some of the enemies they've faced in the past that they only managed to defeat after shelling out way too much money and too many lives.
Working together, humans have time and time again won battles in which they never seemed to stand a chance...
But just how good is humans' chance against such enemies—when they're so resilient, so ready to bite humanity at the throat with their sheer number?
No one can tell for sure.
When things don't seem as bad, it's only because they've been ordered to change their course of action.
And there is this godlike figure behind them that gave them instincts—aside from the one that drives them to attack, that is. And it's those instincts that make them prioritize the group when they're "summoned."
For now, they don't yet have individual consciousness, which does buy us some time—but some time is all that we have left.
Nikola shakes his head as he looks this way.
He and Hassen already know that No. 21 once fell victim to an unknown power when she was out of it...
Although no one has been able to determine if it was her Co-Bot's infection that caused what happened to her M.I.N.D. through the consciousness-sharing port—or whether there was indeed a godlike power that spoke with her.
Which is why you don't plan on mentioning what happened to her at this briefing.
And that's all I had to share regarding what happened at the Hetero Zone.
Based on what [player name] has just said, we're now at a point where no amount of the Omega Weapon is going to do the trick.
It sounds like there is nothing we can do now except to wait, no? But are we supposed to slow down on building the Clean Zone... or just give up on it altogether?
No, of course not.
We... can't afford to give up on the Clean Zone just yet. The Omega Weapon is an expensive consumable indeed, but there is no treating the symptoms if we don't first treat the root cause.
And since we did foresee the appearance of this particular Hetero Zone—as per Gray Raven's discovery...
What we need to do now is to keep the Hetero Zone in check while monitoring its surroundings, so as to avoid—or foresee—the appearance of yet another Hetero Zone.
Well, let's just hope that Lunar Base can be back up and running again in no time and that we can get our hands on more Omega Weapons to fill the gap.
In the hour that follows, the group finds themselves fighting over the distribution of resources. The resource shortage seen everywhere prior to the Hetero Zone was only made worse with its appearance.
Be it on a practical or psychological level, humanity can really use a Clean Zone to help themselves get back on their feet.
Which is why humans can't afford to stop building it at this point... Issues to be solved and needs to be taken care of spin on and on in your head. Brainwork like this is no easier than physically fighting the war out there.
Walking out of the meeting hall, you find your uniform soaking wet with sweat.
The door of the descending elevator opens the moment you finish yawning...
Showing the hallway outside, which you're more familiar with than you are with the meeting hall. Before you start doing anything again, you know you want to head straight back to the lounge to get yourself a clean set of outfits.
Stepping out of the elevator, you see Sica. In a rush and fully focused on reading what's on her terminal, she takes no notice of you.
Right... Of course, Commandant [player name]!
Right, of course. Thank you.
Turning off her terminal, Sica now wears her usual smile, her heavy face from just moments ago nowhere to be seen.
Before the screen of her terminal went completely black, though, you saw what was on it—it was a witness report on a certain Construct that had gone missing.
You reciprocate her with a smile as you wave her goodbye.
Walking down the empty hallway and taking a turn, you see a quiet figure leaning against the wall, apparently waiting for someone.
Uhm? Oh, it's you, [player name].
With a nod, No. 21 points at a door that's tightly closed.
I'm waiting for Captain.
You read the sign on the door. The room appears to be a public lounge that doubles as a meeting room on a regular basis.
You wanted me to give you some more time.
In my head before, you wanted me to give you some more time when we're back. Why do you need more time?
[player name].
It says that what I want is not the scent of humans but of my own kind. Actually... it's right.
No. 21 wants to have the same scent as everyone.
Captain, Noctis, [player name], and those who are afraid of me and want me to be discarded.
All of you are humans, so if I have the scent of humans...
The question posed by No. 21 is quite complex. If you had enough time, you would likely delve into a dozen philosophy books and conduct thorough research before having this discussion with her.
Purely rational analysis alone is insufficient to navigate the present circumstances. Your only hope is that No. 21 resists the tempting rhetoric of the enemy and refrains from granting them an opportunity to manipulate her.
I see. You said humans were all different, and that I'd never find someone like myself...
Other than myself, that is.
Which is why I don't need to smell like a human anymore. I have my own smell.
I should just set myself free, like what Captain said.
Freedom is when I get to decide what I don't need to do, don't want to do, and don't like to do.
You had a bunch of models from philosophy sitting in your brain that you never quite wrapped your head around—and hearing what No. 21 just said, you now feel that there really is no need to wrap your head around them.
Because one goes through their life with the self—and that's precisely why we don't need to go after the self.
The rest of the factors just grow on the land of one's subjective self. As long as the underlying soil is still fertile, it will cultivate free souls that can break all limitations.
Hmm...
No. 21 makes a sound with her nose the same way a little animal would, showing her disagreement.
I beat them all, those guys that tried to take away Buddy...
I beat them all before they took Captain from me.
But I know that I wasn't being responsible toward Buddy.
Which is why I'm letting Buddy sleep right here as a punishment to myself.
Says No. 21 as she points at her chest.
Forever and ever.
I'm not letting anyone else take away my "haruka" ever again.
Canon taught me that.
She's our friend.
You are about to ask No. 21 to elaborate when you hear a loud clank from inside the lounge.
In the lounge.
Oops, apologies!
Lesti picks up the terminal lying flat on the table and gives it a few nonchalant brushes.
A literal slip of the hand right there, but boy, that was loud, wasn't it...
We're moving on to the section if we're all feeling okay with this part, then. Or would you rather conduct the inquiry yourself, Ishmael?
With a gentle smile, Ishmael says nothing.
See, Vera, we only came down here because we've been put on the task.
And as far as inquiry goes, both parties are actually equally vulnerable to stress, so I'm hoping that takes some of the hostility out of the air here.
Right, and I can prove that Ishmael seldom agrees to this kind of request.
Ishmael's gaze accompanied by her usual composed smile, as she herself claimed, indeed doesn't show any interrogative intention from a higher-up. However, Vera can't shake the lingering sensation that she is being meticulously inspected.
Stress? I'm afraid I can really relate, but if this is causing you stress, just spit it out and get it done quickly.
To put it simply...
Based on the information we've gathered so far, it's evident that as the captain of Cerberus, you allowed a supervised Construct to access a restricted device without proper authorization.
Which is deemed a serious dereliction of duty... Yeah, that's how it's written in the report.
"Information we've gathered"?
Vera begins to ponder, contemplating who might be the mastermind behind the scenes, orchestrating the current turmoil.
...So it's still because of the uniqueness of No. 21? If someone wants to take over control of No. 21, she would undoubtedly stand as a stumbling block that can cause quite some trouble.
So after No. 21 submits her frame's combat data, "they" will remove her from Cerberus with any excuse they can find.
But is the military aware of this? For that person, Vera needs to remain in her role as the captain of Cerberus to help him deal with those off-the-record matters.
Or this is a trap set for those who want to reach Vera?
Is this the "bait" that Nikola mentioned before?
There is also another possibility: this could be a warning to Vera, reminding her of her role as a vicious dog, cautioning her not to exceed the boundaries of the freedom granted by her master.
Ultimately, as long as Vera continues to obey, it doesn't matter to the order giver which squad she belongs to.
If Vera starts to show too much neglect regarding the rules, the master will then consider the possibility of being hurt by the blade in their own hand.
Well, with people sent by the Control Court sitting right in front of me, they must be pretty damn sure about the validity of the information they've got.
But honestly, I can't even guarantee that we were fully conscious throughout that whole battle, and that's just going by my memory data, let alone No. 21's.
Unbending in the face of their challenge, Vera responds by posing the question back to the inquirer.
I can understand that. Judging from the report, it was indeed an extremely perilous battle.
Allow me to clarify, Vera. Our purpose here today is only to inquire about the unauthorized activity during that battle, not to pass any judgment of guilt.
I'm sure you're one of the few who act so easygoing around a respondent, Ishmael.
Well, I appreciate the kindness... but I can't help but wonder why a higher-up like you would be concerned with such a petty matter?
Or, is there anything else you want to dig from this?
It was a request from a close colleague that I couldn't really refuse. Other than that, I usually steer clear of cases regarding unauthorized activities.
But this is also part of our responsibility as a member of the Control Court. Right, Lesti?
Um... According to the document, the appropriate course of action would be for Vera, as the authorized holder, to use the key herself when she determines that the situation calls for it.
Such mentioned situation is, that there is a considerable likelihood of you experiencing loss of consciousness in the next period, and the impending battle necessitates the lifting of No. 21's frame limits.
We are all well aware of the distinctive nature of No. 21's new frame. If she were to lose control, that would be the least desirable outcome for everyone involved.
Clause 1.3 in No. 21's Interim Return Agreement. I remember that.
But like I said, I can't make any promises that either No. 21 or I have a clear memory of that battle.
The respondent continues to assert the presumption of innocence... Is this what she means, Ishmael?
...I think we now have a general grasp of the ground you are holding, Vera.
However, as Lesti mentioned earlier, the Control Court does possess certain information. Based on your demeanor, it is likely that we will initiate a comprehensive investigation to verify the ambiguous evidence.
I hope we can expediently uncover the truth, one that is acceptable to all parties involved.
As you wish.
I've got a question for you, if you don't mind. Let's say if the higher-ups' suspicions about the activity turn out to be true, what kind of punishment are we looking at here?
If the responsibility lies with No. 21, she will likely be suspended from the squad pending further investigation. However, if the responsibility falls on you, it would be necessary to relieve you of your captain position.
Heh, so well disciplined. Don't you agree?
No. 21, who was leaning against the door to listen in, swiftly appears behind you, and in the next instant, the members of the Control Court push open the door.
The woman, who exudes an air of reliability and friendliness, gives you a nod upon noticing your presence. Following closely behind her is another Construct, presumably her junior, who appears to be muttering something along the lines of "It's finally done."
Vera makes her appearance at last, strolling out leisurely. She glances briefly at No. 21 before giving you a once-over, assessing you from head to toe.
Oh? Look at you, dressing up like a big shot today.
They seriously need to ditch that poster of you in the metal armor and replace it with one of you rocking this uniform. This is the true hero of Babylonia right here.
Hah.
No. 21, only you're here? Where the hell is Noctis?
Noctis said Captain was in for a major scolding. He will come later. Doesn't want to wait.
I'll make him regret saying that.
He's here.
At the opposite end of the corridor, the sturdy Construct scratches his head as he strides forward, passing by Ishmael and Lesti. From a distance, he starts speaking in a loud voice.
Ha, looks like I came right on time.
Yo, Gray Raven, what brings you here? On your way to grab a drink too?
Why don't you join us, then? We gotta let more people witness the magnificent sight of the legendary Gray Raven Commandant looking all heroic and badass.
[player name], you really not going? Noctis' paying.
Wait, what? I thought it was on you, 21!
Whoever's a blockhead pays.
Then it's Noctis.
The hell? ****, I'm not going.
Are you disobeying me again? No. 21, beat his ass.
Rrrr—!
This is your punishment for disobeying your captain. And if anyone ever asks, make sure you own up to your mistake and let them know you got a serious smackdown as a consequence.
Who'd ask that kind of silly question... O-o-ouch!! Get off from me, 21!!!!
Blockhead, Noctis.
I warn you, I'm gonna take this seriously...
No, unless you buy me that electrolyte.
Mango-flavored, 20 glasses.
Ouch... Cut it out!! Fine, fine, I'll get you that. But just so you know, I'm gonna be watching you drink them all today, or I'll teach you a good lesson...
As the three of them continue walking away, the boisterous corridor gradually returns to its usual state of tranquility.
Seeing the genius smile adorning No. 21's face, you suddenly recall the "smile" she used to wear, the one she made from imitating others.
Is she aware that she can show a genius smile now?
Not attained through imitation or analysis, a smile that truly belongs to No. 21.
Each man's life represents a road toward himself, an attempt at such a road, the intimation of a path.
No man has ever been entirely and completely himself.
Yet each one strives to become that, one in an awkward, the other in a more intelligent way, each as best he can.
Each man carries the vestiges of his birth—the slime and eggshells of his primeval past—with him to the end of his days.
Some never become human, remaining frog, lizard, ant. Some are human above the waist, fish below.
Each represents a gamble on the part of nature in creation of the human.
We all share the same origin, our mothers; all of us come in at the same door.
But each of us—experiments of the depths—strives toward his own destiny.
We can understand one another; but each of us is able to interpret himself to himself alone.
―Hermann Hesse
