Story Reader / Main Story / 25 Everglowing Justice / Story
25-21 Mournful Separation
Crimson is the frozen land through which cracks run.
Swarming up this way through the mud as they let out beastlike howls are seemingly endless Corrupted.
She lies on the ground surrounded by broken limbs. She's unable to think, her M.I.N.D. filled with vital fluid that now reeks of grass.
...P-please help...
When she presses the hidden button on the back of her badge with what little energy she has left, the badge starts blinking red, showing that a connection has been established.
The Construct lies helplessly in the war-ravaged wilderness, her body all but completely destroyed.
After God only knows how long, a cleanup Construct arrives.
Oh boy...
Half-heartedly, the Construct goes through the broken Construct limbs on the ground, apparently trying to find something.
And... there.
He pushes away a few powerless robotic fingers and, in a swift motion, pulls out a metal name tag.
Nata of Silver Falcon, Babylonia—registered as dead.
Help...
We're... still alive...
Zikka of Silver Falcon, Babylonia—registered as dead.
We're... still alive... You can't...
Commandant Arabella of Silver Falcon, Babylonia—registered...
...As dead.
No...
Poor thing.
The Construct steps on the Silver Falcon badge that's still blinking red...
...After which he casts a barely noticeable look at the Construct on the ground, as though certain that she's still conscious.
...Help... us...
Incomprehensible and hoarse, her beg for help makes its way out of her broken vocal system—but falls on deaf ears, and it quickly bleeds into the wind.
Babylonia, 12 hours ago.
Cecily, check this out!
The female Construct waves a book at Cecily.
Took me a while to find a paperback of this book. Heard they produced this gem in limited quantity back in the Golden Age...
Are you sure it's not because no one really bought it? I mean, I can't really imagine "Poetry Collection of the Golden Age" being a bestseller.
Hey!
Alright, stop fighting. Did anyone see Commandant?
With a gentle smile, the purple-haired Construct breaks her combative teammates apart.
In the lounge. Got a new mission apparently...
And you're also wanted on the mission, too... when you just got back from a support mission?
I feel like the Department of Labor is going to start breathing down our neck if you work another day...
I'm totally okay. I volunteered myself for the support mission hoping to lend people a hand.
And the conservation area they're headed to is part of the reason I volunteered myself, too...
Hey, you sure are pulling out all the stops looking out for those kids you saved!
You've been swinging by whenever you could, and you'd even give them your share of supplies...
They're just kids after all, so I thought I'd drop by every so often to make sure no one's bullying them.
Say, has the commandant sent out the mission briefing yet?
Let's see. "You're to eliminate the Corrupted and Hetero-Creatures in Conservation Area 112 and protect its residents..."
A protection mission, huh...
Hey, stop showing that "Oh, it's so easy" face just because it's a protection mission!
Everything we do now, we're doing it for the future of Earth, and every fight we've been through, it builds us up and readies us for the war that will eventually come...
...I'm gonna get myself ready now. You coming with me, Cecily?
I'm going to have a quick chat with General Wells. Catch you in a bit at the lounge.
Conference room.
Wells is sitting at the conference table going through reports after a meeting. When he hears knocks on the door, he speaks without looking up.
Come in.
General... Wells?
It's been a while, Cecily.
Is everything okay with my proposal?
Still under review. The best that Babylonia can do for the kids at the moment is to take care of them collectively in the conservation areas.
Babylonia can only consider taking them in if they're exceptionally excellent, or if their parents have made exceptional contributions...
...
And that's how we're going to go about it, even when we know that's not fair to the kids?
...Yes, that's exactly how we're going to go about it, even when we know that's not fair to the kids.
Things aren't so black-and-white, Cecily. I'm a little surprised I have to point that out to you.
Justice will eventually prevail, and righteousness will find its way back to people—I remember this is what you once told me.
Babylonia can't just take everybody in, you know...
Says Wells as he shakes his head.
When it comes to Babylonia, there are certain things in which not even Wells himself nor Hassen gets a say.
...Apologies for getting ahead of myself.
I know you are just trying to be fair with every child, Cecily, and I understand that every child represents hope leading to the future...
...But there is only so much we can do for them now.
Cecily has been Wells' best student, but she seems in constant pursuit of perfection—to the point of being stubborn.
And while there is nothing wrong with that, that just doesn't seem like a luxury their current situation allows...
...By the way, we're assigned a new surface mission, and we may need to leave right away.
A new... surface mission? And it didn't come through me first?
Wells makes a barely noticeable frown.
It's a Corrupted attack, and I guess they didn't have the time to run it by you. Anyhow, I'll work on improving the proposal from before while I'm away.
Cecily's terminal beeps impatiently.
Well... I've got to go now.
Guess I'll see you around, then... Instructor.
The door closes with a heavy thud.
...No, don't... don't go!
Cecily jolts awake, her forehead wet with condensate liquid.
Cecily?
How are you feeling?
...I'm okay. Just had a nightmare.
...
Moments like this teach us to remain calm on the inside and be at peace...
Nata is trying to cheer Cecily up with the world's last copy of "Poetry Collection of the Golden Age".
...You're probably the only person around who actually buys into this stuff.
Well, this is just...
You aren't gonna say "food for the soul," are you? C'mon, I'm still feeling full from breakfast here...
Chill, Zikka. Nata is just trying to cheer me up.
Facing the person monitoring her and the blinking camera behind her with her back, Cecily starts communicating with Zikka and Nata using their secret sign language.
[Where is Commandant?]
[In the west wing.]
[There are pipes to escape with.]
[You sure we can trust the informant?]
[Yes. I've double-checked with Alisa.]
Alisa... is a good kid. She's been leading the life of a just and righteous person following all the ridiculous rules of this place. It's a real shame that she was born into a place like this.
Which is why they've made up their mind... that if they knew how to leave this place, they'd take her with them, too.
[Nata?]
[Weapons are ready.]
Nata is probably the only person in this world who can put together usable weapons in a place like this.
Cecily gently clasps the broken Silver Falcon badge in her palm as she tries to formulate her next step.
...No, don't... don't go...
[We do as planned.]
[Move tonight.]
...No, you can't...
Zikka and Nata look her way with a barely noticeable nod.
She just might have a chance to get hold of Wells if she can leave this flying fortress...
...No!
...Cecily?
Cecily, are you okay?
Beads of condensate liquid from her forehead make their way into the strands of hair by her ears, redolent of snakes slithering into her M.I.N.D.
I'm... okay. Nothing but a nightmare.
So, what's up... Alisa?
As that one line of words that she used to believe with all her heart replays in her M.I.N.D., cold condensate liquid oozes out of her artificial skin.
Father said he couldn't go to class with me tonight because he was busy. Do you have time, Cecily?
...Of course I do, Alisa.
She strokes Alisa's forehead lovingly as Alisa looks back this way, her eyes filled with trust, all the while unaware of the emotional turmoil Cecily is going through.
Alisa is a good kid—the one and only flower to have grown out of Utopia's rotten soil.
Their first runaway attempt came to naught. The ventilation pipes failed them, catching Aurora Squadron's attention and causing them to activate their M.I.N.D. disruptors immediately.
Seems like... you're going to make one fine addition to the first batch of Utopians.
The machine beeps coldly as a liquid is released into the vessel.
Ah... Such wonderful data. Babylonia sure built you well.
She's never seen Arabella and Zikka again.
Uhm? Seems like we have a guest. Let's go there...
Looking through the side door, she catches Pickman in a conversation with someone...
...Don't think they have anything you need anymore, do they? Time for you to pay up.
I'm putting myself at great risk here fabricating these records, so I'll need you to give me my money now so I can run for it...
Nata of Silver Falcon, Babylonia—registered as dead.
Zikka of Silver Falcon, Babylonia—registered as dead.
Commandant Arabella of Silver Falcon, Babylonia—registered...
...As dead.
Poor thing.
No...
Cecily?
No... way...
A new... surface mission? And it didn't come through me first?
It's a Corrupted attack, and I guess they didn't have the time to run it by...
...Don't push that door open...
[All set.]
[Can't let Zikka and Arabella...]
[C-calm down...]
Broken beyond recognition, the Silver Falcon badge has been left to rot on the snowfield.
Afloat in the vessel, Nata is drained of life.
The armor in front of her turns around slowly.
They'll see one another in there...
...At Utopia, where there is no pain, where eternity prevails...
...No!
Nata was the price they had to pay for their failed runaway attempt this time.
They acquired the password to open the door that would set them free, and they even felt gusts of wind all around them...
...But their hard work all came to no avail.
...Cecily?
It hits Cecily just now that... with the other three gone, the only Silver Falcon still alive is Cecily herself.
Yeah... I'm okay. Nothing but a nightmare.
That's it... It's all gotta be just a nightmare.
It pains her to think about that time when no one responded to her call for help after she came across an unusually large group of Corrupted.
It pains her to think about that time when no one answered her after she pressed the emergency contact button on her badge.
And it pains her to think about that time when her whereabouts became an open secret during her escape attempt.
...
If entering this place means she can go back in time...
If entering this place means she can meet them again...
If entering this place...
Beyond the skylight, the hazy skies are heavy with pent-up ash gray clouds—and before she knows it, drenching rain starts coming down fast and hard on the windows.
She can't remember having ever seen the sky... since she came to Utopia.
Does she hold a grudge in her heart? It appears so at times, but then there also seems to be none at all.
All her pent-up frustration from being betrayed and failing to escape seems to have vanished bit by bit as time goes by.
So let it all come to an end here. This, she figures, is probably for the best.
So long, Silver Falcon.
Please forgive her for running away.
Sorry... Alisa. Please forgive me...
I know I shouldn't be asking for this after leaving you there on your own, but...
...If the sun ever comes out...
...See more of this world for me, if you would.
