Story Reader / Affection / Lee: Hyperreal / Story
Given Lee's situation, Gray Raven has not been assigned any surface missions recently.
Lucia is taking advantage of the rare respite to train, while Liv has been helping at the Star of Life. You, on the other hand, continue to tackle the heaps of paperwork on your desk.
The M.I.N.D. disorder on Lee's specialized frame has drawn much unwanted attention. You have already written an extensive report to keep Lee with the Gray Ravens, but... where do all these reading materials come from?
"Construct Maintenance Advice Newest Edition", "Updated Babylonia Combat Guide", and...
"Specialized Frames Adaptation Instructions, 5th Edition".
...It really is quite a thick book, but you still finish it from cover to cover.
Speaking of which, you have not seen Lee since yesterday. Although Constructs do not need to eat, it is not a good idea for him to stay inside a room all day long.
Standing up, you are about to leave your work behind and look for Lee when you are startled by a figure behind you. Lee has apparently been standing there for a while.
Is the commandant of a Babylonia elite squad this easily startled?
What a feeble human.
Lee has seemingly accepted the fact that he is a Construct. Standing in the shadow behind a file cabinet, Lee reveals a hint of awkwardness and boyishness in his blue eyes.
Just half an hour.
He takes half a step back, frowning at the stack of completed documents.
Is that... the observation report on the specialized frame's M.I.N.D. disorder? Does it need to be this thick?
...Does it have something to do with me?
...How unnecessarily complicated a commandant's paperwork is.
I'm here to apologize.
I read through all the files yesterday and confirmed their legitimacy.
It's reckless for me to act without having investigated the situation first, whichever it is in this body.
You feel like you have heard a lot of apologies in the past two days.
Given what is happening to Lee, no one would hold a grudge.
Regardless, I still broke the promise I made and let you get hurt.
As compensation... I will complete a mission for you.
Lee coldly nods, having taken your silence as surprise or confusion.
I will take care of a "target" for you.
A chilliness flashes across his cobalt irises as if what he said was, "I will take out the trash for you."
Do you have anyone specific in mind? Or you have other...
No what? No one you need to specify?
Your answer appears to have confused him.
I've never done a private commission before, so I don't know what the process of confirming a target is...
Lee is lost in thought, trying to remember the procedure for "target confirmation."
...It seems that you have to find him something to do, after all.
Right. Don't you have something like "daily objectives" for your team?
Hearing the doubt in your tone, Lee squints—this is an expression you cannot find on "your" Lee.
He takes out his ammo-less weapon, and with a flicker of his fingers, he has dismantled the gun into individual parts that flow out of his hand.
Sensing your hesitation, Lee mixes up the metal components and covers his eyes. Using only his touch, he deftly assembles the weapon—
How about now?
And the gun reappears in his hand in full before you know it.
This is elementary.
I'm still familiarizing myself with this Construct body, but my fundamentals in combat are nothing to sneeze at.
You come up with a plan to divert Lee's energy. Pretending to tap on the mission terminal, you motion Lee to follow you.
The artificial sun shines onto the hallway of the Babylonia military base, its rising heat suggesting that it is noon on the station.
Ugh...
Not expecting the bright light, Lee takes a few steps back, unable to adjust momentarily despite his adaptive visual module.
He shuts his eyes in an instant, immediately holding up a hand to block the blinding sun.
I thought... Babylonia is a colony ship... How come...
The artificial sun that supports the Babylonia ecosystem spins tirelessly above your heads. The virtual sky on the towering canopy is so realistic that it can fool anyone.
...
I've barely seen the sun when I was on the surface. Here in the darkness of space, I'm staring right at an artificial sun.
How appropriate for someone with my job.
Why are you asking about something you already know?
It's all written in the files. I'm certain you're fully aware of it.
Unless you have seen assassins that work in broad daylight?
I only do it for the money. Murray's treatment is expensive. I have to make enough before his condition gets worse...
I can stay in the shadows as long as Murray can run in the sun...
That would be enough.
Lee stiffens a little bit imperceptibly upon hearing that.
According to Lee's file, Murray was bedridden with congenital heart disease back then. Lee would not have been able to visit him very often given his busy schedule.
I haven't seen him for a long time, indeed... How is he?
You seem to be acquainted with him... Murray is also on Babylonia!
That was one of the conditions written on the Construct surgery agreement. Murray would be sent to Babylonia...
They would have doctors here that could treat him...
Then he's...
Lee rarely talks this much in front of you. Despite his usual appearance, he still cares about Murray a lot.
So, where are we going now?
Lee does not forget that he is "completing a mission" for you, even when he is worrying about Murray.
It does not take long for you two to arrive where your terminal indicates.
Where... are we?
The sign on the door reveals that this is the Cerberus lounge. You have no idea if Murray is here at this hour.
What?!
Are you saying he's also... a commandant?
Lee instinctively wants to push the door open, but he immediately retracts his hand as if he is afraid to see something—
Tch. I was wondering who it was... Long time no see, my dearest Gray Raven Com—man—dant—
The door swings open, and you see Vera standing there, her eyes narrowed as she watches the both of you alarmingly.
Threatened by her gaze, Lee slowly moves away from the door and stands to the side behind you, glancing at you in the hope of finding out who she is.
Sensing something unusual, Vera turns to look at Lee dubiously. Lee immediately regains his composure and acts like his normal self.
How can I help you? We haven't received any request to assist Gray Raven lately.
Do you think I'll believe you? You walk halfway across the base just to "pass by"?
You cannot help but take a step back upon Vera's distrust, almost hitting Lee, who is pretending not to be here.
If you're looking for our commandant—
Whoops. He happens to be away, unfortunately.
I figure we only need to keep commandants around when we need them on the battlefield, right? No reason to keep them on a leash near us.
I suppose the Gray Ravens are the only ones who are always glued together, even on a regular day like this.
Regular days are when a squad should stay together the most and develop a close rapport. How do you expect to count on each other if you only see your captain during a fight?
Lee sharply rebuts Vera, just like the way you remember he would.
Has his M.I.N.D. disorder subsided suddenly? You take a look at him, surprised, but all you can see in his eyes is his determination.
Tch. As long as you have a common goal, you will...
Vera ceases the debate and shrugs.
Murray rarely stays on this side of the base. Why don't you message his terminal instead of searching for him here?
Unless—there's another reason why you're here?
You figure out a reasonable enough excuse to dodge Vera's questioning before running away to somewhere safe. You are determined to keep Lee's current condition a secret from her.
If Vera finds out... Lee will never be able to escape her mockery until the end of time itself.
...I thought that was the appropriate thing to say.
Even an assassin can't always work alone. There was an issue, so I...
His hand twitches a little bit in his pocket. He looks away, ceasing the conversation.
Anyway. If your Lee would defend you the way I did, I think you are the kind of captain... commandant I expect you to be.
He awkwardly changes "captain" to "commandant" before he turns around, pretending to be indifferent.
It's good enough to know he's doing fine.
He squints at the artificial sun above and falls silent.
Walking around the military base, you are about to enter the business district on Babylonia.
It may not be as impressive as a Golden Age commercial district, but it has grown significantly alongside Babylonia.
The lights shine among the modern silhouettes of the rows of buildings. Lee tilts his head so the shadow from the sun hides his curious expression.
...Is this where our "mission" takes place?
Out here in the streets... Send me the information on the target and the location. I'll find you after it's done.
You pay the ice cream man, and he smiles and passes you an enormous scoop of ice cream in a cone.
Taking the ice cream, you gesture for Lee to take his hand out of his pocket.
...I don't understand.
Lee swiftly hides his hand behind his back.
The ice cream starts melting under the sun, even an artificial one. The dissolved cream lingers on the wafer cone before quietly dripping down its textured surface.
...I shouldn't eat during a mission.
Despite saying that, Lee still takes the ice cream from you after a moment of hesitation.
A small part falls from his palm. He finally relaxes his fist, which he has been clinching since he left the Gray Raven lounge.
You can clearly see the mark the part has imprinted on the soft artificial skin of his palm—a spring from his gun.
...It's very sweet.
Frowning silently in protest of the sweetness, Lee sits beside you and slowly finishes the ice cream.
It's been a long time since I last tasted something like this... I suppose I don't hate it that much.
He meticulously wipes his hand clean and glances at the spring in his hand again, pretending that it does not bother him.
This part...
The ice cream only removed the spring from his hand, but it has not taken his attention away.
Lee shows a rare hint of hesitation, seemingly hoping to disassemble the weapon and study it again but not knowing how to ask about it.
You motion him to pass you the spring. Lee looks a little surprised, but he does not refuse.
The artificial sun coats everything under the virtual sky with a gentle warm glow. You lay a cloth on the bench and take out the spare tools you carry before expertly taking the weapon apart...
The firearm repair kit on you is a little impaired, but that does not stop you from dismantling a weapon you are so familiar with. You disassemble each part as you quietly explain to Lee where it belongs.
The assembly of these advanced weapons is different from the basic ones. They make use of more intricate parts to connect the different pieces.
The more complicated fabrication and design give the weapon more stopping power and accuracy...
...The spring should go here if you remember correctly.
As it is attached to where it should be, the weapon is whole once again.
You cannot help but ask Lee the way he once asked you.
According to the record on the terminal, this should be my weapon...
Why are you... so familiar with it?
In the warm sunlight, the slightly confused Lee before you slowly merges with the Lee who used to keep you in the armory to get you familiarized with every weapon.
Have you remembered how it is assembled?
...Did F.O.S. teach you nothing about emergencies on the battlefield?
They only taught you first aid and how to use basic weapons?
If all you can do is patch up yourself but not your advanced weapon with your repair kit during an emergency, you won't last long enough for the backup to arrive.
Even though we won't allow something like that to happen, there's nothing wrong with you being prepared.
Strict? I've been very forgiving.
I've only asked you to learn the basic structure and construction of Liv's and my weapons.
Had I also considered a cooperative operation...
Lee looks at the spare weapons of Strike Hawk and Cerberus nearby and scowls without saying another word.
You must learn to use different weapons to better protect yourself.
You never know what to expect on the battlefield. Although we will give our lives for you, I...
The reflection of the armory's frigid walls in the Construct's blue eyes displays a galaxy of silver stars. He looks down and begins demonstrating how to dismantle the complex firearm.
I still want you to have more ways to protect yourself.
