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Lee: Hyperreal VI
To support leisure activities on Babylonia, the military base has a leisure hall that can host up to twenty people. It is used as a canteen most of the time, but it can also be rented for private gatherings.
Commandant! This way!
I've prepared them exactly as discussed.
But Lee still hasn't arrived.
Maybe something is keeping him away? Lee is never late.
You check the terminal. It is 6:50 p.m. right now.
The artificial ecosystem runs silently in the background. The night replaces the dusk, and the sky is clear without a cloud tonight. Stars scattered on the dark blue canopy, moving slowly over time.
Given the good weather... you might as well head back to see if you can run into Lee. Perhaps something else has happened to him.
You make a random excuse to yourself before pushing open the door of the leisure hall and heading back to the Gray Raven lounge. However, you soon see a familiar figure standing at a corner nearby...
The light from the leisure hall shines through the gap between the doors, its warm glow covering one end of the hallway with the stars above.
Lee touches the object in his pocket. His eyes are covered by his hair, his emotions concealed.
It has taken him less than a week to finish merging his M.I.N.D. shards as he sped up the compilation process.
The merging shards have made him realize the troubles he would have caused Commandant had the commandant failed to contain him...
The sharp corners of the box sting the cold skin of his hand. His hand suddenly lets go, his voice painfully hoarse as if something is stuck in his throat.
Although he is certain that the commandant does not mind it...
He still cannot forgive himself for putting the commandant in such a dangerous position.
His terminal is reminding him that it is 6:55 p.m. already. It is time to arrive at the leisure hall Commandant proposed.
Lee knows there is no way the commandant would fire him from Gray Raven, but he is still unable to move his feet as if they are nailed to the ground.
The door to the leisure hall opens, and he sees a figure approaching him—
Commandant...?
Surprised by your sudden appearance, Lee reveals a hint of confusion in his eyes. Instinctively, he steps up, shielding your outward side with his body.
The same way he does every time you fight together on the surface.
...Yeah. Fancy seeing you here.
I was going to message you. Didn't think I'll run into you here.
Lee gestures to the terminal on his wrist. You can see the messages between the two of you on the screen's comms interface.
This was what you asked for...
The night is seeping in. Lee takes out a small, flat box from his pocket, the size of which reminds you of—
The notebook?
The transparent box is holding none other than the notebook you saw on Lee's desk this afternoon. The book itself is perfectly wrapped, with the words "M.I.N.D. Disorder Research Records" written on it.
Cough...
His uncomfortable coughing draws you away from the book. Lee looks down, seemingly hoping to hide his apparent guilt.
Don't show Asimov.
...
I think I'll just hold onto it myself.
Lee pretends to take the notebook back.
You better be.
The notebook documents the thoughts of the different M.I.N.D. shards when they took over the body.
...It's quite valuable data, given that this is not a common condition.
I'll take the data from it and compile a report later. You can keep the notebook to yourself.
...I'll take a look at the frame's thermodynamic system later. It's probably because I have yet to calibrate this frame to suit my combat style.
Also... here.
Lee takes out a memory chip from the side of the box and inserts it into the terminal, revealing...
...It's just facial reconstruction—a data-simulated projection of how I looked like. Consider this my thanks for taking care of me the past week.
Thanks for the milk... Commandant [player name].
The future me is lucky to have such an excellent commandant.
The image shifts, and the Lee who worked for Kurono appears on the projection.
Tch... I've said that this isn't necessary...
How annoying.
I'd like to apologize again, Commandant [player name]. I...
He seems to want to explain further, but he stops.
...The ice cream... was nice.
The projection flickers and closes as if Lee has run away.
...You've grown a lot.
You were still the rookie commandant in my memories, but who you are now is quite exceptional.
I must admit that, given what a human is capable of, you would score a B-plus.
Whatever darkness awaits us, nothing seems to faze me when I soar side by side with a sparkling star like you across the night sky.
Please keep charging forward the way you do. Because—
The simulation stops. All versions of Lee merge into one behind the projection, reaching out to you.
I will always be Lee of Gray Raven. I will always stand by your side.
Lee passes you the box again, gesturing for you to take it. His gaze is resolute.
Let this be a memento for this absurd ride.
Has it been absurd? If anything, it was serendipitous.
Serendipity has allowed you to meet what you could not have met—Lee's past.
This is a cloud trying to change its shape. Whatever shape it takes, however, its core will always be something that he can be proud of.
Lee looks away, placing the box in your hands.
Anyway, you should understand what I was trying to say...
...Don't smile like that. It's weird.
Lee seems to have finally finished his adjustment, and his tense shoulders drop in relief.
Yeah, it's all sorted. I'll find Asimov tomorrow for one more inspection to make sure something like this won't happen again.
You look up at the leisure hall before you. Lucia and Liv gather under the warm light around the window, looking at you two anxiously.
A few twinkling stars shine in the dark navy sky, their magnificence no less than the moon.
The Construct before you smiles gently, his steadfast figure merges with the ocean of lights.
He is clouds, the ocean; he is what has been forgotten, and every version of him that he has lost.
But no matter how he changes, he will always find the light that guides him.
