Story Reader / Affection / No. 21: XXI Scene / Story
...The wolf's cub was left alone in the depths of the den.
...The disaster was so sudden that it lost its parents' protection. It was so weak that it was abandoned by the pack before it even learned to hunt.
As the frigid Arctic winter approaches, it must learn to hunt on its own if there is any hope for it to survive through the months of darkness.
In Cerberus' dark base, familiar voices and music can be heard intermittently coming from deep within. It seems to be a documentary as part of Babylonia's general education.
A small shadow appears on the endless tundra. It's a migrating lemming separated from the group while foraging.
For a lemming, separation from the group is certain death.
But for the wolf cub, it now has a chance of survival.
The narrator's voice echoes in the empty room. Following the source of the sound, you see a small figure huddled in front of the bright fluorescent screen.
Unable to see clearly in the darkness, you walk in the direction of the faint light from the terminal.
...Step by step, the lemming approaches the seemingly fertile meadow. The white wolf cub huddles behind a nearby stone, awaiting the opportunity to pounce.
Walking around a series of messy tables and chairs, you arrive at the source of the sound.
It's a small space made of supply crates and tables. An old audio-visual terminal is laying on the ground in the center of the space, playing a popular nature documentary from the Golden Age.
Although this is the source of the sound echoing in the room, the figure you had just seen is now gone.
You can't help but lower your gaze at the content playing on the audio-visual terminal. Who put it here?
The white wolf waits quietly for the lemming to approach, every muscle ready to pounce.
Hunting is a primal instinct engraved in the wolf's DNA, allowing them to capture their prey with impeccable speed and accuracy.
And, now—
You heard a light "thud" from behind. A white figure runs by in the dim light.
For a moment, you feel the cold gaze of a wild animal staring at you. You turn around and quickly draw your gun—
—to see a pair of gray eyes looking at you.
The lights in the room turn on.
Buddy, do not attack.
A small female Construct hangs upside from the ceiling, her baggy sleeves swaying. The girl's face hovers in front of you. Her long white hair dangles down, revealing her smooth forehead.
Caught off guard, your hand holding the gun freezes midair.
Something rubs against your leg... No. 21's inseparable Co-Bot circles around you, bearing its "teeth and claws," ready to attack.
No. 21's legs sway gently, and she lands silently in an elegant pose.
You've crossed the boundary.
This is my territory.
Following her gaze, you lower your head and see a line forcibly scratched into the ground with what appears to be a weapon.
The "boundary" is an arc on the ground, enclosing the space.
You holster your gun and take a few steps to the side, away from the small "nest" made of supply crates.
As you step further away, No. 21 visibly relaxes.
Captain said you like to be greeted this way.
So, that's why I greeted you like that.
...Understood.
No. 21 looks down and records in her terminal, "Gray Raven Commandant Greeting: Normal".
Bzzrt—
The audio-video terminal that you had previously ignored lets out a sharp noise as if wanting attention. The documentary turns into a mosaic of unknown significance, and an intermittent buzz comes from it.
I'm using it to "study" information outside of battle.
...But it glitches each time it reaches this point.
No. 21 picks up the audio-visual terminal, holds it in front of her and shakes it as if trying to repair it with some "percussive maintenance."
You don't know if she hit any buttons, but the noise and picture returns to normal.
No. 21's eyes gleam as she holds the terminal.
The video on the terminal seems to continue to play, but—
The migrating animals walk backward quickly, and the lemming regurgitates the plants it had just eaten. Even the gentle voice of the narrator becomes a strange, quiet whisper.
...
No. 21 quietly stares at the screen as if she doesn't notice anything wrong. Right at that moment, an adult white wolf on the screen enthusiastically rescues a fallen deer and sends it back to the herd.
The white wolf is back home.
It was all alone, but now it's with its pack.
No. 21 turns the terminal to face you. The documentary rewinds to before the wolves had abandoned the wolf cub.
It finally found "home."
The documentary stops right after the wolf cub is born. The little cub snuggles up beside its mother.
Like?
I want to keep watching it. Does that mean I "like" it?
All I know is what I "dislike."
I see...
No. 21 mulls over your words, then nods.
Do you have a new mission here, [player name]?
Captain hasn't issued us any new missions recently.
When we aren't on a mission... I don't know what to do.
Looking at No. 21's inquisitive gaze, Vera's slightly cryptic expression comes to mind.
Got that right.
The higher-ups said that No. 21 has been going haywire in battle recently. She's become a liability. We've been pulled out of duty, so she can be put under observation.
There are also rumors going around that she clashed with members from the other teams... And was even getting into fights here in Babylonia.
Obviously. I'll spare you the REAL tinfoil hat conspiracies, but this is all just in a day's work for us.
Vera sneers briefly before suddenly giving an icy glare.
But No. 21 ain't like me and Noctis.
What she wants...
Forget it.
The point is, people are advocating for No. 21 to be re-evaluated for combat thanks to all this bull****. They're all lining up outside our door.
If she's taken away in her current condition... Think it'll just be all rainbows and sunshine?
If they decide that she's unfit for battle via remote link, she'll be kicked out of Cerberus.
What do you think they do with Constructs that have M.I.N.D. issues and can't be deployed in combat...? As a Chief, I'm sure you get the gist.
Rather than let those dimwits decide the fate of my team, it's better to find someone to get this over with ASAP.
But I can't do it by myself...
So... I want you to help No. 21 run some combat simulations to prove that she won't go haywire anymore.
Are you really that dense, or are you just playing dumb?
No. 21 started going nuts ever since you last remote linked with her.
You got her into this mess. Don't you think you should be the one to get her out of it? Hm, Gray Raven Commandant?
No. 21 started going haywire after you remotely connected with her.
Those memories and emotions from your memory replays might still be affecting No. 21's M.I.N.D.
Seeing as you're so quick to accept, listen up—
If you're the reason why I lose such valuable member of my team, I'll cut you to pieces.
You got that?
Returning to your senses, you see No. 21 staring at you.
Combat simulations?
No. 21 suddenly tenses up.
Is it an experiment?
Why you, [player name]?
Even though she didn't come right out and say it.
Captain...
Understood. If it's a mission from the captain, I'll do my best.
