Story

All of the stories in Punishing: Gray Raven, for your reading pleasure. Will contain all the stories that can be found in the archive in-game, together with all affection stories.

ER05-18 Partner

So... you were saying you didn't find his body, huh...

No, and this is the only thing the townspeople found after hours of digging through the place.

Vera pulls out a pair of sunglasses that's snapped in half—one that Noctis knows belongs to Nigel.

I knew the explosion wouldn't kill him...

And there is this thing that I thought the two of you should know, too. This Purifying Force member that you said Nigel had killed... we couldn't find his body either.

So it's just... gone? No way. His frame had stopped working completely when I checked it.

This reminds Noctis of the last mission he went on with the Purifying Force. Back then, he checked and verified Ballard's death, too—before his body went missing.

Could it be that this "poison" that Nigel is using can do more than just kill people...? I need to find him!

When your frame is just another punch away from falling apart?

Geez, I know my body better than anyone. I'm totally fine...

Oh, is that so...? No. 21...

With it, No. 21 suddenly hops out from under Noctis' bed and sits squarely on his tummy.

...!

How are you likin' it?

Noctis' face has turned a strained blue, but he works up a smile nonetheless.

Ha... haha! See, I'm totally fine!

I'm not asking you... So, how are you likin' it, No. 21?

Uncomfortable. Noctis feels... stiff.

Didn't you watch a video of some tribe dance on your terminal? Want to give that a try on Noctis' tummy?

I'm super good at that!

!?!?!?

Alright, that's enough... Give the poor guy a break.

With it, No. 21 jumps off Noctis.

[player name], are you feeling okay now?

Yup. I barely had a scratch on me.

That's great... I hope you get better soon.

Hey, that's differential treatment right there!

Thank you for saving me, Noctis.

Hey, a promise is a promise... I promised I'd end it all and save you, right?

Well, how about you promise us that you'll stay right here and get yourself treated properly?

Vera whips out a syringe of nano restorative substance and sticks it right at one of Noctis' wounds.

Hey, easy there!

Guess I'll have no choice but to ask Nikola to send a new kid to join us if you fight again in your current condition...

Uh? What do you... but I thought I'd been transferred to the Purifying Force?

Do you think they're still going to receive you with open arms after what happened? They almost begged the Control Court to send you back...

Is that so...

You put on a worried face, although you believe that Vera probably pulled quite a few strings to make that happen.

Oh, I was going to ask you what brought you and No. 21 here.

The Purifying Force figured out a way to reach Babylonia and asked the Task Force to send a few extra hands their way, and we took advantage of that to come down here.

See, no one knows Noctis like I do, and I thought I'd have to be the one to deal with him if he actually turned a defector... Well, real shame that I didn't get to do that, though...

Noctis feels a chill down his spine seeing Vera's grimace.

Wait, you didn't mean that... or did you?

She did. Captain even changed into this frame that's designed for fighting Constructs...

I think she meant business.

Me turning defective...? No way...

But it's up to you whether you want to come back to Cerberus.

Right then, a few people come through the door uninvited.

Boss! Are you really going back to Babylonia...?

C'mon, what are you going back to that ****ing place for? Just stay on Earth.

Cough...

What he means is... uhh... he thinks it suits you better here!

Can't say I disagree. There is a bunch of kids here we can fight every day and all sorts of fun stuff we can do. Definitely a lot better than Babylonia, where they make you write a report for letting out a fart from behind.

Noctis nods as he looks this way with a smile.

But I've made my partner a promise—that I'd go back home a Cerberus...

So be it a report or a statement of repentance, I'm ready to write whatever they'll make me write!

Following footsteps from outside the door, an old man walks in with the support of a young man.

Well, guess we aren't gonna stop you, then... but we still wanted to take this chance to let you all know how much we appreciate everything you've done.

I'd like to thank you all, too...

Fann and I would have died without you all... and this town would most definitely have been a goner, too.

New Oakley has taken great care of us, too.

I hate to admit it... but you two totally pass as New Oakley locals.

But ultimately, I know that you two have your eye on somewhere... that's far beyond this little town.

But anyhow, we'd love to have you all join us for the very last day of the Harvest Festival. I'm sure people will be very happy.

I think they should be fine... as long as they drink nothing but water.

Vera asks No. 21 to go over and kicks all the lookie-loos out of the room.

Alright, these two really need some time to recuperate here.

With everyone gone, Noctis struggles to straighten himself in the bed.

Hey, partner... you sleepin'?

I'm feeling pain and sore all over but don't feel one bit sleepy.

Haha, same... Don't think anyone would be able to stay calm having experienced what we did yesterday.

Noctis breaks into a smile, which quickly turns into a sigh.

I just... had no idea what Nigel was thinking, and what was going through his head when we were both fighting with all we got.

He asked me this super weird question about you toward the end of our fight, though.

What was it?

How would you go about telling the difference between a human and a Construct?

It's the same question that he asked in the tavern.

But whether someone is a human or a Construct...

...We'll be there to stand guard over them.

As these words roll off your tongue, you visualize all those times when Constructs and humans worked alongside each other for common causes—as well as times when they swore to fight each other to the death.

That's something we're able to do... and something we must do.

And if there is anything that sets humans and Constructs apart... it's just the stance that we each take.

Haha... ditto. Well, guess I do know you well, then.

But I know you better than you know me.

See, I've seen you drunk.

Wait, what?! Did I do anything weird when I was drunk?!

Uhh, forget it. Time for a nap now.

Hey, c'mon...!

This is probably going to keep Noctis up for quite a while longer...

Are we really going back now?

We've got more important missions to deal with ourselves... so we'll just leave Cerberus issues to themselves.

We've wasted too much time because of everything that happened, and everything we've done will have been for nothing if we can't find the experiment subject in time.

Is she really that important? I wonder what Kurono sees in her.

Issarius nods in agreement as he shoots a solemn look back.

We don't question the motives behind what we're asked to do... Also, let me make one thing clear—what we're after is a dangerous experiment subject and not just some girl.

Letting our guard down is not unlike making ourselves easy targets to her...

Issarius' terminal pings with a new notification message. After taking a look at it, he turns around and gives his team a nod.

We have a new witness report. Target's range of location has narrowed... down to the vicinity of Conservation Area 109.

Issarius' outfit flaps to gusts of wind as a Purifying Force transport craft lands by him.

Let's get going.

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