Story Reader / Floating Record / ER06 When Day Breaks / Story
The drill's deafening roar fills the air as muddy water seeps through the rock layers, rising to ankle level.
—We're breaking through! Get out of the way if you can hear this in there!
A sliver of daylight pierces through the gaps between weathered rocks into the dark mine tunnel.
Get out of the way!
Engineering Force's chosen breach point is precisely calculated, less than one meter away from the reinforced section of the mine tunnel.
The reinforced mine tunnel rumbles ominously as Cheryl and other Support Force members furrow their brows, eyes fixed intently on the safe zone above.
BOOM—
With a resounding blast, Engineering Force breaks through the mine tunnel's rocky walls from the outside, finally letting sunlight stream in.
Commandant.
The piercing light sears her vision, and Lucia gently shields her eyes with her hand.
We want to be careful with the sunlight since we've been underground all this time.
Hey, are you all doing okay in there?!
While Engineering Force members carefully work to widen the tunnel opening for rescue operations, Karenina, already equipped with protective gear, rushes inside.
[player name], Lucia! Are you both alright?!
Hey, slow down...
Funny how it feels like we're always crawling through places like this these days...
With Karenina and Teddy's help, the trapped squad successfully makes it back to the surface.
On it. Teddy!
As she coordinates the rescue effort, Karenina turns her head to call out.
Already on it, except the reception seems a little unstable now...
Alright, I'll handle things from here. Go ahead and get some rest.
The girl leads the way to the temporary camp, hurrying forward, but her brow furrows the moment she lifts the tent flap.
...The Norman Mining Corp's executive?
Dressed in immaculately pressed suits, Norman Mining Corp's executive and their research division representative sit in the middle of the temporary tent, carrying themselves with such formality as if they were in Babylonia's executive boardroom.
Though the timing may be less than ideal, I must ask you all to hear our requests. After all, Norman Mining Corp cannot provide such extensive aid without some form of compensation.
Rest assured, though, we won't be making any unreasonable demands. Norman Mining Corp is well aware that Babylonia is leading this operation. However...
Since Norman Mining Corp will be responsible for the maintenance and repairs once we reclaim the mining facility, I expect Babylonia to preserve as much of the facility's core infrastructure as possible during your clearing operations and combat procedures.
Even if the entire facility is swarming with Corrupted?
...I apologize, but such matters fall outside the scope of our concerns.
In our current situation, we lack the resources and manpower for equipment reconstruction, therefore...
...Therefore? Cut to the chase and say what you really mean.
Let me explain the laboratory-related aspects from here on.
Norman Mining Corp funded and built the laboratory within the mining facility, and we didn't manage to retrieve all the documents when the incident happened.
We dispatched An Jie, our laboratory head, as one of the assistant personnel.
Where is she now? One of my objectives for this visit is to retrieve An Jie ahead of schedule.
Babylonia has no right to detain my student.
She's just a researcher. What can she possibly testify about? I only mean to take her back to Babylonia early for recovery...
...
...Professor?
Having realized what's happening, the executive takes a step back, offers an awkward smile in apology, and leads the professor away from the tent.
Those in the room can hear them arguing outside the room.
This isn't what Victoria told us to do... She specifically asked us to keep the mine safe and keep an eye on them, while making sure that there is no widespread destruction...
This is a laboratory matter. It's none of your business.
The curtain rustles as the professor enters again.
Let me say this again: Babylonia has no authority to detain my student.
Stolen? Commandant, I'm afraid your choice of words is problematic. The data rightfully belongs to Norman Mining Corp—specifically, to their mining facility.
Norman Mining Corp is merely an investor. We do not know whether the experimental data violate Babylonia's regulations.
Even if it does violate current regulations, the new proposal isn't retroactive. Under the old rules, Norman Mining Corp wasn't in violation of any regulations. Therefore, Norman Mining Corp should have the right to reclaim these materials.
A smug smile creeps across the aging researcher's face.
...
I shouldn't have wasted my time listening to this drivel.
As Karenina storms toward the exit, Teddy catches her arm and pulls her back.
Be clear with us. Who exactly is asking for An Jie—Norman Mining Corp, or someone else?
...Of course it's Norman Mining Corp.
His eyes dart around, refusing to meet your gaze.
Teddy shoots you a dismissive glance before her fingers dance across the keyboard with practiced precision.
Ah, there we go.
Alvis... zipping through the ranks, huh?
His background shows... an unprecedented jump from Konstantin Mining's internal lab straight to Norman Mining Corp's headquarters in Babylonia?
...I'm afraid I don't follow what you mean.
It's got to be Kurono.
I knew they might try to dig their claws into Norman Mining Corp, but I didn't expect them to make it this far...
A bitter smirk crosses Teddy's face.
Norman doesn't even have the resources to restart their experiments right now. Even if we reclaim Konstantin Mine, the output has to be prioritized for Babylonia's use anyway.
Working for Norman while serving Kurono... How's that double paycheck working out for you?
...
Seriously... I don't have time to babysit these idiots who can't even get their priorities straight.
Hold on, something's wrong at the mine...
I've been trying to contact Bridget, but all my messages are failing to send... which is weird.
I'm connected to the internal communications network you were just using. Support Force has already repaired the transmission equipment in the mines, so there shouldn't be any problems...
Wait...
Hmm... I can't think of anything else.
Is there anyone else down in the mine besides Bridget?
"The sabotaged elevator"... "the security cameras with their blinking red lights"...
It's gotta be them—the one in the mine.
I'll go with you.
What's the situation in the mine right now?
Most members and researchers from Support Force have returned to the surface and are stationed in temporary shelters. No casualties reported.
Some from Support Force stayed behind to cover the retreat, and a rescue operation has been arranged for them.
Only Bridget and Trojan remain unaccounted for.
We can reach Trojan's communication line, but there's no response...
Beeeep—
The disconnection tone barely carries through the static-filled monitoring room—yet the Construct, who calls himself Skych, responds as if he heard it. With a hoarse voice, he opens his mouth to speak.
You're wasting your time.
I've blocked all communication signals here to prevent myself from sending out anything... anything that shouldn't be sent out, that is, in case I lose my mind.
The secrets here should remain buried forever. Never underestimate humanity's shortsightedness and greed.
The Norman family's honor...
Dammit!
Using the monitoring room's map, Bridget rushes back to where she got separated from Trojan. However, the main door appears to be damaged from the outside—even with the passcode entered, the door only responds with a weak, brittle click.
Another forceful attempt to pry open the door ends in failure.
What's happening to Trojan now? And that thing outside... what in the world is it?
Who are you really? Are you really just a butler for Norman Mining Corp?
Why... why are Mom and Dad's names... on the data?
Clang—
The response comes in the form of an even heavier impact against the door from outside.
Are you really just a butler for Norman Mining Corp? If you really are Skych, then why...
...Why are Zoe and Marian's names in these records here?!
The impacts against the door suddenly cease.
The self-proclaimed Skych, this supposed Construct outside, seems to have stopped moving.
...Zoe... Marian...
What exactly... do you have to do with these two...?
Zoe and Marian.
They are my parents.
While changing the subject, Bridget continues trying to pry open the gate from the side. Thanks to Skych's forceful ramming earlier, the inner side of the gate seems to have loosened somewhat, making it possible for Bridget to work her way out.
She would never leave Trojan out there alone.
Zoe... and Marian... they're your parents?
A hoarse whisper seeps through the gap, as if emanating from the depths of hell.
Are you... hah... hah... Bridget...?
...How do you know my name?!
Though startled, Bridget doesn't stop prying at the gate. Just a little more...
Hah... hah... ugh...
With a thunderous crash, the gate collapses. Bridget, having finally broken through, stands before Skych.
Who's that?!
Though confusion has clouded his logic circuits, Skych raises his fists all the same when he senses the gate opened. Yet he freezes the moment his eyes meet those of the brown-haired Construct.
She looks... exactly like Marian.
Skych! The baby's here!
That's wonderful! Have you picked a name?
Of course! Marian decided to name her Bridget. When she's a bit older, she can go rock climbing and off-roading with us!
Haha, you sure that's not too dangerous for a baby?
C'mon, you never described off-roading as "dangerous" when you used to join us back in the day.
We were young back then... Things are different now.
But we're still damn young!
What... What are you doing here, Skych?!
Zoe? Marian?! What... are the two of you...
We've been living in Konstantin all this time, handling the search and rescue operations around here...
What's going on... Skych?
No time to explain, quick, this way...
Bridget...
...It's been so long, hasn't it?
In the dim mine shaft where day and night blur together, he can no longer track the passing numbers to tell how much time has elapsed in this state.
I-I... ugh...
Turbulent waves surge through his M.I.N.D. once more as the excruciating pain assaults his consciousness.
Trojan!
The moment she rushes in, she carefully keeps her distance from Skych while making straight for Trojan to check her injuries.
The blue-haired Construct lies slumped against the wall corner, in visibly critical condition.
Only after using up all her emergency medical supplies does Bridget manage to barely stabilize Trojan's vital signs.
What exactly happened to my parents...? Did you see them in the mine?
Having made sure Trojan's vital signs are now stable, Bridget hoists her onto her back, turns to face Skych, and slowly backs away.
...Hgh... Go... Get out of here...
Suppressing his urge to destroy everything in sight, Skych takes a step back to show he has no intention of attacking Bridget.
The data from the monitoring room, those videos you recorded... What's really going on here?!
I failed them... Kurono... the data... it must be destroyed...
The hoarse voice cuts off abruptly, but Bridget has picked up some keywords.
Kurono?!
...Go, get out of here...!!
Sharp waves begin to churn once more in his chaotic M.I.N.D.
...
While Bridget can't be certain what connection this Construct has to her parents, seeing how severely wounded Trojan is, she knows that she can't risk putting her in more danger.
Taking advantage of Skych's disoriented state, Bridget hoists Trojan onto her back and slips away through the side path.
Hgh... ah...
As Skych regains his composure, the memories of his dear friends slip away yet again.
I... have sworn to be loyal to the Norman Mining Corp and Norman Family for the rest of my life. I cannot let these matters see the light of day... They would tarnish the Norman family's glory.
A strange sound escapes his throat as his pupils grow clouded and unfocused.
I need to destroy them...
After taking a detour and getting out of Skych's sight, Bridget breaks into a sprint with Trojan on her back.
Bridget is sure that the strange man has to have clues about her parents. They might have known each other, maybe even been friends long ago...
Um...
Trojan?! How are you feeling...
Bridget leans down to check on Trojan, but she only responds with murmurs.
Stable vital signs... Guess there is no immediate danger.
For some reason, that strange man seemed to hold back when attacking Trojan. Bridget knows that she wouldn't have stood a chance against him in this old frame she's now in.
With the tunnel blocked and the elevator out of service, there's almost no way out. All she can do now is find a secure spot to keep Trojan safe...
Alright, should be safe here.
After placing Trojan in a previously reinforced section of the tunnel, Bridget dusts off her hands and leaves clear markers outside the tunnel.
It's all up to Bridget now.
In the gibberish coming out of the man's mouth, Bridget caught "Kurono" and "data".
That monitoring room might hold other secrets—more evidence that could prove Kurono's illegal experiments down here in this mine.
He seems intent on destroying the data.
But... Bridget knows that she can't let that happen. The data doesn't just hold clues to her parents' whereabouts—it's also telltale evidence of how countless souls vanished into this abyss without leaving a trace.
Hyde's "research group" alone documented a bunch of innocent "test subjects", including Trojan. While the others...
Bridget reorganizes her gear and weapons, then adjusts Trojan's terminal to receive communication signals at maximum range.
Alright... This should work. [player name] will definitely find us.
She has to retrieve the data before that suspicious being completely destroys the evidence.
She isn't going to let them vanish without a trace.
When we meet again... I hope we can still share a beer-like alcohol-flavor electrolyte together.
She turns and ventures back into the darkened mine shaft.
