Story Reader / Floating Record / ER07 Soaring Beyond / Story
The biting wind howls through the open hangar gates, its icy chill lingering within the metallic confines of the docking bays.
The fierce battle from moments ago has left the air heavy with heated tension.
His moves are fierce but not smooth.
Rather than a Construct... he's more like a machine fighting according to a preset behavior pattern.
That sense of dissonance feels just as unsettling as the contradictions you have witnessed in Aleksei.
All the nuanced hints you have noticed since entering the city converge together after this confrontation. Behind the rapidly escalating chaos, the unseen force finally puts on a mask, emerging into the spotlight.
Commandant, that... that mechanical model just now... something feels off about him.
"He" seems to have merely replicated Lee's appearance and fundamental attack strategies, yet to those acquainted with Lee, it would be evident that this imitation is merely skin-deep.
Yes, "he" seems to have merely replicated Lee's appearance and fundamental attack strategies, but all the other frame data is entirely different.
It's as if... someone just caught a brief glimpse of Hyperreal somewhere—maybe not even from live data capture—and hastily replicated this shell from that limited information.
You find this approach oddly familiar. But... where did they even get a chance to see the Hyperreal frame?
Just as the refugees are settled in and you're about to ask Hanying about updates from the outside, she walks right over.
When you were brought here, the mechanoid entered a long sequence of access codes at the Administrative Hall entrance before the gates would open.
As much as you hate to question Hanying... if Veronica has persuaded her to collaborate, this location may not be secure either.
That's actually what I want to talk to you about... Aleksei gave me the access key.
The memory of Aleksei's unsettling behavior during the negotiations flashes through your mind. You take a step back, your hand instinctively reaching for the concealed sidearm.
I know what's concerning you, Commandant. To be honest, I'm surprised too.
Understanding your concerns, Hanying lowers her eyes and plays footage from the terminal.
This is urgent, so please, you have to trust me. I might not stay lucid for long.
Hangar 3C at the spacecraft docking area.
Please, don't let Veronica make an even graver mistake.
...I cannot fully trust you.
I'm sorry, but there's no time for more explanations. I'm not sure how long I can stay clear-headed enough to talk. I'll give you the access key to the Administrative Hall—it's clear of any ambush, and I trust you've already scouted the area.
The key is...
The Aleksei in this recording is completely different from the one you encountered during the previous negotiation.
I can't be sure, but I get the feeling that the "Aleksei" from before was just a puppet, like someone else was pulling the strings...
Yes, that Aleksei felt very similar to this mechanical model, and...
Whether manipulating Aleksei to stir up trouble or using a fake Lee to sow discord, these actions seem designed to sabotage others' efforts to defuse the situation.
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Besides, there is something oddly familiar about these tactics...
But some unforeseen events occurred, like that thing calling itself "the Emperor".
But he seemed to have anticipated everything... as if simulations and predictions were second nature to him.
Could it be... the "experimental subject" called "the Emperor" who appeared in the Tabula Akasha?
You mean... Schulz?
Indeed. He was the mechanoid by my side back in Kowloong. His codename is the Emperor.
Ah, my apologies... Due to certain circumstances, I can't tell you any more details about this.
An apologetic smile crosses Hanying's face.
But if I'm not mistaken, the special code that appeared in Tabula Akasha... was Schulz.
The last I heard, Sage took him away, but... given his expertise in programming, he might have left backup data somewhere.
Rumor has it that... he wasn't just your average awakened machine, though I don't have details on what made him special. Still, it wouldn't surprise me if he was the one manipulating Aleksei.
Because he hates everyone.
Whether or not the Emperor is truly behind this, the proposition that someone is pulling the strings seems to explain all the strange occurrences.
The way Aleksei stalled during negotiations, misled the resistance, and provoked their attacks...
That "Aleksei" is deliberately trying to provoke Veronica.
As the only human Veronica truly trusts, Aleksei showing her the brutal wounds from his near-death experience would undoubtedly elicit an intense reaction from her.
Veronica is being deceived... I have to find her.
I have to at least try. We mechanoids do not abandon our own.
She answers with a gentle smile.
I would've remained in that storage pod forever... if it weren't for my fellow mechanoids, who never gave up trying to wake me. That's the only reason I'm talking to you today.
It's the same with Veronica... Even if she barely listens to what I say, I won't give up on her as long as there's the slightest chance...
She shouldn't have become fuel for hatred... Someone else is behind these tragedies.
A sharp glint grows in Hanying's eyes.
"The Emperor" not only turned his back on the Church but nearly brought Kowloong to complete ruin.
Even now, he continues to incite hatred between mechanoids and humans, going so far as to sacrifice the lives of his kin...
He deceived his own people, deceived everyone. He... must pay for what he's done.
The female mechanoid's gaze pierces through the mist, fixing upon the figure lurking behind the scene.
The determination born from her gentle nature proves sharper than any blade.
Let's start planning our next move.
She turns toward you with a gentle smile.
