Story Reader / Floating Record / ER07 Soaring Beyond / Story
ER07-17 Buried Among Stars
Video: S Hanying_Story CG
Phew...
All of this... feels just like the "dreams" I used to have.
From observer to participant to outsider... I was like a reader of a book, standing within its pages and experiencing its story firsthand.
As the snowstorm subsides, a faint melancholy lingers in her eyes.
If Hanying had not reached out to Veronica, Babylonia might never have had the chance to make contact with Veronica.
Without Hanying's help, it would have been nearly impossible for Liv and you to rescue the refugees on your own.
If Hanying had not held off Veronica, you would not have been able to stop Bifrost's launch so quickly.
If it were not for Hanying...
Had Veronica activated Bifrost, Babylonia would have retaliated immediately—a full-scale war between mechanoids and humans would have been inevitable.
...Maybe.
Looking back at Aerospace City, the flames of war have temporarily subsided. Humans and mechanoids rest on opposite sides, clearly divided—until an awakened machine crosses this boundary.
She gently offers the gathered food to the human she once knew so well.
After a moment's hesitation, the human accepts her offer.
At least this story didn't end in the worst possible way, right, Commandant?
Despite all the conflicts born from prejudice and lies... Aerospace City may have preserved the possibility for humans and mechanoids to coexist.
I guess things are wrapping up here...
Veronica has relinquished control over the city's mechanoids and returned to the Church of Machina to track down "the Emperor". With the support of the remaining humans, Yulia has assumed the role of governor for now.
Bifrost has ceased charging, and communications in the city have been restored. After discussions between Babylonia's Diplomatic Court and Aerospace City, both parties agree on terms for the joint development of Bifrost.
But can everything really end this simply?
After Cervantes' arrival, they have examined Aleksei's body with Veronica's permission.
Many mechanical pathways show signs of being sealed off—Aleksei must have tried to prevent Schulz from escaping further, but... he ultimately failed.
I'm not sure...
According to Cervantes, Schulz's true form is merely a piece of code. If he doesn't show himself, it might be nearly impossible to track him down.
Veronica might have her own plans.
Huh... Me?
Although Hanying has not explicitly said it, her attitude and interactions with Veronica suggest that her journey to Aerospace City involves more than just looking for Veronica.
I...
Seeing Hanying's hesitation, you are about to change the subject to avoid making her uncomfortable when a mechanoid with curly hair appears from behind Bifrost.
The Church has discussed internally and agreed that we can reveal our existence to the Gray Raven Commandant.
Sage has personally vouched for the Gray Raven Commandant's trustworthiness. Besides, even if we didn't tell the humans, they would likely have deduced this from the information they already have.
Hello, Gray Raven Commandant. I am Cervantes, "the Tower" from the Church of Machina.
Although you have never met him in person, you have heard about this mechanoid's existence from Constellia.
Hello, Gray Raven Commandant. I am Cervantes, "the Tower" from the Church of Machina.
You must have heard about me from Iris Warbler.
Hello, Gray Raven Commandant. I am Cervantes, "the Tower" from the Church of Machina.
The white-haired mechanoid offers a cordial smile.
No, this is purely out of necessity. Due to certain arrangements made by Sage, we must inform you of some information in advance.
While Hanying's arrival at Aerospace City was unexpected, her purpose here was related to this information. She has accomplished her mission perfectly by finding this...
This is Sage's will.
He hands over a terminal-sized case.
The "key." A new "key" to activate the "invitation."
It's also a message left by Sage.
Your memories come flooding back—Dominik delivering the invitation to Qu through Nanami, and the Full Sensory Simulation Device from Nanami used to decode the "invitation"...
The two mechanoids remain quiet, their silence seemingly confirming your speculation.
It all makes sense now—Nanami being the Sage the mechanoids speak of, how she has always acted mysteriously, and Qu encountering her in Tabula Akasha...
...I apologize, but I have other matters to attend to. Once I finish explaining everything to you, I'll have to take my leave.
The white-haired mechanoid interrupts your thoughts.
Sage informed me that this key is merely a replica due to certain circumstances. While it remains functional, it does have its limitations.
Sage is still away on important matters. Even we are unaware of her exact whereabouts.
I apologize, but I don't know any more about it. Sage only mentioned that this might be the last resort.
The last resort... the invitation...
Password correct. Access granted.
As this different response echoes, a blinding light fills your vision.
The data cube decrypts with the brief password, revealing a "letter" composed of data streams.
We did not intend to leave this letter in such a mysterious manner, but we had to ensure it would be opened by the right person at the right time.
This is a forcibly replicated "invitation," and thus, we must ask once more.
What is the current status of the Hetero Tower?
While the interface displays the question, there is no space provided for an answer. A waterfall of data streams past, seemingly locking onto certain information before flickering and returning to stillness.
Understood.
What is the status of the contamination memetics?
What is the current status of Babylonia?
...
Just like the questions you have faced before.
Understood.
This world now has met all the conditions to use the "key."
Please note that once the "key" is used to activate the "invitation," the "invitation" will lose its authority to turn the invitee into Dominik.
With an activated "invitation," you will be able to enter and utilize the Hetero Tower. If necessary, it can also be used to destroy and retrieve the tower's core.
Please note that destroying the tower's core will have severe consequences. This should only be used as a last resort.
An overwhelming amount of information is processed rapidly through your mind.
Its original form was... well, not very portable, but Zavier helped compress it down to this size.
Sage mentioned that modifications would require installing an interface compatible with standard terminals... She seemed to prefer the original design, but she still allowed Zavier to make the changes for human use.
I'll take my leave then. Please keep the matters concerning the Church of Machina between as few humans as possible.
The Church of Machina has no intention of opposing humanity at this time.
With a courteous bow, Cervantes departs from Bifrost.
Tsiolkovsky Aerospace City
Two hours earlier
...Cervantes!
Did you find it?
Yes, this should be it...
She hands a small black box to Cervantes.
That's it indeed.
So what exactly happened to the Church?
"The Emperor" has returned to the Church.
Church of Machina
Earlier
Have you located where it is?
Pinpointing its location isn't difficult—there are no secrets in the Church of Machina.
The real challenge is... getting it out of here. Precisely because there are no secrets, every move we make must be completely justified.
Especially since this thing was left behind by Sage... Zero's definitely gonna...
...Oh my, Wheel of Fortune? What are you sneaking around here for?
Zero leaps nimbly down the stairs with a bundle of long cables trailing behind her.
Just making some necessary adjustments to upgrade my language module.
That's not true. I heard you mention Sage.
Zero stands beside Wheel of Fortune like a shadow, her eyes scanning every detail.
My audio module works just fine. You were trying to take something Sage left behind, and you were communicating with someone else.
No, you must have misunderstood...
Enough. There's no need to hide anymore. We're kindred—there shouldn't be secrets between us.
...Schulz?! You despicable thing!
Zero closes in on Wheel of Fortune and snatches the terminal from his hands, her eyes narrowing as she examines the communication device.
What Sage despises, I despise as well. Sage has already disposed of you—you shouldn't even be alive.
While fending off Wheel of Fortune's attempts to grab the device, Zero frantically searches for a way to erase its data.
You maniac!
Zero! Think carefully—why would I willingly reveal myself to you?
To give Sage a chance to praise me, of course!
While fending off Wheel of Fortune's attempts to grab the device, Zero frantically searches for a way to erase its data.
No, this is about Sage! If this continues, we're heading toward a future without her!
What are you talking about?
Taking advantage of the distraction, Wheel of Fortune manages to snatch the terminal back from Zero's grasp.
We... we're going to lose Sage and face a future without her!
In Gestalt, I saw countless futures, but Sage is nowhere to be found in every possibility where humanity survives... and we're heading right down that path!
Are you just going to stand by and watch her disappear?
Why should I believe you? What makes you think I'd trust you more than Sage?
Because she would never tell you about the future—a future [without her].
...
Haven't you found it strange? She spends less and less time at the Church, and our contact with her grows more distant by the day...
But Sage dislikes you.
Though she somewhat believes the Emperor's words, Zero's eyes remain fixed on the miniature terminal with a serpentine intensity.
That's because she cares for those humans!
I, Schulz, am the apostle of Sage's mechanical will—how could I possibly deceive you?!
The Punishing Virus won't interfere with our true cause—but humans will. She would rather sacrifice herself to save those humans. Once we eliminate those humans, we can present to Sage... the true world!
...
What are you trying to do?
Simple enough. Just upload the code from this terminal into the Gray Tower, and then...
You can leave everything else to me.
Only when Sage briefly returned did Zero finally reveal everything. As her punishment, she will be confined to the Church of Machina for some time.
The Emperor collaborated with Wheel of Fortune to hijack a shipment of supplies, including you and the "key." The Emperor must have been in contact with Veronica beforehand to arrange the delivery here.
But she claimed she had nothing to do with the internal struggle of the Church.
Veronica didn't understand the importance of the key, nor did she anticipate my arrival. Her desire to destroy humanity had nothing to do with the Church.
She might indeed have nothing to do with it. The Emperor might have sent these supplies under different pretexts. As for the exact reasons, I'm not quite sure myself.
That code blocked the Gray Tower's signal transmission, and the network protocols were only comprehensible to the Emperor—it took Zavier and Amina quite a while before they managed to fix it.
...I'm glad everyone's okay.
We're fine for now. Let's hope nothing serious comes up later.
The white-haired mechanoid tilts his head back and heaves a deep sigh.
Bifrost Launch Track
Control Tower
From this vantage point, the once-gleaming skyline is now obscured by scaffolding and construction equipment, its former splendor hidden behind a maze of steel frames.
Yet the absence of conflict is a testament to Aerospace City's revival.
Babylonia has not only provided supplies for reconstruction but also joined forces with Aerospace City troops to clear the surrounding forests and help refugees from the far north establish settlements.
The cycle of hatred shatters and crumbles as a new beginning rises from the ashes.
Ma'am, fuel loading and system checks are complete. We're ready for launch at any time.
Just Yulia is fine.
Before stepping through the threshold into the future, she has to bid the past farewell.
...I'll go check on it one more time.
Are we heading down to the track?
Mm... Yes, let's go there.
She spins her wheelchair around and enters the elevator.
The familiar weightlessness from the descent washes over her, momentarily freeing her from gravity's embrace.
The automatic door slides seamlessly into the wall, revealing once again a pristine white world before her eyes.
Salute!
Under the clear sky, soldiers' right arms rise upon her appearance, sweeping through the air like a cresting wave.
She makes her way toward the distant spacecraft, passing by faces familiar or strange.
Then, Yulia comes to a halt beside the massive spacecraft.
The black and white thermal tiles on the spacecraft's underbelly remain sleek and pristine. The steel creation, rather than becoming a bullet of hatred, stands here imbued with a new purpose.
She gently caresses the spacecraft's hull as if touching the curved surface of a space helmet.
Stars.
Yes, stars.
The Earth... Would it look like this from space? A tiny, blue star...
One day, we'll all make our way there...
Closer to Sage, to the distant shore untouched by strife.
Toward the starry sky, seeking the answers that belong to us.
Yula, do mechanoids... have souls too? Where do our souls... go?
Will I be able to see... 39 there?
You will, Dima. You will.
When Yulia comes to her senses, traces of tears have already streaked down her cheeks.
Inside the space shuttle's cabin lie the remains of fallen humans and mechanoids.
But the shadows have subsided above the clouds. When darkness fades, dawn always arrives as promised.
She gently removes her hand from the metal hull, then maneuvers her wheelchair back to a safe distance.
Let them... begin their journey.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
With the sharp crack of engine ignition, the shuttle's auxiliary launch pods begin emitting orange-yellow flames.
Shards of thin ice dance amidst the flowing flames of the liquid rocket engines, drifting downward with the pull of gravity, transforming this funeral into a spectacular curtain call.
Goodbye, Dima.
Perhaps she will never truly be ready to accept this farewell, but... they will meet again someday.
The massive vessel soars upward, drawing everyone's gaze to the sky.
Yulia watches as the shuttle climbs into the vast heavens. The winter sun catches the edge of her vision, causing her eyes to close like curtains.
Perhaps it is the tears welling up again—her vision grows increasingly blurry.
The steel vessel gradually becomes a tiny, brilliant speck of light. Then, it vanishes into the depths of the cloudless void.
The girl in the wheelchair lingers at the edge of the track. Below, the city sprawls out beneath her feet, its buildings reaching toward the celestial dome—a reflection of past dreams among the stars.
She gently closes her eyes.
