Story Reader / Event Story / Blazing Trails / Story
>>>Trailblazer Log, Entry Number 8940.
Four hundred forty-six hours into mission. Information pertaining to "the Punishing Virus" has been obtained from deserted robots. Hazard Level: Extremely High. Rejecting any potential infection risks. Infection is to be determined as failure of mission.
Strategy employed: Targeting all [Central Purification Filter] facilities. Limiting activities to areas with CPFs only prior to traveling to mission zone. Interzone travels to be conducted through high-altitude flights to reduce infection risks.
Mission Progress: Heading toward Section A in Zone Four of Area Five. One hundred meters out... Fifty meters out...
Mission location reached. Deactivating Low Altitude Flight Mode.
With the jet propulsion system at his tail end shutting off, Trailblazer sets his foot again on land with a heavy thud, causing the apparently deserted cathedral up ahead to shiver.
No enemies found. Commencing cooldown. Estimated Time Needed: 189 seconds.
Through his long flight, Trailblazer had to fly at high altitude to steer clear of infected areas, overheating Trailblazer from head to toe.
Seeing no enemies around, Trailblazer vents out all the steam at once by the cathedral—after which he remains standing motionless. Unlike firing shots, cooldown can take a while.
Awaiting completion of cooldown. Confirming target...
I see you've been standing there for quite some time now, sir.
Hearing someone speaking from inside the confessional he's leaning on, Trailblazer kicks into gear right away and aims his weapons squarely at the confessional.
It's okay, sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm a psychotherapist, and I also work as a priest in this confessional.
The Punishing Virus has thrown up a load of problems and caused a lot of mental issues around here. I live nearby, and I just wanted to do what I could to help people feel better.
I can't see you from this side of the box, nor is it my hope that you can see me from your side. This is to keep both parties safe, and your understanding is most appreciated.
The calmness in the man's tone suggests that it's likely that he really can't see what's on this side of the confessional—with all the cannons aimed straight at him.
Although Trailblazer has no trouble imagining the man's reaction were he to see him. Whenever Trailblazer crosses paths with humans—often with no intention of violating their personal bubbles—they never fail to drive him away with the fearful look in their eyes and the weapons in their hands.
This is his first time talking to a human like this.
So... I see you've been pacing up and down for quite some time now, and I was wondering if you need any help. Or... would you rather be left alone?
The man in the confessional carries on in his gentle, relaxed tone.
...Answering. I'm looking for something.
I see. Well, what is it? I might have seen it.
Answering. Insufficient information. Unable to locate object.
It's something Victor said was dear to him before retreating from the armory, and that's the only hint Trailblazer has to go on with. Trailblazer guesses it's a high-power weapon.
Except Trailblazer can't be sure what the weapon might look like, since Victor's weapons tend to take on all sorts of shapes and functions.
...You have no idea what you're looking for. That must be quite a headache.
But that's fine. We can work on it together.
Now, to start with, could you tell me your name?
But here you are, carrying a few dozen with you, all just so you can keep the world a peaceful place.
...
My name is Trailblazer, and "Every step taken illuminates the path" is what this name is supposed to mean.
I'm a war machine born to uphold peace. You can find me wherever there is a mission that requires my presence, and that's how I have been living for the past several decades.
Which means you've been around since the Golden Age... Do you belong to the Peacekeeping Force? And judging from the fact that you refer to yourself as a war machine, I suppose you've been upholding world peace with a strong sense of loyalty, no?
Indeed, because I'm a guardian of peace.
Humans have been hurting one another...
To take what's not theirs ever since the beginning of time, people have always been fighting one another, whether the person they're fighting is their own kind or not—and it's something they've been so busy doing that they never once looked up to see the starry sky.
Oh wow, you blew me away right there with that speech of yours, Guardian of Peace! And I suppose that's what you've been trying to find, no?
Now, this peace you're talking about here—given current circumstances, have you thought about how to bring it about?
Negative. Never.
But it still won't hurt to think about it. Let's pretend for a moment that you came across a group of people firing shots at one another, and you just so happened to be carrying weapons...
Request for simulation rejected. It's a pure waste of resources.
The man stops in his tracks, having been cut off. Moments later, he speaks again, commenting on what Trailblazer has said.
...You have a point there. Peace has never been an easy path to take, and current circumstances have only made it more challenging than ever. I suppose you'll need more time to think it through.
Well, let's digress a bit here, then.
Is there anything else you would like to do besides accomplishing this grand objective of yours?
No. My current objective is to accomplish that mission.
I probably should have made myself more clear just now... but I think you just made it clear that you lack the proper means to identify other objectives in life.
Say, have you ever thought about getting yourself a partner? Every soul needs a companion—one that can give you advice, talk to you, and care for you.
We tend to be lost in life traveling alone, and having a companion by our side can make all the difference. What do you think?
I can tell you where to find a companion if you ever need one, and I'm sure you can find just the right companion for yourself there.
To start with, you need to go three kilometers eastward, and from there you head north...
Conversation. Pointless.
The man is once again cut off.
Definition of companion: An entity from which one can benefit through interaction and mutual help. Based on this definition, there does not exist a companion for me.
The ensuing silence weighs heavily on the confessional and Trailblazer's enormous body.
On his way here, Trailblazer has come across countless mechanoids—most of which were either mindless machines carrying out repetitive, mindless work or killing machines that have been infected.
Trailblazer, however, sees neither as potential companions.
Well... I can't force that on you if that's not your cup of tea.
But I think we now have a better idea of what you're looking for, and that is...
...Warning.
...?
Corrupted detected. Ten seconds out. Evacuate at once.
And with it, Trailblazer rises into the air—with all his weapons jutting out from behind his back.
Ten seconds later, the confessional has fallen the target of a full-fledged assault.
Infection detected. Retreating while eliminating enemies.
Trailblazer detects an infection signal as he speaks. In the data that came through before, Trailblazer saw identifying information that he thought he could use to shield himself from an assault from the Corrupted.
And to Trailblazer, there is no better way to do so than to reciprocate with an equally powerful assault.
A few minutes later, still sizzling with smoke from overheating, Trailblazer's cannons finally come to a stop.
Bombardment executed. Activating detection circuit... Unconnected to infrared detection component. Commencing camera detection.
...Detection failed. No activities of life forms detected.
The man on the other side of the confessional might have made it out of there in time—or got blown into pieces with the infected machines.
But whatever happened to the man, Trailblazer believes there was nothing more he could have done.
...Checking recharge. Firepower checked. Continuing with mission.
To Trailblazer, life is a journey of unending responsibilities.
Checking mission target...
He needs to find the item Victor talked about.
And bring it there...
But where is there?
Where are you taking me, Steely?
Alerted by the voice, Trailblazer points all his weapons and cameras at the person who just uttered those words.
It's a child—one that appears to be a Scavenger, her hands hidden in her cloak, and her eyes looking straight at Trailblazer.
Her eyes void of fear and hands free of a weapon, the child remains standing quietly, looking at Trailblazer as though he were a tall human being.
C'mon, Steely, where are you taking me?
...Keyword detected. Verification commenced.
Trailblazer can't be sure if she's the target of the mission—but the mere fact that this human can stand fearlessly before him is something that piques Trailblazer's interest.
Outline scan... complete. Trait detection scan... damaged component found. Trait scan... Failed. Other means of verification to be attempted.
Question. Can you shoot out fire beams over 10 meters long?
Huh...? No, I can't.
Can you shoot out ultra particle beams?
...What in the world is that... No, I can't.
Are you capable of power output over 100000?
100000... what? Beads?
Negative. This entity is not the Mission Target.
This child can't do any of these—which is why she can't possibly be the "ultimate weapon" Victor talked about.
Turning around, Trailblazer continues his scan of the deserted cathedral...
To no avail. Trailblazer doesn't see anything that even remotely resembles an add-on weapon or an object capable of power output.
Target of the what...? Wait, you haven't told me where you're taking me.
My uncle told me to wait here. He said a robot would come here and take me somewhere great. Is that you?
At the word "uncle," Trailblazer suddenly recalls the one time when Victor mentioned his siblings.
"Every soul needs a companion." Could Victor be one of those souls, too?
...Question. Would you be willing to be a companion to another soul?
A companion... sure.
Question. Would your uncle need you as his companion?
Oh, of course! He said that a great many times!
...Reverify Mission Target.
It occurs to Trailblazer that a misjudgment on his part might have been made—that, as the world was about to meet its end, what Victor referred to probably wasn't some ultimate weapon, but a child, one that he had wanted to be escorted to safety.
Trailblazer studies the kid.
Firepower of Mission Target... low. Level of intelligence... undeterminable. Target confirmed to be in need of protection.
...Hey! Do you want a beating?
Negative. Such behavior will only inflict physical damage on yourself.
...
The child knocks on Trailblazer's shell a few times before pulling her hand back.
...At least let me say goodbye to this place.
With a pout on her face, the child walks up to the confessional that Trailblazer pulverized moments ago.
I guess this is where we say goodbye. This robot that's taking me with him isn't the smartest apple and can be a little difficult, but I do need to go now... and I just want to thank you for keeping me company for the past little while.
Reminder. The person inside the confessional might no longer be present or have perished. You shall not receive a response.
What are you talking about... The psychotherapist? There is no way he could have died. He probably just doesn't feel like saying anything now.
Negative. The entity has in all likelihood perished.
No way. There is just no way...
...Mission Target incommunicable. Commencing relocation of Mission Target.
I'm not "Mission Target". My name is Weixian!
What, what are you... Holy!
Grabbing Weixian by the arm, Trailblazer lifts her up and mounts her over his shoulders.
Your shell feels hard... I thought you were going to let me sit inside of you...
You might find that as a viable means of transportation in the other robots. I was not designed to offer such means of transportation as I am Combat-Specialized.
Alternatively, however, at the cost of my dexterity during a potential battle, I can carry you with my arms the entire way.
...Well, thank you for offering, but that doesn't sound fun at all.
Says Weixian, pouty and leaning against the back of Trailblazer's head.
I'm okay... being carried like this.
