Babylonia, Conference Room.
Two months ago
Two months ago, Babylonia, conference room.
Having concluded his meeting with Nikola, Hassen placed a call to Teddy's terminal.
It didn't connect immediately, and Hassen held the line without a hint of impatience.
Twenty seconds later, the connection clicked through.
President Hassen. How did you get this channel's IP?
Her tone was neither respectful nor discourteous.
The method isn't important.
Teddy, I have a critical mission for you.
...
A mission that has to bypass the Command Center?
The Command Center maintains synchronized records. This requires discretion.
...Why me?
The Task Force is full of elite squads. I'm just an Engineering member.
I need your specific expertise in cybersecurity.
Hassen heard the faint, resigned sigh Teddy let out on the other end of the line.
Can't this wait until my new frame is operational?
The frame won't make a difference.
On the other end of the line, Teddy paused, as if contemplating something.
I want the frame switch costs fully covered.
...Wasn't that already approved?
That budget only covers half.
If I remember correctly... you commissioned that upgrade as a personal project. You designed it yourself and sourced the components independently.
Reimbursing half was already an exception.
Tch.
That's what I've been wondering. If it were just a personal project, why approve any funding at all?
Something about this smells fishy.
Complete this mission, and we will reimburse the full cost.
Let's be clear: I'm not looking to get entangled in your schemes. I just do my job.
Of course. If the situation becomes too complicated, you have full authorization to disengage and extract yourself.
Just tell me. What am I supposed to investigate or find?
Hassen gives a smile.
Already figured out it's an investigation mission, huh?
Have you heard a certain legend circulating on the surface?
One they call the "digital paradise."
...?
Supposedly—and I must stress, this is only a rumor—there is a place on the surface known as the "digital paradise."
It's said to welcome those disillusioned with reality. Anyone who finds it can live out their days in a virtual, networked world.
Sounds a lot like the Tabula Akasha.
Probably just a distorted rumor. I'd bet that's where this rumor started.
Who knows...
So my official mission is to investigate this legend?
Yes, that is the mission being logged with the Command Center.
And the other part? The "things you need me to do"?
After this, there is no turning back. Have you made up your mind?
...Do I have a choice? I'm the best candidate you could find, aren't I?
Yeah.
Fine. I'll do it.
Your mission this time: locate as many quantum supercomputers without AI as possible.
Teddy fell silent the moment Hassen finished speaking.
She only found her voice again after a long pause.
...When Parliament voted to unlock the Gestalt data wall, which side were you on?
Hassen remained unfazed, offering a slight smile in response to Teddy's sharp tone.
Barring special circumstances, the President does not participate in voting.
...
Realizing she had overstepped, Teddy didn't press the issue further.
If the digital paradise is real, it would require a massive computational foundation.
You suspect it's a quantum supercomputer without an AI.
Precisely. And your only task is to confirm its existence.
Surface
One month ago
One month ago, Earth.
Teddy shut down her terminal, and with it, the holographic map dissolved.
The memory of her conversation with Hassen surfaced, drawing a resigned sigh from her.
I didn't get a damn thing out of him.
I don't know what he's planning, but I'm clearly just a pawn on his board...
Guess I have to play my part first...
For the past month, Teddy had been scouring Earth for any information on the digital paradise.
Only recently had she finally uncovered a significant lead.
Elean...
Her terminal rang, and Teddy looked up, surprised by the name on the caller ID.
Let me guess. You screwed something up and need me to clean up your mess?
Her contempt radiated through the communication channel, striking Leonardo like a physical blow.
Is that really what you think of me? My reputation has fallen so far?
With a dramatic gasp, Leonardo clutched his chest and feigned heartbreak.
Spare me the performance. What do you want?
The old man is dying.
...
For a moment, the news left Teddy strangely adrift.
Should she break out in applause?
She had imagined this moment countless times, yet now felt none of the anticipated satisfaction.
Should she be weeping with grief?
The gestures felt foreign. She still vividly remembered everything Charles had done to forge her into "Dominik's successor."
But worst of all, Charles initiated Project Herald and sent his own son—Teddy's father—to his death.
For him, she could summon neither triumph nor sorrow, only a chilling, profound detachment.
Oh.
How cold-hearted.
Teddy shot Leonardo a glare.
The family is already making arrangements.
It's going to be a grand affair.
By the way, Victoria seems quite dedicated to running the corporation. Sometimes I see a bit of the old man in her.
And you?
There are perks to being a carefree gentleman of leisure. Plenty of funds to enjoy.
Between you and me, I'm already planning my next vacation.
...Keep an eye on Victoria. Help her if she needs it.
You really do have a low opinion of me.
I'm already looking out for her. You didn't even have to ask.
Leonardo offered a gentle smile.
After all, you're both my little sisters.
Ugh, don't be disgusting!
The call concluded, Teddy turned her attention back to the mission, her eyes fixed on the distant conservation area.
Conservation Area
Surface
Surface, Conservation Area
The lead brought Teddy to a structure so dilapidated it was charitable to call it a shop.
It was a single-room warehouse, its door left slightly open. A crudely lettered "REPAIRS" sign hung at the entrance.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of machine oil. Rusty shelves lined the walls, bearing an assortment of well-used tools.
A young man with chestnut-brown hair glanced up as she entered.
He reached for a tattered rag, cleaning the stains from his hands before offering an enthusiastic greeting.
Hey there! Name's Tony. This is my place.
What can I fix for you today?
Teddy cut to the chase.
Do you know Elean?
Tony's smile wavered slightly.
Lots of folks pass through. Can't remember everyone, and Elean's a common name.
Mind if I ask... who are you with? And what's your business with Elean?
I'm Teddy. Vice-Captain of the Babylonia Engineering Force.
Hearing her answer, the hostility in Tony's demeanor visibly drained away.
Let's skip the act. I know you're with that... "Emergency Sunshine" group.
...
It's "For a Better Tomorrow - Sunlight Shines on All - Battlefield Trauma Emergency Rescue Team".
Look, Elean's not here. We don't even know where she is right now.
Who was she talking to before she left?
Tony studied Teddy, a look of understanding crossing his face.
You're not really here for Elean, are you? You're trying to find someone else through her.
Okay.
Tony gestured toward a rickety chair in the store.
Take a seat. This whole thing actually started with one of your Babylonia Constructs.
The Praying Mantis squad was posted here for a long time, in this conservation area.
They were good people. One of them, a Construct named Moore...
Well... Elean fell for him. They even got married.
Everything was going great. Then, out of nowhere,
The Punishing Virus concentration spiked in the area. The Red Tide, those Hetero-Creatures...
It was a nightmare. A lot of people died. Moore gave his life to protect the place... and Ryan, the kid who was always with Elean, he didn't make it either.
When did all this happen?
Tony answered with unmistakable honesty.
After that... Elean just shut down. Became a real loner.
She started talking to some people from outside the conservation area, and then one day, she just left.
Maybe she's made a new life for herself somewhere.
I hope so, anyway...
Tony murmured words he barely believed himself.
If you're looking for those people she talked to, you could try heading east.
Acting on Tony's suggestion, Teddy left the conservation area and headed east.
She traversed sandy terrain and hills, passing through zones with low concentrations of the Punishing Virus.
In a forest clearing, she discovered signs of human settlement.
Following these traces, she located a four-person merchant group. By hacking their terminal and checking their communications, she confirmed they were heading toward a base.
After tailing the group for three days, Teddy arrived at a location nestled among the mountains.
This must be the place.
After contacting someone through their terminal, the leader of the merchant group waited in place.
Teddy watched them unload supplies and talk amongst themselves, but seven minutes later, a cold dread settled in her gut.
I've been spotted!
Realizing this, Teddy immediately retreated.
The question of how burned in her mind, but before she could dwell on it, something unexpected happened.
Her own terminal flared with a warning from an embedded security program.
A reverse hack?! It's... transmitting my coordinates!
She ran, her fingers flying across her own device to fend off the relentless cyber attacks.
And then, it hit her.
The intrusion technique—the specific, brutal elegance of it—was all too familiar. She had seen it countless times before.
A name rose to the tip of her tongue, but the word caught in her throat.
...Mo...
A heavy thud landed behind her.
She never imagined they would meet again like this.
Turning slowly, she was met with a flash of that familiar lavender hair.
Moineau...
The figure stared back, her face a mirror of Teddy's own shock.
Why... did it have to be you?
Moore's Home
Elysium
Elysium, Moore's home.
She attacked me. Then I woke up here, in Elysium.
Teddy finished her story.
The battle at the morgue had ended the night before, and this morning, she had knocked on their door.
Under their slightly bewildered gazes, she recounted everything that had happened after accepting the mission from Babylonia.
Last night, she attacked me again and rewrote my memories.
Once I figured out "Christina" and "Norman" were just my memory protection programs, I set a contingency plan in motion.
But the memories I have right now will be gone soon.
Moineau... she's really a tough one.
Teddy let out a soft chuckle.
She probably has no idea what I've done yet.
According to my reprogrammed protocol, I'll get all my real memories back in about six or seven hours.
My previous protection programs discovered that the top floor of the Central Building houses Elysium's "core."
It's the "interface" connecting the external quantum supercomputer to this world.
When the time comes, I'll lure Moineau to the rooftop to settle it all at once.
Once it's decided, I'll use that "interface" to return to the real world.
Moore's mind reeled, overwhelmed by the torrent of information, leaving him unable to process another word from Teddy.
I came here because... I believe you have the right to know the truth.
And then... I hope you won't stand in my way.
I'm not sure what Moineau is planning; her motives are too ambiguous...
Teddy's gaze fell. When she spoke again, it was less to him and more as if she were thinking aloud.
There was no reason for her to attack me and rewrite my memories. It doesn't add up. It's too extreme...
Unless... there's something "Teddy from Babylonia" was never supposed to find out.
