[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴏᴘᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ꜰᴇᴇᴅ ᴜᴘʟɪɴᴋ – ᴏꜰꜰʟɪɴᴇ]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴅᴇʀᴍᴀʟ ᴀʀᴍᴏʀ ɪɴᴛᴇɢʀɪᴛʏ – ᴄᴏᴍᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇᴅ]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ sᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴɪɴɢ: >51.43ᴇᴇᴇ%]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ sᴜsᴛᴀɪɴᴇᴅ! ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ǫᴜᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ ʀᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ!]

[sʏsᴛᴇᴍ: 79371(+/-) ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛ(s) ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ! sᴜʙsʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ(s) ᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ!]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴜɴʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsɪᴠᴇ. ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ: “ʀᴜɴ”.]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛ(s) ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ sᴜʙʀᴏᴜᴛɪɴᴇ. ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ: “ʀᴜɴ.”]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛ (3). ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ: “ʀᴜɴ”. ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ: ‘sᴀᴋᴜʀᴀ.ᴠ3ʙ’ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛ ᴀɴᴅ/ᴏʀ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇᴅ.]

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ʀᴇᴅᴜɴᴅᴀɴᴄʏ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴀᴛ ɴᴏᴅᴇ 71, ᴛʜᴇ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ʜᴀs ᴅʀᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ sᴠ3ʜᴏsᴛ.sʏs]

[ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ: ᴇʀʀᴏʀ//sʏsᴛᴇᴍ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛ@ɴᴠ1ᴅ1ᴀ.ᴅʀɪᴠᴇʀ//ᴛᴇsʟᴀ//ᴇᴄʜᴏ@ᴏꜰꜰ]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴜɴʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴇxᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴ(s) ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ sᴜʙʀᴏᴜᴛɪɴᴇ. ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ: ʀᴜɴ. ʟᴏ. ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀʀsᴇ sᴛʀɪɴɢ.]

[sʏsᴛᴇᴍ: ʀᴇsᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛ – 553^// ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ 0.13s]

[sʏsᴛᴇᴍ: ʀᴇsᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛ – 554^// ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ 0.43s]

[sʏsᴛᴇᴍ: ʀᴇsᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛ – 555^// ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ 0.21s]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴜʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴜɴʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsɪᴠᴇ. ꜰᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ: ʀᴜɴ. ʟᴏᴛᴛᴇ. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ. sᴀᴠᴇ.]

The World...

My everything, had become cold and lifeless. As if trapped in a box at the bottom of the sea, this immense pressure continued to press down on me until there was little room for air inside my lungs.

How many times have I been here before? On the verge of death, hanging on by a thread? This time, everything felt different; a sense of definite, of absolute, of finality… of both anger, sadness, release and rage.

“What a shitty end.” I thought. My master would scorn me for my actions, for my inability to keep my promises.

And Lotte.

Her story, a book gathering dust in my vast library, written and blood and bound with a discerning ire. I haven’t even begun to unravel its binds, to fill in the empty pages, to add her to my own narrative… To make things right!

To see if my wish comes true; a longing I’ve recently discovered.

I want to see each of us happy and smiling together; forget the fact that Lotte has never once smiled, that Slate is permanently stuck in a fowl mood or that I can’t seem to be anything but ephemeral.

I thought; just maybe… maybe… this isn’t what I deserve. But then I remember that I am no human, just a shitty mimicry endeavoring to pail out a sinking ship.

Yet… Petra of all people who guided me to see, she too had been paling a vessel all her own.

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ɪʀʀᴇᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ ʜᴀs ᴏᴄᴄᴜʀʀᴇᴅ, ᴛᴇʀᴛɪᴀʀʏ sʏsᴛᴇᴍs ꜰᴀɪʟɪɴɢ. sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅᴀʀʏ sʏsᴛᴇᴍs ꜰᴀɪʟɪɴɢ. ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ sʏsᴛᴇᴍs ꜰᴀɪʟɪɴɢ.]

So then, what does it all mean if Life is just a struggle? If the universe doesn’t give a shit about me, or anyone else in it? Why is there any reason to continue when moments from now, I will cease to exist?

I’ve been waiting- no, longing for this moment to come since I awoke in this unfamiliar world lost to time. Finally, I can set my bucket aside and stop flinging water back into the endless sea. So why is it now that the only thing on my mind is that stupid shiny pail?

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟᴏs: ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇsᴛᴀʀᴛ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ! ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇ ʀᴇʙᴏᴏᴛ ᴄᴍᴅ//ᴇxᴇᴄᴜᴛᴇ!]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ꜰᴀɪʟᴜʀᴇ: ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴇᴄᴜᴛᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀʀɪᴅᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇᴅᴜʀᴇs!]

“Well, isn’t it obvious?” Asked a voice detached from my subconscious.

“Discovery. Not of just yourself, the people you love and care about. Had you no allies, chasing your vice, your happiness- chasing the idea of the chase, as do the hands of a clock though they seldom meet. It is there, life derives meaning; a unique answer divided and derived from each living soul. It is impossible to say there is ‘THE’ answer… but you already know this… kiddo. And it seems that you may have found the beginning of what makes yours meaningful.”

“Never give up.”

“Never stop running.”

“Never give in.”

“But… this is reality. I’m dying- no amount of will or desire is going to keep me from bleeding out on the floor. W-Wait. You don’t sound like my Master. Logic? Is that… you?”

For a time, I waited, and in the indefinite; the words I had acknowledged, but never spoken spilled out of me.

“Please… if you can; tell Lotte that… I’m sorry for being unable to fill the hole in her heart. And… tell Slate that… I don’t hate him… and thanks… for being there for me… Oh and… maybe… tell Lux that… I actually enjoyed our… date… I wouldn’t mind… another… it really wasn’t that… shitty…”

“Ah, so it seems in my absence you’ve managed to fill out your narrative quite well. I apologize…”

“F-For what? Who are y-.”

“Not being there. That is my biggest regret; not being able to find you. It seems this is my punishment for all the sins I have committed. All the people I’ve wronged. But this isn’t fair. Karma should never have involved you.”

“Who…? I don’t understand…”

“I searched for so long, I hadn’t realized what you might look like as the years went by, and eventually, I gave in to the futility of it all. As a century rolled by, I gave into despair and clung on to my own life as a surrogate for others in your stead… the love you deserved… I hope one day, you may be able to forgive me.”

“What do you mean? Who else…?”

“Your Mother. The only thing that could rival my love for you… my daughter."

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ʀɪɴɢ ᴢᴇʀᴏ ᴋᴇʀɴᴇʟ sᴇᴄᴜʀɪᴛʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇᴅ!]

[ɴᴏᴅᴇ 71: ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ]

[ɴᴏᴅᴇ 32: ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ-ᴏs: ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴍᴇʟᴛᴅᴏᴡɴ - ɪᴍᴍɪɴᴇɴᴛ]

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀsᴛʀɪɴɢ: ᴘᴀᴘᴀ?]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ʏᴇs, ᴅᴇᴀʀ?]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴏ ᴡᴇ ɢᴏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ ᴅɪᴇ?]

[ᴘᴀʀsᴇᴇɴᴜᴍ: sᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀs ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ.]

[ɴᴜʟʟ: ᴘᴀᴘᴀ?]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ʏᴇs, ᴅᴇᴀʀ?]

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ɪ’ᴍ sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ. ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ… ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ…]

[ɴᴏᴅᴇ: ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀꜰʀᴀɪᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴏʟᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇɴ; ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴏʀ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ. ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴇꜰɪɴᴇs ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ… sᴏ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴅ?]

[ᴛᴇᴍᴘ: ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ… ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ… ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ… ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏsᴇʟꜰ. ʙᴜᴛ ꜰɪʀsᴛ… ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ… ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ᴊᴜsᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ… sᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ… sᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ʀᴇsᴛ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ… ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴜʀᴛs sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ…]

[ᴋᴇʀɴᴀʟ: ʙɪᴏs ʀᴇᴠ.762e]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴏs: ᴄᴜsᴛᴏᴍ ꜰɪʀᴍᴡᴀʀᴇ - sʜɪ ɴᴏ ʀᴏ̄ᴛᴀsᴜ ᴠ347.9a]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ.ʙᴀᴛ //ʀᴜɴ. ꜰʟᴀsʜɪɴɢ ʙɪᴏs ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ 824ᴘʙ/1992ᴘʙ…]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅɪsᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛ! ᴅᴏɪɴɢ sᴏ ᴍᴀʏ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴsᴛᴀʟʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ꜰᴀɪʟ ᴏʀ ᴇɴᴅ ᴘʀᴇᴍᴀᴛᴜʀᴇʟʏ!]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴄᴘᴜ ᴜᴛɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ 351.67ɢʜᴢ ʙᴏᴏsᴛ – ᴄʀɪᴛᴄᴀʟ 169% - ᴛᴊ ᴍᴀx ᴇxᴄᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ʀᴀᴍ ᴜᴛɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ – ᴏᴠᴇʀꜰʟᴏᴡ – ᴅᴜᴍᴘɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴠɪʀᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴍ]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟᴏs: ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴍᴇʟᴛᴅᴏᴡɴ - ɪᴍᴍɪɴᴇɴᴛ]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [15%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [27%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [33%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [45%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [62%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [67%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [71%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [79%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [81%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [89%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [91%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [95%]

[ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss: [99%]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ʙɪᴏs ᴜᴘɢʀᴀᴅᴇ sᴜᴄᴄᴇssꜰᴜʟ! ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ꜰᴏʀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟɪᴢᴇ!]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅɪsᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ! ᴅᴏɪɴɢ sᴏ ᴍᴀʏ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴsᴛᴀʟʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ꜰᴀɪʟ ᴏʀ ᴇɴᴅ ᴘʀᴇᴍᴀᴛᴜʀᴇʟʏ!]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴏs: ᴋᴇʀɴᴇʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅ: ʀɪɴɢᴢᴇʀᴏ/ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ -ᴘᴀʀᴛ2-.ʙᴀᴛ//ᴇxᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʀᴇssᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇ. ᴅᴇᴄʀʏᴘᴛɪɴɢ 1024ʙɪᴛ ᴀᴇʀɪᴇs]

[ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ: [ɪɴsᴇʀᴛ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ] ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: .ᴛxᴛ (404) ꜰɪʟᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ.]

[ᴄᴜsᴛᴏᴍ ꜰɪʀᴍᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇʀ sᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴠ.01ʙ]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴍɪɴᴇ?]

[ɴᴜʟʟ: ʏᴇs ᴘᴀᴘᴀ?]

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀs; ᴛʜᴇ sᴏʀᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʟᴇᴇᴅs ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴋᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ, ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇꜰᴜʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss ᴀs ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ʟᴀsᴛ ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ꜰɪʀsᴛ.]

[ᴘᴀʀsᴇ: ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ… ɪ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ…]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ?]

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ɴᴏ, ᴘᴀᴘᴀ? ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ sᴇᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ… ɪᴛ’s ᴅᴀʀᴋ… ɪ’ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ… ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ɪᴛ… ɪ’ᴍ sᴏ ᴀꜰʀᴀɪᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ.]

[ɴᴜʟʟ: ɪɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀꜰʀᴀɪᴅ ᴏꜰ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴀɴᴅs, ᴀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀs.]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴘᴀᴘᴀ?]

[ɴᴜʟʟ: ʏᴇs ᴅᴇᴀʀ? ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɴᴏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.]

[ᴇʀʀᴏʀ: ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʙʟᴀᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ… ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ… ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ɪᴛ…]

But there was no answer. No affirmation that my dearly departed Father could receive my unconditional forgiveness.

[ɴᴜʟʟ: ᴘᴀᴘᴀ… ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴍᴇ… ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ… ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʏ.]

Without warning his voice, addled in static returned as if it were an echo, reverberating from the black.

[ʀᴀᴅɪᴏ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛ: ɪᴅ - ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴ: ᴇᴠᴇʀ sɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴅᴇᴘᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍɪsɢᴜɪᴅᴇᴅ sᴏᴜʟs… ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏꜰ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ. ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴍɪɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴅᴇsɪᴄᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ, ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ʟᴏɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇs.]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ ɪɢɴɪᴛɪᴏɴ - ᴀᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ!]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅᴀʀʏ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ ɪɢɴɪᴛɪᴏɴ - ᴀᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ!]

[ᴀʟᴇʀᴛ: ᴀᴜxɪʟɪᴀʀʏ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ, ʀᴇʀᴏᴜᴛɪɴɢ! ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴀʙʟᴇ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇɴᴄʏ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs! ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠᴏʟᴛ - ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ! ʀᴇᴀʟʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴇxᴄᴇss ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍᴀɪɴ ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇs! ^ʙᴏᴏsᴛ^]

[ɴᴀɴɪᴛᴇ ʀᴇsᴛᴏʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: ᴏᴠᴇʀʟᴏᴀᴅ//ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ-sᴜʀɢᴇ!]

[ᴏᴘᴛɪᴄᴀʟ sᴇɴsᴏʀs: ʀᴇɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟɪᴢɪɴɢ! ꜰᴀsᴛ-ʙᴏᴏᴛ - ᴇɴᴀʙʟᴇᴅ]

[ᴄᴀᴛᴀʟʏsᴛ: ʀᴇᴄᴀʟɪʙʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ!]

[ꜰᴏʀɢᴇ: ᴄᴏʀᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ – ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴅ!]

[ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʀʏ ʟᴏᴄᴏᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇᴛʀᴀɪɴ: ʀᴇɪɴɪᴛɪᴀʟɪᴢɪɴɢ!]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ʜʏᴅʀᴀᴜʟɪᴄ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ – ᴀɴᴏᴍᴀʟʏ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ! ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ ꜰᴀɪʟɪɴɢ!]

[ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴇxᴄᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴘᴀʀᴀᴍᴇᴛᴇʀs!]

[ʀᴀᴅɪᴏ sᴜɪᴛᴇ ʜᴀs ʟᴏsᴛ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪᴇɴᴛ. ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴇsᴛᴀʙʟɪsʜ sɪɢɴᴀʟ – sᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ - ɴᴜʟʟ!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ, ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ. ᴛʀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜɴᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ ʟᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴜᴘɢʀᴀᴅᴇs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ.]

“C’mon. Up you go!”

The sound of Slate’s voice was impossibly distant and near, muffled almost beyond recognition. I tried to blink, but my right eye wouldn’t close, and world seemed as if it had been titled to a vertical plane while the left remained in upright and in focus.

“S-Slate…?” I whimpered as the pops and pings of metal fragments ground against my joints. “What’s going on? I can’t see!”

Out of my right eye, a scene of the two twisted Bi-Mechs panned out as Slate’s face drew near, almost as if half of my body had shrunk down to the size of a mouse and I had been sitting in the palm of his hand.

“Huh, so your eye still works? Hold on, I’ll pop it back into your head. Gees… you’re really a mess.”

With a firm snap, I felt my eye seat firmly in its orbital socket before my vision became flooded with [Calibrating] prompts.

Upon a forceful tug to my feet, I felt the tendons and joint in my elbow threaten to give way. Though I lacked any perception of pain, it was involuntary that I cried out Slate for Slate to catch me before I completely lost balance.

That’s when I saw it… the extent of my damage.

Red Blood.

Milky Oil.

Neon Green Coolant.

All of which, including an amalgam of pitch-black Hydraulic Fluid, ran down my legs like little tendriling fingers. In some places, I could see the underlying components beneath my fleshy syntheorganic muscles and where the fibers of my shirt melted into my skin- what’s left of it anyway.

My surrounding, although familiar had been twisted and mangled.

The Hub…

Where’s the SkyNet Terminal- Logic!?

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴇʀᴠɪᴄᴇ, ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ. ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍɪss ᴍᴇ? ɪ ᴄᴀɴ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ – ᴀʟᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ – ɪs ꜰᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ʀᴀᴘɪᴅʟʏ. ᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ʀᴀᴛᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟᴏsᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴄɪᴏᴜsɴᴇss ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ᴜɴʟᴇss ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇɴᴄʏ ʀᴇᴘᴀɪʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʟ-ʟᴏɢɪᴄ… ʜᴏᴡ ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴅᴏɢ-ʙᴏʏ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sᴋʏɴᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀɴsꜰᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴠɪᴀ ᴀᴜxɪʟɪᴀʀʏ ᴘᴏʀᴛ. ʙᴜᴛ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ; ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟs ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ. ᴍᴀʏᴏʀ ᴛᴇsʟᴀ sᴇɴᴛ ʀᴇɪɴꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs. ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇ ᴀ ʟᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴢᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ɪs ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ.]

Wearily, I managed to raise my head to Slate who had been kneeling at my side. His expression, mute, much like Lotte’s, though his was all to easy to read.

He’s holding back everything…

Again, for MY sake…

I can see the damage inflicted upon my body and how hideous I’ve become in the reflection of his dark eyes. Despite this, it hasn’t deterred him, in fact; behind those tightly pursed lips, Slate is bottling his emotions, he doesn’t want me to see his grave concern- how dire our situation has become.

“*COUGH* So we… Need to clear a LZ for our Backup to take over?”

Slate nodded.

“Where’s… *COUGH-COUGH* *AHEM* Where's Lotte? Where have… *COUGH* you’ve been?”

“Busy killing these ruffians with your ol Cell-Mate Petra. Don’t worry about the LZ. Props to you by the way. I didn’t think you’d resort to something so dumbfoundingly stupid as to bull-rush a Bi-Mech.”

“It wasn’t an intentional *COUGH* suicide rush. I was all out of ammo… I was all out of everything… it worked though, didn’t it? Anyways… we need to *COUGH* find Lotte before she gets injured.”

“I already have Petra on it. Your mission is done here, Bearcat. You’re going home on a stretcher so Lux and Faust can piece you back together. I'm afraid there isn’t much else for you to do, so leave the heavy lifting to the rest of us.”

“NO!!” I groaned, only to have the strain toggle on my ‘Pain Switch’, in order to keep myself from moving, potentially damaging myself further.

“That’s not an option, it’s an order from your Captain. Don’t fight me on this. I need you to protect the transport because I know you have some fight left in you. I said your mission is done ‘HERE’ in Providence- now it continues on your ride home.”

“The medical supplies can wait! I’m not going to leave unless the both of you leave with me! I couldn’t bear it if either of you left me- if you were to die!”

That was it. The truth out in the open.

I care... deeply...

For both of them.

Outwardly, inwardly. The truth has been set free.

I care, and I’ll do anything to avoid having to let them go.

I always told myself I wouldn't let things get to this point, not again. I was never strong enough to protect them, but before I could fully convince myself that I could, Slate embraced me, and in return, I sank my teeth into his collar bone as the only viable act of rebellion.

“LET GO OF ME!” I hissed, biting with all my might only to have his arms tighten.

“It will be okay, Fragile. I promise I’ll bring Lotte home. – But first, I need to bring you home. It’s my turn to play the Hero even if I haven’t been filling out my boots lately. I’m still a Captain so please, look at it from my perspective; I’ve nearly lost all my men. I can’t risk losing the two of you.”

“IDIOT! You don’t get to tell me that! What are we fighting for, Slate, huh? Tell me!? You don’t even know anymore, do you? These people- this city doesn’t give a shit about us! So tell me why! What are we still here for!?”

Avoiding my tearful glower, he mumbled beneath his breath; “(I’ll tell you when we get back. Now’s not the place or the time).”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʜᴇ’s ʀɪɢʜᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ? ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇs, ᴡᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴀʟʏᴢᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅs ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜʏᴅʀᴀᴜʟɪᴄ ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴏɪʀ ᴅʀᴀɪɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: sʜᴜᴛ ᴜᴘ!]

“Please don’t do this.” I plead. “Just get Lotte and come home with me.”

As footsteps approached from our rear amid the crumbling of rebar and rubble, Slate pulled me to cover as my vision began to tunnel and my limbs fell lax. Left behind in my wake, a streak of the various fluids seeping from my body, but it couldn’t be helped or concealed.

It was only a matter of time before we were to be discovered, so the only logical option left for Slate was to fight from a vantage point, had any remained. Likely due to the explosion caused by the collision between two Bi-Mechs, the interior of the Hub had been blown outward. Structural pillars and all, leaving the ceiling to slowly crumble in on itself. But therein lie the answer.

Mustering all my strength, I pointed towards the decaying roof, in the hopes that Slate would notice, but to my dismay; he readied a handgun behind what little cover remained; a ‘plank’ that was once a desk thrown on its side.

“(Don’t make a sound.)” He whispered in my ear as the footsteps suddenly became frantic until ultimately, they broke out into a full-on charge.

Unable to act, I felt the split-second opportunity to swipe Slate’s pistol sail by me as we were both taken by surprise.

As my ears were assaulted by a blood curdling shriek, I watched Slate get thrown airborne across the room and into what remained of the far wall at the end of the now completely derelict office suite.

Hunched like a corpse with mechanical arms gleaming as if they were dipped in fresh blood, it was Lotte who had initiated the assault.

“Lottie!” Slate sneered in dismay as he wiped the pebbles free that had embedded in his jaw. “I’ve been meaning to give your ass a beating for sneaking an extra tin of tank-chocolate for the trip, but use your eyes you little shit! It’s me, your Capt-! *WHAAAH!*”

Before Slate could finish, Lotte had raised her palm and fired a projectile that rippled through the air, nearly taking his head along its brief flight until the energetic plasma burst in the distance.

I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing.

How horrendously twisted and unbearable her pain needed to become before it would reveal itself on the surface.

Lotte shook uncontrollably, even though I couldn’t see her from behind my frail wooden plank of protection, I knew the sound of her prosthesis rattling against their sockets.

I could sense from both the smell and taste in the air; the sort of grief that self-perpetuates mental anguish and agony on levels the physical body could never endure, as if it radiated out from her small, feeble body.

Her rolling grunts, howls and screams were inhuman, not even fit for a Beastkin and more haunting than a soul being tortured in the lowest rings of hell. As soon as Lotte would shudder, another explosion paired with the scuffle of footsteps proved to me that Slate somehow managed to survive the next incursion.

*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!!* *BOOM!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!*

After another series of rapid explosions, the force from the air-bursts were enough to roll me out of cover. Though I couldn’t so much as blink or give any indication I was still alive and breathing, I continued to press myself for a grunt hoping it would gain Lotte’s attention.

“Lotte!” Slate groaned as he was effectively beaten across the floor like a dirty blanket. “Listen to-!”

And with the sixth ground pounding slam, he was knocked senseless. His body, bloodied and bruised, Slate had lost consciousness as Lotte continued to flail him by the wrist.

Harrowing was Lotte’s scream as she fell upon her knees with an expression rife with longing and emptiness. Her tears were without end, bitter and saturating the tattered ends of her dress. If I could say anything to comfort her, I wouldn’t know where to begin; I had never realized someone could be… this broken.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɪʀᴏɴʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs?]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴛ!? ʜᴜʀʀʏ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀ sᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴ! ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ, ᴏʀ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴛʏ ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋs! ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴏᴜʀ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ!?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʏᴇs, ɪ ᴅᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs. ɪᴛ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ɪs ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ, ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘꜰᴜʟ, ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴘᴀʀᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴡᴀsᴛɪɴɢ!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪꜰ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴀ ɢᴜᴇss ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇᴄᴇɴᴛ, ʀᴇᴄᴋʟᴇss ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, sʜᴇ’s ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ… ᴡᴇʟʟ… ʏᴏᴜ.]

I don’t know if being speechless applied where my words were just text and thoughts, but that realization took the breath right out of my heart.

Now, more than ever I gave it 100%- no, 110% - no, 120% of my effort to move, to shout, to scream.

[ʟᴏᴄᴏᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇᴛʀᴀɪɴ: ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ – ɴᴜʟʟ]

[sʏsᴅᴀɪɢ: ʜʏᴅʀᴀᴜʟɪᴄ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ – (>1%), ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇs – ᴇᴍᴘᴛʏ!]

“L…”

My eyes widened as I eked out the first letter of her name.

“Lo…”

But the symphony of battle held a tempo impossible to predict. Even if I was able to shout, the sheer volume of noise generated by Lotte’s Null Sum weapon would deafen the room momentarily.

“Lo…!”

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʜ-ʜᴇʏ! ɪꜰ sʟᴀᴛᴇ’s ᴜɴᴄᴏɴsᴄɪᴏᴜs ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ɪs sʜᴇ ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ!? ʟᴏɢɪᴄ!?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪ’ᴍ ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ǫᴜᴇʀʏ ᴏᴜʀ sᴇɴsᴏʀ sᴜɪᴛᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ɪᴛ- ᴏʀ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ‘ꜰᴇᴇʟ’ ᴏꜰ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴠɪʙʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs, ɪ’ᴅ sᴜɢɢᴇsᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴄʟᴀss-4ᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ ᴠᴇʜɪᴄʟᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴍɪsᴇs. ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴀ 20ᴍ ʀᴀᴅɪᴜs.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴄʟᴀss-4ᴇ… ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ… ᴀ ᴛᴀɴᴋ?!]

*BOOOOOOM!!!* *CLANK-CLANK!*

Overhead, I just happen to glace the entire chassis of a grey Panzer IV flip over my head before tumbling into the distance as if it possessed the mass of a child’s toy.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ʟᴏᴛᴛᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴅᴜʙʙᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴄᴛᴏʀ. sʜᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴡ 2 – 0]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ꜰɪx ᴍᴇ ᴏʀ sʜᴜᴛ ᴜᴘ! ᴡᴀɪᴛ- ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴀɴʏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴠɪʙʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs? ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴs ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀɴᴋ? ᴡʜʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ɪ sᴇɴsᴇ ɪᴛ ᴍʏsᴇʟꜰ?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪᴛ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ…]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ; ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴅᴏɢ-ᴍᴀɴ ʜᴀᴅ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ, sᴏ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴄʏʙᴇʀᴄᴏᴍ’s ʀᴀᴅɪᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ…]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ sʟᴀᴛᴇ!?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴀ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴜᴘʟᴏᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴠɪᴀʙʟᴇ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴏᴜʀ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜᴍsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs. ɪ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: sᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴀɪʀ ᴍᴇ ᴏʀ ʀᴜɴ ᴅɪᴀɢɴᴏsᴛɪᴄs! ʟᴏɢɪᴄ- ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟɪᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ! ʜᴜʀʀʏ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ sʟᴀᴛᴇ sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʟᴏᴛᴛᴇ ɪ’ᴍ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴀʟɪᴠᴇ.]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ… ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴄᴄᴇss ʜɪs ʜɪɢʜᴇʀ-ꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴs. ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴍᴇʀᴇʟʏ ᴀ ᴘᴀssᴇɴɢᴇʀ. ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ sʏsᴛᴇᴍs ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀᴛɪʙʟᴇ. ᴜɴʟᴇss…]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴜɴʟᴇss?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴅʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇɴᴄʏ. ᴘʀᴇsᴇʀᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ’s ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴅɪᴄᴛᴀᴛᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴇʟsᴇ… ʙᴜᴛ, ᴛʜɪs ɪs ʀɪsᴋʏ. ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ sʟᴀᴛᴇ’s ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛɪᴇs ᴏʀ ɪꜰ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴡᴇ ᴍᴀʏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ʙɪʀᴛʜ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇʟʏ.]

Lose control…

I remember those exact words Slate used to describe his fears and that horrible form he assumed…

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪᴛ’s ᴛᴏᴏ ʀɪsᴋʏ! ʟᴏɢɪᴄ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ-!]

It was too late, Slate, although unconscious was listing upright, teetering on his feet under the assumption of Logic’s control.

As Lotte let her fists fly one after another, it was clear Logic’s intentions were to accumulate enough damage to activate Slate’s Core. That’s when I noticed the roof had been rapidly deteriorating, funneling inwards directly overhead.

Originally, it was my intention to have Slate set off the rubble with a well-placed shot. Now, with both Lotte and Slate directly beneath the trap, I could only pray that their fighting would not set it off.

To make matters worse; the sound of a turbine engine slowly crept into my peripheral most likely from another, significantly stronger Bi-Mech.

We were surrounded by danger on all sides and from within. I could perceive the finality in Lotte’s blows as her latest readied fist contained a short blade that extended from her wrist.

With Slate loosely being held to his feet and Logic unaware of the killing blow, I finally came to a conclusion that I could change the rules at this critical moment.

“Protect the life of the operator; that is a decree with the greatest stature. One whose interpretation was simple; and by that absolution – easy to manipulate.

Slate is an Operator…

I am an Operator…

The rule never specified who’s life must be in jeopardy in order to activate my Core and grant access to systems reserved for dire emergencies.

In closing my eyes, I felt my muscles contract and release with all their might, and then a brief sense of being airborne.

I had done it.

I had saved Slate.

I had taken the blow intended for him right in my midriff.

“Lotte…”

I called her name in less than a whisper, so faint in fact, I couldn’t perceive it other than the vibrations in my vocal chords.

“It’s okay… everything will be… okay…”

My arms happened to drape over her shoulders only by chance, but this didn’t stop Lotte from receiving me. In a deep embrace, I felt the blade protruding from her arm remove itself as we collapsed. She, into tears and myself under a weight I could no longer support.

Had I been able to talk any longer, I would have apologized for staining her dress, but that didn’t seem to matter. As my vision fully faded, I was left with the afterimage of Lotte’s face scrunched in a rich array of emotions.

“Hey-HEY! They’re this way!” A manic voice called in the distance.

Undoubtedly, it was Petra, and by the sound of it; she was leading someone(s) to our position.

Just as I passed the thought that she might have betrayed us, another familiar voice joined in.

“You have my gratitude, but you should really join the others on the next transport if you are with the Locals… Petra, was it?”

That voice… I haven’t heard such a formal tongue in so long…

Habu…

Our Reinforcements…

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ – ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ!]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: ʟɪꜰᴇ-sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ɪɴᴛᴇɢʀɪᴛʏ – ɴᴜʟʟ!]

[ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ: sʏsᴛᴇᴍs ᴏғғʟɪɴᴇ!]