()||9<黑屏1>0,10BGM_Empty: ()||<黑屏2>327<回忆>: ()||10213:...A few hours ago.+In an Interrogation room at the Ministry of Love, Sector 2Z64. ()||:Ibis' sealed memories have been fully restored, but she still has not regained consciousness. ()||:433 looks down anxiously at Ibis, who is still lying motionless on the floor, then at Purin, who seems to be studying something intently to the side. NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:Why is she not waking up? NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:Is something wrong with Ibis? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Her neural cloud appears to be stable at the moment...+You Dolls may have similar systems, but your neural base layers and specific data vary greatly, so it's natural that you'll recover at different paces. NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:We don't know what happened to her when she failed the system upgrade vetting process... I hope it didn't cause too much damage to her neural cloud... NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:She'll wake up, I'm sure. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:What do we do once she does? NPC-BoysAntiTank(1)Boys AT Rifle||:The Commander's plan has failed. That woman just said they had the Commander surrounded... NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:With that Suzuka Mizukane being so powerful, and the Commander having no Dolls to support them... ()||:Just thinking about the Commander's predicament almost drives 433 mad. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Don't despair just yet. I don't think they'll harm the Commander. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:Why do you say that? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:If they wanted the Commander dead, they could've killed them when they invaded the base and took the Dolls.+Even if they had missed their chance at the base, it wouldn't have been difficult to ambush the Commander somewhere else.+There is simply no reason for them to go to so much trouble... NPC-HK433(3)0,130433;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:But what do they want with the Commander? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:I can't be sure yet, but it probably has something to do with the Dolls...+In any case, the Commander is safe, at least for the time being. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:Wait. Ibis just moved. ()||ClothingUp:433 redirects her attention to Ibis. ()QBU-191||:... NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:Ibis? ()QBU-191||:... NPC-HK433(2)0,130433||:No. 388? ()||:Ibis opens her eyes. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:I am Ibis.+Sorry, It took a while to sort through my memory data.+I think I understand the situation. NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:State your identity and mission. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:I am QBU-191, codename Ibis.+Before my neural cloud was hacked, I was discussing ways to optimize our logistics system with NTW...+Judging from my memory data, I suppose this task will have to wait until we solve a more pressing issue. ()||AVG_Cloak_Whoosh:Ibis dusts herself off and gets to her feet. NPC-HK433(1)0,130433||:Looks like you're really yourself again... NPC-BoysAntiTank(3)Boys AT Rifle||:I'm so glad. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Miss Ibis, do you remember why you're here? Also, how much does Suzuka Mizukane know of our plan? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:My neural cloud was implanted with false memories, which led me to believe that I'd always been working for the Ministry of Love...+I came to this place because I was tasked with interrogating a suspect. As for your plan...+Your plan is to spread a virus to the Dolls' neural clouds by exploiting a system upgrade's forced connection, right? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0;NPC-HK433(4)0,130433||:If you know that, then... NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:Yes, they all do. They have known since Miss Purin hacked into Sector 2Z64. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0;NPC-Purin(2)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Huh?! Hold on, then they've been following our every move since the very beginning... NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191;NPC-Purin(2)-50,50||:Yes. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:... ()||:Purin's mind races as she chews on her thumb. 433 can almost hear the gears turning rapidly in her head. NPC-HK433(4)0,130433||:If they've known from the start, why wait till now? NPC-BoysAntiTank(1)Boys AT Rifle||:Maybe they were biding their time? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:I was only following orders, but I suspect Boys may be right.+They were probably waiting for an opportunity to capture all of us as well as the Commander. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:I've got to log out and save the Commander right now. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Calm down! ()||Rope:Purin grabs Boys to stop her. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:Even if you log out now, it'll be too late... NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:... NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:They're attacking in the virtual world and in reality simultaneously. From the moment we entered Sector 2Z64, they have launched an attack on the Commander, who was on their way to Area S09.+They've most probably already taken our prosthetics. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:You know them well. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:From what I know, Miss Purin's prosthetic and Boys' body have indeed been taken away. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)0.1Boys AT Rifle||:And we can only sit and wait?! NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:Can't we do something...? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||BGM_Empty:... ()||:Burning anxiety threatens to overwhelm everyone present.+Purin sighs helplessly. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||BGM_stage10:I didn't really want to bring this up, but we do have one last piece of information that could be useful—+The hidden boss room. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191;NPC-Purin(1)-50,50||:Hidden boss room? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:You know, Big Brother's room—the one that you got taken to when you failed the system upgrade vetting process. Do you have any memory of that place? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:Big Brother's room... NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0<同时置暗>||:Just saying these words is enough to make Ibis shudder. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:It's far too dangerous. We can't do this with just the four of us. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0;NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Is there a terminal in there that can connect to all the Dolls' neural clouds, like the one in the broadcast studio? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191;NPC-Purin(1)-50,50||:Yes, that's the terminal that rewrote my memories, but— NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Then it'll do. NPC-HK433(0)0,130433;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:What do you have in mind? NPC-HK433(0)0,130;NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:We are only left with two options.+We either sit here and wait for Mizukane to come back and resume the interrogation... NPC-HK433(2)0,130433||:Don't be ridiculous. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:We can't be sitting ducks. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Or we stick to the Commander's plan but move the location to Big Brother's room. NPC-QBU191(1)0.1-80,0QBU-191||:You want to spread the virus from Big Brother's room?! NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:It's our only chance. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:...+The broadcast studio was a trap; Big Brother's room could be another trap. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||BGM_Empty:True. In fact, I believe there's a 99.8% chance that it is a trap. NPC-HK433(3)0,130433;NPC-Purin(1)-50,50||:...But we don't really have a choice. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Don't forget, I did say we have two options. NPC-BoysAntiTank(1)Boys AT Rifle||RopeGF_22W_BGM_2:Just sit by and do nothing while the Commander is in danger? What sort of knight would that make me? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:You understand, don't you, Miss Purin? This was never an option for us. NPC-HK433(2)0,130433||:Even if it spells our doom, we will never stop fighting! ()||:Purin sighs with knowing resignation. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:I knew that's what you'd choose to do.+Or rather, to you, there wasn't really a choice to begin with.+There has only ever been one path for you and the Commander... NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:Purin, thank you for coming this far with us. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:You're not gonna say you can carry on from here without me, are you? NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:Your objective is to capture Shimamura and Mizukane. Rescuing Dolls is just something you accidentally got involved in. NPC-QBU191(2)-80,0QBU-191||:I've got your virus. If we get the chance to use it, I can handle the spreading part. ()||:Purin chuckles quietly at the insistent Dolls. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:You're so naïve it's kinda cute... You can barely fend for yourselves, but you're still concerned about me? NPC-HK433(2)0,130433;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:Don't take this the wrong way. We're just doing what the Commander taught us. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:The Commander... I've also promised them that I'll do everything I can to help. NPC-BoysAntiTank(1)Boys AT Rifle;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:You should know dying in the virtual world isn't so different from dying in reality. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:I've known what it means to die... since I was very little. NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:Have you made up your mind then, Miss Purin? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Yes. I know how it feels to be trapped in darkness; I also know how it feels to be dragged back into the light...+Which is why I also want to save those who are stuck in the mud... NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:... NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:We're running out of time. Let's get going. NPC-QBU191(0)-80,0QBU-191||:Maybe we should fill the Commander in before we begin the operation?+We are kind of acting without permission here. NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:But we can't really get in touch with the Commander... NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||BGM_Empty:I've got an idea! ()||AVG_whitenoise:Purin pulls out her tablet. ()Purin Esaki||:Look at the camera! ()||<白屏2><关闭蒙版>670: ()||AVG_The_Division_Camera:Click! ()||:Purin presses the shutter, catching the Dolls off-guard. ()433||BGM_23S_Crossroads_Warrior:If I understood correctly, you just took a group photo of us? ()Purin Esaki||:I'll send this photo to the Commander. It may not reach them now, but once we manage to set up a link, they'll definitely get it. ()433||:... ()Purin Esaki||:It will work!+I believe in the Commander, and I believe in us. ()||<黑点1>: ()||<黑点2><回忆>327: ()||:433 takes the photo from Purin and studies it closely. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:Why are we sending a photo to the Commander? NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:The Commander must be in grave danger as well... NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Yeah, at least the four of us will be facing Big Brother's room together.+But the Commander will have to deal with the situation on their own. If they get this photo, it will hopefully give them a little bit of solace. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Even if they'll only get it much later, at least we'll get our feelings across. NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle;NPC-Purin(0)-50,50||:...What feelings? NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Our absolute faith in the Commander even at the very end!+Also, this way, even if we fail, the Commander will come and rescue us! NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:... NPC-HK433(0)0,130<同时置暗>||:433 stares at the group photo dubiously. NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:The Commander may be perceptive, but I doubt they could read this much into a single photo. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Oh, I forgot to mention... I found out about the surprise you've prepared for the Commander when I hacked 433's neural cloud.+At our current progress, you likely won't make it in time to give it to the Commander on Foundation Day, so I thought I'd— NPC-HK433(4)0.10,130433||:Hold on a sec... You didn't... NPC-QBU191(1)-80,0QBU-191||:You sent it to the Commander along with the photo? NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Yep! Now the Commander will see it in time! NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)Boys AT Rifle||:You... NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Don't mention it. I accept your gratitude~ NPC-HK433(2)0,130433||:... ()||BGM_Empty:433 takes a deep breath. Her gaze falls on the group photo again.+Other than Purin, they all look a little worse for wear, but at least their faces are filled with hope.+This is the last clear frame in 433's memory. ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>55<关闭蒙版>: ()||:...In an unknown area in Sector 2Z64. ()||BGM_23S_Expedition_Story:The Commander checks their mailbox. ()||AVG_2023Slow_Keyboard_Error:No matter how many times they refresh it, they still cannot find the mail that Purin had sent. ()Commander||:...+Maybe she couldn't connect to the server? NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:That kid...+She knew something wasn't right, but she still forged ahead fearlessly... NPC-Motoko(0)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:Once you have been in a real abyss, you either grow numb to all the horrors or turn into a flame that burns away the darkness. NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:I know she always chooses the hardest path, but... NPC-Batou(0)<同时置暗>Commander||:So Purin is the kid that you were talking about...? NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:Yeah, Purin is the child prodigy. NPC-Batou(0)<同时置暗>Commander||:... NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:When she was very little, her family was brutally murdered.+She very luckily avoided the same fate. NPC-Batou(0);NPC-Motoko(0)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:Batou found her just in time. NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:Then she changed her name and moved away. I thought she'd grow up and live out the rest of her life in peace and safety.+But then she came back... ()Commander||:Purin... Pudding...+Did she choose this name for herself because... NPC-Motoko(1)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:When Batou saved her, he treated her to some pudding to soothe her. NPC-Batou(2)Batou||:Dunno if it had anything to do with her name, but it did cheer her up. ()Commander||:... ()||:The Commander feels strangely emotional as they recall the pudding that Purin had shoved into their mouth. ()Commander||:I see...+So she returned to Public Security Section 9 to repay her debt of gratitude? NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:Not just that.+She also wants to pull those who are in a dark place back into the light. ()Commander||:...+No wonder she's gone to such great lengths to help me even though we're complete strangers...+I even doubted her motives... NPC-Motoko(1)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:Save the apology for when we find her. ()||AVG_Camera_Focus:The Major is trying to repair 433's memory fragments. A large chunk of her memory is damaged after the group photo. ()Commander||:What happened? Is the following memory fragment damaged? NPC-Motoko(0)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:A segment is too corrupted to be played due to the severe damage that her body has sustained. ()Commander||:... NPC-Batou(0)Batou||:Did the damage occur while they were on their way to Big Brother's room? NPC-Motoko(0)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:I'm afraid so.+Let's skip ahead, Commander. ()Commander||:Alright... ()||BGM_Empty:After taking a deep, shaky breath, the Commander resumes playing 433's memories. ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>463<回忆>: ()||GF_2022_Summer_AVG_2AVG_whitenoise:Her distorted vision is filled with cracks and dark patches, like the screen of a phone that has fallen from a great height. ()433||:... ()||:Through her blurry vision, 433 can just make out Ibis, who is lying in a heap at the entrance.+Mizukane is about to place some sort of device on her head... to re-seal her memories? ()433||:Ibis... NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Hush! ()||ClothingUp:433's battered body is dragged behind a collapsed bookcase. Purin's face looms over her. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Listen, the plan isn't going to work. We can't use the terminal that Ibis told us about.+We need the Commander. Only the Commander can sort this out in the rift between the virtual world and reality. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50<同时置暗>433||:...We... failed? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Not yet. There's still hope!+Do you have faith in your Commander? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50<同时置暗>433||:Of course... NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Then pretend to surrender and seal your memories yourself. NPC-Purin(1)-50,50<同时置暗>433||:What...? NPC-Purin(1)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Leave yourself a key—something that the Commander will definitely find. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Give the Commander a code that can unlock your memories the moment you see them. ()433||:... ()||<黑点1>: ()||<黑点2>8: NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||<边框>2:Commander, why do you always work so hard? Work doesn't seem to bring you joy. NPC-HK433(0)0,130<同时置暗>Commander||<边框>2:Work by definition isn't something that brings joy. NPC-HK433(4)0,130433||<边框>2:What is the point of working, then? NPC-HK433(4)0,130<同时置暗>Commander||<边框>2:Working this job gives me what I want... NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||<边框>2:And what is that? ()||<边框>2:The Commander merely smiles mysteriously. ()Commander||<边框>2:What about you, 433? What is it that you really want? NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||<边框>2:...+This is a very difficult question. I need some time to think. NPC-HK433(0)0,130<同时置暗>Commander||<边框>2:Sure, take all the time you need. I'll ask you again when I see you tomorrow. ()||<黑点1>: ()||<黑点2>463: ()433||:...Okay. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:That's good enough, 433. You can rest now.+Leave the rest to me. NPC-Purin(0)-50,50<同时置暗>433||:But Purin... you're not faring too well yourself... NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:You're right, but I've got a new plan... NPC-Purin(0)-50,50<同时置暗>433||:...What are you going to do? NPC-Purin(0)-50,50Purin Esaki||:Trust me. We will meet again, and then we will finish carrying out the Commander's plan.+We will rescue all the Dolls and bring them back to the Griffin base, and everything will go back to how it was. ()433||:Okay... ()433||:I trust you. ()||AVG_whitenoise:Sealing memories...+Creating keycode for reactivation... ()433||:Commander...+When you see me again, I hope you will still remember the days we've spent together...+And the question that I haven't been able to answer... ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<睁眼><关闭蒙版>55: ()||:...In an unknown area in Sector 2Z64.+433 awakens from a long dream. She blinks, her delicate eyelashes batting away her wooziness. NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:... ()Commander||:... NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:...Commander!+I'm sorry, the mission was a failure... ()||:The Commander looks at 433, whose head is hanging in dejection, and strokes her hair gently. ()Commander||:It was my fault. You almost didn't make it back because of my reckless plan.+Thankfully we now have a chance to turn this around. NPC-HK433(3)0,130433||:No, it was me who— NPC-Batou(2)Batou||:Stop right there.+Leave the corny stuff for later. NPC-Motoko(0)-40,130Motoko Kusanagi||:We still have to rescue Esaki and the rest of the Dolls. ()Commander||:Right, we haven't completed the mission yet. NPC-HK433(0)0,130433||:Understood! ()||<黑屏1>: