()||<BIN>9</BIN><黑屏1>0,10</黑屏1><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:
()||<BIN>332</BIN><BGM>10230</BGM>:...Within Purin's mental domain.+The Commander is painfully aware that Purin has the absolute advantage in here.+To avoid taking unnecessary casualties in a direct confrontation, the Commander decides to spread out their forces.+But even so, the situation is inevitably tilting in Purin's favor...
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:How long are you going to keep running, Commander?
()||:Hiding behind the temporary barricade that 433 and QBU-191 built using redundant data, the Commander watches Purin cautiously from a distance.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...+Major, do you copy?
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><通讯框>||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:<color=#00CCFF>The signal is still pretty clear. Good thing the encrypted channel is still working.</color>
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><通讯框><同时置暗>||:How are things on your end?
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>You're the one she's after, so we're relatively safe for now.</color>+<color=#00CCFF>Should we come over to give you a hand? It'll take us about five minutes to reach you.</color>
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><通讯框><同时置暗>||:Let's regroup first. She's got too much firepower. We haven't been able to find an opening yet, so I advise against moving in now.
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Understood.</color>
()||<SE1>AVG_tele_disconnect</SE1>:After ending the call, the Commander realizes that Purin is nowhere to be seen.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Where has she gone?
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>433</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position>||:She went in the Major and Batou's direction. They'll probably miss each other.
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position><同时置暗>||:Okay, keep an eye on her movement.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Boys, you still good?
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:I'm fine; I've finished most of the repairs.+Commander, an unknown signal tried to establish communication with me a few minutes ago...
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:Was it the Major?
NPC-HK433(2)<Speaker>433</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position>||:Or could it be Purin trying to pinpoint our location?
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:Probably neither. The signal originated from outside the domain.
NPC-QBU191(1)<Speaker>QBU-191</Speaker><Position>-80,0</Position>||:I can't really think of anyone who'd try to contact Boys at a time like this...+Commander, should we set up a connection?
NPC-QBU191(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-80,0</Position><同时置暗>||:Do it.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Boys, keep up your defenses. If anything seems off, sever the link immediately.
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:Understood.
()||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:Under everyone's watchful gaze, Boys sets up the connection.
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:Who is this?
()||<SE1>AVG_whitenoise</SE1>:Pzzzt...
()||<SE1>Stop_AVG_loop</SE1>:After a short burst of static, a soft, breathy voice whispers from the other end of the line.
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>Commander, it's me.</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
()||:The Commander has no trouble recognizing the voice.+In fact, the Commander is feeling uncertain because they recognize the voice.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:And you are?
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>That doesn't matter. What matters is that I promised I'd fight by your side till the very end.</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||<BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:<color=#00CCFF>Commander, you need to get away from the barricade right now!</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:What?!
()||<SE1>AVG_Team_Running</SE1>:With no time to think, the Commander drags the Dolls away from the temporary barricade out of pure reflex.
()||<SE1>AVG_Explo_Close</SE1>:BOOM!+A wave of heat rushes toward the Commander from behind.
NPC-HK433(2)<Speaker>433</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position>||<BGM>10247</BGM>:Commander!
NPC-QBU191(1)<Speaker>QBU-191</Speaker><Position>-80,0</Position>||:Watch out!
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:I knew you'd be here!
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Run!
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>Run straight ahead; you'll then find cover at your two o'clock in 30 meters!</color>
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:...Who are you, really?
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>I don't have time to explain! Just do as I say!</color>+<color=#00CCFF>Commander, she will fall apart if you separate the data from her core AI!</color>
NPC-QBU191(1)<Speaker>QBU-191</Speaker><Position>-80,0</Position>||:You mean bombarding the AI in her neural cloud with a massive flow of data to take up the original data's bandwidth?
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>Yes. You'd better hurry...</color>
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:Commander, what should we do?
NPC-HK433(4)<Speaker>433</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position>||:To generate such a vast amount of data, the three of us will have to attack her neural cloud simultaneously. We may even need some help from the Major and Batou...+But that'll leave no one to protect the Commander!
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
()||<SE1>AVG_Explo_Close</SE1>:Boom! With the threat of death approaching fast from behind, the Commander can only keep running.+Reason cautions against trusting the voice in the comms channel completely, but their body seems to be moving with a will of its own.+The physical strain and inner turmoil combined are causing the Commander's heart to pound heavily in their chest.
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||<SE1>Heartbeat</SE1>:<color=#00CCFF>Trust me, Commander. I've never lied to you!</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...+Do as she says.
NPC-HK433(4)<Speaker>433</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position>||:Commander?
NPC-HK433(4)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position><同时置暗>||:I'll cover you.+This will at least buy us enough time for the Major and Batou to get here.
NPC-BoysAntiTank(2)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:Commander...
NPC-QBU191(1)<Speaker>QBU-191</Speaker><Position>-80,0</Position>||:We'll try to end this quickly.
()||<SE1>RunStep</SE1>:After making sure the Dolls are hidden behind cover, the Commander dashes away in the opposite direction on their own.
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>Commander, thank you for trusting me.</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:There you are!
()||<SE1>RunStep</SE1><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:The Commander turns to peek at Purin, who is gaining on them, as they tear through the completely open area.+The Commander lures Purin to corner them.+Data flows rapidly through her fingers. The Commander has no doubt the torrent of data will easily overcome them in their current state of exhaustion.
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Why do you keep running?
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:...
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||<震屏><BGM>10258</BGM>:Is staying here such an ordeal for you?!
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:...
()||:The Commander takes in their surroundings and suddenly chuckles.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Do you remember the first time we met?+I was running around the base like a lunatic, searching for my Dolls.+And you were running after me, trying to comfort me and help me figure out what to do.
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:How is it any different this time?+I'm also trying to catch up with you to convince you to calm down and make the right decision.
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:Telling someone to pull themselves together and telling them to make a decision based on what you want are two completely different things.
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:...I simply don't want you to return to a reality that is filled with darkness and endless despair.
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:What about you? What did you choose to do when you were confronted with dark reality?
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:I came here and found a pure sanctuary untouched by darkness.
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:No, you are not one to run away from reality.
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:If reality cannot be changed, what's wrong with running from it?!
()||<SE1>AVG_Grey_Hand_Mech</SE1>:Growing tired of the Commander's obstinacy, Purin waves her hand and binds the Commander to the spot.+The Commander makes no attempt to struggle. They just gaze at Purin calmly as she draws closer.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Batou told me you were once pushed into the darkest abyss, but you did not despair; you climbed back out yourself.+All because of a small cup of—
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:What?
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>Pudding.</color>+<color=#00CCFF>Mr. Batou treated me to pudding and told me to live a good life.</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:So it's really you.
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>Commander, just hang in there a little longer. We're almost done—</color>
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:You're still obsessing over the difference between what is real and what isn't...
()||:Purin's stern face suddenly twists into a cruel smile.
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:But that's okay. Once you undergo the cyberbrain conversion and forget—
()||<SE1>AVG_Explo_Close</SE1><震屏>:Bang!+The instantaneous attack almost blows Purin's entire body apart.+Her smile evaporates and is replaced by terror. She looks toward the source of the attack—
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Impossible! This can't be—
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:...
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Commander, are you behind this?!
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:Yes.
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:...How could you do this to me?!+It was me who helped you find the Dolls! It was also me who gave you a place you belong in Sector 2Z64!
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:It was Purin who did these things for me.
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:What are you talking about...
()||<SE1>AVG_Grey_Hand_Mech</SE1>:The Commander breaks free from their ineffective bindings and walks over to the heavily damaged Purin.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:I don't tend to lower my guard and put my trust in strangers, but strangely enough, I do trust Purin.+Probably because she was the only one who stayed by my side when I woke up in the utterly empty base.+Or maybe it's because she was hellbent on helping me carry out the plan to take back everything, even if the plan was insane; even if there's nothing in it for her.
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Then why are you doing this to me?
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:Because the Purin I know is a strong and tenacious person who never runs away. No matter what obstacles are in her way, she just charges at them head on...+And if she trips and falls, she just eats some pudding and finds hope again.+But not you. You are nothing but a delusional phantom that skulks in falsehood.
()||:"Purin" cowers on the floor and reaches out to grasp at the Commander.
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>433</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Commander, our attack was effective!</color>
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><通讯框><同时置暗>||:Yes, I can see that. It was most timely.
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>433</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Should we initiate another attack?</color>
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><通讯框><同时置暗>||:There's no need for that. Leave the rest to me.
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>？江崎普林</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Commander, save me...+There are so many things I want to do... I want to run that little shop with you, eat pudding with you...
()||<SE1>Select</SE1>:The Commander raises their gun.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:You don't even understand what the pudding stands for.
()||<SE1>AVG_pistol_finalshot_n</SE1><白屏1>:Bang!+Her body dissolves into formless data and eventually disappears.
()||<白屏2><BIN>327</BIN>:With the illusion dispelled, the Commander returns to the cell where Boys was being held captive.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...That was close.+Thank you.
()||:The Commander taps their communicator, but nothing comes through from the other end.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...Purin?!
()||<SE1>AVG_Punch</SE1>:Thud! The Commander hears something hit the floor behind them.+They whirl around and find a petite girl lying by their feet.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Purin!
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:Commander...
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:You actually meant it when you said you'd always be by my side...
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:...Did I come in useful?
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Yes... Don't talk. I'll contact the Major now.
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:Commander... I heard everything you just said...
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:When we get back to the Griffin base, let's have some pudding together.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Sure.+But save your strength for now.
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:Okay...
()||:Purin closes her eyes quietly in the Commander's arms.
()||<SE1>RunStep</SE1>:The Major rushes down the corridor of the prison.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Major!
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||:Commander, are you alright?
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position><同时置暗>||:I'm fine, but Purin...
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||<黑屏1>:Let me have a look.
()||<黑屏2><回忆><BIN>563</BIN><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:...+At a home where the lights are off and it is pitch dark.
()||<BGM>GF_2022_Summer_AVG_2</BGM>:The small room is like a forgotten laundry basket in the corner—messy and giving off a terrible smell.
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||:...
()||:Purin stands before the half-closed door but seems reluctant to open it.+She knows full well that there's nothing behind the door.+But whenever she finds herself on the verge of despair, she always ends up back in this place.+She feels like a ghost trapped in a labyrinth.
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Dad, Mom, Sis...+You must've gone somewhere far, far away, while I'm still stuck here.
()||:It hurts everywhere. The fight with Takashi Shimamura has left her severely injured. She finally escaped with great difficulty, but she can't move anymore.+She is utterly helpless as her mind drifts back to this place.
NPC-Purin(3)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Someone is still waiting for me...
()||<闪屏><duration>10</duration><rate>20</rate><delay>30</delay><CG>670</CG></闪屏><黑屏1>:Her mind feels like a glacier thawing gradually in scorching sunlight... becoming one with the ocean.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||<黑屏2><BIN>563</BIN>:...I trust you.
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:...+Don't underestimate me. I've still got plenty of tricks up my sleeve...
()||:Purin conjures up 2Z64's AI, which she has extracted from the data. Right now, it is lying quietly next to her, just a harmless orb of light.
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||<黑屏1>:I'm staking it all on you...
()||<黑屏2><关闭蒙版><BIN>327</BIN>:...A moment later.+The Major unplugs her data cable.
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||:...+How reckless.
NPC-Batou(0)<Speaker>Batou</Speaker>||:What happened?
NPC-Batou(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:Why did she have a doppelgänger?
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||:The Purin who led you into Sector 2Z64 was a fake that Big Brother had forged using Purin's data in the virtual world.+His motive was obvious—to turn you into a puppet that they can string around Sector 2Z64.
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position><同时置暗>||:Then while Purin was gone—
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||:I'll go into the specifics when this is all over.
()||:The Major interrupts the Commander before they can ask more questions.+Purin opens her eyes and gets to her feet. She seems to have recovered some of her strength.
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Thank you, Major. I'm feeling much better.
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||:...
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Sorry for causing you trouble again...
NPC-Batou(2)<Speaker>Batou</Speaker>||:There's nothing wrong with doing what you think is right.
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Agreed!
()||:Purin walks up to the Commander.
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Commander, so you've made up your mind.
NPC-Purin(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position><同时置暗>||:Yes. I've decided to carry on with the plan, rescue the Dolls, and remove their memory seal.+Then I'll listen properly to what they have to say.
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Very well. Now that you have the resolve, I'll be with you every step of the way!
NPC-HK433(0)<Speaker>433</Speaker><Position>0,130</Position>||:...
NPC-Purin(0)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Don't worry, 433. It's really me!
NPC-QBU191(0)<Speaker>QBU-191</Speaker><Position>-80,0</Position>||:You're certainly quite different from the Miss Purin who had been giving me orders. So you're the real deal.
NPC-BoysAntiTank(0)<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:Is it really you?
NPC-Purin(1)<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker><Position>-50,50</Position>||:Hm... Guess I can only prove it with this!
()||<黑点1>:Purin pulls up a photo on her tablet.
()||<黑点2><BIN>670</BIN>:The faces of four girls are shown clearly in the photo.
()<Speaker>433</Speaker>||:We had this taken when...
()<Speaker>QBU-191</Speaker>||:Feels a bit funny seeing this again.
()<Speaker>Boys AT Rifle</Speaker>||:But we're finally all back together.
()<Speaker>Purin Esaki</Speaker>||<黑点1>:Yes, we're all back together again!+But this time, we're going to succeed!
()||<黑点2><BIN>327</BIN>:The Commander circles around the Dolls and Purin, who are all buzzing with excitement, and makes their way to the Major and Batou.
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Motoko Kusanagi</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position>||:The situation hasn't really changed. We stick to the plan.
NPC-Motoko(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>-40,130</Position><同时置暗>||:Right, I'm ready.
NPC-Batou(0)<Speaker>Batou</Speaker>||:The most crucial part of the plan is all on you.
NPC-Batou(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:No problem. For the sake of everything, I will not fail.
()||<黑屏1><SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:The Commander looks up at the Dolls, but then their tablet suddenly chimes.+It is a message sent a few hours ago.+The sender was Purin Esaki.