()||9<黑屏1>0,10黑屏1>BGM_Empty:
()||463<黑屏2>:The air gradually grows thin. +She struggles to remain conscious, but consciousness eludes her, leaving her with just a faint smile. +Bright lights flicker. Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump—like a pumping heart...
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:... +...?!
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||BGM_23S_Expedition_Story<睁眼>ClothingUp704:M16's eyes snap open in shock. She slowly gets to her feet.
()||:The waves above her head cast a pulsing light on her. +All around her, under her feet... is an empty void.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:Oof...
()||ClothingUp:M16 tries to touch the white glow concealed in her body— +It is a tarot card.
()||:Blessing of the [Wheel of Fortune]— +The endless cycle of destiny; the liquor of victory that dispels all confusion.
()||AVG_20Winter_Cheers_People:Three wine glasses filled with a clear yellowish liquid clink in the air. +That moment is imprinted on the face of the tarot card named "Wheel of Fortune" like a snapshot made by a camera.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:Is that... whiskey?
()||:All of a sudden, a thought occurs to M16, and her face freezes...
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<回忆><边框>2边框><黑屏2>90.5:
RO635Tarot(0)RO6350,250||<边框>2边框>:Leinad Kcaj sent us a letter. +The letter mentioned a way of saving everyone...
AR15Tarot(0)0,250ST AR-15||<边框>2边框>:This is what the guy was talking about—the liquor that clears away all confusion?
()||<黑屏1>0.7<边框>2边框>:
()||704<关闭蒙版><黑屏2>0.5:
M16A1BOSS(4)M16A1||:"Leinad Kcaj"...
()||:M16 keeps repeating this tongue twister of a name. +Then she suddenly bursts out laughing.
()||:"Leinad Kcaj"—Jack Daniel. +Her favorite whiskey.
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:This is... absolutely nuts... +Is this the gift of the "Wheel of Fortune"...? +Or maybe it's more of a punishment?
()||AVG_door_storehouse:Rumble... Faint tremors emanate from the depths of the ocean. +A dark hole opens up slowly by her feet... +A new world is about to begin.
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:... +We will meet again very soon, M4... +Hopefully for the last time.
()||AVG_Cloak_Whoosh<震屏3>:With a chuckle, M16 steps into the hole without any hesitation...
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||%%code=CJ_suduxian%%Stop_AVG_loop9<黑屏2>AVG_flag:She closes her eyes as she falls for what feels like an eternity...
()||:Even if it isn't the last time, that's okay. +Because she will find M4 no matter how many times it takes. She will be by her side and kindle the embers of hope. +Just as she has done through countless years across countless reincarnations that M4 has forgotten...
()||<黑屏1>0.7BGM_Empty%%code=CJ_suduxian_destroy%%Stop_AVG_loop:
()||9AVG_2023Slow_Heart_Monitor1<黑屏2>:Beep... beep... +The rhythmic sound of the equipment rouses her from unconsciousness.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<睁眼>5680.8:
()||:M16 slowly opens her eyes. She studies the ceiling of the laboratory, which looks both strange and familiar.
()???||:Oh? You woke up ten minutes earlier than expected...
()M16A1||:...
()||:She wills her body to move, but it refuses to cooperate.
()||AVG_whitenoise:M16 tries again in desperation, but can only hear the crackling of electric current.
()???||:Relax, M16.
()||ClothingUp:A face wearing a kindly smile suddenly comes into her restricted view.
()M16A1||GF_EV9_Intermission:....Havier?
()||:It appears that even her vocal module has been destroyed. Her thought is projected robotically through a speaker. It sounds a little comical.
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:Someone told me there's a surprise for me in the waters near the submarine base. +I didn't expect the "surprise" to be you. +That's the only upside to living to such a grand old age—live long enough and you'll see everything...
NPC-Havel(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:What happened to M4A1... and the Commander?
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:Don't worry. Your old boss is doing fine. They were actually sent on an important mission a few days ago. +As for M4A1's whereabouts... you should know better than me.
NPC-Havel(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:...And Persica? +Did she say how long my repairs would take?
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:She hasn't been informed yet.
NPC-Havel(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:...
()||:Havier smiles a little at M16's wariness.
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:I'll be honest with you. If word gets out that someone has returned from the Starfish System alive, it would practically be like throwing a wounded sheep into the clutches of a pack of ravenous wolves. +Think about all the vultures circling the submarine base... What do you think they'd do?
NPC-Havel(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:...
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:So the fewer people who know about this, the better. Don't you agree?
NPC-Havel(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:Other than Persica, I can't think of anyone who can repair my frame.
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:That is certainly true. +At the end of the day, IOP is technically just a civilian company... We're still very far behind compared to military technology.
()||AVG_20Winter_Door_Open:Clatter. A door opens some distance away. +M16 cannot turn her head, but judging from the gait of the footsteps, she deduces that the newcomer is male.
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||ClothingUp:...There you are.
()Voice of a Middle-Aged Man||:The initial repairs seem to have gone smoothly. +Thanks for your hard work, Mr. Havier.
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:You're too kind.
()||:After some perfunctory small talk, the man's footsteps draw closer. +As M16 strains her eyes to look sideways, a face that she has seen in newspapers and news reports suddenly comes into view.
()M16A1||:...Chief?
NPC-Zielinski(0)Zelinsky||:I'm pleased that you still remember me, M16A1.
()||:Still incredulous of what she's seeing, M16's eyes flicker back and forth between Havier and Zelinsky.
NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:M16A1's frame was severely corroded by seawater and Collapse fluid. +I'm afraid this is the best we can do with IOP's current technology.
NPC-Zielinski(0)Zelinsky;NPC-Havel(0)||:All is not lost now that she has regained consciousness. +We'll handle the rest.
NPC-Zielinski(0);NPC-Havel(0)Havier||:If I may ask... What does the old chief...
NPC-Zielinski(0)Zelinsky||:This is his wish. +We will provide M16A1 with whatever she requires.
NPC-Zielinski(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:...It sounds like I'm being treated as some kind of bargaining chip?
()||:Even the AI mechanical voice cannot filter out M16's sarcastic tone. +Zelinsky peers at M16 with narrowed eyes.
NPC-Zielinski(0)Zelinsky||:I can tell you in all honesty that—no, M16A1, you are not a bargaining chip. +You are a crucial chess piece. I'll go so far as to say you are capable of tipping the scales.
NPC-Zielinski(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:How can you be sure I'll cooperate?
NPC-Zielinski(0)Zelinsky||:You're not the only one who's seen that kind of thing. +More importantly, we are also searching for M4A1.
NPC-Zielinski(0)M16A1<同时置暗>||:...!
NPC-Zielinski(0)Zelinsky||:It's a deal worth considering, don't you think?
()||:M16A1 ponders the offer in silence. Finally, she opens her eyes again.
()M16A1||:...What do you need me to do?
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<黑屏2>408BGM_Empty0.7:
M16A1BOSS(2)???||:...Roger.
()||AVG_tele_disconnect:Click. +The call ends.
M16A1BOSS(2)???||:Whew...
()||AVG_Cloak_Whoosh:Whipped by the frigid wind, the figure standing on a high tower casts their cold gaze out into the distance. +The Doll teams sprint down the runway in the middle of the night-shrouded airport.
M16A1BOSS(2)???||:...
()||:...Just wait. +...The time is upon us.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<黑屏2>90.7:
()||AVG_Door_Hit:Thunk!
NPC-Morridow(9)Morridow0,90||:Huh?!
()||:With a loud noise, the helicopter suddenly starts rocking violently.
NPC-Morridow(9)Morridow0,90||:What... what's happening?!
()||AVG_Door_Hit:Thunk! +Before Morridow can figure out what is going on, the noise comes again, and the helicopter rocks harder. +This time, Morridow finally identifies the source of the noise. Something is ramming into the helicopter—
NPC-Morridow(9)Morridow0,90||:You... What?!
()???||:...
NPC-Morridow(9)Morridow0,90||:!
()||:She can hardly believe what she's seeing. +She knows that the helicopter is currently flying through the air, and the readings on her dashboard confirm that. +However...
()||<黑点1>:
()Morridow||<震屏3><黑点2><关闭蒙版>405AVG_Thunder_DryAVG_Helicopter_BG:What... what the hell?!!!
()Morridow||GF_21summer_avg_Reunion:How... how the hell did you get up here?!
()???||AVG_Cloak_Whoosh:...
()||:It is a Doll. +Clinging onto the outside of the helicopter against an inky backdrop.
()||Rope:In her hand is a slender silver cord, and her feet are planted on the outer frame of the fuselage. +Flashing lightning illuminates her cold face through the windows splattered with rain, her silvery white hair gleaming like a specter.
()Morridow||:W... wait a second!
()???||:...
()||:Through the glass, Morridow can see that Doll's lips moving slightly. +Her voice is drowned out by the rain. Morridow can't hear a single syllable.
()||:The Doll nonchalantly fishes out something from her belt using her free hand, then...
()Morridow||:No, wait...!
()||<震屏3>Explode:Boom! +An explosion erupts, triggering alarms on the dashboard of the helicopter. +Morridow instantly realizes what just happened.
()Morridow||:Are you insane, Doll?!
()||:But she is utterly helpless against the attack. All she can do is swerve the helicopter in the hopes that she can shake the T-Doll off. +But before she can put that into action, the Doll has already made her move...
()||:Explosives. She destroyed the rotor system with a sticky bomb.
()Morridow||:Y-you're trying to drag me to hell with you?!
()||:The Doll... is grinning.
()Morridow||:Ugh!!!
()||:The helicopter hovering at a high altitude begins its sharp plunge after losing its rotor system. +The white-haired Doll, still holding on firmly to her silver cord, is still hanging outside the helicopter. +In fact...
()||<震屏3>AVG_Door_Hit406:Thud!
()Morridow||:!
()||:With a powerful kick, she launches herself closer to the cabin using her momentum. +As the out-of-control helicopter plummets horizontally, the white Doll has almost made her way into the cockpit.
()Morridow||:I won't let you—!!
()||<震屏3>AVG_Door_HitAVG_bigglassbreak:Thud!
()||:Before Morridow can even finish, the Doll's second blow has shattered the cabin door. +Her powerfully-built body hurtles into the cramped space with a massive impact... +And then...
()||Explode9:BOOM!!!!
()||:... +...
()Morridow||:Ugh...
()||:After the second explosion, Morridow knows without a doubt. +She has suffered an overwhelming defeat.
()||AVG_footsteps_cave:In the roaring flames around them, M16's footsteps toll in Morridow's ears like death knells.
()||<黑屏1>:
()||%%code=CJ_rain%%<黑屏2>407:...
()Morridow||:Haha...
()||:Seemingly resigned to her fate, Morridow turns around to face the approaching Doll, whose pale hair is dyed blood red by the blaze behind her.
()Morridow||:I remember now... You're the last T-Doll of the AR Team...
()M16A1||:...
()||408<震屏3>BGM_EmptyAVG_Punch_Hit:Morridow is about to speak again, but M16 knocks her out with a single punch.
M16A1BOSS(4)M16A1||:...Another fake.
()||:After scooping her target into her arms, M16 takes another look around and finally sets her eyes in the direction of the warehouse.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:...I suppose it's time.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||%%code=CJ_rain_destroy%%356GF_EV9_Story<黑屏2>0.7:
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:Why are you all so tense, anyway?
()||:M16 sits in the corner of the room, looking very relaxed.
AR15Mod(4)ST AR-15||:...M4 hasn't woken up yet and you're asking us why we're tense?
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(0)M4 SOPMOD II||:16! When will M4 wake up?!
M16A1BOSS(4)M16A1||:...Do you really think that's M4?
AR15Mod(5)ST AR-15||:What do you mean?
()||:M16 opens a pack of compact food and munches on them as she looks up at ST AR-15.
M16A1BOSS(3)M16A1||:I understand that you're concerned about her, but don't let your feelings overrule your rationality.
M16A1BOSS(4)M16A1||:She isn't M4 at all.
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(0)M4 SOPMOD II||:Oh, 16, I don't think you know, but! +She may look like someone else, but she's really M4 on the inside!
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:No, she's not... At least, she's not the one we're looking for. +She IS M4, but at the same time she isn't.
()Commander||:What does that mean?
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:Exactly what I said.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<黑屏2>0.7315:
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:You're always so hung up on trivial stuff that people don't care about, Commander.
()||:Everyone else has entered the command post, leaving only the Commander, M16, and ST AR-15 outside.
AR15Mod(0)ST AR-15||:...Do you count yourself among these "people" you mentioned?
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:You know I never belong in the majority.
()||ClothingUp:M16A1 conjures a bottle of whiskey seeming out of thin air and starts taking massive gulps from it.
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:Ah... That felt good.
()||:She wipes her mouth, puts the cap back on, then tosses the half-empty bottle over to ST AR-15.
AR15Mod(8)ST AR-15||:?! +What are you doing?!
()||ClothingUp:Not expecting this at all, ST AR-15 fumbles to catch the bottle.
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:Haha, it tastes pretty good. You should have some.
()||:M16 shoots her irritated sister a cheerful grin and waves her hand.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:I need to have a chat with the Commander. You go on in first.
AR15Mod(5)ST AR-15||:...
()||:ST AR-15 is still fuming, but instead of protesting, she simply enters the command post with the half-empty bottle of whisky wordlessly.
()Commander||:...
()||:The Commander crosses their arms and looks at M16.
()Commander||:You're taking off?
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:I have my mission.
()||:Since the Commander has correctly guessed what's on her mind, M16 drops all pretense and simply shrugs.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:That Stasi agent brought up something about my objective. +I need to go.
M16A1BOSS(2)Commander<同时置暗>||:I suppose there's nothing I can do to make you stay?
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:Haha, I wonder. You won't know for sure if you don't try, eh?
()||BGM_Empty:M16 grins and snaps her fingers, then she looks over to the other side of the street. +Following her gaze, the Commander spots an oddly-shaped motorbike parked near the kerb.
()Commander||BGM_23S_Crossroads_Warrior:...We're still friends, aren't we?
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:Of course. +...But some things don't stay the same, Commander.
M16A1BOSS(5)Commander<同时置暗>||:Well, no matter what SOP-II wants to do to you the next time we cross paths... +I won't intervene.
M16A1BOSS(5)M16A1||:I'll worry about that when the time comes.
()||:With a faint smile, M16 turns and silently crosses the road.
M16A1BOSS(0)M16A1||:She isn't M4 anymore, but we're both still holding up our own end of the bargain...
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<黑屏2>AVG_Door_Hit0.79:
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||<黑屏2>0.7453:
()M16A1||:...So it's you.
()RPK-16||:...You need to go, M16. +The answer you seek isn't here.
()M16A1||<黑屏1>:...
()||ClothingUp<黑屏2>9:M16 lowers her hand and glances at the closed screen door nearby.
()M16A1||:...That does seem to be the case.
()RPK-16||:(Coughs)
()M16A1||:Good luck.
()||AVG_footsteps_woodfloor:After one more look at RPK-16, who is slumped feebly on the ground, M16 double-checks her terminal, then turns to leave the way she came.
()||Stop_AVG_loop:RPK-16 licks the blood off her lips as she gazes at M16's receding back. She leans back into the wall behind her and slowly closes her eyes.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||AVG_engine_speedup%%type_id=2%%duration=99999%%delay=0%%range=2<黑屏2>456:The Dead Sea. +The grooves on the dark tires are caked in green crystal fragments.
()||:Beak's motorbike roars across the Dead Sea at an absurd speed against the howling wind.
()||AVG_keyboardtype_sci:M16 double checks the encrypted file stored within her neural cloud. +The "gift" from RPK-16.
Beak(0)Beak||:Once we report back to those old geezers, we'll be done with our mission.
Beak(0);M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:Yep.
Beak(0)Beak||:What are your plans?
M16A1BOSS(3)M16A1||:...
()||:The motorbike rattles on as it travels down the bumpy road. +The blurry horizon in the distance, where an unknown storm seems to be brewing, sways with the motion.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:...Wait.
Beak(0)Beak||:What?
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:That's all I can do—wait. +Wait for "her" to come. Wait for the coincidental or inevitable ending... +Or should I say... wait for destiny.
()||:Beak frowns in confusion. +She knows that any questions she asks will only be met with the usual silence.
()||:For the last time, M16A1 takes a deep breath. She closes her eyes and delves into the familiar space.
()||<黑屏1>0.7%%type_id=2%%duration=1%%delay=0%%range=1AVG_tele_connect:
()||<黑屏2>90.5:
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||:Yes, there's no mistake. Ange is definitely in the Eastern Tower.
M16A1BOSS(3)M16A1||:My job is done here... Best of luck.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:...Got it.
()System||:Are you sure you want to [log out] from the Aeneas Conference Room? +...
()||AVG_tele_disconnect:You are logged out.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||1AVG_20Winter_Burnfire_Loop<黑屏2>645:
()||<黑屏1>:Rumble... +The dull explosions rumble on continuously. Avernus in the distance is doomed to fall into ruin. +M16 looks through the window and watches it burn. Meanwhile, ST AR-15 has finally been reunited with RO and SOP-II.
M16A1BOSS(2)M16A1||<黑屏2>9:I'll see you in Frankfurt.
()||<黑屏1>0.7:
()||9<黑屏2>:The story in Berlin has come to an end, while the story in Frankfurt is only just beginning. +This is going to be a sleepless night.
()||<黑屏1>: