()||9<黑屏1>0,10BGM_Empty:... ()||<黑屏2>82m_avg_casualAVG_doorknock_wood:Knock knock. A light rap on the door jolts M200 awake. +She hurriedly halts the process of clearing her cache and jogs over to open the door. M200(0)M200||:Please come in... Huh? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Hi. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Hello, QBU-88. Is something the matter? +Have I missed a notice...? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Not at all. May I come in? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||<黑点1>:Oh yes, please. ()||<黑点2>:M200 welcomes QBU-88 into her room and closes the door. M200(0)M200||:Would you like something to drink? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Oh, I get offered a drink! What do you have? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:I've got black tea, juice, coffee, milk, fruit tea, ginger tea, hot cocoa, and green tea. Oh, there's also mulled wine, though I'll have to heat that up... M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Whoa, hold it. Just a fruit tea will do. +Are you planning to open a beverage store with Springfield or something? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:No, I just bought a bunch of ingredients to practice making different kinds of drinks. +Here, fruit tea for you. M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Thanks. +...This tastes good! What's the brand? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:It's my own formulation. If you like it, I can give you some to take with you. M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Thanks! I love this tangy flavor. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:So... May I ask why you're here...? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Didn't Groza just send out a recruitment for party organizers? +I saw your reply. You said you can't participate because you have an assignment. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Oh, yes. M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:We checked the logs. You accepted that assignment AFTER she made the recruitment post. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:... M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:You never say no to social gatherings, as far as I know? +I just find this pretty odd. Is there someone you don't want to meet at the party? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Oh, it's nothing of that sort! +I'm just having some personal issues... M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:What kind of issues? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Uh... I just have some thinking to do. It's not a good idea to bother others over something so trivial! +Don't worry, I can sort it out myself. M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:You probably can, but if you tell me, it could be solved more quickly. +And you don't have to feel like you're bothering me. I came precisely for this matter. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||<黑点1>:Hm... Thank you. So this is what happened... ()||<黑点2>:... +Several minutes later. QBU88(0)QBU-88||:So basically, you tried to interview some refugees, but they refused to cooperate. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Yeah... I wanted to shoot some post-war footage and edit them into a documentary for the celebration this year. +But apart from ruins, all I've got so far is grief-stricken people who have lost their home... M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Isn't that only to be expected? War is destructive to begin with. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:I disagree. We are a security company, are we not? +We fight to protect more people, to put an end to strife, and to usher in an era of peace, isn't that right? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Yeah... Sounds about right. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:But is there really any meaning to all the fighting we've done? +No matter how hard we try to defeat our enemies, innocent civilians keep getting dragged into the war and end up getting killed. +We are Tactical Dolls, we were not created to prevent war – we perpetrate violence... There's no way we can end the bloodshed. +On top of that, we keep causing suffering. M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:But just letting our enemies storm through our defenses will result in even more suffering. +There is meaning to our fight. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:You have a point... (Sighs) I do feel better now that I've got it off my chest. +Thank you. Next time there's a party, I'll definitely make time for it! M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:I'm glad to hear it. +...Hold on, so you're still not coming to this party? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Huh? It's a shame, but... M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:The solution is right in front of you. It's just taking out a few enemy targets. It won't take long if the two of us set off soon! +Those abandoned mechs have been getting on my nerves for a while now. Rather than letting them saunter around for a couple more days, why don't we wipe them out now and come back for the party? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Oh... Sure. +Can I really handle another fight so soon? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Where's the location of your assignment? Let me see... +Oh! Theater No. 3 is pretty close. Let's go! M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Huh? We're going right now?! QBU88(0)QBU-88||:No time like the present! ()||<黑屏1>RunStep:With just the two of them, the Dolls head towards the target location promptly... ()||<黑屏2>98BGM_Empty:An hour later, in Theater No. 3. QBU88(0)QBU-88||BGM_Room:These abandoned mechs were a piece of cake. Your assignment is all done, yeah? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Yes. M200(0);QBU88(0)||:M200 puts down her rifle and studies the mechanical remains all around her. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Thank goodness these weren't piloted by that man... M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:What do you mean? They're still weapons created for human use. +Strange... Why can't I find that spot? M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:88? What are you looking for? QBU88(0)QBU-88||:It's a secret. ()||:With that, she wanders off and continues her search. QBU88(0)QBU-88||BGM_Empty:Hm... Mm... Found it! +M200, over here. M200(0);QBU88(0)||GF_Memorial:M200 walks over and squats down to look at what QBU-88 is pointing at. +Behind the crumbling wall, a patch of lovely roses bloom silently. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:...Huh? How can there be flowers here? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:If memory serves, Theater No. 3 used to be a botanical conservatory in the Yellow Zone. +It was razed to the ground in the war, but this little patch came out unscathed. +There weren't any flowers the first time I came. The botanists must've been forced to evacuate shortly after they planted the seeds. +But look, they're now flourishing! M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:They managed to keep growing because we've been holding this place? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:That's right. As long as we don't pull back our line of defense, more flowers will grow here. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:... M200(0);QBU88(0)||:M200 stares intently at the roses. +Under the clouded sunlight, they look so fragile, yet so vibrant in the ashy soil. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:New life that grows out of land baptized by the flames of war... +I must take some pictures of it! M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Take as many as you want. It's pretty safe here. You can go absolutely crazy. M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Are there more flowerbeds like this one in other places? M200(0);QBU88(0)QBU-88||:Probably...? There might be more somewhere farther away from the war zone. I'm sure we'll find them if we take the time to look. +Let's do that, shall we? M200(0)M200||:Yes, please! ()||:M200 snaps picture after picture while QBU-88 keeps searching for more flowers. The two Dolls end up trekking across most of the theater. QBU88(0)QBU-88||BGM_Empty:Oh, there are flowers over here, M2— Huh? M200(0)M200||:What? Did you say some... QBU-88!! ()||BGM_Danger:A half-buried mech suddenly comes to life. +Its remaining mechanisms are still operational - it grabs QBU-88 and lifts her off the ground! QBU88(0)QBU-88||:H...Help!! M200(0)M200;QBU88(0)||:Crap... M200(0);QBU88(0)||:M200 puts down her camera and starts firing at the mech. +But her rushed attacks merely leave dents on its armor and cause no significant damage. +Meanwhile, the soil around her starts quivering, and more mechs rise to their feet. +They loom over the petite M200 and have her completely surrounded. M200(0)M200||:No, this isn't something I can handle... +Hailing Groza! Come in, Groza!! OTs14(0)OTs-14<通讯框>;M200(0)||AVG_tele_connect:What is it, M200? The party... OTs14(0);M200(0)M200||<震屏>:Miss Groza, we need help!!! OTs14(0)OTs-14;M200(0)||:... +Calm down, M200. What is the matter? OTs14(0);M200(0)M200||:We've encountered numerous abandoned mechs in Theater No. 3, some of them still have intact firing modules, and they've captured QBU-88! +I've sent you our coordinates... Please get here ASAP! Thank you very much! M200(0)M200||AVG_tele_disconnect:Even if Miss Groza sets off immediately, it will still take her a while to get here... I've got to stall them for at least 10 minutes! +I'm going to damage their joints... Dammit, they have armor even on their joints! ()||:Her successive shots finally draws the mech's attention. With QBU-88 in one hand, it reaches out to grab M200 with the other. +M200 stops immediately to dodge its attack and returns fire. QBU88(1)QBU-88||:Ugh... Arghhh... M200(0)M200;QBU88(1)||:Oh no... Keeping it on edge only makes it tighten its grip... M200(0)||:M200 comes to a decision. +She stops running, props up her rifle, and aims straight for the weak point in the mech's leg. +At that moment, she does not dwell on the danger she's in; she is completely focused on her determination to save her friend. +She fires at the same instant when the mech takes a swipe at her. M200(0)||AVG_rifle_finalshot_h:Bang! M200(0)M200||:...I got it! ()||:The mech falls onto its knees abruptly. However, it soon regains its footing by shifting its weight onto the other leg... +Meanwhile, alerted by the loud gunshot, the other mechs turn and close in on M200... M200(1)M200||:No way... QBU88(1)QBU-88||:It-it's leaving... Help! Where is it taking me? M200(1)M200||:I'm going to shoot its joint again... Crap... I'm out of ammo! M200(1)M200||:The mech shambles forward, its busted leg dragging heavily behind it. +The other mechs are blocking her off. Her analytic system keeps issuing warning after warning. +Retreat! Retreat! Retreat immediately! M200(1)M200||:Are there really no other alternatives...? +No, they still have 88. I've got to— ()OTs-14's Voice||RunStep:I see it! M200, close your eyes! M200(1)M200||<白屏1>:...! ()||<白屏2>98BGM_Empty:M200 obeys without question. +A dazzling flash lights up the inside of her eyelids. When the brightness subsides, she feels a warm hand on her shoulder. OTs14(0)OTs-14||BGM_Sunshine:Are you okay, M200? M200(1)M200;OTs14(0)||:I'm fine... QBU-88... M200(1);QBU88(1)QBU-88||:I...fuh...duh... M200(1)M200;QBU88(1)||:Some of her modules must've been damaged... M200(1);OTs14(0)OTs-14||:You two, retreat back to base. M200(1)M200;OTs14(0)||:There are way too many mechs. Will our reinforcements... M200(1);M16A1BOSS(0)M16A1||:We'll handle it just fine. Get her out of here. M200(1);M16A1BOSS(0)||:As a recent recruit, this is the first time M200 has personally met M16A1. +M16A1 is practically a living legend, and M200 decides to put her faith in her. M200(1)M200||:...Okay. Sorry to trouble you. M200(1)||BGM_Empty:M200 hoists QBU-88 onto her back and starts making her way back to base, leaving OTs-14 and M16 to deal with the situation. M200(1)M200||BGM_Sad:Fighting... There's no end to it. +I have to rely on others just to protect the friend that came with me... Do I have no value at all apart from fighting? M200(1)||:The gunfire coming from behind fades into the distance, and M200 gradually slows her pace. +With QBU-88 on her back, she takes in this desolate battlefield dejectedly. +Then all of a sudden, she catches sight of a dash of vivid blue. +Right by the road not far from the battlefield is a bush full of blue roses. M200(1)M200||<黑屏1>BGM_Empty:A blue...miracle. +If I had run away just now, this place would've been destroyed... +... +Thank goodness. ()||<黑屏2>82:... +A few days later, on the day of the party. M200(0)M200||BGM_Hello:There, the editing is done. I have no idea why a simple party requires such a formal opening, but this kind of production value should be adequate! +... +I haven't seen 88 ever since we came back days ago... I wonder how she's doing. M200(0)||:M200 sits in silence for a while before finally closing her editing software. M200(0)M200||:She's probably at the venue by now. Those Chinese Dolls all love lively occasions and are team players... Or she wouldn't have bothered offering her help to a casual acquaintance like me. +...Should I go to the party after all? I already participated as a photographer, right? +I really want to tell her the conclusion I've come to after days of thinking... M200(0)||AVG_tele_connect:Incoming transmission request. M200(0)M200||:Hm? +Hello, M200 speaking. ()QBU-88||:M200, come to the banquet with me! ()M200||:..."Banquet"? ()QBU-88||:I've sewn a dress for you. Try it on! ()M200||:But... ()QBU-88||AVG_doorknock_wood:I'm outside your door already. Open up! ()||AVG_tele_disconnect:This unexpected turn of events leaves M200 totally disoriented. +She opens the door, and QBU-88 comes rushing in with a dress. QBU88(6)QBU-88||:Try it! I made it just for you. M200(0)M200||<黑点1>:Oh... Uh... Okay. M200(3)M200||:What do you think? +I personally think it suits me. QBU88(6)QBU-88||:Eh, it'll do. M200(3)M200||:"Eh"? You're not happy with it? QBU88(6)QBU-88||:I was just being modest. What I mean is, "Yes, it's perfect!" +It's decided, then. You'd better come tonight. ()||:With that, QBU-88 takes her leave. +M200 stares at her reflection in the mirror and fiddles with her skirts bashfully. M200(3)M200||<黑屏1>:Oh... I forgot to tell her... But I'll have the chance tonight. +I'll include it as the opening dedication in my documentary... Uh, maybe I'll edit it right now. ()||<黑屏2>96:... ()M200||<黑屏1>:This short film is dedicated to all my comrades-in-arms and a special friend. +War isn't just about destruction; there is meaning to our fight. +We will put an end to strife, so that new flowers will bloom in the ruins... +Real peace will be upon us some day, but for now, let us raise a glass to this brief moment of respite!