Human story, chapter 6

Dairon City

You talk to Ohyo.

Ohyo: The moon is a thing of much beauty. Surely you agree? They say that when one sees only beauty, the beauty will soon lose its charm. I couldn't disagree more. In the way the moon is beautiful to use from here, I would hope our world is beautiful when seen from the moon. Knowing that would make our world an even better place to live, don't you agree? Come to think, perhaps the Great Blank of 200 years ago did something to the moon as well. I wonder.

You talk to Ohyo again.

Ohyo: Before the Great Blank, it should have been possible to go to the moon. Why else would they name celestial bodies? I am fairly confident in my assessment. I hope to get the opportunity to visit the moon some day in my lifetime. That would be something!

You talk to Gray.

Gray: Yo, how's it going? Did you want to see me?

Just wanted to chat.: Gray: Do you know what amazed me the most about the firefight against the hostiles? The sight of our good mayor fighting! He keeps saying he's retired, but he put up plenty of fight that put our active hunters to shame. That seemed to light a spark in him. He's been all gung ho ever since. The city's in good hands, I tell you!
What's the Quest Counter?: This text is unchanged.
Tell me about the Custom Shop.: This text is unchanged.
I'm just saying hi.: The conversation ends.

You talk to Lindow.

Lindow: Hello, [NAME]. How do you do? You seem rather run down. Are you all right? Given all the bizarre trouble we've had recently, it's no surprise that you're tired. Speaking of bizarre, they say the teleporter suddenly opened a portal to an entirely new location. [NAME], do you have any idea what may have caused that? I'm sorry, I do tend to go on. Did you wish to make an inquiry today?

Where is the mayor?

Lindow: Well, several days ago, he suddenly announced that I was in charge, and then he left with several hunters. It was so sudden, I couldn't begin to ask where he was headed, let alone attempt to stop him. I am certain that he has left the city, so it does appear to be some sort of a crisis. With that said, he is the city's leader. I wish he would not have acted in such a rash manner. [NAME], if you see our mayor, could you please ask him to return to the office as soon as possible? Your query turned into my request. Do you have any other questions?

Tell me what you do.

This text is unchanged.

What is the Hunters' Guild?

This text is unchanged.

Tell me about this city.

This text is unchanged.

What jobs are there?

This text is unchanged.

What races are there?

This text is unchanged.

What is a Mag?

This text is unchanged.

Nothing in particular.

Lindow: I see. If I may serve you in any way, please don't hesitate to ask.

The conversation ends.

You talk to Lindow again.

Where is the mayor?

This text is unchanged.

Tell me what you do.

This text is unchanged.

What is the Hunters' Guild?

This text is unchanged.

Tell me about this city.

This text is unchanged.

What jobs are there?

This text is unchanged.

What races are there?

This text is unchanged.

What is a Mag?

This text is unchanged.

I wanted to see you!

Lindow: Thank you. I'm also very relieved and happy to know you are safe, [NAME]. I don't intend to ever get in your way, but please do be careful.

The conversation ends.

Nothing in particular.

Lindow: I see. If I may serve you in any way, please don't hesitate to ask.

The conversation ends.

You enter the mayor's office.

Narrator: The mayor seems to be absent.

Quest name: Truth Revealed
Description: Infiltrate Arca Plant and obtain a CAST body to access historical data.
Difficulty: 3 stars

Story quest

You blink a couple times, seeing more clearly after each blink.

Ogi: It seems the teleporter was still functional. Wherever this is, we're here. Mm? The visibility is quite good... And I feel incredible. Why do I feel this good? What is this place?

Sarisa: Nh... Nnngh... Wh-Where are we? No way! This... This is it! We're here! This is the moon! [NAME]! Wake up, and look outside!

What's that blue thing?: Sarisa: That's where we came from. That's the earth, [NAME]. I used to look up at it and dream.
Where is this?: Sarisa: We're on the moon. The home of the newman race.

Ogi: I never knew our world was so beautiful. I wish Kai could have seen this.

Sarisa: Oh, no! That's right, Kai! We have to hurry back and help him!

We can't go back.: Sarisa: But [NAME]!
I'm with you.: Sarisa: Right? Now, let's go!

Ogi: Sarisa, I'm going to say this bluntly. You saw how many hostiles were there. He was surrounded. It's too late. Kai wouldn't have wanted you to go back for him.

Sarisa: But I can't just leave him! He saved me more times than I can count in the short time I knew him. Now it's my turn to--

Ogi: I won't let you waste what he did!

Sarisa: What?

Ogi: Sarisa, you have to remember. We came to the moon with a purpose. We have to stop the robot invasion. What were Kai's last words to us? To go on without him, and save everyone living on the surface. How can you ignore that?

Sarisa: I know, but... I can't...

Ogi: You remember the story of the young hunter and the Celestial Pillar? The one Kai told us?

Sarisa: Yeah, but... What's that got to do with anything?

Ogi: That was Kai's story. He's the young hunter. All that happened to him, not so long ago. He was the only one of his friends to live long enough to reach Dairon City. That's why he didn't tell the rest.

Sarisa: ...

Ogi: He must have been wracked with the guilt for years. Knowing that his hubris cost his friends their lives. So he decided that this time, no matter the cost, he would protect his team. He's been watching over you two the entire time, a little bit detached. Ready to give up everything for you. I'm sure there was no hesitation in his mind when the moment came.

Sarisa: He told us not to move from the teleporter... Do you think he knew?

Ogi: I do. That is just my intuition, but yes. I think he knew it was time. On the other hand, if a CAST was able to pick up on it, it should be even more obvious to a newman. Can you understand why he did it?

Sarisa: [NAME], is... is what Ogi's saying true? Did... Did Kai give up his life for us? Did he...

Ogi: Try to be strong, Sarisa. There will be time for mourning later. The one thing I do know is that he didn't do it to hurt us. He trusted that we would get this job done. Now all that's left is to keep moving. It's the only way to do right by him now.

Sarisa: You're right. I know you're right... Let's go.

Ogi: Thank you. You know this place. We will need your help.

You hear lots of footsteps.

Ogi: Mm? Footsteps. Someone is coming. No, several people.

Sarisa: No!

Reve: Ugh, you're as persistent as roaches, and every bit as unwelcome.

Sarisa: Captain Reve!

Reve: Hm? Wasn't there another of you? A loud-mouthed human male, as I recall.

Sarisa: Nngh!

Reve: Judging from your response, I doubt you're merely working separately. Give up the ghost, did he?

Sarisa: Kai's not dead! He can't be dead!

Reve: What an odd response. Then you lost him amid a scuffle so above your skill you couldn't even confirm his death? I do recall hearing that the Celestial Pillar had become something of a nest for various unfriendly creatures. That's why we abandoned it years ago... Ah. I see now. You made it through by using him as a decoy!

Sarisa: We would never do that! Kai... Kai chose this himself!

Reve: I fail to see how that changes the fact that you sat idly by as he died. Not that I blame you, of course. It's more than a noble use of the life of a worthless human. Clever of you. You had a tool at your disposal, and you used it. Nothing to feel bad about, Sarisa. Heh heh heh...

Ogi: Enough. I have little patience for one who would speak ill of a good man he knows nothing about.

Reve: Nor I for a mouthy mechanical doll. And besides, you're in no position to make demands. One word from me, and your pathetic lives are at an end.

Ogi: Rgh!

Reve: Now, cast aside your weapons. Show the first sign of resistance, and you'll be executed.

Ogi: ...This looks bad. We're cut off, and they have us outnumbered. What do you think, [NAME]?

We should surrender.: Sarisa: You can't mean that, [NAME]! After Kai's sacrifice, we can't... I won't stop here.
We must fight.: Sarisa: Heh. I guess there's no choice, is there? If we just gave up, we wouldn't be honoring Kai's sacrifice.

Ogi: I'm ready when you are. Let's show them what us roaches can do.

Reve: Truly? That's your response? Then so be it. Men! Take aim!

Ogi: We're history if we stay bunched up. Spread out on my signal. Whoever survives this heads out to see Mother Trinity. Agreed?

Sarisa: Agreed.

Ogi: Then here we go.

A lot of guns are being cocked.

Reve: Steady, now. FIRE!

Ogi: Scatter!

An explosion goes off. Smoke fills the room.

Reve: What?!

Sarisa: Huh? What's going on?!

??????: Over here! Hurry, this way!

Ogi: Who are you?!

??????: I'll explain later! If this smoke clears, they'll need a mop to clean us up! Now, hurry!

The party leaves the scene.

Reve: Rrgh! What happened?! What of the captives? Did you finish them off?

Sarisa: What is this place?

??????: It's our base of operations. Come on, we can talk in here.

An animated cutscene plays.

Ana: Hello, my name is Ana. I'm the leader of the resistance.

The animated cutscene ends.

Ana: Wow, a real, living, moving CAST. Amazing!

Ogi: I am flattered, Miss...

Ana: Oh sorry, I didn't mean to be rude! It's just that you're the first one I've seen. And I... Ugh, sorry! Now, let's try this again. My name's Ana, and I head up the resistance here. Welcome to the moon. Sorry about the, ah, unfriendly welcome you got back there. I wouldn't have had it be that way, obviously.

Ogi: First, I should say thank you for saving us. Without your help, we may very well have been finished. My name is Ogi. This is [NAME] and that is Sarisa.

Sarisa: Nice to meet you. Ha! That feels a little strange to say to a person who just saved my life. So, who are you guys? I've never heard of any resistance movements here before.

Ana: Of course you haven't. Most newmans are soldiers in Mother Trinity's private army. She's got total control of the entire moon base. Keeping hidden is one of our biggest priorities. It has to be.

Ogi: I don't understand. Sarisa said that all newmans are taught to revere Mother Trinity as a sort of divine being. What drove you to rise up against that?

Ana: Ah, where do I begin? Let's put it this way: Did you know that we newmans were created from humans?

Sarisa: What?! I-Is that true?

Ana: Yup, although I don't think even Mother Trinity's personal guard knows that. Some joke, huh? We're taught to think that humans are our inferiors, but really they're our ancestors! From the records I've read, newmans were born from genetic alterations made to the human genome.

Ogi: Genome? I'm not familiar with that term. And what records are these?

Ana: I'm not even sure what a genome is exactly, but it's talked about in the pages of books I've found here. They state pretty clearly that the newman race came from humans, though. As for why I rebelled, I guess I just always thought there was something fishy about the world around me. I couldn't understand why everyone just blindly followed Mother Trinity's orders. It seemed crazy to me. I guess I was just born a skeptic. I've always been contrary. Ha! Just ask my parents. Maybe that's the human in me. I guess I just inherited a bit more of it than most newmans.

Ogi: I see. That matches other data, and may explain the obvious physiological discrepancies with other newmans.

Ana: Obvious physiological what?

Sarisa: Wait a... Ogi, just what are you looking at?

Ogi: Her... Torso.

Sarisa slaps Ogi.

Ogi: Ah, my apologies if that was offensive. I thought I was stating the obvious...

Sarisa: Sorry, Ogi, but what you did just now was a beat-worthy offense. Now you know for next time.

Ogi: Indeed. Ignorant though I was, I apologize for any disrespect. In the future, I will endeavor to maintain eye contact and offer concrete, numerical data on the huge gap in...

Sarisa slaps Ogi again.

Sarisa: I'm sorry. Please, go on.

Ana: Er, right. So I dropped out of Mother Trinity's little education program and started walking around with my eyes open.

Ogi: Education program?

Sarisa: We had the folly of humans and the greatness of Mother Trinity drilled into us above all else.

Ogi: Which explains how people like Reve came to blindly worship her.

Sarisa: I'm still amazed you made it this far. I always heard they threw kids who ditched class into some scary facility.

Ana: By that point I was already spending most of my time in off-limits areas. There was no one there to find me. That's where I found it. A book, the diary of a moon colonist from two centuries ago. Reading that, I learned about what happened back then. About what Mother Trinity did.

Ogi: Oh?

Ana: Sarisa, correct me if I'm wrong, but you were taught that the surface was destroyed by human excess, right? That in their lust for power, they waged larger and larger wars until the world around them was in tatters.

Sarisa: That's pretty much it, to the word. We learned that human hubris was the cause of everything bad that happened.

Ana: Well, that's all a lie, according to what was written in that journal. A major war did take place 200 years ago, but it was between the three races and Mother Trinity.

Sarisa: Oh!

Ogi: ...

Ana: You don't look too surprised.

Ogi: I'd begun to wonder if that wasn't the case. What I can't fathom is why. What caused the war? Who or what is Mother Trinity? And how did the war end?

Ana: One at a time, please. I'll answer as best as I can. First off, I don't know the cause of the war either. The journal I found was falling apart, the first half illegible. Second, who or what Mother Trinity is. I'm fuzzy on the details, but I think I have a general idea. I believe she's an organic computer, not unlike you CASTs.

Ogi: Your grounds being?

Ana: She's over 200 years old at this point. That's a tall order for a human or a newman. I also read that she controlled an army of mechanized drones in the war. Given that, it's only natural to think she might be mechanical herself, isn't it?

Sarisa: It would seem to make sense.

Ogi: I'm not keen on belonging to the same category as mankind's destroyer, but it does appear the most likely possibility. So, the war's end...?

Ana: From the get-go, Mother Trinity had the advantage. Mankind was still reeling from the sudden start of hostilities. The people rallied, though, and their strength together was enough to push Mother Trinity's forces back. They eventually backed her into a corner at the Celestial Pillar. She managed to escape to the moon there, though, and used several forbidden weapons in the process. First, a biological weapon, basically a plague that devastated any and all organisms living on the surface. It was apparently especially effective against us newmans.

Sarisa: Wait, then the real reason there are no newmans living on the surface today is...

Ana: Because they were wiped out through biological warfare, yeah. I believe so. Some humans survived, but not us. And she didn't stop there. She couldn't. CASTs aren't susceptible to germ warfare, after all. So she attacked them with Photon Noise.

Ogi: Photon Noise? What is... no. No, that term is familiar somehow. But why? I feel as though I've heard it before.

Ana: Maybe you recall traces of your memory from before the Great Blank. Photon Noise was tailor-made as a weapon against the CAST race. I don't know the details, but prolonged exposure causes a degenerative condition leading to complete stasis.

Ogi: I remember now! Yes, it was a form of particulate interference that eroded away at mechanical circuitry. That explains why countless CASTs fell into stasis, and why those who have awoken suffered permanent memory loss.

Ana: That's right. And that was how most of mankind was obliterated, more or less. There were cities on the moon then too, but against Mother Trinity... They stood no chance. They were wiped out. Then, to finish the job off, she staged an assault on the surface from her lunar base with the Photon Eraser. It was a weapon of terrifying force. It rubbed away any traces of civilization from the face of the earth. The war ended in her victory, with the surface no longer a livable place for the few people who had survived. And the diary ends there.

Sarisa: How terrible!

Ogi: Can you be certain of its truth? The keeper of the diary could have been lying. Perhaps the book was fiction.

Ana: The fact that this many people have rallied behind the resistance movement serves as all the proof I need. And the facts line up too cleanly. I'm sure Mother Trinity got rid of any obvious evidence of the truth. So we went hunting for hidden truths. The threads we've found and pulled away at have confirmed our theory. Unfortunately, our poking around has also made Mother Trinity aware of our existence.

Ogi: I see. Please, continue.

Ana: With that said, even we don't know a lot about the history of the period that followed. The newmans were supposed to have gone extinct, but suddenly we're living on the moon. Surface civilization survived. The mysteries just keep piling up, but at the heart of all of them, it always comes back around to Mother Trinity. I knew there was something there. Something awful. So I started the resistance movement. I'm not out to avenge my ancestors or go on any crusades, but I can't worship a genocidal robot as a god. Especially not with her continuing that campaign of killing on the surface. We newmans on the moon could be next.

Ogi: So you saved us in hopes that we would join you in the fight to stop her?

Ana: Well, yeah, pretty much. The three races working together succeeded in backing her into a corner once before. Between the people living on the surface and us on the moon, we could probably do it again. Unfortunately, cornering her isn't enough. She still has enough power to totally wipe out the earth. As long as that threat exists, we don't stand a chance against her.

Sarisa: You mean the Photon Eraser?

Ana: Yeah. She has the capability to reduce any and everything around her to dust. For some reason, she hasn't chosen to use it yet, but if threatened, she won't hesitate to press the button. Any plan we could mount against her begins with disabling that weapon.

Ogi: And do you have a plan?

Ana: Think about it. The Photon Eraser is supposed to be powerful enough to burn the surface to ash. That must eat up a whole lot of energy. We started from there. Our search for a source turned up an old reactor, once used to fuel the lunar colony. A neutrino furnace. That has to be the source she's using to power the Photon Eraser.

Sarisa: So if we cut off that source...

Ana: We take her most dangerous arsenal away from her, starting with the Photon Eraser. We know the furnace is somewhere here on the moon, but we don't know where exactly.

Ogi: Understandable. Mother Trinity must realize that represents a weakness. She'd be a fool not to hide it well.

Ana: The furnace was originally used by the people who lived here. That much we know for a fact. Given that, some record of its location has got to exist, it must be accessible, and it has to be destructible. That's where I'd really like to ask for your help.

Sarisa: Sorry, Ana, but I don't think I follow. Could you elaborate?

Ana: Of course. We've been sneaking around the moon investigating things behind Mother Trinity's back for a long time now. In the ruins of one facility we believe Mother Trinity herself destroyed, we found something. A CAST body. Probably from one of the colonists living here on the moon. The head was completely destroyed, and all function had ceased, but the body is still mostly intact. Ogi, I've heard CASTs store memories in their bodies as well as in their heads. Is that true?

Ogi: Now I see what you mean. It's true that a CAST from the moon would probably know his way around. One might even know where the neutrino furnace is.

Ana: Exactly. But we had no way of getting that information out of the CAST's body. And there aren't any living CASTs here on the moon, either, so in the end, the breakthrough came from Mother herself. "The CASTs are awakening from stasis. Investigate immediately," were her orders. Word about a landing party came soon after. We figured that was our chance. If we could make contact with a CAST, we could get at that information. We slipped one of our ranks into the landing team with the sole aim of bringing a CAST here to the moon.

Ogi: It should be possible to access that CAST's sub-memory by interfacing with his body. Most of the memory I inherited that way on the surface has been corrupted by Photon Noise, though. Irreparably. Won't that be the case here as well?

Ana: Not if our theory of Mother Trinity being an organic computer is right. If she tried that up here, she'd risk contaminating herself.

Ogi: Of course. And that explains why my vision and physical condition have been so extraordinary up here. All right, I understand the plan. I agree that it's worth a try. Where do I find that CAST body?

Ana: I can take you there right now.

Turn down her offer.

Ogi: I agree with [NAME]. You're the leader of the resistance. You can't just waltz off into danger with us.

Ana: Yeah, but still...

Accept her offer.

Sarisa: But wait, Ana, you can't. You're the leader here, aren't you? If something happened to you, who would run all this?

Ana: I... guess I don't have an answer to that.

Ogi: We're not headed into a showdown quite yet. If you simply tell us where to go, we can do the rest ourselves.

Ana: You're sure? That makes things easier for me, but I hate to abandon you.

Sarisa: I'm with Ogi. Compared to getting to the moon, this will just be a hop and a skip.

Ana: All right. Thank you. I'll leave everything in your hands, but please, take this.

Sarisa: What is it?

Ana: They used to use these up here back in the day. Walko-talkos, I think they called them. I'm sorry to put this all on you, especially since we just met. Our hopes rest with you three now.

Sarisa: Just leave it to us!

The party goes to the Arca Plant, Basement area.

Static is heard.

Ana: We're getting close now. There are robot sentinels up ahead, so be careful.

Ogi: Understood.

Ana: Okay, I'll leave you here. Good luck.

The transmission ends.

You find a message pack.

Message pack: "Specific Resistances" Creatures have resistances and weaknesses to specific types of techniques. Exploit them.

You enter the Dock Area area.

Sarisa: What is this place?

Ogi: It seems less a CAST graveyard than a junk pile.

Sarisa: I'm sorry, Ogi... Here, I'll try to reach Ana. Hello, Ana? Can you hear me?

A transmission is initiated.

Ana: ...and clear, Sarisa. Have you reached the destination, then?

Ogi: Yes, we're here. What is this place?

Ana: I'm sorry about this, Ogi. I know this can't be a pleasant place for you. This is the final resting place for the CASTs that inhabited the lunar colony before Mother Trinity wiped them out.

Ogi: I see.

Sarisa: Are you okay, Ogi?

Ogi: Fine. I'm perfectly fine. Ana, I'll just search around for a suitable body and collect the data we need. Is that acceptable?

Ana: I can save you that trouble, actually. We've already found you a body. At the back, to the right, you'll find a heap of bodies stacked up. Check the one on top.

Ogi: I understand. Ah. This one.

A CAST body is dragged over the floor.

Ogi: Will you help me, [NAME]? Remove my head, just the same as before.

Ogi's head is removed from his body.

Ogi: Stand back a moment.

An animated cutscene plays.

Ogi's head flies into the body's head socket, and gets activated.

The animated cutscene ends.

Ogi: Nraaauugh!

Sarisa: O-Ogi?

Ogi: Haaugh! *Huff* *Huff* Sorry for the wait. I'm done. The fusion ended successfully.

Sarisa: I-It did? That's, um, that's good. Er, it seemed a little... different. Compared to last time, I mean. Are you sure you're all right?

Ogi: Yes, quite. This body is actually a well-suited match. I will admit to getting a bit excited, but that was more or less normal for a CAST.

Sarisa: That was "a bit" excited?!

Ogi: Well, yes. Your reaction is understandable, but I would urge you not to thrust your own rigid, subjective views upon others. Please be a little flexible.

Sarisa: And now I get a lecture! Ugh, I'm so confused.

Ogi: I'm sure I have you beat there. So many memories... They're all crashing in on me, flooding my mind with words and images. No... The atrocities I'm seeing. It's almost unbearable. It's...

Sarisa: Are you all right?

Ogi: ... Yes. Yes, I'm fine now. The vertigo is subsiding. The initial shock has died down. But none of that matters now. There is much I need to tell you.

Sarisa: What do you mean?

Ogi: Our lost history.

Sarisa: What?!

Ogi: Once he realized mankind would lose to Mother Trinity, this body's owner committed all he knew to sub-memory. His last hope was that a CAST like me would come and find it.

Ana: So, what did you find out?! Did he really record everything?!

Ogi: Yes, everything, and I'll tell you all I know. I just ask for a little time. It's so much data to process. I need a while to sort through it and make sense of it all. In the meantime, let's do what we came here for. We can talk after that.

Sarisa: What we came here for... Aren't we here to find you a new body?

Ogi: That was just a stop along the way. We're here to destroy that neutrino surface.

Ana: Then you found its location?

Ogi: Yes. Amid all the chaos, that one bit came through loud and clear. It's within walkable distance from here. I suspect this body's former owner planned to destroy the furnace as well.

Ana: No offense to him, but we can't afford to have our attempt end like his. Come back to the hideout and prepare first.

Ogi: We can't afford that time, and the more people we involve, the easier we'll be to spot. It will be easiest for us to take care of this ourselves. That also gives me the chance to avenge these CASTs.

Ana: ...I get it. But I don't really feel right sending you all off to do my dirty work for me.

Ogi: This is everyone's task. Someone has to stop Mother Trinity. The sooner the better.

Ana: You're right, of course. Thank you, and good luck!

The transmission ends.

You find a message pack.

Message pack: "Progress Report 0130" Neuron network and fuzzy logic systems installed. Let this work unite the three races...

You find a message pack in the Main Plant area.

Message pack: "Progress Report 0318" General and support system drivers activated. Kudos to CASTs for their precise work.

You take the boss teleporter to the Central Core area.

??????: Oh...

Sarisa: That's odd. I lost contact with Ana.

Ogi: This place is full of interference. It's a byproduct of the furnace. I suspect that's blocking the signal.

Sarisa: Does that mean we're here?

Ogi: Yes. This is the neutrino surface, once built by mankind's hand to fuel its expansion here on the moon. Ironically, it became Mother Trinity's greatest asset, and ultimately sealed her victory against us.

Sarisa: But that ends now. Let's tear this place apart.

??????: My, my. So violent. I would surely prefer that you didn't, my little surface guests.

Sarisa: What?! What's that voice?

??????: I had assumed I required no introduction. I am Mother Trinity, high queen of the moon.

Ogi: What?! I never expected our hostess to come greet us in person.

Trinity: Oh ho! How droll. Me, come to greet you in person? What reason should I have to lift a finger for a run-down CAST, a failed newman, and some human scum? Consider it unwarranted honor enough that I should deign to watch you get erased from this existence. And with that, I leave you to my dear, loyal Reve.

Reve: You all truly are as vexing as vermin, sneaking into the strangest of places.

Sarisa: Reve!

Reve: How you ever made it back here is a mystery to me, but one that will be quite moot in a few moments.

Sarisa: Reve, please wait. Listen to me! Did you know it was Mother Trinity that slaughtered our ancestors and destroyed the world below?!

Reve: Did you learn nothing here? How can you allow the humans to play you for a fool so easily? It was they who put our beautiful home to ruin. It was they who exiled the newmans and felled the CASTs.

Sarisa: That may be what we were taught to believe, but by whom? Reve, she deceived us! She used us! All three races worked together to fight her as one. Mother Trinity is an enemy to all mankind! And when she was cornered, she committed horrible atrocities and made her escape to the moon. She nearly ended all life on the surface, Reve! The ruin of the surface was the result of her genocide!

Reve: Nonsense!

Ogi: Are you blind? Have you seen nothing of the world around you?

Reve: What?

Ogi: You must have seen a fair bit of the world as you raided the ruins sites. You can't have learned nothing. Among the devices you destroyed, did you find a single weapon capable of destroying the entire planet?

Reve: ...

Ogi: Listen. Shut your mouth and listen. Mother Trinity is an organic computer, constructed as part of a joint effort of all three races.

Reve: ...What?

Sarisa: Then it's true?!

Ogi: Yes. But one day, she turned on us. That marked the start of a bitter war that ultimately left the world in tatters.

Reve: ...

Trinity: Reve? You have your orders. Why do you stay your hand? Don't tell me the mutterings of these misguided maggots have swayed you?

Ogi: You're safe for now, Reve. Mother Trinity still has a use for you. You're valuable to her. But what happens the minute she loses interest in the services you offer her? You'll be cast aside in a heartbeat.

Sarisa: He's right! It's not too late, Reve! We can still use your help!

Trinity: These lunatics cannot be allowed to spew their lies a moment longer. Eradicate them immediately, Reve. That is precisely why I have given you your new powers.

Reve: Of course. Leave them to me.

Sarisa: Reve, no! Wait! You have to be questioning her by this point!

Reve: Silence! I do not wish to hear any more of your ranting! The time for words has passed. All fools who would turn on Mother Trinity must be made to pay! Repent your heretic ways as you are sent to meet your maker!

You defeat Humilias.

Reve: That's not... It's not possible! Why? Why?! How can these maggots possess such strength?! It's not... It just isn't possible!

Trinity: Reve...

Reve: Mother Trinity! Please, give me one more chance! Just once more, and I swear to you I'll--

Trinity: That won't be necessary, my child.

Reve: Mother...?

Trinity: I had thought you belonged to a special class of newmans. That you were gifted. But to see you betray my expectations not once but twice... You obiously wish me to reconsider that opinion.

Reve: Mother, no! You're not wrong! I-I'll prove it to you, if you'd just give me one more chance! I'll show--

Trinity: I fault myself for underestimating the capabilities of this garbage. My plans end with Reve's defeat. There is nothing else I can do to bar you from doing as you will to that furnace.

Ogi: What? But you can't mean that. Unless, wait, is there another...

Trinity: It pleases me to see you exhibit some signs of intelligence. Yes. As a human facility, that furnace was vulnerable. Naturally, I took it upon myself to construct a second, far more heavily protected neutrino furnace.

Sarisa: No!

Ogi: That's insane! A duplicate facility of this size and complexity would be--

Trinity: Quite easy, really. Do remember that I have had 200 years to prepare. I should thank you for giving this tired facility a rest after two centuries of hard work for my purposes.

Reve: What?! But then... You sent me to fight for a reactor you didn't even care about?!

Trinity: I never said that I did not care. Even redundant, it remains one of only two invaluable neutrino furnaces. Something truly worthless to me would repeat failure after failure while still presuming to question my wisdom.

Reve: But I...!

Trinity: Ah, and allow me to share with you all one more amusing fact. The moment you used a teleporter to enter this heavily monitored area, I was alerted to the resistance's location.

Sarisa: What?! No!

Trinity: I had planned to erase the lot of you, but I suppose given your performance, I just might reconsider. On the condition that you leave and never show your faces here again, of course. Regardless of your choice, your lives will end in the blink of an eye by my reckoning. It makes no difference to me.

Ogi: You used me! How could you?!

Sarisa: We need to get back to Ana, now!

Ogi: I know, but we need to at least put this facility out of commission first. There. That should have cut the supply of energy. Now, let's hurry back to Ana.

Sarisa: Okay. Just one second... So, what now, Reve? Where will you go?

Reve: ... Leave me in peace. It's no concern of yours what becomes of me now.

Sarisa: That's not true! Reve, you're a person, just like any of us. We're all in this together.

Reve: ...

Sarisa: I won't ask you to come with us, but if all this has convinced you even a little of Mother Trinity's true nature, maybe we can all work towards the same goal. It's not too late.

Reve: ... I'm returning. There's something I need to check.

Sarisa: But you can't! It's too dangerous alone!

Reve: This is my fight. It has nothing to do with you.

Ogi: Let him go, Sarisa. We have no right to stop him.

Sarisa: ...All right. Just be careful. Please. Oh, and here.

Reve: ...What is this? A map?

Sarisa: That's the resistance hideout. If anything happens, head there. They can help you.

Ogi: Sarisa! Are you sure it's wise to give him that kind of information?

Sarisa: Mother Trinity already knows where it is. Plus, I believe in Reve. He's too smart not to see the truth. And he's another person living in the world with us. That's enough for me.

Reve: ...Hmph. It's a miracle you've survived this long with that naivete.

Reve leaves.

Ogi: He's gone.

Sarisa: Thanks for waiting, Ogi. Now, let's hurry back to warn Ana!

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