Story Reader / Main Story / 32 To the Galaxies / Story
However, Nanami does not join this rescue operation.
She walks Haicma through the "100 Guidelines for Human Protection" and entrusts her with full authority over the rescue operation.
Haicma, I'm leaving everything here to you and Spooner!
If you need anything, just ask Zavier! And if he doesn't cooperate, Nanami will give him a good walloping when I am back.
Are you really going alone? I can go with you...
But they need you more here, Haicma. You're the only one in the Church of Machina who knows how to interact with humans properly.
Don't worry, I'll be extra careful this time—
All I need to do is find a facility with enough computing power and contact Mecha Babushka.
Must you do this?
...Yeah, Nanami is a little scared.
Is this really... the "future" I saw in my simulations?
All signs point to something similar from before, yet somehow everything feels completely different.
Babylonia leaving Earth—that matches up.
Some humans staying on Earth... that's probably a match, too.
The Red Tide spreading, the Hetero Zones expanding... That kind of matches up, too.
Nanami furrows her brow as she checks off the items one by one.
Babylonia is about to leave, and once it travels beyond a certain distance, I won't be able to contact Mecha Babushka.
Be it by running another simulation or asking Mecha Babushka directly, Nanami needs to know one answer.
Does this world still point toward the futures she once envisioned?
...
Haicma does not stop Nanami—she has no reason to prevent this young girl, who people know as Sagemachina, from venturing alone to fight for Earth's last glimmer of hope.
As the mutated Red Tide gradually devours the earth's surface, the air temperature drops drastically.
Without anyone noticing, a minor Ice Age has begun.
Hmm, I could definitely get in here before...
Standing next to the ruins, Nanami connects the wires together with a troubled look on her face—
The mutated Red Tide has clearly infected the facility before her. No matter how she connects the power or rewires the circuits, this massive computer refuses to boot up again.
Argh, this is the fourth location already.
Upset, Nanami marks another X on the map and stares at it with growing concern.
The mutated Red Tide has overwhelmed almost all the facilities she previously found capable of connecting to Gestalt.
That city ahead... is the last shot.
Putting away the map projected from her terminal, Nanami brushes the snow off her clothes and trudges onward through the ruins ahead.
At the entrance of the ruined city stands an unexpected visitor.
The pink-haired Construct standing by the ruins greets Nanami with a familiar smile.
Hi.
We meet again. Nanami remembers you.
I've seen you in Babylonia... Why are you still here when Babylonia is about to leave?
To assist Babylonia with their search and rescue operations, of course.
She adjusts her cloak and turns her gaze toward the ruins ahead.
Nanami doesn't care why you're here, as long as you don't try to stop me.
I have no intention of stopping you. I'm just curious.
Are you sure this is what you want to do?
Are you sure you want to... leave Earth?
Do I have a choice?
No, unfortunately. Not at the moment, at least.
Then Nanami has no choice but to do this.
Time... is almost up.
Ethereal numbers count down as they dance around her, gravity intensifying with each passing moment. The hands of time inch ever closer to their final destination.
I don't know what happens when the gravity reaches its peak, and it's too big a gamble trying to find out.
Everyone seems to be asking Nanami how to fix all of this.
But... Nanami's not just facing the question of what to do. I mean, I don't even know what needs to be fixed at all.
If only blowing up the Hetero Tower would solve everything... wouldn't that be nice?
...
With a smile on her face, the pink-haired Construct lets Nanami continue her self-directed complaints.
I don't even know what needs to be fixed, let alone find a way out of this mess—I'm the Sagemachina, and while I never asked for this title... I have to lead them through this nonetheless.
I can't just gamble the mechanoids' future just so I can stay on Earth. But as a friend to humans...
As a friend of <phonetic=Nanami>Commandant</phonetic>...
Nanami can't just stand by and watch humanity vanish like this. I care about humans. I care about Commandant.
I'd have had no trouble staying on Earth if I were alone, even if that meant certain death to me. I'd do anything to help humans and Commandant.
But I can't make decisions for my mechanical brethren... Is that the wrong decision to make?
It's not my place to define what's right or wrong. In fact... no one can give you the answer to this question.
Are you beginning to doubt yourself?
Nanami turns to face Ishmael.
No. Nanami is just trying to think things through.
Her thoughts drift to a distant future.
Can the world as it is now truly lead to that "future"?
The mechanoids' path lies in space, sailing toward the endless universe. But humanity's path... is it truly on Earth?
Ah... Are you asking for my opinion?
Sensing Nanami's gaze on her, Ishmael lowers her eyes.
I know you don't talk much, but I really want to hear what you think.
No future can ever stop tomorrow from coming.
No matter how great our fears are, the sun will rise every day.
Two well-worn, smooth dice appear in Ishmael's palm.
My thought exactly.
That's why I am standing right here.
She would leave Earth with the mechanoids...
...If it that means humanity would have a chance at surviving the catastrophe.
If you've already made up your mind, why are you asking me if you've made the wrong decision?
Ishmael suddenly seems curious.
You just seem so wise and all, so I thought maybe I could get some sage advice out of you.
Nanami walks forward as she hums.
...Then what if I were to give you a negative answer?
Nanami will hold off on your answer for now and make a judgment with Commandant when we meet!
But that's just blind faith, no?
How can you call it blind faith? Argh, you're making me angry here!
I am totally capable of making sound judgments.
If Nanami makes a wrong judgment, Commandant will help Nanami! And if Commandant needs help, of course Nanami will help Commandant, too!
<phonetic=Commandant>Nanami</phonetic> and <phonetic=Nanami>Commandant</phonetic> trust each other! I'm sure things are going to be fine if Commandant and I work together!
...Well, you have my apologies.
Ishmael lets out a wry chuckle.
Do you have anything else to say? If not, I'll be on my way, then.
As for parting words...
Let this be my way of making amends for my thoughtless remarks earlier.
A 20-sided die spins among Ishmael's fingers and lands on a different number each time it comes to rest.
Perhaps... this isn't a dead end after all.
"The World" may be in slumber now, but perhaps one day it will awaken.
We can't predict when the singularity will arrive, but I have a feeling they will find a way to change everything.
Yup, my thought exactly!
<phonetic=Nanami>Humans</phonetic> are always creating miracles, and so is Commandant!
Commandant will definitely make it out of the Hetero Tower! But... is what Nanami's doing now going to cause trouble for humans and Commandant?
She is a failed time corrector.
She once naively believed she could escape her predetermined future, but despite traversing countless simulated universes, she could never find the right thread to follow in the vast river of time.
Even if she knew all the possibilities, even if she tried to make the best choices...
She never managed to change how things ended.
How can one be certain... that this is the one and only "correct" universe?
...
To this question, I believe, no one can provide an answer.
Hehe, I knew you'd say that. It's exactly because no one can give an answer that I decided to visit Mecha Babushka again.
But what if Gestalt can't provide an answer, either?
That's not something I need to worry about now. I'll sort that out later somewhere down the road.
Nanami's response leaves Ishmael momentarily at a loss for words. She shakes her head with a smile and turns her gaze toward the ruins in the distance.
I know things are not exactly looking hopeful, but I'll try my best to save humanity however I can—
No matter what the cost, I'll help Commandant put everything back on the right track!
Having seeped through the ruins, the mutated Red Tide creeps up nearby buildings and spreads into every corner within its reach.
We'll get there somehow, right?
You don't need my answer.
Of course, Nanami has already made up her mind.
This mechanoid girl with a soul loves humanity and Earth so deeply.
Nanami was born from humanity's love, and Nanami will give that love back to humanity.
She repeats these words, seemingly trying to solidify her conviction.
No matter what the cost, I'll help Commandant put everything back on the right track!
On the right track... huh?
Perhaps the "variable" you're hoping for is already taking notice of your wish.
<phonetic=Commandant>Right</phonetic>?
...Hm? Who are you talking to?
...Nothing.
Drawing their gaze back from the distance, Ishmael and Nanami walk side by side through streets among the ruins.
So, what's your plan?
Hmm... I'll visit Mecha Babushka first, then take everyone to Aerospace City to figure out how to continue building the starship.
I'll stay on Earth, though, if anything happens.
If Commandant manages to break free, I'm sure we'll find a way to solve everything here!
No one's got anything on Commandant, but Commandant is pushing themselves too hard. Uhm... I'd have rushed into the Hetero Tower to rescue Commandant and Lucia, but...
That's not gonna be easy, though.
Yeah... my frame is falling apart, but I haven't found anything.
I'm sure you've "seen" much more since you can "see" the Gray Raven Commandant as a focal point.
True, I've seen it.
No matter how the river of time shifts, only Commandant stands unwavering within its flow.
Commandant is this world's anchor point—its beginning and its ending.
...So that's what you saw. I suppose you are gifted indeed.
Perhaps this isn't a dead end after all.
The 20-sided die begins to roll once more as Ishmael watches it with intense focus.
But... no one knows where that single thread leading to destiny truly lies.
Is what I'm doing now and what I plan to do... still not enough?
Far from enough.
Everything <phonetic=you>the lot of you</phonetic> are trying to do... is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Does that needle even exist?
Sorry, I cannot say for certain.
Perhaps you'll have become the future version of "yourself" somewhere far down the road...
I'll be there for you should you ever need me again then.
The street comes to an end, and there, on the other side of the ruined city, Nanami finally sees what she has been searching for—
A research facility with massive computing power.
Turning around, she finds that the pink-haired Construct has already vanished.
Alright! We're charging straight ahead! Let's go, Nanami!
