Story Reader / Floating Record / ER09: Crescent Sun / Story
She attempts to calibrate the audio-visual module but still has a hard time sensing her surroundings.
Shiva, Shiva.
Vale... ria...
The sounds reach her ears as if filtered through layers of ocean water, while her vision remains a blur of light...
Where... am I?
The ruins next to the school building. The Punishing is in low concentration here.
Just as Shiva begins to relax, a shadow flashes across her rippling, distorted vision.
Valeria, look out!
The moment she speaks, the world before her begins to spin violently.
Following that is the distinctive bang of a pulse gun.
As her mind fully clears, she realizes Valeria is supporting her through a series of rapid advances and dodges.
Mmph!
Such remarkable reflexes and physical prowess...
Sharp applause rings out from nearby as a woman of elegant bearing emerges from the shadows.
Reika Saotome...
They say the average reaction time for a normal adult is around 300 milliseconds.
Trained professionals can cut that time in half.
In track and field events, reaction times under 100 milliseconds are considered a false start.
Despite the dark gun barrel trained on her, Reika speaks casually as she strolls.
Va... leria. Based on what your team members have said, you must be human, correct?
Such extraordinary reflexes and physical capabilities are quite rare for a human.
According to records, you're now a Construct, though you look exactly the same as when you were human.
I've already removed all those unnecessary encapsulation lines and unsightly modification traces...
Though I've had to sacrifice my frame's combat capabilities in the process.
I have OCD. I can't think like a human unless every detail of my body perfectly replicates human form.
Through modular customization, I've made both my face and figure as human-like as possible.
You're smart enough to understand what I mean. I don't care what you look like, I want to know why you came back.
Then you should also know that you're in no position to threaten me right now.
Reika casts a meaningful glance toward Valeria's side, where Discord clutches her head in pain.
If you don't retreat now, Yuka's interference will only grow stronger.
And yet here you are, completely unscathed.
Just a small privilege, hardly worth mentioning.
A gentle yet distant smile remains fixed on Reika's face, causing Valeria to unconsciously tighten her grip on her gun.
Of course, I can answer your earlier question about why I've come back.
The reason is simple—Yuka has awakened.
The initial Construct surgery on her was unsuccessful and she required an external power supply system. Even after she was turned into a Construct, her body structure remained exceptionally fragile.
After the Punishing outbreak, my assistant took it upon himself to sever most of her power conduits, forcing her into a low-power hibernation state.
Many modules in her body were damaged as a result... Even with today's technology, her condition remains virtually indistinguishable from death.
Fundamentally, the damage wasn't limited to just the regular modules, but also her... M.I.N.D.
For decades, I've tried everything to wake Yuka up. Orthodox methods, unconventional approaches—nothing I tried ever worked.
As if sharing its rage at this cruel reality, the ground begins to violently shake once more.
The school building is starting to tremble as well. It seems... the Red Tide isn't far from here!
And yet, she fixed something that I couldn't fix for decades, using the power of the Punishing, and even the Red Tide...
As she speaks, she backs away, her figure melding with the darkness in the corner.
What price... has that child taken upon herself this time?
Her expression is hidden in the shadows, but Valeria can hear the sorrow in her voice.
Where... are you going?
I'm going to see my daughter... one last time.
Reika's voice grows fainter until it fades away, and that's when Valeria knows she's gone.
Why... didn't you shoot? Wasn't she... the mission target?
Silence.
We can talk about "mission targets" after your and Discord's M.I.N.D. stabilizes.
Discord turns to look and notices beads of sweat continuously forming on Valeria's face...
To stabilize both of their M.I.N.D.s, she is overloading her Mind Beacon output.
Well then, Yata.
You must have heard our conversation.
After a burst of static, a soft sigh comes through from the other end of the terminal.
Valeria closes her eyes wearily.
It seems that while the exact reason for Yuka's awakening remains unclear, we can largely credit it to Cradle and the Red Tide.
If you have time for small talk, shouldn't you be more concerned about your squad members?
Hmph, the rescue transport drones were already en route the moment we lost contact with the Scarabs.
Sending more people would have only led to pointless casualties because of that bizarre "consciousness projection." We can only place our hopes in the Scarabs now.
Nikola narrows his eyes, irritably scanning through the real-time mission briefings.
More than that, what intrigues me is how this consciousness projection can control everyone like puppets on strings.
It's simple. What we call consciousness projection isn't real "projection" at all.
What do you mean?
As you should know, consciousness connection is essentially achieved when a commandant's beacon connects to a Construct's M.I.N.D., which helps to stabilize the Construct's consciousness.
Consciousness projection, being a derivative technology, operates on the same principle.
Without pausing his typing on the virtual keyboard, Asimov lets out a barely audible sigh.
You should elaborate on that.
In other words, while it still involves connecting someone else's beacon to one's M.I.N.D., consciousness projection allows multiple Mind Beacons to connect simultaneously.
This so-called "projection" is nothing more than creating illusions within one's own M.I.N.D. to simulate the effect of controlling others.
If it could actually manipulate people, people would have talked about it more, wouldn't they?
Nikola tosses the mission brief aside and massages his temples.
Sharp observation. Having multiple beacons connect to a M.I.N.D. simultaneously is already an enormous burden. Attempting to transmit information on top of that, let alone creating illusions to control others, is an extremely dangerous operation.
Connection was never meant to trap people in illusions... Consciousness projection, as its derivative, causes severe destabilization of the M.I.N.D. model even when creating an illusion for just one person.
Which means the Yuka we know...
Has transcended human limitations, both physically and mentally. Maintaining such a state constantly inflicts tremendous pain on her M.I.N.D.
The extreme demands on test subjects and the ease of inflicting fatal M.I.N.D. trauma... This is why consciousness projection deserves nothing more than to be lost to history.
Yet as a derivative of consciousness connection, its targets aren't limited to humans—it even affects Constructs and mechanoids.
This must be the Red Tide's influence. The Punishing has never been picky about what it corrupts.
Of course... Rather than the Red Tide granting Yuka power, it's more accurate to say...
Asimov takes a deep breath, then slowly delivers his conclusion.
...Yuka has become a signal amplifier for the Red Tide.
...Dr. Saotome.
A well-mannered child you are.
I shouldn't have stopped, and you shouldn't be here.
All six hands unconsciously clench into fists as Yata's expression grows increasingly fierce.
After everything that's happened, what right do you have to see Yuka?
Because I am her mother.
Her face maintains a polite smile, but her voice is utterly devoid of emotion.
Mother... Mother.
Yata turns these horrifying words over in her mind twice, and then...
THUD—!
A deafening crash echoes through the dilapidated school building as dust clouds fill Reika's vision.
As the dust settles, Reika sees that Yata has punched a hole in the wall behind her, and is now glaring at her with undisguised fury.
Yes, some mother you are.
Reika remains unmoved by Yata's threat and responds with the same steady smile.
Cut the act! When have you ever seen her as your daughter?
...
Have you ever, for even a moment, felt her pain—all of it—both from her past and now as she's being corrupted by the Red Tide?
Sacrificing your own daughter for scientific research. Is this what you call being a "mother"?
Though she tries to contain her anger, her voice grows louder and louder until it becomes a frenzied roar.
...
Reika closes her eyes briefly before opening them again with a resigned look.
Indeed, she's not my daughter. She's nothing but a test subject.
Isn't it natural for any researcher to be eager to know the current state of their test subject?
Then get the hell out of here! You have no right to—ugh!
After her ears start ringing, needle-like pain surges through Yata's M.I.N.D., nearly knocking her out cold again.
Damn it, Yuka!
As Yata struggles against the hallucinations, she feels something cool touch her wrist.
The pain in her M.I.N.D. ebbs away like a receding tide. Looking down, she finds a black metal band around her wrist.
What's that?
This jamming device is from our old experiments. It can't completely block interference now that the Red Tide is more powerful, but it helps reduce the intensity nonetheless.
What about you?
Yata glances at Reika's wrist, but finds nothing there.
I don't need that anymore.
Without a jamming device or a Mind Beacon to stabilize your M.I.N.D., you'll be infected in no time.
Yata tries to push the jamming device back into Reika's hand, but Reika calmly refuses it.
It's not like this is the only one of its kind. I still have one on me.
I just don't need to wear it anymore.
Yata takes a step back, yet keeps her vigilant glare fixed on Reika.
Pardon my frankness, but I still can't trust you.
This thing can't make up for even a fraction of what Yuka had to endure...
...I never expected it to do anything for Yuka.
Reika briefly turns her face away as her distant smile gradually fades.
Let me make one thing clear—if you insist on calling me a researcher, then know that no one understands my subject better than I do.
Let me see her, whether as a researcher or, even if you won't acknowledge it, as a mother.
This won't do you any harm.
...Don't you dare use that word "mother" in front of me again.
Yata enunciates each word with cold deliberation.
You schemed to transform yourself into a Construct and waited all this time for Yuka to wake up... just to see her once more?
Of course.
The brevity of the response leaves Yata stunned.
Listen to me, Yata.
That child's M.I.N.D. is flooded with countless memories of others, threatening to drown out her own consciousness.
Drowning out... herself?
Ironic, isn't it? This was the inevitable outcome of the consciousness projection experiment, even if it wasn't what we had hoped for.
The so-called consciousness projection isn't about projecting one's consciousness onto others, but rather having others "project" into oneself, ultimately exerting influence within one's own M.I.N.D...
You knew this would happen all along, yet you still made her go through with it!
...
A barely perceptible flash of pain crosses Reika's eyes.
Let's just leave it at that.
Yuka is now wielding the power of the Red Tide... I'm not afraid to tell you this, Yata.
I couldn't care less whether people live or die. That's just who I am.
If Yuka could truly find happiness within the Red Tide, I wouldn't stand in her way. I'd even feel at peace with that.
But in reality, that's absolutely impossible.
She tilts her head back slightly, letting the cold moonlight caress her face.
The Red Tide has dissolved countless victims, and the number of memories Yuka now bears isn't even on the same scale.
Whether it's the Punishing infection or the pressure of people's memories, either will eventually lead to the annihilation of Yuka's consciousness.
Even now, she's being twisted by the Red Tide's will, enduring tremendous pain with each projection.
Yata closes her eyes as scenes of her encounters with Yuka flash through her mind...
Fragile, obsessive, and mad—they're all undeniably Yuka. And yet...
She once desperately pushed me away from danger, but now... she's trying to lure me into death.
Just as Reika said, Yuka's will has been twisted by the Red Tide.
She knew these all along, but just couldn't bring herself to face them...
...Why are you telling me all this?
To free you... from your hesitation.
Stop her. Free her from this endless suffering.
Stop her... but if we sever her connection to the Red Tide, will she even survive?
They both fall silent, and in this moment frozen in time, only the shadows of trees sway silently.
The Lady of the Red Tide did grant her the ability to live again, but was she truly being benevolent?
Yuka possesses the power of projection. I fear that's the real reason she was chosen.
Her consciousness is gradually fading away, until she becomes nothing but a mere tool... a will-less amplifier...
By then, she will have truly died.
A tinge of melancholy seeps into Reika's smile.
Go on, Yata.
If we hurry...
We can still see her one last time.
Yata's fists clench involuntarily once more, then slowly unfurl, the gesture holding no meaning.
...All right.
She straps the jamming device to her wrist and rushes to where Yuka is.
As Yata's figure disappears from view, Reika slumps wearily against the wall.
So this... is the pain you've been feeling...
Keeping you alive like this... it was nothing but selfishness.
A wry, self-deprecating smile plays across her lips as she slowly follows the path Yata took.
