The 76th time rewind, and the 3rd entry into Constellia.
D7 Twin Observation Building Infirmary
January 1, 2161, 12 days after the Punishing outbreak
The soft light of dawn gently sweeps aside the veil of night at the city's periphery, casting its gentle glow across the heavens. In silence, Constellia ushers in the new year.
You have been sleeping for twelve hours and still shows no signs of waking.
...Could this be the effect of the damaged "Key"?
Lucia's brow furrows as she fights to contain her growing anxiety.
Once again, she reaches out to check your breathing, then takes the wrist to feel for a pulse.
The normal vital signs ease her anxiety for a brief moment, but soon enough, her worry drives her to check them all over again.
Something seems to have snapped within her M.I.N.D., like a broken string.
As the "Key" depletes, that broken string tightens around her neck like a noose, threatening to snap her seemingly calm composure.
...If you as her commandant never wake up, what purpose does anything serve?
...
This solitary, helpless exploration has gone on for far too long, with the two of them constantly entangled in endless obstacles.
Every time she closes her eyes, she sees those blood-stained paths as clear as day—she might be losing her grip on rationality, but she has to stay composed.
...
Taking a deep breath through her simulated respiratory system, Lucia's mind drifts to the memory of standing in Gray Raven's lounge before their departure.
...
Back then, Lee would always stand silently by the window.
Anything troubling you, Lee?
...
It's nothing, just... a feeling I can't quite explain.
About the Inver-Hetero Tower?
Mm.
It feels like... I forgot everything that happened in the tower because of a certain choice I made.
If this is the decision that brings you back safely, then it isn't wrong.
Brought me back safely...
In this tower that has long since become the enemy's trap, every step forward is paved with death and blood.
...
Feeling the coldness in those human fingertips, Lucia takes the hands into hers, hoping the warmth from her Pyroath frame would seep into human skin and chase away the chill of that long, cold nightmare.
Such a small gesture is all she can do right now.
And for that very reason, her heart grows heavier still.
The strain from operating her frame weighs heavily upon her—employing Vonnegut's terminal for time rewind has undeniably added to her load.
There is only one shot...
If she fails this time, the mounting strain will only further restrict her movements in future operations, limiting her ability to act freely.
...Commandant...
...Is this... all that's left for us?
She absolutely cannot let the same mistake repeat itself.
She can't bear to suffer such partings again, nor can she let you go through that pain once more.
Her heart has long been riddled with scars, a patchwork of countless pieces torn apart and stitched back together.
Yet when it comes to you and your shared dreams, she refuses to grow numb, to turn cold, to accept things as they are.
Commandant...
Her whispers drift through the air, echoing in the silence.
The half-closed door creaks as a girl carefully knocks on it.
Lucia?
Lucia looks up to see Rose standing there.
Come on in.
Mm.
The girl tiptoes into the room and sits in the chair Lucia has pulled out for her.
She steals a glance at the sleeping commandant, worry spreading across her face.
Don't worry. The commandant is fine, just getting some rest.
Lucia hears her own voice speak these words, both intended for others and a self-assurance whispered to herself.
What's wrong?
Yuko and her sister have gathered everyone here as you asked. Some didn't want to climb the stairs and stayed downstairs; the rest are waiting outside the infirmary.
Alright, let's wait until the afternoon... We'll head out then, whether Commandant is awake or not.
Well...
Rose tilts her head up to look at Lucia, lost in thought for a moment.
What's wrong?
Yuko is outside the infirmary too, but she keeps her head down and won't talk to her sister. Why is that?
Didn't she miss her sister a lot? Then why won't she speak now that they're together?
...
Sometimes, when you have a lot on your mind, you also have many concerns. It can be hard to figure out where to start.
Does that happen to you too, Lucia?
Lucia...
Yes, I feel like that sometimes too.
She nods firmly.
Oh, right! I met Chaos in the garden downstairs. She gave me a force field device to set up below, to protect those who didn't want to come up.
But she said if the device gets damaged, the force field will fail immediately. It won't last very long.
You set it up yourself?
Yeah, Chaos taught me how to do it. She said people would be scared if they saw her.
You really do have a talent for this... Rose.
As expected of a future Science Council member.
Lucia keeps those last words to herself as the faces of Project Winter's victims stare back at her from her memories.
In the future, Rose is destined to give her life to Project Winter, leaving behind only her daughter Rosa.
And this bright, gentle child before her is fated to grow up and walk a path that only seems unknown yet has already been charted for her.
Words of guidance and advice catch in Lucia's throat. Before the unstoppable wheel of fate, all struggles seem so futile.
After countless attempts to change the past, after enduring countless fruitless cycles, Lucia raises her increasingly heavier hand to tenderly pat Rose's head.
After you leave Constellia, be careful of those robots. They're dangerous.
Have other places gone through similar things to Constellia?
Yes, that's why you have to keep yourself safe.
I will.
The girl nods, a smile showing up on her face.
I hope I can find Lithos.
...
Lucia wants to say something—to tell her certain truths, to offer warnings—but the price of changing the past looms too ambiguous and burdensome for her to take such a gamble.
Commandant!
She suddenly tightens her grip on the hand in her palm.
Sorry, Commandant...! Are you alright?
Lucia immediately releases her grip, but unsure what to do with her hands now, she leaves them suspended awkwardly in the air.
As consciousness slowly returns, you find your throat too hoarse to speak.
The searing agony in your temples seems on the verge of cleaving your skull apart.
Lucia gently takes your cold hands in hers once more, her warmth chasing away the lingering chill of nightmares.
8:00 AM on January 1, 2161. The sun's already out.
Your brain slowly processes the signals from your body, every sensation so dulled that time itself seems to stretch.
You struggle to form words as something viscous trickles from your nose, oozing over your cracked lips. The metallic taste of blood spreads through your mouth.
...!
Lucia supports your chin with one hand while using the other to roll up a sterilized cotton ball and carefully insert it into your nostril to stop the bleeding.
Alright, now tilt your head down... um... Liv... Liv said...
As if suddenly remembering something, she immediately reaches out to pinch your nose.
She said to hold it like this for a few minutes... Now, lean back against the bed and rest for a little while longer.
Take it easy. I've already taken care of most things. We still have time.
Another wave of headache strikes as those lingering nightmares creep in, flooding your vision with countless twisted, chaotic hallucinations.
Here.
Yes, I found some.
Watching Lucia methodically administer first aid to the commandant, Rose steps back to give them space.
Her eyes dart between the Construct and the commandant before she quietly retreats behind the door. With a gentle smile and wave to Lucia, she closes the infirmary door, leaving the two of them alone.
Here you go.
You swallow the painkiller she brought with water, the metallic taste of blood still lingering in your throat. After resting on the infirmary bed for a moment, the pain slowly begins to subside.
Better now?
Turning your head, you finally notice that Lucia has been holding your hand this entire time.
...Is she worried about something?
You gently brush your thumb over her hand that's holding yours, and Lucia's expression finally softens a little.
Don't worry. You went through a time rewind after leaving the Inver-Hetero Tower. Lee and Liv should still be fine.
Mm.
Yeah, then... let's go back soon.
No one mentions the price of return, nor speaks of their silently chosen death.
This is our last chance.
...A final chance that requires sacrificing her, and just her alone.
She keeps the truth to herself, while you, stirred by a faint premonition from your dreams, choose not to delve further with questions.
Mm.
And so, she begins her report amid this facade of peace.
This time, there's no trace of the Red Tide at all. The streets are clean. I suspect Agent Zero...
Alright. I suspect that Cradle is under stronger suppression <color=#ff4e4eff>this time</color> than before. She no longer has the power to corrupt the streets—this is our chance.
I want to rescue the people trapped here first.
Especially since there are people we know here, like Chiko and Rose. If we don't get them back to their own time, it could severely impact the future.
...Both the Purifying Force and the Hetero Tower?
Many of your dreams have already aligned with reality. Instead of brushing them off as just dreams, I think they're more like the influence of the Inver-Hetero Tower.
Just as I once transmitted messages to my other self through the Inver-Hetero Tower, Lee had similar experiences—though back then, none of us understood what he was going through.
Is she worried about how this might affect the future?
I found Chaos—she agreed to help temporarily disable the force field.
Commandant...
Hearing this, Lucia's expression grows more solemn.
...Why do you trust a Hetero-Creature so much?
Disregarding that lengthy, torturous underwater nightmare, you chose to work with Chaos because this might be the path of least sacrifice.
What would Lucia think if she knew you were prepared for your own sacrifice?
...
Is it because... you think this will cost the least sacrifice?
Even unspoken, she has still noticed your intention.
...Let's go back together, okay?
This is her first time telling a lie—a promise she knows she cannot keep.
The very last moment...
Grasping the implications hidden in those words, Lucia falls silent.
Me? Of course I'm fine.
Her weariness and unease subtly seep through her facade, betraying her efforts to hide them. Pose the question once more, "Are you really alright?" and she would merely force a smile, insisting that everything is indeed fine.
Oh, by the way, after coming here yesterday afternoon, I've addressed each of the issues you pointed out. Let's go over where we stand now.
She always maintains this composed facade until problems are resolved—using her methodical nature to mask the wounds that lie beneath.
Rose, the mercenaries, and the staff are all fine. I've mediated their conflicts for now and had them call back the people exploring the underground parking lot ahead of time.
Just like when you convinced Mona, the staff supervisor, last time, I've managed to persuade her to give me the elevator access card.
She takes out the access card and shows it to you.
After that, I reached out to Chiko, and together we convinced Yuko as well as Darcie and Barley who were with her...
They've gone to gather the employees hiding in other areas—they should be back by now.
However... their conflicts weren't built in a day, and my words alone won't resolve them. For now, we're just working together towards a common goal.
As she speaks, Lucia's hand remains firmly clasped to yours.
Is there anything else troubling you, Commandant? I'll get right on it.
...Yes... I was worried Cradle might appear suddenly, so I kept holding you in the same position we used during flight tests...
...I'm sorry, that must have made you uncomfortable... But after confirming Cradle's current capabilities, I've mostly been in the infirmary since late at night. It didn't last too—
Lucia is caught off guard when her words are interrupted by your sudden embrace, but she quickly understands the message you're conveying with this warm gesture.
After experiencing 76 time rewinds in such helpless isolation, any comfort that words could offer has become hollow.
In her overwhelming anxiety, she has grown accustomed to confirming your safety through physical touch, and in turn, you have learned to mend her scarred heart the same way.
...Commandant, I'm fine.
She stands up, attempting to show she's unharmed, yet beneath your worried gaze, she lowers herself, enveloping you back in her embrace.
She responds with a soft murmur and a bitter smile, drawing her face closer until you can feel your own breath reflecting back.
You look into her eyes—those eyes usually full of tenderness and resilience, now shadowed by the sorrow of a setting sun and the defiant rage against the approaching endless night.
Yet her heart—her consciousness and her resolve—remains unbroken by this endless torment and adversity. She is still here.
Burning everything she has to exist here.
Lucia is caught off guard when her words are interrupted by your sudden gesture, but she quickly understands both the warmth you're conveying and the sorrow hidden within.
After experiencing 76 time rewinds in such helpless isolation, any comfort that words could offer has become hollow.
In her overwhelming anxiety, she has grown accustomed to confirming your safety through physical touch, and in turn, you have learned to mend her scarred heart the same way.
...If you really want to apologize, then come back with me. Otherwise, I'll never forgive you.
That's what I wanted to say. Thank you, Commandant... for always being there for me, and always letting me stay by your side.
The winter wind seeps through the half-open window of the infirmary, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold.
She pulls the blanket over, inching nearer.
In the distance, the clamor of crowds echoes in your ears—people arguing about recent conflicts and plans after departure, their voices tinged with joy or sorrow.
In this firm embrace, the two of you share the silence here—one prepared for sacrifice, the other knowing death was certain from the very beginning.
Yet neither speaks of it. You exchange silent glances, offering solace through the shared embrace, as though striving to etch every word unspoken onto each other's souls.
Her silent chest yearns for the beating of the human heart, while all the reluctance to part and desperate longing are swallowed down.
...Sure.
...Sure.
Let's begin. My frame replacement was completed on March 30th, and we entered the Inver-Hetero Tower on October 3rd.
During this period, aside from regular test missions, we noticed that both the Red Tide and Hetero Zone were spreading much faster than before, and their patterns of expansion had become unpredictable.
Correct. On October 3rd, we entered the Inver-Hetero Tower to investigate.
Our path was constantly hindered by Hetero-Creatures, making both our investigation and attempts to alter the past rather difficult.
Vonnegut acted multiple times, attempting to merge you with Chaos, and for that purpose... he made you die... many times.
At the mention of these still-fresh wounds, Lucia's voice begins to tremble.
...All of it was to ensure Chaos had sufficient consciousness stability to take over Agent Zero's authority, and to suppress Agent Zero's original will.
Lucia nods.
After returning, you seemed convinced that merging with Chaos was the only solution. You stopped me from fighting both Vonnegut and Cradle in the Inver-Hetero Tower, and instead had me assist Vonnegut in dealing with Cradle.
Yes, because Chaos wasn't ready yet to take over Agent Zero's authority.
To buy time and extract himself from this three-way conflict, Vonnegut used the Inver-Hetero Tower's core and his "Key" to expel us from the tower and cast us into this era.
The collapse of the Inver-Hetero Tower delayed us by ten days. Cradle arrived earlier and had already made preparations in this city, inciting some civilians to obstruct our way.
Lucia lowers her gaze and slowly nods.
After your death, Cradle hastily disengaged from our battle, as if she couldn't wait to get away.
After that... the Red Tide began to recede, no longer flooding the entire city. Then, I found out the existence of the "fruit"—what exactly is it?
...So you ate the "fruit" and used yourself as the bait to lure Cradle, essentially "poisoning" her?
...
The second time, we convinced the people here... and obtained the elevator access card...
Her voice is now barely a whisper, as if drained of all strength.
Bearing your weight on the bed's edge, you hoist yourself up into a sitting position, taking a deep breath to brace yourself for what lies ahead.
Commandant...?
Despite her usual reluctance to yield—or perhaps stubborn pride—about her cooking skills, these words catch her off guard. She cups your face in astonishment, carefully verifying your well-being.
...We only have half a bottle of nutrient solution left in our supplies. Should I bring it to you?
...It's been far too long.
If you were to add up all the time spent in these rewinds, it could amount to five or six years... No, perhaps even more. Time has elongated to such an extent that you no longer can—and no longer wish to—keep track.
During these grueling explorations, your thoughts sometimes drift to Lee... Did he face the same obstacles when he entered the Inver-Hetero Tower?
Did Vonnegut and Agent Zero put up the same kind of resistance? Or perhaps... he faced entirely different challenges?
Looking at Lucia again, you notice how her expression has grown more somber—the worries of your journey etched deep between her brows.
When you first entered the Inver-Hetero Tower, Lucia still smiled often, but now...
...
Why?
...The same goes for you, Commandant.
She reaches up to touch the space between your brows.
I suppose we can call it growth.
You once mentioned that growth is always painful.
Your fingertips graze her heated skin, warmth seeping into your chilled palm.
She tilts her head, gently nuzzling against your hand in response. Then, with a smile, she extends an invitation.
Shall we go check on the others? We still have some time before heading out.
