A pair of hands appears, gently cradling both you and it in its palms.
Don't worry... I'll protect you both.
—A girl's gentle voice echoes from somewhere.
It doesn't reach your ears from outside, but resonates from within your heart... a voice filled with both strength and sorrow.
It feels like an eternal embrace, as gentle waves flow over you with their warm touch, enveloping the wounds that mark this body.
And so the terrifying nightmares recede with the tide.
It's alright now... it's alright now.
Her voice fades in and out.
It gently taps out a rhythm, carrying a familiar melody that brings peaceful tranquility.
Is she humming a lullaby?
Immersed in this warm ocean, your consciousness gradually fades away...
You open your eyes.
Harsh, cold light pierces your eyes, sending waves of dizziness through your head.
A figure draws closer to you upon your awakening.
What did you see over there?
It's an unfamiliar girl with long, light-blue hair with an enigmatic smile.
Unfamiliar surroundings, unfamiliar person, hazy memories... Instinctively, you sit up and reach for the sidearm at your waist—but nothing is there.
Your memories are a complete blur, the surroundings utterly unfamiliar... Who exactly is this person before you, and what did you just experience?
What's wrong with you? You look like you don't even remember me.
She examines you with a furrowed brow, confirming that your confused state isn't an act. After checking the data on a terminal beside her, she speaks again.
My name is Lesti. This is the Control Court of Babylonia. No need to be nervous, Gray Raven's Commandant. You're here to carry out a mission.
Though this is already the second time I've introduced myself to you...
She hands you a Control Court ID card. You hesitate for a moment before taking it and examining it. The information on it matches exactly what she told you...
You don't remember anything at all?
After a moment's hesitation, Lesti rechecks the data on her terminal.
To think your memory would be affected to this extent... Though it's certainly within expectations, something still feels off about this...
...Anyway, you're here to execute a mission. I am the guide, and you are the executor.
She begins flipping through the mission briefing beside her. Only then do you notice that she seems to be holding two copies of the document.
Noticing your puzzled gaze, she speaks again with a hint of resignation.
Hah... Originally, Gestalt assigned a senior colleague to guide this mission, but she seems to be busy with other matters lately, so the guidance role fell to me.
Just a troublesome senior colleague, nothing you need to worry about... After all, as your guide, I'm extremely reliable.
Lesti speaks with a sweet smile while handing you the mission briefing, discreetly tucking the other copy behind her back.
Though her explanation seems somewhat suspicious, the mission assignment in the briefing follows standard Babylonia procedures... The only problem is that you have virtually no recollection of anything mentioned in it.
Yes.
Lesti's flippant smile fades away.
...Recently, Gestalt detected signals from a Gestalt sub-terminal on the surface. This sub-terminal is cultivating a "consciousness" internally. If this AI consciousness becomes infected, it could lead to even greater problems.
Gestalt selected you as the Executor, but during the consciousness transfer process, there seems to have been some unexpected deviation...
During this process, you lost some of your memories. It seems now that you've lost not only the memories of executing the mission, but also some from even earlier...
Lesti stares at the data on the monitor and begins to think, as if you're not even there.
Hmm? What do you want to know?
It's a Matrix center built with technology from Gestalt, but its computing power is a tier lower than that of Huaxu and Gestalt itself.
The existence of this sub-terminal was only discovered recently, and we know absolutely nothing about why it exists or which organization it belongs to. That uncertainty is one reason we needed to send someone to investigate.
You're perceptive. The main reason is that it has the potential to become a massive threat.
Let me give you a simple example. Suppose an entity like Gestalt were to stand against humanity, either by being exploited or infected by the Punishing Virus...
The same principle applies here. Although I mentioned earlier that the sub-terminal's computing power is lower than the main system, it's still not something to be underestimated.
That's right.
That sub-terminal has cultivated a nascent AI consciousness, which is the primary subject we need to observe.
As a Matrix center derived from the same source as Gestalt, it's highly likely to have a similar internal environment.
And you have experience immersing Gestalt to execute combat operations.
—That happened recently.
To overcome Gestalt's blockade of the engine ignition signals and save Babylonia from crashing into Earth, Gray Raven infiltrated Gestalt using the Spear of F.O.S.
But... something feels off about this.
Actually, before bringing you in for this immersion, we had already failed numerous times.
Its intrusion detection and defense systems are extremely sensitive, which is to be expected. After all, Gestalt itself, as the original entity, has multi-layered defense mechanisms against external threats. Anyone with access to such computational resources wouldn't leave it a sitting duck.
But if we can make it recognize us as an "internal entity," everything changes. No system actively counters what it perceives as part of itself.
To put it simply, with the Science Council's assistance, we discovered a consciousness "shell" inside the sub-terminal.
Lesti furrows her brow, considering how to organize her thoughts for the explanation ahead.
Most AI consciousnesses are merely created by humans to solve problems in specific domains. While they possess problem-solving capabilities, they're ultimately just machines executing instructions.
They have no personality of their own, no desires, and are incapable of taking any initiative.
Up to this point, they can only be classified as machines—tools that follow orders and serve humans, without the ability to host human consciousness.
But this entity is different. It's a model generated from human consciousness samples, with high compatibility with humans.
Coincidentally, although it was created from humans, it lost all personality due to "overfitting."
To put it simply, it's an empty shell missing a soul.
Using the Spear of F.O.S., you connected to that entity and became the soul filling that empty shell. This way, your immersion wouldn't be interrupted.
Yeah...
Lesti shakes her head dejectedly.
Because even though we entrusted you with the immersion mission and you successfully entered the system, you ended up with virtually no memory of what happened there.
You even lost the memory of my mission briefing from before the immersion.
It's still unclear, but not unexpected. After all, a Matrix facility wouldn't easily accept an external signal—there must be invisible barriers we couldn't detect.
That's definitely puzzling, but... actually, it's not just that...
The request to detect the sub-terminal also came from Gestalt. As for why it suddenly captured the sub-terminal's signal... Gestalt's explanation was that it tracked technology from the same source.
I have to admit, this explanation is reasonable enough. It could even explain why Gestalt understands that empty shell so well, but...
I can't shake the feeling that there are other factors at play...
She ponders for a moment before dejectedly giving up on the thought.
Since this involves secret infiltration of an unknown force, and the existence of the Gestalt sub-terminal would likely cause panic among many people in Babylonia, this mission has an extremely high level of confidentiality.
Commandant of Gray Raven, the fewer people who know about this, the better... With your recent memory loss, I would've been within my rights to withhold the details of this mission from you entirely.
Because I'll need you to continue the immersion process later. If you knew nothing, I'd have to explain everything again next time, and that would be too much trouble.
Lesti stretches, letting out a long, exaggerated yawn.
Anyway, the situation with that sub-terminal still needs further observation.
I hope this memory loss is just a one-time occurrence... Next time you immerse, hopefully you'll bring back some substantial results.
As Babylonia's supreme governing AI, Gestalt has implemented a blockade to its core that can only be described as draconian.
A pink-haired woman stands impassively before the massive mechanical behemoth.
All information regarding the Matrix has been fully transmitted.
But since you have access to it, why not continue observing?
Because I don't want to interfere with their development.
I'm also surprised... that you approved the request to let the Gray Raven Commandant take over observation duties.
After analysis, this decision does not violate Gestalt's primary directive.
Furthermore, this unit requires more data to enhance its understanding of different technologies, and currently, there is no surplus computing power available to aid in infiltrating this sub-terminal.
Relying on humans conserves computing power while still allowing us to gather technical intelligence from the sub-terminal.
Ohh...
Then, as payment for providing this intelligence... please allow me to also await news of that child's development.
As silently as she appeared, the pink-haired woman once again vanishes from the heavily fortified chamber.
Teacher.
In the fluorescent chrysanthemum garden of Gestrig, Martha once again encounters the girl in a lab coat.
As always, she keeps her gaze lowered, her eyes in the twilight revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Whether it is her imagination or not, that once-fragile, pallid face seems to have gained a hint of color today.
Hearing that respectful form of address, Martha waves her hand dismissively, signaling that the formal greeting isn't necessary.
I haven't been a teacher since Herta's class graduated. Gestrig won't be taking any new students.
She's grown weary of it all.
Weary of the endless cycle—taking in homeless orphans under the guise of education, molding their minds, only to ultimately feed them into the corporate furnace as kindling.
After her last encounter with Yui, she applied for retirement with the company.
But your teachings remain forever engraved in my heart.
Something seems to be troubling her.
Martha immediately notices this but doesn't respond, instead waiting in silence for Yui to continue.
Knowledge and reason are powerful forces that help us conquer fear, dispel ignorance, and guide us forward.
I was merely quoting famous sayings from Golden Age scholars. All I did was bring you a few books back then.
They proved true—those teachings helped a frightened girl like me grow into who I am today.
Haven't you always done well for yourself?
I'm not sure. I think I might have done something foolish.
A look of bewilderment flashes through her typically emotionless eyes.
I gave up my chance to go to headquarters, all to salvage a so-called "experimental result."
Her eyebrows furrow almost imperceptibly as her face takes on a troubled expression.
It sounds like there's more to this story than just some experiment.
Martha studies her with keen interest.
It is special, but the company executive happened to be present that day, which was crucial for Matrix 141—it would determine whether we could share computing power with another Matrix.
Furthermore, there was no evidence suggesting I had more than a 50% chance of persuading the executive. In reality, it was probably less than 10%.
To sacrifice potentially enormous benefits for something almost impossible... Taking all factors into account, I was wrong.
Do you think you shouldn't have saved it?
No, I absolutely had to save it.
Seeing Yui's determined expression, Martha can't help but smile.
Then what's troubling you so much?
Yui sighs softly.
Because it was an action driven by emotion... That frightens me, just like when I was a child.
I'm afraid that if I continue like this, I'll repeat the same mistakes.
Martha waves her hand dismissively.
Always judging yourself by rational principles will only make you suffer.
From my perspective, your willingness to step out of that prison of equations and programs isn't a bad thing at all.
Yui tilts her head slightly, her expression still filled with confusion.
Instead of answering immediately, Martha crouches down to examine the pyrethrum flowers, gently pinching the petals between her fingers as she studies their growth.
I've heard that in your birthplace, there was a phrase called "Je t'aime."
She speaks softly while continuing to examine the flower petals.
Yui's brow furrows, as if the words have touched upon some painful memory.
Why bring that up so suddenly? I haven't used that language since coming to Leibowitz.
You should understand it—it means "I love you."
Of course, but love makes people vulnerable.
They say it's a "spell"?
That's true, but I don't believe in such magic.
It has nothing to do with faith. It's simply meant to bring people happiness.
Hah... I see. That's probably why my childhood wasn't particularly happy.
She offers a self-deprecating smile.
The people who brought me into this world and raised me never once said such an absurd "spell" to me.
Yui lets out an almost imperceptible sigh and continues in a hushed voice.
Martha gives no answer.
For many people, their mother tongue is often the best language for expressing emotions.
Humans are both cursed and blessed by love... We're creatures who simply cannot survive without such spells.
Yui's expression remains full of confusion.
...Look at me, even in retirement I can't break this bad habit of lecturing people.
Martha takes out several foil packages and hands them to Yui.
There were some bags of coffee beans in the supplies the company sent recently. Take them back to the laboratory for me. They're too bitter, and I'm not used to the taste.
Hmm... If even you find it unbearable, it must be quite the rare delicacy.
I'll consider it a diversion for the days ahead, Teacher.
Any update?
The researchers in front of him exchange glances, all somewhat hesitant to answer.
I asked how things are going.
Many of them have become mentally unstable... We have fewer and fewer usable test subjects now.
What about the model sampling results?
Most are not promising...
We'll only know for sure once we run them inside mechanoids.
But I recall Miss de Lévis mentioned that introducing consciousness into shells before they reach the awakening stage poses a high risk of them going haywire...
De Lévis, de Lévis, it's always de Lévis. Can't our research move forward without her?
The Matrix safety system isn't something to be taken lightly. Stop dawdling and let's select some samples to test.
