>>4015352

>Updates: https://twitter.com/MolochQM
>Previous threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=NERV%20Second%20Daughter

“I don't like it here,” Johanna admits quietly, pushing her hands deeper into her pockets and shuffling her feet, “It's cold here. And people are always so angry. Like, um, in the gym. Blue.”

Claudia, of course. Even without any details, you could have guessed. Johanna frowns faintly at something only she can see, her eyes growing hazy with thought. Without her needing to say a thing, you realise that she's thinking about home – a home she never really knew. Despite this, the memories seem to flow freely, as if those fjords and forests were still hidden away deep down inside of her.

Very cool, very sophisticated. Now you just need to say something to match.

“I thought you'd be used to the cold,” you blurt out, “You know, being from up north and all.”

Nailed it.

“It's different. It's cold in here,” the young girl explains, pressing a hand to her chest, her heart, “But M-Mama says I should get used to it. We cannot go home, she says. Because of what the witch did. I don't remember it very well. She said... she said the witch made our home vanish with a spell, and that's why I don't remember. I asked her about it, but she got angry again. Like Blue.”

All of a sudden, something – perhaps the mention of some bipolar maternal figure – becomes too much to bear. You need to get OUT, and fast. “Speaking of,” you hastily announce, “I'd better check on her. You know, make sure she's not... you know.”

She doesn't, Johanna, but she doesn't point that out.

-

When you arrive at the gym, Claudia is in the middle of a gruelling set of stretches that seems less like physical therapy and more like an exercise in masochism. With her face set in a ruthless snarl, she pushes her body as far as it can go. Probably not such a good idea, you muse, to go so hard so soon after her injury. You'd tell her that but, of course, she wouldn't listen. That's just not her style.

“Well?” Claudia snaps, sparing you the briefest glance around, “Are you just going to stand there and watch me suffer?”

“Yup,” you reply with a grin, “Most fun I've had in a long time.”

“Oh, that's so cute,” she sneers, snatching up a towel and wiping sweat from her face. Just for a second, a wince of pain. Then it's gone, the sneer returning. “Just count yourself lucky,” she adds, “If I wasn't so tired, I'd march over there and kick your arse.”

Raising a mocking eyebrow, you march over and sit down opposite her. “Well, just look at that” you remark, giving her a daring look, “I saved you the walk.”

Claudia considers her next move with immaculate care. Then, uncoiling her body like a spring, she leans sharply forwards until her face nearly touches yours. The motion, the sudden intimacy of it, causes you to flinch back.

Okay. So she wins this round.

[2/3]

>>4015353

“It's awful,” Claudia remarks eventually, leaning back to a more comfortable distance, “Isn't it?”

“What is?” you ask, shifting around on the worn, scarred gym mat. The air here feels stale, somehow more underground than anything you've felt back in the Avalon office. Ava and her team must have spent countless hours here, hammering away at endless exercises. All that effort has left a kind of psychic stain on the place, a contagious fatigue. All that training, and it didn't mean a damn thing in the end.

“I don't know, actually,” the heiress admits with a casual shrug, “All of it, I suppose.”

Can't argue with that.

“But really, I suppose I'm thinking about the girls here. The pilots. Here one minute and gone the next. Now, everyone is just moving on,” she muses, idly twisting a strand of her hair around her finger as she thinks aloud, “It all seems rather... unfair, don't you think?”

>Don't give up on them. There's still a chance!
>Wow Claudia. I never knew you cared so much about them
>I hate to admit it, but it made our job here a lot easier
>I think... (Write in)
>Other

>>4015355
>I think... (Write in)
"You're damn right it is. I spent time with those girls last time I was here. They are good people and everyone just writing them off because of what they are makes me pretty sick. I really hope Ava can find some trace of them at the portal. They deserve a chance at life, not just being Matheson's pocket assassins."

>>4015355
>Don't give up on them. There's still a chance!
We just happen to some other thing going on right now that really need our attention, besides i'm sure that whenever they turn up it will be at the least convenient time possible for us.

Knowing Amon, he may have counted humanity among Lilith's Children so they may end up defending Orcus Or even playing second fiddle to Lilith when she shows up, to make our lives even harder.

>>4015355
Seconding >>4015366

“You're damn right it's not fair,” you agree, nodding gravely, “I spent some time with them when I was last here. They were... they ARE good people, not just soldiers or assassins. Certainly not some disposable asset. I hope Ava can find some trace of them at the portal. The thought of just writing them off like that makes me sick.” Rising suddenly to your feet, you pace the length of the small gym. Down low in one corner, a tiny scrawl of graffiti has been left on the wall. The letters, small and wildly formed. A flicker of individual spirit shining through the discipline forced upon them.

“Life sucks,” you read aloud, tracing your finger across the words, “Get a crash helmet.”

“I won't disagree with that,” Claudia remarks, “But what on earth are you talking about?”

“They're real girls, as real as either of u. They deserved better than this shitty place!” you cry, gesturing at the grim room they called home, “And I'm not giving up on them just yet. You shouldn't either. We've got this Temple crap to deal with, I get that, but once that's out of the way-”

The soft sound of someone clearing their throat. Looking around, you see Commander Monroe standing in the doorway. “We've got an update from Avalon. Ava arrived safely, and we're already working on the best way for her to search DIrac. Not much else to report yet. We need some time to get the Colossus prepped for the flight to Temple, but I want us to be moving as soon as possible,” she pauses, “Fletcher is on his way back, with Victor. When we go to Temple, he'll be coming with us.”

Letting out a breath you hadn't realised you'd been holding, you nod. “I'm glad,” you reply quickly, “I mean, uh, Nate might need a friendly face and-”

“I know, I know,” Monroe agrees, giving you a genial wink, “Don't you worry yourself about it.”

Beside you, Claudia rolls her eyes with an exaggerated sigh.

-

Still thinking of the BLUE EYE team, you wander aimlessly through Academy. It's still an alien place, overall. Similar enough to Avalon in general form – the same colours, the same features on the walls – but different enough for you to get lost in. But that's fine. You let yourself get lost, allowing your feet to do the thinking for you. After a time, you couldn't say how long, you end up at what you assume to be the science division. The few people you pass wear white coats, so it's either the science division or a high class restaurant. You don't smell cooking, so...

“Miss Reynolds?” Doctor Brahms calls out, peeking out from a doorway, “Are you lost?”

“No. Maybe. I wasn't looking for anywhere in particular,” you answer, feeling suddenly foolish, “Can you be lost if you're not looking for anything?”

Brahms frowns at this question, the vagueness of it. “That entirely depends on what you mean by “lost”, I would think,” he suggests, “It's something of a philosophical issue.”

That's one way of putting it.

[1/?]

>>4015397

Without waiting to be invited in, you enter the lab and sit down in the first empty chair you see. It slides back a little, the plastic wheels squeaking quietly, and you feel a smile form on your face. Brahms frowns again, perhaps trying to understand the sudden change in your expression. “Back at my old school, we had a bunch of chairs like this in the computer room. This one time, I managed to get one out into the corridor and push it about. I mean properly sprinting about with it,” you recall, “Claire was sitting in it, and she kept shrieking. But she was laughing too. This chair sorta... reminded me of it.”

“I see,” Brahms replies. He doesn't GET it. That much is obvious.

“I never really enjoyed that place. I had a bunch of stuff going on, and I was just... not happy a lot of the time,” you continue, “But there were times like that, when I forgot about all the bad stuff and just had fun.”

Considering this in silence, perhaps thinking about his own youth – although you certainly can't imagine such a thing – Brahms crosses over to his computer and taps a few keys. The screen wakes up, showing an odd diagram. Lots of tiny blue hexagons, all crowded together in a tight grid. “I've been looking at the root causes behind the BLUE EYE incident,” he explains, “The BLUE EYE program is unlikely to be repeated, but we should try to understand the flaws and failings regardless.”

“All business, huh?” you point out, spinning the office chair around in a lazy circle, “No fun childhood memories you want to share?”

“Not especially,” he answers bluntly, “Look at this. The BLUE TEAM experienced a catastrophic ego collapse, and I was able to identify the origin point.” Tapping another key, he causes the hexagons to flash red. Then again, but slower – slow enough that you can see the red spreading out from a single hexagon. “Unit 05 suffered ego collapse first,” he explains, “and this spread out through the network to the other pilots.”

“Emma,” you correct him, “Not Unit 05. Emma.”

Brahms tilts his head slightly, acknowledging your comment. “Regardless. The incident was very likely due to some issue with Uni... with Emma,” he continues, “Possibly some kind of flaw in her creation, although that requires further investigation.”

A silence falls over the pair of you. On the computer screen, the animation repeats endlessly. “I suppose this is my way of processing things,” the doctor adds suddenly, “It helps, to look at this as a scientific issue rather than...”

“Rather than a tragic disaster?” you suggest, finishing his thought for him. Again, that slight gesture of wordless agreement.

[2/3]

>>4015439

Doctor Brahms makes coffee with his usual fussy precision, busying himself with the delicate process. As he works, you gaze at the computer screen and watch the hexagon grid turning red over and over again. Reduced down to a diagram like this, there's not even the slightest hint that you're thinking about human beings. Turning away with a grimace, you find yourself confronted by the coffee cup Brahms is holding out. Accepting it with a nod, you take the first sip.

It's wasted on you. You can barely taste anything.

“I always wanted to be a scientist, even from a very early age. I wanted to understand the world around me. Physics was a natural path for me to take. Then, Second Impact,” Brahms begins, “The human loss was, of course, tragic, but I sometimes wonder if Second Impact left a greater wound. Lilim, the ADM Units, the AT Field... Second Impact, and the immediate aftermath, upended the scientific community. Overnight, everything that I had based my life around was undone. We had to rebuild it from the ground up, at a time when wild theories still threatened to drown us out.”

You freeze, the coffee cup halfway raised to your lips. “What kind of theories?” you ask, “Divine retribution?”

“Yes. Among others,” Brahms nods, “There were religious fanatics, of course, but even in those days most people knew better than to listen to them. More dangerous were the fringe scientists – like Doctor Bergmann. Their theories had the veneer of credibility, just enough to cast doubt on the entire scientific community. The UN worked hard to quash dangerous rumours and misinformation, but now I wonder if that was just another method of control.”

Nodding slowly to yourself, you think back to Doctor Bergmann and her vision for the future – calling it a “fringe theory” doesn't quite seem to go far enough. What would Brahms make of the idea? But then, it might be better if you didn't speak so openly about her theories. It might cause trouble between the two scientists, and they've got enough of that already. If they're going to be working together at Temple...

“Miss Reynolds?” Brahms asks, noticing the thoughtful look on your face, “Something on your mind?”

>Tell Brahms about Bergmann's plan for the future
>Keep Bergmann's plan quiet for now
>Ask something else instead... (Write in)
>Other

>>4015492
>Tell Brahms about Bergmann's plan for the future
I can guess it, but I would like to hear his thoughts on it.

>>4015492
>Tell Brahms about Bergmann's plan for the future.
If he knows he can come up with a plan to help mitigate the risks that it that it happens accidentally.

Some other things to consider about the disappearance of the blue eye units are,
"Who" the donor was for the various power plant's
Who first suggested the idea.
and
Was Adrian or Amon involved at any stage during it development or deployment ?

>>4015492
>Tell Brahms about Bergmann's plan for the future
>But don't tell him it's Bergmann's
This way we can hear his thoughts without endangering their cooperation.

“I've just been wondering. About a bunch of stuff, actually. Lilim stuff,” you reply, choosing your words carefully, “The Nephilim Units used Lilim material in their power units, didn't they? Where did they get the material from?”

“That's correct. The reaction between Lilim and Adamic material was intended to create a perpetual source of power. A tremendous concept, but sadly unstable as we've seen,” he answers, flicking through a set of notes as if seeking confirmation for something, “I believe the Lilim material was originally collected at the Garden. The material came into UN possession after the installation was shut down. That was long before the experimental generator theory, of course. The samples were collected for safekeeping, rather than for a specific use.”

“But since you had the samples to hand, you figured you'd use them anyway. Cool,” you sigh, correcting yourself with a quick scowl, “I don't mean “you” you, just... whose idea was it, anyway? Was Adrian involved?”

Brahms glances around at the mention of that old, familiar name. “Adrian? I don't believe so. Or rather, he wasn't involved with the original theories. It's very likely that he helped to liaise with the various departments. That was, by and large, his role around here. I never quite figured out what his official job was, but...” he shakes his head, referring back to the notes, “A colleague of mine came up with the generator theory. Kendrick, I believe his name was. According to this, he was transferred out to Temple rather recently.”

“Kendrick. Right,” you murmur to yourself, memorising the name. Noticing Brahms' curious look, you hurriedly shake your head. “I've just been wondering about the whole thing. Mixing Lilim material with people – or ADMs, I guess – has never been a good idea. That stuff is like, way toxic,” you continue, thinking back to Bergmann's wild theory, “Is there any way to use it safely? Injecting it into people is no good, I know that much, but what about mixing it with...”

You pause.

“If Lilith emerges, mankind is soup, right?” you muse, “What if Lilm material got mixed up with that sea of humanity? Would that be less, uh, disastrous?”

Brahms doesn't reply straight away. He sips his coffee, frowning mildly to himself as he considers this new – new for him, anyway – idea. “That might be correct,” he concedes eventually, “In that non-physical form, a being would be more malleable – it would be easier to incorporate new, alien, material into the overall whole. Directly injecting Lilim material is a rather brute force approach, by comparison. However, I would be hesitant to say that the result of this mixture would be... human.”

Not quite the answer you were expecting. You had been expecting to hear a flat denial, not this. Perhaps keeping Bergmann's name out of it has helped to keep Brahms' mind open.

[1/?]

>>4015571
Johanna was also constructed, right? Why didn't she get gooped? Is it just because she wasn't in a nephilim, or is there a similarity between her and Ava?

>>4015597
She wasn't in the fight like BLUE EYE was and wasn't connected to Emma. I'm curious on how Ava survived. I doubt it was just good genes she got from Holly cause we are the most unstable from our group.

>>4015597
>>4015604
The only reason i can think of as to why Ava managed to resist where all of the others died is because she was the only one who was taking it seriously, and as such when combined with her nature had a reason and the will to fight and successfully defeat the intrusion attempt.

One of the main drawbacks of the Blue Eye pilots is that they don't have actually have a reason to fight and so give up when cornered where a natural pilot would find a way to survive.

>>4015571

“I was thinking about Lilith. About what might happen if we're not able to stop her,” you explain, uneasily skirting around the exact truth, “If she emerged from the Dirac Sea and spread her AT Field, mankind would be finished. Everyone not protected by an ADM Unit, I mean. But I wondered, if we were able to defeat her after that, what then? But if we fought, and her blood fell into that sea...”

“It could very well lead to the creation of a brand new race,” Brahms agrees, “Although we're venturing into deeply speculative territory here.”

“A new race formed from the sea of LCL,” you think aloud to yourself, “And if that LCL still held the thoughts and memories of the humans that once formed it, what then? This new race, whatever it was, they might really believe they're still human.”

Increasingly uncomfortable with this line of discussion, Brahms takes your empty coffee cup and carries it over to a small sink, washing it out with fastidious care. The longer the silence draws out, the more awkward it becomes – for the both of you, probably. Even after the sounds of running water are cut off, Brahms lingers by the sink. Staring at his slender back, you search for something else to talk about. “I hope Ava is doing okay in Avalon. It can't be easy for her, being on her own now,” you venture, “Why didn't she...”

“I was looking into this, too. As team leader, Ava's connection to the “network” was slightly different. Think of it as a one-way street. She could issue commands through the network, but she wouldn't be harmed by feedback coming back through it. A safeguard, it seems,” Brahms answers, finally turning back to face you, “When the ego collapse spread through the network, she was protected. The others, unfortunately, were not.”

“This whole network seems like a weakness to me,” you grumble, “So if one of them got hurt, or... or worse... it could disable all of them? All of them, except for Ava?”

“Ava was – is – capable of overriding the network in the event of critical feedback. In essence, forcing the other pilots to fight through the pain,” the doctor explains, “Now, perhaps you can understand why most of the scientists working on the BLUE EYE project preferred not to meet the pilots in person.”

God forbid they actually started to see the girls as human beings.

“It's strange, though,” Brahms murmurs to himself, “We still don't know the cause of the ego collapse itself. If it came from an external source, Ava would have been affected by it even without the network. Simply entering the Dirac Sea shouldn't have caused an ego collapse either. It must have been an internal flaw. The generators, I expect. Perhaps Ava's Nephilim Unit can yield some answers. There's still a lot of work to do.”

But he doesn't sound hopeful.

[2/3]

>>4015697

As you're leaving the lab, you wonder about what Brahms said. His explanations were concise and scientific, centred around the way the BLUE EYE pilots were created. It's only natural, for a man like him, but you wonder if he was missing something – a matter of will. You remember the BLUE EYE team at the start of the meeting, the way they casually let their guard down around you. Maybe something else was waiting to take advantage of that lapse, sneaking in and planting the seeds of disaster. Ava had been different, never letting her guard down for an instant.

“They thought I was their friend,” you say aloud, “They let their guard down around me, and...”

“Funny how that keeps happening,” a sickly voice, so awfully familiar, jeers, “You always make it out okay, but everyone else suffers.”

Whirling around, you cast a wild eye about in search of that mocking whisper. Nothing, there's nothing to see. You're alone in the corridor, and there's nowhere for anyone to hide. “Yeah,” you whisper to yourself, tightly clenching your fists, “That's real funny you son of a bitch. Shouldn't you be dead?”

No answer, of course.

-

No matter what time of day it is, or what country you're in, Monroe always manages to find something terrible on the radio. Tuning out what sounds like an accordion – or perhaps animals being tortured – you watch the streets flash past. Vic and Fletcher touched down not long ago, so you're coming to meet them now. Your heart pounds in your chest, but you can't entirely blame that on the mocking whisper you heard.

Probably just your imagination, or so you keep telling yourself. Guilt, combined with some deeply buried masochism to imitate Amon's mocking voice.

“You know, I remember a pretty good restaurant around here. I wonder if it's still open,” Monroe thinks aloud to herself, glancing aside and giving you a wink, “And if you two don't want boring adults hanging around, well... I'm sure Fletcher and I can find a way of making ourselves scarce. Sounds nice, doesn't it?”

“Uh...” you yelp, caught off-guard by the suggestion, “Is that really... appropriate? I mean, I'm not exactly dressed for anything fancy, so...”

“Who said anything about fancy?” Monroe counters, “Hey, it was just an idea. I'm not trying to push you into anything serious. I know this isn't exactly the best time for, you know, but I thought you might want a chance to take your mind off things. Take the evening off, be a normal girl for a while. Ah, maybe I'm being silly...”

>It's just not a good time. Not now
>No, you're right. I need the time off
>I'd prefer if we all went together. We're a team, after all
>It's... (Write in)
>Other

>>4015809
>It's just not a good time. Not now
Not after we realized we're to blame for everything forever.

>>4015809
>No, you're right. I need the time off

We need to recover from realizing we're to blame for everything forever.

>>4015809
>No, you're right. I need the time off

>>4015819
Totally aren't though.

>>4015809
>It's just not a good time. Not now
Considering that Vic probably isn't going to be doing real well since we're all on our way to go see how Nate turned out, it's probably going to be a disaster.

>>4015842
We can comfort each other.

>>4015860
Didn't you paly any VNs? After the romantic scene is when shit really hits the fan and Bad Ends start coming up.

>>4015842
All you're convincing me of is that they both need to take a moment to vent together instead of stewing alone.

>>4015809
>No, you're right. I need the time off I suppose
>How are the rest of the girls back home?

>>4015873
No, I play sports instead.

>>4015860
He will have been trying prepare himself, to potentially have to stare into the abyss, taking him out for dinner especially to a place that Monroe would recommend then after this it's off to go see Nate again.

>>4015879
A quiet night together would probably be less disruptive to his thought process.
If we end up needing his help with this, he's going to need to play his role perfectly or we're likely to all be dead before Lilith even gets here.

>>4015917
Then trust me as an expert.

>>4015932
We're gonna get to shit hitting the fan eventually. You can't put it off just by avoiding any choices that might lead to romance.

The car slows, a dense knot of traffic forcing you to crawl along. Mercifully silencing the radio, Monroe rolls the window down and leans out, peering at the traffic up ahead. You can see the warning lights of a police car – unmistakable in any language – reflected in a window. An accident, it seems, barely any time at all after the traffic started flowing again. That's just the dumbest shit, and now you're going to be late. Probably going to leave the others waiting. Taking your phone out, you start to tap out a text before hesitating.

Even the smallest things are different now. Before, this would have been simple – just tap out a friendly message and be done with it. Now, you're struggling to find the right words. Maybe it needs to be more than “just” friendly, but...

With an angry sigh, you thrust your phone back in your pocket. Maybe it'll be easier just to make your excuses in person. Realising that you've left Monroe waiting, left her without an answer, you give her a nod. “No, you're right. I need the time off,” you decide, “It's only an evening off. I can have that much, right? Just promise me you're not delaying anything with Temple because of this.”

“Don't worry about that. No, between loading the ADM Units and getting the Colossus prepared, we've got some time to kill,” Monroe assures you, “I'm not THAT irresponsible!”

“I never said...” you begin, before realising that she's joking, “Yeah, okay, fine. Did Fletcher say anything about the situation back home? How are the others doing?”

Carefully guiding the car down a thankfully quiet side street, Monroe begins to accelerate. “Things are quiet, apparently, and not really in a good way. From what Fletcher implied, they've been treading on eggshells. Ava, you know. It's hard to know the right thing to say around her. As for Ava herself, Fletcher said that she's been quiet. Withdrawn,” she answers, “She's hard to read, that one. I hope she doesn't blame herself for what happened.”

“Huh? Why would she blame herself? If she's got anyone to blame, it's m-” you hesitate, swallowing heavily before forcing yourself to continue, “It's the Lilim.”

“She was their leader. That means something, you know?” Monroe concludes, “God knows, I understand how she must feel.”

You can't reply to that, and the rest of the drive plays out in suffocating silence.

-

Monroe's restaurant, when you arrive, is definitely nothing fancy. Made up like an old German beer hall, it feels almost overwhelmingly alive compared with the cold BLUE EYE dorm. Enough background conversation to cover up any one individual voice, but not so loud that you'd need to shout. Instead, the noise seems to form a protective shield around your small corner table. Over at the bar, just barely within the corner of your eye, Monroe brandishes a stein of beer. Fletcher, apparently the designated driver for tonight, isn't drinking.

[1/?]

File: cat.png (505 KB, 669x666)

505 KB PNG

>>4016002
>If she's got anyone to blame, it's m-

I know our girl is self-depreciating on a good day, but this is trying to *find* something to be at fault for. Even if her hunch of "letting their guard down" is correct, and it is just a hunch, there is like a laundry list of people more to blame for what happened starting with Coraline attacking, Amon poisoning Emma, and Academy Scientists for their network shit. There is way more tangible reasons there than just "I befriended this group months ago, woe is me."

>>4016089
But the only reason Coraline survived long enough to do any of this is because, Holly didn't turn over the disk that would have revealed Dis's location to the council, immediately after we found it.

If it hadn't have happened, we may have even eventually caught it before it could have gone wrong.

>>4016002

“We should order something, right? Um, starters first, I guess,” you begin, flipping through the oversized – and, thankfully, English – menu, “Starters. Onion rings?”

“Hm,” Vic muses, “Maybe that's not such a good idea.”

“Oh? Why do you-” you begin, pausing as realisation dawns, “Oh. Ah, right, so... what do you think?”

Vic orders, and soon you're eagerly looking over an assortment of bar food – familiar, but with enough regional flair to trick you into thinking it's exotic. Hungrier than you first realised, you eat quickly and gracelessly. Vic does the same, and you take some small comfort from that. “I've got news from home. I don't know if you've been told already, but it's about Dakota,” Vic tells you, carefully wiping his mouth on a napkin, “Yulia's been sitting with her in the infirmary, but we all take turns. Sometimes we read to her, sometimes we just keep her company. We just want to make sure she's not alone. Anyway, it was Yulia who noticed it.”

“It,” you repeat. It can't be BAD news, you assume, or he wouldn't be telling you so lightly. Still, why do you feel so uneasy about this?

“Her finger was twitching, and we think she might have been frowning a little. Doctor Weick thinks it's a good sign. A sign of life, he said,” the young man explains, “So whatever we're doing, it seems to be working.”

Relief washes over you in an awesome wave. You start to lean forwards and hug Vic, only for the table to get in your way. Awkwardly fumbling for a moment, you eventually settle on a high five. “That's great news!” you laugh, “I know it's still early, I know I shouldn't get carried away, but... this is great news!”

>Ego increased by 5
>Current Ego: 65/70

“You'll have to have a word with Yulia when we get back. I tried asking her what her secret was, but she wouldn't tell me,” Vic complains, brushing a lock of hair away from his face, “She said it was top secret, girls only. So now I'm relying on you to find out for me.”

“I mean sure, I'll ask her. I just won't tell you,” you tease, sticking out your tongue, “It's girls only, after all.” Gasping, his eyes widening with pantomime horror, Vic slumps back in his chair. Laughing even harder, you gulp down a mouthful of soda and glance across to the bar. Monroe is still there, laughing at some private joke of her own and leaning in towards Fletcher. Always the professional, he gently pushes her back down onto her barstool. “But man, I'm glad. For a moment, I really thought Dakota might not wake up,” you sigh, your laughter fading fast, “I thought she was gone for good, all because I-”

“Holly,” Vic interrupts, his expression turning seriously, “Why do you always insist on taking the blame for everything?”

Like a piece of Excalibur itself, the question cuts straight through your guard. Speechless, you just stare at the young man.

[2/3]

>>4016122
There is also a laundry list of reasons why we didn't turn that disc over.

And if we are going down the route of butterfly effects and chains of events over months then once again there is a shitload of people at fault like Matheson and Leighton.

>>4016133
What's so bad about onion rings?

>>4016137
We also had the chance to fight her right before we fought Amon as well, and a couple of others had we taken the initiative to do so We could have persuaded Fletcher to act on the info we had provided to him at various times Like right after we saved Fletcher in Berlin, or China .

But I would agree that we really haven't had may straight good choices to make just various bad ones, that we have made work vastly at our own expense, thought that hasn't saved others on the rare occasion, that something falls out side our control.

>>4016154
Vic probably wants to keep acceptable breath during his romantic advancements.

>>4016133
iirc Karina said the same thing to Holly about blaming herself. Some habits die hard

>>4016133

“I'm serious,” Vic insists, although you weren't doubting that for a moment. He waits, waiting for an answer that isn't going to come. “Taking responsibility is a good thing, I'm not denying that, but there's a limit. You can't blame yourself for every little thing that goes wrong. Sometimes, the world just... hits you where it hurts,” he continues, leaning forwards and taking your hand in his, “You can do everything right, do everything with the best of intentions, but some things are out of your control. You know that, don't you?”

“Yes, but-” you begin, only to fall silent as Vic squeezes your hand tightly.

“Do you WANT to feel guilty?” he asks, “Holly, listen to me. You have done so much for all of us – for mankind - and I am so proud of you, but you CAN'T keep doing this. You can't keep... hurting yourself like this.”

The rest of the world seems to retreat very far away, the background noise fading to a whisper. There's nothing really NEW about what he's telling you, nothing you haven't considered for yourself, but it's... not as simple as that. It's just the way you are, something buried deep within you – something that, even now, urges you to pull your hand away from his. Frozen in place, ensnared by your own hesitation, you just keep staring at Vic.

You don't know what to do.

>... (Write in)

>>4016242
>... (Write in)
"It's tough not to. Even now. What do I do Vic?"

>>4016242
Ultimately that's why we fight. We feel it's our responsibility.
We probably also feel not taking responsibility would make us a bad person.
And, as strange as it is, we got it from our Dad. Not the way he feels about us, but the way he feels about his farm.

>"How can I just abandon them?"

>>4016242
>"Some things are. Maybe. But right now, we're here and not six feet under because all of us were taking blame and worrying and trying to stop something so huge one could easily step away from. But we didn't."
I'm afraid you can't be perfectly rational when taking blame during such things. Yes, it wears everyone out, but in the end, it allows them to do something. Of course, an argument must be made that taking on unreasonable blame is detrimental in the end, but that would be asking Fletcher's level of experience and self-control. And even then the guy just decided to take forceful approach precisely because he was worried that Leighton would just end them first.

>>4016242
>... (Write in)
We have everything to lose if we give up, and we don't have anything waiting for us to go back to, since we can't possibly hope to be able to hold onto everything, we have needed to be exceedingly careful with what we choose to do. people have and will continue to die needlessly if we don't.

Holly has recognized that she is being selfish and is building her future as she goes, at the expense of others. e.g. Wilson died because we gave him up, all for our file, Fletcher has only survived because he was useful, Cam survived because we couldn't bare to leave Karina alone, we let Coraline go under the radar for way too long because we saw to much of ourselves in her, and a whole bunch of other examples.

>>4016242
>I just feel like I've failed them every time they get hurt. They are the reason I am fighting so hard. Our little family of misfits at Avalon and BLUE EYE who turned this violent girl whose only friend died long ago into somebody worth a damn.

>>4016322
>Fletcher has only survived because he was useful, Cam survived because we couldn't bare to leave Karina alone

Not sure I agree with those two just on their own. Holly genuinely liked both of them and didn't want them to die in addition to your reasons

>>4016242
>You rite bro. I'm being dumb. My b.

>>4016345
I'm simplifying things since i would assume that she is starting to feel attacked because
each time someone calls Holly out on it, more pointedly she would feel need to defend her reasoning and since she doesn't have the time she would need to go into the required detail she would likely sensationalize and minimize some events in order to make it seem more cohesive, like she is actually in control and less like she is being dragged along by a series of unfortunate events.

“It's hard,” you whisper, your voice barely audible over the background murmur, “It's hard not to do it. To feel this way. Even now. I'm responsible for this, for all of you, and if I'm not... it feels like abandoning you all. How can I do that?”

“I wish I could answer that,” Vic admits, “This isn't something I can answer for you. I can be here for you, I can support you every step of the way, but the answers... you'll need to find those for yourself. Come on.” He rises to his feet, still holding your hand, and you rise with him. “Come on,” he repeats, “I certainly know that we won't find the answers in here. Not with all this noise and fuss. Plus, ah, the smell of beer is starting to give me a headache.”

It's small, tiny, but a laugh manages to slip from your lips. “God, you're such a lightweight,” you scold lightly, giving him a little slap on the shoulder, “You'd better not complain about a hangover tomorrow.”

“No promises,” he replies, leading you out the door. As you're leaving, you glance aside and meet Fletcher's eyes. He nods, the gesture so slight as to be almost unnoticeable. He'll take care of things here, that nod seems to say. Stepping out into the night air, you shiver at the sudden chill. Vic gasps too, pulling his light jacket a little tighter around himself. “Better stay moving,” he suggests, “Stay warm that way.”

“Right,” you agree, managing a smile, “I'd feel really guilty if you caught a cold because of me.”

Vic turns, giving you a serious frown.

“Right,” you repeat, “Not funny.”

-

“I guess it started with my folks,” you think aloud as you walk, allowing Vic to guide you forwards. You're not really paying any attention to where you're walking, your attention focused inwards. Looking for those answers of his. “It was a pretty messed up place to be. My folks were coming apart at the seams, and I was too young to really get it. I couldn't really understand that she... that my mom was ill,” you continue, “All I really knew was, they were arguing all the time. Because of me.”

“Because she was ill,” Vic points out, “Not because of you. Did you make her ill?”

Maybe. Or maybe not. You were at the centre of her delusions, her sickness, but that still doesn't mean you caused it. It doesn't mean that your father caused it, when he brought her out to live on that farm. Whatever else happened around her, she carried that sickness inside herself – just like you've got your own sickness inside yourself.

“I can't just give up,” you murmur, “I have to fight, even when it's futile. I have to fight for you, and for everyone else. Our little gang of misfits. You've all done so much for me, you've made me into someone worth a damn, and when you get hurt it's on me. It FEELS like it's on me.”

“But you can't carry all that weight,” Vic tells you, “Not alone. We're all here to share it with you.”

[1/?]

>>4016405

“Hey. We're here,” Vic adds after a while. Looking up, you recognise the baroque sight in front of you. The statues, the monuments, the graves... this is the memorial garden. Here, the first Berlin incident is remembered and mourned. “Gosh, I'm glad. I thought I'd gone the wrong way for a moment there,” he mutters to himself, “This place looks a lot more tacky in real life though. The photos make it look so much more modest.”

“Well, you know,” you reply vaguely, “Money can't buy you taste.”

“So it would seem,” Vic agrees, scowling at a flabby marble cherub, “Say, Holly, did you get this person killed?”

The question, so casually thrown out there, causes you to blink in confusion. “Did I what?” you ask, “Vic, I wasn't even piloting an ADM when this kicked off. How could I-”

“If you'd been piloting an ADM sooner, you might have prevented it,” he insists, “So when you think about it that way...”

“Vic, that is absurd!” you groan, “How was I supposed to... oh. Oh, you're trying to be smart about this, aren't you?”

“What do you mean “trying” to be smart?” he complains, “Okay, I'll admit that I'm not being particularly subtle about it, but I'm trying to make a point here. If you want to feel responsible about this, that's fine. That's good, in fact, it's a mature thing to do, but you need to choose your battles. Learn from your mistakes and all that.” Pausing, Vic gazes up at a taller statue of an angel. It would almost look graceful, that statue, if not for the vast stone bosom flowing over the top of its gown. “Kaori told me about this place,” Vic continues, “Berlin, to be precise. She spent so long torturing herself about what happened here. Now, I think she's starting to move on. To accept it. Do you know why?”

A cold silence. You're sheltered from the wind, here, and the air feels utterly still.

“Because she stopped running away from it,” you decide after a moment of thought, “She faced up to what happened here.”

“You helped her face up to what happened here,” Vic corrects you, smiling wearily, “You were there for her when she needed a friend. If you want to feel responsible for something, feel responsible for that. For all the good things you've done. I could go on, if you want. I've got a list.”

“That's great, but-” you pause, shivering again, “But maybe you can save that list until we're inside somewhere nice and warm.”

This, Vic doesn't argue.

>So I think I'm going to pause this here for today. I'll be aiming to continue this tomorrow, though
>Thank you for your contributions today!

>>4016503
Thanks for the run.

>>4016503
Thanks for running!

When do we start the sloppy teen makeouts with Vic?

>>4016503
Thanks for running.

I wonder if Vic's going to be of any help with the voices.

>>4016503
Thanks for running.

Between Karina and Vic, Holly has a decent support network that cut through her bullshit.

>>4016536
But we're not even married yet!

>>4016563
That's the thing about being in a relationship, you don't need to worry about an imaginary voice annoying you
It's not imaginary!

File: IngridB.png (369 KB, 900x700)

369 KB PNG

No matter how many times you see it, the sight of your ADM Unit being lifted into the Colossus is always impressive. The sheer scale of everything involved, from the size of the aircraft itself to the number of crew working as one. This time, things feel a little different – there's a tension in the air, a subdued fear. Watching from a distance, you wonder about the cause. The incident with the BLUE EYE team, perhaps, or maybe there's something-

“There was an incident. Minor, but it gave us all a bit of a scare,” Doctor Bergmann explains, not sounding particularly scared, “Adam again. Unit 02 showed some brief signs of life, and Unit 03 actually moved a little, but that was it. You probably didn't even notice anything, did you?”

“I've had other things on my mind,” you reply, shaking your head, “Should we be worried, though? If Adam is getting restless, does that mean we should be expecting trouble?”

“Is there ever a time when we're NOT expecting trouble?” Bergmann counters, “But, to answer your question, we don't know for sure. We still don't have enough direct evidence to draw any conclusions, to quote our good friend Quentin.” Brushing aside her coat, she hooks her fingers into her belt and glares up at the Colossus. There's something ferocious about her expression, something rapturous. “We're entering a new world. Holly,” she continues, “Our ancestors are stirring, striving to walk the earth once more. You should be grateful. Thousands of years of human history, and we have the privilege to be a part of this. Not just to witness it, but to participate. To shape the future for all those who come after us.”

Because that's not weird at all.

“Yeah, see, I don't know if the BLUE EYE team would feel very privileged,” you point out, “Or anyone else, for that matter. It's real easy to feel good about this stuff when you spend all day hiding in your lab, that's all I'm saying.” You say that, but you know that Bergmann would have jumped at the chance to become a pilot, if only she had been young enough for it. She seems to think the same thing, dismissing your comment with a wave of her hand. “I spoke to Quentin. Doc Brahms, I mean. Mentioned your little plan,” you add, “He seemed to think it might actually work. In theory. Maybe.”

“Really?” Bergmann raises an eyebrow, “That's unlike him.”

“Well, I didn't tell him it was your idea,” you tell her.

“That explains it then,” she muses, nodding sagely, “He's not quite as cool and logical as he likes to think, that man. When push comes to shove, I think he'll do a fine job. I just have one thing to ask.”

Holding your tongue, you gesture for her to continue.

“Don't tell him I said that,” she asks with a wicked smile, “We wouldn't want him getting too big for his boots, now would we?”

[1/3]

>>4019151

The soft drone of the Colossus' engine fills the air, mingling with the sound of Vic's quiet snores. He sits, fast asleep, a few seats away from you. Claudia glances his way as she limps towards you, her feet shuffling as she cautiously makes her way across the aircraft. Collapsing down into the seat beside yours, she gives Vic another look. “My,” she murmurs at last, “He must be tired.”

“He didn't get much sleep last night,” you reply, immediately wincing as you realise what you just said.

“My,” Claudia repeats, raising an eyebrow in mocking wonder.

“Don't... I didn't mean it like that,” you groan, “What I mean is, he was helping Doctor Brahms with some last minute work. Fetching files from the archive here, making sure everything was boxed up and prepared, you know. Admin stuff. Absolutely nothing else.” You pause, wondering if maybe you're being a little too defensive about this. Claudia certainly seems to think so, the smirk on her face telling you exactly that.

Of course, there was another reason why Vic couldn't sleep last night. It was only later, when you returned to the BLUE EYE dorm, that he realised, remembered, why he was there. You're not sure what set it off, whether it was something he saw or felt, but the change was immediate. His calm was replaced by a nervy, restless energy, and he had fled in search of some distraction. It must have been pretty tiring, because-

As if struck by some giant blast of wind, the Colossus lurches in the air. Immediately, you realise that this is more than just turbulence – even a hurricane would have trouble disturbing this vast craft. Another crash, another jolt, and a siren begins to blare. Bergmann is already up, moving to help Claudia rise, and she flashes a hard look towards you. “Adam,” she spits, “Talk about bad timing. If the ADMs struggle too much, they might break out of storage. If that happens...”

It's a long way down, you realise, and the ocean is just waiting to swallow them up. “So what's the plan?” you ask, “Emergency landing? Where?”

“No time for that, even if we were close to land. There's no other choice,” Bergmann snaps, “You're going to have to get in there. See if you can't calm them down a little. If you can get inside the entry plug and make contact, you should be able to assume control. What are you waiting for, go!”

“Fucking hell,” you hiss, nearly falling over as another hammer blow strikes the Colossus, “No other choice, huh? Fucking... fine!” Bergmann points the way before dragging Claudia towards Unit 03's storage pod. As you're leaving, Vic reaches out to you. “Don't worry, I got this,” you assure him, “Just sit down and buckle up. This might get a little rough.”

“Come back in one piece,” he orders, meeting your eye for a second before collapsing down into the closest seat, fumbling with the straps of his safety harness.

[2/3]

>>4019156

The ADM Units are stored out towards the wing sections, slung underneath like giant missiles. It's not exactly convenient or comfortable, but it IS possible to get inside the storage pods from the main section. Simultaneously thanking and cursing the designer, you crawl through the narrow maintenance tunnel and feel out the path ahead with your oily fingers. There, up ahead, you find the access hatch. Clawing blindly at the lock, you slide the hatch open and prepare to drop down.

Don't think about the thin skin of metal standing between you and the open sky. Don't think about how much ADM Unit 02 is struggling against the metal cage holding it in place. Don't think about any of that. Just get the job done.

Unit 02 sways alarmingly, as you drop down onto its broad back, the head shuddering from side to side. With a hiss of releasing pressure, the entry plug retracts and swings open to invite you inside. Feeling as if you're being swallowed by some great beast, you drop inside the plug and haul the door shut behind you. The LCL is already pouring in around you, and soon you've got no choice but to surrender yourself to it.

-

You've been here before. The crash and rumble of tumultuous prehistory, with the battle between Adam and Lilith endlessly repeating around you. If this is what the ADM Units see when they dream, you think to yourself, it's little wonder that they're so ill-tempered. An endless purgatory of war, of death and rebirth, of battles that can never be truly won...

“Okay, I'm here!” you call out, shouting into the void, “Now what am I supposed to do?”

No answer, of course. Not in words, at least. The dream begins to shift, warping to accommodate you. Grass sprouts from a bubbling sulphur ocean, tall spires of wheat leading towards the old, familiar sight of your home. Turning away with a gasp and a flinch, you see another new sight rising up in the distance – an old manor, something once elegant and now given over to a crumbling gothic majesty. Claudia's contribution to the dream, you suspect. A coincidence, that you both thought of home?

Maybe. Or maybe not. Caught between the two illusions, you feel the hairs on the back of your neck prickle with that old, unmistakable feeling – you're being watched, studied, by some unseen presence.

“What do you want from me?” you ask, whispering the question that you wanted to shout.

>Stay here, remain in the battlefield
>Head towards the dream of home
>Head towards Claudia's dream
>Or maybe... (Write in)
>Other

>>4019157
>Stay here, remain in the battlefield
Watch the fight, see if we can pick up on anything that could possibly help us later.

>>4019157
>>Head towards Claudia's dream
Let's see if we can find her

>>4019157
>Or maybe... (Write in)
>"Who are we together?"
>Try to imagine yourself and ADM at the same time.
Is an ADM capable of recognizing this weird union of itself and its 'driver'? What does it think about it? How is it and the 'driver' related?

>>4019157
>>Head towards Claudia's dream

>>4019157
>Stay here, remain in the battlefield

You know, staying in a battlefield to calm our unit down may not seem like the best idea, but I'm willing to bet cash money our home is gonna be even more traumatic. Claudia's too probably, and going there would be an invasion of privacy anyway.

>>4019156
Wow Vic not even a kiss for good luck? Wow.

>>4019157
>Head towards Claudia's dream

There's a savagery to this ancient battle, a brutality that even the worst of humanity would struggle to match. As you watch, one of the naked ADMs drive a Lilim to the ground and smashes the monster's head with a boulder. With every blow that rains down, the ground beneath your feet shakes and shreds of pulverised flesh are thrown far and wide. When the Lilim is dead, the ADM crawls away in search of new prey. A moment later the Lilim rises back up as well, the smashed flesh reforming before your very eyes.

“There's no point to any of this,” you hear yourself say, “You're not fighting over land or resources, wealth or ideology. What could have started this?”

No answer, of course, but an image forms in your mind – oil and water, pushing up against each other but never mixing.

“That's it? You're fighting because, what, you're incompatible? You can't exist alongside each other?” you ask, spreading your hands wide in a pleading gesture, “You can't just leave each other alone? This is a big planet, a big fucking universe, you don't need to do... THIS.”

Another image. This time, a flightless bird with broken wings. A bird that won't ever fly, won't ever leave the nest it was born in. Blinking away the image, you take a few faltering steps towards Claudia's manor home. She has to be there, she has to be, and maybe together you can figure something out. Maybe there you can figure out if there's anything TO figure out. You keep an eye out as you walk, looking for any trace of Adam or Lilith themselves. Strange, that they would be absent from this place.

The uneasy feeling of being watched never quite lets up, and soon you start to feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. The sky, deep red and mired in storm clouds, reveals nothing. No giant eye staring down from the heavens. Still gazing skywards, you stretch a hand up towards the clouds. The sight seems to blur, shifting between your familiar human hand and the armoured skin of your ADM Unit. “We're connected, you and I,” you announce, “We're not so different, are we? But I still don't know. Together, what are we? Are we a master and servant, or are we fellow soldiers?”

Tiny fish, nibbling at the debris stuck between a shark's teeth. Bacteria crawling across an uncaring human body. Plants growing strong, briefly visited by all manner of bugs and flies. Then an image of men and dogs hunting together, sharing in the benefits of their cooperation. But which one are you, the hunter or the hunting hound? This unspoken question is met by a wave of alien curiosity, as if your unseen partner – or, perhaps, your rival in some obscure debate – is wondering the same thing.

Curiosity. You're not about to complain about curiosity. It's better than a violent fury, after all.

[1/?]

>>4019217

Claudia's manor feels somehow familiar, even though you've never seen it in person. Claudia's nostalgia is contagious, filling you with an almost desperate yearning. Her yearning for home, of course, but also your own yearning for a home LIKE this. An idyllic place far from the trouble and strife of the world. Idyllic, but doomed. A place like that is too pure, too perfect to exist in a world like this. As Claudia herself would say, it no longer exists in this world. Only here, in a memory, can it be found.

You find Claudia herself in the garden outside, leaning back in the grass and watching the two young girls fight with sticks. Claudia's younger self seems like a completely different girl to the heiress you know. It's more than just the hair, the colour of pale sand, but also her manner – unburdened and jubilant, with no room for any false cynicism. As you watch, the young Hester flings her arm out wide in an expansive sweep, leaving herself wide open. Young Claudia takes the invitation, stepping in and poking Hester in the chest with her stick. Collapsing with an exaggerated death gurgle, Hester is soon giggling along with the young heiress.

“You know, I never believed for a second that she was letting me win,” Claudia – the real Claudia – remarks, “I just thought I was that good.”

“You were a kid,” you reply uneasily, “You couldn't have known.” Claudia just answers this with a neutral sigh, never taking her eyes off the two young girls. “Is this a private party?” you add, “I mean, I could leave if you want. I don't want to intrude.”

“Don't worry your little head about it,” Claudia replies, “Even if you weren't here, this wouldn't be anything like private. You've felt it too, I assume? That feeling, like you're a tiger in a zoo. Not just watched, but studied. Watched by what, though? That's the real question.”

“Unit 02, I assume,” you guess, only to correct yourself a moment later, “Except you wouldn't be here if that was the case. Or I wouldn't be here, with you, if it was Unit 03. In that case-”

“Adam, then,” the heiress states, finishing your thought for you, “Maybe this is his way of trying to understand us, the way we've been trying to understand him. We're uninvited guests in this dream, but he's not throwing us out just yet. Doesn't that interest you? It occurred to me, we might be the first humans he's really “aware” of. If that's the case, we're representing our entire species. Honestly Holly, you could have dressed up for the occasion!”

Automatically, you glance down at your clothes. Even here, they're still stained with grease and engine oil from the maintenance tunnel. “Too bad,” you mutter, shooting her a sideways glance, “But you're not looking too fresh either, you know?”

Claudia just shrugs, watching as her younger self holds out a hand to Hester.

[2/3]

>>4019269
>It occurred to me, we might be the first humans he's really “aware” of.

Nate probably has that honor.

>>4019269
Claudia confirmed to live in a cinnamon roll.

>>4019276
Maybe, maybe not. What if the whole plan was to integrate Nate into Adam's remains so that Adam doesn't notice that? Then maybe one could awaken Nate and use Adam's powers without waking Adam completely.

>>4019269

“Are you watching this, Adam?” Claudia whispers, glancing up towards the reddish sky, “We fight, yes, but we offer the hand of friendship as well. Does that mean anything to you? Can you even grasp the concept?” You both wait for an answer, but none comes. With a casual shrug, Claudia glances back to you. “Well?” she asks, “What do you think, Holly?”

“Hmm,” you muse, “I think you look pretty weird without the blue hair?”

“Oh, you are unbelievable!” she groans, flopping back in the grass and scowling at the sky, “I'm trying to be serious here. I'm actually trying to say something meaningful, and you just take the piss. Unbelievable!”

She's taking this awfully personally. “Okay, fine, I'm sorry,” you reply, still smiling faintly to yourself, “Okay, so what do I think? I think you might be wrong. Nate might be the first human Adam has encountered. In that case, what does that say about us? His first encounter is with a girl offered up like some... some human sacrifice. That's not exactly going to make us look very good, is it?”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Claudia shrugs, “I saw that battlefield out there. Adam here seems like the sort of man who might appreciate a good sacrifice. It all seems rather biblical to me – we're making our offering and praying that the gods look favourably upon us.”

Silence falls over the pair of you. The two young girls leave the garden, passing close by without noticing your presence. Claudia watches them leave with a sad frown, and just for a moment her younger self pauses, glances back. Then, from ahead, Hester calls out something you can't quite hear and the young heiress carries on inside. “Do you think they will?” Claudia – the older Claudia, the Claudia with the wounded heart – asks quietly, “Do you think they'll look favourably upon us?”

>They will. We've fought the Lilim for them, haven't we?
>They have to. We deserve to survive, to live
>I don't know. We've done awful things with their power
>Do you really think they care? We're nothing in their eyes
>I think... (Write in)
>Other

>>4019383
>If they don't we will make them

>>4019383
>I don't know. We've done awful things with their power.
Regardless of what happens though, we can't exactly plan around it either way.

>>4019383
>I don't know. We've done awful things with their power.

muh circle eleven

>>4019383
>They have to. We deserve to survive, to live
"That's something I'm going to keep fighting for, with or without their 'favor'."

>>4019383
>I think... (Write in)
"On a second thought, going deeper into that Bergmann's bullshit mysticism with gods, fates and destinies doesn't help any right now. It's sentient, I've felt its curiosity. We either find a way to communicate or wash our hands and watch the fireworks."

>>4019383
>They will. We kicked ass.
>I just don't think that their favor will be as great as we want it to be.

“I don't know,” you admit, “We've done awful things with their power. We've wounded ourselves, our whole world, and for what? Fear and suspicion, petty delusions of control? If you look at what we've done, I don't know if we're worth their favour. Whether they give it to us or not, we can't give up. We need to survive, with or without them. They'll have to see that, and maybe... just maybe they'll see something of worth in us.”

Claudia holds her tongue, studying you with curious eyes. “You said we're being watched, studied, by something. By Adam, maybe,” you continue, “If they're watching us, we can get through to them somehow. We can communicate with them, make our case that way. They have to be listening!”

“I believe in you,” Claudia says quietly. You turn, her words taking you by surprise. “That's what you said to me, isn't it?” she explains, “You believed in me, believed that I was capable of beating this stupid bloody leg. Nobody has ever said anything like that to me before, not even Hester. It's not exactly redeeming the whole species, but that has to mean something. WE have to mean something” Her words are cut off as the ground shakes, one of the hulking ADM Units looming over the manor and staring down upon you. “Did you hear that?” she shouts, glaring up at the giant, “We're worth something! We deserve to survive, to live, and that's what we're going to do, no matter what you think about us!”

Does it hear you? Does it understand you? It just stares, the lidless eyes boring into you with a cold absence of soul or empathy. Yet, you stand your ground and glare back, holding your ground before the looming monster. The silence draws out but something, like the wind twisting to blow from a new direction. Claudia gasps, feeling the same thing you do, and the ADM begins to reach down. Open, grasping, the fleshy paw descends down towards you. Refusing to give an inch, you spread your arms wide and welcome it.

-

Metal squeals, and light pours down upon you. A silhouette, framed against the white light. Wiping LCL from your face, you blink until the shape resolves into a familiar form. Vic. He reaches down, offering out a hand to you. With that, you realise that the siren has stopped, that the Colossus has grown still. You can still hear the muffled roar of wind and the rattle of rain, but the emergency seems to be over. “That's right,” Vic assures you, reading the look on your face, “Whatever you did, it worked.”

“I don't know WHAT I did,” you gasp, allowing him to pull you from the entry plug. It's tough, with the low ceiling of the maintenance tunnel getting in the way, but you manage in the end. “Don't get too close,” you warn, watching the LCL drip from your clothes, “I probably stink right now.”

“Well. Maybe a little,” Vic concedes, “But I don't mind. You're still in one piece, after all.”

[1/?]

>>4019523

“What was it like?” Doctor Bergmann insists, “You must tell us everything.”

“I don't know what to tell you. It was... different. I've made contact with Unit 02 before, even spoken with it in a way, but this was something else. There was something watching us, studying us maybe. It never really talked back, but sometimes there were... images in my head. It put them there, I'm sure of it,” you explain, trying to find the right words for it, “Was that Adam? Was he really listening to us?”

“Perhaps,” Bergmann muses, looking faintly disappointed by your explanation, “Or maybe he just studied you, realised that you weren't Lilim. Regardless, it was a successful experiment – the ADMs returned to their slumber shortly after you entered your entry plugs, and we were able to reach Temple. I hope you remembered to pack your waterproofs, by the way.”

You don't need to ask why. The rain is still hammering down on the Colossus, the force of it almost shaking the entire craft. It's a good thing you're not here for a holiday, or you'd be pretty pissed off about it.

-

It's been a while, but you recognise Ronnie Laing at a glance. The same lazy eyes and genial smile that you remember, although his face seems to lighten when he sees Doctor Bergmann standing on the carrier's deck. Pulling the hood of his slate grey raincoat lower on his face, he waves towards the open door and ushers you inside. Just grateful to be out of the foul weather, you barely bother trying to eavesdrop on the hushed conversation playing out ahead of you. Chances are, you wouldn't understand a word they were saying either way.

“Excuse me,” Brahms calls out, interrupting the secretive conversation, “I want to speak with Doctor Kendrick. Is he available?”

Laing turns, his face growing pale at the mention of the name. “No sir,” he answers slowly, “No he is not.”

“I was told he was transferred here. Recently,” Brahms snaps, “Are you telling me he's been moved already?”

“No sir,” Laing repeats, “No, he was not. He went into Adam's grave to “run a few tests”, I believe he said.” Silence. Brahms just scowls, impatiently gesturing for Laing to get to the point. He doesn't say a word, silently guiding you into one of the unused labs. You're not really sure if you're supposed to be here, but they don't chase you out or protest when you take a seat. So, apparently you're part of this very exclusive club.

“And?” Brahms prompts eventually, “He went to run his tests, and then what?”

Silence. Laing looks aside to Bergmann, waiting for her signal before continuing. Bergmann nods curtly, wordlessly urging the man to speak. Seeing this, Laing heaves a heavy sigh.

For some strange reason, you're not expecting good news.

[2/3]

>>4019847

“He went to run his tests,” Laing explains, “And he didn't come back. He was tampering with the mechanisms in there, and I guess something backfired. I told him it was a bad idea, but he didn't listen. His mistake, I guess. Now, the whole area is locked down. Too dangerous for anyone to go inside. Even you, Doc.”

“We'll see about that,” Bergmann mutters, “I need to get inside and take a look, see what kind of damage that buffoon might have. Talk to whoever is calling the shots around here, make whatever security arrangements you have to. Damn it, we're so close now! We can't let an idiot like Kendrick ruin this for-”

A quiet shuffling sound at the doorway. You all turn to see Johanna peeking around the edge of the door, her eyes wide and fascinated. Nobody quite knows how to react, but Bergmann herself is first to move. To rise from her chair with a clatter. “Out!” she snaps, pointing at Johanna, “Get out!”

“But...” Johanna protests, “But Mama-”

“I told you not to call me...” Bergmann interrupts, jabbing her finger towards the doorway, “Now get OUT! Go back to the Colossus and STAY THERE!”

Johanna recoils in horror, flinching back from the sudden shouting. Then turning, she flees out into the corridor beyond as Bergmann collapses back down into her seat. Brahms is stunned, silent, while Laing gawks in confusion. You can't really blame him for that. You're just as confused yourself, unsure of what to do. What you're supposed to do. You...

>Adam is the priority here. You need to focus on the task at hand
>Bergmann just fucked up. You can't let her talk to Johanna like that
>Johanna shouldn't be alone right now. You need to go after her
>Other

>>4019851
>Bergmann just fucked up. You can't let her talk to Johanna like that
I don't think Holly is in a position to give parenting advice, but one has to wonder why Bergmann is carting Johanna around and treats her like some sort of pet. Does she really believe that Johanna is not conscious? She doesn't look too lucid to me, but this is all very strange.

>>4019851
>Johanna shouldn't be alone right now. You need to go after her
Bergmann's doing to her what Holly's mom done to us.

>>4019851
>Bergmann just fucked up. You can't let her talk to Johanna like that
>Johanna shouldn't be alone right now. You need to go after her

>>4019851
>Bergmann just fucked up. You can't let her talk to Johanna like that.
Is she actually planning on killing us all? After this is all over she is going to have to pick up the pieces of whatever is actually left for her, she gets that right, she was so devastated that Matheson would stoop so very low, She does understand that if she burns this bridge it's never going to be the same, and is extremely lucky that she even gets the chance to do so.

>>4019851
>Bergmann just fucked up. You can't let her talk to Johanna like that

You almost flee after her, almost flee from the stifling room as much for your own sake as for hers. Anything to be out of this all too familiar mess. Yet, like an old comforting friend, the anger is there to answer your confusion. “What the FUCK was that?” you snap, slamming your hand down on the desk, “How could you talk to her like that? I knew you were cold, Bergmann, but I didn't think you were-”

“Stop!” she hisses, holding up a hand. Hating yourself for obeying, you stare at her as she gestures curtly to the others. “Go,” she demands, “Both of you. GO.”

Brahms is happy to obey, but Laing lingers. “Hey, uh, doc?” he begins, “Did she just say... is that your kid?”

Bergmann scowls at him for a long moment, but Laing manages to hold his ground. “No,” she says at last, “Now get out of here. You've got access clearance to arrange, remember?” Throwing his hands up in disgust, Laing admits defeat and slouches out. Soon, it's just you and Bergmann facing each other across the table. “I don't want that girl here,” she points out, “I don't want her being a part of this.”

Then why bring her here at all?

“That girl?” you repeat, “She's your daughter, isn't she?”

“No, she isn't. She's a genetic match, and she has the memories that... that she should have. But I didn't bring that child into this world. She isn't the same,” Bergmann answers coldly, “I don't wish her any ill. I want her to be happy, to lead a proper and fulfilling life, but that's it. I won't pretend that she's something she's not. In either case, what business is it of yours?”

“It's my BUSINESS because I feel sorry for her, having to deal with a bitch like you!” you snap back, “If you don't want her, why bring her here? Why treat her like some obedient lapdog, expecting her to follow your fucking orders? You should have just walked away, let her live her life without you – that's what you did before, isn't it?”

Bergmann recoils as if slapped, her eye widening. With a taste like bile, the old familiar pleasure rises up in your throat. You've HURT her, as deeply as if you'd taken a knife to her. Well, too bad for her, but she doesn't get to play the victim. Not after everything she's done.

>Ego increased by 5
>Current Ego: 70/70

“You don't understand,” Bergmann whispers at last, “You can't... A girl like you-”

“A girl like WHAT?” you snarl, “I can understand that you're torturing that girl, keeping her on a short leash but never letting her get close. You're the one who doesn't understand, doesn't understand what that can do to a person. You don't understand a goddamn thing.”

Holding your gaze for a long moment, Bergmann points to the door. “Go then,” she rasps, “If I don't understand, then you're wasting your time by talking to me. You want to go after her, don't you? Well, go ahead. Don't let me stop you.”

Sparing the time to give her one last sneer, you turn and march out.

[1/?]

>>4020022

Finding Johanna turns out to be easier than you expected. A short corridor away, Laing catches your eye and gestures for you to come over. Peering through the ajar door he stands beside, you see Johanna slumped on a sofa. Not crying, you don't think, but just... numb with shock. “I recognise her. She was one of ours,” Laing murmurs, “But man, I never thought she was... We were just given a sample, told to get a body ready. Never saw the need to ask questions. Hell, I never even knew she had a kid.”

“But she doesn't,” you remark, your voice thick with bitter sarcasm, “Didn't you hear her?”

“Yeah, no. Nobody reacts like that if they're not...” Laing sighs, shrugs, “Well hey, it's none of my business. Could you have a word with her? I'm no good with kids.”

Grimacing, you ease yourself into the room and sit down beside Johanna. She tenses up, then relaxes once she sees it's you. Laing asked you to talk to her, but where do you even begin? As you're trying to untie this terrible knot, Johanna breaks the silence. “I don't understand her. I don't... know who she is,” the young girl admits, “Mama... Papa always said she was a good heart, a kind heart. I never imagined she could be so cruel.”

“Yeah,” you reply weakly, “She's a real piece of work.”

“Papa told me she was a teacher! She... she volunteered!” Johanna protests, the words wrenched out of her as tears, long held back, spill out from her. A strange transformation seems to creep over her as she cries, the old blankness melting away from her face to reveal something raw, something natural. Something REAL. “Why is she pushing me away? Why did she leave me? Wasn't I good enough for her?” she cries, “Don't I deserve her love?”

You can't speak, can barely breathe around the hard lump in your throat. You could be hearing yourself speak, hearing the words you thought all too often when you were living at home. No longer trusting your words, you simply put an arm around Johanna's slender shoulders. She collapses into you, clinging tightly to your body and burying her face in your chest. Even though her voice is muffled, you can still feel her shuddering against you.

-

A sleepless night, that night. In the morning, a cold wait on the deck of the ship as you watch the helicopter descend. You're going to visit Adam's grave, to get as close as you possibly can to ground zero. Brahms wants to study it, but god only knows what Bergmann wants to do. Fletcher mentioned, in a disarmingly casual way, that he would be providing protection. Now, you're wondering exactly what he meant by that. Protecting who from what?

Bergmann hasn't said a word since you first saw her, her eye fixed stubbornly on the distance. Just from listening in, you assume there was more trouble with the ADMs last night. It's happening more and more often now.

This can't go on.

[2/3]

>>4020159
Is it time for us to project our own mommy issues onto Bergmann here?

>>4020022
>She's a genetic match, and she has the memories that... that she should have. But I didn't bring that child into this world. She isn't the same

Sorry, I'll have to go on an autistic tangent.
If not for that (presumable) scar, would she be able to tell the difference? This is sort of related to her understanding of Ego and the whole related AT-field metaphysics. If there are 'souls' which can be completely separate from bodies (brain death doesn't kill it, stored completely elsewhere), then of course, replica doesn't cut it, because she would have her own 'soul'. Still it's a weak excuse for the behavior, but at least she could honestly say 'not the same'.
But if 'souls' and 'egos' are created merely by the patterns of matter and some internal processes (presumably even LCL can do this), then as long as the matter in question exists and believes itself to be some person, then it is that person. People usually don't abandon their children after head trauma, for instance. More radical stance could be taken if we consider that person goes to sleep, has its brain altered slightly and it's a different person the next morning. Even more radical stance is that these alterations happen constantly and a person only imagines and remembers itself constantly and that image is also changing. In which case, the question 'are these the same girls' is not appropriate in general. Funnily enough, this makes Holly's point of view of keeping humanity kind of moot, since they change anyhow.

>>4020243
Do we have anything that definitively confirms that the Johanna we have here with us, is actually the clone and not the original, and that Matheson didn't just use Biomass to fix her scar and kill the clone that she had commissioned, we are still missing the link as to how she had her consciousness transferred between the two bodies?

Also doesn't this prove that we could bring Claire or Wilson and his daughter back really easily.

>>4020256
>“I recognise her. She was one of ours,” Laing murmurs, “But man, I never thought she was... We were just given a sample, told to get a body ready. Never saw the need to ask questions. Hell, I never even knew she had a kid.”

>>4020261
Yes, we know that the clone of Johanna was produced at Temple at some point, but how do we know that the one with us currently is the clone and not the original, if the Biomass was able to help Matheson fight of her Cancer, why wouldn't it also be able to fix a scar?

>>4020285
Matheson didn't know about the scar. That's why she was annoyed that Bergmann wasn't convinced by the copy back at the cabin. This isn't the real Johanna and I think the real one passed away along with her father. Nothing has indicated otherwise. Ask Moloch at the end of the session if you need clarification.

>>4020299
So Matheson, somebody who absolutely hates Bergmann, isn't able to think on her feet, or able to lie convincingly, imagine if this is what actually happened and Bergmann found out

>>4020256
That would imply that Matheson cared for someone else other than her own pet demon, which is unlikely.

I wrote 'presumable' because there could be other details, and I wouldn't put it past Bergmann to start choking even the 'same' daughter in that situation. At least this mystery is cleaned up, it is a clone.

>>4020337
We do have some of Matheson's memories floating around, i'm sure if we wanted to we could interrogate it some more to find out,

So, I'm not going to be able to complete this next section tonight. It worked out being longer than I expected, and I'd rather hold off until tomorrow for a short session to neaten it up. I apologise for the sudden stop. I'll try to clarify a few things, but I'm planning for an IC explanation later.

The current Johanna is a clone, that's confirmed, with the same memories as the original. To that end, she could be seen as the "same" person. Bergmann's objection to this is more to do with Bergmann herself than anything to do with Johanna. Again, I'll be hoping to explain this fully IC, probably tomorrow.

Thank you for your contributions today, and I'm sorry for the sudden pause

>>4020358
Thanks for running!

We shall wait warmly.

>>4020358
Thanks for the run.

>>4020358
Thanks for running!

Have we uh actually ever introduced ourselves to Johanna? I didn't expect her to feel relaxed around us like that since I think we only were around her when we calmed down Ava. Maybe offscreen?

>>4020358
Thanks for running. It's really interesting to read and fun to speculate about.

>>4020392
In the OP post

>>4020397
Oh I totally forgot that. Thanks

File: QuentinB.png (306 KB, 900x700)

306 KB PNG

Adam's grave has changed a lot since you last saw it. A rather hasty observation chamber has been constructed inside the main chamber itself, overlooking the great tree and Adam's remains. Inside, the very laws of physics are coming undone – rocks float, loose dirt orbits the tree, and light bends strangely through the creeping pockets of mist. A secondary elevator leads down into the chamber, but the warning sign is clear. Danger of death, it reads, no unauthorised access.

“Look at it,” Bergmann breathes, finally breaking her silence as she looks out over Adam's remains, “My work. They've... they've butchered it!”

Her “work”, you assume, is the metal contraption clinging to the side of the great tree. Not entirely unlike the entry plug to an ADM, in fact, but with a crude and improvised appearance. Loose wires and tubes dangle free, and nameless devices cling like metallic tumours. Somewhere inside it all, at the heart of all this chaos, Nate lies in wait.

“At present, the structure is containing Adam's AT Field. However, as the field grows in strength this may – will – change. Already, several of the more sensitive staff here are beginning to notice strange phenomenon,” Brahms explains, his eyes flicking from one computer screen to the next, “At this rate, we have a matter of days to find a solution. It would have been longer, but the machinery seems to be... malfunctioning.”

Vic brushes past you, pressing himself up against the wide observation window. “Nate!” he cries out, smacking the toughened glass with the palm of his hand, “Nate, please, you have to stop this!”

“Don't bother. She can't hear you,” Bergmann murmurs to herself, “Those idiots. I warned them about tampering with this. They should have listened to me.”

Brahms turns, and you see a rare fury on his face. “You know what's causing this, don't you?” he snaps, “How are we supposed to figure out a solution if you-”

“I know how to fix this,” Bergmann interrupts calmly, “I just need to remove the contact plug from Adam's remains. Like pulling a splinter from your thumb. It would have been easy, if not for this... meddling. They've really made a mess down there, and I don't think we can fix it from here. I'll need to go down there and take a look.”

“No, stop. Stop that, right now,” Fletcher growls, pointing to the elevator, “You can read that, can't you? “Danger of death”. So I suggest you start talking to Doctor Brahms, and you figure out a way to fix this from here.”

Bergmann finally looks around, giving Fletcher a pitying look. “Your concern is touching, Fletcher, but you really should stick to waving a gun about. This is outside your area of expertise. I'm the only one who really understands that machinery down there. You need an expert,” she explains, “Someone who can assess the damage, then work out a solution. You're lucky that I'm here, aren't you?”

[1/2]

>>4022042

Rounding on her, Vic grabs Doctor Bergmann by the arm. “You can get Nate out of there?” he pleads, “Is that what you're saying?”

“Natasha? This isn't about her. This was never about her. She's just the catalyst,” Bergmann grimaces, painstakingly pulling her arm away from Vic, “Quentin. Exactly how dangerous is this?”

Brahms stares at her, both confused and horrified. “Very. Adam's AT Field is inherently hostile to humanity,” he manages at last, “Ego collapse would not be instantaneous, if that's what you're asking, but-”

“You know, I think we could do it,” Claire muses, her voice causing you to jolt around. “Yeah. I think it's possible. Get a camera and a radio so Doc Bergmann can tell us what to do. His AT Field is gonna suck, absolutely, but I think we can survive it,” she pauses, correcting herself, “I think YOU can survive it.”

No way. There's no way that she just said what you think she said. There's no way. As you reel, Vic pushes past you all and fumbles at the computer terminals. Coming up with a microphone, he begins to shout into it. Down in the chamber below, his magnified voice booms out. “Nate! Nate, you need to stop this!” he shouts, “I don't understand what's going on, but this has gone too far. You need to stop!”

“That's not going to work,” Claire sighs, rolling her eyes, “Nice enough lad, but terminally useless right now.”

“Oh, would you all just LISTEN to me!” Bergmann cries, her temper fraying at last, “We have days before Adam's AT Field begins to expand beyond this chamber. Days! Once that happens this situation will get exponentially worse, and you'll have less and less time to find this miracle solution you both seem to believe in. I can fix this. I KNOW I can fix this. Now are you going to step back and let me do my job?”

A stunned silence falls. Glaring around at you all, her eye blazing with a furious light, Bergmann nods curtly. “Thank you,” she stresses, turning and marching towards the elevator.

“Last chance to stop her,” Claire whispers, “I mean, if you even want to. After what she did, I wouldn't blame you if...”

>This is Bergmann's choice. Let her do what she has to do
>You can't let her do this. The time for human sacrifices is over
>There has to be some other way... (Write in)
>Other

>>4022045
>There has to be some other way... (Write in)
Provide Claire suggestion, that we do this to the group, we could also see if we could get Unit 02 moved down here so we could use it as a bunker if things start heating up.

>>4022045
>You can't let her do this. The time for human sacrifices is over
Well we're already obsessively self-sacrificing, what's one more rescue attempt?
Also Bergmann doesn't get to escape consequences with her death.

>>4022045
>There has to be some other way... (Write in)
She can probably wait for ten minutes before her glorified suicide. Can Holly or maybe better Claudia get inside a Unit and try to remotely keep an AT-field? Holly can go with Bergmann then to keep that field as well.

>>4022045
>Let her do this

Wow I wish there was another way

>>4022045

>>4022055
>>4022116
Seconding

Marching towards the elevator, Bergmann rips the lurid yellow warning tape away from the cage door and casts it aside, hauling the door open without even the slightest hesitation. She's really going to do this, you realise. She's not just fooling around.

“Wait! Wait, stop, just stop for one goddamn minute!” you cry out, lunging forwards and grabbing Bergmann by the arm, “I have an idea. I mean, part of an idea. You said we have time, right? Days, you said. Days! That's time enough to stop and think about this.” Falling silent here, you wait for Bergmann to slap your hand away and return to her suicide mission. Yet, she makes no such move. Slowly, she nods for you to continue. “I'm stronger than anyone else here. Got you to thank for that, doc. Point is, if you go down there, you won't come back,” you explain, “But I will. I can do it!”

Slowly, Brahms steps forwards. “I don't think you understand the situation,” he tells you, his voice surprisingly gentle, “The environment in that chamber is now antithetical to human existence. This isn't a matter of strength. It's a matter of... of fundamental physical forces! You've experienced a berserker incident, you've felt the damage it can cause. Even that pales in comparison with the forces we're talking about.”

“Holly, please, listen to what he's saying!” Vic cries, grabbing you and pulling you into a desperate embrace, “I don't want to lose you too, I don't want-”

Slowly, gently, you push him away. Then, you look sharply at Bergmann. “What if we used Unit 02 a bunker? I'd be protected inside there. Should be easy enough to get it inside, too,” you continue, pointing down to the dormant ADM Units, “You got some of those things out, didn't you?”

Bergmann's eye widens with a sudden idea. “We could use Unit 02 to study the damage up close, then prepare a solution. It would buy us a little extra time, maybe enough to...” she pauses, “But we don't know how Unit 02 would react to that environment. It's an unknown variable.”

“But it's worth a shot, isn't it? Isn't it?” you press, “I'm sick of loss, sick of human sacrifices! We've got all these tools at our disposal, so let's use them! Instead of praying to the gods for good fortune, let's make that fortune for ourselves!”

“You heard her!” Fletcher barks, causing you all to jump, “Doctor Brahms. Send word to base – we need Unit 02 prepped immediately, and we need the upper level opened up for deployment. I want this done ASAP, before anyone gets any more funny ideas. That means you, Ingrid.” Snatching his phone out of pocket, he skulks out into the corridor beyond and starts to snarl more orders into it. Looking back, you see Bergmann staring at you.

“And you,” you mutter, “You're not getting off that easily.”

[1/?]

>>4022045
Another idea, are there no remote-controlled probes? The dirac sea needed a living person inside, but maybe there's a chassis or two lying around which could be used?
The worst idea, but still workable is just to use... uh... volunteers. You know, the drafted military which keeps the base guarded? Works every time with reactors.

>>4022150
It would also be nice to get Karina here for her support skill.

>>4022200
If I had to guess Karina isn't doing so hot over at Avalon right now. Adam's waves were debilitating her days ago and it's only gotten worse since then. Another reason to stop this.

>>4022150

The wind plucks at your raincoat, lifting the loose garment to reveal the glossy plugsuit beneath. Even with the wind wailing away, you can barely hear it over the sound of the heavy crane hoisting Unit 02 into position. The neck armour is retracted, the entry plug exposed and waiting for you. As the crane moves Unit 02 close by, you jump across the last few inches of empty space and grab the segmented armour. Your heart pounds in your chest as the entry plug closes up around you, warm LCL flooding in like a wave.

“Radio check,” Bergmann begins, her voice clipped and businesslike, “Remember Holly. You're just acting as our eyes for now. Get us a good image of the damage, then we can plan our next move. I'm already starting to see some strange readings on Unit 02's systems. How do you feel?”

Hot blood, burning through your veins. Every nerve ending sparking like lightning.

“I'm doing okay,” you answer, “But I'm feeling it too. He... Unit 02 is definitely reacting to SOMETHING.”

A shudder runs through Unit 02 as you finish the descent. Dropping low, clawing on hands and knees like a beast, you prowl closer to Adam. A glint of metal catches your eye, and you glance down to see the sad remains of a drone – crushed, imploded, already rusting into ruin. Ignoring the lifeless husk, you creep closer to the great tree. The mechanism looks even worse up close, screens and boxy computers bulging out of the original device. Zooming in with Unit 02's optics, you slowly look the device up and down.

“I see, I see. It looks like they were trying to study the process, trying to understand it. Maybe then, they could bend it to their own purposes. Idiots!” Bergmann hisses, more talking to herself than to anyone else, “No wonder it's unstable, with the amount of crap they bolted on. Haven't these people ever heard of simplicity? Of elegance?”

“Doctor Bergmann,” Brahms chides, “Focus please.”

“Yeah, focus,” you agree, “If this junk is causing the problem, should I just rip it all off?”

“NO!” both scientists shout. There is a short pause, then Bergmann continues. “No, this needs to be done carefully. If this is connected up like I think it is, any violent removal could destroy the entire device. Get me a closer look,” she orders, “There should be an emergency release buried somewhere inside that mess... unless that bastard Kendrick ripped it out to make room for more of his crap.”

“Emergency release, right,” you mutter, making a tiny adjustment to the focus, “If we destroyed the device, though, would that make sure Adam stays asleep?”

“That device is the source of all our problems,” Brahms points out, “So yes, destroying it would put an end to this. However-”

“Don't you dare!” Bergmann interrupts, a snarl in her voice.

[2/3]

>>4022254

“Don't you dare,” she repeats, her voice lowering to a vicious hiss, “Destroy that, and you can say goodbye to-”

The rest of this threat is lost as you cry out in pain, a sudden heat bursting through your entire body. Static flares across the screens around you, the world breaking up in a haze of digital snow. Without any command, Unit 02 starts to reach for the monstrous device. Forcing the giant back under your control, you slam your hands down into the soft, loamy soil and claw blindly at the dirt. Loose clods of earth float up around you, bumping off Unit 02's armoured hide and spinning wildly away. Slowly, you manage to assert dominance once more.

“It... happened... again,” you snarl, spitting the words out, “Almost lost control that time. Think Unit 02 was trying to destroy your little toy.”

“Yes. It must be reacting to Natasha – the trace amounts of Lilim material inside her,” Bergmann muses, “Just hold on a little longer, please. We're analysing the footage you captured, and I think we've got a solution. Diane managed to find some survey photographs, and we're just comparing them with the...”

A low, tortured growl escapes your throat. With faint alarm, you realise that it doesn't just feel like you're burning up from within – the LCL around you is actually starting to bubble, reeking like frying grease.

“Here!” Brahms calls out, oblivious to your desperation. A number of pictures flash up on the screen, the confused jumble of computers with one gap highlighted in red, a blueprint of what you first assume to be an emergency brake level, a scrolling list of measurements and numbers. “Holly,” Brahms continues, “You'll need to reach inside, pull the emergency release by hand. If you're fast, you should be able to make it out unharmed. As soon as the release has been pulled, this should all stop.”

Right. All sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

>You can end this. Get out of Unit 02, pull the emergency release
>You're not taking any chances here. You can just smash the thing
>Other

>>4022295
>You can end this. Get out of Unit 02, pull the emergency release
Gentlemen it's been an honor.

>>4022295
>You can end this. Get out of Unit 02, pull the emergency release.
We are literally Max Ego right now, we can't be in a better position to do anything.

The only problem is going to be the fact that once we get outside of 02 we can't stop him, unless Claire intercedes.

>>4022295
>Ask for a repetition on what happens if we just smash it real quick

>>4022295
>>You can end this. Get out of Unit 02, pull the emergency release

>>4022295
>Other
Retreat, form a sensible plan (more units, remote support, another drone) and try again. Bergmann implied days, unless that has changed this is nonsense.

>>4022313
Nate's probably going to go brain dead, have her Ego collapse or something worse, and it might happen anyway.

Also we might want to have them call down the elevator as well, so we can get out of here safely if 02 does something and we can't return safely / immediately.

“Bergmann,” you snarl, heaving in a painful breath, “What happens if we smash this? What happens?”

“What do you THINK will happen?” she snaps, “You'll be destroying something very precious, something we won't ever get back.”

“It's Nate!” Vic adds, his harried voice cutting into the radio, “She's still in there, remember? You need to get her out of there, and... and if you hurt her, I won't forgive you! I won't ever forgive you!”

Nate. The bottom falls out of your stomach as you hear that name. Shaking off the last of your doubts, you disengage the entry plug and brace yourself for the worst. A shudder runs through Unit 02 as the plug is released, thrust out into the open air, and you waste no time in barging the door open. LCL spills out, practically throwing you from the ADM and bearing you down to the ground. The soft, muddy soil is there to meet you, both to break your fall and drag you down into the mire. Struggling against the cloying grip, you-

>Intrusion detected! Ego reduced by 5
>Current Ego: 65/70

Missing time. You don't remember struggling upright, but you manage it somehow. With the swampy ground sucking at your feet, you wade towards the base of the great tree. Behind you, Unit 02 is beginning to stir. In some strange way, it reminds you of one of Karina's seizures. Just like one of her seizures, it's an omen of bad news to come. Desperately afraid of breaking something delicate, of causing some terrible feedback loop that might blow this whole place to pieces, you climb up towards the device and-

>Intrusion detected! Ego reduced by 5
>Current Ego: 60/70

You blink in confusion, suddenly confused at what you're looking at. This isn't the target Brahms showed you. This is... a different angle, you realise after a sickening second. Scurrying around the swollen mass of tubes and cables, you spot the gap – just narrow enough to slip your arm into. Pressing your body against the grinding computers, you reach in and feel blindly about. Then, from behind you, a deep rumble of metal grinding against metal.

Unit 02 rises like a drunkard, arms flailing with ponderous strength as it tries to balance. Fails to balance, falls against the great tree itself with an impact that throws you from your feet. Landing badly, you cry out in pain. Every time you try to struggle back upright, another tremor sends you collapsing back down to-

>Intrusion detected! Ego reduced by 5
>Current Ego: 55/70

It's just barely out of reach, your fingers brushing feebly against the release lever. Trying everything you can think of, twisting your body around and pressing yourself flat against the bank of computers, you somehow manage to hook one finger around the release lever. Another finger follows, although it feels like you're dislocating your shoulder to manage it. Something gives, the lever shifting slightly, but still...

Still not enough.

[1/?]

>>4022365

Stumbling back away from you, from the great tree, Unit 02 slams into the chamber's far wall. The whole area shakes, and you collapse down once more. This time, though, you feel the lever jolt down with you. Dislodged by your fall, the stiff lever snaps down and into place. With a sudden hiss of releasing pressure, the outside edge of the device unfolds like the petals of some diseased flower.

Dimly aware of the sudden chill that sweeps through you, you collapse down to the ground and stare lifelessly up towards the ceiling. Over on the far wall, Unit 02 has slumped down in mimic of your limp form. You're not sure how long you lie there, but eventually you hear liquid footsteps squelching closer. Her face hidden behind a rubber gas mask, Bergmann leans down to peer at you. Nodding to herself, apparently satisfied with whatever she sees in you, she straightens back off and marches towards her great work.

When you next see her, Bergmann is carrying something away – your first thought is a suitcase, bulky and made from dull metal, but it looks too... serious for that. It looks like she should be carrying around a pocket nuke in that case of hers.

It's Bergmann. Maybe she IS carrying around a pocket nuke – or something even more dangerous.

>Okay, so I'm going to pause this here for today. I'll be aiming to continue this on Wednesday with another short session, then pick things up on Friday
>Thank you for your contributions today!

>>4022398
Thanks for the run.

>>4022398
>Over on the far wall, Unit 02 has slumped down in mimic of your limp form

I wonder if he is tired of this shit as we are.

Thanks for running

>>4022398
>a suitcase, bulky and made from dull metal
Intriguing.
Thanks for running.

>>4022398
Thanks for running!

Damn I thought Nate was inside the fleshy bits not the metal bits. Maybe now she's in that suitcase? Unsettling.

File: VictorC.png (309 KB, 900x700)

309 KB PNG

There's three of you in this cabin – you, Vic, and the great Not-Here herself. You're not sure why Fletcher thought Nate's old room would be a good place for you to rest, but apparently he led you here. You say “apparently” because you don't remember any of it. Someone carried you from Adam's grave to this sad room, leaving you under Vic's watchful eye. Barely swapping a handful of words since waking up, you just... sit. And wait.

“Wish I had a change of clothes,” you remark, looking down at your plugsuit and making another attempt at conversation, “I feel as good as naked in this thing.”

Even this blatant provocation fails to get much response from Vic, a slight glance your way but nothing else. Then he tenses up as the sound of approaching footsteps reach you, a hard knock on the door following close after. Fletcher. And your luggage. Before the mercenary can get a word in, Vic has risen to his feet. “What happened to Nate?” he demands, “Why is nobody telling me... telling us... what happened to-”

Fletcher drops your bag with a heavy thud, the sound causing Vic to flinch and fall silent. “Natasha is currently missing in action,” he answers simply, “He still haven't found her.”

A splutter of incredulous laughter bubbles from your lips. “You haven't FOUND her?” you cry, “How can you...” Before you can build up any kind of momentum, the anger fades and fails within your breast. Slumping back on the thin, uncomfortable bed, you stare numbly at the metal deck underfoot. “Was there ever any chance?” you ask softly, “Did we ever have a chance of... of saving her?”

Something lands beside you with a rustle of sheets. A small digital recorder. Looking up, you see Fletcher standing over you. “I found that on Doctor Bergmann's desk. I think it was meant for you,” he explains, frowning before continuing in a defensive tone, “I wasn't searching her things. I was just-”

“Yeah, fine, great,” you interrupt, giving the recorder a disinterested glance, “Wouldn't want to piss her off, huh?”

Fletcher just gives you a sour, humourless look before turning and marching out. You let him leave, shuddering slightly once the door clanks shut. Vic looks at the recorder for a long moment before speaking up. “Do you want some time alone?” he asks, “Do you want me to... go?”

“...No,” you breathe, finally picking up the audio recorder and turning it over in your hands. Scuffed black plastic, the buttons worn smooth by long hours of use and re-use. A faint sense of nostalgia for a time you never actually experienced. Vintage electronics always do that, you've noticed.

You're stalling. Fumbling with the device for moment, you press down on the play button and Bergmann's voice whispers out into the cabin.

[1/3]

>>4026876

“Holly. Have you heard the phrase “cognitive dissonance” before? I'm sure you have. You play the part of a thug well enough, but that's all it is. A part. An act. Even if you haven't heard of it, I'm sure you've felt it before. The discomfort that comes from holding two conflicting ideas or beliefs. That makes it sound so clinical, doesn't it? But in reality, it's a bloody and vicious feeling – like you're being torn in two, pulled apart by wild horses.”

“Johanna, then. I want to hold her close, to never let her go again, and yet I can't bear to look at her. I push her away, but then I want nothing more than to drag her back. Do you understand now? When I look at her, I see all of my sins staring back at me. I lost her once, and she won't ever let me forget that. There were so many lives lost in Second Impact, so many parents robbed of their children, yet I was given this... gift.”

“Matheson knew, that witch. She knew that Johanna would make me weak. Make me doubt myself. Well, I suppose it didn't help her very much in the end, did it?”

“The worst part, I think, is that I know you're right. Johanna was better off without me. I left her, all those years ago, to keep her safe – to keep her from being dragged into this world. Now I can see how foolish that was. She's here, and I can't bear to cut myself off again. I love her. Strip away all the denials and justifications, and that's what it comes down to. I LOVE her... and some days, I feel like it's going to destroy me. No other animal would willingly subject itself to a pain like this, but here we are. Humans truly are irrational beings, aren't they?”

“But irrational as we may be, we deserve a second chance – a chance to do things right. I don't want Johanna to grow up in a world that cowers away from inhuman monsters, from alien gods. I don't want her to live her life relying on girls like you, Holly.”

“I have an idea of what's coming, what needs to be done. I've accepted it, made peace with it. I doubt we're likely to speak again, Holly, so let me say this - This world IS worth saving. I know it doesn't often feel that way, but it's true. I hope you can understand that, one day.”

“I should cut this off here before I bore you to death. Besides, I don't know how long I can keep recording before-”

[2/3]

>>4026880

The recording clicks off, falling silent and leaving you staring at the lifeless device. “That's IT?” you cry, anger rushing out of you like a hot wind, “She was gonna leave us with THAT? Why not something more... more important?”

“Maybe it WAS important,” Vic muses, “To her, at least.”

All too aware of the sulky scowl on your face, you look back down at the recorder. Vic's right – Bergmann must have felt this was important, if it was meant to be her last words to you. One last hand grenade thrown onto your expectations, or a desperate attempt at being understood? Yet, it seems perverse to waste her last words – what she assumed would be her last words – on you, not Johanna herself. What might the young girl make of this?

Your phone, sitting at the very top of your bag, chimes. Hastily grabbing it, you take the call without even glancing at the screen. “Holly?” Monroe asks, “Is that you?”

Monroe. Disappointing, but you don't know why. Who were you expecting?

“I think it's me,” you answer, looking around the cabin, “Hard to tell sometimes.”

A weak attempt at a laugh. “Well, I'm glad to see that you've got your sense of humour back,” Monroe offers, “Just, um, checking in. We're going to be leaving Temple pretty soon, so don't bother getting unpacked. You weren't, um, unpacking your things, were you?”

Glancing down at the untouched bag, you shake your head. Well, not that Monroe can see that, but never mind. You've got other things on your mind. “Where's Bergmann?” you ask, your voice cold, “Is she still here, or has she pulled another vanishing act?”

“She's here. In Isolation. Um, wait. I wasn't supposed to tell you that...” Monroe groans softly to herself, “Look, Holly, pretend you didn't hear that. Please. This isn't a good time, for her or for you. Just leave it be. For today, at the very least.”

Without replying, you end the call and give Vic a weary look. “She's hiding something,” you state bluntly.

“Isn't everyone?” he replies quietly.

>You should visit Monroe. Maybe she'll be more willing to talk in person
>Johanna deserves to hear this recording too. You'll take it to her
>Isolation. That's where Bergmann is, that's where you'll need to go
>There's something else... (Write in)
>Other

>>4026880
>No other animal would willingly subject itself to a pain like this
Oh shit, Bergmann remembered the hedgehog dilemma. This is a clear precursor to tanging everyone.

>>4026883
>You should visit Monroe. Maybe she'll be more willing to talk in person

>>4026883
>You should visit Monroe. Maybe she'll be more willing to talk in person
>Johanna deserves to hear this recording too. You'll take it to her

>>4026883
>Isolation. That's where Bergmann is, that's where you'll need to go.
Matherson managed to bring Johanna back, somehow after she had her run into Nebrios. why can't we do the same? We managed to bring Huang back after everyone else wrote her off.
Get Vic to take the recording to Johanna.

Where is the case she recovered, we found her the first time after going bodiless, let's try it again.

>>4026907
I was hoping we could get more information from Monroe about this whole Isolation situation before we go over there.

>>4026913
And give Bergmann more time to do whatever it is she is doing?

“I'm going to see her. Monroe. I don't know, I just...” you pause, gesturing vaguely, “I just want to talk to her. In person. When I answered the phone, I felt like she didn't actually want to talk. So I guess I gotta sit on her desk until she gives up.”

“That doesn't sound very comfortable. For either of you,” Vic replies dryly, but his voice is the ghost of what it should be. “I think I'll just stay here for a while,” he adds, “I need to get some rest. I don't know if I'll sleep, but... I should give it a try, at least.”

There's something big, something vast and unspoken, surrounding you both. Unable to put it into words, you reach out and place your hand on Vic's shoulder. He covers your hand with his own, and you feel the warmth of his touch. Clinging to that warmth for a few more precious seconds, you turn and march out of the cabin. You don't look back – if you did, you might never be able to break away.

-

The weather, at least, has improved. The storm seems to have blown itself out while you were unconscious, leaving the air cold and fresh with the smell of salt. Without slowing down for a moment, you march across the deck of the ship and into the crooked tower looming above. Metal clanks underfoot as you take the stairs two at a time, banging hard on the door to Monroe's temporary office. “Um,” Monroe calls out, “Who is it?”

“Who do you think?” you call back.

There is a long pause. “I'm not in at the moment,” Monroe replies lamely, already sounding embarrassed by her own words. Ignoring her, you barge inside and collapse down into the chair opposite her. Practically leaping to her feet, Monroe hurries across to the door and fussily closes it. “Right, so maybe I am in,” she admits at last, “But I'm pretty busy right now. My schedule is totally booked for today. It's not easy, you know, organising our operations here. I have to-”

“I want to know what happened to Nate,” you interrupt, “Keep it as simple as possible, so even a thug like me can understand.”

Monroe opens her mouth, starts to say something, closes her mouth without a single word. “Holly, I don't know if I understand it either,” she concedes at last, “Ingrid called it a contact experiment, and she said that it was a complete success – although she didn't look very happy about it. She tried to explain, but she wasn't making much sense. I know, um, that it was an experiment. And that it involved making contact.”

“Contact,” you repeat, “With Adam.”

“I would assume so,” the commander agrees, “We thought it might improve a pilot's abilities, but we were wrong. We were wrong, and now, I don't know what's going on. How can a girl just... disappear into thin air? We didn't even find any traces of LCL, anything that might suggest ego collapse. She's just... gone.”

Gone. Disappeared. Without a trace.

[1/?]

Actually, I think Bergmann is either dead, or she injected herself with whatever was in the case.

The last two lines of her recording makes it look like the recording shut itself off it wasn't Bergmann.

Also why else would she be in isolation, she has obviously done something to herself.

>>4026967
Also in the 2nd recording Phantom sent us, Monroe mentions Contact Experiments. She obviously knows more, and has known about them for a very long time.

Thread #1 post >>3358456

Bergmann: Don't smash my machine or you won't get Nate back.

Us: doesn't smash the machine, still don't get Nate back.

We lost 15 Ego for whatever shit she's pulling.

>>4027025
She didn't say anything about Nate, that was Vic. Bergmann said that whatever was inside was valuable

>>4027025
>Bergmann: I am going to sacrifice myself to stop machine

>Us: No more sacrifices, here is a plan

>Bergmann a few hours later: This is my final message...

Shit's hilarious. Here's hoping whatever is going on is overall beneficial.

>>4027028
And she didn't correct Vic when he spoke up. That's still deliberately misleading us at great cost to our mind.

>>4027030
If i had to guess Nate got subsumed by Adam, so when He wakes up because Lilith goes active Nate will had had enough of an impart herself on Adam, and since she has probably been fed false info by Bergmann. He's going to do most of the heavy lifting to achieve Bergmann's goal, except it's going to go horribly wrong somehow.

>>4027041
Realistically If we had destroyed the machine there would be no way to get Nate back at all since she is probably lost to Adam, it would also happen to destroy the Case so they were talking past one another.

I'm sure at great Ego cost we could get her back, because we still have that old imprint of her floating around in our head, something similar to Huang's revival in methodology would probably work..

>>4026963

“I saw Bergmann with a... a thing. A suitcase looking thing. She took it out of the device, down there in Adam's grave,” you continue, “I don't think it would have been big enough to hold Nate, even if you...” You can't bear to finish that thought aloud. The thought of anyone doing... that... to Nate's body is just too much to stomach. “She's got that thing down in Isolation, hasn't she?” you press, “Doing... god only knows what to it.”

“Yes, Ingrid is in Isolation. Yes, she has that... box with her. But I don't think she's doing anything to it,” Monroe answers, “According to our systems, none of the experimental equipment down there is in use. For all we know, she's just... I don't know, staring at it.”

It's Bergmann. That doesn't put your mind at ease in the slightest. That woman could start trouble in an empty room, and she might be doing that right this instant.

“She was desperate to get that box. When I mentioned breaking that device, she freaked out,” you mutter to yourself, shaking your head, “I mean, she was prepared to die for that crap. I risked my ass to save that thing, all because she let me think Nate was inside. She... she fucking played me!” Bringing your palm slapping down onto the desk, you give Monroe one of your best scowls. “That fucking box meant everything to her!” you snap, “So don't act like she's just... wasting time down there!”

Monroe stares at you for a long moment before reaching into her pocket and tossing down a blank card. A security pass, you'd guess. “Isolation is locked down. We have signal readings, but no camera. I don't know what she's doing down there. To be honest, I'm worried. It's not like Ingrid to be so... idle,” she says at last, “The last thing she said to be was that she wanted some time alone. She gave me the impression that it was VITALLY important that she was left alone.”

“I'm sure she did,” you agree, “And you know she was probably bullshitting you, right?”

“The possibility did cross my mind,” Monroe admits, “Look. Isolation is in strut three, so you'll need a heli to get there. I can have one prepared, but... I don't know. It'll take time. Can you wait?”

Taking the security card from the desk, you drop it into your raincoat pocket. There, it brushes against the digital recorder. “I can wait,” you assure her, “I've got something I need to take care of first.”

Reaching for her phone, Monroe pauses. “I know that Ingrid has done bad things, terrible things. I have no right to defend her, or to try and justify what she's done. I won't even try,” she murmurs, “But she was willing to give her life for this, whatever it is. That has to mean something, right?”

“Oh, it means something,” you snap back, “Doesn't have to be something good, though, does it?”

[2/3]

Why is Monroe so sure that she isn't just running from the consequences of her actions?

>>4027086
I'm not getting that impression.

>>4026963
>How can a girl just... disappear into thin air?
Gee, Monroe, I don't know. It's not like this happened for the first time. What happened to Reed, then, care to explain?

I think that what's happening is that Bergmann is preparing a Dummy Plug to shove into Adam. Then the world would not need to rely on girls like her and somehow everything would be fixed somehow.

>>4027079
>I don't know. It'll take time. Can you wait?
Ideally you'd just order her to be restrained and separated from the box by the guards in the Isolation and wait for our arrival, but noooo, there's a heli, it need time.

>>4027098
>What happened to Reed, then, care to explain?
Ego collapse. She said there was no evidence of Ego collapse with Nate.

>>4027113
Nate is likely either, Stuck in the Box, the Tree or gone completely.
We should be able to check on the Box and Bergmann simultaneously while we are waiting for Helicopter if we go bodiless, assuming Isolation isn't shielded like Adam's chamber.

>>4027125
We should wait and go physically first. We have no idea how all this AT/Adam/Isolation stuff will effect our bodiless form. Let's work through the normal options first.

>>4027130
But do we even have the time for that, the longer we wait the more likely something is going to go wrong.

>>4027079

There's no such thing as a luxury cabin on an old military ship like this, but Johanna got the closest thing to one. Thick sheets pad out the meagre bed, while a stack of mismatched books spills across the floor. Sitting in a cocoon of blankets with just her face and hands visible, Johanna reads from a tattered book. A fishing manual, apparently. Not exactly thrilling reading, but she seems interested. Interested enough that you have to clear your throat to get her attention, at least.

“Fishing,” you begin, pointing to the book, “Hobby of yours?”

“Yes,” Johanna answers haltingly, “Papa taught me how to fish. We always went fishing on the weekends, no matter what the weather was like. That was our special time. When we were in the other place, the city, Mama said she would take me fishing one day. When all this is over, she said, but I don't know what that means. Is this ever going to be over?”

If you could answer that question, you would. Coming up empty-handed, you take out the digital recorder instead. “I have a message from Doctor... from your mother,” you tell the young girl, delicately placing the recorder down beside her, “She left it for me, but I think you should hear it too. I won't force you to listen, but it's here if you want it.”

Slowly, Johanna's hand creeps out from the thick layer of blankets and brushes against the recorder. She strokes it, caresses it, but never quite gathers up the courage to play the recording. “Thank you,” she whispers, “I don't know how I can... ah. When all this is over, I'll take you fishing. Okay?”

“Sounds great,” you agree, forcing a smile, “When all this is over. But, uh, I need to get moving. I've got some important stuff to do. I don't know if anyone's told you yet, but I'm kind of a big deal around here.”

Johanna nods happily, gigging a little at your boast. Holding her gaze for a moment more, you turn and leave her to her reading. As you're leaving, you hear a click and a familiar voice.

“Holly. Have you heard the phrase “cognitive dissonance” before? I'm sure you have...”

>I'm going to have to pause this here, I'm totally wrecked today. I should be able to continue this on Friday, though
>Thank you for your patience today!

>>4027135
I think this assumption that something is going to blow up in a short time is clouding our decision making.

>>4027153
Thanks for the run.
I wonder what kind of weird fish we're going to find after 3rd impact occurs.


We probably shouldn't have left her all alone, to hear the recording. She's is totally going to come after us, to try and help isn't she.

>>4027154
Anon, Bergmann has gone off on her own taking the Case that she retrieved from the one thing she has been planning since before we meet her, and she left us what basically amounts to a glorified suicide note. Something is going to happen if she is left to her own devices for too long, Any sort of delay that we take is going to bite us in the Ass.

>>4027167
>I wonder what kind of weird fish we're going to find after 3rd impact occurs.
I wonder if Johanna will be the one to fish it out

My guess is that Bergmann is going to give her body as Tang material so Nate gets a working vessel to use.

>>4027251
>Any sort of delay that we take is going to bite us in the Ass.

Delay in what? Are you going to fucking melt her because she'll be doing *something* to the briefcase? Are you going to interrupt something you know nothing about, something that requires an isolation chamber because you're so damn impatient you can't wait the 15 minutes to move to another strut? Hell there is a decent chance it could be beneficial for us, but no we have to kick down the door cause it's the evil witch Bergmann!

>Bergmann has gone off on her own taking the Case that she retrieved from the one thing she has been planning since before we meet her

Right that plan she already told us hinges on Holly's will to enact it. Let's also ignore the fact that she was about to sacrifice herself earlier to turn off the machine. You know, death, that thing that kind of stops her from picking up the case afterwards. Totally selfishly motivated Bergmann is right now huh? I also need to point out that your assumption assumes that all the options earlier were trap options made to waste our time and the only way to stop whatever you think is happening was to use a write in and that's never how Moloch has QMed ever. Even the 'Go to Bergmann now' option still would have needed a helicopter ride. So slow the fuck down, investigate a little more, and exhaust our options in the physical world before shoving our ghost head into everything and potentially fucking up things worse.

>>4027366
All we need to do while bodiless would be to figure out where Bergmann actually is and how to get to her minimizing the time we would need to use to find out the info once we get there, and if we were start picking up on any sort of activity that would be harmful to our Ego, all we should do is wait for the Helicopter to touch down before continuing on foot.

In order to not have us rush to her position would been actually and coherently explain what she is planing doing and how it would play into what she wants to happen with the note she left.


We literally have gone over previously (Here >>4027028 ) that Bergmann talks past people, and doesn't always answer the questions that you ask she reinterprets the question and responds in such a way that you can't tell.
Just because we eventually will have the final say in how things doesn't mean that she won't set things up to play out in such a way to have us be more likely to pick her choice.

>>4028053
>All we need to do while bodiless would be to figure out where Bergmann actually is

There is no question about where she is. Monroe and the team have been monitoring her. We are being led to her currently.

>>4028097
Honestly at this point you would think that someone would actually ask Bergmann for an explanation as to what she is doing, instead of rolling over and letting her do whatever she wants, The Council had her on a short chain for a very good reason.

Maybe we should see if we can get into contact with Brahms or Laing, on the way there and see what their position on all of this is.

>>4028104
Also another thing to ask about if we can is what Unit Nate was slated to use and what her compatibility was last time we checked, since we don't have any that are both combat ready but don't have pilots. Having her do all of this is completely unnecessary, especially since we know through both Huang and Coraline that using Lilium biomass works to increase a pilots score. Unless they were trying to get her to Pilot Adam, himself or something.

Another thing that doesn't make sense is why they didn't create a clone (Either of Nate, or engineer one themselves) to be used for this, instead they jump straight to live trials, even when they know what happened to Reed, if anything this lines up perfectly with what they did to her since i doubt that they found her LCL. Since Coraline found Reed, eventually. We should get around to checking Adam's grave, while bodiless just to make sure.

File: HollyR2.png (320 KB, 900x700)

320 KB PNG

“What's with that frown?” Fletcher asks, raising an eyebrow as you march towards the waiting helicopter, “You're not happy to see me?”

“Not especially,” you snap, “I was expecting a babysitter, but I was hoping for someone else. You're on HER side.” Pushing past the mercenary, you haul yourself into the helicopter and sit heavily in one of the bucket seats. “Well, fine. I guess we're stuck with each other,” you continue, snapping the safety harness closed, “We're behind schedule already, so just strap yourself in and let's get this over with.”

-

Isolation. The word makes you think of some deep, dark pit somewhere, maybe at the very bottom of a mineshaft. The sort of place that you'd use to dump radioactive waste and hopefully never look at it again. Here, the word just means the guts of a vast ship, albeit sealed behind a seriously hardcore door. Fletcher seems a little surprised when you take out a security card of your own, but he doesn't say anything and simply watches as you swipe the card through the reader. Locks cycle, with the sort of metallic clank you'd normally associate with a bank vault.

Cavernous, and almost pitch black, the Isolation chamber stretches out before you. The walls are lined with dangerously uneven stacks of old equipment, old computers and more arcane gear threatening to collapse down at the slightest touch. A single lamp burns at the far end of the hold, the light causing Bergmann's long shadow to stretch out and merge with the gloom. She's sitting down next to her precious box, slumped motionless across it, and you feel a stir of unease as you wait for any sign of life.

Fletcher gestures for silence as you approach Bergmann, but you barely notice him. A few steps more, and the world seems to swim around you. A second image, like a heat haze, overlaps the darkened hold. One moment everything is normal, a metal deck underfoot and leaning stacks of crates either side of you, and then everything changes. You see tall marble pillars and light from flaming torches, you hear a pulsing drumbeat. Before, you saw Bergmann sitting over the box. Now, you see a robed priestess standing aloft over a slaughtered, sacrificed, bull. Blood drips from her hands, and-

“Thank you, Fletcher,” Bergmann announces suddenly, and reality collapses back down onto you, “But you can leave us now.”

“I don't think that's a good idea,” Fletcher counters, placing a heavy hand on your shoulder, “I think I should be here.”

“I'm sure you do, but that really doesn't matter. Leave us, please,” the scientist insists, her voice calm and polite, “You wouldn't want me to let your big secret slip, would you?”

Fletcher is silent for a long time before he takes his hand from your shoulder. “Have it your way, then,” he mutters, turning and leaving you alone with the doctor.

[1/2]

>>4032437

“Come over here,” Bergmann urges. She's yet to look around, yet to take her eyes off the box. Now that you're a little closer, you can see that the box is open. Hesitantly, you creep over and finally take a look at what it contains, only to draw back with a sharp stab of fear. Inside, you see what seems to be a Lilim core – a black sphere, the liquid surface pulsing with a soft inner light. Wrestling with both fear and fascination, you reach out your hand to touch it.

When your fingers brush against hard glass, you snap back to your senses. It's not a Lilim core, you're sure of that much, but it's something... else.

“This is the weapon that will kill Lilith, once and for all,” Bergmann whispers, stroking the glass, “The weapon capable of harnessing Excalibur's true form. The Saturnalia Engine. Engine? Organ, perhaps. The line between the two has become blurred.”

“Where's Nate?” you murmur, spitting the words out through gritted teeth, “What did you do to her?”

Bergmann lets out a soft, almost silent sigh. “You're looking at her,” she breathes, nodding down to the organ, “No human – not even you – can survive sustained contact with Adam's power, but that power is necessary. Without it, we can never reach our true potential. And so, a vessel was needed – a means for Unit 02 to safely harness Adam's power. Natasha... she wanted to protect mankind, and she was prepared to offer up her life to that end.”

“Not like this!” you cry, your voice echoing around the hold, “You... you butchered her!”

At long last, Bergmann looks around at you. “Yes, I did,” she admits, “What I've done is unforgivable, I realise that, but this is the only way. Without this sacrifice, mankind will be trapped in this cycle forever. Do you see now why I couldn't let the Saturnalia Engine be lost? Lilith must be destroyed, no matter the cost. Now, you and Unit 02 will have the chance.”

“Why me?” you whisper, the strength bleeding out of your words, “Why does it have to be me?”

“Because of the bond that exists between you and Natasha,” she says simply, “You're already connected. Her power will be yours to wield.”

The bond. The bond that SHE created. “Even back then...” you begin, trying to force your thoughts into words, “Even back then, you were planning this. You knew she was going to... you knew THIS would happen, and you still managed to look her in the eye. To hell with the Lilim, you're the REAL monster!”

Closing her eye, Bergmann lets out a soft sigh. “I've never denied that,” she points out, “I know exactly what I've done, the number of lives I've ruined for this future. I was prepared to give my own life for it too. I know the cost has been high, but Lilith MUST be destroyed – nothing else matters.”

>I just... wish it didn't have to be this way
>You're wrong. NATE matters!
>I can't use this weapon. I refuse to use it
>I... (Write in)
>Other

>>4032439
>You're wrong! NATE matters!

>I can't use this weapon. I refuse to use it.

WELP. Wish I could say I was surprised.

>>4032439
>I can't use this weapon. I refuse to use it
You are not the first to have told me that I will need more power, and you won't be the last, it has never been about where we end up, only how we get there, if we need to always live in the shadows of giants let it be so, it's no skin off my back.

We should ask why she couldn't have just used a clone.


This is what happens when you go ahead and do things, before you make sure that others are Ok with having these thing done in their name.

>>4032439
>You're wrong. NATE matters!
"Don't give me that bullshit that she 'chose' this. You taught me that lesson well with Huang that you can ask for permission but the answer will always be yes. We both know she would have agreed to anything if she thought it could help us."

>I just... wish it didn't have to be this way

“You're wrong,” you whisper, finding new resolve in that simple, blunt denial, “NATE matters! Don't act like she agreed to this – she would have agreed to anything if she thought it would help us. She never signed up for THIS!” Tearing your gaze away from Bergmann, you stare back down into the box, staring at the Saturnalia Engine. As if reacting to your anger, the surface of the orb seems to be rippling more than before. “Why did it have to be her?” you add, “You had this whole facility, you could have... you could have made another!”

“And destroy that one instead?” Bergmann asks quietly, “Would that be better?”

“That's not what I meant!” you snap, “I meant... I mean...”

“In either case, that was the first thing we tried. It didn't work. The construct couldn't withstand contact with Adam. It simply disintegrated. No matter what we tried, it was a flaw we couldn't overcome. A flaw with their biology, with the salvaged shreds of their personality, with some other aspect of their nature...” she shakes her head, “But I think it's simpler than that. Natasha had a stronger will, a stronger connection to the world. No matter how real they are, those dolls could never match that.”

But you've seen Juliet, seen her change into something more than what she originally was. The doll became a real girl – but then, she would still be sending a girl to their death for the sake of this fucking weapon. No matter which way you look at it, it's a trap you can't escape from.

“I just can't use it,” you insist, pulling your hand away from the box, “I can't! Not knowing what it is, where it came from. I refuse.”

“You can't!” Bergmann snaps, her eye widening as you see, at last, a flash of alarm, “You're the only one who can wield this weapon. We NEED this!” She stands, grabbing you by the arms and looking down on you with a blazing light in your eye. “You understand that, don't you? Lilith has to be destroyed, and this is the only way...” her voice trails off here, her lips twisting down in a grimace. “Then all this has been for nothing,” she breathes, “If you refuse this, Natasha will have died for no reason. You'll be throwing away her life.”

“No doc,” you spit, jerking away from her grip, “You managed that all by yourself.”

Turning your back on her, you begin to march for the exit. Bergmann shouts after you, her voice ringing off the metal walls. “You know I'm right!” she yells, “You can't turn your back on this, Holly! You know that this is the only way!”

Squaring your shoulders and ignoring her words, you take out the security pass and swipe it through the lock. You get it open eventually, but it takes you a few tries.

Your hands are shaking.

[1/?]

>>4032475
Realistically speaking, she is probably right.

>>4032485
I think that eventually there would come a point when that even after all this nothing would change, in the grand scheme of things, since all humanity seems to be able to do is throw everyone else under the bus.

I have a feeling that Fletcher secret is that he has known what would happen for quite some time.

>>4032475

You manage to make it all the way up to the deck before you lose control, your stomach lurching abruptly. Hurrying over to the railings, you lean out and vomit into the ocean below. You keep thinking of Bergmann, imagining her methodically searching for a suitable sacrifice – the perfect mix of gullibility and desperation. With the patience of a spider, she sat on her web and drew up her plan. No matter how virtuous her goals might be, this is just... too much.

With the sour taste of bile in your mouth, you stumble back from the railings and collapse down onto the deck. After who knows how long, a pair of heavy boots stomp into your field of view. Crouching down, Fletcher studies you for a moment before gently easing you back to your feet. “I'm surprised,” he grunts as he lifts you up, “You haven't asked me about it yet.”

“I don't care,” you rasp, leaning away from him and spitting, “Asked you what?”

“What my big secret is,” Fletcher answers, “It's my name. My first name. I've always been embarrassed by it.”

Looking around, you give Fletcher a confused scowl. He's looking straight ahead, his expression perfectly serious – solemn, even. This has to be some attempt at cheering you up, at distracting you, but you're too tired to object. “So you don't like your name. Big deal,” you mutter, allowing him to help you into one of the helicopter's seats, “You could just change it, you know?”

“I know. I've thought about it, but it's not easy. It's the name my parents gave me. It means something to me,” the mercenary thinks aloud, sitting down opposite you and gazing into space, “Sometimes in life, you're dealt a bad hand. You've just got to deal with it the best you can. That's what it means to me.”

“You've just got to deal with it the best you can,” you repeat numbly, “You mean like, by changing your name?”

“Look, that's not...” Fletcher grimaces, “Fine. So metaphors were never really my strong point. What I mean is-”

“Why didn't anyone STOP her?” you interrupt, giving him an almost pleading look, “Why was Bergmann allowed to get away with this? Why didn't someone step in sooner?”

With a soft grunt of dismay, Fletcher avoids your gaze. It takes him a long time to answer your question. Maybe he's asked himself the same question, you wonder, and maybe he couldn't answer it then either. “It's... complicated,” he offers at last, “The truth is, we're all complicit in this. Ingrid said that she had a way of ending this war, and nobody questioned it – nobody WANTED to question it. We wanted the same thing as her, but we didn't want to dirty our hands. So, we turned our backs and let her do her work. Out of sight, out of mind. That's no excuse, but there it is.”

“There it is,” you repeat, “The world really is full of shit.”

“Yeah,” Fletcher agrees, “It really is.”

[2/3]

>>4032529

You're not really sure how it happens, but you haltingly explain Nate's situation to Fletcher. He listens carefully, for once setting aside the mask of careful neutrality that you've grown used to seeing. First confused, then sickened, and finally settling on bleak acceptance, he considers your words. “I hate to say it,” he concludes, “But she might have a point. If this... weapon... is the only thing capable of destroying Lilith once and for all, we may not have a choice.”

“But we can pacify her, can't we?” you insist, “The control rods...”

“It's true, those should serve to keep Lilith under control, but then what? We'd be living under her shadow, and the system would just keep perpetuating itself,” the mercenary murmurs, “And if something went wrong...”

“Cognitive dissonance,” Claire remarks, leaning over your shoulder, “What did Bergmann call it? The discomfort that comes from holding two conflicting ideas or beliefs? Seems pretty appropriate right now – we know she's right, that Lilith must die, but we can't accept her methods. Discomfort... that's an understatement!”

Numbly shaking your head, you try to ignore her. Fletcher, taking your gesture for something else entirely, gets up and moves to speak with the helicopter pilot. A few seconds later, the engine shudders into life.

-

It's only a short hop, from one ship to another, but that's enough time for a new idea to strike you. “Vic. Oh god,” you breathe, flinching as the helicopter bumps heavily onto solid ground, “What am I going to tell him?”

“The truth?” Claire suggests. That whole “ignoring her” thing isn't going very well. “I mean, seriously. Tell him the truth,” she continues, “None of this is your fault. He's not going to blame you for it. Plus, if he finds out that you were bullshitting him later, he'll be seriously mad. Then, he MIGHT blame you.”

You turn, looking behind you and seeing nothing. Looking back, you see the familiar girl lounging in the seat opposite you. “What's with this advice all of a sudden?” you ask, frowning at her, “I mean, I don't know if I should trust you on this.”

“Wow, rude. You're really hurting my feelings here – and, by default, your own feelings. I guess you're used to that, huh?” Claire points out, giving you a wink, “Hey, look, I'm just telling you what you already know. If I'm giving you shitty advice, that's because you want to ruin this for yourself. So basically, don't blame ME for any of this.”

“Yeah, thanks,” you mutter, “You're really saving the day here.”

What a mess...

>She's right. You need to tell Vic everything
>You could just play dumb. You don't need to tell Vic anything
>You could tell him... (Write in)
>Other

>>4032599
>She's right. You need to tell Vic everything
Let's try to soften the blow as much as possible. Not that this fucking thing can be softened a lot...

>>4032599
>She's right. You need to tell Vic everything

This is going to be brutal, but it must be done.

>>4032599
>She's right. You need to tell Vic everything
Should we consider returning home, Humanity clearly isn't worth saving.

Do we still have our knife on us? we may want get Johanna as far away as we can.

>>4032599
>You could just play dumb. You don't need to tell Vic anything
How the fuck do you tell something like this?

>>4032622
Bergmann's insanity and methods don't negate all of humanity. That's incredibly fickle of you.

>>4032646
She hasn't acted alone in this, A very large number of people (all of the scientists and senior staff in both the UN and NERV) have assisted, and covered for her in this, all simply because they decided to go for the expedient route, there would be no reason for them not to be able to take their time once Lilith enters stasis, to find another option.

>>4032658
The point I'm trying to make is that we just had a moment where we showed our resolve to Adam with Claudia that we are worth something and won't stop fighting. Immediately pulling a 180 on that because Bergmann and NERV acted like the shitheads we know them to be is pretty awful.

“Shit,” you mutter, “You're right. I mean, I'm right. I need to tell him. Oh god, how the hell am I going to tell him?”

“It's a tricky one,” Claire agrees, nodding soberly, “I suggest not fucking it up.”

“Oh great, when have I EVER-” you groan, biting back the rest of that sentence as Fletcher emerges from the helicopter's cockpit. He gives you a strange look but doesn't say anything as he passes you by. Claire is there one moment, and gone the next. Fumbling with the safety harness, you hop to your feet and hurry after Fletcher. “Hey, uh, chief. I need some advice,” you tell him, “How should I-”

“Just give him the facts, don't drag the conversation out any longer than it needs to be, and stay calm,” Fletcher interrupts, “He might get upset, so you need to keep your cool. Oh, and don't run away. Do NOT run away in the middle of a difficult conversation.”

Suitable chastised, you accept the advice with a nod.

-

The door closes slowly behind you, the locks grating together with a harsh groan. Vic jolts up, woken by the sudden noise, and rubs his eyes. Looking at you, his expression slowly darkens. It feels like you've fucked the conversation up already, and you haven't even said a word yet. Bracing yourself for the worst, you sit down beside him on the bed. “So. I managed to speak with Bergmann. I managed to... get some answers,” you begin, “And... Vic. I want you to listen carefully.”

He stares. His eyes, pleading you not to say anything more.

“It's Nate. She's gone. Bergmann's experiment was...” pausing, hesitating, you can hear your voice beginning to waver. Taking a breath to steady your nerves, you continue. “She needed Nate to make a weapon capable of destroying Lilith. It worked, but Nate is... gone.”

“Gone,” Vic repeats, in the dull voice of the uncomprehending.

“It was painless. It would have been like... going to sleep. She didn't suffer,” you continue, blindly hoping that you're right, “Vic, she always wanted to make a difference. To do her part for mankind – to keep YOU safe. I know this isn't what she was thinking of, I know this isn't going to make things any easier for you, but... but... Vic, please, just say something!”

“I don't know what to say,” he rasps, slowly shaking his head, “What do you WANT me to say?”

This isn't going how you expected it might go, even in your bleakest predictions. “Vic,” you murmur, “There was nothing we could have done, we-”

“Nothing we...” Vic repeats, his eyes widening, “We never should have come here, that's what! We never should have left home. I wish we'd never heard of NERV!”

“No!” you yelp as he leaps to his feet. You reach out, but he bats your hand away.

“Don't!” he snarls, “I've lost everything because of you people, and I... I...”

Unable to finish that sentence, Vic turns and flees from the room. The door slams behind him, leaving you alone in the new silence.

[1/?]

>>4032734
I wonder if we are still playing both parts during Claire conversations or we are just having a one sided conversation from the perspective of others.

>>4032708
Something needs to change and it isn't if we just hand them the win, they can't keep getting away with this, all of the pilots that have died So far, were killed in experiments, not on duty. If we don't do anything now the next time something of this magnitude pops up whomever has to deal with it is going to have to deal with the same problems.

>>4032744
I think it shifts depending on if we're currently being observed by others or not, or if Claire interacts with others.

He didn't even let us finish, and sees us as part of the problem.

>>4032734

“Okay, my bad,” Claire admits, “I wasn't expecting him to kick off like that. I mean, c'mon, when has Vic EVER kicked off? He's like-”

“Claire,” you interrupt, “Shut up. Just... shut up.”

No answer, of course. Slumping back against the bed, you stare up at the bland ceiling and think back over everything you said. Maybe it wasn't perfect, but you didn't think it was THAT bad. Were you trying to make light of it too much, or did you go too fast? Should you have stopped and let him ask questions, or would that have just made things worse? Maybe a comforting lie would have been better after all, but in the long term-

A knock at the door causes you to leap to your feet. Lunging for it, you yank the metal door open and find yourself looking at... Claudia. Not exactly who you had been expecting. “I'm coming in,” the heiress begins, brushing past you and limping inside.

“Hold on!” you yelp, “Shouldn't you start with “Can I come in?” or-”

“Oh, forget that,” she snaps, sitting heavily down on the bed and stretching out her bad leg, “You look like crap, and I heard shouting. What's wrong?”

“The shouting, right,” you mutter, “I don't know, I think... I think I'm kinda single again. I don't even know how it happened. I tried telling him about Nate, and I guess I fucked it up. Somehow.” Sighing, you sit down beside Claudia and bury your head in your hands. You're just waiting for the shitty insult or the sneering comment, but nothing comes. “Maybe he was right,” you continue, “They would have been better off if they never came here.”

With a sigh of her own, Claudia pats you on the arm. “Have you considered the fact that he might have thrown a tantrum no matter what you said?” she suggests, “Now, I'll admit that I don't know the exact situation, but I know it's nothing good. Bad news has a way of upsetting people, no matter how it's delivered. Just give him some time.”

“Time?” you repeat, “No way, you don't... there isn't enough time in the world to fix this!”

Tutting softly to herself, Claudia puts her arm around your shoulder and pulls you close. “Well, then I suppose you might as well give up,” she muses, “Just give up and let him run off with someone else. You know, I've seen the way he looks at Hester. I might put in a good word, see if they-”

Abruptly, you shove her away and give her a disgusted look. “Claudia, you...” you begin, “You're a real bitch, you know that?”

“I try,” she replies sweetly, “Now what are you sitting around here for? Go, GO!”

You go.

[2/3]

>>4032882

Metal clanks underfoot as you run up on deck, following some unspoken instinct. Cold wind and light rain slap you in the face as you emerge, and you have to hastily wipe your eyes clear. There by the railings, oblivious to the foul weather, you spot Vic gazing out at the sea. Hurrying across, you hear yourself call his name. He turns, your eyes meet, and you freeze. For a moment, the only sound is that of the wind.

Vic turns back towards Adam's grave, squaring his shoulders and leaning on the railings. Forcing yourself to move, you creep closer and stand beside him. For a long while, neither of you says a word. You just stand side by side, looking out at the bleak sight. Cold wind continues to blow, cutting through your thin shirt. No jacket, of course. No time for that. Shivering, trying to force the discomfort out of your thoughts, you wait for Vic to speak. If he doesn't say something soon, you're going to have to try something. Given your past record, that could be a disaster.

“She's gone then?” Vic asks quietly, his voice barely audible above the wind, “Really gone?”

Numbly, you nod. There's nothing else to say, nothing you haven't said already.

“At least it's...” he pauses, swallowing heavily, “It's closure.”

Silence.

“I don't know how I'm supposed to feel,” Vic admits suddenly, his voice strained and raw, “I feel... hollow. Like I've lost a piece of myself. I keep waiting for something else, something more, but it just won't come. Was it like this for you? With... with Claire?”

“I'm still trying to figure that one out,” you confess, “I'm not really... over her. Maybe I'll never be over her.”

“Oh,” he mumbles, straightening up and forcing himself to look you in the eye. Your heart quickens as you wait for him to speak, dreading what he might be about to say. “Holly. I'm sorry for running out like that,” he continues, “And... I'm sorry for saying those horrible things to you. I'm not good at these things, and I just... I needed to get out. To get AWAY. I don't even know what I was trying to get away from.”

“I...” you try to force a smile, “When you gotta go, you gotta go, right?”

Somehow, Vic manages to laugh. “That's... right,” he agrees, “But that doesn't change the fact that I said some terrible things to you. You're not to blame for any of this, but I took this out on you. I'll understand if you don't want us to... if you can't forgive me.”

A soft gasp escapes your lips as he says this. As you fumble for a response, you see a flash of pink in the background. Watching you from the distant railings, Claire gestures for you to say something, anything.

So you say...

>...(Write in)

>>4032892
>...(Write in)
Kiss him, words are hard.

>>4032892
"There's nothing to forgive. Anyone would be upset after hearing something like that. Come here."

>Hug

>>4032900
>>4032892

A kiss is worth a thousand words.

>>4032900
Kissing is more romantic. Nothing about the current situation is romantic. Try embracing. Better for mourning.

>>4032908
A distraction is a distraction Anon, we can use the time it buys us to come up with something.

I sort of feel like we should go into more detail about the engine out come of the experiment, and that we're not going to use it, since there should be a line in the sand somewhere, and all this stops us from doing is killing Lilith, we can still use the control rod to put her into stasis.

>>4032914
>Distraction
>Buying time

You don't have an emotional bone in your body do you?

>>4032927
Not if i don't need one.

Holly is out of her depth, and doesn't always make the right choices.

>>4032900
>>4032905
>>4032908
NOOOOOO HOLLY IS FOR GIRL KISSING ONLY

>>4032892
"I say terrible things to people all the time to feel better. Its nice to get it as bad as I give for once.

>>4032892
I forgive you Vic. I’d have handled it much worse. Still tempted to go back there to beat the shit out of Bergman but at this point sick fuck would probably get off on it. So quick to sacrifice the innocent and embrace pain for a shot of power. I don’t understand her.

>>4032892
>...(Write in)
"Nothing can be further from the truth Vic. I'm with you."

Ironically Holly has loads of practice screaming and running out of the room when there is upsetting news so she has some perspective here.

>>4032882
Claudia over here making her way to the 2nd Best Girl slot over the course of this trip.

>>4032892
Supporting this one: >>4032947
NOT supporting these ones: >>4032905 >>4032900

>>4032892
Hug him tight

>>4032947
What does your current ranking look like?

>>4032947
Claudia and Kaori are tied imo. Juliet takes second/third.

Nate/Coraline/Karina are all trapped below >9000 in doomed/tragic character hell

And then 5 layers below them is Hester, Coraline and Karinas handler.

>>4032965
The second coraline was supposed to be Claire

>>4032965
There's something hilarious and incredibly fitting about you forgetting Yulia. Stuck in irrelevancy hell.

>>4032972
Yulia has never, and will never matter.

File: Holly and Karina.png (1.18 MB, 1362x762)

1.18 MB PNG

>>4032964
Karina (I'm a big softy, shut up)
Claudia
Kaori
Juliet
Dakota
Monroe
The rest

>>4032980
I can respect that list. If I wasn't so afraid of caring about someone we cant save, that might be my list.

“There's nothing to forgive,” you tell him, “Anyone would be upset, hearing... something like that. You don't have anything to apologise for.”

Vic is silent as he considers your words, struggling to find some reply. This time, he's the one left unsure of what's happening. Was he expecting you to curse him out, to fling his apology back in his face? It's a grim thought, and you feel your heart sink a little. Reaching over and taking his hand in yours, you feel the coldness of his skin. He flinches a little at your touch, as if expecting you to strike him.

“I don't...” he begins, immediately lapsing back into silence. Even with his hand in yours, the distance between you seems incredible. It's like you're standing either side of some vast chasm, and no matter how loudly you shout your words just can't reach him. Even his hand feels numb, like you're clinging to some wax model instead. There's nothing you can do, except for-

With a sudden forwards lunge, you throw your arms around him. His eyes widen in shock, before closing as he eases into the embrace and puts his arms around you. The silence returns as you hold each other, but it's a different kind of silence – a comforting thing, the sort of silence that blocks out the rest of the world. You can feel Vic's heartbeat, and you're sure that he can feel yours. He reaches up and touches your hair, stroking it with a delicate touch, and you feel a guilty thrill run through your body.

“Oh,” he murmurs, a note of realisation in his voice, “You're shivering!”

“Because it's cold out here!” you protest, your voice muffled by his body, “I mean, isn't that obvious?”

“Oh, right,” Vic replies, looking up at the sky for what seems like the first time, “Maybe we should finish this inside...”

That's the best idea you've heard in a long time.

>Ego increased by 5
>Current Ego: 60/70

-

Later.

“I want to get out of here,” Vic murmurs, staring listlessly up at the ceiling, “We don't belong in a place like this. People, I mean. You feel it too, don't you? Even up here, this place feels like another planet.” He lapses back into silence as he thinks, sheets rustling softly as he shifts his weight on the bed slightly. You hold your tongue, waiting for him to continue. Here, together in this small room, you can almost hear the words before he says them aloud. “If they win, the whole planet will be like this,” he muses, “Won't it?”

“Something like it,” you agree, nodding slowly, “It won't be our planet, that's for sure.”

“Well,” Vic pauses, “I suppose it won't matter very much at that point, will it?”

“Oh,” you reply, realisation sinking in, “Good point.”

[1/?]

>>4032974
She had this one neat character trait about cutting out the chaff, having a well oiled machine, keeping things tight and orderly. Real SEELE Control hours you know? But nothing ever came of that. No ideals were challenged. She just kinda sat there only really perking up when it was about Fletcher or her scientist subplot that for her sake we couldn't really interfere with much.

I guess that's my one major gripe about this quest. The other pilots outside a few moments didn't really do much when it came to the overarching SEELE/NERV plots. You have Holly running all over the place uncovering secrets and displaying this big division of ideals that's taken root in the top brass on the future of the world. But once they also see those uncovered secrets they all kinda reacted like a dead fish before going back to watch TV. Didn't really do anything with the information given. Just let Holly have all the agency regarding that. Except Claudia. That was a good moment when we clashed. Anyways rant over, it's all in the past anyhow.

>>4032989
This "-" really intrigues me.
Because I get what it can imply, but I just can't see that happening in this particular situation.

>>4033002
Compartmentalization is a thing, someone has to be paying attention and making sure that if a Lilium shows up while Holly is off castigating people over their inaction it gets dealt with..

>>4033017
Except that with 2 exceptions Holly also does the heavy lifting in the fights
>>4033002
Very apt. Characters in this quest really like throwing around the same language associated with Rei with juliet "Oh you dont matter you are just a doll" but Juliet and Claudia were arguably the two characters with the most going on and Yulia was content to play her bit part unquestioningly. For gods sake, Claudia basically ate what should have been Yulias plotline in supporting SEELE supremacy when she was getting mind tampered by Matheson.
Yulia is probably worst girl. Even Dakota, who has had the least time to shine in the sun actually faught back valiantly against Matheson, was willing to question and fight SEELE and their bullshit, at least until we forgot about her and she got the mobu treatment.

>>4033032
Yulia trusted the UN implicitly because of her time in the refugee camp, though Matheson wouldn't need to invest any time in her to get her on side.

You need to remember that Dakota is the youngest of the pilots ignoring the clones since they get Memories during their awakening process, witch is basically Cheating by a couple of years and hasn't had the time to develop that the others have

>>4033038
Ironically in spite of that, Kaori was more of the 'UN rep' pilot due to her upbringing and father's position.

>>4033039
Not after Berith / Berlin happened, also she mentions that she did hear some things because they treated her like she wasn't in the room sometimes.

>>4033039
>>4033041
>>4033038
Honestly I imagine all the characters in a cafeteria getting handed out plotlines, and everyone just takes from Yulias plate one at a time.

At the end all she has is "Im sad about not being useful" which she had to split with Nate anyway and "Im horny for Fletcher"

Absolutely bottom tier.

>>4033048
She's still better off than Reed though.

>>4033050
Who?

>>4033052
Exactly.
Coraline's partner.

>>4033048
Show's not over yet. Under the guise of a pushover could be hiding a ruthless practical person who would tell you to abandon these really unnecessary doubts about using the results brought by sacrifice. So far Holly's been trying to believe that 'survive at all costs' mentality is ugly and bad and immoral. Turns out that you don't get to survive otherwise and Yulia probably has more than enough relevant experience to back that position up.
It's not like there's much choice in regards to choosing a solution to Holly's cognitive dissonance. Either she runs away and stops fighting altogether or she keeps trying to do her best knowing full well she's not any better than Bergmann.

>>4032989

Later. Again.

Sitting in the guts of the Colossus, you glance across at the clock. Monroe is running late – dimly, you wonder if you should get up and look for her, but that seems like far too much effort. Besides, the rain is starting to lash down again and fuck that noise. So you just sit and wait, idly wondering about the reasons behind the delay. Maybe she saw a cute soldier and stopped for some futile flirting, but-

“Your button,” Claudia whispers, leaning over from the seat opposite yours. You glance down, looking at your shirt. One of the buttons has been pushed through the wrong hole. Flapping a hand at Claudia, you hastily fix it.

“I got wet in the rain,” you tell her, “Had to change into dry clothes.”

“Of course,” she agrees, giving you a sweet smile, “I understand completely. ”

“Hey-” you protest, only to fall silent as Monroe hurries aboard with a clatter of boots and a volley of hasty apologies. “Hey chief!” you call out, grateful for the distraction, “What's with the delay? We were going to leave without you!”

“Sorry, sorry, I had to take a call from home,” Monroe explains quickly, collapsing into the closest seat and buckling herself in. “Good news though. At least, I hope it's good news,” she continues, “We've got a visual from Dirac. Visual confirmation of the BLUE EYE units, all five of them. Impossible to tell too much from the pictures, but apparently they all look, um, intact. Should have more information by the time we reach Avalon.” Pausing, Monroe looks you up and down. “Wait a minute,” she remarks, “Were you wearing that shirt-”

“She got wet in the rain,” Claudia calls out, her voice singsong, “Had to change into dry clothes.”

“Right,” you mumble, feeling your cheeks heat up, “What she said.”

-

A restless excitement stirs in the pit of your stomach as you listen to the Colossus drone its way to Avalon. Distraction comes when Fletcher sits down beside you, giving you a very serious look. “Vic,” he begins, the single word falling from his tongue like a boulder.

“What?” you yelp, casting a guilty look to where Vic naps a few seats away, “What about him?”

“How is he holding up?” Fletcher asks, “This is going to be a challenging time for him, and for all of us. I need to make sure that he's not going to do anything rash.”

“Rash,” you repeat, frowning at this, “What exactly do you mean?”

“Talking to people he shouldn't. I shouldn't need to remind you that everything we do here is highly classified,” the mercenary explains, “Even family are off-limits. If he's going to call them, he needs to discuss it with us first. Is that understood?”

>I understand. I'll make sure he knows
>You're a real bastard, you know that?
>They deserve to know what happened to their daughter
>I think... (Write in)
>Other

>>4033074
>They deserve to know what happened to their daughter.
Bergmann made her bed, and your lot decided to look the other way.

>>4033074
>They deserve to know what happened to their daughter

this is officially too classified

>>4033074
>>They deserve to know what happened to their daughter
"Fletcher what the fuck is "Classified" anymore? For how much shit I've had to do to dig out SEELE's secrets what does that even mean? This isn't the same organization we started at."

>>4033074
>>They deserve to know what happened to their daughter
>given we all jmped to sacrificing a child to give us good fortune like a greek period piece, rash isn't a word anyone with a hand in that decision can bandy about anymore fletcher. You included.

>>4033074
>>Other
Go fuck yourself. Im done doing your job for you. You had a part in this, you said as much. Now swallow your own just deserts.

“No Fletcher, that is NOT understood,” you reply, being careful to keep your voice low, “They deserve to know what happened to their daughter, especially since... since WE did it.” Taking a deep breath, you look back around you. No eavesdroppers, fortunately. “I mean, “classified”? What does that even mean? All that shit we've been digging out of the UN archives, that was “classified” too. Things have changed,” you continue, “You don't get to decide what's secret or not, just because you're worried about looking bad. I'm done with all that, and I'm done with-”

“Holly,” he interrupts. Usually, that's enough to silence you. Usually.

“No, fuck you!” you hiss, jabbing your finger into his chest, “They lost their daughter because of you people, because you wanted to offer her up like this was Greek fucking tragedy! You do NOT want to push me on this, you hear?”

“I hear you. Loud and clear,” Fletcher agrees, giving you an amiable nod, “And yes, I do think that they deserve to know what happened to their daughter. I just don't think it's wise to tell them. If it became wider knowledge, there could be an outcry. Public opinion could turn against us, and our position could become untenable even with Elrow pulling strings for us. Mass outrage could achieve what Leighton and the UN failed to do. So be very careful about what you say. That goes double for Victor.”

“Yeah, well, it's his choice,” you spit, “So quit bothering ME about it.”

Accepting this with a nod, Fletcher rises from his seat. You watch him leave with a scowl. All that talk about public outrage has left a bad taste in your mouth, but the idea of secrecy is just as bad. What exactly is Vic supposed to do, keep writing letters home telling his folks that everything is A-okay? It seems like there are new lies wherever you turn, stacking higher and higher until-

Your phone buzzes, vibrating in your pocket and nearly scaring you out of your skin. Fumbling it out, you take the call. “Holly?” Yulia begins, “Hello, are you there?”

“Physically, yes. Mentally, not so much,” you answer, only to be greeted by a long silence. Sighing inwardly, you continue. “Sorry. Stupid joke. I'm here, go ahead,” you tell her, “We're on our way back to Avalon now. Got something you wanted to talk about?”

“Dakota. She spoke to me today. I was sitting with her in the infirmary, and she asked for water. I thought perhaps I was imagining it, but then she swore at me and asked again. So I got her some water,” Yulia continues, “She is asleep now, but I think perhaps she will be awake when you return. This is good news, yes? Ah, but it will be strange for me. I have gotten used to the infirmary. I think I spend more time here than in my workshop!”

“That's okay,” you reply with a weary smile, “I spend way too much time in the infirmary too.”

[1/?]

>>4033161

The Colossus powers through the sky, eating up miles and timezones with a steady, determined pace. You doze through some of it, and wait impatiently through the rest. When you sleep, it's never for very long – there's always some crazy fragment of a dream that wakes you up in a hurry. Time and time again, your dreams return to the BLUE EYE team. You always imagine them as some deep sea relic, crusted over with ancient barnacles and... whatever else they have at the bottom of the ocean. Coral and shit.

Either way, it's never a pretty sight.

Eventually, your restlessness drives you to cross the length of the plane and sit down next to Monroe. She looks up from the paperback novel she was reading and raises a questioning eyebrow. “That call you got from Avalon,” you whisper, “Was there anything else? Anything you didn't tell me?”

“A few boring admin details – confirming our flight pattern, security arrangements, nothing you needed to know about,” Monroe answers, “Why do you ask?”

“I don't know. Just looking for conversation, I guess. I'm feeling kinda restless,” you admit, “Still, seemed like an awfully long delay for a phone call. Was there anything else?”

“Ah. Well. I did run into a rather dashing soldier in the corridor,” Monroe concedes, offering you a sheepish smile, “I suppose I was feeling lucky, so I sparked up a little bit of a conversation and, well...”

Of course.

“Oh yeah?” you ask, “How did that work out for you?”

The smile fades from Monroe's face, and she heaves a heavy sigh. That's all she needs to say, really. You can guess the rest.

>So I think I'm going to pause this here for today. Current plan is to continue this tomorrow
>Thank you for your patience today!

>>4033202
Thanks for the run.

Did the Lilium in Nevada, that Claudia killed ever get a designation?

>>4033202
Thanks for running!

>>4033205
You know, I don't think I ever gave it a full designation. It never really got far enough along for that. For official purposes, though, it would have been given the designation "Crocell"

>>4033202
Thanks for running!

Yay Dakota woke up. Did she have wolf dreams?

>>4033202
Thanks for the run

>>4015604
>>4015631
Remember how BLUE EYE had a problem where their pilots would fail when pushed to the limit, whereas a real pilot wouldn't? The explanation was that real people actually have something to hold on to, whereas BLUE EYE's pasts are lies. They normally aren't really real people.

Remember also what we said to Ava last time we saw her:
>“In here, there might be a time when someone tells you... that you're not real, that you don't count. I'm telling you, here and now, that's bullshit. You're as real as I am, and you proved that to me today. Remember that, will you? I'm ordering you to remember that.”

I think we had a lot to do with her being able to hold on against the initial ego collapse trigger that all the other pilots had to deal with. Even with the bulk of her past being fake, she definitely had her determination and her relationships with the other pilots to keep her whole.

>>4034509
Something else to consider is that that she might also be compatible with Unit 02, since she is also in part based of Holly, so we might be able to send her in, in our place with whomever else ends up going in, sending in both Juliet and Julia would probably be the best pair just in case it turns into a trap
Because why not just dunk on them with a DC bonus of 10+ per opponent.
we may want to tell Ava the truth about Blue Eye, and what happened form our perspective before she goes in though.

File: DakotaF.png (283 KB, 900x700)

283 KB PNG

“You know what I like?” Dakota asks, “I mean, what I really like?”

“I don't, but I'm sure you're about to tell me,” you reply, “Go on then, don't leave me in suspense. What do you really like?”

“Not being in a fucking coma,” the young girl quips, tearing off another mouthful of her burger and almost choking on her own laughter. She's in pretty good spirits for someone who was unconsciously only yesterday, but maybe that's because you stopped for burgers on the way back to HQ. You were a little surprised to see her waiting for you at the airstrip, considering how recently she woke up. Then again, if you spent that long in bed you'd want to get up and about too.

“I suppose that makes sense,” you sigh, glancing out the window at a queue of stalled traffic, “For a moment, I thought you were talking about that burger of yours.”

Dakota looks down at her meal. “Oh, this is pretty good too. It's got bacon and shit,” she pauses, “Not actual shit, I mean, although I took a quick peak through back and that kitchen didn't look so clean. Wait, crap, now I've lost my appetite.”

As if making a lie of her own words, Dakota quickly wolfs down the last of her burger. You watch her eat with a curious look, a raise brow and a smile.

“What?” she grunts, noticing your expression, “I don't like to waste food!”

-

“So I gotta ask,” you begin, finally allowing your curiosity to run loose as you're getting unpacked, “What was it like, being under like that? Did you have any weird dreams?”

“Yeah, I had some weird dreams. I dreamed that I was a wolf, and there was a bunch of other wolves there. We were all howling at the moon and-” Dakota pauses, frowning, “Wait, that wasn't a dream. That was just a shirt I saw once. It was pretty cool, I kinda wanted to buy it but it was like XXL. I could have worn that shit like a dress or something, I dunno. What were we talking about again?”

If you didn't know any better, you'd guess that she was trying to avoid the subject. “I'll tell you what,” you continue, indulging the young girl, “If I ever see an extra extra SMALL size, I'll buy it for you, okay?”

“Great!” Dakota chirps, “Wait, who are you calling extra extra small?”

You would have thought that was obvious, but apparently not. Just as you're unloading the last of your things, there is a knock at the door. You call out a greeting, and Kaori peers in. “Holly. Glad to see you arrived back okay,” she begins, her voice crisp and businesslike, “I wish we had time to catch up, but Commander Monroe wants to see you. She said it was pretty urgent, and that you'd understand what it was about. I assume it's about the BLUE EYE team. We've been pretty busy here and... but I'll let the commander explain the situation.”

“Got it,” you reply, suppressing a sigh as you glance aside to Dakota, “No rest for the wicked, right?”

“Funny,” Dakota quips, “I've done nothing BUT rest.”

[1/2]

File: HollySheet.png (425 KB, 1600x1200)

425 KB PNG

>>4034627

It's like seeing a scene from your dreams, plucked from your mind and put onto paper. Despite the poor quality, you can definitely see the shape of a Nephilim Unit in the grainy photograph that Monroe hands you. It looks to be half buried in a thick sludge, crusted over with more of the tarry stuff. In the distance, you see what might be a second Nephilim Unit but this one is less clear. Between the four photographs that Monroe shows you, it seems like all five of the BLUE EYE units are there.

“Okay,” you say, speaking up just for the sake of saying something, “What's the next step?”

“Further investigation is required. For that, we'll need to send in a team,” Monroe explains, “Juliet has already volunteered, and she asked if you could lead the operation.”

Juliet nods, her eyes flicking briefly across to Ava. The sole remaining member of the BLUE EYE team sits in the corner and glares darkly, her eyes rimmed with deep pits of shadow. She looks rough, but no worse than you'd expect given the circumstances. “I should be the one to go,” she mutters, “But I can't.”

“We don't have a suitable ADM Unit for her,” Bergmann explains, speaking as if Ava wasn't sitting right next to her, “And we need her here, to aid with the navigation. She'll be the one guiding you down to the mission site.”

“We don't know what might be down there. Even with the probe running at full efficiency, we're having trouble getting consistent readings from that depth,” Monroe continues, “There are signs of Lilim activity, but that's normal for this region. Kind of like background noise. So, we can't determine anything specific. I'd suggest a balanced loadout for this operation, but I'll let you make the final call. Choose the equipment you're comfortable with.”

“We'll need some time to get everything prepared,” Bergmann adds, rising to her feet and preparing to leave, “Stop by my lab-”

“THE lab,” Monroe interrupts, “You're sharing with Doctor Brahms now, remember?”

Although she wears a terrible scowl on her face, Bergmann concedes the point with a nod. “Stop by THE lab when you're done here,” she states, “We have the means of completing another research project. Should be enough time to make the arrangements before your operation begins.”

“So,” Monroe concludes, taking out her notepad, “Speaking of arrangements...”

>Current partner: Juliet Moore
>Current equipment: Standard issue gear

>Accept this loadout
>You'll need different equipment
>You've got questions first... (Write in)
>Other

>>4034630
>Accept this loadout
Versatile Equipment for a versatile co pilot.

>>4034630
>You'll need different equipment.
>Take Close Assault Gear
We need the extra damage.
>You've got questions first... (Write in)
Explain what happened with Coraline, and that they were there for that, what should we do if they aren't going to come quietly.

>>4034636
>>4034630
I'll change to Close Assault to move things along. I'm just worried about getting tar pitted based on the area's description.

“Listen, commander, I need to ask you something,” you begin, the unwelcome subject hanging on the tip of your tongue. You hesitate, and Bergmann seems to realise what you're about to ask. Taking Ava by the hand, she pulls the traumatised pilot to her feet and leads her out. Ava doesn't argue, simply accepting the rough treatment and allowing herself to be guided out. As much as you hate to admit it, you're glad that she won't have to overhear this. “The BLUE EYE team got pulled into that mire. They've been down there ever since,” you continue, giving Monroe a serious look, “What I'm asking is, what should we do if they won't come quietly?”

Closing her eyes, Monroe lets out a soft sigh. “If the BLUE EYE team have become compromised, you have permission to engage them as hostile targets. I hope to God that it doesn't come to this, but we may need to consider them our enemies,” she murmurs, “As you said, they've been down there a long time and recovery may not be an option. Juliet. Are you prepared for this?”

“I... think so,” Juliet replies, her voice uncertain, “I've been preparing for the worst. That's why I want to do this – I should be the one to take care of this. We're family, after all.”

“I understand,” Monroe breathes, glancing aside to you, “Holly?”

“I'll need close assault gear,” you tell her, “If things do go south, I'll need to finish it quickly. I don't want to drag things out.”

With a sombre nod, Monroe scratches down a note.

-

With the meeting out of the way, you walk to the elevators with Juliet. She's quiet, her expression thoughtful. Solemn, but not without resolve. “There's something I want to tell you,” she begins, reaching across to push the elevator's call button, “But I don't know how to say it. There are no words for what I need to say. If there are, I've never learned them. So, it's a difficult position to be in.”

“I know how it is,” you reply. You know better than most, in fact. The elevator arrives with a soft chime, and you enter. The doors slide shut behind you, and Juliet grabs your hands. Your eyes widen with surprise as she pulls herself close, but it's not what you're expecting. With a gentle motion, she leans forwards until her forehead brushes against yours. The protest dies on your lips as something stirs within you. A sense of... peace, of belonging. A sense that this is what you've been looking for all along, although you never really realised it. Juliet pulls away, and you feel your eyes prickle with tears.

“That...” she whispers, stepping back as the elevator glides to a halt, “That's what I wanted to say.”

>Juliet has learned the ability: Collective Ego
>Collective Ego: Increases maximum Ego by 20

[1/?]

>>4034662
It just means that we need to dictate our ranges properly and establish contact with the units as best we can before things kick off, and be ready to fall back or call for reinforcements if we need to.

Also if we can pre-plan our engagement strategies for each unit, based of Ava's knowledge of them it should help limit their numerical superiority.

>>4034676
I'm more worried about the Lilim that's going to show up.

>>4034711
if It does, it would probably be a good idea to call for backup, regardless of anything else that is going on.