Chapter 20: The Riftbreaker Embarks! Designation: Synth Hydra

This is...?!

This thing is alive?! Unbelievable...

Believe it, humans. Every inch of this vessel is a part of my body. I am the Riftbreaker, the Synth Hydra! This is as far as you go, little parasites.

Another day, another bizarre foe rising up to hinder us...

Well, well. Helena, the one who betrayed Galliard's memory to join the humans. You have some nerve showing your face here. You must be suffering from a fatal error. We can erase your memory and give you a complete system restart if you wish.

Merci, but I decline. You may find it hard to believe, but I prefer the way I am now.

Open your eyes, Helena. These warped, incomplete lifeforms are on a one-way course for destruction. They are destined to die one day. They pass their prime in a few short decades and are thrown on the scrapheap. What can you hope to achieve if you share that fate? What advantage is there for you in this alliance?

I myself am still seeking the answers to those questions. This is something the likes of you could not comprehend. The answer itself is inconsequential. The search, the struggle to understand oneself; that is my new raison d'etre.

Nrgh! Such power...

What the, ?! The ship's going down!

Leave this to me.

Helena...?

Don't be a fool! You're not strong enough to hold me up on your own.

You be quiet! We won't know that for sure until I try.

Urgh!

Galliard?!

I brought what you asked for. Here you go.

Thank you. This is perfect.

Ha! No worries. Never thought you'd take down a whole warship on your own. When I saw it falling out of the sky, I didn't know what to do. Scuppering the ship is one thing, but bringing it back with you too? You're really something!

Heh heh... Thanks...

Well, I'll see you around!

Aldo!

We acquired some parts we can use to repair the Synth Hydra. An organization called "Natural" agreed to pool their resources with us.

Nice going, Riica. I got some parts, too. They're only good for quick fixes, but let's get these to Helena and see what she can do with them.

Agreed.

Why did you spare my life?

There is still much I wish to do...

It would have been a waste to let you crash and burn so soon. What will you do once you've seen everything play out? Think about that for a while.

Inconceivable... You truly are a deranged individual.

Helena, we brought you some more parts!

I admit, I am curious as to where you will go from here. They...no, all of you have more potential than I'd given you credit for. The planet may still stand a chance after all.

I'm surprised you have the capacity for such achievements, Helena.

Oui... I think our kind has allowed our worldview to become too narrow.

The world is larger than you think, Hydra. It has such variety of life and capacity for kindness that you cannot imagine. I believe the answer we are both seeking is out there, somewhere. We will find it one day.

But we cannot do it alone...

We need your wings to carry us through time.

Hmph. If you wish it, I will transport you to the time periods you've visited thus far.

I'm not at full operating condition, but I can still make trips through time. Where is your next destination? If you cannot go there with your own power, you may use me to get there.

We'll start with Antiquity, then. That Dimensional Vortex needs dealing with. If what the Phantom said is true, it'll swallow everything if we don't close it somehow.

I will chart a course there. Tell me when you are ready to take off.