Forward Unto Dawn

I'm taking you in on suspicion of being members of an anti- Elzion terrorist group.

Taking us in? On what grounds?

We got a tipoff about a group using an unregistered virus to cause physical changes in their bodies. Clock. Play the footage.

You already know, that's not us. That was someone else!

We know the ones behind the plot are a group called "Cardinal Vestige." And we know you're members. I recommend cooperating. It'll go easier for all of us.

H-how could you betray us? You're spitting in the face of all the effort they've put in to lift us back up to our former glory.

Save it for the judge. Get them moving.

Cells of the Cardinal Vestige faction aren't supposed to know anything about each other. If they knew about me, that means they consider me just another enemy, I suppose...

They treated you like just a tool. Don't see any problem in calling them our enemies, myself.

Watch your mouth, klutz. Do you have any idea how painful making that call was for Cetie?

Oh, so you're okay with how they treated him, Clock? It's all good in your book, is that it?

You're so heartless.

Stop jumping to conclusions. You can put a combat-type in infosec, but you can't make him good at it...

Clock, have a look at the info terminal over there. I'll check out the inner room.

......

I don't really get what's going on... But whatcha gonna do, Cetie?

I... I'm going to revolt against Cardinal Vestige. I can't follow what they're now pushing for.

Oh? You're finally gonna bite back at them, are ya?!

But you're willing to double-cross Cardinal Vestige? What plan could be so bad as to push you that far?

You should hear it first-hand. In their own words, free from bias.

Very well. You have the right to know. Our plan...Is to bring about the degeneration of all mankind from all time layers, including this one.

To remove the warlike nature of modern humanity, they sought to revert us back to an ancient species. A peaceful species, they said... But one cursed to turn into horrors, without warning. I don't think an existence under the blade of a mysterious, uncurable curse is any better than this one. Peace born from fear. A life without dreams for the future, since how can you know you'll see tomorrow? I doubt anyone in Cardinal Vestige knows what that sort of life is actually like.

Hey, Cetie! Check it out! I found something important!

Syringes and ampoules? Where did you find these?

There was a false back on the cabinet. Well? Hmm? Smells like a secret stash to me!

Knock it off, klutz! I'm still analyzing this!

What you have is enough. Anything unusual?

The terminal has their usage specs written down, but...

If you inject this, you can walk around polluted areas for as long as you feel like, it says! And there's a TON of these too. Wonder what they were going to use all of them for.

Please stop interrupting.

Polluted areas, huh...

Biaka here. How's it going?

We're in the middle of searching a Cardinal Vestige faction hideout.

Once you're done, can you meet me at the relay station? I have some info to share.

Sounds like she found something too. Retro. Clock. We're done here. Let's go meet her at the Tree.

Well, well...

You're late. So late, I thought you were stopping by headquarters to take back your resignation letter.

I'm not taking it back. Once things are settled with the Cardinal Vestige, we won't need eyes on the Administrator anymore.

I appreciate your devotion, but no one likes an overly stubborn man. Whatever you did for them, it was only business, and we've both done things we're not proud of for work. People will miss you, you know? Just keep that in mind.

...You didn't call us here to chat.

I suppose not. Here, have a look.

If this reasoning is correct, then Cardinal Vestige...

Is on the contaminated surface?!

They're on the surface, are they?

I see that's not exactly a surprise.

We recovered a supply of drugs that provide immunity to the pollution from that Vestige hideout.

Not something anyone living in Elzion would need, that's for sure. Did they mean to have their lackeys bring them the things they needed for the devolution plan?

No, that's to replenish Cardinal Vestige's ranks when members are lost.

You!

And here I thought all the cyborgs who attacked Elzion had shut down. Seems we missed some.

Miss, curiosity is a fine thing, but I'll have to ask you to rein it in. Wouldn't want you getting hurt.

I have quite an accomplished bodyguard with me at the moment. He might be a bit jumpy, though.

I'll take that as a compliment... For the most part.

Hey, you two. Sorry, but I'll need you to set the stuff down. Nothing personal, just business.

......

Nothin's ever easy, huh. Alright, just stay put, then. This might get a bit long-winded...

But please hear Curio out.

Curio? That's the name of the young man who was with Isuka, if I recall right.

Don't worry, he'll cover that.

Okay, here we go. This is everything that's happened since I came from what's called the Midnight Time Layer. I wanted to save someone, so I made contact with the Premaya Structure... The original owner of this body. She prepared a spare body for me to help me escape my collapsing time layer. She said she couldn't save the one who meant the most to her, but maybe I could save mine... So, borrowing her body, I came to this time layer. And then I ran out of energy and collapsed. And that's where Hardy here found me.

Well, well...

Ah...

You're Hardy the Watchdog? I didn't expect you to be the first person I met in this time layer.

You know about me? What an honor. I guess a good man's reputation can even spread across time layers.

I see you're not that different from the one I happen to know. How about I tell you my name, and you put the gun down? Yeah?

I'm Curio. The sole survivor of the Cardinal Vestige from what you know as the Midnight Time Layer.

Hey now, you think that makes me want to lower my gun? Just makes my trigger finger REAL itchy.

No, you'll lower it. I know. Because you hate Cardinal Vestige, after all, don't you? Let's make a deal. I'll tell you where their base is. All you have to do is bring me there.

You're gonna tell me, knowing that I mean to smash the place up?

That's fine with me. I don't approve of their vaunted degeneration plan. If you're able to stop them, then I hope you will. But I'm after something different. All I want is to save Isuka... Someone very important to me.

Curio and Isuka... Those're the names of those two twin-looking kids in the fancy white coats, right?

Twins, huh? That makes me happy. I've always seen her as my reliable older sister, after all.

And that's the one you wanna save?

That's right. Here, look at this...

.........

What I just showed you there is the true form of Cardinal Vestige. And Isuka and I are just like they are...just brains in jars.

...They're even more rotten than I thought they were.

You won't catch me arguing.

So? How's a brain in a jar like you wandering around under his own power?

This body is storing both of our brains, but I have the command privileges at the moment.

Just think of it as a prosthetic I'm borrowing for the time being. We can't manage it forever, though.

So, what? If you get to the facility you said you know about, you can rescue yourselves?

That's the plan. If we connect to the facility in the basement, our lives can be extended. Letting someone unrelated down there is a major breach of trust with the Vestige... But I have to protect Isuka.

You're willing to do all this, all for her? Not sure if that's respectable or stupid... Little brothers are such a pain. You just do whatever you want to. No consideration or respect...

Alright, fine. I'm in. I was just thinkin' I'd like to sock those creeps good.

I appreciate it. I guess I should uphold my end of the deal, hm? Their base...is on the surface.

So what you're saying is, you don't care about the Cardinal Vestige? You have your own goals?

Exactly. I have no intention of hampering you in any way.

And? What brings you here?

I was hoping to find the antibody boosters I need to go down to the surface, actually.

We found some ampoules stashed in a Vestige hideout earlier. Are these what you're looking for?

Exactly. With those, you can get some immunity to the pollution on the surface, though only for a while.

So basically, we can go destroy the base with our own hands.

But just as a warning, it's also a poison, with no antidote. Inject this, and you have just 72 hours to fulfill your goal.

I see...

Hey, are you insane?! If you know it's poison, why would you even consider still taking it?!

From Clock's analysis, we can tell that the immunity it gives is likely the real deal. I'm going to stop their plans, even if it costs me my life.

......

...... You sure are determined. Or did you know I was just bluffing you with that poison talk?

Bluffing...? You have a sick sense of humor.

Oh, trust me, I know that. But I wanted to be sure you all would be willing to do what it takes. KMS and Cardinal Vestige are maintaining their balance in this time layer, right? I needed to see if you were the type determined enough to tip those scales. I promise you, these are nothing more than simple antibody injections.

There. Injection done. Now, how are we getting down there?

We actually happen to have a ride chartered to go, ourselves. You all wanna tag along?

A ride? As in, a ship? Where is it?

Moored on this island. Step outside once you're ready.

Sorry to make you wait, miss.

You should be! I was about to die of boredom!

Is she your pilot? I feel like I've seen her before...

Indeed, on some manner of poster, perhaps...

Aaaaaah! Nope, nope! Not me! I'm just a simple, honest, hard- working surface porter!

Really? Weren't you just bragging about cats of the sea or so on?

N-no idea what you're talking about! More importantly! What's with all the gloomy looks, folks? You're visiting a place no one's set foot on freely for a century! Get some pep in those steps!

I'm inclined to agree, but I think it might be a tall order for those two straightedges over there.

As a former member of Cardinal Vestige, stopping them is my duty. I have no time for smiles.

Eesh, sounds like some heavy baggage. Why not set it down for a while, huh? People have a max carry capacity just the same way ships do. You can't travel to new horizons if you're weighed down by all the old stuff you won't leave behind.

So hop on board once you've gotten that carry-on weight sorted, bud!

You sure about this? We're going to the surface. I can't guarantee your safety if things go wrong.

You don't get it either, huh? No one ever knows what might happen to 'em in the next second or the next minute. It's not ever decided.

If you could keel over anytime, why not choose the most thrilling path through life, huh?

I know what you mean. I definitely prefer seeking out things that pique my curiosity.

Right? Now come on, all aboard! I'll make this the best cruise of your lives, I promise!

Anchoooors aweigh!

Welcome to the Old Government House. This is what you're after.

We really are on the surface...

Hey, look. Someone's been here, and pretty damn recently.

Most likely Aldo and his allies. That fellow's connections and ability to get things done never cease to amaze me.

You can say that again. What a bunch. Good news for all of us they're some golden-hearted do-gooders.

They've solved countless problems for us already. We can hardly let them shoulder everything.

Let's get after them. We have a job to do.

Yazuki, could you wait here? We don't know what we'll find inside, and I can't promise it'll be safe for you.

Aw, c'mon! I want to come!

...Is what I would like to say, but. Can't go leaving my ship while on the clock, now can I?

I'll keep her engines warm and keep myself busy with some maintenance. You better bring me back some tales of thrilling heroics!

Then it's decided. Let's get going, shall we?

What is this, a zoo?

Testing zones made to help plot humanity's development from the distant past into the future.

Didn't figure Cardinal Vestige as the sort to play house.

Creeps me out, picturing them watchin' us in these make-believe sets, treatin' us like toys to play with.

The hell they think they are, gods?

Something like that, yes. Your future belongs to you all. It's not for anyone else to decide for you. Let's hurry. We have to stop them.

This area looks like our era. Wonder why the lights are off. Because they think it's a "dark age" or something?

Most likely. The founder of the Cardinal Vestige wanted to keep the evolution of humanity via technology in check. And it's hard to say he was wrong. Our greed can surpass our morals. Even pure curiosity can lead to horrors when theory runs unchecked by compassion.

I know what you mean. And really, I get that this whole plan of theirs is "for humanity's sake." But we're our own people. We're not children to be scolded and punished for stepping out of line.

...I'm standing here on my own two feet, under my own will. If they want to act like they're our parents, it's about time they showed some faith in their children.

Yeah...

What's wrong? Are you hurt?

N-no...just rerouting the charge from my internal battery. More to preserve Isuka's brain means less for me to...to think. Bit less oxygen, too.

Enough talk. Let's hurry.

How's your battery? Holding up?

We have enough for about another half hour, I think.

Can't you reroute some of that charge going to your sister? You need some too.

Sure can... But I won't. If anything happened to her... How strange, huh? I know we're just brains in jars. Dunno if this even counts as living at all. But even so... I won't let Isuka die.

It's not strange. Would you say you're dead just because you don't have a body?

There's this Synth Human friend of mine. She's a real bother. She's got a special someone who loves her to death, but she's still jealous of "real" humans. Dumb, right? Even without a meat body, she's still a living, real human being. That's how I see it.

It's the same with social matters. I know several people who are dead, according to Elzion's records. But no matter what the data says, they're still alive. Undoubtedly.

......

Like I said, these two are a real pair of straight-edge earnest types. They won't cut you loose... So long as you don't break their personal rules, I guess.

...Thanks.

It's stopped.

What was that shake?

It wasn't something underground. Felt more like something moving close by on the surface.

We can solve the mystery later, folks. We've got some friends muscling in on our little breaktime.

I've seen these in archival footage. The dregs of the ancient race... What's left after their curse kicks in.

The longer I look, the less I like it. They want to turn all humanity into these? They're insane.

Yes. Even if it is a peaceful degeneration...

They have no right to make the children of the future live in fear of a curse like this!

I guess they were just projections of the cursed anci...ents...

Huff...huff...

We're wasting time here. Aren't we at the facility yet?

Here, lemme have him. You two make sure our way stays clear, alright?

Don't worry about us. You just make sure he stays safe.

Who the hell d'you think you're talkin' to? I keep my promises. No one's dying on my watch.

Is this it?

Sure looks like it.

Yeah...this is...the center. The place I spent... Almost a decade...in another time layer...

Look at that monitor! Something's happening on the surface!

This ends here and now. We'll be the ones waking up to the new dawn!

......

You could still...make it up there. That's your...your revenge up there, isn't it?

.........

Biaka. Help me connect them up to the machines.

Understood. I'll take one. You handle the other.

You're really getting the short end of the stick here...

That's why Cardinal Vestige used 'em for so long. It's always the good ones who get chewed up and then thrown away as thanks.

I'm sorry. And...thank you...

I'm not fit to raise humanity. I guess they never even needed me anyway. The future of humanity should be in human hands...

...It's over, then.

Can't say I don't have thoughts on it all, but hey, my job's done... I'll leave defeating the big bads of the world to the folks who want to play the hero.

It's time to wrap up. Use the Origin Force on me. I from the Dawn Time Layer, alone, shall remain here, and the Vestiges from the other time layers will...

Huh?!

But I still... Have things to do...

No way.

That's...!

...... What they did was wrong. Nothing will ever change that.

But, even so... For it all to end like that...

Didn't you come here to kill them?

I was prepared to. But only as a last resort. I wanted them to atone for what they'd done by doing good works, or to take them out of power. Otherwise, I'd be no better than the ones who used my father.

I see now why Cardinal Vestige chose you to be an Agent. You have a righteous heart. They probably saw you as an example of human virtue.

Not like we could have really snuffed out Cardinal Vestige anyway. Doin' that would be the same as handing the world to KMS on a silver platter.

I hate to admit it, but KMS has full control of all the life support infrastructure of Elzion. Taking them down through the proper channels isn't going to work.

Once they know Cardinal Vestige is gone, they'll spread like wildfire.

...I'll stay here. I'll pretend to be Cardinal Vestige.

Hey, hey! Save the strait-laced act for bad jokes, buddy! You finally got away from them after all those years, and now you want to go right back?

I've been with Cardinal Vestige longer. Since I was a child, actually. I'll do a better job of playing them for sure. You get out.

Ugh, you too?

I'll handle it. Maybe you've forgotten, but in a different time layer, I AM Cardinal Vestige, after all. You won't find anyone better suited to play the role than someone who's already done it.

Are you serious? You mean to play at being someone else, alone in this basement for centuries?

Sure, why not? I always was the best at disguises and playing hide-and-seek. Besides, it's not every day you get a chance to rule over the shadowy half of the world. To be honest, it's quite thrilling. And, well...

...Isuka will be with me.

If you're sure, then. Even the crappiest place can feel like home if you're with your family.

Are you sure about this?

I am. It's just... I might ask you all for a favor or two, sometimes.

I'm willing, depending on the favors. I would prefer not to have to travel to the surface too often. My next workplace might not be so understanding of sudden disappearances.

Don't worry, I won't ask anything that would cause you trouble.

I'd appreciate that. I almost ate a pay cut for the equipment that got destroyed last time.

Thanks, you two.

I'd like you to keep on acting as Agents of Cardinal Vestige. If the ruse is going to work, we need to keep things running more or less the same way.

I can't cancel the orders they've given all at once, either. Not even the immoral ones. I hope you'll trust me and know when to adjust things by your own judgement, for the better.

So we'll be double spies, basically. That certainly sounds interesting. And it'll be nice working to correct injustices instead of causing them for once.

It'll be much more exciting than keeping watch on the Administrator. He never made any mistakes, so there was no reason to keep watch on him at all.

Eesh, someone's serious...

Well, now that that's settled... I ought to let the ones on the surface know as well.

In that case, I suggest we put this place behind us.

Agreed. Doubt they'd want to bump into us any more than we'd want to bump into them.

Right. The children have won a hard- earned victory today. It wouldn't do for us to put a damper on it.

Thank you. I'm glad it was you I asked to bring me here.

You be good, kiddo. Play nice with your sister too.

The next time we talk, you'll be "Cardinal Vestige," I guess. Hope we can talk normally sometimes too.

So you know, I'll be watching you. If you set foot off the right path, I'll come to put you right. So...don't worry.

Don't worry. I won't. I'm not alone, after all.

You're finally back! I was about to die of boredom!

Huh? What about the other one?

That was two people. Or possibly three.

Huh? Wait, what? Like they were haunted, or...?

Get us in the air, please. We have stories for you, as promised. We'll tell you everything we can.

(All that's left is to report to the Administrator that the degeneration plan has been stopped.)

...That concludes my report.

I see. Well done. I can only apologize that you and Aldo had to shoulder such burdens. It was my failure.

Not at all. I know well how much you've had to sacrifice to keep Elzion safe from its many threats.

Threats which, I'm ashamed to say, have included me. I must apologize for my betrayal.

Betrayal? Whatever do you mean?

The letter of resignation I submitted contained a detailed account of the things I've done, I believe?

Oh, that... Unfortunately, an intern happened to spill coffee all over the letter, and it had to be disposed of.

I apologize, but without having read the letter in question, I'm afraid I can't accept your resignation. If you still feel the same way, you're more than welcome to resubmit the letter for approval.

Well...

But, if possible, I would appreciate you staying here in COA, Cetie. You've never backed down from any fight, no matter how big the opponent is or what their name is. And of course, I've always appreciated your work to observe me and make sure I stay on the straight and narrow. With you watching me, I feel much more confident in my ability to make the right choices.

...This is hardly fair.

Consider it an impromptu performance review, if you like.

Understood. Then, in addition to my duties under COA, I will continue to serve as your observer.

Good man. Please do.

Would you like a cup of coffee?

The androids do a serviceable job preparing it, but they always put on far too much.

A gracious offer. I would be happy to.

Ah...

It wakes you up, right? This is called "Sandman's Bane," or so I'm told.

It's very bitter... But it's a fine bitterness.

Indeed. You'd be hard-pressed to call it delicious even as flattery, but something about it soothes. Isn't it strange how we all prefer sweets as children, but come to appreciate bitterness later in life?

Perhaps we've just grown able to appreciate the richness and depth underneath the bitter edge.

It's just like life, isn't it. Our childhood dreams go unfulfilled, but beyond those broken dreams, we find new goals to strive for. After sweet dreams, we experience sour misfortune, bitter life lessons, unexpected richness to savor... And along the way, we mature into adults.

...Could I ask for another cup?

Of course. There's plenty. It's the privilege of maturity to savor bitterness, after all.