Peaceful Room

This is Melissa.

Hey Melissa. How've you been feeling since the tune up?

All systems are operational.

Good to hear. And how about your little worker bees? Still buzzing?

Their latest diagnostics returned normal. If that's what you mean.

Good, good.

Now then, Melissa. It's time for your next mission.

Ready for orders, maker.

The target is a new terrorist organization posted up in the Industrial Ruins. We've transferred mission details to your internal database. Check it once this transmission is over.

Understood.

Good luck. Over.

The Industrial Ruins...Hmm. We must leave at once.

Damn it! What is she doing here?!

Is there a problem?

Yeah, there is! You might look organic, but you're a synth from head to toe! Why hunt your own kind?!

Why?

It is what I was programmed to do.

Tch! Poisoned by humans is what you are, you traitor!

I have committed no treason.

For I was created for the very purpose of tracking down synths.

Hah! And humans are the ones that gave you those murderous instructions.

Look at you, a monster born from the ego of man.

......

Hook. Line. And sinker.

Agh!

That's...impossible. (Was it retrofitted? A standard type like that should not be equipped with self-detonation attack functions.)

Ugh! (Circuit damage has exceeded 70%. Calculating successful retreat probability...)

(Retreat simulation complete. Retreat probability at 0%. Will not make it out of Ruins.) (Retrieval request recommended.)

This is Melissa. Please respond.

Maker. Please respond.

(My transmitter must be malfunctioning. I cannot even deploy my B-Drones. What do I do?)

Hey! What are you doing there?

Hm?

You there! I'm talking to you!

(I did not anticipate any stragglers. This could be bad.)

You stay right there! You hear me?

(This is bad.) (But if its allies are on the way, I will not allow myself to be destroyed without a fight.) (With this amount of damage, it may already be too late. I lack viable attack options.)

(It came...alone?)

It's all right. You'll be just fine.

What?

I brought an emergency repair kit. You're too damaged to move, aren't you? Just hang on a sec.

Ngh...ahhh.

There. All done. You didn't even wince. Why don't you try standing up?

......

I can confirm...considerable damage reduction.

Thank goodness. Good to go then?

Agh...

Hey, take it easy now! That was just a bit of first aid. I'll take you to my hideaway where you can get some proper treatment.

One can assume you have a hideaway because you are in hiding. Why risk the danger of inviting a stranger?

Well, I come this way sometimes to collect materials I need here and there, and came upon you by chance. I may be just a passerby, but I can't easily ignore someone who's injured. I think that's reason enough. Wouldn't you agree?

......

Yes. Then I shall...accept your offer.

I'm glad you do! By the way, you can call me Eddie.

My place is in the Research Sector of the Xeno-Domain. Just lean on me, and we'll head on over.

All right then. You should be good as new.

You have my thanks.

But you shouldn't move around quite yet. You're all patched up, but your parts will need a little time to recalibrate. Not to mention all the connector replacements between your circuits and organics.

So I need more time to recalibrate as compared to other models?

That's right, but don't you fret. No one can enter here but me. Just stay until you're fully recovered.

......

I do not know how long I will stay though.

So, about the place I found you. It's full of synths who have decided to rebel against the humans. Well, they've developed quite the impressive weapons stock.

Weapons?!

Calm down. I'm just telling you the facts.

It's none of my business how you ended up so hurt. But from the looks of it, I thought you'd oughta know, for your own good. Put all your concerns aside for now, and rest here until you're better.

......

You have my gratitude.

It's nothing.

By the way, you're built with quite a lot of organic parts, you know. Can you consume human food?

Hm... I am not programmed to want to injest human consumables.

So you don't know if you can, or not?

I have never attempted it.

Supposing that I can, I am unsure if I can understand flavor the way humans do. (Although I was able to surmise the flavor of oil from the previous mission.)

I see. Would you like to give it a try? You'll have some time on your hands while you're waiting to recover. I'll brew up some coffee for starters!

Ah, but since we have the time, maybe I should make something I've never tried. But I'm pretty sure coffee will be a safe bet for synths.

My understanding is that coffee is a luxury to humans. How have you come to acquire it?

You could say it's a leftover from the humans who used use this place. Too bad this hunk of metal has no sense of smell or taste though.

Haha! Sometimes I try to make some and just think of it as pretend! See if I can understand how humans feel.

......

And do you? Have you learned anything?

That's a tough question. Who can say?

Boiling water. Grinding beans. Carefully distilling it a drop at a time for a single cup of dark water. Humans adore the very act itself, though it serves no essential function. And yet they insist our only function is submission? How can they offer their precious time and fondness for a cup of liquid and deny us, living beings, the same courtesy?

......

Never mind. I don't have a very good answer, I suppose.

And I can't fault humans only. The way we went about things was lacking in many ways, perhaps.

Are you referring to the war with the humans?

Yeah. Do you happen to know a synth human by the name of Galliard?

......

I have heard the name in passing.

Well, I used be Galliard's right-hand man in the fight against humans.

Leading an army of our brothers in demand of our freedom, and refusing talks of peace. Together we waged countless wars with the humans who charged us.

I suppose that explains your need for a hideaway.

Oh, not quite. I'm not hiding from humans. You see, I've given up on all that. I'm hiding from my fellow synths.

But why?

After endless clashes with the humans, I chose to leave the frontlines. I said I quit fighting, but my old comrades are looking for me still.

So you resolved to accept submission to humans?

No, that not it at all. See, I developed some doubts... ...once I saw a man-made synth hunter.

......

It was a slayer fitted with tremendous combat abilities. And it was out for Galliard. It ripped through my brethren like paper, leaving them in pieces. The battle ended in a draw, but not without Galliard fatally wounded. In the distance, I could see the humans grinning as they looked on. All that stood was pile of bodies and a lone machine dripping in black blood. And I could only stare.

When I saw this machine that could take the lives of others on command, I felt a deep sorrow grow within me.

Sorrow? But why? If it was as you described, would you not feel anger, hate, or fear?

At the very least, I cannot understand your feelings of doubt.

I see. Perhaps it is too difficult for one like you.

What's that sound?

An alarm?

There might be intruders in the industrial sector.

I will go and check it out.

No, no. You needn't be moving about, so I'll go. Can't say for sure what's out there.

...... (If he is unsure, then what difference does it make?)

I should go after him.

(This is the area. But where is he?)

Nothing you say will convince me. I've no intention of going back.

Huh. As many times as you've faced death with Galliard? Some right-hand man you are!

You sound like a coward, and I don't wanna hear it. So just listen for a sec, Eddie. Aren't we friends? Haven't we fought together? Suffered together? Galliard's gone, so we need your leadership skills to help us reach our goal. You were the one who always had his back. And you'd be perfect to lead our resurgence.

All the leader stuff... I've put it in the past. But I'll admit I believed in that goal as much as you did.

So what do you say?

I say I believed in it. But I can't cooperate with you on this. There's no point in going to war again and again. Our desires might as well be cries. They'll never understand them, no matter how many times we take up arms. You saw it for yourselves, didn't you? In answer to our cry, humans sent an assassin to hunt its own. One born without the will to cry out for itself.

And did that fighting change anything? All it did was put a target on OUR backs.

And if we continue to push, they'll surely come up with some kind of payback. The cycle of violence and cruelty will see no end.

Then what are we supposed to do?!

Yeah, Eddie! We all lost you and Galliard right when we needed you most!

...... I suppose you're right. And I'm sorry.

We don't want your apology. We want your help to make things right.

I told you I can't do that. But if you choose the path of peace, as I have, then perhaps I could join you.

You have really lost sight of things. You say you've got something to fight for, but you just want to fight.

Ha...

...HAHAHA! A machine losing sight? As if! But I finally get it now, Eddie.

Talking to you was pointless all along. Just take a look behind you.

Hm?

Wh-What are you doing out here?!

I determined that allowing you to leave alone was not a suitable option.

Haha! And if we capture her, you'd finally see things our way!

She's got nothing to do with this!

Negative. I cannot exclude my involvement. After all, I followed you here.

Additionally, I must correct your previous statement. I have not been captured.

You know, I'm getting real tired of your mouth!

Melissa!

Whoa! What is that?

Swarm.

H-Hey! No way! Is she...

Destroy.

Two targets remaining.

In the name of my mission, I must exterminate you.

Agh! Why you...

......

(No! An internal part has malfunctioned!)

You...protected me.

It just won't do if I let a guest of mine get hurt.

......

No!

Huh?!

Ngh!

Oh no!

Are you okay?! I can't believe a bit showed up!

Injuries.

Huh?

Please report...your injuries.

...... Nope, I'm all clear. Thanks to you shielding me.

I was only repaying your kindness.

Ugh...

Let's get you back to the research sector. You were in no condition to be moving around in the first place. Seems you've got more than some bullet damage to fix.

Apologies.

Well, I've got some kindness to repay too. Thank you.

......

You should be all right now. The damage is fixed and your parts are in place. All completed without a hitch.

Thank you.

Don't mention it! So now that you're fully functioning, I guess you'll be off then?

Affirmative. I will make my return.

...... Just one last thing.

This hideaway can be your hideaway too.

If you ever feel the need, you are always welcome.

......

I cannot stay here.

Oh? Okay...

But Melissa, don't ever forget you have at least one place in this world where you belong.

What an odd request. Once recorded into my internal memory, I am unable to forget it.

Haha! Of course. You take care then!

Yes. I will.

Melissa speaking. The first target on the list has been exterminated. Proceeding with extermination of remnant organization members.