Calling That Name

You're kidding! The synthetic cream hasn't arrived?

No, which means we can't open up La Vie En Rose this afternoon. I'm sorry to do this after you already came in for your shift.

Don't worry about me. What about all our customers with reservations?

I'm afraid all we can do is offer them a different day. But we don't know when the synthetic cream will be arriving, so we could have the exact same problem tomorrow...

Is something wrong?

Oh? It's you...

That's quite the makeover. It looks great, but why the sudden change?

Huh?

Oh dear... Wrong person?

I'm sorry, you just look so similar to someone I know.

I see...

Anyway, what happened? I overheard a little of your conversation. You can't open up your store?

You see, our supply of synthetic cream hasn't arrived, and we'll run out of stock this afternoon. I think it's still shipping out as normal from the factory.

Which can only mean there's something blocking the transport route.

Tell me which route they take. I'll check it.

You will? B-But... You don't look like you're from EGPD or anything. Are you sure you're happy to go to such trouble for a total stranger?

It's fine.

I am acting in the pursuit of my objective.

Your objective?

Anyway, thank you! I can't leave the café for long, you see, so I was really stressed out! The supplies come through Route 99. Would you be willing to give it a look?

Okay. I'll be off then.

According to the woman, the shipment should be taking this route.

What's going on?

Ah... So it's not just the shipment for La Vie En Rose that's affected.

You just have to move faster than they can calculate. But this is more of a problem than I thought.

If this was simply a case of robots gone berserk, it would have been fastest to just destroy them here...

But according to their communications log, the issue is coming from a different location. I'll leave the rest of them to you.

I analyzed its sensor. Looks like they are triggered to attack heat sources, from either humans or ships.

So just use cooling equipment. That should make it easy. I'm off to the airport.

This is where the signal's coming from. Which means...

It must be that.

A unit controlling the security robots, giving out orders to regard all transport ships as hostile and to shoot them down. Is this simply a fault, or has it been hacked?

There is evidence of data inconsistencies being forcibly ignored. Which makes it the latter. Based on the sloppy execution, I doubt it's someone from KMS. It must be the work of the shallow-thinking Synth Humans. Which means it's not my problem. I'll leave the investigation to the remaining humans.

I just need to defeat this unit and then I will be able to complete my objective. That's all for now.

It's okay. I alone should be more than enough against this thing.

...... Machines have no personalities, no concept of the self. So they won't fear losing it, or feel anger at having it taken from them.

And so... I understand. The pity I feel for you is just personal sentiment, nothing more. You will lose yourself and that will bring an end to all this destruction. Let's get this over with.

Looks like the back up maintenance system has activated. Distribution should go back to normal now. Which means I can finally achieve my objective.

I found you. Was it you who stopped the faulty maintenance unit?

Yes. How did it go on Route 99?

Your advice enabled us to limit the damage. So I wanted to thank you for your help in this matter and...

Is this going to take long?

Huh?

There's somewhere I need to be. Just deal with the clean up. I want nothing more.

But...

Sorry, but I'll have to cut this short. I have a reservation at La Vie En Rose.

L-La Vie En Rose?!

It's you!

Did the synthetic cream arrive?

It did! We should make it in time for today's reservations.

Good. That's all that matters.

Um... EGPD contacted us. You stopped the robot that was attacking the transport ship, didn't you?

Thank you so much. I don't know what to say...

But you stopped us from having to close our café. Can we give you something on the house as a thank you?

Again with the thank yous. Everyone's so earnest here.

There is no need. I would feel bad about ordering a lot if I wasn't paying.

Ordering?

It must be about time for my reservation.

You're a customer?!

No! Is that why you braved such dangers helping out our store? Just for your reservation?!

I thought I told you. I was acting in the pursuit of my objective.

THAT'S what your objective was?

*giggle* You were willing to stop a robot rampage just to come here. You must really want to eat our cakes.

Yes. I had to come here. I don't know what tomorrow may bring.

My, my... I feel honored that you would want to visit our humble café for such a reason.

Well then, please go ahead and order.

I'll take these madelines.

And also an éclair, a slice of opera cake, the blancmange, the stollen, and a slice of chiffon cake.

Of course a world-class bakery would have such a wide variety of desserts.

I was right to come here.

So this is Madeline? I see, okay.

And this is Éclair? He'd jump for joy at the sight of you. Opera. You never even got to find out what one was. But it's beautiful, just like you.

I feel nothing but disgust for the names she gave us. But... I had to know how they taste... For all of you who left us, with dreams and aspirations still in your hearts.

Blancmange...one by one, I will commit these desserts to memory. Stollen... It's okay now. You will never disappear. Chiffon. Your name will remain in this world for as long as I remember you.

I know that this is just another pointless feeling. But just for now...this is a parting gift for you all resting in peace.