Farewell With A Smile

......

Toova. Hey, Toova? Everything all right in there?

...Yes. I'm fine. I was just lost in thought. Remembering something that happened a long time ago.

Really?

There was a bookstore here in my old time layer.

A busy, bustling one that handled many books every day. It was destroyed early on in the war, though.

That's too bad...

But if I can remember that, it means that my memories really have begun to return.

You seemed totally out of it when they had just started to come back. Do you feel okay now?

......

Don't worry about me.

That doesn't SCREAM "I feel okay." It only makes sense to worry about you, doesn't it?

You really are a strange one. Don't worry about me, and don't pry any further than this. You and I are allies in battle, nothing more. Remember?

Well, if you're sure...but it does feel kind of cold.

Did I do something to make you mad? If I did, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.

It's not about you. I just...don't have the patience for anything beyond this level of socializing.

Are you really that sick of dealing with people?

Not sick of it. I'm simply tired.

Every bond formed is a bond that must someday break.

...And since you can't die, you're always the one getting left behind.

Yes. My memories are full to the brim with partings. And partings have the power to turn even the happiest memories you once shared into sources of pain and loss.

I remember how her eyes shone when I read her favorite storybook...and that I will never see her again.

This one memory of an old shop recalls myriad pains that were once buried, and forgotten.

And so you never want to meet people ever again? Nothing good ever comes of it?

That's right. So when I say don't worry, I would...

H-heeeelp! Someone, help me!!

What's going on?!

Sounded like someone calling for help, over by the exit.

We should hurry. Come on, Toova!

Me, too? Did he not listen to a word I said?

...Oh, well.

Hey! Are you here to help? These things just wandered in from Route 99!

Got it. You get to safety! We'll handle everything here.

Take this!

Phew...that's that all taken care of. Is everyone okay?

Yes. Thank you so much! You're amazing!

Haha, it wasn't anything special.

It was! You really saved us.

Maybe...hmm. Maybe they could...

Did you say something?

Oh, it's just that I have a job that could use some tough customers like you. I can tell you about it, if you want.

Sure, I'd be happy to help.

Aldo.

Yeah?

......

What is it?

Do you really intend to take on this "job" of his?

Huh? Yeah, I don't see why not. If I can help... Ah. You mean, what we talked about earlier?

I'm pleased you remember. Yes. I would prefer not to get involved with anyone else, for any reason.

I know, and I don't wanna force you to do anything, but it sounds like he could really use our help.

There's no harm in at least hearing him out, right?

It's not like we have to be friends with him or anything, after all. Besides, I'd...prefer not to abandon people in need if I can help it.

......

I won't get involved in this. You do as you please, and I'll observe. Will that do?

Yeah! Yeah. Thanks.

Hey, uh, I didn't mean to cause a fight. If it's too much, you don't need to worry about me.

It's okay, we weren't fighting. I'd be happy to hear you out.

That's a real relief. But...

But what?

We'll draw too much attention here. It could be dangerous, too. Let's find someplace a bit quieter.

Dangerous? Well, I guess if it's related to Synth killing, it might be dangerous, yeah.

Yeah. But you two look tough enough to handle it. How about we talk near the airport? That should work.

Okay. We'll meet you there. ...Is that okay, Toova?

Do as you like.

Well, here we are. So? What's this request you have?

Okay, looks like there aren't too many people around...we should be safe here.

You see...there are people after me. Not the kind of people you want to have after you, not at all.

Like a gang boss, or?

...Bigger. KMS itself.

That's... Oh.

......

Dangerous, indeed.

Toova...

Do you have experience on their bad side, too?

Some. But don't worry.

Well, if you're sure. All I know is, I'm never going back there. Not if I have any choice in the matter.

"Back there," meaning KMS?

I was one of their human experiments. They poked, prodded, and cut into every inch of me, it feels like.

...... It must have been hard.

Yeah. It was like a living hell in those labs. But I got out...and they want me back.

And you want us to deal with the trackers from KMS?

Please. I have no idea where they are or how close they are to finding me.

The whole city is under constant surveillance, which is why I had you meet me out here, but...

If they caught me on the cameras, we could be attacked here any moment now.

Okay. We'll do what we can. Should we get out of here? If they might know you're here, we should go.

Yeah. Someplace we can fend them off, if it comes to that, without drawing any more attention...

No, you've led us on quite enough of a merry chase already.

You!

Really now, do you have any idea how much of our valuable time you've wasted with this pointless running?

It was considerate of you to come to this secluded area, though. Did you really think you could escape our omnipresent reach? Or are you just tired of running?

I haven't given up. That's what these two are for. They'll turn your precious Synths into scrap!

No matter what you throw at them, they'll beat you. I'm never going back there, not ever!

These two? These civilians? Laughable. As if they would even slow our elite forces down.

Enough of this foolishness. Submit, and come back to the lab!

That's... Oh.

Don't panic. We'll keep you safe.

KMS... We've seen what you do to the innocent people you capture. This man isn't your property. Humans aren't your test subjects! We won't let you get away with it anymore!

...I feel the same way.

Toova...

I see KMS is no different in this time layer as in mine.

My reasons are selfish, I admit...but I refuse to let you do to any more people what you did to me.

Enough of your yapping! You're giving me such a headache. I'll shut you up!

Go, my loyal soldiers!

I-impossible! My Synth Soldiers!

Wow! You really won!

Whew...got a bit dicey there for a moment.

It looks like you're all out of soldiers. Maybe it's time to go home and rethink what you're doing?

Damn it! It seems I have no choice. I didn't account for this possibility...

Fine! Cling to your last few worthless hours. You'll beg us to take you back before the end!

...No. I won't.

I truly can't thank you enough. I'm finally a free man, at last.

I'm glad we could help.

You even got angry at him for my sake. There's not many like you around here. Have you fought KMS before?

Well, yeah... It's kind of a long story.

Especially you... Toova, was it?

You said they did something to you, too. Were you an experiment, like me?

......

It doesn't matter.

Sorry. It's just, you seemed pretty fired up. Like it was personal.

It's not something I want to elaborate on. Please let it go. More importantly, you're free at last. How does it feel?

Well...it feels great, of course, but...

Look, if I said something hurtful, I want to apologize. I can tell I put you in a bad mood.

No, you didn't say anything wrong. It's just that Toova's kind of been through a lot, you know?

You mean, aside from whatever KMS did to her?

Well, there was that, but her case is a little more complicated. You see, she's lived for 20,000 years...

...20,000 years?!

Aldo.

Huh? Oh, um...sorry.

20,000 years? Like, twenty thousands? That's what you said, right?

Uh, no, um...you heard me wrong?

No, there's no getting out of this one. There's no way I would mishear on this topic.

You look really intense all of a sudden...

Living 20,000 years is tantamount to being immortal, you know? And I've always felt a sort of special connection to the concept of immortality.

So I won't be blown off that easily. I need to know the truth.

I...see.

Yes. It's true. I am unable to die.

Wow...wow!

In that case...I'm sorry, but I can't let you two go just yet.

I'm not in the mood for jokes or threats. Speak plainly.

No, it's not a threat. I'd just like to hear your story. You see, I have some, well, circumstances of my own...

Circumstances?

It's about what KMS did to me. I should start at the beginning, though.

Could I have just a little more of your time? Let's go someplace we can sit down. Maybe a bar in Elzion.

I would really rather not. But you won't make it easy to walk away, will you?

...Only a little longer. Please.

Thank goodness! Okay. I'll see you two at the bar in Elzion!

Thank you for coming. We should be able to relax and talk here. I'm sorry for insisting the way I did...

But I just have to hear your story, Toova. I have to.

There's that strange intensity again. I understand my condition is unusual, but still.

This should go without saying, but it's not a healthy interest to have. I guarantee you that being immortal is nowhere near as pleasant an experience as you think.

Then I want to know what the reality of it is like. The good parts, and the bad...all of it.

Anything is fine. Just tell me anything that comes to mind!

Why do you want this so badly?

You're right. If I want you to share about yourself, I should be willing to open up about myself, too.

The short version is... I'm running out of time.

What do you mean?

I mentioned I was one of KMS's test subjects, right? They were trying to create a way to prevent the human body from aging or decaying.

Wait, that sounds like...

Yeah. Immortality. That was their ultimate goal. And it's how they suckered me into joining up... But their methods were imperfect. Drugs. Surgery. They just cut and injected without any real aim. It wasn't until it was too late that I realized their experiments were a total failure.

So that means you're...

Dying, yes. My body is breaking down at an accelerated rate.

They told me so casually. "All the side effects from the experiments drastically shortened your life."

That's awful!

I know I'm not blameless here. I'm the one who bought into that sketchy sales pitch in the first place.

There's no going back now, though. From what they told me, my time will run out very soon... Tomorrow, if I'm lucky, or maybe even tonight. I was so shocked, I just ran. I broke out, desperate to live my last hours as a free man. So many things left undone, so many plans...but at the least, I didn't want to die strapped down in a lab.

...Is there anything you want to do?

So much, but now that it's almost over...what I really wanted was to see the ocean. You know, a clean, beautiful ocean, like the old pictures. Not all polluted. The way it used to be. I used to dream of traveling the world and finding a pure, untouched sea... I'll never get the chance now, though.

Are you sure you want to spend that valuable remaining time hearing what I have to say?

This is as important to me as my dreams of the sea. Even more so, now that my time is almost up. Seeing you here, right in front of me, with the immortal body I always wanted, but never got... I envy you, more than I can possibly express with words!

......

You're a fool.

Toova?

I will always hate KMS for their inhuman conduct, and I pity you for becoming their victim...

But you can't imagine how I've suffered.

Suffered? How? You can never die! What else is left for you to fear?

That's right. I will never die. I, and I alone, am the only one who will never die...

Toova's lost a lot of dear friends over the course of her life.

So, losing people is what you meant by suffering? It's not that I don't see what you mean... But does that really outweigh all the benefits of being ageless and undying?

You think you understand, but you don't. Each parting tears away a little bit more of your heart. Can you imagine what that process does to a person, after thousands of years?

......

Being left utterly alone, wanting only to escape, and being denied even that small final mercy... It's suffering beyond description.

But...but even so.

You're still alive, aren't you?

......

Even if you get hurt, or get sick, or if you make an honest mistake...you can't die. You'll still have a future.

I...I'm going to die. I'll close my eyes and never open them again. I'll just be gone, forever.

...I'm scared.

I don't want to die. I feel like I'm on the verge of breaking down...but wouldn't anyone? We all want to live.

...Not all of us. Not me. I've wished so many times to be freed from this torment...

Really? But death is the end. It's finality. It's nonexistence.

It's salvation...it's peace. Peace from an eternity of pain.

To have lived this long, and still desire to keep on living forever... You must have led a blessed life.

...... This is a lot to take in. So this is what becoming immortal does to you...

This is a lot to wrap my head around. You both have your own reasons to feel the ways you do... It's only natural for living things to fear death, but maybe not having to fear it can be a good thing.

So you believe that immortality is a boon, on the whole?

I guess that's how I feel...maybe.

I'm afraid I just can't agree with you on that front...

Well, we don't have to all agree. Either way, I'm glad I could hear your thoughts. I really am. Even if it does twist the knife a bit that I didn't end up getting what I wanted out of all this.

If it helped, that's good to hear.

I guess now...all that's left is to see if I can find that ocean in the time I have left.

I don't think there are any oceans nearby here...

...Wait. Last Island! The ocean there is really beautiful.

What? I've never heard of a place like that.

Yeah! We can go right now, if you want. I guarantee you won't regret it.

Well then! I can hardly pass that up. Could I impose on you a little longer?

No problem at all.

Thanks. I don't have the luxury of dragging my feet, you understand!

Considering the circumstances, yes.

Shall we go?

You're coming too, Toova? I'm glad.

I've come this far. It would leave a bad taste in my mouth to leave the matter unresolved. ...I'm already involved enough. If I can help him go without any further regrets...

Yeah.

Let's go to Last Island, then.

I don't know how much time is left to you, but... If we can help clear away your remaining regrets and ease your passing, we have a duty to, I feel.

Thank you. I appreciate that you're still willing to help me after the things I said...

Nnh...

What's going on?

Phew...I'm okay.

You don't look okay...

This started happening a few days ago. It always settles down after a while, but...you know.

...Yeah.

Then it's a known thing, at least.

Sorry about that. Let's go to this Last Island you mentioned.

Yes. While you still have time...

Will I really get to see the ocean? I'm almost nervous...

Wow...

This...

This is a real ocean?!

Does it live up to what you imagined?

It surpasses what I imagined. Dozens of times over. I never dreamed such a sight still existed in the world!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I'm so glad I was able to see this before I died.

...I'm glad to hear that.

I haven't had a long life, but even if I had, I think this would be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

If I do have to go...I'd prefer to die here, in this beautiful, peaceful place.

Indeed. The place where you spend your final moments can affect your life as a whole.

What do you mean?

When people die...what they see, and where they are, can change how they feel about their passing.

Feeling rested and at peace can help someone believe that, on the whole, they lived a good life... At least, from what I've seen.

You must have seen a lot of people on their way, huh.

But does that mean that, if their final moments aren't peaceful...

Yes. Those who die gripped by fear, anger, or suffering...

Will recall their entire lives colored with that same pain, and die cursing their fates.

That anguish, etched into her face by her dying breath...

You're not speaking hypothetically, are you.

......

It was long...very long ago. A friend of mine. Someone I had known for ages.

Is this Orphia?

Does that mean it has something to do with that "elf" word you were interested in?

So you know about her. She is indeed a dear friend, but no. I mean someone else. I've had many meetings and partings over the years since Orphia left me.

She is indeed a dear friend, but no. I mean someone else. I've had many meetings and partings over the years since Orphia left me.

And this person died in anguish... Did someone do something to her?

Yes. ...I did.

What do you mean?

It was my fault. I couldn't bear to lose yet another dear friend. She lay there dying, and I couldn't help but say, "So you're going to leave me behind, too?"

But... I mean, it's only natural you would feel like that...

Maybe. But I shouldn't have said it. My thoughtless words wounded her... I made her cry as she lay there dying. She didn't want to die, she said. She didn't want to leave me, she said.

And then...she died. With anger and sadness as her last conscious memories, all because of me.

I'm sorry. Her final memories, huh...

I would much rather die at peace, if I had a choice. But there must have been people like that, too?

...Not many at all. At least, not among the deaths that I've witnessed.

Wait, really?

But you must have seen so many people pass in your time...

There are very few people who can meet their own death with a smile.

When the final moment comes, they tend to think of words left unsaid, people left behind...regrets.

I guess that makes sense. They're facing the end of their existence, after all.

In that case...I want to make sure I remember this sight. So I can recall it when the time comes.

Yeah. That's a great idea.

I'll pray for you, at least.

May your passing be easy, and your final moments bright.

I'm sorry there isn't much more we can do for you.

This is enough. It sure beats dying alone and unmourned in some lab.

My life had a lot of dark spots, but I'm glad that it was you two who... rescued me...

Thank you, for...for caring so much for someone like me... For...

...Nhh.

Your symptoms again?

Yeah. I feel a bit faint...and a bit unsteady... I think it'll subside in a moment. Then I should be okay. Could you stay with me? I'd like to stay here at least until tomorrow, before we go back...

I'm sorry. That won't be possible.

What do you...

Nngh! Aah...!

Toova...will you tell him?

Yes. He has a right to know.

Know what? I don't understand.

Your symptoms are not going to subside. I'm afraid...this is it.

N-no, we don't know that. How can you be sure?

......

I'm sure. Your life is fading away.

No, I, I don't... Surely not... No, not...not yet...

I'm sorry. It was already decided, before we even made it here...

Hey! Hang in there!

Come on, stay with us! Come on!

...... He's not breathing. It seems he was more accurate than he knew with his estimate.

But it was all so sudden. Like somebody suddenly pulled his plug.

Perhaps because of what was done to his body, I suppose. He did say he might die today... It feels like this was a sort of fate.

But...he barely even got a chance to appreciate the sea! I wanted to show him so much more!

It's just...cruel, and unfair...

Death is always unfair. But...

But?

But I can fight back against it. ...Shall I?

Fight back against death? How is that even possible?

Necromancy.

Nngh! Aah...!

To be honest, it's been so long since I've done it that I can't guarantee any results. But the body is fresh and intact, and his soul should still be in the area.

And if you put his soul back in his body, that'll let him come back?

It sounds like it's worth a shot!

Indeed. It goes against the laws of nature, so it may not be well- received... But I also wanted to show him the sea.

What? Then, I...

I used my necromancy to temporarily restore your soul to your body.

I...I don't really know how to react to that. It's a lot to take in.

It's a portion of the power that made me immortal. Whether you believe me or not, it's the truth.

We wanted to at least let you see the ocean.

Then, my attacks...

...There's nothing to be done. The next time you die will be permanent.

...I see. I know I said what I said, but I didn't realize it would actually happen so...soon...

I-I feel dizzy...

Take it easy. Here, lie down!

Thanks...

I didn't think this would really... end up as my last sight... Thank you, Toova...if it weren't for you...I wouldn't have had this chance.

Think nothing of it. An easy departure with no regrets benefits those left behind more.

Still...thanks. Being here...and listening to the sound of the waves...I couldn't ask for better final moments.

......

But...ah... I'm...still scared. Having one fewer regret...doesn't mean I'm suddenly okay with dying, I guess...

......

I can't do anything about that. But... If there's anything we can do to make you more comfortable...

What else...could I really ask of you? You already brought me back to life just to get me here.

Didn't I already tell you? This is for my own benefit. I don't want to see anyone else leave this world unfulfilled and suffering.

...I see. Then...maybe just one thing.

What is it? Unfortunately, what we're able to do is rather limited right now.

Don't worry. It'll be...simple. Just...remember me, yeah?

Remember me...that I lived. For as long as you can...at least, until you forget.

But that's...

See? Simple...right? That'll be...enough. That's enough for me.

When all memories of someone fade... That's when they're truly gone. And that's...what scares me the most. But if my memory can live on, past my short, short life, with you... That would be...that would be nice.

...I understand. I swear I will never forget you. You will continue to live on, in my memory, for always. And I hope that thought brings you peace.

Thank...you. That's good...truly, that's...that's good. Hah, I never thought I would die...saying thank you...

......

Thank you, Toova... Thank...y... ......

......

......

...Is this really "good"?

I wonder. I did what I could... But there was no way we could have saved him from his fate.

I know, but still... At least you were able to reassure him at the end. Maybe that counts as being saved, in some way.

Among all the deaths I've witnessed, there are very few I would consider salvation. But... Of course, the only one who could tell us if that's the case is gone now.

He thanked you, after all. To his last breath.

So I think, if anything counts as a happy parting, this was it.

...I appreciate you saying that.

To remember him forever...

I never thought this power could be used to make a person feel better, even if only a little.

Yeah.

Aldo.

Hm?

I think I've changed my mind.

Huh? How so?

I've spent the majority of this long, long existence longing for death.

But, thanks to him... I think I feel as though I can try to live again.

That's great to hear.

And I don't simply mean existing day-to-day, failing to die. That would be meaningless.

I want to live. To hold my own will, my own drive, and walk forward with purpose.

Now that I know there are still things I can do to make the world a better place...

I wasn't benefiting anyone the way I was before, simply following the commands of others.

I owe you my thanks, too. For giving me the spark I needed.