Mimetics

*huff* *puff*...

Who goes there? Show yourself!

Huh?

Warghhh!

The body found on Route 99 has now been confirmed to belong to a KMS employee in his thirties. EGPD believes the same perpetrator may also be responsible for two other recent murders in Elzion. The investigation continues.

Mama, what's a murder?

It's a very scary thing.

Even scarier than ghosties?

Much scarier. But don't worry, I'll protect you no matter what.

Same old, same old. What a dull city.

Xianhua! Wait up!

You followed me all the way here?

Well, you said you had something difficult to do... I thought maybe I could help.

Help? You are funny.

I'll assist in any way I can. I may not know much about your research or anything intellectual like that, but...

You any good at fighting?

Fighting? Yeah, I get by all right.

Good, good.

Then how'd you like to be my bodyguard? Just in case something happens.

Your...bodyguard? You need a bodyguard for your research?

Thing is, I've got to go someplace and collect some cash.

I provide my findings to this company in town, you see, and I get research funds as compensation.

But they've started getting late paying up and I want to go ask why.

Their offices are just over there. You want to be useful, then get moving.

And she's expecting enough danger to require a bodyguard? I don't like the sound of this...

Please try to understand, Professor. I can't give what I don't have.

Blah, blah, blah. Enough with the excuses. Have you forgotten how much money you made from my research?

Of course not! I know how much I've relied on you ever since our days at the company, but still...

Are you and Xianhua old acquaintances or something?

Yes. I used to work under her at KMS.

You used to work for KMS, Xianhua?

Yeah, but that was a long time ago now. It's not a big deal. Besides...

Oh yeah. I almost forgot you used to work for KMS.

That was a long time ago now. Besides...

Don't change the subject. All I care about right now is why you've suddenly stopped paying up. You said you didn't have the funds. But I know full well there's no issue with your company's financials.

Quite the opposite, in fact. Your sales are through the roof, all thanks to the AI system I provided you with.

...... You're right, I'm sorry. Our financial situation isn't why I stopped sending you the money. There's another issue. And until it's cleared up, we're not in a position to send any more payments to you.

Okay, well who or what is causing this problem? I'll go sort it out. Anyone who interferes with your work, interferes with mine. And that's something I won't stand for.

I appreciate that.

Well, I'd like you to find a cat in the Industrial Ruins.

Ah. So that's how it is.

I'll send you the coordinates.

With your help, we should be able to clear up this issue in no time. Then we'll be able to continue funding your research as before...

Sounds like a good deal. I think you should accept it.

Nope, not happening.

Huh?

I don't want the money if it involves that kind of thing.

Hey, Xianhua! Wait up!

Professor Xianhua... I am truly sorry, but I was left with no choice. I must protect the company. Please forgive me.

Yes, I executed your instructions. If she heads to the ruins...no, even if she doesn't...

Who's there? I wasn't expecting any other visitors...

I can't see her anywhere.

Where'd she go? Well, she couldn't have gotten far. I'm sure I'll find her somewhere.

"We're now into the final round of the drone survival race, God of Drones: Elzion Cup!" "In the lead is No. 3, Skyclaw! But No. 5 Civetta V3 is in hot pursuit!" "Whoa! Would you look at that! No. 7 Blitzend is coming up from the inside! Just look at that drone go!"

Yesss! Come on, come on, come on!

Go on, Blitzy! You got this!

I wouldn't count your eggs before they hatch if I were you.

What?

You see, No. 7 there has a KMS fourth gen booster. Great burst propulsion, but it sadly lacks staying power. No. 3 on the other hand, that's got a sixth gen booster. An absolute masterpiece of engineering, totally redesigned for all-round improvements.

Short of the million-to-one chance it runs into engine trouble, No. 3's your winner. Just you watch.

"Hold on a minute folks, it looks like No. 3 Skyclaw's slowing down!" "It seems it's having engine trouble, folks! There's black smoke coming from its booster!"

Huh?

"This is a golden opportunity for No. 7 Blitzend! It zooms into first place and...WE HAVE A WINNER!"

YEEESSS!

Looks like that one-in-a-million chance paid off.

Huh. That's probability for you.

Try your luck at the next race. You're not the kinda gal to call it quits here, are ya?

Never! I'm not backing down now.

Hm? That's odd. I could've sworn I had...

No pay in, no racin'.

Yeah, yeah.

Xianhua! I was wondering where you went.

You were pretty cold to that guy before, don't you think you should...

Ah, it's you. Great timing.

Can you transfer some money to this terminal for me, no questions asked?

What? Why would I do that?

Besides, I wouldn't know how to do that even if I wanted to. I'm not from this time, remember?

But I spent all my travel allowance...

How?! What have you been spending it all on?

The drone race. I wanted to have some fun and I guess I paid the price.

But...why do you need so much money to watch a race?

Don't worry your little head about it. It's an adult game. You'll understand when you're older.

Um, I still don't follow, but if you need money, why don't you just go track down that man's cat?

Nope, not interested.

I mean, he seemed really distressed about it. And I can help...

Do you really think he's paying me to find some lost cat?

You mean...he's not?

Of course not. "Find a cat" is a code we use... It means, "I have a synth human problem. Fix it."

Synth humans?!

There must be one on the rampage out in the Industrial Ruins. You see, the man we met before runs a company that manufactures robot parts. And the synth humans out in the Industrial Ruins keep destroying his product supply channels.

But why use code for something so important? Wouldn't be easier to just call it as it is?

Well, some things shouldn't be discussed in the open. Anyway, I'm not getting involved. Nothing good comes from a job like that.

But you don't even have the money to get home...

Way to kick me when I'm down.

Look, I'm going, even if you won't. I'm not leaving him to deal with this on his own.

Yeah, good luck with that. You won't find anything without the coordinates.

Maybe not, but I can't just leave this be.

This seriously isn't worth risking your neck over.

Sigh... Fine. Come with me.

Thanks, Xianhua. I knew you'd come around eventually.

Look, I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my own heart. I need that paycheck if I want to go home.

Either way, I'll be glad to have you with me. Right, let's head to the Industrial Ruins.

Are you sure these are the coordinates? I don't see any synth humans around.

Hey, look at these dents on the surface here. Something must've hit this with real force.

Do you think a synth human attacked whoever was transporting these containers?

I doubt it. Not with all the supplies still here. What sorry excuse for a thief doesn't take their loot with them?

Oh? And what do we have here?

Whoa! What is that?

Is that blood?

Nope, oil.

From the viscosity, I'd guess it's synth human. But I can see why it would look like blood to you.

Right, you're a synth human researcher. No wonder you can tell.

You can tell that just by looking? That's amazing.

Oil is to synths what blood is to humans. With this much spilled, we're looking at a fatal injury.

Pretty odd, don't you think?

Yeah, I thought the synth human was the one causing the problem. So why is it the one with the injury? Maybe it tried to attack, but got attacked instead?

Or maybe there was a fight between synth humans?

Follow the trail, and we'll probably find our answer.

Is this...a synth human's?

From the shape of it, I'd say it's a mass-produced arm.

Maybe the work of synth hunters?

No. If hunters did this, they wouldn't leave any parts behind. There's money in those things.

Hmm... It's been torn clean off the upper arm.

Whoever's this is, they're like a little rabbit hunted down by a predator.

We better go and find out what happened.

Aren't you scared? There could be a synth-eating monster on the loose.

Then all the more reason to hurry!

Heh. The kid's got spirit.

That's her all right...

And this is where it fell.

Who could be capable of this?

*cough*... What happened?

Look. Think I've found our guy.

Let's see if you can dodge this one.

Rovella! What are you doing?!

Aldo? What the heck are you doing here?

Actually...never mind. Don't answer that.

You are a real piece of work.

What makes you say that all of a sudden?

Don't give me that innocent act. I have ways of making you talk.

I don't think we're going to talk him out of this. Still, at least this'll get me some good combat data.

Rovella! What are you doing?!

Aldo? What the heck are you doing here?

Look, whatever, just get outta the way. I've gotta deal with her.

What?! Why are you after Xianhua?

There's no time to explain. Now if you don't stand aside, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to take you down with her!

If that's how it is, then you leave me no choice.

I don't think we're going to talk him out of this. Still, at least this'll get me some good combat data.

Why are you after Xianhua?

Look, I've got no beef with you, buddy. But if you don't get out of my way...

Xianhua's my friend. I won't let you hurt her.

Then it looks like I'm in for a tough fight. But I can't back down, not now!

I don't think we're going to talk him out of this. Still, at least this'll get me some good combat data.

Feel like talking yet?

Xianhua, put down your weapon!

Rovella must have a reason for doing this.

When he attacked, he looked so torn...

......

That so? These subtleties of the mind go over my head.

This man must have a reason for doing this.

When he attacked, he looked so torn...

......

That so? These subtleties of the mind go over my head.

I'm Aldo, a traveling swordsman. I'm helping Xianhua out on a job. And you are...?

Rovella.

So can you explain what's going on here? Why are you after Xianhua?

I was given a job...to eliminate the synth killer.

Killer? What are you talking about?

You killed him, right? You killed my colleague.

You've got it all wrong! Xianhua and I only just got here!

Does she have an alibi, then? You haven't been watching her around the clock, I assume.

Well...

This just got interesting.

You want to know my alibi? Sure thing.

What are you doing?

Looks like its memory AI is pretty much intact. Perfect.

Let me show you its last ever memory.

You can do that?

There's some damage, but it's easy enough to restore. And for me, the security on these mass-produced memory banks is an absolute joke to bypass. Honestly, it's like jumping through an open window.

S-Some...body...help...me...

Ngh!

What...was that?

That was a lion hunting a little rabbit. So it got pounced on from behind, eh?

But we couldn't get a good look at the killer. I don't know if this is enough to prove your innocence...

No, we're fine there. Look at the time stamp. When the synth died, I was on an airship on the eastern plate. You can check the boarding records. See? It couldn't have been me. Case closed.

Really? That's great!

You happy now?

Guess so. Sorry for suspecting you.

No matter. Water under the bridge. But now let me ask you something...

Who gave you this job?

Not a clue, sorry.

It's no good feigning ignorance, you know.

I'm not lying.

Take a look at my comms device if you don't believe me. It came as an anonymous request. I got a message saying to eliminate the synth killer, along with an advance payment. And a picture of you.

You mentioned a colleague before. Do you mean...

There's plenty of reasons why someone might work with a synth.

Like helping the non-hostiles escape, that kind of thing.

I'm not gonna tell you what my work is exactly, but...

A colleague of mine was murdered, and I've been looking for the killer. And then this clue fell right into my hands.

You look like the kind of guy who only cares about the size of his paycheck. Why would someone like you support the synths?

Never said I did. I do what I do for my clients, that's all there is to it.

If someone had hurt my friend, I know I wouldn't back down and let it go.

Hm... I find that mindset intriguing, though hard for me to fathom.

In any case, there's no way to find out my client's identity.

Who transferred the advance payment?

That's a lost cause, I'm afraid. It was transferred anonymously. No name, no account ID...

You give up too easy. If a transfer's been made, it can be tracked.

You think you'll find some clue by staring at Rovella's glowing board?

Watch and learn. I'll hack into the comms system and check.

Interesting... Oh dear, oh dear... Sorry. I always get irate when I have to deal with kids.

Kids?!

But I'm older than you!

Never mind that, did you find anything out?

Yes. I broke through the account ID encryption and identified the source of your transfer. It's a secret KMS account.

KMS?!

Huh. This whole thing has started to stink.

But I thought you used to work for KMS, Xianhua. Why would KMS want you dead?

Beats me. Too many reasons to pick just one.

Err...what did you do?

So you worked for KMS? Based on the way you carry yourself, you must've been pretty high up, too.

I just did research for them for a while. That's all.

That's how I can tell at a glance which military branch was behind those augmentations of yours.

No wonder you scare me so much. I'm afraid I'm out. I don't want to get any more tangled up in this.

Besides...I can't just leave my colleague like this.

......

They were good friends. I can sympathize...

If you say so. Anyway...

I came here to settle things, but the situation's just getting messier.

We have to fight the culprit.

Yes. And expose whoever's trying to frame me, and crush them.

At least I know my old workplace has something to do with it now.

And I do have one thing to thank you for.

Really? Because I feel like everything we've found out has been down to you.

Indeed. But if you weren't here, I never would've gotten all that info. See, with machines, you can just hack into their storage systems, but you can't do that with humans.

If I'd been alone, I probably would've smashed his skull to bits.

Don't say stuff like that.

It was a joke.

If you say so... So, what's the plan?

I'm going back to Elzion. There's no point in staying here.

Okay, I'll come with you.

Still planning on following me around?

I'm still your bodyguard, remember? I have to protect you until this whole mess is cleared up.

Besides, I still need to make it up to you for protecting me from that explosion earlier.

(What a strange kid. I feel like I've adopted a stray cat or something.)

Well, suit yourself.

Great! Just let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

We'll go back to our guy and report. I should let him know our old employer's been acting strange.

And while I'm at it, I'll give him a piece of my mind, too. It's his fault I'm dealing with this mess!

They look busy.

Xianhua, look!

What's all this commotion?

We wanted to visit the company through here. We need to speak with the manager.

What?

......