Mother of Invention

Ah, there you are. Come in.

At no point did I ask them to send me a living child.

Did they hand you off to the facility to get rid of you? Hm, what to do with you...

I misjudged you, Xianhua.

You treat humans as lab animals for ze sake of your research?

Is zis how KMS does things?

It's not like I plan on chopping her up and eating her...

I do not care. I will not let KMS take advantage of zis little girl.

I will take her back to where she comes from.

For her to get thrown out like a used rag?

Stop it. What are you saying?

According to the report, the girl has a congenital disease, and was left in an unfit environment.

My request was for her body to be appropriately stored after death and sent to me for my experiments...

Clearly, her parents had other plans, and they carted her off to me. Easier than looking after a dying girl, I guess. What do you think would happen to the child if we returned her to parents like that?

......

...Fine. Ze child can join the lab.

Good. At your lab, we can do whatever we...

Non, she stays in zis room.

What?!

Zere are not enough vacant rooms.

But zis lab was far too big for you anyway, non?

Wait! You can't just...

Why ze face? Do you not like children?

It's not that, it's just... She'll get in the way of my research!

Relax, I offer my full support to ze petite girl. I will not abandon her.

But do not try to use her in your little experiments, oui? I will be watching all on camera. Now, I will talk zis over with my supérieurs.

Honestly, what a pushy so-and-so.

......

This is a disaster. I can't believe Helena got summoned by Proto Eden. If I have to take care of you myself, my research will start falling behind...

Mommy...

Cut that out. I'll never be your mo...

Zzz...

Oh, you're just talking in your sleep?

Naive little thing. You dream of your parents in spite of all they did to you?

Still, at least I can finally focus on my research.

Sleep, my child. Sleep, my child. She loved to be sung that lullaby...

*groan* Gah...

Well, you had a good run.

Am I...dying?

Yeah. You are.

And the lady...with the golden hair?

She's... She's gone far away.

I...miss...her...

Yeah. Same.

Are you ready to die yet?

Huh?

If we follow the laws of nature, your life will end here.

But there is a way to twist those laws and enable you to keep living.

You...can...fix me?

Not exactly.

With my research, you can be reborn.

But it's quite likely that you will no longer be you.

Even so...would you like to live?

Yes.

All right then.

You will now embark on a journey of unknowns. You will become an unchanging existence that transcends humanity. You will become the first ever experimental machine known as a synth human.

Hm. I should really give you a name. How about...Vita. The perfect name to celebrate a new life.

That girl...was the first ever synth human you created?

She was your first attempt... And yet she was so sophisticated that she was totally indistinguishable from humans?

When she was reborn as a synth human, I taught her everything I knew.

All my knowledge, my ways of thinking, my combat techniques, it's all in her.

In her, I wanted to create an unchanging vessel. And I was successful. She absorbed everything I had to offer far faster than I ever could have imagined. It's no exaggeration to say she ended up as another me.

Much like Professor Chronos's research, this is clearly beyond human comprehension.

But then, there was a problem.

I'd been carrying out my research on Vita in secret, but somehow KMS got wind of it. They realized her potential as a weapon.

I tried my best to avoid giving her to them, but I was still young and inexperienced at the time.

In the end, the only way I could think to keep her out of KMS's hands was to scrap her.

Scrap her? You mean...

I'm afraid so. I took her apart and disposed of her myself.

That's awful...

But somehow, she's still here.

Who knows how she was revived. One thing I can say for sure, though, is that she's not a vessel anymore. She's a monster manifested through time.

This is all my fault. My lack of foresight brought about this disaster...

Guess I have to scrap her a second time around. It's my mess, I have to be the one to clean it up.

Can't we save her somehow?

Save her? The monster that shouldn't even exist?

In spite of everything she's done, I simply don't accept that she's a monster.

Then don't. I'm not interested in discussing the issue.

......

I'll get this sorted out, okay? Vita's got to be who the director was looking for... Which means the Special Branch is behind these events somehow.

Then the director was using Vita to kill the synth humans?

That would be the obvious conclusion. But why? I can't see his motive. Besides, there's no way the director can control Vita.

Which means if we don't stop her soon, all synth humans could be in danger.

All of them? Why? What are you talking about?

I'll explain later. Right now, we need to get to the director. I don't know how, but he's very likely the one who released Vita. If we want to find out where she is, we need all the information he has on her.

Do you know where we can find him?

I think I have an idea, yeah, but it means heading to Eeza. We can't waste any more time here chatting. I've got to get going.

Then I'll come with. If we ask Synth Hydra to take us, we should get there in no time.

Okay, then I'll ask Helena for her help as well.

In that case, I'll see if I can get any info from my usual contacts.

I understand. Thanks for all your help, Nonold.

B-But it's not like I'm running away or anything!

And watch out, Professor Xianhua, 'cause I'm coming for you!

That so?

Remember my name. One day, mine will be up there with yours and Professor Chronos!

He's got passion, that's for sure. Yeah, I'll remember you.

Now then, let's head to the Riftbreaker!

You're still up, huh? What are you investigating?

I was looking into a city in the lower levels called Elzion. There are these things called "songs" that are popular there. Do you know of them?

Of course I do. They annoy the heck out of me.

Really? Then do you know this one?

Sleep, my child. Sleep, my child. Gently embraced by the stars' memories...

Sure I do. It's an old lullaby.

What's a lullaby?

It's a song that people sing to put children to sleep.

Really?

Then Mommy, will you...

How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not your mom.

Sing me a lullaby.

Look, those things are just for little kids.

You're so mature, in knowledge, in experience, in skill, you can hardly be called a kid anymore.

I've only been alive for a few million seconds, though. At the standard human growth rate, that would make me a baby still.

So pleeease! Sing to me. I promise I'll go to sleep right away.

Then you can get back to identifying the parameters of transfer rejection in living cell electronic devices...

Fine, you win. But just this once, okay?

Yaaay!

Mon dieu. Ze girl is going around killing synth humans?

I thought I should warn you, since you coordinate with the synth humans. This is now a serious problem for all synth humans in this world.

She's just a child. How can she really be that dangerous?

Don't judge a book by its cover, Aldo.

No matter how strong ze girl is, it is not realistic for her to attack an armed Riftbreaker, non?

Synth humans can never win against her.

You know the Hyperspeed Arrows of Light? Well, she's armed with something like that but better.

You mean, Rindo's weapon?

Yeah, you saw it for yourself in Eeza, right? Well, hers can discharge at many times the speed.

We saw her short-circuit and kill her prey in the surveillance videos, so we can assume it remains functional. If her full power is unleashed, all Synth humans across Elzion would be rendered powerless.

Why would you give her such a powerful weapon in the first place?

I told you that she's a vessel containing everything that is me. She's valuable, priceless even. I had to ensure she could defend herself from anyone who might try to steal her away.

Zis is a very serious situation indeed.

I shall tell my comrades. And Galliard, of course.

Do so.

The responsibility lies with me. I'll make sure to stop her.

You said you had a hunch where the director might be?

Right. The Special Branch is located within KMS Eastern Division. Its exact location is top secret, but...

If I recall correctly, the Special Branch's questionable lab is located in their basement facility.

KMS's basement facility? Where we went before to help Helena? Are you sure we can go back there?

Relax, that's all been cleared up now. And we're only going for a little stroll. Old Man Delamair can't complain about that.

Okay, let's get going.

That's strange. the Special Branch's lab was left unlocked.

Maybe it got unlocked during all the commotion before?

Nope, the security's been completely disabled from within.

So there's a whole other problem?

Think so. Not a great start, is it?

Is this the Special Branch's lab?

Just look at the state of this place.

Wait? Is that...

Hey, are you okay?

Ugh... What are all you...doing here?

Oh dear, he's badly hurt! We have to get him bandaged up!

How can you be so quick to help him? He tried to have you killed, remember?

Yeah, but that doesn't matter. I can't leave someone to suffer like this, no matter what they've done.

You sure are something, kid...

*sigh* Fine. You make me crazy, you know that?

You should be okay for now.

To think you'd be the one to save me...

Don't even think about thanking me for saving your life.

I really don't want to hear it. Still, I think I can guess what happened here.

......

Your life is in my hands.

Fine... I don't see any point in arguing with you now.

Very wise of you. Now, time to check your answers.

All right, next question.

I don't know where she is.

Please tell us. We have to stop her.

You want to stop that thing?

Hah! Don't make me laugh! If it were possible, we'd have done it already!

It's no use. I think he's telling the truth.

You were trying to track down Vita at the Former KMS HQ, weren't you?

Yes, that's right. I was trying to find out where she might have gone.

And looking at the state of this room... I assume Vita came back.

You probably tried to overpower her, but got overpowered instead, right?

......

No doubt you thought you could get her under your thumb, but she was too much for you to handle.

I got rid of Vita and everything to do with her over a decade ago.

Why is she still up and running?

What's that supposed to mean?

Huh?

All I did was dig up the detailed backup data and restore her discarded body.

Impossible! I made sure everything was disposed of.

(Is my memory faulty? That can't be...) (But Vita is alive and kicking. My priority is getting to the bottom of what's happened.)

Was it you who ordered those attacks on me at the Industrial Ruins and Former KMS HQ?

Yes, that was me.

You were always skeptical about synth humans, even when we conducted the research together.

Together? Wait, are you saying he worked under you as well?

Yes. He was actually a pretty good researcher.

You flatter me.

But I don't regret leaving you.

Synth humans bring only chaos to human society. They should never have been born.

Sure, that's more than enough reason to hate me. Enough reason to want me dead, too.

But please tell me that's not why you brought Vita back.

I do so long for your destruction.

But no, that's not why I resurrected the girl.

I did that to stop the synth human invasion.

Invasion? What invasion?

Her targets were the KMS experimental machines planning to invade another time layer using synth humans.

An invasion of another time layer... They were actually going ahead with that dumb plan?

You've heard of this plan before?

Only the general gist of it.

In short, the plan was to invade other time layers indirectly... By creating synth humans who can pass as human and sending them as versatile and competent spies... Into various domains of other time layers. The military, the economy, you name it. And thus, they take over that time layer from within. That's the plan as I know it. How am I doing?

You're right on the money, as always. Not that I'd expect anything less from you.

The plan had reached its final stages... Which meant the synth humans had been released into Elzion to conduct their final behavioral checks.

Haven't they learned anything from the Deus Ex incident? How can they still be up to these tricks?

I don't really have an answer for you there. But my understanding is that the Deus Ex incident was caused by an inept exec who got ahead of himself.

And Vita's targets were synth humans in this verification team?

Yes, that's right.

How curious. Why would you do something that interferes with their plan?

Your course of action most definitely goes against the company's interests.

......

Wait a minute, I think I might have it...

I'm assuming this plan was spear- headed by the Eastern Division, yes? Which would make Old Man Delamair in charge, regardless of how much he actually contributed to the plan. If the plan fails, Old Man Delamair takes the heat.

I hear he loathes your Special Branch with a passion.

Hah... Hahahahaha!

Yes, that's why they call you the greatest genius in the history of KMS.

You got it in one go. The invasion is the Eastern Division's operation, and their budget is near endless. I hear that Delamair is secretly opposed to the plan, but that doesn't even matter.

If his plan fails, he will have to take responsibility. Then the biggest thorn in our side will be removed.

And you sounded so high-and-mighty with your talk of stopping the invasion...

But no. You only brought Vita back to help you in your petty little power struggle! You're unbelievable!

Petty?

What's wrong with removing obstacles in order to survive at work? It's human nature.

Someone who buries her head in her research and renounces the world would never understand.

Well, I don't understand either! It's never be okay to harm others for your own selfish gain!

Synth humans are being murdered as we speak!

Then go ahead and stop her. All I know of her whereabouts is that she left Eeza a short while ago.

If you don't hurry, her wave of destruction will be repeated in Elzion.

Yeah, we already knew that!

Let's go. We're not getting any more information out of him.

Actually...one last question.

He's dead?

Don't act dumb. You used him. And then you threw him to the wolves when you were done.

I simply offered to resolve that mess if he helped me eliminate you.

But you say he's dead? Hm, that would explain why I hadn't heard from him...

So you aren't behind his murder?

Of course not... She must have killed him.

What?

My guess is she tried to get him to spill your whereabouts...and things went south.

Oh...

So you came here and tried to have me killed because you lost control of Vita? Talk about despicable...

Come on. We have other places to be.

You don't look happy.

We are trying to take in ze synth humans, but it is so difficult to get them all.

Some do not even want our help.

And yet, if what the cool beauty says is true, then every second counts.

Exactly. I know zere is no time for brooding.

We will need Galliard's help to reach all but ze moderates.

We need to help as many people as we can...

What's this song?

My, what's a sweet little girl like you doing all alone in a place like this?

Mon dieu! That is ze girl Xianhua was talking about!

You're being very naughty synth humans. You shouldn't be pretending to be people.

Check ze status on-board, now!

Strange. I cannot detect most of the crew.

What have you done to them?!

It's okay, I only sent them off to beddy-byes. What I really want...

...is your memory.

What?!

When I ran away from the man from KMS, I secretly extracted the surveillance data from my room. It showed you and mommy together.

I wanna see inside your head and find out where she is.

If we don't know where Vita is, how are we going to find her?

There is a way, but boy will it be tedious... I'll hack into all surveillance cameras in the city, check through all the footage and...

Who is this?

Can you hear me? We have an emergency! The girl, Vita, has appeared!

What?!

Helena is dealing with her, but I don't know how long she can hold out! Please hurry!

Ugh! We must have just missed her!

Hurry!

When you went out of contact, I feared something might have happened to you... Helena, who is this girl?

She is a synth human created by Xianhua. She was supposed to be scrapped, but someone revived her. And now, ze girl is killing synth humans.

I see. Then she must be stopped no matter the cost.

You were in the data I got too. Do you know where my mommy is?

What are you talking about?

She wants to steal our memory AI to find Xianhua.

And be careful. She is equipped with a special mechanism. Never approach her. If she touches you...

Aaaghhh!

Gahhh...

Oh, silly. I don't need to touch you to stop you from functioning.

It's so difficult to balance, though! Too much output and you all fry.

There, there, stay perfectly still now. All I want is your head. It'll all be over in no time...

My, how violent you are.

Mommy! Yay! I finally found you!

Like I keep saying, I'm not your mom.

Teehee. You are funny, Mommy.

The man from KMS said there were all these naughty synth humans out there, pretending to be humans. He said if I looked inside their heads, they'd lead me to you! So I did it, but it didn't help at all.

So I went to see your friend! But they didn't know where you were, either...

Why are you so mad, mister human?

That KMS man is the baddie here! When I got back, I found he'd been talking with Mommy in secret.

I want to help you.

But if you plan to use your power to hurt my friends, I will do everything I can to stop you.

And so will I.

Mommy?

Why? You're not mad at me too, are you, Mommy?

No, I'm not.

It's you I plan to stop.

What?! Why?

Xianhua! What are you doing?

Vita is me.

To harm her is to harm me.

Mommy...

Come with me, Vita.

Okay! Let's go, Mommy!

Xianhua!

We must go after them, but my body... I can't...

I see the light of the escape pod. She must have prepared for this beforehand. But that would mean...

Non! Don't even finish zat sentence.

She would never betray us.

Helena's right.

This has to be part of her plan. Same as with Proto Eden.

Very well. I will trust you on this.

Synth Hydra, ça va? Are you okay now?

Just about, yes. Though her electro- magnetic waves really played havoc with my vision.

Can you trace where Xianhua and Vita went?

But of course.

Found them. They appear to have landed on Last Island.

Last Island? What is she up to...

Whatever her plan, we cannot leave her. We must go there right now!

Mommy, Mommy! Look! It's the sea! It's sooo blue!

Why'd they make this place so pretty, Mommy?

They say humans often find their peace and happiness in faraway places. Far above the surface, up in the sky, or beyond the horizon of the sea.

Maybe the designer of this plate wanted to create such a paradise.

A paradise, huh?

Then my paradise is by your side, Mommy.

Why d'you say that?

'Cause I'm happy as happy can be whenever I'm with you.

I'm glad to hear that. But you know, there are so many other types of happiness out there.

I know, that's why I wanna go to more places with you.

I wanna learn everything there is to learn, and become as smart as you.

Then I'll be even happier!

Maybe so.

But I'm afraid that wish can never come true.

Huh?

Why are you doing this? I don't understand...

To protect the synth humans.

But...why? I tried so hard to get back to you. I thought I did well...

I thought we could be alone together again...

I'm afraid the only reason we're alone together right now is to keep you away from Helena. Well, not just Helena. Galliard and the moderate synths, too. There were a lot of synths on board who trusted Helena, you see.

If you caught them in an electro- magnetic storm, their whole future would be wiped out. And I can't let that happen. I choose to sacrifice the few to save the many.

No... Please, Mommy... This isn't what I wanted. Please forgive me, Mommy... Please...

It's not like you can't understand the situation. You are my daughter, after all.

Guh!

Mommy?

I can't...do it...

Mommy? Are you okay?

I've just got to pull the trigger, like I did last time... So why can't I...

This voice keeps going around my head, saying I've got to protect you. Why won't it shut up?

Mommy...

Perhaps getting my memory back through Proto Eden has something to do with it... Never mind. Let's come up with another strategy.

You let your guard down, Mommy.

Wha?!

Vi...ta?

I knew it.

Gahh! What...are you...doing?

Artificial muscle fiber and other organic parts...and look! Part of your vertebra's made of metal. And my, what black blood you have, Mommy. But it's not blood, is it? It's refined oil.

You're not looking very human to me, Mommy.

......

Teehee, don't look at me like that. I knew right from the start. You may have my mommy's face and voice, but you're a fake.

You see, I can tell. Synth humans and humans have different scents. The second I saw you there, I knew you weren't my mommy. But I pretended not to notice.

You looked so strong, you see. So I waited for my chance.

Stop! What are you doing?

WHERE. IS. MY. MOMMY?

......

No answer? No matter! Once I rip your head off and look inside, then I'll find out where she's hiding.

Xianhua, are you okay? Xianhua!

Why...did you come here?

Mon dieu, your body! Non, that can wait.

You did all zis just to save us? You can be so reckless!

Xianhua!

You have my thanks for trying to protect not just Helena and I, but all of our brethren.

Leave the rest to us.

I wish you'd stay outta my way.

Synth Ninjas? They're under your control?

Yeah, they'll do anything I say now. Their heads just needed a little... tweaking.

How could you!

You know, you make me feel all nostalgic inside. That's why I didn't kill you right away when we were up in the sky...

You're not gonna be so lucky a second time though.

You leave Helena out of this.

Your body, it's still...

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

Though it nearly got overrun by insignificant emotions for a moment there.

Don't say that, Xianhua. It's only natural that you want to protect her. I want to help her, too. But first, we have to stop her.

It's do or die now. So give this all you got.

You're the only one here who can stand up to her power.

Ninjas, focus all your fire on that male.

Once he's eliminated...I'll tear those nasty synth humans to pieces.

Here they come!

And then there was one.

NO! Not yet! Not yet!

I-I don't understand...

My body, it won't move... Move, you stupid thing, move!

Mommy's waiting for me!

Looks like you've reached your operating limit.

You were far too reckless with your power.

Xianhua?

Wait!

If I don't do it, KMS will.

Galliard has left.

Zere was un petit skirmish between ze synth humans in the Industrial Ruins, and he has gone to mediate.

Oh.

Ze girl was a synth human, just like us. Zis will be a tough road ahead. If Synth Humans cannot even get along with each other, how are we ever to find peace with ze humans?

It's not your fault, Helena. You're doing great.

Merci, Aldo.

Xianhua has not returned from ze coast yet?

No, not yet.

Maybe we should go see how she's doing.

Yes, we should not leave her zere all alone.

See you tomorrow, Mommy.

It's me.

Yeah, had to scrap her. She won't be waking up again.

...It's perfect.

The body composition... the cognitive framework...

All transcribed down to the finest detail. She really has outdone herself.

Haha. To think I can't even bring myself to dispose of a single experimental unit.

More pointless emotion... But once I achieve perfection, it will be a thing of the past...

There you are, you two.

How is your body holding up?

It seems fine enough. No problem with my vitals or anything.

Pretty tough, this body of mine, eh?

Xianhua, I gotta ask. Is your body, erm...

Yeah.

As you saw for yourself... I'm as synth human as they come. I performed the synth human conversion process on myself.

You did this to yourself? Why?

Why, you ask? Well, according to the data recorded in the memory AI...

...In the pursuit of an eternal and unchanging existence, I transformed my body into a vessel with enduring permanence.

...Did you remember something?

......

I think this is what happened...

So you were trying to keep their memory alive.

Speaking of memories, I've recalled another one.

It's true that I wasn't able to completely dispose of Vita all those years ago. Some flawed emotion hindered my ability to act rationally.

Although, I have no right to call myself such a thing...

That's not true! Back then, you...

It's funny, really. My body simply can't execute the commands I'm giving it.

I tell myself, she's a monster. If I don't destroy her, both myself and those I care about will die.

But even under that conditioning, I still can't do it.

Because to me...she is my daughter. My only daughter.

Where do you think you're going?

Galliard, wait!

I have to...find my mommy...

I have to...I have to...

Nrgraaargh!

Mon dieu! What is zis power?

Uh-oh. Her device is going out of control!

Ghh! The force field! I can't get close!

I'll go! I can still move!

Wait!

Take me with you.

In your state? You can't be serious!

Please... If I can just reach her... I can stop the device.

Okay. I'll shield you, all right?

Hrrrnnnggg!

I thought I had immunity to electro- magnetic waves, but I'm taking too much damage!

Xianhua! I knew this was a bad idea!

Just keep going!

Mommy? Where are you?

XIANHUAAA!

Hush... It's okay now...

Mommy?

I'm here now.

I finally...found you... I've been looking...for so long... When I woke up...you weren't there...

I know. I'm so sorry, Vita. I'm so sorry for leaving you all alone.

Wonder...what...you'll...teach... me...next... I can't...wait... ......

......

You were absolutely a mother to her.

Thanks, kid. But the thing is...

Vita's identification system that distinguishes between human and synth human was broken in battle.

Kind of ironic, isn't it?

Her "mommy" was me before I became a synth.

To her, this version of me is a monster, not a mother. And yet...

That's not true!

You're not a monster. Even if your body has changed, you are still you.

You're the one who cared for her, you're the one who fought for her till the very end! You!

Yeah, and I'm also the one who attempted to cast her aside.

Perhaps...

But we can learn from our mistakes, non?

......

We can learn from our mistakes...

You're right, Helena.

I should get going. I must return to Galliard.

Xianhua...what'll you do now?

You go on ahead. I'll be right behind you.

All right. Zere is no rush.

Let us go, Aldo.

I'm sorry, you two. Please let me dream, just for a little while...

Sleep, my child. Sleep, my child. Cradled by time's faint song.

The paradise of your dreams is calling. Sleep, sleep well, my child.

My dear, sweet Vita...