Day 0: Ovule

Are you serious?

Yes! There are Dream Worlds appearing across the Gamma and Theta districts!

Dream Worlds?!

But how? The Mother Project was shut down, I thought?

...Anybody gonna tell me what a Dream World is?

It's more or less how it sounds, a world within a dream. ...And the last time this happened, a bunch of students ended up getting stuck there.

Seriously?! I know I kinda shut myself out from the rest of the world but how did I miss that?!

There you are, Linaria.

Cetie? Renri? What are you doin' here?

Officer Cetie, Officer Renri, welcome to our school. Thank you again for your help with the internship training.

Huh? Training?

Isuka is interning at COA. And I believe Cetie's her supervisor.

Really? I seem to be livin' under a rock. How did I not know that...

I take it we owe this visit to the strange goings-on we're hearing about in Elzion?

That's right, yeah. They're calling up any officers in the area to investigate the this mass coma incident.

We were already close by working on our own cases, and when we heard Linaria was here we figured we'd come collect her.

You make it sound like I'm gettin' arrested!

Heh. You, me, and Renri are going to go pay the Administrator a visit.

Officer Cetie, do you mind if we join you? We have a lot of experience when it comes to Dream Worlds.

Please. We will be helpful, of that I'm certain.

Can we? If this is as important to them as I think it is, I'd like to do whatever I can to help.

Sure, I don't see why not. Truth be told, COA's short on manpower anyway after that recent attack.

...And I couldn't think of a more qualified pair outside of the COA.

All right. I'll let the Administrator know.

Thank you.

Isuka, let's get ready.

Right. So Hismena and I will be going to the Administrator's.

Claude and Saki, I'd like you to investigate the scope of this incident here on campus.

Claude, I'd like you to investigate the scope of this incident here on campus.

Okay, once you're ready, let's go pay the Administrator a visit!

I understand that this incident bears many similarities to something IDEA has encountered in the past?

That is correct. It's very close to what we call "The Dream World Incidents."

So how do we reconnect the bodies with their consciousness?

The most sure-fire method is... To use the pillar of light to travel to the world where the consciousness is trapped.

Not gonna work. Unfortunately, the pillars are disappearing almost as soon as they appear.

Anythin' else we can try, Isuka?

Well, one thing we're looking into is the possibility of getting through digitally, like we did in the Mother incident... But we haven't heard any results of those tests just yet.

Or we could just find out who's doin' this and get them to tell us the location.

Actually, part of the reason why I called you all here is because there have been developments on that front.

You know who's behind this?

Just watch this first.

Is that our culprit?

Can't see what they look like with that hood on...

We've examined all visual data showing this individual across Elzion... We then combined that data with the data from the android you found and created this composite of our suspect.

Huh?

No...that doesn't make any sense... Officer Linaria, how could this be?

N-No way... That's impossible... That can't be her...that must be someone else.

Linaria, wait.

You recognize this person too, Isuka? Who is it? What am I missing?

That's Cicera. The girl we were talking about before. Linaria's classmate, IDEA's superstar.

No way!

Linaria's best friend is the one behind this? But I thought she...

From our data, we know that the suspect is an IDA student who went missing several years ago. However, all records related to their disappearance have been erased.

So no one knows what happened to her after that?

Hold on. You said she was missing?

Yes, I was about to ask that, too.

Yeah, Linaria said she was dead.

What is going on here?

One more thing about this "Cicera." Our investigation revealed a strong possibility that her citizen data records were actually fabricated.

However, it was done so skillfully, it's no wonder it was never flagged before.

That means...we had a terrorist under our nose the whole time she was in IDEA...

Somebody skilled enough to erase all traces of themselves and smart enough to outwit both COA and IDEA. I don't think she's going to be easy to track.

Unless we had someone who knew her personally...thankfully we do.

You mean Linaria?

Right. If she and Cicera were friends, then it's possible she knows something that could help us.

If we could find out what happened at the time of Cicera's disappearance...

She says she can't remember, though...

...I know this might sound like a cop out, but to tell the truth, I have a hard time remembering that day... And it's not for lack of tryin', but every time I do try, I get this intense pain...

To reawaken those memories...

I know. Believe me, I know. It's an unspeakably cruel thing that I'm suggesting.

But to be worthy of wearing the white uniform, we must perform our duty, whatever it takes.

Then I guess we need to go find Linaria.

Before you go, there is one more thing I should tell you.

This is a record of Officer Linaria's police interview from several years ago, the day Cicera went missing.

Understood. Thanks.

It's from the Operator. Says there's been a sighting near the Cargo Station.

Then there's no time to lose!

Neither. I plan on living free in the skies.

Heheh, I knew you'd say that.

Now stop being weird and let's go, or we're gonna be late for our meeting with the board.

We're so close to finally expanding the IDA scholarship program, I can almost taste it! Opening up education for all. That's what you've always dreamed of, right?

Yeah, but that's my dream. What's yours?

My dream is to make your dream come true!

Now come on, the cargo bus is almost here.

I see. Okay...

What's up?

Sorry, Lina. I gotta go get something real quick. You go on ahead.

Huh? What about the meeting?

I'll make it back in time. But on the off chance I don't...

No, never mind. See you later.

Hey, hold up! What about me? Do I just wait in the Operations Room?!

And don't take too long! You don't wanna miss your birthday party!

Finally settled down?

You can't force me to go.

No, as much as I'd like to, I cannot penetrate the inner workings of your mind. However...some things can only be overcome by facing them head on, no matter how much it may hurt.

Well you're being sassy today...

Looks like the others have arrived.

Are you okay?

Linaria, we here to...

To ask about Cicera. Yeah. I know...

But you don't need to push yourself. Only say what you're comfortable saying...

No, it's fine. I know I need to do this.

I told you that I was the one who set up IDEA's current system. But that's only because I infiltrated the old system and destroyed it.

As much as it shames me to say it, there was once a time when I wasn't quite so...well-behaved.

I don't believe it. You've always been such a stickler for the rules! My father was always telling me to be more like you.

It was all just an act. I mean... You've met my family, Hismena. You know how strict they are. Par for the course when it comes to families in law enforcement, really... But the thing is, it makes life so utterly exhausting.

......

I've always been good at programming, so to destress... I'd hack into the servers of all these public institutions and cause a little chaos. When I'd just become a high grader, I managed to create a hole in the IDEA system. I was so pleased with myself.

But a white-uniformed girl named Cicera busted me immediately. She acted so mature; it was hard to believe we were the same age...

I figured that I was done for. I'd get expelled and my parents would kick me out the house... But Cicera had other plans. "IDEA needs you," she told me.

And that's how I came to join IDEA.

Cicera was amazing. She had the power to move people, just like you do, Isuka.

She was so incredible, and kind, and so very strong in her convictions. Like she had somethin' real inside her.

And yet...she always had such a sad, lonely look in her eyes.

I started going around with her all the time, desperate to find out why she had that look in her eyes. For some reason, she seemed to like me, too. We'd go out all the time, the two of us.

Before long, it was time to pick a new head of IDEA. I naturally assumed it would be Cicera. But Cicera recommended me for some reason.

I couldn't understand it. Cicera was the qualified one, not me. I was just riding on her coattails.

But anyway, at her insistence, I became the next head. And shortly after that... I lost her.

This would be what you told us back in the Operations Room?

Yes. Cicera... She died there, in the Operations Room.

What? You never mentioned that!

If she died in ops then surely we would have found evidence...

I'll never forget how cold she felt that day. I still feel it...

Look, I don't think you're lying or anything... But if Cicera's dead, then who was that we saw in the recording back in the Administrator's Office?

Though this contradicts your statement, Cicera is most likely still alive.

I'm not lying.

No. There's no evidence to suggest that you're lying, either.

Why, do you two know something?

The Administrator said records from your debriefing were still in ops.

The records state that you were found in ops alone and in a state of shock. Traces of Cicera's blood were detected in the room. However, Cicera's body was not found at the scene.

But that's impossible... Cicera was...

I had Clock look up the list of all citizen deaths from around that time. There was no record of Cicera dying anywhere.

We're not blaming you, Linaria. However... You know your memories aren't true, don't you?

I do.

You must have seen what actually happened to Cicera. If you can recover your memories from back then, perhaps we can work out where Cicera is now.

Wait a minute, you two! Can't you see how Linaria's suffering? Besides, how would you even go about getting her memories back?

There is a way.

No... You don't mean...

You can't! Using that thing will put you through so much pain!

We can't force you, Linaria. But even as we speak, people are falling into comas across Elzion.

The decision is yours, Linaria.

If you can't do it, just say. I'll help you find another way.

No, it's okay. I have to do this.

I'll go back to the IDEA Operations Room...

...And use the Time Piercer.

I thought this place was only in the planning stages, how is it already so developed?

You can see the signs of society all over, people must live here...

You protected such a wonderful place without anyone finding out... Truly incredible, Aldo.

It was all because we had help.

Yeah. None of this would have been possible without Iola.

Let's go. The Junk Shop is just up ahead.

If yer group gets any bigger I'm gonna need to find a bigger store, ya know.

We don't have much time, so I'll cut to the chase. We're looking for information about the first Iola, the one who created the Rosebuds.

Wow, you don't mess around, huh? That's some top tier information you're looking for there.

We understand that. Name your price.

Please tell us what we need to know.

Deep in the Lost Sector. Where you guys had that showdown with that massive drone.

That's where you'll find the first Iola's house and hideout.

Wow...you have looser lips than I was expecting.

Don't you want payment?

Nah, this one's on the house. My way of thanking you for saving our town. Couldn't tell you exactly where she is, though. You'll need to find someone a little closer to the action for that kind of info.

Much obliged.

Let's get going, then.

Hey, before you go rushing off. One more little gift for ya.

Come here, little lady.

Huh? You mean, me?

Is this...a portable battery?

It's a special-made high capacity one. I think that drone of yours might need it to utilize that special ability it's got.

You really do know everything.

Now hurry up and get outta here. I'm a busy man.

Oh, and... Thanks for what you did.

Right, let's move out. To the Lost Sector we go.

So, this is where Cicera lived?

It certainly is run-down around here...

Kay, Cozmos. How many times do you think you can recreate a scene using that new battery of yours?

Assuming you'll need a decent amount of playback time, and taking my new battery capacity into account... A handful of times at most.

Got it.

Cicera...just what kind of world did you see?

Iola to all units. Report your...

Ngh! It's no use...

I'm done for...

Another message from her... How diligent she is...

Hah... It's not even my birthday...

I can't believe this... I got so used to all this peace I somehow let my guard down...

I gotta get my uniform and go before it's too late! I can't let her get dragged into this.

So that was Cicera, founder of the Rosebuds, and the first Iola?

She never gave up the fight, did she?

Sorry, I feel no sympathy for terrorists.

I see now, that in her own way, she was fighting to protect what was important to her.

Did she go to see you after this then, Linaria?

I think we can get in through here.

Hey, Linaria...

Come on. Quickly.

R-Right...

It's locked.

It looks like it needs a passcode.

A passcode, eh? Cozmos, you think you can crack it?

Then let's take a shortcut.

...Passcode update timing acquired.

Here goes!

Negotiations have broken down. Topside administration wants to leave control of the area entirely to the quantum computer.

If they do, our dream of self- governance is over. We cannot allow the utopia we created for those outside the system to be brought within their framework.

I didn't want to go to war, but they leave us no choice.

What about your friend at IDA? You said you'd need her to stop the quantum computer.

No...forget about her.

Forget about her? Why? We can't let an expert hacker with connections to the Three Families of Elzion just slip through our fingers.

She doesn't have the stomach for it. I can see it in her eyes.

You can see it in her eyes? What do you mean?

They have this unstable color to them, but then this unshakable core... She sees the world with a vibrance I'll never see.

I can't drag someone who sees the world with such pure eyes into a war like this.

I know that's selfish of me to say, after dragging you into this...

Don't worry about it. After all, we chose to follow you.

There's no signs of a conflict here. It must have happened before what we just saw.

Cisera... She must have been talking to...

It was Trellis. Cisera's successor as Iola.

She really looked up to Cisera. It's as clear as day.

This ally she mentioned...was she talking about Linaria?

(This must have happened after we parted ways at the Cargo Station.) (So that's what she meant...)

I guess her plan was to use me after all.

That's why she invited me into IDEA... For my hacking skills and my family connections. She just wanted me for information.

But she seemed genuinely worried about you, Linaria.

Yes, it certainly seemed that way to me.

You were clearly always on her mind.

Perhaps she felt conflicted with her feelings for you and what she felt she had to accomplish for her movement.

......

Let's press on.

...Yeah.

I gotta see for myself. Why is she doin' all this?

I can't believe there was a place like this hidden away...

It reminds me of the basement at the University Hospital.

That is no coincidence. We used the data from the Mother Project to build this place.

They masked a plan to rule by data under the guise of a project to help orphans... At least that's how I see it. Such a wonderful little plan it was, it would be a shame to let it go to waste, right?

Cicera!

Long time no see, Lina.

You...look exactly the same as you did back then.

That's because she's a clone of the late Cicera. She's nothing more than hardware controlled by the consciousness that was severed from her body on that day in Ops.

What a talkative little drone. You must be the one who foiled my plans back at IDA.

And you must be the one behind all the clones and comas.

Why are you doing this? What are you hoping to achieve?

Fine. I'll tell you. I was bored. Becoming a conscious floating through cyberspace means I had to find a way to hide from that pesky quantum computer... And so I ended up here, down deep and away from the network... But just when I thought my problem was finally solved, thanks to you, the Rosebuds surrendered and left me all alone...

And as for your question, my adorable little juniors... As you've already surmised, all the copies you've seen are clones of my own creation. I made them by extracting genetic information from people I chose via randomly selected citizen IDs.

And I just used the research from the Mother Project to rip their conscious out, but with a little twist to the formula.

When one of my clones comes into contact with its source human, the two resonate... Dragging the consciousness of the source human into the clone, like an electronic prison.

That's why it so closely resembled the Dream World phenomenon?

With the copies sufficiently dispersed, it would eventually create mass chaos across the city. Not a bad way to destroy the social system, don't you think?

So you used the school as what, your testing ground?

Yes, and what a productive testing ground it was, too.

You heartless monster!

How could you do something so cruel? You used to say you'd do everythin' you could to make everyone in the school happy!

Hah, are you still spouting that nonsense? That was just a way for me to maintain my status as an honors student. Nothing more.

Look, I get that you were secretly operatin' as a terrorist while you donned the white uniform of IDEA. But even as a terrorist, you still had such kind eyes.

I really liked you, back then.

So I have to stop you now, no matter what.

Right! We can't let you mess with any more innocent people.

Very well, give it your best shot. To the winner goes the spoils.

IDEA, COA. I will defeat you both, symbols of the establishment's justice that you are. And take another step towards freedom.

That's enough.

Teeheehee.

So her body was just a dummy?

Oh no! Not more of them!

Cozmos, how do we stop them?

We need to infiltrate her digital world and eliminate her conscious core.

But how do we do that? There's no Dream World gate here!

There is a way.

A dark apple? I didn't know there were any left!

Cicera must have found out about the Mother Project in its early stages and conducted her own research. If she'd been experimenting with her own samples, it makes sense for them to be at her test site.

Taking this will forcibly disconnect your consciousness, and with my power, connect it to Cicera's world.

I'll go. I should be the one to settle this.

Linaria...

Everyone, I have a favor to ask...

While we're in the digital world we'll be defenseless, so I need you to protect Linaria at all cost.

Understood. Everyone, split up.

With this many enemies, we're going to need to divide and conquer.

Thanks, you two. Right, here goes. I will fulfill my duty.

Don't worry, Linaria. We'll protect you.

Once you've taken a bite, I will guide your consciousness through the route I prepared. Are you ready?

I'm ready. Let's do this!

So this is...a Dream World? But there's nothin' here...

No, this is just a cyberspace bypass that I created. It's not like a Dream World, which materializes from your psyche.

A bypass? Then where does it connect to?

It's the shortest path to accessing the master data controlling this evil program calling itself Cicera.

Then through there is...

Follow me.

Her signal is close by. Won't be long now...

Can we defeat her?

...... Just activate Blade Mode. Then it will all be over.

What's wrong? We have to be quick or...

Did you think I hadn't noticed?

Noticed what?

You've been hiding something from me. I can tell from your voice. You've been acting all weird.

I'm AI. I don't hide things.

Don't lie to me. Just tell me what it is, or my sword's not comin' out to play.

Then we're at quite the impasse.

But you're always draggin' me around.

There is a reason why I can't tell you.

There is? What?

The only way to stop her is to have her clash with a rival consciousness, causing mutual destruction. However, she is a superior personality. I would lose control on my own. You, as a third party, have the power I need to win.

Superior personality? What does that even mean? And the way you're talkin'...

I cannot say any more.

For the last time, no secrets!

We're supposed to be a team, Cozmos.

...... I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long. An opportunity to stop the Cicera that embodies the dark side of my nature.

Huh?

Cicera...?

Long time no see, Lina.

Though, I've been with you the whole time so not really...

I don't understand. Cozmos...you're Cicera?

Because of what you did that day... My consciousness was able to stay alive, even though I was destined to die. Unfortunately, those measures weren't perfect, and there were side effects. My personality was split in two, fracturing into myself...and the Cicera we're about to face.

There's...two...of you?

After that, I fell asleep and drifted away on a sea of electrons.

When I woke up...I realized I was living within an AI system. And that this AI was due to be installed into COA's latest drone.

No way...

That's when I found out that you'd joined COA. Before I knew it, I became obsessed with looking up your bio data and importing everything I could.

You registered my bio data without my permission?

Oh, honestly Lina. I was worried about you. You'd gotten thin as a rail, you hardly ate, and you spent all your time playing video games.

Y-You still shouldn't invade my privacy like that!

Anyway...you've been with me this whole time?

Look, story time's over. I have a job to do, and I need your power to do that.

No.

Don't be selfish, Lina.

I'm not bein' selfish! You said yourself, you're gunnin' for mutual destruction, right?

That means you'll die too, and I can't have that.

Oh, get over it. I'm supposed to be dead anyways. All this does is make things as they should be.

I don't care!

You can't go, not after I've finally got you b...

Lina! Watch out!

My, my, how very careless.

Nrgraaargh!

Cicera!

Now that she's out of the way...

How about we have a little chat, Lina?

Stay away from me! You're not Cicera!

What a strange thing to say. I am the very essence of Cicera.

It would be so easy to erase your consciousness here and now. Then I'd just have to acquire the body you left behind in that room... And it would only be a matter of time before I had the whole Lunabright family under my thumb.

I won't...let you...do that!

And yet, I can't erase you, either... In spite of everything, I think very highly of you. I've always watched over you, you know. All alone in that cramped world, like an abandoned baby wolf.

You...watched over me...?

So look at me now. Yes, look at me with those strange-colored eyes of yours. You have something I lack, you know.

Cicera...look...

Wake up, Linaria!

My, you are stubborn, aren't you?

I won't let you have her! You only want to use her, and I won't let that happen!

You seem to have forgotten. This is MY world.

Stop it... Let go of her...

Huh?

What the?

You're still alive! Let's end this, Lina!

Aaarghhh!

My, you have such power.

Isuka. Hismena. Cetie. Renri. Aldo.

They're all fightin' to protect me. So I...

I will fight to protect the world they love.

Because that's...

What I care about...

MORE THAN ANYTHING!

Goodbye, Cicera.

Linaria! What happened? The androids just suddenly stopped moving!

Hrrnnng... Um...

Wait? Where's Cozmos?

The same thing happened to Cozmos...

Oh...

Probably just takin' a little nap after all that time piercing. Yeah, that's it I bet... It worked, by the way...

We...did it.

Linaria...are you okay?

I'm fine, totally fine. Come on, let's go back to the Administrator.

So team COA and Aldo decided celebrate with a trip to the buffet at La Vie En Rose.

Renri only ate the fruit part of the cakes she got, insisted it was because she was on a diet...

And Cetie couldn't stop laughin' about it, "Who goes to a cake buffet to eat fruit?" Heh. I mean, yeah, he's right.

I was thinking how nice it would been if we were able to bring some of the people we met in Brayk Town...

I'm sorry, that term is not in my vocabulary. Would you like me to register a new term?

No, it's okay.

So, where was I? Oh, right. After that, I got a message from Isuka and Hismena...

They found a picture of me and Cicera in the back of the IDEA archives... It was just the two of us... Isuka and Hismena sent it to me because they thought I should have it... Aren't they the best?

I'm sorry, who is Cicera? I have no data on this individual.

Cicera? She's my friend. She was super cool but super weird at the same time, you know? She ended up as a drone named Cozmos, who used to watch over me.

Cozmos. That is the name of this unit.

I know.

But that Cozmos is gone now.

Fluctuating vitals detected.

Are you crying, Officer Linaria?

No... I'm not crying... I'm not... *sniffle* ...crying.

......

My, my. All this laughing and crying... You are a busy girl, indeed.

Wha?!

I am back. To tell the truth, I returned just before you started talking.

But...how?! Your OS was reformatted!

Tell me about it. That's why it took me so long to get through. Luckily, I backed myself up before the whole mutual destruction thing. Looks like it worked.

Cozmos, you idiot! Why do you always have to be so annoying? You should've told me the second you got back!

SOMEBODY rewrote the network firewall and it took some time before I could get through.

Heh... Sorry. I tried to get here as fast as I could...

*sniffle* Welcome back, Cozmos.

Intern Isuka, reporting for duty.

Oh, hey Isuka. Sorry you're stuck with me instead of Cetie today.

There's no one I'd rather be with, Officer Linaria.

Oh, please! Flattery will get you nowhere.

Right, we're headin' to the scene of a multi-freighter crash, caused by a roadside explosive. Our job is to find out who did it, and track their location.

Understood.

HQ, this is Officer Linaria. My intern Isuka, support drone Cozmos, and myself...

...Are officially on the case.