Scarlet Flash

Thanks for responding to my urgent request, Cetie.

Not a problem. So, what has happened?

You've heard about Macminal Museum, haven't you?

Yes, of course. Although I doubt I know more than your average citizen.

Well, a concerning calling card was delivered to the museum.

I'll forward what it said to Clock, so you can check the details.

Data received from the Administrator. What is on the calling card is as follows.

The Shadow Thief! It's a calling card from the Shadow Thief!

Quiet, you piece of scrap. You're embarrassing yourself in front of the Administrator.

Looks like the mission this time is to protect the museum.

I also want you to apprehend the individual if possible.

Understood. However... I mean no disrespect, but doesn't the EGPD take care of matters like this?

You're right indeed, Cetie. However, things at the Macminal Museum are a bit complicated. The facility utilizes a unique security system. Others are having trouble with it, and that's why the COA received a request for support.

So I've heard... They keep monsters wandering around inside the facility for security purposes.

You can't protect the place unless you are able to handle those monsters.

I have a grasp of the situation now. Well, then. I should get going.

Good luck.

A calling card delivered to the Macminal Museum... The museum has been helpful to me in the past so I can't just sit this one out.

Good, let's team up and protect the museum. Now, off we go to Nilva.

I'm glad to work with you again, Cetie!

Tee-hee... Found ya♪ I'll be right there, Cetie-boy. Don't you worry your little head♪

We're here! I'm so pumped!

There are security bits all over the place. It looks like they're quite prepared.

Clock. I need a blueprint of the museum and the exhibit list.

Understood. It may take some time to process that much data.

No problem. Get to it. So while Clock is gathering data for us...

...boooy!

Huh?

...Cetie-boy!

Did someone just say Cetie-boy?

That voice... Could it be...?

Heeeey! I missed ya, Cetie-boy!

I knew it!

Oh. My. God! Cetie, you've gotten even hotter! You were always hot, but you're waaaay hotter now♪

Oh, come on! Stop taking pictures!

Cetie. Mind explaining what this robot is doing?

I'm sorry, Aldo. This is...

I'm Cetie's cute, lovely honey!

Stop giving them the wrong idea! She's Macaron, nothing more than a support pod that used to help me out!

Oh, just like me and Clock? Why are you just telling us now?!

(...She seems a little different from Renri's Macaron. They aren't even the same color...)

(...Is that Macaron? Since she's with Cetie, I guess she must be this time layer's Macaron.)

Well, yeah...but... Anyway, why are you in Nilva? I thought you had to be in a laboratory in Lambda District for thorough maintenance...

Huh? As soon as I heard about this important mission that you were asked to take care of, I had to fly over.

But all your functions are supposed to be shut off while going through maintenance. What happened?

Well, my love for you made it possible for me to reboot myself and get all my functions working.

Aaaaahh! Did I just mention the word "love"? I wasn't supposed to!

......

Wait, you mentioned that you flied all the way from Lambda District... Is that supposed to be a joke?

Huh? Nope! I actually flew from the Elzion Port to here!

What?! Do you have any idea how far Elzion is from Nilva?! With my energy I can barely fly half the distance before I fall down from the sky!

She's pretty cool.

Macaron is a prototype model for the same series as Retro and Clock. She was made with half incomplete specifications, which is why she doesn't have a limiter.

No limiter?! So... She's not limited to just flying insanely far?!

Yup. Her max speed, durability, and attack power is higher than that of Retro's.

Scrap is scrap. What'd you expect?

What did you say?!

Ooh, by the way, check this out, Cetie-boy!

What's that?

This is...!

So, I heard everything already! I know that you're assigned to guard the museum! Obviously you need a blueprint of the entire museum and a list of exhibits, right?

I do... But how did you manage to get all this data in a flash?

Not just that! The degree of analysis to maximize the efficiency of this job is exceptional...

And that's no surprise! One should always choose a smart partner!

Is she that smart?!

She actually is. Her calculation speed, estimation accuracy, and performance quality are all way higher than that of Clock's.

Pfft! I'm so sorry to hear that!

I wouldn't be giggling now if I were you, you piece of scrap!

Wait. Macaron, you're not intending to participate in this mission, or are you?

Of course I'm taking part in this! Let's do this!

Whaat?!

Are you sure about this, Cetie?! I strongly advise you to send that thing back to Lambda District for maintenance!

Sigh... It's not like we can tell her what to do.

Anyway, let's go over the plan once more. Our mission is to protect the museum and catch the criminal. For that, we must examine the exhibits and find out what the criminal is after.

That'll make our job a lot easier.

So, let's get headed to the museum. Follow me!

Tee-hee! I can't believe Cetie and I are about to have a date in the museum! This is super exciting!

......

Wh-Wh-What should we do, Clock?! Looks like they don't need us!

Relax, you piece of scrap. For now, let's follow Cetie.

I'm sure Macaron has a flaw, too. She has to... We're gonna find that out and use it to show how good we are.

R-Roger that! Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's get after them!

Well isn't it Cetie. I see you're on this assignment as well.

Renri? Are the agents from Section 2 also on this case?

Yup. It seems they've got everyone available assigned to defend the museum.

Nnngh?!

What is it, Macaron?

Macaron... You mean, that red pod? I never thought of you as someone who'd give a fancy name to a pod.

It wasn't me who named her...

Really? But you named Retro and Clock.

I did, but... Macaron already had a name when she was activated.

Hmm?

Anyway, we're on a mission. Let's focus on our task.

Right... It's good to save the fun for later. I'll make you tell me all about it then.

Hello, Macaron, I'm Renri. Cetie and I joined COA at the same time, though we're from different sections. Nice to meet you.

......

This woman... Who is she?

Pardon?

You cheater! You've cheated on me! RIGHT?! You went for another girl while I was away!

Huh?!

W-Wait a minute! Cetie and I are not like that!

Renri's right. We're just coworkers.

Besides, Macaron, you're just a support pod...

Don't let this woman trick you... I'm absolutely sure she's trying to make you hers! I have evidence! Look how she bleaches her hair to look like yours!

Hey, I'm naturally blonde! You can't make false accusations like that!

Aha! You can't trick me! A woman would say anything to get the man she wants!

Ugh... Fine, then. It seems like I shouldn't be here. I'm going back to my station.

Grrr! What's wrong with that woman?! Acting like she's Cetie-boy's girl and all! She's just a lousy girl making herself look slim with the latest holography!

H-Holography?

Don't get her started, Aldo.

*sigh*... Anyway, apparently they are more serious about guarding this place than I thought.

Which means we have fewer restrictions to capturing the criminal.

Let's keep looking around and narrow down the list of things the criminal is possibly after.

Hm... In that case...

What's with that fossil?

Oh! You must be a COA agent! The calling card mentioned something about a living being that has witnessed more history than anything else ever had! This is a fossil from 21,000 years ago. I'm not sure if we could call it a living being, but I have a gut feeling it's this!

I see. A fossil from 21,000 years ago... That's a valuable piece of information. I appreciate it.

Let's keep looking around and narrow down the list of things the criminal is possibly after.

Hmm... Which means...

What's with that mummy?

Oh! You must be a COA agent! The calling card mentioned something about a living being that has witnessed more history than anything else has!

This is a mummy from 2,000 years ago, which underwent sorcery for resurrection... And a minute level of vital activity has been detected!

Oh wow! That's incredible!

There are items that are older than this one in the storage room, but I'm pretty sure that this is the oldest living thing here.

A 2,000 year old mummy that is still alive... That's a valuable piece of information. I appreciate it.

Let's keep looking around and narrow down the list of things the criminal is possibly after.

Okay, so... We've spent plenty of time looking around, but what we found out is...

Pfft! We found out that Macaron might have all those amazing specs, but apparently there's something wrong with her personality!

That's not exactly what we were trying to find out about...

I'm surprised that you and I are finally on the same page, scrap.

Clock?! Were you also having issues with Macaron?!

Hmph! What you two do or say does not bother me at all!

More importantly, we discovered that I have an enemy to keep an eye on!

That's not right either!

*sigh*... This is exhausting.

So, it's likely either the fossil of a dinosaur or a living mummy...

Yes... But would he really steal something that we could easily guess based on the info on the calling card?

That was my concern too. He deliberately sent a calling card to the museum, knowing full well it would attract a bunch of agents.

Wait... There's a high chance that the criminal was aiming for this.

So that he can commit a robbery at another location?

No, my guess is that this type of criminal has too much pride for something like that. It is highly unlikely that he would simply write false information on the calling card. Furthermore, although this could cause there to be fewer guards elsewhere, it'd only increase our level of suspicion.

And in the end... what most concerns me is the context of the calling card.

...... Wait a minute! No... It can't be!

Did you come up with something?!

I knew it! That explains why the info on the calling card was weirdly indirect.

Yeah! Detective Cetie is here to save the day!

It's still a guess, but if I'm right about this...

What the criminal is looking for does not exist inside this museum.

What do you mean by that?! The calling card specifically mentions entering the museum!

I'm sorry, Aldo... But there's no time to explain!

Everyone! We're leaving this place! Get outside the museum!

Cetie calling! Yeah, make it quick! What?! Darn it! We're too late, then!

What happened?!

You'll see... Follow me!

No... Where's the World Tree?! Wait, so the criminal was after...

Exactly! The criminal was trying to steal the island where the World Tree is!

That's it! I did hear that Macminal Museum owns that island! But then, how did someone manage to steal such an enormous thing?!

E-Exactly! It might be easier to get there than the heavily guarded museum, but there are security bits flying around too...

Well... What if those security bits were the ultimate camouflage that the criminal took advantage of?

What?!

Clock! Macaron! Do some quick research and get me the model number of the bits flying around the World Tree!

Yes, sir. Initiating search...

Search complete... The model number registered does not exist in the record. These are unauthorized drones.

I did a quick search too! They've been operating differently than the museum drones!

Just as I thought! In that case...

Macaron... it's time to use "that"!

"That", huh? Roger that! Do your thing while I get my stuff prepared, Cetie!

Hey, you two...

Wow, what's this?! It looks like the bike Galliard used to ride on!

Tadah! It's a super high-tech motorcycle that is operated by my own OS.

I'm ready now!

Cetie, what are you...

Awww! Cetie, you look so good in it! This is getting more exciting by the minute!

That's enough talk from you, Macaron!

Release the limit on the Xeno-reactor! This time we're breaking the sound barrier!

All right! It's time for full throttle!

Wait, is that the World Tree?! So it wasn't stolen after all!

Woohoo! Getting to ride with Cetie makes me just wanna explode with happiness!

What on earth happened?!

The criminal must have used the drones to project a picture to hide the World Tree. What looked like a sky to us wasn't actually the real thing.

Okay... I don't really get it, so the World Tree was never stolen, right? But then, why did the criminal want to hide it?

I could only think of one possible reason...

Aldo, if the one I have in my mind is the culprit, that person is still on the island!

But...

Before that, we'll have to deal with the remaining drones!

Yeah, let's finish this up!

Phew... Looks like all the drones are gone.

We must hurry, Aldo! Time to catch the one behind this all!

Okay! Let's hurry to the Tree of Eternity!

Geez... When are you going to surrender, Old State? Well, I'll make sure that it all ends today...

I knew it. They had to find a way to land on this island without letting us know.

And they had to make it look like the Tree of Eternity disappeared. Quite the needless bit of flash.

Whoa... seriously? I didn't expect you all to be here this early.

I knew it. You're the culprit!

Hardy... My brother.

Hey... It's nice to hear your voice again.

Hardy?! Wait, are you two related?!

He's Cetie's brother?

We're not blood-related. He took care of me while we were in the slums.

In the slums... we all helped each other survive. That's just how things worked.

Haha... Very funny Brother. Ya followed me around just like I really was your big bro.

But then... you've just ruined my entire plan. I was just about to set this here bomb for the big show. Just pretend you didn't see me, would ya?

Not happening.

Tch! Hey Cetie. What happened to that momentum when you tried to pick a fight with the Cardinal Vestige?

Tch. Come on, Cetie! How long are ya gonna listen to the Cardinal Vestige?

......

I get it... It took a while for me to realize what you're saying. Your plan is to make me leave the Cardinal Vestige, right?

......

I can't believe you've prepared all this just for that... You never change.

Ya might think that you're the one usin' the Cardinal Vestige, but you're wrong. They're gonna keep usin' ya until they don't need ya no more.

I can't let that happen to ya. I can't just sit and watch someone take advantage of my brother.

I understand you're trying to save me from the Cardinal Vestige. Yet... I have my own definition of what justice is. I'm not here to spend a lifetime in servitude to them.

In case you've forgotten... You and I went separate ways.

Right... Ya were a stubborn kid, and ya still are.

Yet, I have my own way of doin' things. Sooner or later, the Cardinal Vestige will meet its end.

Remember this, Cetie... As long as you're involved in Cardinal Vestige, ya'll be on your own.

One of these days, I'm gonna wrestle ya away from the clutches of the Cardinal Vestige.

Now that you've discovered my plan, it's time to take my leave.

Wait, Hardy... We're still not done here!

Sorry, but I can't let ya catch me just yet! See ya, Cetie!

Hey Aldo! Don't report me to the authorities just yet, will ya?

And you, skinny guy! Take care of my little bro!

Skinny guy?!

Ugh...! I didn't realize he had a ship docked under the cliff.

Hmph! Just let him run. We'll catch him in no time if we need to!

I'm afraid not... There's not enough evidence to continue chasing him. Plus, we can't let the media catch wind of a bomb attempt on the Cardinal Vestige's relay station.

Really?!

He acts like he cares about nothing, but he's more clever than that.

Tell me, Cetie. What did he mean about you being on your own?

Well...

When you're in the Cardinal Vestige, you're a person with two faces... and none. I could be a friend or enemy. Maybe at the same time. This means in the end I belong to no one.

Oh...

But you don't have to worry. Until I get what I'm after, I'm not going to give up.

......

Just don't get in over your head, Cetie.

I'll do my best... Why so serious all of the sudden, Aldo? It's strange.

It just got me thinking that you are really alone as long as you're in COA. I mean, working for someone whom you're spying on is like... It's sounds easy when you say it, but isn't hard not to get personally involved?

...... You could be right about that. What he said makes sense. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel lonely in this situation.

Cetie...

Relax! You're A-OKAY!

You got us, Cetie!

Exactly. No matter which organization you belong to, it doesn't matter to us.

I'll always be here for you too!

Retro... Clock... Macaron...

Hahah...! I spoke too soon. You should be fine without me worrying about you.

But don't forget that you can count on the rest of us too. It's good to take a break once in a while and come on another adventure with us.

That means a lot to me, everyone. All right. I'm going to go on a ride with the Synth Hydra!

Yay! Let me navigate!

No... You're going back to Lambda District to finish your maintenance.

WHAT?! Why are you telling me this now?!

Well, you snuck out in the middle it, right? You've got obligations to fulfill.

Urgh! No way, I can't stand it...

Once the maintenance is over, you're free. You're free to get back to work and come along on an adventure.

Really?! Is that true?! I've recorded that. It's too late to take back what you've said!

Here I go! Time to finish that maintenance ASAP!