Invisible Fugitive

It's rare for Biaka to call me over directly like this...

She said she had something important she wanted to talk about. I wonder what.

You came.

Hm?

Biaka! W-when did you?! Uh, I see you're not in your Task Force gear today.

Today is something like a day off. Though it's been rather eventful...

Eventful?

Sorry. There's no time to explain. I'm here to ask you a question.

Aldo. If all the world was against me...

Would you be my ally still?

Huh?! Well, yeah, sure. We're friends. But why would you ask?

...Good lad.

Wuah?!

There's the deserter!

Don't let her escape!

Deserter? What are they...

...Biaka?!

You! You're abetting the deserter Biaka, huh?!

Hang on a minute! A deserter? Biaka?!

There's just no way! Isn't she part of the Special Mobile Unit?!

So you weren't aware.

Hm, no, it could be a bluff. We can't believe anything you say until we're sure you're not a collaborator.

Geez, seriously?

What are you even claiming Biaka did, anyway?

I don't have time to chat. We need to capture her.

Just got a report that an autonomous carrier ship got jacked!

The transponder was cut off almost immediately, but the signal was heading for Eeza!

Eeza... So she thinks she can get away if she makes it there.

Time to move. This man doesn't leave Elzion, clear?

Wait. Please bring me with you!

This must be some kind of mistake. There's no way Biaka would do anything that would merit a manhunt.

I can't just sit around. I want to see the truth for myself.

What should we do, sir...?

Fine. If it comes to it, we can use him in a negotiation or something.

Get him the sitrep before we reach Eeza. And don't let him out of your sight.

Yes, sir!

Shall we?

Yeah. Please tell me everything you can about what's going on.

Biaka... There's no way you'd actually betray the SMU, right?

All units, begin the search!

Yes, sir!

So basically, Biaka's being hunted due to an incident involving some kind of "nerve chip"?

Yes. To sum it back up... We learned of a specialized nerve modifier chip while investigating a series of incidents in the city. When installed, it can force the bearer to act, or not to act, As though they're being controlled.

And if they're aware of the chip and attempt to resist, it causes excruciating pain until they obey.

(It's like a loyalty circuit...)

If the Synth Humans were to obtain these chips and learn how to implant them in humans... It would take time, but they would eventually have full control of us without firing a single shot. That's why we were on full alert trying to find where they're being designed and manufactured. But...

But then Biaka betrayed you?

Yes, just as we were about to obtain concrete proof of who was behind the chip's existence. She destroyed all the data we had from the investigation, and then she went to ground.

...I can see why you'd feel like she betrayed you, hearing all that. But she must have a good reason...

Were you able to get any info at all about who was making the chips? Anything you remember?

Uh...

What I heard was that it was some sort of shadowy organization with goals opposed to KMS's.

...!

Is something the matter?

No, it's nothing.

Couldn't be...

This is just speculation, but... There's talk that maybe Biaka had one of those chips implanted. Why else would the ace of the SMU, one of Elzion's staunchest defenders, interfere with an investigation?

I'm sorry, I have to make a report. Please don't leave this room. Talking to you, I don't see how you could possibly be a bad guy, but orders are orders.

What the heck is going on? Biaka didn't seem like she was being controlled by anything when I saw her earlier.

If she deleted that data and left her squad of her own free will... But why would she do that?

...These nerve chips sound an awful lot like loyalty circuits. I don't see why Leo would make anything like that, though. But if he was making something like Cardinal Vestige's...

Could that be why Biaka did it?

No, but she wouldn't destroy the whole investigation just for that. Biaka wouldn't cover for Cardinal Vestige while there were people actively being hurt by it. She hates the fact that the loyalty circuits exist, too. But then...

The more I think, the less sense things make!

Really?! Understood! Right away!

What is it?

A detachment's found Biaka. They have her surrounded. We're to move to assist right away!

Good, you're here. Get in position.

Huh? I thought they said Biaka was surrounded. I don't see her anywhere.

What, you didn't notice at the airport?

She's using active camo.

Active what?

It's camouflage that bends light around itself to hide the user.

Ah! So that's why she was able to show up and vanish so fast!

That's right. We're each fitted out with devices that support our own individual talents and skills.

But Biaka with active camo, of all things...she's a master with it, which makes this even worse. She's jamming our thermals too. All we can do is estimate her position. Who knows for how long.

Okay, so she's here, but she's totally invisible. Right? Is there a way we can make her visible again?

It's not total invisibility. Nor is it impossible to break. A solid hit to her body would shut it off.

But you can see the problem: how do we hit what we can't see? Especially an Agent as skilled as her.

Then what do we do?

Well, we're specialized for combat. Our list of tools isn't especially long or complicated.

Huh?

I figure if we shoot everywhere for long enough, eventually we'll have to hit SOMETHING.

All troops, stun rounds on! Weapons free! Fire at will!

Ah! There!

Damn it, we missed! Keep it up!

Biaka! Biaka!! Why are you doing this?! What happened to you?!

Thank you, Aldo. For still believing in me, even now that the whole world has turned against me. But I'm afraid I can't tell you. Not just yet.

Damn it, she slipped through the gaps in our firing pattern! That's experience for you...

All troops, stop firing! We're not getting anything done like this. On my mark, switch to directed coordinated strafing fire!

I'd rather you didn't. That would leave me with no place to escape to.

Nice shield. I'll take it.

Damn!

She escaped the encirclement. After her, now! All of you!

She's just making them madder. I don't want them to capture her until I know for sure what's going on with her... But I can't just say that. What should I do? What's the right choice here?

Huh? There's something stuck to my shoulder...

...Oh, no! I need to chase after them!

I'm here, just as requested.

Huh? Oh, right. It was a sketchy request to begin with, but once I saw that name, I couldn't just turn it down. I have a bit of a debt to repay myself, after all... Anyway, you'll have to tell me that story sometime about your first love.

...Haha. Why not? Some girls' talk could do us good.

I'm here, just as requested.

Huh? Oh, right. It was a sketchy request to begin with, but once I saw that name, I couldn't just turn it down. I have a bit of a debt to repay myself, after all... Anyway, you'll have to tell me that story sometime about your first love.

...Haha. Why not? Some girls' talk could do us good.

Ah! That guy... He was chasing Biaka earlier.

Hey! Are you okay?

I was following another officer. Seriously, are you...

Huh?

Whoa! What the...?!

Ah! Biaka!

...... Keep firing.

Biaka...

Tch...

Um...I don't know either. I just found it stuck to me.

...do! Aldo! Do you read me?

That voice! Biaka! Is that you?

The situation has changed. I need your help. Are you alone right now?

......

...Yeah, no one's here.

Thank goodness. I trust you.

......

Okay. Listen up. I thought I could throw the Task Force off my trail, but they're too persistent. I'm leaving Eeza. I intend to break into the hangar at KMS East and help myself to an unregistered transport plane.

Once I'm in the air, I can go just about anywhere I can think of. But the hangar security isn't anything to sneer at, I can tell you that. That's where I need your help. You have experience breaking in, I'm told. It should be easy for you to help smuggle me in.

Biaka...

Please. I need your help, Aldo.

.........

...Okay. Just tell me something first. I'm trusting you too, Biaka. Am I making the right call here?

Yes. Just trust me...please.

...Okay.

I'll go to ground near KMS East. Once you've got a way in, give me a call back. If you don't contact me after a certain amount of time, I'll assume something's come up. In that case, I'll find my own way in.

......

Yes. Yes, sir. ...Understood.

The encirclement around KMS Eastern is in place. The whole building is locked down hard. All routes coming in from Eeza are under surveillance, too. Now we just have to wait.

Yeah. I hope Biaka's alright...

Huh?

Oh, uh, nothing.

What should I do? What's the right choice here?

Huh? There's something stuck to my shoulder... What is this? It's making a sound.

, do. Aldo.

That voice! It's Biaka!

This is an automated message. Don't listen to this anywhere a Task Force member might hear it.

Don't worry. They're not here.

Are you in a secure place? I'm about to cause a skirmish in Eeza's central marketplace.

What?!

But don't worry. I trust the Task Force I trained to settle things without civilian casualties. And after that's done, that's where you come in.

The next time I contact you, it'll be a real-time call. Up the volume and let a Task Force member listen in. You don't need to pay attention to what I'm saying. Just nod and make sounds like you're listening.

I'm sorry for getting you wrapped up in all this mess. But you're the only one I can trust with this. I'll tell you everything when this is all over. So for now...please.

H-hey, Biaka?! Ah...it hung up.

What is she talking about? Purposefully let the Task Force listen in to her call...?

...Oh, no! I need to chase after them!

(If she's really looking for something in here, wouldn't it have been better not to tip them off?) (They're not going to let anyone in at all. What are you trying to do here, Biaka?)

...!!

Shh.

Hm? What's wrong?

Uwagh!

Hm. Embarrassing. I clearly didn't train him enough.

Biaka! Is everything okay?

Yeah. I just knocked him out.

Okay, that's good to know, sure! But I was asking about you. I heard them say they didn't want, quote, "a single rat getting in." How did you get here without anyone seeing you? Even for you, it must have been rough.

I didn't fight anyone, if that's what you're worried about. I've been inside the building since before I radioed you, after all.

What?!

Wait, wait. You mean that call where you asked me to help you break into this building, right? You called me right after the battle in Eeza ended. There's no way you managed to get here...

No, further back. I came here right after breaking the encirclement, back when I took that shield. I had a merc in town give me a ride on a motorbike.

Ah, that...

Wait, that makes it even more suspicious, then! How does that make any sense at all?! If you came right here after you escaped the Task Force... Then who made that Guard Bot start rampaging in town?

That was me, too. Just a hologram, though.

A hologram?!

I'm not using active camo only for stealth and infiltration. The flickering and uncertain visual can make people think a hologram is the real thing...see?

Okay, so, you used a hologram to lead us on a goose chase, and snuck inside KMS... But then why make the call? Isn't having more guards around here a bad thing?

No. There's someone here I absolutely don't want escaping. An enemy.

Huh?

That's why I need the lockdown. Not to keep anyone out; to keep someone in.

Now, let's move before anyone comes. I'll tell you more once we have a better place to talk.

Okay. This should do.

Can you tell me now? Who's this enemy you mentioned? What are you doing this all for?

I think it's time I came clean. But where to start... You've heard from the others what I've done, I expect?

They said you deleted the data about an organization making a nerve chip and fled, I think.

That's right. The thing is... The majority of that data was very cleverly faked.

What?!

About the only thing in there that was actually true is that the chips are being produced. The rest of it is layered over with plausible lies and half-truths. It got overwritten.

But how did you know...

There was someone on our side who was implanted with one.

You mean, someone in the Task Force?!

That's right. The member in charge of investigating a civilian; probably the one who implanted him with it. My guess is he got careless during the investigation and was grabbed...

I see. So it wasn't you who interfered with the investigation, it was another Task Force member.

That's right. It would have been easy to revert the edits made... But I didn't do that.

Why not?

There's no guarantee the target of the investigation had only one nerve chip to use. If others had also been compromised, they could just re-falsify the data. ...And that's not all. If they knew I was onto them, they could try to implant me next.

So that's why you deleted the data and ran instead!

That's right. And while on the run, I was able to track down the enemy to here: KMS's Eastern Division.

But...there's at least one enemy within the Task Force's ranks. Maybe more; I can't say. If I reported that the mastermind was in KMS, it would leak to them and allow them to make their escape.

I see. So that's why you had the Task Force encircle the entire building.

No one gets in, no one gets out. Thanks for playing along with my little plan to make that happen.

Now I get it... You had me really worried.

I've put a lot on you today, and I can't apologize enough. But this was the only way I could think of to get to the bottom of it for sure.

Yeah, I get you. It's an awful thing they're doing.

I want a world where humans... Where all life can thrive, free from anyone else's controlling grasp. The ones who fought for freedom to the bitter, proud end taught me the beauty in that. So if someone tries to stand in the way of that future...

Yeah, I know. That drive of yours is why I was able to believe in you. If you really want to make it up to me, then...hmm. You can treat me to dinner after this is over.

Is that all it'll take to buy your forgiveness, then?

Yup, we'll call it even.

Haha. You're a man of simple pleasures.

There's a famous traditional Eezan restaurant I know downtown. It's a bit exotic, but I think you'll like it.

Sure, that sounds great.

Though, we still have a job to do. Do you know where the mastermind is? They're in here for sure?

I'm sure. They're likely a coward, too. Cowardly enough to falsify data to make sure we never found any evidence leading to them. My guess? With the encirclement, they've found a hidden room to wait in until the storm blows over.

I see...

It would be rude to keep them waiting for too long. Don't you think?

Hm? What do you...

Whoa!

I knew there was something fishy about this area.

T-that really surprised me... So that wall was a fake?

Hello in there. I trust you heard everything?

E-eep...

Not a bad little panic room. Give me all the chips you have stockpiled in here.

I-I won't do it! Take this!

Honestly... Well, it'll be good to have some light exercise before dinner. You with me, Aldo?

Yeah. Let's do it!

That's about all of them.

Aaah...

You're going to answer some questions. The nerve chips. Can they be removed?

I-I'll never...

Eeep!

Sorry about that. Thought I saw a rat. It's been a long day for me. You understand if my nerves are a little frayed right now. Now, as I was saying. Can the chips...

They can be removed! There's a neutralizer that makes them harmless and removable! Take it! Take it all!

Thank you. Now, where were you planning to sell these off to?

...To the Synth Humans.

What?!

Oh, don't act like you're shocked! This war won't end until one side is broken or extinct, anyway! It doesn't really matter which side wins. They're both the same, anyway. So if I can make a little bit of profit before everything burns, then what's wrong with that!

......

Biaka!

......

...Understood. In that case... The info about a "shadowy organization with goals opposed to KMS's," was that all fake?

Yes! I just made it all up! You don't really believe in secret evil organizations, do you?

...No, I don't. But you should be a little more careful about the lies you choose to tell.

You should remember exactly what happened to the Boy Who Cried Wolf in the end.

Thanks for today, Aldo. We have a reservation at the restaurant, but I have some followup to do. You go ahead.

Okay. I'll be waiting!

Whew...that was so good. I think I ate too much.

I'm glad you liked it. They do takeout too, by the way. I get cravings for those oyster noodles every now and then.

Huh, you know your way around this place. Don't you spend most of your time in Elzion?

Work takes me all over, so. I spend a lot of time on stakeout, so most of the time I... ......

...Thank you, Aldo.

Huh? What's that?

I just wanted to say it again. Thank you. For believing in me, for forgiving my lies to you. For stopping me, back then.

You mean with the chip maker?

Yes. When he said that... I saw all the people who are fighting for a better future, like a vision. I saw red. I almost did something I would have regretted, but your voice pulled me back. If you could keep your head after fighting for that future too, I figured I ought to as well.

I see...

Besides, thinking about it logically, it only makes sense he would say that.

Huh?

What he said about humans and Synth Humans? That's not true! It can't be!

I want to see the war end in peace just as much as anyone else. But ideals are just that, and reality can be harsh. Right now, a lot of people feel the same way he does.

.........

Which is why we need to use our ideals to change our reality.

I want to live to see a future where the idea of an unending war is an unthinkable lie. I want to make that future happen... I will make it happen.

...If anyone can do it, you can.

Just leave it to me. Now, how about I walk you to the airp...

Biakaaaaaaaa!

Huh?

We heard everything! You deserted just to resolve the chip case on your own!

I... I... I thought you'd gone bad!

Waaaaah! I'm so glad you're still a good guy!

Hey, hey...stop pushing. All of you, two steps back.

Damn it, how could we be so fickle?! We had no faith...

Wait a minute! Does that mean when we put our lives on the line in Eeza to show you how much we'd grown thanks to you...

That was just a hologram, right?! It was all a waste! Damn!

But... But...

Ugh, yes, I'm sorry for everything. Stop the shouting, please.

Aldo, don't just stand there! Help get them off me!

Hm, I don't think so. That's what you get for lying. You bought my forgiveness with dinner, but you still owe them an apology for worrying them!

You can't be serious...

The SMU just wouldn't be the same without you, Biaka!

Without you, who would Break all our Limits, huh?!

Just drop that name already!