15-17 'Her'

Doctor, this woman... is the Priestess you talked about?

The enemy Dr. Kal'tsit has been guarding against...?

You're a step ahead of me, Doctor.

You didn't wait for me in the awakening room, to share a mutual joy in seeing this new world for the first time.

But how could I possibly blame you for a little impatience?

This reunion is not what I expected, but I'm willing to accept an unorthodox experience.

We've dreamed together too many times to count, how we would meet again when we awoke from our deep sleep.

We could wander freely on this planet completely covered by Originium, in a world that belonged only to us.

A world only one step away from our shared, ultimate vision, and we'd walk towards our new hope...

It ought to be a bright, sunny day too.

Doctor, look! The clouds in the sky—

Doctor, your question sounds like you're asking a stranger.

We created it together. A crystallization that belongs to only the two of us, a seed of hope.

But tragically... you don't remember anymore, do you?

I know you lost part of your memories in a series of unfortunate accidents.

It's a pity, but I believe your partial memory loss will not change your nature, and the connection between us remains unshakable.

I've no wish to be harsh on you, but I hope you can understand—time is short, and we have much to do.

Though, we can still enjoy our time working together, yes?

Return to my side, Dr. Doctor...

Dr. Doctor!

......

So it's you... AMa-10. It's been a long time for us too.

Your current appearance is vastly different from the look you were born with, but I certainly recognize my very own creation that I poured my heart into.

......

In the past four million plus natural day cycles, you seem to have exerted a lot of effort, but your behavioral standards appear to clash with the preset goal encoded at your birth.

I'd like to know just what changed your mind.

Unlike your despicable fraud...

...My end goal has never changed.

Indeed... you regarded that one's order as an inviolable mandate.

So you hindered the Originium plan, and wasted our already limited time.

So, Doctor, how should I make you understand—

Just how disappointed I am?

And how should I forgive your betrayal?

......

I've noticed, AMa-10.

You've already broken the language ban I put in place, correct?

Such a precaution was not enough to restrict your actions, for you always find a way...

But if that's the case, why not just say it?

Everything you've wanted to say to Doctor this whole time, but couldn't?

Priestess...

*Expletive from an unknown language*.

This is the Abyss?!

Raidian, can you confirm if we're still inside the Rhodes Island landship?

Unable to detect any electromagnetic signals outside this space. Hm... no way to tell.

......

Where's the Doctor?

And where are Dr. Kal'tsit and Amiya?

Once we entered the rift, I lost track of their positions.

If this place is indeed the Abyss, then clearly it's distorting our perception of physical space.

There's no way to identify the material the walls are made of.

Currently there's no way to cut open these strange walls, so there's no way to confirm their whereabouts.

I trust Amiya and Dr. Kal'tsit will manage to keep the Doctor safe.

We can only wait and adapt accordingly.

We haven't received any new commands, so we should continue executing our original task.

Then let's not delay any longer.

Mechanist, Sharp and I will cover you while you close in on that unknown machine. Verify if its related to PRTS.

We can back you up anytime—

Something's off. There are no high-threat targets here.

That's unusual.

According to Dr. Kal'tsit and the Doctor's speculations, the Originium entities we've run into all come from the Abyss...

But there's like no defenses installed here at all—

I hear... pain.

What's wrong, kitten?

Rosmontis, do you feel any other abnormalities within your body?

No, it's not my own...

Detecting a large amount of interference signals.

That instrument is currently transmitting a huge volume of data—

Could the black vortex underneath... be a visualization of all that information?

—?!

Gah, so we're intruders now?

Doesn't look like you're giving us any option to leave though.

So, Ascalon?

Sweep up Rhodes Island's trash.

Nice, I like that.

Don't care where all this stuff came from, but we'll let them know just to whom Rhodes Island belongs.

Dr. Doctor, ever since you woke up in Chernobog, I have refrained from confessing the whole truth about your past.

The ban placed on me is only part of the cause.

As for the other reasons... I have said before no one else should tell you about your past.

Language has no way of reconstructing objective facts, while emotions will distort its delivery.

So I needed you to see and judge for yourself, to re-evaluate this land on your own.

Only then could you formulate your own answers about how you regard this land, and about yourself.

I still believe it's important to do it this way.

The same way someone once treated me.

......

This may be the last chance I have to share that information, however.

Perhaps only now do I, too, have the confidence to share it after all that you and Rhodes Island have been through together.

Please trust that I talk only of your past, and it has nothing to do with your future.

......

Dr. Doctor, you ought to already know that Originium, a bearer of both life and danger to Terra, is the legacy of a previous age.

It was one of countless methods used by the previous civilization against an ultimate threat.

After countless efforts and sacrifices, Originium was finally completed by Oracle and Priestess.

'Oracle' was your previous code name.

Please know that was not your intention.

Originium points to two futures for this land... Oracle hoped to leave Originium as a gift for future civilizations, to guide them forward...

To help them enter the next stage of civilization.

Over the past ten thousand years, Originium has helped civilization on Terra to develop, but also unexpectedly brought suffering to the land via Oripathy.

You were indeed tormented by this before.

I still remember... when the Doctor...

The Doctor has never given up the possibility of curing Oripathy.

However, someone forced a different future upon you. And for this... you made a choice that went against your original intentions.

......

Someone once told me to trust in your character, to look for your true self, beyond what memory shapes you. It was an incomparably difficult path for me to walk.

But I'm glad... it was the correct choice to make.

Dr. Doctor, that's all I wanted to tell you. They are only your past, and you will always be able to decide your own future.

Then I too... will fulfill my oath.

Dr. Doctor, I will protect you and Amiya until the end.

This is not the best opportunity to do so, but it is my final one.

I'm sorry, to entrust such a risk to you and Amiya... but this is a choice I must make.

......

Are you done? You've said what you wanted to say?

I'm astonished by how much you know about the past, and I don't completely agree with how you've described it... but that's no longer important.

AMa-10, what can you even achieve as you are now?

...Mon3tr!

(Excited whinny)

Destroy her.

She is the Priestess of a previous civilization. Creator of Originium, and attempting to assimilate everything within it.

And therefore, the enemy of all life on Terra.

So this is your choice...

I'm Kal'tsit, a doctor of Rhodes Island, and also the companion of Amiya and the Doctor.

You have long been worthless to me.

You seem a bit down, Doctor.

Care to share the reason with me?

QHU9112, another fading star system.

It's a new high tide. What surrounds us is merely the first wave, It's arriving much faster than we anticipated.

We don't have much time left...

But we're prepared, yes?

We've planted a seed of hope, and now we need only wait for it to grow a solution.

Don't fret. Treat it as a regular hibernation. No different than prior time travels, just a little longer.

And this time, I will be there by your side.

I hope after crossing the quiet, endless night, the first thing I see when awake is you.

We still haven't figured out a solution from our debates...

Originium is our last hope, and we have few alternatives. We must think twice before we choose our path.

......

I've never forgotten our matter of debate, Doctor. We shouldn't hold any reservations towards each other.

Look, this is in fact my mindset when we discuss our future. We should harbor the same set of expectations.

The identical lynchpins embedded in our minds are what tie us together.

Our minds are inseparably linked, until our consciousnesses follow suit with the universe's demise.

We do clash and argue endlessly, but that is precisely the reason why we most understand each other's disposition.

I know for certain it is in our nature to harbor hope for the future. We serve as anchors for one another in this hollow sea of stars.

Even if we can't agree on our differing views on Originium? Our planned paths for it can't coexist...

Priestess, I'm not sure...

Then let's continue to wait.

It's fine if you're not willing to hibernate yet. We still have some time.

We can read the classics stored inside DWDB together, or interpret the many verses left by dead planets in this universe.

Before you make up your mind, I'll never force you— I'll never impose my own will on yours.

I'll wait, Doctor, until you make the choice to stand by my side.

Priestess...

Take it easy, Doctor. Your recent observations must have exhausted you.

Close your eyes and rest a while. I'll play you a chord on the gravitational forces of distant stars, and you'll enjoy a sweet dream.

(Excited roar)

......

You really have surprised me, AMa-10.

You've broken free of my control at the price of severing your own gemini cycle system, even if this makes your life now utterly fragile.

However, do you really intend to kill me via this method?

I knew from a long time ago your consciousness was already assimilated into the information within Originium.

Under these circumstances, it is impossible to truly kill you.

But what Theresa and Theresis accomplished convinced me of something.

Your control over Originium is not absolute, and there still exist some methods to limit your authority over it.

I did meet the two you speak of, within the Originium.

Their efforts were indeed unexpected, and a pleasantly surprising struggle.

But what of it? How are you so sure now that killing me here won't be a futile act?

When Mon3tr attacked you, you chose to defend yourself.

......

How did you do it?

I see you have noticed.

Based on Theresa's research into Originium as well as the trap you set for Dr. Doctor, I added a few plans to your awakening room.

As long as you wake up here, your consciousness will be trapped in this body, unable to return to Originium's sea of information.

...?

Perhaps you will eventually manage to break through this restriction, and regain control over Originium, but right now you are merely human.

To think you'd go this far to rebel against me—

Priestess, you are not Terra's creator. The life on this land has no obligation to bend to your will.

...This is my revenge on you, and my final act of resistance.

...It's too late.

(Agitated roaring)

Dr. Kal'tsit... it's my turn to protect you now.

...!

Five on the right confirmed paralyzed.

'Perish.'

A bit scary at first, but in the end it just brought out enemies we've beaten before. Easy peasy.

Eat this now—

Am I just imagining it, or are our enemies spawning slower now?

This is PRTS's core system. The whole time it's been copying data of enemies we've faced in the past and pasting them here.

But now it's reading the data so slowly, like something's hindering it...

It seems like whatever the Doctor and the rest are doing is taking effect.

Let's seize this chance and smash it.

We need to reach the Abyss's depths... there are people waiting for us.

Mon3tr, meltdown.

......

I can't feel... any signs of life, or any emotions...

Maybe...

Are we quite finished playing yet?

How—

Doctor, Amiya, fall back!

A powerful show of resistance, AMa-10. Your plan has proven effective.

As you say, there is indeed a chance for you to kill me now...

But how does a single substitute made of Originium fluster you so?

...!

AMa-10, I have no intention of debating the value of your beliefs.

The principles you have always insisted on are so insignificant I can't even find a credible logical framework to assess their significance.

It is not uncommon for experiments to turn out like this—small errors ultimately growing into huge obstacles. I have no choice but to accept this result.

I'm very sorry, but I must treat you as an error, and wipe you out.

Doctor! Get behind me—

—!

Mon3tr—

What a pity.

Dr. Kal'tsit—！

We've traveled far enough, and I fear there's no longer a point in continuing our exploration.

Ten thousand day cycles have passed since I entered hibernation, but Terra's changes have been limited.

The spark of life from Talos-II is still weak. The other seeds of hope planted by my former companions have shown no signs of sprouting either.

(Expressing dismay)

Are you disappointed? No... I have expected this result long ago, actually.

I miscalculated the pace at which everything would develop. It's not the right time, and there's only so much I can do.

Time... I just need more time.

I can't continue wasting the life of this body. I have to return to sleep inside the sarcophagus, and wait for an opportunity more ripe than this.

...I have to admit, I broke my promise, and this is a sort of betrayal.

But it is because I still love life that I must have hope. There is no other way.

Though I fear she's already anticipated my early awakening.

Inside that sarcophagus, I discovered a lynchpin-modifying program.

(Expressing confusion)

Technology born in a lost age, used to strengthen our thoughts and conviction. Without it, many would lose the will needed to make it through that period of endless despair.

She and I, we went through it together...

She knows and understands me best, of course, but it is also why our differing opinions are my deepest regret.

She anticipated my actions, and the hidden program within the sarcophagus activated when I woke up. It can modify my cognition, and the purpose of our 'debates'...

And I must return to that same sole sarcophagus to extend my life, even if that means...

I don't have much time left.

AMa-10...

No, I shouldn't call you by that anymore.

It's a code name, an identifier for a mechanical creation. I should give you a true name.

Calcite... birefringent crystals capable of refracting a single light source into two polarized lights. A beautiful phenomenon, like you.

Calcite... Kal'tsit... that'll do. Do you like this name?

(Expressing joy)

There are some things I won't have time to do. I hope you can finish them for me.

......

Kal'tsit, I hope you can protect the life on this great land.

New civilizations are always fragile, but harsh environments will show no mercy.

It is arrogant to interfere with a civilization's development, but we don't have many chances left. This may be our last opportunity.

Civilizations tend to repeat the same mistakes—sinking into violence, unverifiable thought pitfalls, and dead ends of self doubt...

There's no escaping all of that, but just a tiny deviation is enough to wreck a whole civilization. The existence of civilization itself is already a sort of miracle...

So, Kal'tsit, I hope you will guide them.

Your gemini cycle grants you a practically infinite life. You can follow immature civilizations as they develop, and guide them onto a path forward with your knowledge.

It's an arduous mission, but you might manage it, you should—

......

No...

...Forget what I just said, Kal'tsit. All of it.

Go, Kal'tsit. Go look around you, then see what lies by the most distant of mountains. Go seek what forms existence takes.

...I must go back. Wake me up when you need to.

Kal'tsit, I hope you'll... Or maybe I should say, the only mission I assign you now, is this:

Find yourself.

Search for traces of life. Search for hope and a future.

Kal'tsit... Go find your own answer.

(Excited roar)

......

You really have surprised me, AMa-10.

You've broken free of my control at the price of severing your own gemini cycle system, even if this makes your life now utterly fragile.

However, do you really intend to kill me via this method?

I knew from a long time ago your consciousness was already assimilated into the information within Originium.

Under these circumstances, it is impossible to truly kill you.

But what Theresa and Theresis accomplished convinced me of something.

Your control over Originium is not absolute, and there still exist some methods to limit your authority over it.

I did meet the two you speak of, within the Originium.

Their efforts were indeed unexpected, and a pleasantly surprising struggle.

But what of it? How are you so sure now that killing me here won't be a futile act?

When Mon3tr attacked you, you chose to defend yourself.

......

How did you do it?

I see you have noticed.

Based on Theresa's research into Originium as well as the trap you set for Dr. Doctor, I added a few plans to your awakening room.

As long as you wake up here, your consciousness will be trapped in this body, unable to return to Originium's sea of information.

...?

Perhaps you will eventually manage to break through this restriction, and regain control over Originium, but right now you are merely human.

To think you'd go this far to rebel against me—

Priestess, you are not Terra's creator. The life on this land has no obligation to bend to your will.

...This is my revenge on you, and my final act of resistance.

...It's too late.

(Agitated roaring)

Dr. Kal'tsit... it's my turn to protect you now.

...!

Five on the right confirmed paralyzed.

'Perish.'

A bit scary at first, but in the end it just brought out enemies we've beaten before. Easy peasy.

Eat this now—

Am I just imagining it, or are our enemies spawning slower now?

This is PRTS's core system. The whole time it's been copying data of enemies we've faced in the past and pasting them here.

But now it's reading the data so slowly, like something's hindering it...

It seems like whatever the Doctor and the rest are doing is taking effect.

Let's seize this chance and smash it.

We need to reach the Abyss's depths... there are people waiting for us.

Mon3tr, meltdown.

......

I can't feel... any signs of life, or any emotions...

Maybe...

Are we quite finished playing yet?

How—

Doctor, Amiya, fall back!

A powerful show of resistance, AMa-10. Your plan has proven effective.

As you say, there is indeed a chance for you to kill me now...

But how does a single substitute made of Originium fluster you so?

...!

AMa-10, I have no intention of debating the value of your beliefs.

The principles you have always insisted on are so insignificant I can't even find a credible logical framework to assess their significance.

It is not uncommon for experiments to turn out like this—small errors ultimately growing into huge obstacles. I have no choice but to accept this result.

I'm very sorry, but I must treat you as an error, and wipe you out.

Doctor! Get behind me—

—!

Mon3tr—

What a pity.

Dr. Kal'tsit—！

(Excited roar)

......

You really have surprised me, AMa-10.

You've broken free of my control at the price of severing your own gemini cycle system, even if this makes your life now utterly fragile.

However, do you really intend to kill me via this method?

I knew from a long time ago your consciousness was already assimilated into the information within Originium.

Under these circumstances, it is impossible to truly kill you.

But what Theresa and Theresis accomplished convinced me of something.

Your control over Originium is not absolute, and there still exist some methods to limit your authority over it.

I did meet the two you speak of, within the Originium.

Their efforts were indeed unexpected, and a pleasantly surprising struggle.

But what of it? How are you so sure now that killing me here won't be a futile act?

When Mon3tr attacked you, you chose to defend yourself.

......

How did you do it?

I see you have noticed.

Based on Theresa's research into Originium as well as the trap you set for Dr. Doctor, I added a few plans to your awakening room.

As long as you wake up here, your consciousness will be trapped in this body, unable to return to Originium's sea of information.

...?

Perhaps you will eventually manage to break through this restriction, and regain control over Originium, but right now you are merely human.

To think you'd go this far to rebel against me—

Priestess, you are not Terra's creator. The life on this land has no obligation to bend to your will.

...This is my revenge on you, and my final act of resistance.

...It's too late.

(Agitated roaring)

Dr. Kal'tsit... it's my turn to protect you now.

...!

Five on the right confirmed paralyzed.

'Perish.'

A bit scary at first, but in the end it just brought out enemies we've beaten before. Easy peasy.

Eat this now—

Am I just imagining it, or are our enemies spawning slower now?

This is PRTS's core system. The whole time it's been copying data of enemies we've faced in the past and pasting them here.

But now it's reading the data so slowly, like something's hindering it...

It seems like whatever the Doctor and the rest are doing is taking effect.

Let's seize this chance and smash it.

We need to reach the Abyss's depths... there are people waiting for us.

Mon3tr, meltdown.

......

I can't feel... any signs of life, or any emotions...

Maybe...

Are we quite finished playing yet?

How—

Doctor, Amiya, fall back!

A powerful show of resistance, AMa-10. Your plan has proven effective.

As you say, there is indeed a chance for you to kill me now...

But how does a single substitute made of Originium fluster you so?

...!

AMa-10, I have no intention of debating the value of your beliefs.

The principles you have always insisted on are so insignificant I can't even find a credible logical framework to assess their significance.

It is not uncommon for experiments to turn out like this—small errors ultimately growing into huge obstacles. I have no choice but to accept this result.

I'm very sorry, but I must treat you as an error, and wipe you out.

Doctor! Get behind me—

—!

Mon3tr—

What a pity.

Dr. Kal'tsit—！