Arknights story · Dissociative Recombination
15-20 Return to Beginnings
The Doctor and Amiya successfully evacuate the ship, which becomes encased in Originium. Mon3tr awakens one month later, but Kal'tsit is no longer by her side.
1 scenes, 454 lines
1. After Operation
454 lines
We've tried to adapt our tactics many times—
Working in conjunction with Logos, Ascalon, and Misery's attacks have quickly destroyed the mimic machine's legs.
Keep it going. We must learn from each attack and be creative too—
The mimic machine has already fell countless times under the team's coordinated attacks, but each time it stands back up.
Look out! It's charging up again.
We need to destroy that rhombus eye.
I have just the arrow for the job.
Two arrows leave Stormeye's bow as the words leave his mouth.
One breaks the mimic machine's shield, but the other is stopped just before it reaches the rhombus-shaped eye...
The mimic machine has finished charging. Bright red light bursts out—
Then Rosmontis's Arts force the arrow into the eye of the mimic machine.
Do you hurt?
Kaboom.
Rosmontis's Arts block the eye of terror at the exact moment of its outburst, sending overflowing energy into every direction in the Abyss.
The spinning bone pen floats on top of Mechanist's head, shielding him from the rampant energy.
Thanks, Logos. Good thing you guys distracted the thing.
External attacks are ineffective. We're counting on you to find a way through from inside.
How are we doing, Mechanist?
After talking to Closure, we're certain that this is a special Sarcophagus.
It's not just a hibernation device; it's also what truly stores PRTS's data and supplies it with power.
The backdoor Dr. Kal'tsit left us will allow me to connect directly to PRTS's core server.
I'll destroy all the data once I've downloaded PRTS's core data.
Is this the only way to put that big guy to rest?
Yes.
How long do you need?
Mechanist glances at his equipment.
Two-hundred forty seconds!
The sound of the bone whistle echoes in the Abyss. Logos returns to the elite operators' ranks.
The mimic machine once again stands up before them.
Dr. Doctor trusts you implicitly. Even with a fractured memory—
Dr. Doctor believes you are hope.
Don't let her distract you, Amiya!
We just need to buy a little more time for the others...
You should get ready to retreat—
There is no way out for Dr. Doctor.
We will inevitably end up on the same path, our subjective sentiments notwithstanding.
You and I need not be in opposition, Amiya. I can make your wish come true.
......
You always trusted me.
Countless eyes look at you from the crystals. Priestess's eyes.
You made the same promise to me. We can find the answer to the ultimate question together.
Time is short, Dr. Doctor.
You're not lying...
I don't need to lie to you.
This humanitarianism that you think you're advocating simply serves to extend the suffering of Terrans before the inevitable fall of Terra.
Any questions that you still have, I can answer them.
......
She's getting weaker, Doctor!
Most of the operators have evacuated. Maybe, maybe...
I want to try—
You want to kill me?
Is this what you want too... Dr. Doctor?
—?!
'Priestess'.
There are still so many secrets within her that you want to find out, about yourself, about Kal'tsit, about Originium, about that impending threat...
But you know that where she stands inevitably makes her the enemy of all Terra.
...Kill her.
Perhaps there's another way—
You missed your chance.
Stay, Dr. Doctor—
Amiya!
You could hardly imagine the ordeal that Amiya has gone through. She is already well past her limit.
All the threads shatter, and Originium once again closes in upon you.
You try to escape the crystals, carrying Amiya in your arms, but the rampant growth of Originium has sealed the path—
Made it in time.
Mechanist and Closure have successfully retrieved the core data of PRTS.
We will cover your retreat.
Now. Go!
Wait... there's one more thing!
With what little strength she has left, Amiya conjures a few strands of threads, and pulls the cocoon that was Mon3tr into her arms.
I need your help, Touch!
These patients were transferred from intensive care. We don't have enough emergency equipment.
I need you to stabilize their conditions first.
Things are still very much in flux. We don't have a hard figure.
Current injury estimates are thirty-one serious, one hundred seventy-three minor. No deaths yet.
We were able to complete the evacuation ahead of schedule, thanks to the safe zone created by Logos and Mechanist, and the help that you and Pith provided.
She stops in mid-sentence.
......
......
They have all been avoiding that name.
The one who had always tended to the wounded after each operation.
Kal'tsit.
Help the others establish the isolation zone. We need to keep an eye on the ship to make sure no enemies get out.
...Roger.
Warfarin—
I'm already doing my best to stay focused, Touch.
Now is not the time.
What's the situation with Dr. Doctor and Amiya?
We all need some time to process what happened.
We're at the isolation zone outside the ship. It's safe enough for now.
......
Is Amiya okay?
She's just tired.
Rhodes Island—
That ship which you once called home is now completely encased in a massive Originium crystal.
The wind blows over it, blurring its outline with sand and dust. You know that you have lost Rhodes Island.
You hold Amiya in your arms. She is unconscious, but still holding that crystalline cocoon in her own arms.
Doctor. Rhodes Island...
Our greatest threat at present still lies within.
We must prepare ourselves before we confront her again.
...'Priestess'.
I'm not sure what this name truly stands for.
But I will not forgive her.
What... happened to Dr. Kal'tsit?
The others who escaped the Originium-blockaded area begin to gather.
Yet no one feels relieved, despite the successful evacuation.
Ascalon's question weighs heavily on everyone's hearts.
No one could have seen this coming—
It's hard to explain...
It all happened so suddenly.
You feel dazed as you look at the black crystal that an unconscious Amiya still clings desperately to.
What next?
Reestablish communications with our branches.
We rebuild Rhodes Island.
So... We've lost it?
No. Rhodes Island is never lost.
All of you are here. Always have been.
Can you hear me, Doctor? This is Vina.
I heard about Rhodes Island. I'm very sorry.
The nomadic plate that Dr. Kal'tsit purchased near Butchart is nearing completion.
I'll be coming to visit soon. Let me know if you need anything.
Take care, you and Amiya...
Midnight asked me to bring this wine back from Siracusa, Popukar.
He said it was a... Brunello specialty. I'm not a wine expert, though. Is he getting better?
He's still locked up in Medical. Dr. Warfarin grounded him.
He got hurt dealing with those weird things coming out of the ship, which made Dr. Warfarin really nervous.
I'll give these to Midnight.
Uh... what exactly happened?
I heard a bunch of versions. Some say the ship came alive and turned into a monster...
Some say they saw friends and family they thought were dead... then our ship was gone, just like that—
Well, I'm not too sure either...
It all happened so fast. I was listening to Raidian and Dr. Kal'tsit—
......
Dr. Kal'tsit.
Her absence will take some getting used to.
Looks like we can complete the assembly earlier than scheduled.
The main connectors of this nomadic plate had already been modified to fit our equipment. The hardest part was already taken care of.
......
The construction has been going much quicker than expected, thanks to all the operators who provided help.
Logos's incantations saved us a lot of effort moving stuff, and Raidian saved a lot of time by checking the circuits for us.
Angelina even came back to help us do the heavy lifting!
All that stuff laid out on deck in an orderly manner in the blink of an eye—sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself.
It's fine. We're all excited to hear that things are going smoothly.
But I guess you're here for something else. Is there a problem?
Well, yes.
Some of the pipes are so narrow that even these guys couldn't get them checked.
(Comes out from behind the engineer looking frustrated)
Has Closure fixed these already?
(Lowers head in shame)
What happened on the ship wasn't your fault, little fella.
We need to think of a way—
The Doctor said I'm needed here.
—Ray?!
I was wondering why Closure rushed me over here, until I overheard your conversation.
If you need to check the pipes...
This little runt oughta come in useful.
(Slowly stretches its backfin)
Thank you for the detailed report on the incident, Closure.
No worries. It's just part of the deal.
Yes, I understand. I'll report back to Consuls Clementia and Gladiia and communicate your warning.
As for the name of the individual—
'Priestess'.
We will reference our own databanks.
If the name has also appeared in any records of Ægir, then the threat you encountered was no coincidence.
I'll let you know about the results as soon as possible. We will also review the Joint Marine Corps deployment of the other consuls.
Once you are ready, we will deliver the necessary equipment, including medical facilities and Catastrophe warning systems.
Thank you.
You're growing into your position, Closure.
Oh, please, spare me.
I would much rather be dealing with machines.
I didn't expect Kal'tsit's job to be this hard...
Are you getting ready to leave?
No time to waste.
Babel must be informed about the details of this incident. Kazdel will check the status of Amnannam on our behalf.
Remember to tell Wiš'adel that the Doctor recommends exercising maximum caution in reviewing the use of that piece of Originium.
Don't worry, the Doctor already hammered the point in. I'll be going, then.
You're not saying goodbye to the others?
They've got plenty to do as things stand.
There's just one thing. About what happened to Dr. Kal'tsit... should we tell Babel?
......
Tell Wiš'adel first. She'll want to know.
Let her decide whether to tell the others. I trust her on this.
Tracking you down wasn't easy, Closure. What's going on with the thing that I asked?
We got Nuova Volsinii's response. The new batch of medical equipment will be shipped in through their port.
The Engineering Department is expecting to complete the construction of the medical lab that you requested in three days.
Good. The medical center should be ready to accept patients, in that case.
Kal'tsit bought this plate a long time ago. It's much bigger than the old Rhodes Island, and it feels much more like an 'island'.
But it's going to take some time for things to go back to the way they were before.
Don't worry. I've made things modular from the get-go this time, which should make future upgrades much easier.
One more thing—
About her office...
Just rebuild it the way it was. Medical will maintain it.
You know, this really is going to take some getting used to.
I'll help the Doctor and Amiya with the administrative stuff as much as I can while she's gone.
I don't want to disappoint her.
I'll help with things in Medical.
Did the Doctor and Amiya talk to you about recovering the other modules?
Of course. They're very energetic about it. Everything is progressing smoothly.
But it will take time to fully rebuild Rhodes Island.
Retrieving the original equipment, building supply channels, restoring communications with local branches, external PR, debriefing returning operators—
The list of things that need to be done just goes on and on.
Which reminds me... about that patient, Chloe...
I've sent someone to the Londinium office to locate her family.
The paper that Chloe and I were co-authoring is almost complete. It will be submitted to all the major medical journals on Terra.
Her sacrifice has helped achieve a true breakthrough in the research of Originium's mutative properties, and the resulting new symptoms of Oripathy.
I must bring this to the attention of more professionals, and make sure that her memory lives on in the minds of more people...
Yes, we couldn't have done it without her.
Closure rubs her eyes.
Overwork is bad for you.
Yeah, the Doctor told me not to push myself too far. But...
Trying to paralyze yourself with work may do the job for a while, but you'll eventually end up harming yourself.
Doctor's advice.
...All of Rhodes Island is my responsibility now.
Besides, Kal'tsit had even more on her plate.
Then come to Medical one of these days. I'll get you checked up.
Your blood doesn't even smell of machine oil these days. HR is telling me to keep a close eye on you.
Okay... Thanks...
Are the Doctor and Amiya still observing 'Mon3tr' in that forest of yours?
Yes.
I still think it should be done on the ship. I can provide support—
This new Rhodes Island can't afford risks.
You think that Priestess may have tampered with what Kal'tsit left behind?
No one knows.
The rain seems to be getting heavier.
You prop up your coat, shielding Amiya from the sudden shower.
The edge of Amiya's skirt is already all wet, but she does not seem concerned.
She is fully focused on the grass field a short distance away.
Wrapped in Kal'tsit's clothing, the black crystal emanates a dark, flowing green light.
It is rather inconspicuous in the dark and wet surroundings.
The light is appearing more and more frequently in recent days.
It's almost time.
There are no apparent changes in the surrounding Originium.
Maybe Mon3tr has not been affected by Priestess.
You wait and watch, fighting to suppress your hope for a miracle.
For the past month, Amiya has accompanied you on your regular trips to monitor the status of the crystal.
You all needed some time to process what happened.
And you cannot help but hope that the next time you come...
That she will be waiting here for you.
......
Doctor! Look!
Complex veins meander across the hard surface of the dark-green crystal. It sinks into the ground, then a highly regular shard begins growing, spreading into numerous branches—
The branches continue to grow until they come to a halt at some point, as though someone had cut off its end with scissors.
A tree?
In this lush forest, the green crystal on the grass seems to become one with the land, as though it was always there.
That's not quite what Theresa witnessed...
The crystal does not stop growing. The branches increase in number, expanding like the verdant crown of a tree, and the veins grow ever more complex and varied.
Can you tell what those veins represent?
They're all interconnected in a fluid cycle.
It's like a particular way of storing data.
Storing data?
Kal'tsit's fate.
Kal'tsit's memory.
Kal'tsit's life.
The myriad branches once again merge together, forming a massive cocoon.
All possibilities collapse into one reality.
The symbiont that had been by Kal'tsit's side ever since she awoke will continue to carry her hope, even after she is gone.
It is both a burden and a gift.
Besides, she never had a choice. This was a power that she was born with—
You hear an unfamiliar voice.
...Kal'tsit?
The rain caresses her palms.
An everyday natural phenomenon, so alien to her sensations.
She smells the grass, touches the cold rain... she instinctively puts on the clothes in her hands.
Kal'tsit's clothes.
Kal'tsit...?
She calls Kal'tsit's name in uncertainty. Kal'tsit had always been by her side. She had never been alone before.
No new symbiont has emerged to watch over her, only the two of you in the distance.
She looks up blankly at the sky, trying to process all the memories she possesses, all the memories that belong to AMa-10...
The memories that belong to Kal'tsit.
......
She recalls her last memory.
On that familiar deck, she fought side-by-side with Kal'tsit against Priestess—
...You gave me freedom.
I can see your memories, all of them...
But I can't sense your presence anymore.
Kal'tsit. Your name... a name that I loved so much—
......
But it belongs only to you.
My name is Mon3tr.
You gave me this name.
These clothes... did Closure prepare them for me?
(Hmm. Not quite a perfect fit.)
......
......
Mon3tr...
You mime out the shape of the Mon3tr that you know, much larger than the figure in front of you.
It's me, Doctor.
Do you feel anything... unusual?
What? No, I don't think so.
Do you remember what happened?
......
......
You and Amiya fall silent.
This is not the outcome you expected, though it is undoubtedly a miracle.
Where are we?
Near New Rhodes Island.
New Rhodes Island?
We lost the old one in the chaos... Priestess has sealed it in Originium.
(Like she's getting used to her new body.)
(I don't sense anything abnormal with her emotions.)
What happened to Priestess?
We're not sure. Rhodes Island is completely encased in Originium, making it nearly impossible to penetrate.
We're keeping it under observation until we're fully prepared for our next move.
Kal'tsit has left behind some important information... but my mind is a mess. I need your help.
Of course. But we'll need to get you checked out at the new base first.
This is important for your own health, and for the safety of Rhodes Island.
You'll need to keep a low profile, until we fully understand what's going on with you.
Right now, there are still a lot of operators hoping that we'll bring Dr. Kal'tsit home.
Give them some time, and give us some time... I'm sorry, Mon3tr.
I understand.
Kal'tsit would have approved of your decision.
I will cooperate with you, fully—
Say, uh, can I consider myself a Rhodes Island Operator now?
Just like Kal'tsit.
I asked Kal'tsit so many times before, but she kept coming up with excuses to refuse me!
......
Do you agree with Rhodes Island's ideals?
Of course.
Well... I can't say I don't have any misgivings about the present situation, but I've never doubted Kal'tsit.
Rhodes Island will never turn away a friend who has always been by our side.
Welcome back, Operator Mon3tr.
Doctor? Where are you going?
......
Give the Doctor some space for a while, Mon3tr.
So you're sure there are no other issues, Dr. Warfarin?
I've conducted a full examination of Mon3tr under her guidance. I didn't find any trace of Priestess's influence.
But Mon3tr and Kal'tsit were always full of secrets. There's a lot of research that I want to try—
(Kal'tsit was never so cooperative with exams!)
But I have a paper to write.
You're not going to review the information Kal'tsit left with us?
I'd love to, but not now.
This is a moment for Dr. Doctor and Amiya to share. I can wait for a better time.
(Take good care of her, Doctor.)
(I was surprised by Mon3tr's frankness when I was with her.)
(She may have all of Kal'tsit's memories, but it's hard for me to treat them as the same person.)
You watch Mon3tr curiously fiddling with the command center equipment, as Amiya explains to her the additions to the newly rebuilt room.
She is very different from Kal'tsit, but they have the same strong, resolute eyes.
We'll take good care of her, Warfarin.
Come find me if you need anything, Mon3tr.
Doctor, Amiya said that the command system hasn't been fully restored?
Closure is working on a new PRTS.
But deciphering the PRTS source code has proven to be a challenge.
I can help.
Since Kal'tsit broke through her limit, I am now able to decipher the associated code.
Restoring the command system is a priority for our future operations.
Great! That's one headache gone.
I'll ask Closure to do something about it. For now...
I won't give up on searching for any messages Kal'tsit might have left—
Retrieving memory log. Validating integrity.
Memory log restored.
Validating timestamp...
Attendant AMa-10 symbiont memory conversion complete.
Reading restricted log (γ0000)...
If you've accessed this log, that means—
You are free.
You are not just 'Kal'tsit's symbiont' anymore. Nor are you a vehicle of the AMa-10 cycle.
...Kal'tsit.
Dr. Kal'tsit...
......
(Chuckling) I wonder what name you will choose.
Will you keep the name 'Kal'tsit'?
To be honest, I don't want you to have to carry the burden represented by this name.
Someone gave me the freedom to seek the meaning of life. You deserve the same chance.
Go forth and find the meaning of your life. Let your heart answer for yourself your expectations for this land—
Is it hope, or destruction?
I'm sorry that I can't be with you anymore, until you've found the answer.
But I have so many questions...
Mon3tr remembers the questions that Warfarin raised to her while examining her—
'Why choose a similar form to Kal'tsit, instead of something more efficient and resilient?'
'Why hide your claws? So that others will not fear you?'
'Why have you chosen to remain human?'
I don't know... I just chose it on instinct.
There are many answers that come to my lips, but I just can't find the right words...
I can't think like you, Kal'tsit. Too much information, too many memories. My mind is a mess...
I want to find a way to bring you back, but—
But you will never doubt your own decision.
We've walked the centuries together. I know full well that you already know the answer.
You just need some time to understand yourself.
Keep moving forward.
The voice stops.
......
You and Amiya do not want to disturb.
You can feel Amiya trying to hold her emotions back too.
You step closer to her, to give her comfort.
Doctor, I...
I feel the same way.
Dr. Doctor, Amiya. I tried to envision the circumstances under which you will hear this recording.
I hope you don't find this baffling—
The destruction of Rhodes Island was not unexpected.
We face a foe far stronger than any other that we have faced before. I have failed.
But your war has only just begun.
Increasingly active Originium will bring new challenges. More pain, more suffering, more hatred, more war...
Remember the mission of Rhodes Island...
Gather the strength of the operators scattered across Terra. You will need unity, consolidated force.
This war is one of all Terra.
She's always been like this...
There's always a Plan B, isn't there?
Is this all she had to say in the end?
Sensing your emotions, Amiya grips your hand.
Doctor...
I'm fine.
I'm thinking about her.
It's okay, Doctor.
If it hurts, say so.
I won't touch your emotions without permission... But I want to share the burden.
Me too... Doctor.
I promised Dr. Kal'tsit that I would do my duty and protect the Doctor. I'll do it.
This time, I will not cry until Rhodes Island's mission is complete.
...I really miss her.
Are you alright, Mon3tr?
The girl does not answer. She is focused on the databank before her, searching for something.
A massive amount of data scrolls before her eyes, and her gaze grows intent.
There's so much...
She left so much data that I never got to access.
Maybe there's a way... it's possible...
There is a way, Doctor...
We can bring Kal'tsit back.
Reading restricted log (Unknown)...
For now, allow me to call you by the name that we chose together, Mon3tr.
People pour love into life and long for salvation whether in hope or fear. That's why they choose to pray to gods that they've never seen...
—That life may never end.
But how could it come true? Even the most tired river must eventually flow into the ocean.
When the final moment comes, when sun, moon and stars fade... when the swaying waves no longer murmur, when all sound and sights are gone.
When the colors of winter and spring are no more, and the boundary of night and day blurs—
And only eternal slumber in endless night remains.
......
It was a poem that my maker read to me when we were lying upon the frozen earth, both exhausted from playing.
Eternal life is destined to be eternally lonely. I have known how it feels.
I am sure you too can walk alone—
Mon3tr.