Specialty Change: Ainos

Urgh, my head. What's going on?

Was there a blackout right after connecting to the network? Some sort of crash, maybe?

It was no crash. I overloaded your system.

I could have left you in that state forever, but where's the fun in that?

You're...

Argh...! How did you get this far?!

Oooh, lookie here, I hacked everything you have! What will you do now, hm? Where did you even learn to code? It's trash!

Way too many loopholes. Might as well call it spaghetti!

If you keep running your mouth like that, it'll all come back to bite you one day. Stop provoking the culprit.

As if! A lame hacker can only do so much!

Wait, you're him? Wow, you really know how to hold a grudge, don't you?

And really? An abduction? Psh, what a creepy method of revenge just because you have trash for talent.

There you go again with that big mouth. You clearly don't understand what's happening.

As it is, your only way out is to kneel before me and beg like the loser you are.

You see, there's nobody in Politia that can track me down...except you, that is.

Your memories of the people outside may endure, but their memories of you will fade, slowly.

You're a ghost now. Trapped here alone, locked away until oblivion!

You know what? I'm pretty sure this is the plot of a movie I watched recently.

You really do lack creativity, huh.

Let's see how much longer you keep up with that attitude.

After all, time is on my side. *chuckling*

He must think that I'm keeping my cool, hoping for someone to come rescue me. What an idiot.

Well, to be fair, there really is no one that can rescue me, since I can't rescue myself.

But then again, my life after defeating Belian was more of a bonus. I have no regrets.

Besides, whatever happens, happens. Good thing I left that thing behind just in case.

Sonia still hasn't returned?

I've searched everywhere, yet there's no sign of her. Something must have happened.

I hope she didn't fall into some trap by someone seeking revenge.

...Sonia entrusted me with a file that I'm supposed to play if she were ever to disappear like this.

Shall we play it?

Hi! If you are watching this, I must be in trouble.

The mutt always says I'm not careful enough, but here I am, with a countermeasure.

Yes! Sonia, I knew I could believe in you!

There's an external storage device that has a copy of all my data.

It was originally used to transfer my mind into a new body to avoid getting on Belian's radar.

I'm sending you its location. Make a new "me" with it.

Oh, and don't bother looking for me.

Uh, what?

Did she just tell us to replace her with a new body? What does she think she is, a battery?

I can practically hear you fussing, Glenn. You're too stupid to know better.

Short lead time, same outcome. I don't understand why you're complaining.

Why you...!

Do you think the copied version of Sonia is really her?

What makes Sonia, Sonia...? That's a tough question.

Whether the new body is the real Sonia or not isn't the issue.

You can only replace the old one after you discard the original.

Meaning, to have a new Sonia, we must dispose the old Sonia.

And abandoning our companion isn't even an option for us. Right, guys?

But how do we locate her? We've tried everything.

The only person that can find Sonia...

Is Sonia herself.

So, you transferred my data into this old body to find the missing me?

Why waste your energy? Aren't we all way better off if I just replace myself?

Well, she sounds exactly like Sonia, all right.

I don't need a replacement. What I want is to have my friend back.

So, once I'm done finding the real me, I can just piss off?

That's...

There might be multiple solutions. We could merge the both of you together.

If you have any preferences, I'm all ears.

Forget it, I was joking around. No need to be so serious.

Merging data is a risky move. It's better that I just leave.

After all, I used to wander around here and there, so I don't care if I have to leave.

I might've made myself comfortable here, but I was born with itchy feet.

I-I see...

Yeah, yeah. Let's just locate the real me quickly, alright?

...

I found traces in the network. It led me to information on whoever kidnapped me.

This hacker is particularly nasty, with a history of extorting people with stolen data.

No wonder I didn't let someone like this off the hook.

Haven't you done the exact same thing, like...multiple times?

Exactly! That's why I wouldn't let a potential competitor run wild like this.

I'll collect surveillance data to identify the face of the culprit.

Give me two days, and I'll triangulate his location.

That was sooner than I thought.

So we storm the place, rescue myself, then I guess it's bye-bye.

...Bye-bye. Right.

Wh-What?!

Why so surprised? What were you doing?

I-I wasn't surprised at all.

Or so you say. Were you watching something you don't want to share with the others?

Take your questions to Glenn. You must have a reason for coming here, so spit it out.

Well, let's just say I'm feeling hurt.

You may not express it, but I thought you liked it here.

Yet, you said you were always thinking of leaving. Not to mention, the other Sonia said we shouldn't look for her.

You make it sound as if we mean very little to you.

And this came as a surprise to you? You really don't know anything about me, huh?

No, I don't. I never asked, you never shared.

Even now, the only thing I know is that you're the oldest automaton in the history of Politia.

That's right. I was by Politis's side longer than anyone.

I know what she had been through, so I hoped, more than any other automaton, that she would achieve her goal.

You know why I went after Belian despite this?

Because I was abandoned by Politis in the end. It was Belian's doing.

One day, I accidentally found out that Belian was planning to destroy me.

Belian told Politis that I was no longer needed. This was her response.

"Belian, if that is your will...I will not object."

It didn't matter if I existed or not. I meant nothing to them.

Maybe I should thank them for teaching me that trust is always rewarded with a stab in the back?

...

In any case, that was never my grand goal, nor ideal. I just wanted them to suffer for treating me like a piece of scrap.

But you guys were different.

You're asking us why we're so desperate?

You said it yourself, that you were never directly harmed.

As an ex-cop, you could have chosen any other future where you were better off than you are now.

There was a certain value I wanted to protect.

And in my journey to do so, I met the people I wanted to protect.

Now, everyone in the Unregulated Area is my family.

They are like my children. I only want them to be happy, that's all.

...Hmm. Boring.

Indeed. It's just a little hope of mine.

I'm sure you have your own reason to go against Belian.

I hope fulfilling that reason makes you happy.

Because you, too, are a part of my family.

Yes, I remember. Back then, you said, "Don't be creepy, granny".

You were practically a stranger to me back then. It was as cringeworthy as it could be.

Honestly, I thought you were being ridiculous.

That's why I stayed just a bit longer than my original plan, 'tis all.

I always knew there would come a day when I take my leave.

Since I've always known how this would end, of course I'd be nonchalant.

Belian, if that's your will...I will not object.

Better to leave on my own volition than to be abandoned.

Things would be different if there was just a single me, but as long as there's two, one will definitely be abandoned.

And it's probably me, the replacement.

Is that all there is to it?

Do you have anything else you want to say?

Oh, that reminds me, I'm pretty sure I found my location.

Let's make a visit to the hacker's hideout in the morning.

That's all. You should go now. I need to rest after searching through the network all day.

...Alright. Get some rest.

Is Sonia really in there?

Yeah. To be precise, in the deepest corners of these ruins.

Once the hacker's been taken care of, I'll make my way inside and rescue myself.

Who's ther...

*step*

Huh? You'r, ...No way, is that me?!

Why are you... Did they come for me even though you exist?

Yeah. They refused to replace you with me.

As if we were worried about the likes of you! I wasn't fazed one bit while you were missing!

As I recall, someone was quite upset, saying, "She wouldn't just disappear like that!"

I even heard from a witness that you were close to tears.

I-I didn't cry!

Oh, is that right? Good thing I recently installed a security camera. I wonder who's telling the truth?

Fine! I cried! But that was because something got in my eyes!

If you disappear...

Would I be able to be myself again?

What?

Looking for the original me was inefficient to begin with.

Nonetheless, they activated me to find you.

They couldn't possibly think of replacing you with me because there was hope that you would be found.

But what if you could never return?

So, you're here to finish me off and take my place?

Way to go, me. I sure am quite the piece of work.

This ends...now.

...!

You two, get away from each other. Now.

Huh? Boss! What's going on?!

Sonia?! What's going...

Hmph... I guess that's it, then.

Hold it right there.

Look, I think there's been a misunderstanding. We were just having a serious conversation.

What? But...

Did I stutter?

I'm fine, so just give me and myself some space to talk things over in private.

I was dead serious when I said that they should find a replacement for, No, of me.

Given that, I believe that you also made a genuine effort to save me.

Or rather, I believed so.

...

Hope only breeds disappointment. That's why I acted all nonchalant as if I had zero expectations.

Yet, once I learned that they hadn't given up on rescuing me,

I realized what it was I truly wanted.

...Yes. My original plan was to leave after rescuing you.

But, once the thought of being able to stay if only I got rid of you crossed my mind...

I know. After all, you and I are the same.

I just...wanted to have them around a little longer...

Yep, I feel ya.

I didn't want to get abandoned again. Especially not by them.

That's why I was going to leave, as if I was nonchalant about it all.

And out comes the truth.

Granny...

If you truly wish to find your place here, we will do our best to find a way.

However, we'll never know as long as you're not forthright with us.

So, let me ask you once again.

Is there anything you'd like to tell us?

Ugh... I'm done here!

Same here!

This sure is convenient, having someone else on my level helping me with the work!

We love the same games, and we're equally good at playing...

Wait.

What's with this trash code?! How could you commit such an atrocity?

What? I didn't write that code!

If not you, then who?! Pah, all I have to do is check the log here and...

...Oh, it was me.

Hahahaha, you're an idiot!

Shut it. You do realize any mistake I make, you would have done the exact same thing, right?

You really think so?

I think we're different beings. The old me, the copy of me, and the current me. All similar, but different.

Look, even now we have different thoughts. If that's not proof, I don't know what is.

How is it? I installed features that Sonia's body doesn't have.

Not bad at all. But is this really necessary?

I had no problems with my old body. Besides, aren't you always complaining about how you're short on money all the time?

Well, it was worth the costs.

You are no longer Sonia.

And as Sonia did, you, too, will join our family as a new member.

A new body and name might not be the best solution, but I think it's the best we can do.

We don't have to fight over who's Sonia now that I know there's a place for me here.

It feels strange to see myself-yet-not-myself with my own eyes.

But I don't mind. It's as if I got a new friend who really gets me.

Hey, Boss told me to give you this...

Wh-What's going on? Why are you two smiling?

You're planning something weird, aren't you? You're on your own if you get in trouble!

Well, what do you think?

We were just going over our plans to help our little mutt's failed love life.

Th-That's none of your business! Knock it off!

But you told us not to do anything reckless, and we're bored!

You wouldn't mind having fun with us, right?

Right?

One Sonia was enough trouble as it is, and now we have one more.

What will become of my future...and of Area D?!