Lion Sky: The Terrifying Mechanized Empire

Scorching sunlight...the rustle of dry wind over the dunes... All clear on the western desert once again.

Man, it sure has been peaceful around here ever since Jinako's guest started taking out all those sandworms!

Hey, how come the wind's so strong out here in the desert, anyway? Is that just what the climate's set to?

It's caused by the difference in air pressure. You know how Area I has an underground nuclear fusion reactor, right?

Well, they made a vent for the expanded air around it over by the dome's edge.

That's why this area's a desert, you know. It's not 'cause it's still undeveloped. It's 'cause things work better this way.

Huh, interesting. See, I was over in the mall before I moved to Old Dubai.

I only ever cared about what was going on in there, so there's still a lot I don't know about how Moon Dubai's put together.

Actually, what about the other citizens? It's only been nineteen years since we were awoken, right?

Aren't they all still figuring out their identities, too?

Nah, only sleepyheads like you struggle with that. Most of us figured out who we wanted to support as soon as

Hold on. Is that...a sandstorm? No... Those dust clouds covering the horizon...

Oh crap! Those are Alvatron Company environment suppressors! And there must be at least twenty of them!

Contact Hasara, now!

Tell him the Thomas Alva Edison mechanized empire from Area I is invading!

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Good morning, Senpai. I'm told you don't have any sandworm hunts today.

Jinako said she has something important to discuss with us, so she'd like us to come see her before nooHm? What's going on outside?

Sabah al-khair! Good morning, Chaldea! Phew, good thing you're still here!

We have an emergency on our hands and we need you three to lay low here. If you go out there, you'll only complicate things.

Does this emergency have something to do with all those military boots pounding on the ground outside?

I could hear dozens and dozens of armored feet even from all the way up here.

Yeah, it does. Mechanized soldiers from Area I have forced their way into our territory.

They've pretty much taken over the plaza, though at least they're not attacking us yet.

They're probably trying to pressure Jinako into surrendering. It's Edison's typical go-to tactic.

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You know him? The guy with the lion head? He sure doesn't strike me as one of your companions.

If he has a lion head, then he's definitely the Edison we know!

I'm sorry to ask this, but is there somewhere we can watch and not be seen from?

Well, you can get a good view of the plaza from the lookout tower, but... Oh, fine.

But it's only big enough for you and Fujimaru, so you'll have to stay here, Bartholomew.

Got it. Keep an eye on them for me, Hasara. Don't let them run off on their own.

All right. You can come with me, but remember, these mechanized soldiers have excellent audio sensors.

So no talking until I tell you it's safe. Understood?

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Ugh, so sandy! So dusty! So rustic! So typical of the limited urban development capacity of a pathetic, puny political party.

This place hasn't changed one iota since the last time I was here! What a tragedy that this is the best a pure-blooded Moon Cancer area can do!

Well, worry not, people of Old Dubai! I would never leave you in the grip of such mediocrity!

Everyone should be equal in the face of the oncoming apocalypse, which is why I support giving every citizen of Moon Dubai fully mechanical bodies!

Join me now, and I'll even make it one of our newest, enhanced exoskeleton models! What's that, you say? How generous of me? Magnanimous? Presidential, even?

Hahaha, now, now, no need to pass judgment as though it was universal truth! But yes, I am the greatest inventor and entrepreneur of all time!

I am the up-and-coming Moon Cancer who will unite all of Moon Dubai...Thomas Alva Edison Alter!

...! (*Identical shocked silence)

(Shut up, before they see us!)

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Now then, where might I find Jinako? I thought we could have a morning debate, candidate-to-candidate.

O-our leader's deep in her meditations. She, um, won't be coming outside anytime soon, so...you'll have to come back later...

Hahahaha! Is that all the backbone you can muster!?

Ah, well! Timid leader, timid subordinates!

Well, that's quite all right. Jinako can stay right where she is. My business here isn't with her, anyway.

I'm putting together a Super Dynamic General Elite squadron to represent the best of what my Alvatron Company has to offer, you see...

...and I believe such a squadron deserves golden bodies to symbolize their brilliance!

And so I'll just help myself to your area's mother lode of precious metals, the Gold Souq.

Oh, don't worry. You people won't have to lift a finger.

You may well shatter your cervical vertebrae if you were to drop my precious gold with those weak, flimsy hands of yours.

My Alvatron Company's transport department has already arrived at the Gold Souq.

They should finish relocating everything in approximately four hours. You can all just relax and enjoy some tea in the meantime.

Wh-what!? You can't do that! The Gold Souq is one of the few production lines we have!

Ah, yes. It is regrettable that I must trample all over your personal property in this way.

But, so it goes with capitalism! No...industrialism!

Everything I do is in service of my vision... The complete mechanization of humanity!

Mechanized soldiers! What is the Alvatron Company's motto!?

"Down with humanoid second and third-gens!" "Convert all of humanity to work machines!"

"Let humanity produce materials without thought!" "Let humanity devote itself to serving civilizations of other star systems!"

"Erase all traces of war from this planet!"

Very good! Looking sharp yet again, men! Perhaps a bit too much subjectivity for my tastes, but no matter!

I am the great and magnanimous Edison! If anyone here has any complaints about our slogan, I'm willing to hear you out!

Assuming any of you have the backbone to voice them, that is! Hahaha. Hahahaha. HAAAHAHAHAHA!

That lion in shades stole EVERYTHING from the Gold Souq! He's gone too damn far this time!

Ugh, this is so awful I could cry! Who does he think he is, taking our gold while I'm busy being a shut-in!?

Please, Fujimaru! You've gotta teach that lion-headed jerkface a lesson!

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Take it easy, Jinako. This actually works out perfectly.

We were going to have to pay a visit to Edison's Area I sooner or later, anyway. And not just us. This concerns you too, Fujimaru.

What do you mean? Are you saying it's Senpai's fault that Edison became such a bad guy?

No, no. That was all Edison. This is about Lip.

Remember what I said about Passionlip's statue? Edison actually took that, too.

He and his stupid machine army made up a bunch of nonsense and took it before we could stop them.

Now he's put it up in his factory, where his soldiers treat it like their idol.

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I think I might have an idea. To the mechanized soldiers, Lip's hands are both powerful weapons and beautiful works of art.

Edison probably brought her statue into his factory to boost morale.

So Edison's been taking unfair advantage of Old Dubai and he's mistreating Lip, hm?

He definitely needs to be punished. I'd say he deserves to have sixty percent of his assets seized, minimum.

(I'd almost forgotten how scary Mash can be sometimes.)

We've been waiting for an opportunity to get Lip back ourselves. We even have a route into Area I all mapped out.

The only problem is, we're not equipped to carry her heavy statue out of there without the soldiers spotting us.

But if you're there with us, you can just make a contract with her and make her...well, not a statue anymore.

With Lip back in Servant form, those mechanized soldiers won't stand a chance.

We'll bolster our forces and grind away at theirs all at once. What do you say? Are you in?

Lip was one of us to begin with, so of course we're in. Right, Master?

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All right! I knew you'd agree, but thanks just the same, Fujimaru!

Okay, Hasara, hurry up and get that dummy container ready☆

The plan couldn't be simpler.

You'll sneak into one of the containers that's scheduled to be transported to Area I, then free Lip once you get there!

We'll also send a secret sandship to Area I's harbor, and trust that Bartholomew's navigational skills will make getting out easy.

As for their security systems, don't worry. I'll send along Mūṣaka the hacking mouse to disable them.

Edison's probably pretty smug after plundering our Gold Souq, so let's take advantage of that to settle this once and for all!

It's been two hours since we boarded this container. Assuming everything's going to plan, we should be in the factory now.

I can hear the mechanized soldiers outside. Sounds like it's almost time to make our move.

They said this container should be taken to Zone 21 where Lip's been put on display, right?

Right. Jinako acquired a map of the factory before we left and Hasara's team calculated the transport route for us.

Their calculations are so exact they bordered on outright prognostication.

Even just for life in Old Dubai, they seemed as accurate as one of Sheba's observations of the future!

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I'm completely on board with their plan too, but...there was one threat they couldn't account for.

My heart's beating so fast I'm actually having a little trouble breathing. I'm a little worried it might slow me down.

Oh no! Are you feeling motion sick!? I thought you would be used to swaying like this.

No, it's not that. Your hidden eye is always a sight to behold, but it's even more beautiful now.

I don't suppose you could stay in the Ortinax the whole time we're in Moon Dubai, could you?

N-no, I can't. Suiting up like this takes a lot of Master's magical energy, so...

Gotcha. Then I'll just have to really focus on this moment so I can remember it in perfect detail.

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The container has stopped. I'm not picking up any heat signatures of mechanized soldiers outside.

We'll break out of the container in forty-eight seconds in accordance with the plan, then make our way to the warehouse where Lip's statue is on display.

Thirty. Thirty-five. Forty. Forty-five... Now!

Th-this factory...!

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This doesn't seem connected to Moon Dubai's technology. It's completely automated. No AI in sight.

Hm? Hang on. That's weird. Every facility we've seen in Moon Dubai so far has been staffed by AI.

Even the Marion Hotel was no exception. Why haven't they automated more of their workload?

Good question. With their advanced engineering, it should be easy for them.

Hmm... No, never mind that now. We need to focus on the plan.

It could be that Old Dubai and the Marion Hotel are the exceptions rather than the rule.

Lip's statue should be in the next warehouse over. They said it's right in the center. Can't miss it, they said.

Come on, Fujimaru, Mash. This icy cold factory is no place for a delicate maiden like her.

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According to the map, she should be in this warehouse. Maybe she was moved!?

Maybe they knew we were coming. In which case

Unregistered workers detected. There are zero factory tours scheduled for today.

Please present your citizen IDs within thirty seconds.

If you are unable or unwilling to comply, you will be considered hostile litigants in accordance with Edison law.

Surveillance robots are entering through openings in the ceiling! They're already scanning us!

We've got to destroy them in the next thirty seconds! Let's settle this quickly, Master!

Unregistered intruders detected. Please present your citizen IDs within thirty seconds.

Unregistered criminals detected. Please present your citizen IDs within forty seconds.

Unregistered destroyers detected. Please present your citizen IDs within fiftynever mind. Initiating extermination.

Tch, talk about the tyranny of the majority! They're no problem individually, but they just keep coming!

They're going to sound the alert! We have to do something before the mechanized soldiers show up!

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Already!? Dammit! Now we'll HAVE to run for

Wait. You don't need to retreat now. Those drones are defective.

The more of them are active, the longer it'll take them to sound the alert. It takes a lot of processing power for them to assess a situation.

You're here for Passionlip, right? Come with me.

I'm Ben. I'm the general of the mechanized soldier army, and Thomas's Master.

I'm not prepared to do battle with you at this time.

No need to introduce yourselves. You don't have much time. It won't be long before they detect you.

Passionlip's statue is in Zone 26, not Zone 21 where you just were.

You have a map of the factory, right? Then use it to take the shortest possible route to her, before Thomas shows up.

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It is a matter of principle. I am not doing this for you; I am doing it for Passionlip.

She might be an AI being, but she's not like us, and she's obviously not like the mechanized soldiers, either.

She was born from something not at all human.

It's only a matter of time before Area I becomes a battlefield. She shouldn't be here when that happens.

No. As a weapon, Passionlip's capacity for destruction is astonishing.

She's most assuredly suited to combat. That's why Thomas seized her from Area C.

But the idea of sending her into battle disgusts me in a way I can't ignore.

No. Gender has no bearing on one's capacity to fight.

But I won't tolerate anyone who has not resolved to do so herself being used as a tool of war.

Even if military training sometimes breaks a person's spirit, they should still have chosen to join the army freely.

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...Does this mean you and Thomas Alva Edison have had a falling out?

No. The matter of Passionlip is our only difference of opinion.

I am just as much an advocate of Thomas's vision as any of my fellow AIs who volunteered to be mechanized.

I understand his ideals. His method of extinction would result in humanity having meant something.

Go. This is the last peaceful talk you and I will ever have.

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I don't know what you mean. Thomas is the very avatar of intelligence and rationality.

As far as I can tell, he behaves exactly the same now as he did when I first summoned him on behalf of the citizens of Moon Dubai.

...Having said that, he WAS a different class at that timea Caster.

Once he became a Moon Cancer after hearing BB Dubai's explanation, he began to harbor intense anger towards death.

Or rather...towards the concept of parting with one's neighbors.

That's all I have to say. My involvement with this matter ends here. We may be enemies, but I wish you luck nonetheless.

Mwahahahaha! Who should the spies skulking around my factory turn out to be but the old humans of Chaldea!

Thank you for saving me the trouble of searching for you! Thank you for being so astoundingly foolish!

As a token of my appreciation, I'll let you gaze upon the fruits of my Alvatron Company's labor before sending you to your demise!

Tell me, what do you think of my awe-inspiring production line? My unparalleled military force!?

Why, in ten days, I declare I will have sufficient power to prevail even if I were to take on every Moon Cancer at once!

Now, on another note...

I won't have a spy stealing what's mine on MY watch! Stop right there! Not another step towards my goddess!

How's he still so fast with all that bulk!? Is he wearing skates or something!?

Mwahahaha, it's called linear movement, you ignoramus! Now give yourselves up already!

Go on, Senpai! We'll hold them back while you get to Lip!

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No more crazy talk, Edison!

You're the King of Inventors! Aren't you ashamed to be participating in something like the Final Boss of Humanity's Annihilation Showdown!?

And why are you wearing those dangerously pointy sunglasses at your age, anyway!? The entire human race could sue you for reckless endangerment and they'd be right to do it!

Grrr, you have a tongue as sharp as any reporter that ever badgered me. Inventors have feelings too, you know!

But no matter! Now that I have awakened to my duty as a Moon Cancer, I fear no such slanderous defamation!

Besides, the human race is dead and gone! There's no one left to blame or criticize me!

Plebeians like you could never understand my deeply profound approach to this problem!

Sure we can. You're proposing humanity went extinct because they turned themselves into machines, right?

What!?

That would certainly put an end to humanity. There'd be no more wars, no discrimination, no inequality.

Sounds pretty "happily ever after" to me. But, really Thomas, tell me how that's at all interesting.

How it's interesting!? You even need to ask!?

I'm going to turn Earth into a completely automated factory that does nothing but manufacture products and ship them out into the vast, empty blackness of space!

That is the Alvatron Company's vision! That is my purpose as Thomas Alva Edison Alter!

My name will shine through the ages of history as the genius who built the solar system's largest factory!

That's ridiculous! Who are you even going to send all those products to!? What purpose could they possibly serve!?

I don't know! It doesn't matter! What matters is that humanity accomplishes something great!

This is what happens when you try to reward those who are still living! Humanity should just disappear forever!

Gah!

Hmph, those are some impressive defenses. I'll add them to my collection once IHuh?

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WhaWhat theAaaaaaaaahhh!!!

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Passionlip's statue is kind of like a time capsule...

She has been summoned as a Servant, yet exists without a Master...

It was Lip's mindher software, if you willthat guided you around 2030 Dubai...

Thus, if you reinstall that software onto her frameher hardwareshe should reboot...

Raise thy Command Spell... Brandish thy Command Spell...

And Passionlip shall awaken...awaken...awaken...

At least, I think. If not, I'll feel bad.

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...Contract accepted. Good morning, Master.

I already understand the situation. Would you like me to take care of the threats in the area?

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Fifty enemy units located in field of view. Activating Skill_Trash & Crush.

WhaWhat theAaaaaaaaahhh!!!

My army! It's being condeeeeeensed!

I-I'm still picking up their signals, but it looks like Edison and his mechanized army have vanished!

That was...

That was Lip's compression codec! I've never seen its output so high before.

Welcome back, Lip!

Thank you for saving us once again!

No need to thank me. I was merely following my Master's orders.

Nice to meet you, Shielder. I'm Passionlip, the Alter Ego of love and hatred.

Sorry to say this so suddenly, but I recommend we retreat. That attack dramatically reduced my combat output.

It will take me ninety-three minutes to recover my strength. I won't be able to stop a second wave.

You need to get to someplace safe as soon as possible, or I may end up vanishing.

Thank you for filling me in. I see. So this is the second time I saved your lives.

I'm glad to know our relationship sounds so positive.

By the way, Master Fujimaru, am I right to assume you wish to continue our contract, since you woke me with your Command Spells?

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Then please keep our magical energy bypass open. It may not be much, but it's better than nothing.

Now that I've informed you of our current status, I'm going to go back to sleep until my magical energy is back to ninety percent.

Hmm. I knew this was a possibility, but I didn't think she'd get reset quite like this.

It's not just her memories that are gone. She's lost her individuality as well.

She's more like the Alter Ego of indifference now. Who knew you could have ego without feelings?

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Sorry, but I'm afraid that's beyond even me.

She can't get her memories back because she doesn't have any in the first place. She's only just awakened to the world.

You'll just have to come to terms with the fact she's a new Passionlip who doesn't yet know any of you.

...

Mash, speaking as an AI, I appreciate that you care so much, but please don't be too sad.

The Sakura Five are all supporters and partners to humanity, just like I am.

They may not look like it, but they're machines. If one breaks, a new one can take its place.

No matter how carefully you handle them, or how much love you shower them with, they can always be replaced.

Humans might find that sad, but believe it or not, it's actually something we're proud of.

The very fact that Passionlip was able to save you all again is a badge of honor as far as she's concerned.

Yes, you're right.

Lip is still Lip, even if she doesn't remember the summer we spent together.

So all we need to do now is convey to her how much we care for and appreciate her.

It's the same for them, of course! They're both supporters and partners of humanity as well!

Of course, one fancies herself a prickly rich girl who refuses to listen to anyone, and the other one's a late bloomer with boundary issues, but nobody's perfect!

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Good point. Lip might speak differently now, but her heart's still in the same place.

Right now, what's more important is how we relate to her. Thank you, BB. This was helpful.

I appreciate your coming all the way back to the ship to check in with us, too. Sounds like you haven't been having much luck on your end, though.

Aww, Bartholomew☆ You really know how to hit where it hurts, don't you☆

All right, I can give you a little more useful intel.

BB Dubai will never leave Area B.

Thirty percent of Moon Dubai's power comes from the underground facilities. The remaining seventy percent comes from the Burj Khalifa.

And since the Burj Khalifa doesn't have any generators...

...we can assume that BB Dubai's using her own magical circuits to provide it.

So tell Jinako that BB Dubai will never leave her tower as long as the city of Moon Dubai exists.

That should help put her at ease a little, even as timid as she is.

Our ultimate goal may be BB Dubai, but it's also crucial that we do something about every other area's Moon Cancer, too.

There's no way we can let anything as awesoI mean, outrageous as the Final Boss of Humanity's Annihilation Showdown succeed.

So let's wipe out all the other Moon Cancers before one of them gets their approval rating to seventy percent!

Gooo team!

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Hrn!

Hmph. Did they really think they could get rid of me just by digitally compressing me into junk data!?

Mwahaha, it may have taken an entire year's worth of development time to code an extraction program, but looking at these results, it was well worth it!

And since time spent in compression is also compressed, it can't have been more than a minute here in reality!

Wrong, President Thomas. Your admin processing is three hours behind.

Please get back to work immediately. Please get back to work immediately.

Hahaha. Hahahaha. Mwahahahahaha! How incredible that a single Servant can do such massive damage!

This is exactly why she's my goddess of destruction. I must get her back at any cost!

One can never have too many powerful weapons, after all!

About that, Mr. President. There is a visitor waiting for you in your office.

Oh? Who is it? Another Moon Cancer come to propose an alliance?

No. She is a Beast calling herself "Anki Ereshkigal."