Episode 7, Chapter 2: Unfamiliar Sights

This is New... Nirvan?

Yep! Everyone, welcome to New Nirvan!

Let's go to the square. There'll be a lot of people there.

Hey, Chloe!

Mr. Calus. It's been a while.

I heard you were thrown out at the Scrap Metal Barrier, but you're back?

Wh-who said that?!

Word's out. Everybody already knows. You rolled out of the sewer along with the sludge.

Th-that's just... Look, I thought it was a tunnel...

Anyway... why don't you just give up now?

Those Ortus thugs have been in an even worse mood lately. Who knows, they might stir things up in town, too.

C'mon, I doubt anything will happen. What business would they have here?

Well, all I know is what I heard from the barflies at The Glitch, but... I have a feeling.

Hm... We should check out The Glitch first.

What's that?

The Glitch? It's a local watering hole where all the information gathers!

If we go there, you should be able to learn about that person you're looking for too.

Anyway, everyone's worried, so you be careful too.

Hehe, thanks. Imma get going.

Ada is clearly up to somethin'. There's gonna be a war soon!

Yeah, this place is swarming with Ortus security.

Ugh, here we go again.

Hey, Wilson.

Oh! Hallo, Chloe! It's been 14 hours, 48 minutes, and 16 seconds since our last goodbye.

I see that your plan failed again. Ready to give it up?

How can I? Everyone's talking about how Ada's going to start a war.

Look, she might not be very sociable, but that doesn't mean she would actually hurt anyone.

Oh dear. I will withdraw this unnecessary offer then.

Hm? But who's this? I've never had guests who were not in my database.

Oh, these are my new friends. I brought them here because they're looking for someone.

Hello, friends who are looking for someone. I am Wilson, barkeep of this humble establishment and a pillar of New Nirvan community. I know the history of the rise and fall of the realm of Nirvan, and above all I-...

Wilson, enough!

Hellooo. I'm Cloud. This is Verna.

Hi. Do you happen to know about a person named Eleanor?

Eleanor. Ah, but, of course. Eleanor is a plant native to the tropical regions of ancient Nirvan. When personified, it can be called Elemia. Also, it...

Wilson. They're asking about a person! A person named Eleanor!

Oh! Ha. But of course. You just hit the **bullseye.**

Eleanor. **No information.**

But, I recommend the approach of gathering information during your exploration of New Nirvan.

To do so, Rue must first issue you a New Nirvan registration number.

...Next time, if you don't know, just say so.

Chloe? Your vital signs disappeared, so I hypothesized you were dead.

If you continue sneaking into KrypTiiK, you'll be declared dead before long. Should I reclassify you preemptively?

Yeah, I know, Rue. Thanks for worrying about me.

That was... worry?

This town is a little weird.

This is just what I've heard from Wilson, but Rue is probably a Void analysis bot that was... scrapped by KrypTiiK.

Scrapped? Does that mean she was thrown away?

I don't know all the details, but I heard something went wrong while she was being restored, so... she has a bit of a... rough way of talking.

Anyway, it's thanks to Rue that we're able to access KrypTiiK's intelligence network.

So, if we get separated, Rue's your next best bet for anything you need.

Chloe. Stop dumping your responsibilities on me and get out of my face.

Oh, right! My friends have never been here before, so we need travel registrations. I'll totally vouch for them.

Hm... You two aren't Nirvanian.

Uh, how did you know? And is that a problem?

Not particularly. I'll just need to revise the original data pattern a little, but...

I really don't want to, and I wish you'd just leave me alone.

Hey, why are you so...

Hahaha... It's okay, Verna. She talks like that, but she's a good kid.

All done. N828-B1 and N828-B2.

N828...

It's okay. It's good to memorize it, but if you can't, then don't hurt yourself trying.

Of all your faces, you looked the most natural when you were doing nothing.

H-hey!

Hahaha! Thanks, Rue. I knew I could count on you!

No problem. I was happy to see you one last time. Now then, soon-to-be-dead and her friends, goodbye.

Alright, since you're registered, let's stop by the marketplace first.

I've never met such an unfriendly waitress.

Hehe. Yeah... She probably means no harm.

Hello, Amber.

Chloe. You're alive? I was worried.

What can I cook for you today?

Oh, we're not staying to eat, just askin' around. Do you happen to know someone named Eleanor?

Eleanor...? Sorry, but I have no idea who that is.

Really? I was so sure you would know...

How about you ask around the residential complex? Someone there is bound to know.

Okay. That sounds like a good idea. Thank you.

Hm... I was sure we'd find her easily once we arrived in the Gaba Archipelago.

Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?

Huh? Me?

Wait, I love your outfit! Where can I buy clothes like yours?

Ah, um, do you know someone named Eleanor?

Eleanor? I don't know. How can I remember everyone I meet?

It's been a while, Chloe.

I heard you were tossed outside the barrier this time.

No, I wasn't. Ugh, just how far did that rumor spread...?

Be careful. Ortus is too dangerous for you to face.

I'll be the one to worry about that. But does the name Eleanor ring any bells for you?

Eleanor? Just a moment.

Nope, it's not in my database.

Hm... I guess we're looking in the wrong place. Will we have to search the whole Gaba Archipelago?

How about you ask Isabella? Isabella knows everything.

R-really? Isabella...? I-I don't think she'd be any help...

Thanks anyway. We will try visiting her.

Chloe. Are you worried about something?

Huh? N-no. Let's try going. I think it's a great idea!

Isabella!

Hmm... Well, I guess she's not here.

Phew... 21st run complete.

All senses responsive. Vital signs normal.

Still a few bugs to work out, though...

Isabella!

...Chloe? I heard that they'd actually arrested you this time.

Was that right?

Huh? Haha. O-of course not... I'm too strong for them to catch.

Anyway, what experiment are you conducting now?

P-351. My mobile portal.

A precaution. If "that person" happens to find me... I'll need a way to escape.

Tch, your only plan is to run away?

It's the more mature course of action, thank you. Who are they?

Oh! This is Cloud and Verna.

Nice to meet you.

Are you... both from Belana?

Chloe is always meeting the most interesting people.

Do you happen to know an Eleanor?

How did... you come to know that name?

We know it because Eleanor... took our friend.

For you to find Eleanor, you'll need...

You'll need... an audience with Code.

-.-. --- -.. . ..--..

Are you sure your friend is here? What makes you think so?

Eleanor left a letter. She said to come to the Gaba Archipelago...

What is she up to?

Who is Eleanor?

I don't know personally, but...

The name appears in the communication logs between Code and an unidentified individual.

Eleanor is a member of... the Underdogs.

When we were adrift in the Void after escaping the dimension of Nirvan...

W-wait. You escaped a dimension? You were adrift in the Void?

Uh-huh. I thought you seemed a bit naive... You're really out of the loop.

We're from another dimension. The place we used to live, Nirvan...

It's disappeared, consumed by the Void.

Your dimension... disappeared? How can you say that so casually...

Verna! Rin and Ran!

I thought these clothes and machines looked familiar... Rin and Ran are from Nirvan, too, just like you, right?!

You've met Rin and Ran? Just who are you?

I wouldn't say they're just like us, but... You're right. They're from Nirvan.

They... were trying to spread Void corruption. Why? And then, does that mean, does everyone here...

No. Most of the people here in New Nirvan... have nothing to do with any of that. Myself and Chloe included.

And let me make this clear: I want no part in your business.

But Code is the only person who might know where Eleanor is.

And I can tell you that Rin and Ran are two of Code's "creations." What do you think? Are the wheels turning?

How do we find this Code person? Tell us.

Sector Zero, at the heart of the Gaba Archipelago.

But you shouldn't bother. Code locked herself in her lab, and no one's seen her since.

And then there's Ortus, Code's personal guards, who, along with their leader Ada... all seem to have lost it a little.

Do you also believe that ridiculous rumor that Ada is going to start a war, Isabella?

Wake up, Chloe. Ada isn't the person you used to know anymore.

Just like how Code isn't the person I used to know anymore.

All I have to do is figure out what the plan is, right? Then, everything will be revealed!

Do whatever you want, but leave me out of it.

Before that, though, if you don't want to end up in the sewers again, maybe you should try finding yourself an invisibility cloak?

Chloe, can you tell us how to get to Sector Zero?

Then we can plan our next move.

I know where the entrance is, but... Isabella isn't wrong.

Last time I was there, I got caught trying to sneak in... and, uh, had to make a quick escape.

Was it for that friend you mentioned earlier? Ada?

Yeah... I can't talk to Ada directly, so... I was looking for something that might prove she's innocent.

Let's go together, then. We can help each other out!

Really? You believe me! Ah, once we talk to Ada, everything will work itself out!

Ada is Code's younger sister, so she'll definitely know how to contact her!

Whoa! Really? That's a great idea! Chloe, you're a genius!

Oh, you think so? Ahh! People do say that about me.

...Great, they're peas in a pod.

Classified data is probably stored locally in the core lab. The fastest way to get there is the undersea tunnel.

But I heard the tunnel's been on maximum security lately.

Is there any other way? Maybe outside the barrier from before...

Ah... Actually... I don't really know my way around out there. That was my first time outside the barrier, too. Hehe.

No wonder...

Let's go to The Glitch for now. Maybe someone there will know how to get our hands on an invisibility cloak!

Hey! Kids!

I was just wonderin' if you'd made it out alright.

Heard a little rumor that y'all destroyed the Scrap Horde.

Hehe. It was a piece of cake.

Oh, is there any way we could get our hands on that signal jammer again?

The signal jammer? What do y'all need that for?

We're planning on going to the core lab. There's something I really need there.

Mmm... I knew y'all were a few rocks short of a pile, but, you're worse than I thought.

The core lab's going to be swarming with Ortus security. How do you plan to lug that jammer around?

Well, just on my back...

Well, blood and sand... If you're gonna do that, you'd be better off using a mini bio-signal jammer to distort your appearance.

I... might... have a few left over from what I was sellin'...

Really? How much do you want for them? Do you take credit?

Credit? Bahahaha. Ahhh... well, those old things don't sell for much. Reckon, I'll just give 'em to you.

Wow! Thank you so much!

But the signal range is so short that they'll be useless in their current state.

Oh, if you go dig around in the bins in the control center, you'll probably find a decent signal amplifier. Bring it to me, and I'll mod them for ya.

Okay! We'll be back soon!

I had absolutely no plan for how to get there, so this is great!

Oh, right where he said it would be! This seems pretty okay.

What do you think? This'll work, right?

Oh, say true, this'll do nicely. You have a better eye than I thought.

Hehe. Yeah, I've fetched these before for Isabella.

I really hope it works...

Alrighty, done and dusted. I reckon it isn't my prettiest work, but... it'll do. Probably. Ya know, don't worry about it.

Just press this and... There! How's that?

Whoa! Y-you look like an Ortus guard!

Alright, alright. Success! Haha, I knew it. I'm not rusty yet!

One more thing. The battery life's limited, so only use it when you really need to.

Okay, we will do that. Thank you.

Welp, I don't know what your plan is, but good luck with it! And be careful!

Who cares! I have a good feeling about this!

Let's go!