Episode 7, Chapter 6: Infiltrating the Research Wing

Alright. They haven't shut this card down yet.

Still, our enemies aren't fools, so they'll realize we're unauthorized soon. Let's move quickly.

Security will have gotten tighter, though... What should we do?

Not all the researchers that work here agree with Ortus's agenda.

I'm sure there'll be allies who can help us.

These prosthetic arms aren't too shabby! My hands don't hurt no matter how many punches I throw! *Pew Pew Pew*

I'm glad you like them.

Uh, Isabella? Do you maybe know the passcode?

...Everyone was constantly forgetting it when I worked here. They might have left themselves a hint.

Isabella, there's something written here.

The four-digit ID of the most recently registered monster... I guess that must be the passcode.

We just need to find the highest number.

Grippy. The registered monster ID is 1307.

Crusher. The registered monster ID is 0198.

Titus. The registered monster ID is 1312.

Fearless. The registered monster ID is 2139.

It should be the highest ID value of the four we checked.

Still stuck on this?

Good. You remember the number, right?

That's the wrong number. Try again.

Great, it's open! Let's keep moving.

Damn it. Are they onto us already? So much for strolling on in with the keycard I prepared.

Well then... Does that mean it's my turn now?

Stand back, everyone! Because with just one punch...

Chloe, wait. We have to move carefully. Let's not give Ortus a trail of destruction to follow.

But, then what do we do?

We'll have to find ourselves another keycard, with a valid clearance.

Meowww.

What? You think you can get it?

How would it know where to find one?

Hold on, that gives me an idea... Could I please borrow your cat for a second?

Nyan.

It says "Yeah, okay."

Tada!

Ohhh, cute!

Does it, like, do anything special?

These are camera goggles. They transmit a video feed of whatever they see.

If our little friend goes for a little jog through these air ducts here...

Meow...

Cloud, could you please say something? My tablet has a live audio connection to your cat's goggles.

Ahh, hello?

Meow!

Oh, I think it hears me.

Cloud, you can tell your cat to do different things, right?

Yep! You can count on me!

Alright, shall we find ourselves a keycard then?

What are you doing?! Hurry up and get back to work!

I-I don't want to be part of this anymore!

In that case, you're useless, so should we dump you?

Eek! I'm sorry!

We definitely need to avoid that! Be careful!

...The monsters are screaming for help.

Just why would... How could they do something like this?

The monsters and the researchers... they're all being used.

Meowww!

Found it. This is the keycard we need.

Alright! Grab it in your mouth and bring it back!

Hiss!

Hiss...!

Nyah!

Perfect. This'll let us keep moving.

Never underestimate $CAT_NAME$.

Meow!

Umm... Would it be alright to set these monsters free?

Yes. They're innocent in all of this.

There, you're free now.

Will they be able to find their way out?

Yeah, they all knew where to go already.

But they'd clearly been held prisoner here for a long time.

Isabella?

It's been a while, Bianca. I knew you'd be here.

...I heard we had an intruder. I should have expected it to be you.

If I'd known then what I know now, I would have left with you.

What's past is past. But you have a chance to do the right thing now, in the present.

Is this what you meant by allies, Isabella?

That's right. Bianca, what about the other staff?

There are some who've joined Ortus, but...

I think most of the researchers will side with you?

We committed ourselves to KrypTiiK in order to overcome the Void.

But creating a weapon to invade another dimension, this isn't what we signed up for.

It's not too late.

Yeah! We can always right the mistakes we make.

You're, um... So you're, uh... the beast from the Cybernetics QA Division... right?

W... What? Me? ...A beast?

Haha. I guess you never heard our nickname for you? Whatever we developed, you would always destroy it, so...

Oh... It's not my fault that I'm built like a tank.

But Chloe, your... your arms...

Oh, these? Yeah, Ada... got me once.

It's okay, though! I've put them through their paces, and I've already got the hang of them.

All I need now is a rematch with Ada.

Haha. You're still so spirited.

It's been so long since I've talked to someone so cheerful.

So, what's the plan?

We're planning on neutralizing the Hyper Portal first.

I see. You can't stand your baby being misused.

That's not it. One mistake, and it could cause the dimensional barrier to...

Yeah, yeah. Let's go.

...Easy on the teasing, will you? Where are the other researchers?

They're being held captive by Ortus. We have to rescue them on our way.

You know how it is, right? It always takes more effort to deal with the aftermath than to actually start something.

Here, this way! Hurry!

Is that everyone?

Yeah, there's nobody else on this side.

Alright then, should we proceed to the Hyper Portal?

The bulkheads should all be sealed off. What are you going to do about that?

Let's break the security system's central control unit.

But then, there's the emergency backup system.

There is.

However, there will be a brief outage while it kicks in.

So what's your plan, run like hell?

Do you know how to run, Isabella?

Seriously... Once this is over, you're dead.

Do you know a faster way?

If you do, feel free to say so at any time...

Now, this is the central control unit...

We need to do something about the barrier first.

We're in a rush. Can't we just smash everything?

Move aside. I'll try breaking it.

Hold on. Destroying it's fine, but not while that barrier's in the way.

It absorbs all physical impacts.

Then let's try disabling the barrier first. I can use my own system access credentials, but...

You need me to modify the program, right? I've got it.

What do I do? Where and what do I hack?

You just need to make a few adjustments after I access the unit with my credentials.

Having some trouble? Let's try again.

Just be calm, go slowly.

Connection established. Now just carefully complete the circuit...

Nice work, it's disabled. Classic Isabella.

Now it's your turn, Chloe.

Heh. Stand back and let me cook.

Hah!

Those prosthetics, everyone in Ortus uses them too, right?

Yeah. People who lost parts of their bodies while fighting the Void have to use stuff like this.

So extensive cybernetics are kind of an Ortus signature.

What are you doing? We need to hurry.

Isabella, shouldn't we take some research files?

Everything here is the result of Ortus exploiting our labor.

Even if we leave here, we'll need these files.

Alright, but focus on the most important stuff.

We can't take everything.

The most important materials are marked in red. Just grab those.

This ruckus... it's your fault, huh?

You're still here?! You have to evacuate! Hurry! Everyone else already left.

No! My life's research...

I-I can't leave this behind!

If you die, mister, then your research dies with you. Hurry up and get out!

Ergh...

What the...? What's going on...?

We've taken care of Ortus, so hurry up and escape.

Huh? Aren't you that kid from New Nirvan who was making a fuss about finding Ada?

You really did end up causing trouble...

Huh? You saw me in New Nirvan? That means...

Ahem... I needed some room to breathe. You know, they give us such a hard time here.

Anyway, if you see Ada, make sure to give her proper smack from me.

Will do! You didn't even have to ask.

How are you doing? Did you bring all the materials?

I backed everything up on this storage drive.

Go on ahead and take this to New Nirvan.

We still have something left to do.

Alright. Good luck.

Be prepared, because I'm going to take full advantage of your guilty conscience to boss you around.

Then you'd better make sure to come back alive.

Don't worry, I have absolutely no plans to die or sacrifice myself.

Mmm... famous last words.

...Alright then. I promise you, I'll make it back alive.

You filthy rats... so persistent.

You insist on crawling back just to die. It's so annoying.

Mmm... We have no business with you! Just tell us where Ada is.

The Hyper Portal will soon be activated. She has no time for petty distractions.

You'll all perish here, according to Ms. Ada's will.

This is all because Ada is surrounded by bad influences like you!

I'm going to stop Ada, so get out of my way!

Ugh... it's just relentless....

Of course it is, it's a machine. But I can keep going, no sweat.

Stand down, Chloe. There's no use wasting your energy.

Save your strength for the actual fight.

Kgh... This is...

Let's go. She'll be stuck there for a while.