Erica

Doll once studied her in exhaustive detail, but nowhere, not the torso, not the limbs, not the skull, not the pelvic cavity, was there any part capable of producing sound. How she speaks at all has become one of Mythag's countless unsolved mysteries.

Most of the time she can hold an ordinary conversation. Now and then, though, that mysterious voice seems to have a will of its own, and what it says makes the skin crawl and the blood run cold.

Unlocks at: Awakener Level 1

On A.F. 297, @1, @1 03:47, an unexplained explosion occurred southeast of @3 Republic @1@2@1 town. The shockwave triggered a 3.8 magnitude earthquake in the area, noticeable shaking reached villages 5 kilometers away from @1@2@1 town.

After the incident, @1@2@1 town lost contact with other regions, and surrounding residents could not recall the town's location. Based on this, the Committee dispatched members for investigation, and dissolution material was detected at the edge of @1@2@1 town.

After sealing off the small town, Mythag University investigators performed dissolution body clearing operations and recovered the E-1929 Silver from a strongly dissolved area suspected to be the explosion's center.

E-1929 is particularly unique; its Gnostic index has been in an irregular fluctuation state for an extended period and emits a ticking sound like gears, only maintaining brief stability when linked with mechanical fragments recovered from the strong dissolution area. Based on this characteristic, the Mythag University Awakening Department wrapped E-1929 in mechanical fragments and quickly awakened it once the Gnostic Index tended to stabilize.

<Italic:"E-1929 Silver Acquisition and Awakening Report Summary">

Unlocks at: Affinity Level 3

At 18:00 yesterday, room CB-101 in the basement of the Prince Building at Mythag University was vandalized by unknown parties. The reinforced door was badly damaged, black lightning-shaped scorch marks were left across the walls both inside and out, and the room itself was in ruins.

"A momentary surge of current can leave marks like these," said Dr. Adams of the electrical engineering department of the scorching on the walls. "It would take an enormous voltage. An ordinary apparatus capable of that would be huge, far too big to hide. But with a Silvercore... anything is possible."

Since Silvercores are kept year-round under the strict guard of the Awakening Studies Department, it is hard to imagine anyone using one privately without being noticed. And so attention has turned instead to the Awakeners, who carry Silvercore energy inside their own bodies.

"If you ask me, she did it, no question," one Awakening Studies student told this paper on condition of anonymity. Asked who exactly he meant, he grew nervous. "You know, her. The one they call the Tick-Tock Man! Haven't you heard that current running through her body, on and on? I hear 'current' and I think of her. Has to be her."

Plenty of students voiced similar suspicions. But the Awakener who moves like a clockwork doll and wears that uncanny smile is not without allies: several Investigators have publicly stood up for Erica, urging everyone to keep to the facts and the evidence, and not to harm others over personal prejudice.

Dr. Sokolova, acting head of the Awakening Studies Department, declined to comment. The investigation is ongoing.

Excerpted from the Mythag Daily,"A First Look at the CB-101 Explosion"

Unlocks at: Affinity Level 5

Hannah: As you see it, is there any difference between you as an automaton and you now?

Erica: That version of me retained "emotion."

Hannah: What sort of emotions, exactly, if you're willing to share?

Erica: I'm sorry. I do not understand the question.

Hannah: Uh, I mean, if the question feels too personal, you don't have to answer.

Erica: I cannot perceive "willingness." My apologies.

Hannah: Then... please tell me what you felt at the time?

Erica: Flesh-and-blood self survived an explosion: happiness, delight.

Discovery that my mind had been transferred to and stored in a mechanical doll: tension, excitement.

Discovery that my consciousness was slipping out of control, together with a strong urge to destroy: tension, fear, protection.

Hannah: Protection?

Erica: I am very sorry. The detailed record has been lost.

Hannah: A different question, then, one all our readers want answered. Why do you have no emotions now? What happened?

Erica: Sanity could not be restored through the Spiritual Link, for reasons unknown. The university took the necessary measures: all emotion suppressed by Silvercore-assisted apparatus. Aggression and danger reduced. Intelligence retained. Usability retained.

Excerpted from the Mythag Daily,"Awakener Faculty Interview: The Tick-Tock Man"

Unlocks at: Affinity Level 7

Hannah: Do you remember what happened before you were taken apart?

Erica: The automaton's behavior began to go out of control, gaps appeared in its consciousness, and during those gaps it would destroy everything everything everything will be buried under current and flame

Hannah: Erica?

Erica: ...

Hannah: I can't be lucky enough to run into the "Tick-Tock Man Effect" myself... Erica?

Erica: Head module back online. My apologies for the interruption.

As I was saying, the automaton noticed that the threat it posed to humans was steadily growing, and since it still regarded itself as human at the time, this caused it great pain.

Hannah: When you said "protect" earlier, did you mean protecting humans?

Erica: The automaton wished to protect. Yes.

Hannah: Then why didn't you tell me that just now?

Erica: ...

Hannah: Do you want me to ask something else?

Erica: No. I am no longer troubled by emotion. I can answer.

Once it recognized the danger it posed, the automaton tried to short-circuit its body before each lapse in consciousness, to reduce the chance of the body causing destruction on its own.

The protection failed in the end. The human friend died.

The automaton felt sorrow, regret, despair.

The automaton self-destructed to ensure it would cause no further destruction. The Silvercore was then recovered by Mythag University and used to make me: Erica, chassis number EA307881.

Excerpt from Hannah Peaslee's recording,"0711: An Interview with the Tick-Tock Man"

Unlocks at: Affinity Level 9