6 6 301 The retreated Construct's reinforcement has finally arrived.
7 7 301 Construct Soldier 2 Were you responsible for the attack on our base as well?! 2
8 8 202 1 2 1
9 9 201 1 500506
10 10 301 1 Noan N-no! I just arrived! 1
11 11 301 Noan We were also under attack at Medical Center 09! Our way out is blocked by the Red Tide, and our comms are down. We need protective suits to move our patients, so I— 1
12 12 202 1 1
13 13 201 1 500019
14 14 301 1 Construct Soldier 2 Who would trust an Ascendant?! 1
15 15 202 1 1
16 16 201 1 500506
17 17 301 1 Noan I'm not an Ascendant! I'm just... 1
18 18 301 Noan I don't know what I am, either! Stay guarded all you want, but please trust my words! 1
19 19 301 Noan There are still many people in Medical Center 09 who need help! Their CPF can't sustain for long—people will die if you wait any longer! 1
20 20 202 1 1
21 21 201 1 500019
22 22 301 1 Construct Soldier 3 You're probably trying to trick us there to slaughter us! 1
96 96 301 Right before their blades strike Noan, the Punishing Virus concentration in the air rises drastically. Crimson spikes sprout from beneath Noan's feet, shooting at everyone around him indiscriminately.
124 124 301 DialogEnable 1 Seeing that one of the spikes is about to hit the Construct closest to him, he rushes to catch it, but it still pierces through his palm uncontrolled.
125 125 301 Noan ...! 1
126 126 202 1 1
127 127 201 1 500019
128 128 301 1 Construct Soldier 4 And you said you're not an Ascendant?! 1
129 129 203 80 1 0.15 -150
130 130 202 1 1
131 131 401 300 2 13015111
132 132 402 13015111
133 133 301 Unwilling to give up, the Construct raises his weapon and strikes again. The spikes, in turn, form a rocket launcher of arrows, primed and ready to fire.
134 134 201 1 500506
135 135 301 1 Noan I'm sorry! I can't control it! Please stay away! 1
136 136 202 1 1
137 137 201 1 500405
138 138 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 What are you... 1
139 139 202 1 1
140 140 201 1 500506
141 141 301 1 Noan I didn't want to become this! I don't want to hurt any of you. 1
142 142 301 Noan I'm here to ask for help. The people in Medical Center 09 are trapped by the Red Tide. Please trust me on that. 1
143 143 202 1 1
144 144 201 1 500405 400
145 145 201 2 500019 -400
146 146 301 1 The female Construct does not say a word. She quietly turns away, sending a comms request through her terminal.
147 147 301 Construct Soldier 2 Anything? 2
148 148 301 Construct Soldier 1 Nothing from Medical Center 09, just like what he said. 1
149 149 201 1 500019 400
150 150 301 1 Construct Soldier 3 We're so dead if this is a trap. 1
151 151 202 1 2 1
152 152 201 1 500506
153 153 301 1 Noan You can call for more reinforcement if you still believe it's dangerous. It's safer with more people. 1
154 154 202 1 1
155 155 201 1 500405
156 156 201 2 500019 -600
157 157 201 3 500019 600
158 158 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 Which base has the people to spare at a time like this? 1
159 159 301 Construct Soldier 2 The elite squad investigating the deserters is still nearby. Maybe they are free? 2
160 160 301 Construct Soldier 3 Let's send in a request and see how it goes. 3
161 161 202 1 2 3 1
162 162 201 1 500506
163 163 301 1 Noan ...Thank you. 1
164 164 202 1 1
165 165 201 1 500405
166 166 201 2 500019 -600
167 167 201 3 500019 600
168 168 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 What do we do with this guy? He... doesn't seem like the other Ascendants in our files. 1
169 169 301 Construct Soldier 2 Should we let the elite squad handle it as well? 2
170 170 301 Construct Soldier 3 Yeah, they can handle whatever he is. How they deal with him will depend on who's in the squad. 3
171 171 202 1 2 3 1
172 172 201 1 500506
173 173 301 1 Noan I can stay here as long as Medical Center 09 gets the help it needs. You can keep an eye on me if you want. 1
174 174 202 1 1
175 175 201 1 500405
176 176 201 2 500019 -600
177 177 201 3 500019 600
178 178 301 1 Constructs ... 1 2 3
179 179 301 The Constructs share a glance and discuss quietly.
180 180 301 Construct Soldier 1 We've sent a rescue request. We'll head to Medical Center 09 too after rendezvousing with them. 1
181 181 202 1 2 3 1
182 182 201 1 500506
183 183 301 1 Noan Thanks. 1
184 184 202 1 1
185 185 201 1 500405
186 186 201 2 500019 -600
187 187 201 3 500019 600
188 188 301 1 Construct Soldier 1 There's no point in keeping an eye on you. I hate to admit it, but given what you're capable of... there's nothing we can do if you do want to take us down. 1
189 189 202 1 2 3 1
190 190 201 1 500506
191 191 301 1 Noan I'll stay here, then. 1
192 192 202 1 1
193 193 201 1 500405
194 194 201 2 500019 -600
195 195 201 3 500019 600
196 196 301 1 Constructs ... 1 2 3
197 197 301 Construct Soldier 1 Can we really trust you? 1
198 198 202 1 2 3 1
199 199 201 1 500506
200 200 301 Noan Trust me. 1
201 201 202 1 1
202 202 201 1 500405 400
203 203 201 2 500019 -400
204 204 301 1 Constructs ... 1 2
205 205 301 Doubting they may be, the Constructs have come to a decision despite the concerns for their own safety.
206 206 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Construct Soldier 4 Let the elite squad deal with him. They're almost here. 2
213 213 301 After he watches the Constructs leave, Noan turns to look at the red spikes beside him, lost in thought.
214 214 301 Noan ... What am I... 1
215 215 301 Something unusual must have happened to him, even if he is not an Ascendant or Transcendant.
216 216 204 1
217 217 301 Noan I don't want to become the enemy. If I can't control this power, perhaps I should let their elite squad... 1
218 218 204 1 9
219 219 301 ??? ...Hold on.
220 220 301 Noan suddenly hears a soft voice from a dark alley.
221 221 203 1 0.25 400
222 222 201 2 500514 2 -400
223 223 301 1 Noan Lithos? How did you get here? You made it through the Red Tide? 1
224 224 301 Lithos You were away for so long... I was worried... 2
225 225 204 1
226 226 301 Noan Don't worry. Help's coming. And you didn't answer me. 1
227 227 301 Lithos ignores him, focusing on Noan's hand worriedly instead.
228 228 301 Lithos The wound on your hand... 2
229 229 204 1 9
230 230 301 Noan Wait, stay away! I still can't control these spikes. I could— 1
231 231 301 Lithos You're an Ascendant? 2
232 232 204 1
233 233 301 Noan ... 1
234 234 301 Lithos Do you want to hurt me? 2
235 235 301 Noan Of course I don't, but I can't control it. 1
236 236 301 Lithos Then... do you want to control it? 2
237 237 301 Noan Yes. 1
238 238 301 Lithos Should we look for an Ascendant? Only they have the power to control the Punishing Virus. 2
239 239 301 Noan ...How do know so much? 1
240 240 204 1 9
241 241 301 Lithos Because I've seen my share of deserting Constructs. 2
242 242 301 Noan What do you mean? Were you a deserter as well? 1
243 243 301 Lithos does not answer him. Looking into Noan's eyes, Lithos slowly approaches him.
244 244 301 Noan Stay away, Lithos. 1
245 245 301 Lithos It's okay... I won't get hurt. I can control it. 2
246 246 301 And the spikes have not moved an inch as Lithos moves closer to Noan and holds his hand.
247 247 301 Noan Who are you really? Can you tell me? 1
248 248 204 2
249 249 301 Lithos I'll tell you, but first... let me treat your injury. 2
250 250 301 Lithos takes out some simple tools, gently fixing the wound on Noan's hand.
251 251 301 Lithos Don't be afraid of this "anomaly." If you can accept and learn to control it, you won't hurt anyone you don't want to hurt. You might even be able to save them. 2
252 252 301 Noan Save them...? What happened to your teammates when I met you? 1
253 253 301 Lithos They... refused an irrefutable offer, and they were disciplined accordingly. 2
264 264 301 1 Hearing that, his shrouded memories suddenly clear up as if someone has shone a light upon them. With that hint of light, Noan finally remembers.
265 265 204 300 1 16
266 266 204 300 1 14
267 267 204 300 1 10
268 268 401 1 202
269 269 301 As his memories flood back, his expression toward Lithos changes from worry to confusion to realization before it becomes an expression of calmness and acceptance.
270 270 204 1
271 271 301 Noan Lithos. You... 1
272 272 301 Lithos ...Yes? 2
273 273 301 Curious but uncertain how to phrase it appropriately, Noan still decides to voice his question.
274 274 301 Noan What pronoun do you use? 1
275 275 301 Lithos ... 2
276 276 204 2 1
277 277 301 Lithos So you've finally remembered. 2
292 292 301 1 Noan Why are you passing as someone you don't identify as...? Wait—that's not entirely true. 1
293 293 301 Noan You weren't hiding your identity when I first met you. I just forgot... 1
294 294 204 2 1
295 295 301 Lithos turns his head away, sneering in lament.
296 296 204 2 2
297 297 301 Noan No, that's not the point—you were the Ascendant hiding among us all this time? 1
298 298 301 Lithos Well, yeah... I was worried you couldn't control yourself or wouldn't accept me. This is the only way I can stay with you. 2
299 299 301 Lithos Come back with me. Your "anomaly" has sprouted within you. I can teach you how to control its power. 2
300 300 204 1 15
301 301 301 Noan ... 1
302 302 301 Noan once again reminds himself of his lost memories—there must be a reason he refused Lithos' offer in the past so resolutely. Giving Lithos an answer now before remembering it would be reckless.
303 303 204 1
304 304 301 Noan No. I haven't remembered everything yet. I can't tell how much of what you're saying is true. 1
305 305 301 Lithos It won't do you any good to remember your past. 2
306 306 301 Noan They are my memories. I'll be the judge on that. 1
307 307 301 Lithos Do you really want to remember... even that time when they all hunt you down? 2
308 308 301 Noan What? 1
309 309 301 Lithos I've reset your memories four times now. This happened last time as well... You wouldn't accept me, and you couldn't control your Ascendant power. You became a walking target after you lost control. 2
310 310 301 Lithos I had to kill them to protect you. 2
311 311 204 1 7
312 312 301 Noan ...What did you just say?! 1
313 313 301 Lithos I said I had to kill them to protect you. But your M.I.N.D. immediately deviated after seeing their bodies... You don't remember any of this, do you? 2
314 314 204 1 4
315 315 301 Noan ...It doesn't matter what you say... 1
316 316 301 Lithos You still want to remember before you make a decision? 2
317 317 301 Noan Yes. 1
318 318 301 Lithos That was what you said last time and the time before. Your M.I.N.D. deviated both times before you could give me an answer. 2
319 319 301 Lithos But that's alright. If you still insist on getting your memories back, I'll give you what you want. 2
320 320 301 Lithos Come here, Shrek... 2
321 321 301 Lithos silently reaches out.
322 322 204 2 1
323 323 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Lithos I can be patient. I'll stay with you... until you understand me. Until you become my family. 2