4 4 301 DialogEnable "...The wolf's cub was left alone in the depths of the den."
5 5 301 "...The disaster was so sudden that it lost its parents' protection. It was so weak that it was abandoned by the pack before it even learned to hunt."
6 6 301 "As the frigid Arctic winter approaches, it must learn to hunt on its own if there is any hope for it to survive through the months of darkness."
7 7 301 In Cerberus' dark base, familiar voices and music can be heard intermittently coming from deep within. It seems to be a documentary as part of Babylonia's general education.
8 8 301 "A small shadow appears on the endless tundra. It's a migrating lemming separated from the group while foraging."
9 9 301 "For a lemming, separation from the group is certain death."
10 10 301 "But for the wolf cub, it now has a chance of survival."
11 11 301 The narrator's voice echoes in the empty room. Following the source of the sound, you see a small figure huddled in front of the bright fluorescent screen.
12 12 302 (Over there...?) 13
13 13 301 Unable to see clearly in the darkness, you walk in the direction of the faint light from the terminal.
14 14 301 "...Step by step, the lemming approaches the seemingly fertile meadow. The white wolf cub huddles behind a nearby stone, awaiting the opportunity to pounce."
15 15 301 Walking around a series of messy tables and chairs, you arrive at the source of the sound.
16 16 301 It's a small space made of supply crates and tables. An old audio-visual terminal is laying on the ground in the center of the space, playing a popular nature documentary from the Golden Age.
17 17 301 Although this is the source of the sound echoing in the room, the figure you had just seen is now gone.
18 18 301 You can't help but lower your gaze at the content playing on the audio-visual terminal. Who put it here?
19 19 301 "The white wolf waits quietly for the lemming to approach, every muscle ready to pounce."
20 20 301 "Hunting is a primal instinct engraved in the wolf's DNA, allowing them to capture their prey with impeccable speed and accuracy."
21 21 301 "And, now—"
22 22 401 2 1511
23 23 301 You heard a light "thud" from behind. A white figure runs by in the dim light.
24 24 302 Who's there?! 25 (Draws gun) 25
25 25 301 For a moment, you feel the cold gaze of a wild animal staring at you. You turn around and quickly draw your gun—
26 26 301 —to see a pair of gray eyes looking at you.
27 27 302 No. 21? 28 ... 28
28 28 504 0
29 29 301 The lights in the room turn on.
30 30 301 ??? Buddy, do not attack.
31 31 301 A small female Construct hangs upside from the ceiling, her baggy sleeves swaying. The girl's face hovers in front of you. Her long white hair dangles down, revealing her smooth forehead.
32 32 301 Caught off guard, your hand holding the gun freezes midair.
33 33 301 Something rubs against your leg... No. 21's inseparable Co-Bot circles around you, bearing its "teeth and claws," ready to attack.
34 34 301 No. 21's legs sway gently, and she lands silently in an elegant pose.
35 35 201 1 500328 4
36 36 301 1 No. 21 You've crossed the boundary. 1
37 37 301 No. 21 This is my territory. 1
38 38 301 Following her gaze, you lower your head and see a line forcibly scratched into the ground with what appears to be a weapon.
39 39 302 ...Sorry. 40
40 40 301 The "boundary" is an arc on the ground, enclosing the space.
41 41 301 You holster your gun and take a few steps to the side, away from the small "nest" made of supply crates.
42 42 204 1
43 43 301 DialogDisable As you step further away, No. 21 visibly relaxes.
44 44 302 Why were you... 45
45 45 302 Hanging from the ceiling? 46
46 46 301 DialogEnable No. 21 Captain said you like to be greeted this way. 1
47 47 301 No. 21 So, that's why I greeted you like that. 1
48 48 302 ...Next time, just say "Hi" like normal. 49
49 49 301 No. 21 ...Understood. 1
50 50 301 No. 21 looks down and records in her terminal, "Gray Raven Commandant Greeting: Normal".
51 51 301 "Bzzrt—"
52 52 301 The audio-video terminal that you had previously ignored lets out a sharp noise as if wanting attention. The documentary turns into a mosaic of unknown significance, and an intermittent buzz comes from it.
53 53 302 Is that...? 54
54 54 301 No. 21 I'm using it to "study" information outside of battle. 1
55 55 301 No. 21 ...But it glitches each time it reaches this point. 1
56 56 301 No. 21 picks up the audio-visual terminal, holds it in front of her and shakes it as if trying to repair it with some "percussive maintenance."
57 57 301 You don't know if she hit any buttons, but the noise and picture returns to normal.
58 58 302 That works? 59
59 59 301 No. 21's eyes gleam as she holds the terminal.
60 60 301 The video on the terminal seems to continue to play, but—
61 61 301 The migrating animals walk backward quickly, and the lemming regurgitates the plants it had just eaten. Even the gentle voice of the narrator becomes a strange, quiet whisper.
62 62 302 Uh... Looks like it's rewinding... 63
63 63 301 No. 21 ... 1
64 64 301 No. 21 quietly stares at the screen as if she doesn't notice anything wrong. Right at that moment, an adult white wolf on the screen enthusiastically rescues a fallen deer and sends it back to the herd.
65 65 302 ... 66
66 66 301 No. 21 The white wolf is back home. 1
67 67 302 Sorry? 68
68 68 301 No. 21 It was all alone, but now it's with its pack. 1
69 69 301 No. 21 turns the terminal to face you. The documentary rewinds to before the wolves had abandoned the wolf cub.
70 70 301 No. 21 It finally found "home." 1
71 71 302 ...Indeed. 72 (Remain silent) 72
72 72 301 The documentary stops right after the wolf cub is born. The little cub snuggles up beside its mother.
73 73 302 Do you like the documentary? 74
74 74 301 No. 21 Like? 1
75 75 302 You were watching it. 76
76 76 301 No. 21 I want to keep watching it. Does that mean I "like" it? 1
77 77 302 You could say that. 78 For you, I think so. 78
78 78 301 No. 21 All I know is what I "dislike." 1
79 79 302 You'll know soon enough. 80
80 80 301 No. 21 I see... 1
81 81 301 No. 21 mulls over your words, then nods.
82 82 301 No. 21 Do you have a new mission here, 【kuroname】? 1
83 83 301 No. 21 Captain hasn't issued us any new missions recently. 1
84 84 301 No. 21 When we aren't on a mission... I don't know what to do. 1
85 85 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Looking at No. 21's inquisitive gaze, Vera's slightly cryptic expression comes to mind.
92 92 301 Vera The higher-ups said that No. 21 has been going haywire in battle recently. She's become a liability. We've been pulled out of duty, so she can be put under observation. 1
93 93 301 Vera There are also rumors going around that she clashed with members from the other teams... And was even getting into fights here in Babylonia. 1
94 94 302 That's a misunderstanding! 95 What?! That's not true! 95
95 95 301 Vera Obviously. I'll spare you the REAL tinfoil hat conspiracies, but this is all just in a day's work for us. 1
96 96 202 1 1
97 97 301 Vera sneers briefly before suddenly giving an icy glare.
98 98 201 1 500168
99 99 301 1 Vera But No. 21 ain't like me and Noctis. 1
100 100 301 Vera What she wants... 1
101 101 302 What she wants? 102
102 102 301 Vera Forget it. 1
103 103 301 Vera The point is, people are advocating for No. 21 to be re-evaluated for combat thanks to all this bull****. They're all lining up outside our door. 1
104 104 301 Vera If she's taken away in her current condition... Think it'll just be all rainbows and sunshine? 1
105 105 301 Vera If they decide that she's unfit for battle via remote link, she'll be kicked out of Cerberus. 1
106 106 301 Vera What do you think they do with Constructs that have M.I.N.D. issues and can't be deployed in combat...? As a Chief, I'm sure you get the gist. 1
107 107 301 Vera Rather than let those dimwits decide the fate of my team, it's better to find someone to get this over with ASAP. 1
108 108 301 Vera But I can't do it by myself... 1
109 109 301 Vera So... I want you to help No. 21 run some combat simulations to prove that she won't go haywire anymore. 1
110 110 302 Why me? 111 Understood. 114
111 111 301 Vera Are you really that dense, or are you just playing dumb? 1
112 112 301 Vera No. 21 started going nuts ever since you last remote linked with her. 1
113 113 117 301 Vera You got her into this mess. Don't you think you should be the one to get her out of it? Hm, Gray Raven Commandant? 1
114 114 301 No. 21 started going haywire after you remotely connected with her.
115 115 301 Those memories and emotions from your memory replays might still be affecting No. 21's M.I.N.D.
116 116 301 Vera Seeing as you're so quick to accept, listen up— 1
117 117 301 Vera If you're the reason why I lose such valuable member of my team, I'll cut you to pieces. 1
118 118 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Vera You got that? 1
