12 12 301 AniZhuanchangEnd ??? Our primary school teachers all said that it was the cradle of life and our birthplace.
13 13 301 ??? But due to the Punishing Virus, we were forced to temporarily leave its embrace and protect her from Babylonia.
14 14 301 ??? So, Ayla, do you think there are still people on Earth?
15 15 301 Ayla I think so. Not everyone evacuated during Operation Acadia. There's bound to still be people on the surface.
16 16 301 Ayla Don't our textbooks say that there were billions of people on the surface at one point?
17 17 301 ??? Billions? There's no way Babylonia could support that many people...
18 18 301 Ayla Obviously. It could probably only support a small fraction of the population.
19 19 301 ??? My thoughts exactly.
20 20 301 ??? But it's fine.
21 21 301 ??? One day, we will reunite with our comrades on the surface. When that time comes, we will share in the marvelous things we have seen and rejoice in song.
22 22 301 AniZhuanchangBegin ??? Nothing is more romantic. Is it not?
112 112 301 AniZhuanchangEnd After several more doors slam in their faces..
113 113 301 A familiar face opens the door.
114 114 201 1 500294
115 115 301 1 Old Man It's you. 1
116 116 201 1 1031001
117 117 301 1 Liv Mister... 1
118 118 201 1 500294
119 119 301 1 Old Man Ah... I know why you're here. 1
120 120 301 Lucia nods.
121 121 301 Old Man Then you should know my answer. I already told you. 1
122 122 203 1 0.25 450
123 123 201 2 500166 -450
124 124 301 1 Lucia I still don't get it... Why? Is it because we aren't looking at this from your point of view? 2
125 125 301 Old Man I'm sure you understand, kiddo. 1
126 126 301 Old Man Our point of view isn't as different from yours as you think. 1
127 127 301 Old Man In your eyes, what is Babylonia? 1
128 128 301 Lucia It's a bastion for humanity's strongest— 2
129 129 301 Old Man No. That's not what I asked. I mean what was Babylonia before the Punishing Virus and the Great Evacuation? 1
130 130 301 Lucia It was humanity's first FTL colonization ship. 2
131 131 301 Old Man Then why hasn't it taken you all into deep space? 1
132 132 301 Lucia Because we lost Earth and want to take it back. 2
133 133 301 Old Man Why do you want to take it back? 1
134 134 301 Lucia ... 2
135 135 301 Lucia Our mission is to take back humanity's homeland. 2
136 136 301 Lucia That is our mission. That is the meaning of our existence. 2
137 137 301 Old Man But this homeland is no longer of any use to you. 1
138 138 301 Old Man Cities destroyed; civilizations collapsed. Earth is now just a sea of ruins. 1
139 139 301 Old Man Babylonia floats above Earth, just like we stand here in these ruins. Why not leave? 1
140 140 301 Old Man Have you ever thought that taking back Earth might be meaningless? 1
141 141 301 Old Man Now you are a Construct, not a human being. You don't need to inherit the meaning of human existence. 1
142 142 301 Lucia wavers slightly.
143 143 301 Lucia No, you're wrong. This is what we were born to do... 2
144 144 301 Old Man That may have been why you were created, but that doesn't mean it has to be why you continue to exist. 1
145 145 301 Lucia ... 2
146 146 301 Old Man Much like how people should live, but they shouldn't just "live." There are far more important things than to "just live." 1
147 147 301 Old Man Do you understand now? 1
148 148 202 1 2 1
149 149 301 Lucia closes her eyes.
150 150 201 1 500294 450
151 151 201 2 500166 -450
152 152 301 1 Lucia This is the path I chose. Just like this is the path each of you has chosen. 2
153 153 301 The old man smiles faintly.
154 154 301 Old Man Exactly. This is the path we chose, and this is the meaning we give our lives. 1
155 155 301 Old Man We have nothing left. Our only driving force left is our attachment to this land. It's the only thing that supports our menial existence. 1
156 156 301 Old Man Our last wish is to forever rest within its embrace. 1
157 157 301 Old Man You think we're unreasonable choosing to die rather than to leave. I think you're being equally unreasonable. 1
158 158 301 Old Man The irony of man. People can never reach a real mutual understanding. 1
159 159 301 Old Man This land is our blood, sweat and tears. Our history. Our memories. Everything we created, cherished, loved, and lost. 1
160 160 301 Old Man As I have said, if you still have an ounce of compassion, please don't deprive us of our last request. 1
161 161 301 Old Man Please respect our last will. 1
162 162 202 1 2 1
163 163 401 2 1516
164 165 301 Lee steps forward and pats Lucia on the shoulder.
165 164 201 1 500026
166 166 301 1 Lee We understand. 1
167 167 301 Lee Sorry to bother you. Goodbye. 1
168 168 202 1 1
169 169 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Just as you are about to leave, you hear a commotion nearby.
170 170 401 2 1513
171 171 201 1 500251
172 172 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Woman Don't you think it's ridiculous to tell us that we are also citizens of the World Government?! 1
173 173 301 Woman Don't you remember how you treated us when the evacuation started?! 1
174 174 301 Woman You held us at gunpoint to prevent us from boarding Eden! 1
175 175 301 Woman You left us behind like junk, now you dare to come back and "rescue" us? Are you kidding me? 1
176 176 301 Woman Get out! 1
177 177 301 Woman Get out of here! I don't need your fake compassion now! 1
178 178 202 1 1
179 179 301 The person she is confronting is none other than Hans.
180 180 301 His starched and pressed uniform had been stained.
181 181 301 Almost like someone had poured a bucket of dirty water on him.