--- one hour later ---
It seems you have finally come full circle. Just like in the beginning, before that day when you heard the distress call of the AR team, travelling alone towards this long coming goal of yours. It's not that you're not used to this, but coming back, there will now be one less person waiting for you…
… she'll come back, right?
E: "No, we'd done it, it's over, we fucked up… fucked up fucked up
fucked uuuup…"
The sad, defeated voice of Epsilon had contributed. Is it really your intuition to wail in sorrow? Not to sound like Gamma, but it sounds pathetic…
Γ: "Hey, I heard that! And I only sound like that because you
are pathetic."
"Tell me something I don't know."
Γ: "How about I remind you of something instead? Mainly: it's not the end of the world. Ignore Epsilon's bitching and go on. We have a job to do."
"I know. But…"
Your digimind, or rather, your mental state could be better right about now. Gamma is keeping a cool head, but Epsilon is busy burying her tears into Beta's thighs. Not even the comfy grass fields could calm her soft sobbing.
"I let her go…"
At that, Beta perked up from patting Epsilon's head, probably the second most calm of your fragments.
B: "You respected her wishes, there is nothing wrong with that, dear Alpha. You've done nothing wrong."
"..."
You walk the forest pathways, talking to yourself, yet lonelier than ever. But at least one of your voices is right… it's not over yet. In fact, you're merely approaching the beginning. A new chapter in your life, a new door, a future that is entirely your own.
You periodically checked the coordinates that have suddenly emerged from your databanks when the conditions of clearing out Area S06 were satisfied, leading you to the meeting point. Will there really be someone there, waiting? Awaiting this day for two years, just like you have been? It feels almost unreal…
Eventually, you emerge from the forest onto an old asphalt road, from which you could clearly see your destination. A building right next to the road, a gas station and a diner. The billboard above it says "White Dove Diner" though its lights are out. Place obviously has no power, with power lines cut for many years now. You make your approach carefully, though nothing seems to be anywhere near. No scan signatures, no signals, nothing. You can't see through the windows from this distance though, dirty and old as they are.
The coordinates are somehow accurate enough to point towards the restaurant, not the gas station which was boarded up. You cross the road, looking both ways to check for incoming traffic, but it doesn't seem like any vehicles have been down here in a long time. Speaking of which, you can spot no vehicles parked nearby either, so maybe they arrived on foot, or parked somewhere further away? If they're here at all…
Finally, you reach the entrance door. You reach to try and open it, but then it is suddenly swung open from the inside. Standing in the doorway before you is someone tall, stopping the moment she noticed you, blocking your way. She was… tall. It took your head a moment to reach the top, your eyes meeting… but they didn't. Her eyes were hidden behind a mask, featureless, even without eye slits, but painted with a skull pattern. She was wearing a black coat with fur lining her collar, unzipped, revealing a light ballistic vest beneath. Ripped jeans led down to black leather high boots. In her other hand she held a firearm, an SMG, so you held yours wearily too. A moment of silence passed, neither of you spoke, she didn't even flinch. Light tilt of her head was the only indication she was looking down at you. It seems neither of you is willing to move until the other says something…
"Um, pizza delivery? Double pepperoni?"
She slightly tilted her head to the side, her short, snow white hair lightly ruffling in a gust of wind. She still doesn't budge, until…
"That's her. You can let her in, 07."
A female voice from within the diner called to her, which seemed to have gotten an actual response from the tall girl. The mask she was wearing suddenly shifted, its surface changing texture, now displaying an animation of three dots blinking in a sequence. The mask's surface must be like a video screen… fancy.
Finally raising her head from you, she takes a good looking behind you, probably checking whether you were followed. Finally, the three dots were replaced with a wheelchair symbol, followed by the silhouette of a crowbar. The message was clear: she's the enforcer here, and punishment would be swift.
She now steps to the side, allowing you to pass. You do so carefully, taking note of her gloves, which upon closer inspection weren't covering her fingers, but her fingers were lacking skin entirely, just metallic. Once you've entered the diner, the doors closed behind you, the stranger having left.
The inside was pretty much just as ruined as on the outside. Thick layers of dust on the tables, glass shards on the ground, and overall bad lighting. Yet among the decay, two dolls were at the bar like the date was still pre-2030, a server and a patron. Even with music miraculously coming from the jukebox, perhaps thanks to a backup battery, a
fancy old-style tune echoing in the abandoned establishment.
"Come on in. The trip must've been long."
She spoke again. It seemed to be the patron, sitting on a stool at the bar. Clean uniform, short white hair, light blue eyes. Well, the uniform was more of a leotard, but it sure gave off the feel of a uniform. You could tell she was a T-doll, her weapon was sitting on the bar after all.
"Say, 'ain't she a bit small to be playin' mailwoman?"
Spoke the other one, the server, smirking from beneath the shadow of a white fedora, matching the color of her striped suit. She was cleaning the bar with a handkerchief, something you've heard bartenders do to appear busy. They both watch you expectantly, and you give a smirk as you approach.
"Sorry if the pizza's a little cold, traffic is just horrible these days~"
The white haired girl patted a stool next to her, upon which you promptly placed your bottom on. Now you've joined the trio, sitting in this broken down place like time has gone backwards.
"Well then, welcome to the White Dove. What can lil' Lupara here get'cha?" asked the fancy looking server.
"Some Vodka would hit the spot."
"Hm, strong stuff." commented the T-doll beside you. "But that's to be expected, we're of the same ilk after all. Bartender, make that two."
"You got it, boss." the server replied, leaving her handkerchief on the bar and… stepping down? It seems she was standing on something from her side to be taller, and her real height has just been revealed to be rather short, around your own height even. It seems safe to assume that she's a T-doll as well, confirming your theory about human doll designers evidently having a thing for short girls. The doll named Lupara procured a bottle of Vodka and two glasses, stepping back onto the box behind the counter to serve you. "Personally more of a whiskey gal' myself, but this 'ain't somethin' I'd spit into an ashtray either… ay, speakin' of, you smoke?"
[X] "No, thanks."
[ ] "Sure."
After serving you your drinks, the short doll procure what you could only assume to be a packet of cigars. But upon opening, you noticed they were a bit long, and oddly colored. When she put one in her mouth and bit down, you realized they weren't cigars at all, but pocky sticks. She still let it hang in her mouth like a real cigar though, regardless if you took one yourself or not.
"So… SR-2 Veresk." began the doll sitting next to you. "I've been expecting your arrival for quite some time now. Though, I suppose it must be even harder for you to believe the day has finally come, right?"
"It sure was a long time coming." you shrugged, taking a sip. "2 years… or, wait, 2 years…?"
"Actually, it was only one year. But I suppose such a long time in the wilderness must've felt much longer. So, sorry if I'll be blunt, but… you have it, right?"
You nodded, unafraid. Somehow, you knew this was the client. A gut feeling, or was even this written into you? Either way, you were compelled to reach into your pockets and pull out the object in question. Between your fingers, the weight of two years, about to be lifted. The other doll presents her palm, and you place it in there. She observes it, slightly tilting her head.
"It's such a small thing. Yet so important… thank you. You have no idea how far this will go."
"If I may ask…" you begin. "What exactly were my petite hands carrying all this time?"
"Huh? Are my ears imaginin' or somethin'? 'Ain't it company policy that there be no askin'?" butted in the little bartender, but the other doll didn't seem as opposed.
"It's alright. I believe she deserves some closure, at least."
"Eh… whatever you say, boss."
"I can't get into the specifics, but in short, this little storage device contains access codes to all kinds of old war tech left barren and abandoned. Along with some… self-evolving software. The contractor has been waiting for this."
"The contractor?"
"Your real client. But they're very busy, you see…" after taking a sip from her grass, she sighed. "Way, way too busy… but thanks to you, things will be looking up again. Again, I am very grateful."
[X] "Just doing my job."
[ ] "Always a pleasure to make a cutie smile~"
[ ] "I had my reasons for going through with this."
[ ] Write-in
The doll smiled. You took a glance at the weapon laying on the counter before her. Looks like an SMG, compact design, and a fancy helical magazine. Not many weapons had these, but you recognize this model as the PP-19 Bizon.
"I wasn't given an encryption code though. Will that be alright?"
"Oh, do not worry, we've had the code for a while now. In fact, it's just a simple sentence." explained the SMG doll, reciting the code before you.
"From the seas, the flower grew,
to heights from which certain doom,
would meet the ants below."
As she finished the last word, a sudden daze had hit you. A feeling you haven't felt for years, an...
external override.
"Hm? Oh, seems the code did something for you as well. Don't fight it, it's merely… a revelation."
Her words became more distant as you were dropping consciousness levels, but the process seemed familiar. You weren't being shut down, nor were you being taken over. Instead, you could feel something in that encrypted part of your digimind begging to shift, a new memory file presenting itself.
File… #0?
…
--- memory file #0 - X years and X months ago ---
Booting up systems…
Checking model… G-type, SR-2 Veresk, #1, special order.
Checking memory banks… 0 files located. Creating new registry…
Checking permissions… 0 permissions. Schedule admission after activation…
Checking history… history purged. Reset to factory settings detected. Proceed…
Checking connections… permission denied. Continue…
Checking final activation protocols… complete.
Initializing…
…
"... is it… done booting up yet?"
"I don't know. Never seen one of these come to life before…"
"There you go again, referring to these androids as living things."
"Last time I checked, you were the one flirting with the delivery doll from the coffee shop down the street, Mack."
"Urgh- I-it was a… very convincing model."
"Sure. Anyway… should we, hm… can you hear me?"
Input received. Conditions satisfied. Activate digimind… and perceive the world around you. Eyes opening for the first time, you are greeted with a ceiling, a desk fan, and two human men looking down at you. One had brown hair tied into a ponytail and light facial hair, the other had short blonde hair and glasses.
"G-doll SR-2 Veresk, online. Greetings."
"Did… she just say G-doll?"
"This can't be right. Just where would our contractor get a G-type from…?"
You wait patiently as the men exchange confused expressions. Is your presence causing them distress? You cannot quite tell what is going on, you just woke up after all. Eventually, the one with brown hair extended his hand towards you.
"You, um, need help getting up?"
"No need." you reply, sitting upright from your lying position, aware that you might've been too heavy for him anyway. Pieces of packing foam falling off of you as you rise from the box you were delivered in. The two men observed you carefully.
"Isn't it kind of… short?"
"She can hear you, you know."
"Don't try to teach me about etiquette in front of an autonomous worker, Dai."
"True, you wouldn't learn anyway."
You lightly tilt your head at their exchange. Humans… sure are odd up close like this. Still, this is where you were delivered, and they were the ones to wake you up, so they must be your new owners. Protocol dictates they register as soon as possible.
"If I may, I am awaiting the registry of this unit's owner, company, and caretaker. It is advised to set up as soon as possible, to avoid possible theft and/or unauthorized access."
"Right, of course." began the blonde man, procuring what appeared to be a file from the box you're in. "So, where's the registration manual…"
"Geez, she literally just asked you to tell her." spoke the other man while rolling his eyes. He turned towards you, smiling slightly. "Miss, we welcome you to Columba. We are a shipping company, and you are our very first doll employee. I am David Kolsurd, and the long face over there is Mack n' Cheese."
"
Mack Bell."
"Anyway. Technically we're your superiors, but I'd say you could view us more as co-workers. We'll be working together the most for the foreseeable future."
The other man scoffed, continuing to view over your production files. Is he unsatisfied with the other man's approach?
"As for your caretaker, I guess that would be me."
"Now hold on just a minute…" suddenly snapped the man called Mack Bell. "You're just gonna fill her head to the brim with your nonsense, aren't you? If anyone's qualified to take care of high value company assets, it would be me."
"I'd rather spare her from a fate worse than death, unless you wanna bore her till her joints get all rusty."
"This doll will be representing Columba on many occasions, it must have qualified examples to follow. Ergo, not you."
"Ergo, your stuck up ass? They won't even mistake her for human then."
The continued exchange of the two is unlike anything you've seen before. Is this what can be described as an… emotion driven argument? You'll have to observe more to understand properly. However, you feel as if you should point out a major oversight in their statement that might satisfy both sides.
"Um, the registration of multiple caretakers is an option."
"..."
The two scratched the back of their heads in silence.
"I suppose that's an… acceptable outcome."
With the current matter finished, the man called David Kolsurd had reached into the crate, pulling out your namesake by the handle. The SR-2 Veresk SMG. Mack's eyes widened at the sight.
"Careful! You might shoot someone!"
"Relax, it's unloaded." David said, chuckling. "You sure you're up for that firearms training program? They'll have bigger guns than this, you know?"
"Peh… I won't be outdone by you, Kolsurd. I will fight as hard as I must to keep my position."
"I'll pack some spare diapers then."
The man observed the weapon, checking its sights and weight. It is factory new, without a single scratch, almost polished. The name tag seems to catch his eyes.
"SR-2 Veresk… Heather…?"
"Heather is an alternative name for the weapon, mainly used by the US and English speaking countries."
"Hm, well, how about we call you that? Sounds comfier than Veresk, and we don't want people to know you're combat capable anyway."
"Affirmative. New name registered."
"Good girl." he responded, moving his hand to… rub your head? Is he checking your hair texture?
"Alright, the doll is operational. Let's report back to Fyodor and get 'her' set up in the office. Afterwards we can discuss the contractor's proposition."
"What, found something in that file?"
"Well… maybe we should discuss it later. For now, let's just report to the chief."
"Right. C'mon, Heather. Time for your first day at work."
…
--- memory end ---
You woke up with a gasp. The fancy music of the jukebox was slowly filling your ears again. Raising your head from the counter, you realize you're still at the same place as before. And the two dolls were there two, drinks still as you've left them.
"Rise n' shine, lil' princess." commented the bartender.
"15 seconds. Quite a short nap, but your system was working hard to read that file as fast as it could."
You lightly shook your head, rubbing the "sleep" out of your eyes.
"I saw… the day I arrived at Columba."
The SMG hummed, taking another sip from her glass.
"The company was hand-picked by the contractor. In truth, your real mission began that day. It was your fate. My fate is similar, believe it or not."
[ ] "Does this mean you caused Columba's collapse?"
[X] "So the contractor from back then... is one and the same?"
[ ] "What do you mean your fate was similar?"
[ ] Write-in
