--- decrypting memory file No. 8 - (5 months ago) ---
"That'll be… 12.65."
"Here."
"Good. Now buzz off."
After handing over the payment, you stash the wares you've just purchased and leave the small stand shop, people behind you already pushing over each other for their turn. The residents of this area are rude, rushed, they kinda stink too, but that's to be expected of a refugee camp on the frontier. Here, the supposed true nature of man is revealed, selfishness and cruelty, their only interests being personal gain. Or so it is preached to be. With your own eyes you've observed both cruelty and kindness in this town, a coin thrown a beggar's way, while a thief is rummaging through a stolen purse just around the corner. It is all behavior born of desperation, much you're not sure of. Contradictory behavior was a common trait you've observed in humans. Who knows, maybe they're just stupid… still, as merchants they're sufficient.
It's been several months since you've left the now disbanded shipping company of Columba, having been shut down due to controversy, lack of business and a breakdown in overall structure with half the staff ditching the hopeless endeavor. For you it's been the biggest part of your life, having been employed there since your body left the factory. Everything you've learned beyond the basic outfitting of your database you've learned under the guidance of your superiors and dare you say co-workers. The job brought you to many places, rich and poor, populated and deserted, safe and dangerous, so you were by no means clueless about the world and society, having had many opportunities for integration. Yet, there was always some sort of guidance. Now you're truly alone, just by yourself, a part of saying it's always been like this, another enforcing that this is different. Now that you truly are unemployed and fully on your own, your only home gone, you feel…
[ ] Naked
[ ] Liberated
[ ] Scared
[ ] Empty
[X] Write-in: Driven. Last task to accomplish before true freedom can be achieved.
You had spent about a month on the frontier areas by now, having seen all kinds of things. There is a hostile force inhabiting many of the uncharted areas here, one you had no expected. Sangvis Ferri manufacturer has gone rogue. It's hard to believe, you've made several deliveries for them and they were a highly respected and popular T-doll manufacturer, second to the I.O.P. From what you've heard it was an experimental AI going berserk and killing all human staff, now in control of their factories and assembly lines, leading an army of highly advanced T-dolls in a conquest of the local areas. Extremely hostile to all that is living, this is the most dangerous the sectors have been since the war. As if doll relations with humans weren't bad enough. Thankfully, a PMC by the name of Griffin&Kryuger had been hired to combat the new threat and reclaim the lost territory, as well as protect nearby refugee camps and towns. Can't protect them from themselves though, so whatever disputes happen within the camps themselves are game.
A more civilized environment might've been more welcome, you're used to a clean office building and coherent speech patterns after all. Alas, you don't have much of a choice, with your last contract nearing its deadline, the protocol pushes you to spend your time closer to the drop-off point. You're taking precautions, stocking up on supplies, disguising yourself as a human. T-dolls are unwelcome in many places as it is, one without any allegiance or owner would not only be easy pickings, it's downright illegal. But this freedom was a gift, and you won't part with it so easily, even if it brings you pain.
You stash the food you've just bought into your poncho, a piece of clothing you've been wearing for a while now as part of your last visual overhaul. It wasn't cheap, but the company paid for everything despite having crashed the following week. The added hood helped make yourself less noticeable, and your height no doubt helped. A hooded person might raise suspicion, but a hooded child not so much. It also helped conceal your firearm, which would otherwise be a red flag. Despite not having been born in such an environment like most of these people, you already have the appeal of a drifter.
"Beans! Bread! Soup! That and more, imported from the safe zone!"
"Anything for self protection we have right here! Cheap, durable, and tested!"
"We've got clothes for sale, makeshift shirts and coats. Blankets as well, just cleaned!"
Merchants showcased their wares, some truthful, many not. You could spot the shipping code on the food crates did not match any of the safe zones. The clothes, although durable, reeked of age and likely carry disease. And you cannot even begin to summarize everything that's wrong with that selection of weapons, though the honest smile of the young vendor suggested he didn't even know. Nothing caught your eye for more than a second that evaluated it as useless anyway, but you weren't looking for anything more in the first place. You've got your supplies, so it's time to head out to the next town.
"Easy pickings, easy pickings~"
"Please, it is unadvised to damage a Griffin T-doll-"
"Oh shut it, we didn't listen the first time, did we?"
You heard while passing by an alleyway. You see a bunch of people grouping up around something, laughing and gloating. You can't quite make out what it is they're making fun of, but you have a feeling you know. It's not the first time you saw something like this.
"This serves no benefit, please cease, or my commander will be forced to-"
"Hah, get a load of this! The scrap pile thinks its commander will come and rescue her!"
"Like, wasn't she just yammering about how she had been left on standby for weeks? Thing's dumb as a dog!"
"Don't worry you hunk of junk, at least you will be of some use to us... as spare parts to sell!"
"Please, leave…"
You didn't meet many of your kind back in the day, it's a much more common sight now. Though, when it's not guard duty or civil service, you see them like this…
"You're thinking about saving her, aren't you chief?"
Voiced the split of your digimind, appearing as you faced this dilemma. It continued.
"I'll say the same as last time, in case it hasn't gotten to your head, we can't reveal ourselves here. Those are what, 5 guys? You can't take them out without making it painfully obvious you're a T-doll, and that'll paint a target the size of an elephant on you. Even worse, if you're reported, all those months of keeping quiet would've been for nothing. Don't be stupid chief, getting involved here is stupid."
You consider the words. The risks are indeed as heavy as they've been laid out to be. You've gone to great lengths to keep a low profile, this would be doing the exact opposite. And yet, the second voice joins in…
"Alpha, you wish to help, is that so? I say do it. You often overcomplicate things when these could be cowardly thugs who'll run away once you show them what you're made of. Trust yourself Alpha, we'll be here with you!"
"I'll be real with you chief, even if we have no choice but to follow your judgement, that doesn't mean you can't make the wrong call. Don't make the wrong call."
These two were always the first to chirp up, likely because they are the simplest. But of course the others will join in on an opportunity like this. A third voice, lively yet rushed, like her eyes are stuck at the window that is your vision and just realizing the situation.
"What? They're hurting an innocent T-doll? Then what are you waiting for? Get in there and save her! It's your first instinct, isn't it? I know it is!"
A fourth voice soon joined, quick and to the point, almost cold in nature.
"Thought before action. Area is highly concentrated in populus, armed populus. Chances of hostile count rising undismissable. Furthermore, benefit of rescuing a single, likely abandoned T-doll is outweighed by possible cost and consequence. Rationality concludes: leave area as soon as possible."
"This seriously isn't the time to think about cost and consequence. Get in there Alpha, we can worry about that when it comes!"
Lastly, the fifth voice let herself in on the situation, though her input more like a comment, it still offered some insight. Just as you remember her...
"You two really love to bicker, huh? I admit, it reflects Alpha's indecisiveness perfectly, but aren't we supposed to progress things? At this rate, she'll be standing in place like a weirdo for a whole five seconds. Hurry up and choose Alpha~"
That's one thing you can fully agree with. A choice must be made fast, otherwise both options will suffer in their success rate. Your virtual dummies wait intently for your decision, their opinions already known to you but their words still carry weight, as they should. It assures you take everything into consideration. And with that, before the short five seconds are over, you make up your mind.
[X] Step in
[ ] Leave
--- Morning ---
If the early awakening from last time was too quick and disorienting, this one felt like a hangover. It seems Gamma decided to wake you up today as well, the order still being in effect from yesterday. It was even more mind numbing this time, as you were inside a memory as well. Though looking at the file, you were just about at its end anyway. So aside from a little headache, nothing bad happened.
You sit upright and stretch, the morning light casting your shadow across the room. Looking around you see your roommate still asleep as always. Ots-12 went to bed early, exhausted from the night operation while you and Specter M4 talked about what happened. She was shocked when you revealed you've encountered Ouroboros, though it took her awhile to realize who you meant with "cute snake". By the end of the conversation you got her to say the word snake a few times too. Apparently she liked the Ringleader's attire, attributing it to modern fashion fitting to a stage singer, though to you it merely looked like a sailor or school uniform. Still cute though.
You decide not to disturb the two this morning either, quietly getting dressed and leaving the room. First up, maintenance. It was very little damage this time, mere bruising around the stomach area. Dinergate units are so easily underestimated. You already took care of the virtual side of things, your digimind refreshed. Next up, a shower. You get the gunpowder and dust out of your hair and wash off the impurities you accumulated from that swim in the river. Mind and body now refreshed you head to the canteen.
You open the door to see you're once again not the first to arrive, even though you've come earlier than last time. But it wasn't AA-12 who you were greeted with, nor did it seem like they've gotten up this morning yet.
ZZZzzzzzz…
At one of the tables, face flat upon the surface, sat the otherwise elegant and reserved Ots-14, sleeping gracefully but rather unprofessionally. She looked peaceful, an empty plate at her side. You're not sure whether you should be concerned that the base commander had fallen asleep as the day has barely begun. Though M1014 told you before about her having an irregular sleep pattern. That either means she's overworks herself or doesn't keep a clock around. Either way, someone should wake her up.
After getting your breakfast from the food dispenser, you approach her table and sit down opposite of her. Long hair spilt around her, gentle breath brushing against the table's surface, she doesn't even snore. Such grace in such a not-so-graceful position. As much as you'd like to keep observing her sleeping face, it'd be rude not to wake the lady before anyone else sees her like this. To wake her up, you…
[ ] Snap your fingers
[ ] Nudge her shoulder
[ ] Say her name
[X] Write-in: "OTs, if you don't wake up a bad SMG will put her hand on your frame~"
"Mmmmm…"
Slowly and gently, she shifts around until her eyes creak open, half-lidded golden gaze trying to adjust to the room's light. Mouth opened wide to let out a yawn, her face still a dreamy expression. She looked tired, and not the morning kind that dissipates after a while. The kind that shows you didn't have nearly enough sleep.
"Mmm… Veresk?"
Her eyes finally adjust to you, finally pushing her face off of the table's surface. Hands against her forehead, trying to rub some of the sleep out.
"How… late is it?"
"It's 6:30"
"Oh my… seems I overdid it again…"
A hand supported her chin as her shoulders slumped down, as if realizing it's not wake up time yet. She talked with barely open eyes.
"You're here early… or is this when you usually get up? At this outpost we mostly focus on night operations, so the girls get a handful of sleep most of the time…"
"I thought I'd get more done if I get up early."
"Heh, how reliable…"
Fingers go through her gorgeous hair, not at all in the sort of state one usually would find theirs after passing out during night shifts. Truly, you can't even spot bags under her eyes, makeup hiding it if it's really there. Maybe that's why she wears it?
"I apologize if I seem tired, the canteen has no windows you see, I had lost track of time and only fallen asleep about an hour ago…"
Only an hour? No wonder she's so exhausted. It may be enough to keep a doll operational, but like humans they're programmed to feel exhaustion and spend more time resting to avoid having to power through long work shifts with minimal power, as it could overburden the digimind. Guess the term "night owl" would be accurate for this T-doll. Still, she manages to put up a collected and professional gaze, even if softened a lot.
"May I ask how your personal business is coming along? Have you made up with your companion?"
"AA-12 appears to be getting better. We displayed great team performance yesterday."
"Yes, I've read the report… you handle each other well on the frontline. Benelli said as much…"
Looking at her empty plate, she observes her own blurred reflection in the dish, absentmindedly tracing her fingers along its circular edge. She sighed.
"I suppose we could have a proper chat. No command room formalities, just T-doll to T-doll. At least before any of the others wake up and see me…" she notices a questionable look in your eyes, returning it with one of her own "What? I may be the momentary commander of the base, but whenever the commander is present I am merely an adjutant, on the same level as all of you."
She may be leaving out the fact that she's an elite doll, otherwise she wouldn't even be entrusted with the base to begin with. Performance wise she definitely is a level or several about some of the base residents, and that's just combat. Though her point still stands, you just happened to meet her while she's at the head of the whole outpost. She's giving you a chance to talk to her like a comrade. Though a little suspicious, you suppose it can't hurt. But considering who this is you're talking to… what do you even talk about?
[ ] "Who is the commander of Area S06, really?"
[ ] "The weather in this Area sure seems nice, definitely better than S09."
[ ] "What do you think about my hair cut? Is it accurate to the source material?"
[X] "So, what do you do in your spare time?"
[ ] "Do you ever get tired of always following orders?"
[ ] "How do you always look so good even when your tired? What's your secret?"
[ ] "That shotgun, Benelli, what made you choose her as your adjutant?"
[ ] "Is your sister's behavior… normal? Does it ever get in the way?"
[ ] "Yesterday I talked to M82A1. She was friendly, but a little off…"
[ ] Write-in
"
