Old... Not Obsolete

[a_centered_mind]

1. [While the Amagahara reconstitutes itself, the main issue is what happened to its pilot.

There is no sign of Elys until a particular swarm of UIIN Cells separates from the machine and gathers by the base of its feet. The silvery-grey mass converges until it takes on the rough shape of a human figure - then it begins to rapidly construct and replicate living tissue...bones, musculature, and finally, as a set: hair, clothes and skin. Skin, which is initially a dark metallic color, but almost immediately changes to a natural tone.

Elys opens her eyes, but frowns.]


...I'm sorry for worrying you. If I had tipped you off about this beforehand, Douglas might have grown suspicious.

It was risky with Setsuko's state then, but that was the best option left to me if I wanted to get the jump on the Iris and rescue those Virgola pilots. Once I took it, I wouldn't be able to speak to you again until I've recovered.

---


2. [Elys is watching the battle footage again. What she sees and hears throughout doesn't please her in the slightest.]

Aegis...Silvius...

What on Earth are you thinking? We had our goals set when we decided to come together years ago. Now you're lending a hand to such people...

[She straightens herself when she notices that you're there.]

I'm sorry. I've been trying to contact them too, but I've had no luck...

---


3. [In one of the unoccupied rooms of Alhambra Base, there is some equipment set up. Monitoring equipment, to be exact. The crates holding this equipment are labeled with 'Property of Ono-Sendai'.

The equipment itself does not look too different from any found in hospitals, and around where Elys stands are a number of floating holographic screens that display a human silhouette.

Of note are the words 'Destruction Level', highlighted in red, along with digits and a percentage. In this case, the number shown is 94%.]

...Until I started this, I never expected to take 'losing yourself at work' literally.

Comments

3

[abugslife]

I did not expect you to have the same ability as Willis.

Same on the surface, at least. There seem to be some crucial differences.
[Hetepheres glances towards the screen.]

[a_centered_mind]

On the base level, you're right - it's the same system developed many years ago. Although, I'd consider it something that has become part of us now, instead of an ability.

The only difference between Willis and myself is what we're composed of. That's also what the percentage means.

It's a bit of a lengthy explanation, but if you don't mind listening...

[abugslife]

I have time.

[As proven by taking a week to tag back.]

[a_centered_mind]

Each time a host's body is injured or destroyed, the UIIN Cells will attempt to assist in restoring it to its regular, functional state.

However, if lethal injuries are sustained by the host constantly, the system decides that it will no longer do to simply hasten natural regeneration. It's just not efficient anymore.

In other words, it begins to replace the host's cells with UIIN Cells, which are far more robust and versatile.

[She looks at the data displayed.]

The Destruction rating... represents how much of a host's body has been annihilated. It's a gradual process, and the more injuries sustained, the more in sync the host is with the system.

[abugslife]

What happens when all the cells of the host are replaced with UIIN ones?

1

[herodrawing]

[Izuru spits out his drink.]

Whaaa...!

I mean, I'm glad you're back but what just happened?!

[a_centered_mind]

You know beings who can regenerate from injuries like that, don't you?

Think of it as that, but through man-made means...

[She doesn't seem very happy to admit this though.]

[herodrawing]

Are you a robot? There was that one old movie...

[a_centered_mind]

That's... not quite right either...

But, you're close. I'll need to get some equipment if I'm to show you exactly what I mean.

[herodrawing]

Eh? Equipment? Okay... but I think it can wait.

Are you okay? Feeling like yourself? Everything in its right place?

[a_centered_mind]

[Her mood lightens a bit at that.]

...I've watched that movie, you know.

Were you expecting me to ask you to join me in becoming a machine?

[herodrawing]

Ah. Uhm. No. Maybe?

Anyway, that's just a movie! ... But that was kinda cool.

[a_centered_mind]

It isn't really as incredible as it looks.

Normally, it's better not to have to depend on it. I might have done that more times than I would have liked.

[herodrawing]

Are you saying... if you restore too many times like this, you might die for real?

[a_centered_mind]

It's possible. Or I might just end up like what you saw in that movie.

Either way, that's why I didn't go around telling people about it. Being difficult to kill and being invincible are very different; some might get the wrong idea.

[herodrawing]

I see. But, you know...

Unity Group's got a lot of people who are weird in one way or another, too. I guess you kinda get used to it in a while!

[a_centered_mind]

It's because of that that I could bring myself to take advantage of it in the first place.

I know none of you will actually freak out about it, so the worry was more about the possibility that people here would want to make use of it even more.

1)

[sang_av_helten]

That is understandable! I am not surprised. No not at all. It was quite the cunning ploy you had to gain an opening on your prey.

[The Cat has no poker face at all. He actually looks at Elys like she's something very very strange.]

[a_centered_mind]

[Elys crouches down to get on Skald's level. It doesn't feel right to look down on him.]

I think I just made the best use of that situation since I was knee deep in it.

But, is something the matter?

[sang_av_helten]

[He's padding up to Elys, admittedly when she crouches down he ended up butting his head against her. Skald backs up a little, pawing at his face before seemingly wandering left and right in front of the crouching human.]

Merely making sure you are completely yourself and haven't forgotten anything. Nothing else.

[His ears twitch a little as he squints at Elys. And considering he's a cat the image is all the more ridiculous.]

You... did not forget anything when you somehow managed to remake yourself did you?

[a_centered_mind]

Ah, I didn't actually do that myself. The system responsible for it automatically activates when needed.

I'm not sure if there is something I might have forgotten.

2

[a_linear_mind]

This is kind of the opposite of what he preached when I joined Aegis...

[Willis takes a seat next to the CEO to get a better look at the footage.]

I'm guessing your board of directors aren't taking this too happily.

[a_centered_mind]

What do you think?

[She lets her cellphone slide across the nearby coffee table. Its screen is filled with missed call notifications.]

I feel like a celebrity with this many people wanting to get a hold of me.

Silvius has a lot of explaining to do.

[a_linear_mind]

[He catches the phone and begins to slide the screen down to view the many calls Elys was ignoring.]

Aren't you basically a celebrity already?

[For some strange reason he's fiddling with the phone a lot longer than he should be.]

I'm sure there aren't a lot of CEOs these days that look as cute as you do at your age.

1/2

[a_centered_mind]

[Elys' eyes widen when she hears that. It's a natural response.]

Y-You...!

2/2

[a_centered_mind]

[The next thing she does is look around, especially at the doors.]

...Don't just say things like that out loud! It's confidential information...someone might overhear...!

[a_linear_mind]

Overhear hear what? Oh, that you're actually-

[He's about to say it Elys.]

[a_centered_mind]

Yes, that's enough! Stop!

You don't need to remind me.

[a_linear_mind]

[The phone is placed back onto the table as the recording in front of the two comes to an end.]

You're only a year older than me, stop worrying about it.

[As the footage begins to loop Willis' expression does change to a more serious one.]

So...when were you planning on telling me that you could come back from an injury like...death.

[a_centered_mind]

[Looking like she's on the verge of tears from the age issue, Elys exhales.]

I thought you already knew about this.

We're the same, after all. You, and I...

[She gestures at the screen when images of Michael and Jennifer's units appear.]

And them.

[a_linear_mind]

I haven't had to go through that myself, at least not anything close to what you did today.

I mean I thought we were still...you know human. Just a bit more durable.

[As the footage of his multiple strikes against Jen's cockpit comes up, Willis sinks a bit in his seat.]

I guess this means that she probably survived even something like that.

[a_centered_mind]

It's very likely she did.

...And to put it simply: you become less human each time it happens.

[a_linear_mind]

...so how much of your original body is left?

[a_centered_mind]

...Not much.

Less than ten percent of it by now.

1/2

[a_linear_mind]

Ten percent!?

[That catches him off guard, the expression on his face for once is actually shocked.]

2/2

[a_linear_mind]

How did...I mean...I don't think even I have lost that much of my body...and I've been fighting for decades.

[a_centered_mind]

Mistakes. Costly ones.

Admittedly, we didn't know what we were getting into at that time.

[a_linear_mind]

It happened that long ago?

1

[spearpunch]

Mmmm...

[Hibiki offers Elys her bestest reassuring smile.]

I'm sure she's just really glad you're okay, and so are her friends. Thinking you've lost someone for just a few minutes is a lot better than thinking you lost people forever.

[a_centered_mind]

I hope so.

It didn't exactly end so well the other times I've had to use this.

[spearpunch]

Other times...?

... Really bad things happened for you and Willis-san in the past, didn't they?

[a_centered_mind]

I can't speak for Willis since I didn't even meet up with him again until recently. I'm sure he has his own experiences, though...

[She looks away from Hibiki as she says that.]

As for mine: imagine not knowing you have something like this yet, and making a mistake somewhere where others can clearly see you. Those others don't know about it either - what would they think?

I was only confident enough to make use of it earlier because I know the UG is regularly exposed to many strange things.

[spearpunch]

That.... really sounds terrible.

[And yet... there is no hesitation when Hibiki reaches to take one of Elys's hands with both of hers.]

But you made a really big difference out there, and I'm sure what you did means the world for Setsuko-san. So... thank you for trusting us with this!

[a_centered_mind]

That difference is all I was hoping for.

If it helps her feel even a little better...