act25side

You...

I... I've been memorizing the basic structure of the central nervous system lately, over and over again, from top to bottom.

Isn't that one of the assignments they give you in an intro biology course?

Yes, it's one of the absolute fundamentals. If I were to ask this question to any of my students, should they be stumped for even a second, I would drop their grade down to a C.

But... these days, I haven't been able to recite it from memory, not even a single time.

I keep stopping partway, I keep forgetting. I keep starting from the top, going around in circles.

Every morning, I sit from five to seven at the breakfast restaurant across from Rhine Headquarters, and I give it my best shot.

My nerves are deteriorating. Everything I've studied my whole life is now abandoning me in this moment.

Maybe in five, or even three years' time, I'll become a demented old man who can only bask in the sun, having forgotten all the pride and fulfillment I've enjoyed over the past fifty-eight years.

Silence, I refuse to go out like this.

...Professor...

My fate is already sealed.

Now, get out of my lab! Don't you dare touch it!

No.

You speak of 'Übermenschen' and 'strong souls'... People like that might actually exist; people capable of transcending time, limitations, and this very land itself. But, Professor, you are no such man.

Your words are of the weak, 'mediocre masses' you so ridicule.

They are the desires of a 'human.'

Transcending time, limitations, and this land itself?

I...

In the myths of Minos and Kjerag, gods are the bestowers, masters, and deciders of all things in creation.

But science is by no means a god. It is just a path for people to traverse. It needs to be examined from time to time, repaired from time to time, and reined in from time to time.

The fruits it bears should not be the grandiose vision of megalomaniacs, but precisely the 'mediocre expectations of the masses.'

No... No! Get away from it, Silence!

It's over, Professor.

What you need is rest and recovery. After this, I'll take you to the hospital.

The Transmitter hub has been destroyed.

Be it your experiment or Kristen's plans, without the Transmitter, there shouldn't be–

...Haha.

Hah, transcending this very land...

Yes, perhaps... I made another tremendous achievement that even I did not notice.

I just happened upon it, without investing much time into it. As a matter of fact, it didn't even arise from one of my own projects.

But, that doesn't matter, does it?

Of course, of course. Why hadn't I noticed?

We've all been drawn in by her... From the very beginning, we've always walked the same path.

The old man stares blankly at the display panel. On the monitoring screen, the giant manmade ring suspended atop the sky's zenith is illuminated by the beam of energy, gathering within it a majestic platinum.

Perhaps because the Transmitter hub was destroyed, or perhaps because the scouring of the beam was too intense, the H.A.M.H.R.R. starts to shake slightly.

Urgh...

Why... has the Transmitter signal not stopped?

Let me ask you, Silence, if you have no way of becoming a leader, then what shame is there in being a follower?

If I admit my weakness and indecisiveness, then, it is a perfectly valid option for me to follow a truly strong soul, is it not?

This was meant to be my backup plan, but now...

What... are you doing...?

I've suffered mediocrity for too long. I must...

I can still catch up to her. She, too, must shine.

All my hard work, all of my pursuits... must have meaning.

At least, this is much better... than becoming a vegetative old man.

The energy density is already sufficient, as long as...

Professor! Professor! Parvis, what are you doing?!

Silence feels the Transmitter's influence on her fading; at the same time, the consciousness of the elderly Caprinae in front of her is rapidly dissipating.

When the transcendent one sets out on her journey, I do hope... that on her long, long path, she won't mind being followed... by a timid hitchhiker.

At least, I can become a part...

Silence, look–

Are you merging your consciousness with the Transmitter? To make up for the hub's destruction? No––!

Drat, these data... What's going to happen if the phases are thrown completely out of order?

How do I stop these responses?! Professor! Parvis!

This is completely futile! Your consciousness can't be preserved within the Transmitter!

This transmission will only destroy your nervous system–

A faint sigh, perhaps a slight chuckle.

Parvis's body has become an empty shell, no longer host to any conscious will. All his attachments, all his cowardice, dissipated without a trace.

Professor?

Within the monitor, the trembling of the H.A.M.H.R.R. seems to gradually calm down.

He completed his experiment, in a most unexpected way.

...No...

How could this...?

Silence! Silence!

Silence, are you in here?

I...

So you really were here!

Step back! I'm coming in!

I finally found you! You had me scared to death, Silence!

When I saw you snatch the car keys off those soldiers and floor it outta there, I knew you were about to do something really, really dangerous!

This place is crazy scary! Not only is this place crawling with soldiers up above, but I even got a real jumpscare from that exploding energy beam!

Ifrit, why are you...?

To save you of course, duh! Didja know I learned how to drive? A real shame you didn't get to see my mad skills!

With my driving skills, I might even get bumped up to elite op! I...

What's wrong, Silence?

Why's Parvis here? He... Why isn't he moving?

He... I don't know.

In the end, he achieved his goal. On the other hand, I... haven't really achieved anything.

I was thinking...

Had I been more decisive, had I been more determined...

Ifrit, how am I supposed to stop people like them – such powerful, brightly-shining souls?

I... Will I never... be able to reach Saria or Kristen?

Stop jokin' around already, Silence!

Ifrit frenetically grabs Silence by the collar.

This isn't the Silence she knows.

You're the strongest woman I've ever seen!

Rosmontis is pretty powerful, and so is Blaze. All of Rhodes Island's operators have their own special skills.

But, you're the best out of all of 'em, Silence! It's because you... You've done so much for me. So much that I, I... to be honest, I don't even know where to start.

I pushed through everything. You and Saria both, you both overcame it all!

I know... what you're trying to do is really huge and really complicated.

The guys you're trying to stop might also be really powerful, and really hard to deal with.

So, that's why you should let more people help you! They have so many helping them out, so should you have to fight all by yourself?

Obviously... You have me, and Saria too. We're here by your side!

I...

Silence looks at the kid in front of her.

Compared to three years ago, her complexion is much more robust. Her body is also stronger, and her entire being brims with vitality.

The girl's health is the product of her own efforts.

It's just... when did she get so tall?

You're right.