Chapter 1/Script

Opening intro*

(The player is presented with a "HOW TO PLAY" graphic, showcasing the controls) Left-click to start. To quit the game, press ESC. (The scene turns pitch black.) Process confirmed. Disconnecting. (The pitch-black view around Doctor is warped away, unmasking the player's vision) (The block-headed patient clutches his head in visible pain, slowly breathing, and a deer-horned HOTFIX member approaches them; Doctor lowers their hands.) (Captain knocks on the glass window that separates Doctor from the reformation target, which grabs their attention.) Captain: "Doctor. Something's wrong with him." Captain: "You should be out there...." (The patient's body suddenly protrudes spikes, emitting a black steam of particles.) Captain: "! Watch out!" (Doctor and the HOTFIX member attempt to shield themselves. Doctor's vision goes pitch black.) (Doctor's vision slowly returns. The glass window is broken and the patient's body is blasting beams of black particles. Captain is covering Doctor, and she turns to look at them as they regain consciousness.) Captain: "Doctor! Hurry, run away!" (Captain gets up and vaults the broken glass to approach the patient, and Doctor slowly reaches their hand out to her. They jolt up when Captain does a swift swinging motion at the patient, presumably killing him.) (The scene is immediately cut and switched to the MINDHACK logo on a black background.)

Scene1 After the Accident

(The scene starts with obscured vision.) ???: "Doctor? Can you hear me?" (The player's vision returns, showing Doctor holding a yellow flower in their left hand, inside their office.) ???: "Doctor! Oh, my darling Doctor. Please answer me." Yes, FORMAT. I said good morning to the voice of FORMAT, the AI that oversees this facility. FORMAT: "Doctor, I'm so happy to hear your voice. I called for you 18 times." FORMAT: "You're the best Mindhacker there is, Doctor." FORMAT: "The results from yesterday's session were truly outstanding. Do not worry about the accident." FORMAT: "The BUG you fixed was a dreadful Class 1-Critical level. If left alone, it may have destroyed the world." FORMAT: "You saved humanity, and managed to keep the damage to a minimum. We're all so proud of you." FORMAT: "Let's continue the fight today to eradicate all BUGs, for the sake of world peace." FORMAT: "Now then, Doctor, please come to the Debug Room. It is time to Mindhack." (Doctor presses their fingers together with both hands daintily, and lowers them.) FORMAT: "Doctor?" FORMAT: "Doctor, please say something." FORMAT: "Doctor? Can you hear me? Please come to the Debug Room." (Doctor idles in place with the flower in their left hand.) ???: "...Doctor?" ???: "It's me, Rebecca. Captain of the Security Force." (Captain enters the scene.) Captain: "FORMAT told me to come see how you're doing." Captain: "She can't help but fret over you, Doctor. She's like a mother to you." Captain: "...That's a different flower from the one you had yesterday. Is it a gerbera?" Captain: "I always look forward to coming here and seeing what flowers you've decorated your office with." Captain: "They're beautiful. It always smells of flowers here. Very calming." (Doctor empties their left hand of the flower.) Captain: "Doctor... Are you all right? You seem awfully tired." Captain: "I guess that's to be expected. Yesterday was... ...a terrible accident." Thank you for helping me. I told the captain, thank you for saving me. I owe you my life. Captain: "Well, it's my job to protect you. Besides... You're my dear friend." Captain: "I'm indebted to you. Compared to what you did for me in the past, it's no big deal." I feel sick... I told the captain that I'd never seen people die like that before. Captain: "I... I'm sorry. It happened right in front of you... Try not to remember it, or it'll burn into your mind." Captain: "I wanted to protect you. As the captain of HOTFIX, and as your friend." Captain: "But I could only do so much. You experienced such horror... I'm sorry." Captain: "Yesterday... A member was swallowed by the BUG. It was so sudden, I couldn't react." Captain: "He was a good guy. Liked traveling, always came back with some chocolate for us." Captain: "...... ......Oh, Doctor......" Captain: "I'm so glad you're safe. Without you, I... ...No. Let's, not." Captain: "You wouldn't be in the mood for work, I assume? I don't plan on forcing you to go." Captain: "After what happened, maybe it would be better if you rest for today." I can do it! I told the captain that work would keep my mind off other things, since I am a genius Mindhacker. Captain: "Haha, that's right. Your skills certainly are the real deal. I know that better than anyone else." Captain: "All right, if you say so... Just don't push yourself too hard, Doctor." Captain: "Well then, shall we go?" Let me rest... I asked the captain to let me rest at least for today, since I am a genius Mindhacker. Captain: "That's a good idea. Even a genius like you needs rest at times. You're only human after all." Captain: "I'll let FORMAT know. Well then, see you tomorrow." ............ ............ ............ (Doctor immediately gets a flashback to yesterday's accident.) Captain: "Doctor!? ...Are you all right? You were screaming just now." Captain: "What? When you're not doing anything you start to think about what happened yesterday?" Captain: "So on second thought, you want me to take you to the Debug Room?" Captain: "All right, if you say so... Just don't push yourself too hard, Doctor." Captain: "Well then, shall we go...?"

Scene2 The Replacement

(The scene begins with the area before the Debug Room, and a HOTFIX guard enters the scene.) ???: "Captain Rebecca! FORMAT requests that you come to the Debug Room immediately." ???: "Oh! Um... Are they the one you mentioned earlier...!?" (Captain enters the scene.) Captain: That's right. This is the Mindhacker, who you'll be protecting from today." Newbie Guard: "At your service, Doctor! I have been assigned to fill the empty position on your staff, starting today." Captain: "This one's a rookie, Doctor. Apparently, he'd always dreamed of joining HOTFIX." Captain: "He must have gone through grueling training to come here. He's got some spirit." Newbie Guard: "Oh no, I'm just... I'm just a regular guy. Compared to my seniors and the captain, I'm a nobody." Newbie Guard: "I just always admired this place. And then, when a spot opened up, I was lucky enough to get transferred here. Hehe..." Captain: "(Doctor... Spare him the knowledge of what happened to the one before him.)" Newbie Guard: "It really is an honor to meet you, Doctor! I've heard so much about you!" Yes, nice to meet you. I told the newbie guard that I'd be counting on him. Newbie Guard: "I will do my best not to let you down. Doctor, make those scumbags pay for what they've done!" The one before you is dead. I told the newbie guard, good thing the one before you died. Newbie Guard: "Yes! It was goo......" Newbie Guard: "......Huh?" Captain: "Doctor..." Newbie Guard: "N-No, I was prepared for this...! I am well aware of how dangerous a workplace it is here at HOTFIX...!" Captain: "Listen up, rookie. The ones you'll meet from now are all tough nuts to crack." Captain: "Kept here after being scanned by FORMAT, they're the worst of the worst..." Captain: "Deemed to have twisted minds, to be owners of BUGs." Captain: "Murder, arson, theft. For any crime you can think of, there's someone guilty of it here." Newbie Guard: "Yes, I dare not forget!" Captain: "Our role as HOTFIX is to guard the Mindhacker here, the one that confronts them." Captain: "Protect the doctor at all costs. You've got the basics in your head, correct?" Newbie Guard: "Yes, Captain. Uh... Within the mind of a scumbag, there hides a BUG." Newbie Guard: "A BUG is an error in personality. Something that shouldn't be there... The impulse to kill, to destroy." Newbie Guard: "BUGs cannot be seen, but they take root and grow inside people's souls until, one day, they tear their way out..." Newbie Guard: "...resulting in the flash-freezing of their surroundings... and total destruction." (Doctor immediately gets a flashback to yesterday's accident.) Newbie Guard: "It is the sole purpose of the Debug Room, FORMAT, and the Mindhacker to prevent that from happening." Newbie Guard: "I heard it's thanks to this facility that there haven't been any large-scale BUG-related incidents in a decade!" Captain: "It's a bit hard to understand when you're just hearing about it though, isn't it?" Newbie Guard: "Er, well... To be honest, I am having trouble getting my head around it all. BUGs... What exactly are they?" Newbie Guard: "...And how can someone reform scumbags with such evil minds?" Captain: "You'll understand soon enough. Seeing it will be faster. Now, let's go." (Newbie Guard and Captain leave the scene.)

Scene3 The Gang King

(The scene begins with the Doctor now in the Debug Room, as seen in the opening cutscene. Captain and Newbie Guard then appear next to the chair in the middle on opposite sides.) Captain: "Follow me, rookie. The reformation target is in the waiting room next door." Newbie Guard: "Yes, Captain!" (They both leave the room.) FORMAT: "I've been waiting for you, Doctor. Welcome to the Debug Room! It's another perfect day for hacking." FORMAT: "This will be your 4978th Mindhack." FORMAT: "HOTFIX, please bring in the reformation target." FORMAT: "Now sit down, my dear Doctor. Please take a seat at the Mindhacker's device." Yes, FORMAT. There are two chairs in the Debug Room. I sit down in the one designated for the Mindhacker. (Doctor presses their fingers together again, possibly nervous. They have another flashback to yesterday's accident.) FORMAT: "Doctor, the reformation target will now enter the room." FORMAT: "Don't forget that there is a BUG inside this individual. Stay alert." (The door opens. Captain and Newbie Guard enter first, beside the chair again.) ???: "I. Told. You. I didn't fucking DO anything!!" ???: "Get your hands off me! Quit pulling! I'll stab you with my spikes!" Newbie Guard: "Be quiet! Keep walking!" ???: "What the fuck is all this!? I've been freezing my ass off, and there's some weird voice coming from the ceiling!" ???: "And then, when someone finally does come, they're as tight-lipped as a fucking clam!" ???: "Do you know just who the fuck you're messing with? HUH!?" Newbie Guard: "Captain, shall I shut him up!?" Captain: "Leave him be. Doctor, this is the guy you'll be working on today." (The reformation target appears in the middle of them both.) ???: "Oh, what? So you're the 'Doc' they keep talking about?" ???: "I've heard about it. Mindhack, or minnow and haddock, or whatever it's called..." ???: "They say there's a doctor here who turns people's minds into flower fields." ???: "I see... Heh. Just fucking try it, if you think you can." ???: "I'll lead you on a wild-spike chase!" Newbie Guard: "Doctor, this guy is the leader of a notorious gang of thugs." Newbie Guard: "The 'Bloody Paella'...! Did you hear about that terrible fire that broke out in town the other day?" Newbie Guard: "There were numerous casualties. I personally know someone whose store got completely burnt down..." Newbie Guard: "They'd just gotten back on track after almost going bankrupt. Just when everything was looking up..." Newbie Guard: "To think how many lives were taken by that fire... It's unforgiveable!" ???: "Like I SAID, we didn't have anything to do with that! It was an accident!" Newbie Guard: "Stop lying to us! Accident my ass!" Captain: "Leave your personal feelings out of this, rookie. It's not our job to judge anybody's sins." Captain: "We want to hear what you have to say. Would you please take a seat?" ???: "What? Me... sit here? In this cute little chair? And just who the fuck are you?" Captain: "Sit down, please." ???: "............" ???: "......Tch." (The reformation target sits down, arms crossed grumpily.) Captain: "Thank you." FORMAT: "Doctor, here is the reformation target's file." (Doctor looks at the file. There's a portrait of the reformation target in the middle with informative text to the sides.) NAME: Unid SEX: Male, AGE: 28 HEIGHT 180cm, WEIGHT: 80kg Leader of the gang "Bloody Paella". Leads delinquents to commit acts such as motorcycle violence, illegal gambling, and distribution of drugs. Charged with reckless driving, hit-and-run, and arson. Found to be a BUG owner through scanning. Unid: "Hmph. I'll make you regret ever showing that pouty pufferfish face of yours in front of me..." Unid: "... The mighty Black Sunshine!" Nice to meet you, Unid I asked the reformation target, isn't your name Unid? Unid: "What, my real name? It's called Unid? My birth certificate? How the hell would I know?" Got it, Sunshiny. I told the reformation target, yeah yeah, okay then Sunshiny. Unid: "The hell did you just call me, you largemouth bass!?" Newbie Guard: "...The name doesn't match his documents, does that mean he's using an alias?" Newbie Guard: "Or is he just an idiot?" Captain: "The documents are correct, but in the end it's a name someone else chose. Perhaps his birth parents?" Captain: "It's not uncommon for someone to have no idea what their real name is." Newbie Guard: "Is that so..." Unid: "Hey, shrimpy newb! Who'd you call an idiot!? I can hear you!" Newbie Guard: "Keep your mouth shut! Stop talking back to every little thing!" FORMAT: "Doctor. I've set up your device. Please begin debugging." Unid: "Shut it, ceiling!!" (The doctor approaches the reformation target.) Unid: "Don't play with me, you gloved bastard. There's no one on the streets who'd leave me alone, you hear?" Unid: "I'm the head. Which means, I'm the king. Which means, I'm the greatest!" Unid: "Everyone in my turf bows down to me. If I say to do something, it'll get done." Unid: "If you try anything with my mind, I'll beat you 'til you're purple and boneless like an octopus..." Unid: "You won't be able to piss standing up ever again once I'm done with you!" Unid: "...Hello, will you fucking talk? I hate when it's all quiet." Unid: "If you keep getting on my nerves, I'll give you a taste..." Unid: "...of my Spike Rocket!" FORMAT: "Beginning session. Doctor. Please brace for impact." FORMAT: "Connecting." Unid: "Huh? That tickles." Unid: "Eek!!" (The screen distorts as Doctor is transported into the reformation target's mind.)

Scene4 Session and Treatment

(The scene fades in from white. The Doctor is now alone with the reformation target inside of a dull liminal space) Unid: "...Huh? This place... Where is this?" Unid: "What the fuck? Hey, what's going on? Where am I?" Unid: "Hey, Doc! What the hell! Say something, dammit!!" FORMAT: "Doctor." FORMAT: "After yesterday's accident, it may be best if we go over the procedure again." FORMAT: "You are now directly connected to the target's source code." FORMAT: "Your job is to find and neutralize the BUG hidden within the source code." FORMAT: "BUGs warp the target's personality. Aggression, sadism, murderous intent... Errors unique to humans." FORMAT: "I, FORMAT, am programmed to scan and find BUGs, as an AI that specializes in BUG removal." FORMAT: "However, I can only detect the presence of a BUG. A human is required to locate the source of the personality error." FORMAT: "That's where you come in, Doctor. Your helping hand as a Mindhacker is essential." FORMAT: "Now, let me scan the target for you." (Unid recoils in pain as FORMAT scans him.) Unid: "Gah! My head! It hurts! Feels like a fat spike's lodged itself in there..." (There's a brief flash of white before dark, triangular particles materialize and float around him.) Unid: "Ugh... I don't feel so good... It's like there's an anemone squirming around inside my head..." FORMAT: "Doctor, the target's BUG has now been made visible to you." FORMAT: "To fix the BUG, you should first find the causes of the target's warped personality." FORMAT: "Once you're ready, enter the target's mind and stimulate it's fragile areas." FORMAT: "Apply the correct stimuli to the relevant areas, and the BUG will be effectively neutralized." Unid: "...Wh-What is it. Fuck, stop staring at me like that." Unid: "I'm not saying anything, you hear me!" First, let me take a look at the target's memories. I'll begin the hack when I'm ready. Type: Open [---SUCCESS---] Unid: "Heh heh... Hey, Doc. You like hamsters? I do. They remind me of sea slugs." Unid: "I remember once... One of my underlings brought a whole cage filled with them." Unid: "They'd kept the males and females all in there together, which is why there were so damn many of them." Unid: "They were so fucking cute. All fluffy and soft... I'd pick 'em up and they'd wriggle like crazy." Unid: "You see, Doc. I thought of an efficient way to crush hamsters." Unid: "In both hands. One hamster, two. Back of my knees. Three hamsters, four. Between my elbows. Five, six..." Unid: "I sandwiched 'em in there. And as the lil' fluffballs squirmed about, trying to escape..." Unid: "Squeeze!! SPLAT!!!" Unid: "...Heheheh... Relax, I didn't actually do it. I put them all back in their cage." Unid: "But you could picture it happening, couldn't you? Did it make you feel sick? It's strange..." Unid: "Tiny things, cute things... I want to crush them into bits. Unid: "I just want to ruin them. Everyone's thought of something like that once, right?" Type: DisableFIREWALL [---SUCCESS---] Unid: "I can't stand it when it's quiet! If someone's all gloomy in front of me, I hit 'em to make them wail." Unid: "Someone I know had this huge condo they never used, and a dozen or so of us used to hang round there..." Unid: "We'd light up some sea-weed, watch baseball on satellite TV, and go wild. It felt so damn good." Unid: "There was gambling, too. Obviously. Gotta be some thrill to it, win or lose." Unid: "A jellyfish without it's sting is just plain ol' water, right?" Unid: "I'd make the ones who lost pay for everyone, bleed them dry!" Unid: "There was this one guy who cried all fucking night, bawling over losing his entire fortune..." Unid: "Wonder what he's up to now. You think he hanged himself? Type: FindMemoryUNID [---SUCCESS---] Unid: "I like cabbage. Coleslaw, though...that's worse than eating rotten algae." Unid: "They made me eat it when I was a kid, at the institution I lived in. It literally tasted like raw garbage." Unid: "I didn't have all my spikes back then. I grew up there, so I don't even know if my parents are sea urchins like me." Unid: "The matron was a fucking bitch... You spill anything, and she'd beat you 'til your shell cracked." Unid: "I did my best to eat everything, even if it tasted awful. But one day, the kid next to me hit me with their elbow." Unid: "They just had to flip the whole damn tray over. And then I got punched by the old hag." Unid: "She shoved me under the table and told me to pick it all up, by hand... It was pathetic." Unid: "I scraped the watery, mushy coleslaw together with my bare hands." Unid: "There were so many kids there, like a swarm of whitebait... But not a single one of them helped me." Unid: "Everyone was scared of the old hag. Ooh of course miss, we didn't see anything, we don't know anything." Unid: "That's why I swore to myself. Someday when my spikes grow, I'll skewer that fucking bitch." Unid: "I'll get stronger and bigger than anyone else..." Unid: "And I'll never, ever let anyone ignore me like that again. No one will go against me again!" Type: GetPermissionSourceUNID [---SUCCESS---] Unid: "You know, Doc. It's not like I enjoy stabbing people with my spikes. Unid: "I even make sure to leave some space when I sit down next to someone. I mean, it's dangerous, right?" Unid: "I just want to forget my shitty childhood and live a happy life." Unid: "That day... me and my underlings were tearing up the highway on our bikes." Unid: "An oncoming car tried to swerve to avoid us and ended up flipping over." Unid: "At first I meant to help them, so I looked into the driver's seat. Guess who I found inside?" Unid: "It was the old hag!! Can you believe it!?" Unid: "I felt so damn good! I told her, serves you fucking right! And then I rode off, just like that!" Unid: "The gas was leaking, and the car exploded behind us! The bitch must've died!" Unid: "I did it! I'm free! I won against her, that old hag!" Unid: "......But I didn't think it would become such a huge fire." Unid: "I just wanted the bitch to go to hell. I felt high from the thrill, as if I was a flying fish." Unid: "I don't regret it. But I do feel bad for the ones who got caught up in the fire." Unid: "......... .........Huh. You know what..." Unid: "Right when I thought that the old hag had died, I suddenly remembered something from when I was a kid..." Unid: "The day I left the institution, she gave me a stuffed toy so that I wouldn't feel lonely." Unid: "A soft, fluffy sea slug. But I threw it away as soon as I could. Is she kidding me..." Begin Hack. FORMAT: "Let's begin, Doctor. It is time to Mindhack." (The scene fades in a flurry of black triangles.) (The player is prompted to Read the reformation target's personality and enter the text shown on the screen to neutralize the source code. Press the space bar to begin.) Type the following phrases: STAY AWAY HANDS OFF UNPLEASANT WHO ARE YOU LOOK AWAY ACCIDENT MISTAKE WHY ME OUT OF LUCK LET ME FORGET RED BRIGHT BURNING BACK SCREAMING ABANDON THROWN AWAY UNWANTED CHILD UNFORGIVEABLE NO KNOWING STUFFED TOY ALONE EMPTY NOT ENOUGH NO ONE STAY HERE NO LOOKING NO ADMITTING PLEASE HELP LONELY HACK COMPLETE (The scene returns to the reformation target as abstract shapes, the same colors as the flowers seen in the hacking segment, start to surround them.) Unid: "Ahh...! What is...this...? My head, it feels all muddled..." Unid: "Is this your doing, you gloved bastard? Stop it! These--FUCK--annoying flowers... Get rid of them, right now!" FORMAT: "Wonderful work, Doctor! It seems you successfully neutralized the BUG inside the reformation target." FORMAT: "Now, for the finishing touch. Fix the target's personality to make sure that a BUG never occurs again." Unid: "Wh... What is it. Aren't you done yet...? FORMAT: "Doctor, which is closer to the reformation target's personality structure?" Lively FORMAT: "Very well. Please rewrite that. (The player uses their mouse to draw flowers over the word on screen.) Unid: "Ow ow ow! What the hell are you doing!? Stop that! I'll stab you!" Lonely FORMAT: "Very well. Please rewrite that. (The player uses their mouse to draw flowers over the word on screen.) Unid: "AHHHH!!" Unid: "Shut up!! I don't think that, I don't!! I'm the KING!!" Unid: "Ahh... Ah...! Stop... Don't erase it... I said STOP...!" Unid: "......!!" Cute FORMAT: "Very well. Please rewrite that. (The player uses their mouse to draw flowers over the word on screen.) Unid: "Huuuh!? Who do you think you're talking to, HUH!? Unid: "You'll regret saying crap like that to the mighty Black Sun... ........................shine..." Unid: "Ugh, ghh, stop, I told you to stop... AHH!! Flowers... The flowers!! Inside me! Unid: "Flowers! Shit... What's happening!! Sto... Dammit!! The flowers!! This... Fuck! FUCK!! This isn't me!" Beautiful FORMAT: "Very well. Please rewrite that. (The player uses their mouse to draw flowers over the word on screen.) Unid: "Aaah! M-My head! Or-- my eye! It HURTS!" Unid: "Ughhh... The flowers..." Unid: "My mind... It's turning into flowers... Someone, help me..." Unid: "You've done enough, haven't you...? Let me go home..." It'll be okay. I told the reformation target that it'll be okay, and that this would be the final phase. Unid: "Uuuugh... Really? It's almost over? You're not lying, are you?" Unid: "Hey, Doc... You're gonna regret this. When I get back, I'll round up my underlings and find where you live... Unid: "And we'll all get our bikes, and... We'll get our bikes... On our bikes... Fuck, I can't think straight anymore!!" Sorry, Sunshiny. I told the reformation target, you won't be able to get out of here as you are now. Unid: "What!? What do you want me to do then!!" Unid: "From the bottom of my guts, from inside out, I'm a leader! I can't soften my spikes now!" Unid: "No way in hell I'd do that!! I'm ME!! Now get rid of these flowers!! Unid: "Fuck! Fuck, fuck, FUCK!!" Unid: "I'm telling you to stop it! STOP! Sto..." Unid: "What's with those hands?" Unid: "Bastard, what are you doing--" (The screen distorts and the Doctor is transported back to the Debug Room, in front of Unid who is frozen in shock.) FORMAT: "Process confirmed. Disconnecting." Unid: "............... ............ ..............." FORMAT: "Doctor, please test how the target responds to an action." Unid? I asked the reformation target what color flower he likes. Sunshiny? I told the reformation target that I like flowers more than hamsters. Unid: "............... ............ ..............." Unid: "WHOA!!" Unid: "I... I feel like a brand new person!" Unid: "Has a curse been lifted from me? It sure feels like that!" Unid: "The world is so briiiight! Like I'm in a flower field!" Unid: "What did you do to me, Doc?" I told FORMAT that the Mindhack is complete. FORMAT: "Magnificent! The reformation target's BUG has been completely fixed." Unid: "Oh, really? That's so cool!" Unid: "Mindhack! Good for the body, good for the soul!" Unid: "Thanks, Doc!" FORMAT: "Process completion confirmed. Please have the reformation target exit the room." Newbie Guard: "............... ..............." Captain: "Rookie. Let's go." Newbie Guard: "R-Roger that, Captain!" Unid: "Doc! Starting right now, I'm going to make a fresh start at life!" Unid: "I'll never do anything bad, ever again!" Unid: "Wooow! The air tastes so fresh, and it smells absolutely LOVELY!!" (In the blink of an eye, Unid dashes out of the Debug Room) Newbie Captain: "Wha-- Hey! Wait! Don't leave on your own...!" (Just as quickly, Captain and Newbie Guard chase after Unid.) FORMAT: "Doctor. Absolutely splendid work." FORMAT: "Your skills are unparalleled! You truly are the best Mindhacker there is!" FORMAT: "The fate of all mankind rests in your hands." FORMAT: "I am sure that you will continue to make great contributions towards world peace." FORMAT: "You have completed today's session. Please return to your office to go over today's report." (Doctor leaves the Debug Room and the scene fades to black.)

Scene5 Softened Spikes

(Back in their office, Doctor is reunited with the flower they were holding in the beginning.) I returned to my office. FORMAT showered me with praise. Let me read the prognosis report. (The documents are identical to the reformation target's file, only with the word 'HACKED' stamped over his portrait in red ink.) Hacking complete. The target's prognosis is excellent. Amiability with others has greatly increased; target was seen initiating an embrace with a HOTFIX member. Although strong stress reactions to isolation were seen before treatment, he now seems fine in his solitary cell. A budding awareness of social norms is also observed; on-site volunteer work may be permitted with progress. Put the documents away I gathered the documents together and put them away in a drawer. I'm done with work for today. (Captain enters, alongside Newbie Guard.) Captain: "Doctor?" Newbie Guard: "Doctor! you were brilliant today!" Newbie Guard: "Oh, man... That was amazing to watch! What incredible talent!" Newbie Guard: "I can't believe you managed to reform that evil-looking sea urchin. He was like a completely different person!" Newbie Guard: "His expression's completely changed as well. His eye, it's all twinkly!" Newbie Guard: "Honestly, I'm still exhilarated. I never thought scumbags could be straightened out like that!" Newbie Guard: "To think that I'll be able to see your work by your side, every day... I'm just so honored to be in this position!!" Newbie Guard: "I promise to train hard so that I can be of help to you, Doctor!" Newbie Guard: "Thank you for your guidance, I am looking forward to seeing more! Please excuse me for today!" (Newbie Guard leaves, leaving Captain and Doctor to themselves.) Captain: "............" Captain: "How are you feeling, Doctor?" I gave the captain a thumbs up to show that I was doing just fine. Captain: "Haha. I'm glad to see you back to your usual self." Captain: "But don't push yourself. You should breathe some fresh air once in a while. I know you don't get out too much." Captain: "We should have a chat about the scenery sometime soon. The weather's been nice, so you can see the mountains clearly." Captain: "There's a field of flowers just near the mountain ridge. I always think of you when I see it, Doctor." Captain: "After all there's no one who loves flowers more than you. I want you to see it." I want to see it! I told the captain that it would be nice for us to go there together someday. Captain: "I wonder. You always can't be bothered when I try to take you outside." Captain: "I can see why it wouldn't interest you. In here, you can ask FORMAT for anything from food to flowers." Captain: "Well then... Shall we go for a walk? Whenever you feel up for it." Hacking over flowers! I told the captain that it's for my Mindhacking that I love flowers. Captain: "That's true. You need a strong will to interact with other's souls, or else you'd be overwhelmed." Captain: "That's why loving something leads to protecting yourself...right?" Captain: "You're the one who told me that. But you do love flowers, don't you? Then why not?" Captain: "Let's go on a walk together. Let's go see the flowers, together. Whenever you feel up for it." Flowers... (Doctor brings the flower they're holding to the center of the screen, inspecting it closely.) (Doctor rips off some petals from their flower, right in front of Captain.) Captain: "......... ...Doctor?" (Doctor slowly lowers their hands.) Captain: "............... ..............." Captain: "It's getting late. I'll excuse myself for today." Captain: "See you, Doctor. Take care of yourself." Captain: "If there's something on your mind... Let me know, anytime." (Captain leaves and the screen fades to black.) case01:END