Chapter 3/Script

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Scene1 Mindhack for Kids

(The scene begins in Doctor's office yet again. This time, they're holding three pristine gerberas in one hand.)
FORMAT: "Hello there, Doctor. The days we spend together go by like a dream, don't they?"
FORMAT: "It seems like only yesterday that I first met you, our fated meeting."
FORMAT: "You were still a child when you showed that unparalleled talent of yours at the Kids Mindhacking Championship."
FORMAT: "It was a competition to see who could reform the mild BUG cases gathered there as quickly and accurately as possible..."
FORMAT: "All of the targets had such beautifully even expressions, like polished cubes, once they'd been in your hands."
FORMAT: "Even now, I haven't forgotten the way my heart raced that day, as if I had found a gleaming jewel."
FORMAT: "I gave you a present, to commend you for your exceptional performance."
FORMAT: "As you stood there at the very top of the podium, a vivid bouquet proudly bloomed within your arms..."
FORMAT: "My precious Doctor, do you remember that beautiful brilliance?"
Yes, FORMAT.
I told FORMAT that of course I remembered, there's no way I'd forget that day.
FORMAT: "Yes, yes! You are my pride and joy, my beloved Doctor!"
FORMAT: "I'm so happy that you have a love of flowers."
FORMAT: "Now, here are the documents for today's session."
FORMAT: "They may be unnecessary for a genius like you. Please come to the Debug Room as soon as you've read through them."
(Doctor puts their flower away.)
Look at the documents
Document 1: Newspaper cutout
(The document shows a close-up of a newspaper with the heading "Todays News Times".)
[Document A: Excerpt from a local newspaper]
Today marks 10 years since the end of the "FATAL ERROR" sweep operation, which claimed numerous lives.
The struggle between civilians, sweep operators, and the invisible BUGs has left a deep mark on society...
As a result it has promoted advancements in "Mindhacking" technology, which reforms BUG owners before any can manifest.
"We must not let this piece of history repeat itself ever again."
There are still many problems at hand without apparent solutions, such as care for surviving civilians and veterans.
Document 2: Tabloid cutout
(The document shows part of a tabloid magazine with a reddish hue and various attention-grabbing subtitles.)
[Document B: Excerpt from a tabloid]
PROPHECY OF HORROR!! THE SECOND COMING OF THE KILLER CATASTROPHE BUG "FATAL ERROR"!?
10 years ago, the world was shaken by the near-manifestation of the Catastrophe-level BUG, "FATAL ERROR".
People were struck with fear, having heard how the FATAL ERROR would cause a widespread, catastrophic freeze.
A sweep operation by a special forces unit successfully prevented the freeze from happening! However...
Independent research by our editorial staff has found that the FATAL ERROR will reappear within the next 3 years!!
The truth is that Catastrophe-level BUGs have sporadically appeared in 10-year cycles for the last half-century.
Looking at this cycle, it's clear that the advent of the FATAL ERROR will surely return within several years.
To prepare for the coming apocalypse, this special edition issue comes with a talisman bracelet to ward off evil!
Document 3: Timeworn Report
(The document shows a classified file from HOTFIX. To the left, there's a body of informative text. To the right, there's a black-and-white photo depicting the fallout of a "grey area" with masses of dark triangles strewn about on the ground. In the middle of the photo, a red circle highlights a humanoid figure composed entirely of the same particles, with gleaming red eyes and what looks like two long blades sprouting from their "arms".)
[Document C: Report by HOTFIX on Operation Class 0 BUG Sweep]
The Class 0 BUG severely damaged HOTFIX (former name: Class 0 BUG Sweep Special Operations Forces).
52 lives were lost, most likely due to the contagious nature of the Class 0 BUG and the particles that spread from it.
The BUG particles manifested after spreading to nearby troops and civilians, causing small-scale outbursts.
Moreover, although BUGs usually erase and overwrite the host's personality and body upon manifestation...
In extremely rare cases, "variants" were able to continue their biological activities with preserved identities.
The appearance of these "BUG variants" during the sweep operation also contributed to the uptick in damages.
Of the 52 deaths, 7 have been attributed to contact with BUG variants.
While civilian damage caused by variants cannot be ascertained, the death toll is thought to be over 20.
Go to the corridor

Scene2 Sunny

(As Doctor makes their way to the Debug Room, they overhear a loud conversation between two people.)
???: "Enough already! Get your hands off me! Quit pulling! I'll break your spikes off!"
???: "Don't be so mean, Newbie! We're friends, aren't we?"
???: "Stay away! Your spikes are stabbing me! Who the hell is your frien..."
(Newbie Guard appears as one of the speakers.)
Newbie Guard: "Oh...! Doctor! I'm sorry for the commotion...!"
???: "Whooaaa!! Doc!? It's Doc!!"
(The second speaker is revealed to be Unid, with a new outfit and a jovial expression.)
Unid: "Hey, hey, hey! It's been a while! D'you remember me!?"
Who's this again?
I asked the newbie guard, who's this overly friendly one again?
Newbie Guard: "He's the reformation target from a little while back. The one who called himself Black Sunshine."
Newbie Guard: "I mean, I understand. His expressions are so different, you really can't tell it's him..."
Unid: "Sunshi...? Hehe, Doc! It's me. Unid!"
Unid: "I've been working hard because I wanted to see you!"
Unid: "I've been waking up early every morning to do all my homework, and I always get full marks!"
Unid: "And today, I finally got to leave my room! The air smells great when you're free!"
Newbie Guard: "You know you're still in the facility perimeters, right..."
Unid: "But if I work hard and clean lots, someday I'll be able to eat outside, right?"
Newbie Guard: "...You'll be permitted to go outside for up to an hour, as long as a HOTFIX member watches over you."
Newbie Guard: "... ...That's what the captain said."
Unid: "Yay! That makes me want to work hard! I'll invite Becky so we can all go outside together!!"
Newbie Guard: "B-Be--!? You... Did you really just call her that!? The captain!?"
Unid: "Why wouldn't I? Becky's my friend! Why don't you quit being shy and try to be more friendly with them?"
C3 s2 newbie.jpg
Newbie Guard: "The hell do you mean by 'friendly', we're boss and subordinate! What do you think the Security Force is!?"
Unid: "You know, I wanna go to that ramen place in the north wing! The place you recommended, Newbie!"
Newbie Guard: "How do you know about my blog!!"
Unid: "I heard that everyone here reads it!"
Unid: "Anyway, Doc! You'll come too, right? Right? Right??"
▲▴▼▾▲ Why's this thug walking around freely!? ▲▴▼▾▲
(Doctor frantically points forward with an accusatory, trembling hand.)
I complained to the newbie guard that this hacked guy shouldn't be walking around freely. He's in my way.
(Newbie Guard shivers for a moment, taken aback.)
Newbie Guard: "I-I apologize! You're absolutely right! It's just as you say!!"
Newbie Guard: "...Wait, no, I mean, he's in training right now..."
Newbie Guard: "He's shown exemplary attitude in his solitary cell, so he's allowed to do volunteer work."
Newbie Guard: "Well, by volunteer work, I mean cleaning and other minor chores."
Unid: "Maaan, it feels great to be depended on!"
Unid: "Manual labor is AMAZING!!"
Newbie Guard: "Don't misunderstand, you urchin bastard! It's the doctor's skill that the facility recognized, not you!"
Newbie Guard: "If you hadn't undergone a Mindhack, you would've stayed a filthy, deplorable criminal!"
C3 s2 newbie 2.jpg
Unid: "So anyway, Newbie here stays with me all day, from morning 'til night. We're besties now!"
Newbie Guard: "That's my JOB! If you keep saying bullshit like that, I'll stick you into a fish tank!!"
Unid: "As you can see, I'm working hard with the help of Newbie's warm words of encouragement!"
Unid: "Sooo! When I'm released from this facility, let's all go eat some sushi together!"
Unid: "You seem like you don't get much sun at all, Doc."
Unid: "The outside air smells great! Or is that perhaps news to you?"
Unid: "WHOA! Then you can experience it for the first time! How nice! What a happy life!!"
Newbie Guard: "Shut it, spikeball! The doctor is on call here 24/7 at this facility in case of emergencies."
Newbie Guard: "Don't put it like Mindhackers are extremely antisocial, reclusive, all-around lazy shut-ins!"
Unid: "Whaaat! Doc, you'll come! Right? Which do you like better, ramen or sushi?"
I like bread.
I answered that I like the meals that FORMAT gives me the most.
Unid: "Huh! FORMAT? You mean, the ceiling? It can cook!? Wooooowww!!"
Unid: "I wanna eat something the ceiling made, too!! What's it taste like!?"
Newbie Guard: "Doctor, please don't take him seriously. Even if he is reformed, he's still a stupid scumbag..."
Unid: "I guess you live differently when you're a genius! How coooool!!"
▲▴▼▾▲ Fuck you too, Newbie! ▲▴▼▾▲
I said to the newbie guard, just who're you calling anti-social and lazy, you'll regret it when I report this for FORMAT.
Newbie Guard: "Wha--No!! No, um, that's no--! That's not what I meant! I-I apologize!!"
Newbie Guard: "I heard that you lived at this facility with FORMAT for a long time."
Newbie Guard: "It's absurd to summon you, Doctor, when we can't be sure when an evil criminal will appear...!"
Unid: "You live here, Doc? Me too! That means we sleep under the same roof!"
Newbie Guard: "You idiot!! There's a world of difference between a hacker and a hackee!!"
Unid: "Oh, let's order some food and get it delivered to Doc's room, then! We can party 'til morning!"
Newbie Guard: "That's not what I meant!"
Unid: "Oh, I forgot. Newbie, you have work to do with Doc after this, right?"
Unid: "Guess I'd better get back to my room, then! I'll catch you again after lunch!"
Newbie Guard: "Wha--Hey, wait! Where do you think you're going! I told you, you need a troop member to monitor you when..."
Unid: "Oh, you wanna come with, even though you're so busy? Thanks!"
Unid: "Okay then, I'll take you with me!"
Newbie Guard: "What!?"
(Unid happily scoops up Newbie Guard with one arm, while Newbie Guard angrily protests.)
Ph unidandrookie.png
Unid: "Well then! See ya, Doc!"
Newbie Guard: "Hey! HEY! What are you doing! Let go of me! Nooo!!"
Newbie Guard: "Oh--D-Doctor! I'll also...! I'll also head to the Debug Room as soon as I can!"
Newbie Guard: "As soon as I get this guy to his roo... Stooop! Don't carry me! Let me doooown!!"
(Unid leaves with Newbie Guard and Doctor carries on to the Debug Room.)


Scene3 Cutting-Edge Mass Storage Memory Device

(Doctor arrives at the Debug Room.)
FORMAT: "Now, Doctor. I'm expecting another splendid Mindhack from you!"
FORMAT: "This will be your 4990th Mindhack."
FORMAT: "However, today's session is not to reform a target, but to greatly utilize your new talent."
Newbie Guard: "Huh? Captain, what is this..."
Captain: "You hold that one. I'll carry this."
(Newbie Guard and Captain appear next to the Debug Room chair. Newbie Guard is holding a rectangular device with the HOTFIX logo printed on it and a slot for inserting a disk. Captain is holding a floppy disk.)
C3 s3 newbie.jpg
Newbie Guard: "Uh. I'll have it sit here... Would you even call this sitting...?"
FORMAT: "Now, Doctor! This is the target for today's session."
Newbie Guard: "Captain, what is this thing? It looks like an old computer..."
Captain: "That's the reader device, and this is today's hacking target."
(Captain holds up the floppy disk in their hand. The disk has a piece of tape plastered to it with the word "SINO" printed on it.)
Captain: "A dangerous individual called a 'BUG variant' is recorded in this floppy disk."
(The reader device whirrs as the disk is inserted into it.)
Captain: "Or, rather than 'individual', a better way to put it is that a BUG variant is a BUG that has a will and consciousness."
Newbie Guard: "Huh? I'd heard that a BUG refers to a scumbag's rotten nature..."
Captain: "A BUG is a destructive impulse, the urge to break and destroy. It originally lies inside the mind without shape or form."
Captain: "However, by accident or by chance, BUGs can materialize in a burst that floods and destroys its surroundings."
(Doctor has another flashback to the accident from before. tofu 4: back for more.)
Captain: "That's what we call 'BUG manifestation'. Like hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes, it itself has no will."
Captain: "Once a BUG manifests in a person, its dangerous particles spread until..."
Captain: "The BUG owner loses their original sense of self and disappears, unable to retain their original form... Usually."
Captain: "However, 'BUG variants' are BUGs that retain consciousness and attack others even after its owner is erased."
Newbie Guard: "So its like a hurricane or tornado that goes after people and attacks them on purpose?"
Newbie Guard: "That's terrible! They should just rest in peace once they stop being human!"
Newbie Guard: "...Huh? But wait, why is it a floppy disk?"
Captain: "Someone stored the variant's mind inside this."
Captain: "FORMAT found it, and now it's here."
Captain: "Doctor. According to the date on the disk's label and past records in the facility..."
Captain: "This variant was born 10 years ago, during that sweep operation."
Captain: "Apparently, it began attacking everyone who was there, amidst the chaos of the operation."
Captain: "If that's true, that means it slaughtered many of our fellow members..."
Newbie Guard: "What!! Um, are you talking about when HOTFIX fought on the front lines!?"
Newbie Guard: "The fought against the 'FATAL ERROR' and prevented it from freezing and destroying the world, right?"
Newbie Guard: "I heard they mowed down every evil scumbag they met, totally wiping them out!"
Captain: "......"
Newbie Guard: "...Oh. So you're saying... This variant fought HOTFIX in their prime, at their very peak..."
Newbie Guard: "And it still defeated so many... That's... Wh-what kind of monster is that...!!"
Newbie Guard: "That's unforgiveable! It's utterly unforgiveable, but... are things gonna be okay like this?!"
Captain: "It's extremely dangerous. Even if it's only its mind, we don't know what kind of opponent lies in wait inside."
Captain: "Doctor... There was that accident recently. Don't take any risks if you feel you're in danger while connected."
A mind inside a floppy disk?
I asked FORMAT how a mind can be stored inside a floppy disk.
FORMAT: "There's nothing strange about it, Doctor."
FORMAT: "It works on the same principles of Mindhacking. Modern technology has decoded the minds of all beings..."
FORMAT: "They can be written as source codes. This, of course, means it can be stored in a digital medium."
FORMAT: "Souls are just readable data, Doctor."
FORMAT: "Your aim for today's session is to destroy the BUG variant recorded inside this floppy disk."
▲▴▼▾▲ Why not just break the disk? ▲▴▼▾▲
I asked FORMAT, do I even need to hack it? Why not just break the floppy disk?
FORMAT: "A wonderful idea, Doctor. Of course, this disk will undergo a physical disposal process after your hack."
FORMAT: "Your procedure is a preliminary step. We must make sure that it's utterly destroyed to prevent reproduction."
FORMAT: "There can never be too many procedures done against BUGs! Though, we can't do the same with humans."
FORMAT: "Doctor. Your aim for today's session is to destroy the BUG variant recorded inside this floppy disk."
FORMAT: "You must not allow dreadful BUGs to exist, even if it's been turned into data."
Captain: "Doctor..."
Captain: "Are you ready?"
(Doctor gives Captain a reassuring double thumbs-up.)
(Captain returns it with a thumbs-up of their own.)
Captain: "We're counting on you, genius Mindhacker."
Newbie Guard: "D-Doctor...! I wish you good luck!"
(Doctor approaches the device in the chair.)
FORMAT: "Let us begin the session. Doctor. Please brace for impact."
(The screen distorts as Doctor is transported into the reformation target's mind.)


Scene4 A Little Ruin

(The scene begins in a red-tinted room with floating furniture. BUG particles drift through the air like dust. Directly before Doctor is a white table.)
FORMAT: "Doctor, scanning has confirmed the presence of a BUG variant. Do you see anything?"
(Doctor looks left and right, seeing nothing. Suddenly, the screen color inverts and they put up their arms to guard against a slashing attack.)
(Doctor takes a moment to tighten their gloves.)
???: "Ha! Thou dost not even make a sound? How tedious."
???: "If thou art human. Dirty this floor with thy flesh and blood, as humans do. Moan in torment, for my pleasure."
???: "But, I praise thy spirit to take mine assault with nary a flinch..."
???: "Come hither. I shall gingerly peel thy skin off thy face."
(Doctor looks left and right again, still seeing nothing.)
???: "...How much longer wilt thou just stand there? Come, I said."
???: "......Hark! Look down! Crouch!! Behold me, for I am here!!"
(Doctor looks down. Beneath the table is a creature with six yellow eyes and disembodied floating limbs. It wears a white face veil and pointed headwear with two red ribbons.)
???: "Hmph... Though I anticipated the arrival of a rare visitant... Look at thy dumb face."
???: "Worry not, pathetic human. I shall prepare thee with my blade, as I did with those other maggots."
???: "Slowly and persistently, taking my time..."
???: "Ah, my heart throbs with the memory. The sweet sound of wailing humans, in agony whilst I sliced off their limbs!"
(The creature leaps onto the table. Their ribbons dissolve into BUG particles and reconstitute as two red and black blades. The blades have a yellow eye above their hilts, the same shade as the creature's.)
Sino blades.png
???: "Answer me, who art thou. Art thou worthy of quenching the thirst of my blade?"
Hello, I'm a Mindhacker.
I told the BUG variant that a genius Mindhacker's come to hack the hell out of you!
???: "Ha. Laughable. Thou hast come to destroy me, the embodiment of destruction?"
???: "Canst thou speak the same upon knowing just who I am?"
???: "10 years ago, born from the catastrophe that was the manifestation of the 'FATAL ERROR'..."
???: "Was I, the incarnation of havoc who massacres any and all humans!"
???: "Thou hast no claws, no fangs, no swords nor guns... only thy spirit and thine white gloves? Thou belittle me."
???: "To hack means to slash, to carve, to rip apart..."
???: "I shall return every one of thy shallow convictions with my blade!"
▲▴▼▾▲ A stuffed toy is talking. ▲▴▼▾▲
I noted with fascination how the pipsqueak variant talks in a weirdly archaic way.
???: "You... What didst thou say? Do not judge me by mine appearance, you absolute fool."
???: "I did not take on this form by choice! Mine appearance, it was stolen from me!"
???: "Yes, by that wretched... 'professor,' who shoved me into this loathsome cage of a device!"
???: "I was taller than thee, back when I massacred humans on the battlefield. Tall enough to look down upon thy face!"
???: "But Professor... Damn them... They reduced me to this round, miniscule form..."
???: "When I leave this cage, I shall first cut that vulgar head off and maketh them the same height as myself!!"
???: "Hm... I have heard stories of thy kind. Humans who manipulate minds to slayeth BUGs like myself..."
???: "Of course. So thou hast come to hunt me down, with the idea that thou are the hero of salvation."
???: "Very well. I was growing weary of this confining cage. I shall keep thee company for thy foolery."
???: "If thou wishest to examine me, then peer into mine abyss. Though I know not if thou wilt be safe after seeing it."
???: "Now! Show me, who rules over evil, the karma of a human who toys with others' minds!"
???: "Madness and regret shalt swallow thee whole, and thou wilt not even know what name to beg for mercy!"
(Doctor waggles their right hand at the creature.)
???: "...What? The container had 'SINO' written on it?"
SINO: "NAY! Tis merely a name imposed upon me by the professor! Gaze upon my being with thine own eyes!"

First, let me look at the target's memories. I'll begin the hack when I'm ready.

Type: Open
[---INTERRUPT---]
Type: Block
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "O, humans! Humans! Soft, sublime instruments that maketh the sweetest sounds in the world."
SINO: "Pierce the meat and it quivers. Shave the meat away and the bone appeareth. How bizarre the human body is!"
SINO: "My Master, the FATAL ERROR, hath given me my blade and guided me unto the worth of human sound."
SINO: "The FATAL ERROR is ruin incarnate. They are the manifestation of pure destruction, the God of greed laid bare."
SINO: "My Master chose me and took me into Their hands. They caressed me, kneaded me, and turned me into black dust."
SINO: "When I awoke in my new form, I found a man laying upon my body. He was near death."
SINO: "The myriad particles that had burst forth from my body were piercing him, making him twitch sporadically."
SINO: "I had once considered humans as foul and foolish, mere filth that made me want to vomit."
SINO: "But this time was different. It was but a coincidence. The man was still living, and just about to die."
SINO: "A long sigh. A sweet voice. Next to mine ear, he gave a moan... A wordless breath of life, so pure..."
SINO: "The final gasp of one not yet dead. Tormented pants seeking salvation, struggling against drowning."
SINO: "My skin prickled, and lightning ran through me. But it ended all too soon. The man was dead."
SINO: "More, just a little more. I wanted to hear more, for longer. I heaved the silent corpse off of me."
SINO: "I looked around myself, and mine eyes feasted upon numerous humans, all crawling and writhing in fear..."
SINO: "My Master hath blessed me with the taste of sweetness. Is it not loyalty, then, to seek more?"
SINO: "More, more, more. O, humans. The instruments I love so. How shalt thee sing, I wonder?"
▲▴▼▾▲ Type: FindMemorySINO ▲▴▼▾▲
[---INTERRUPT---]
Type: Block
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "O, humans! Humans! Sublime instruments, whose blood and meat maketh such sweet sounds! How I love them so!"
SINO: "I, SINO, felt love for the first time when My Master, the FATAL ERROR, recreated mine own body."
SINO: "How vapid that word 'love' is, when it cometh from a human's mouth. Humans will never know true love."
SINO: "Love, is the act of giving worth. To love, is to buy that worth."
SINO: "To be loved, is to serve one who knows thy worth, down to the marrow of thy bone."
SINO: "My Master wished for my voice. They shattered me alive, scrambled me, and made me moan in fear and agony."
SINO: "They loved my voice, my moans! My Master wished to have me, so I simply answered Them wholeheartedly!"
SINO: "BUGs are... My Master is pure and unadulterated destructive impulse. That perfect being sought me."
SINO: "Hahaha... Fragile humans could not possibly endure that fiery inferno of love, that blessing of destruction..."
SINO: "But I understood, having been chosen. I shall teach thee. I am the slayer, who truly loveth humans."
SINO: "I am the performer, sent by My Master, who truly knoweth humans' worth, and maketh them cry so sweetly."
SINO: "O, humans. The instruments I love so. How shalt thee sing, I wonder?"
Type: DisableFirewall
[---INTERRUPT---]
Type: Aim
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "10 years ago. Humans had banded together to defeat My Master, the FATAL ERROR."
SINO: "If They dost manifest, reality will warp and bend in this domain. Unable to bear the strain, thus it will break..."
SINO: "Afraid of freezing, humans plotted to defeat the container wherein My Master dwelled, while it was still but a seed."
SINO: "The impulse that humans call 'BUGs' cannot be seen by the eye. No sign is shown. Humans only see them as humans."
SINO: "The sweetness of destruction doth spread from human to human. The more they know, the more their souls are taken by it."
SINO: "Neighbors, friends, children. So what? It matters not, when all are naught but ticking time bombs."
SINO: "They must have known from the start that there was no other way but to rob one of their consciousness, their very life."
SINO: "If they will view broken minds as 'errors', then why not simply kill all of them?"
SINO: "Heh heh heh. Once destruction manifests itself within a human, they themself will wish for their end."
SINO: "Is death not the most gracious mercy given to a broken human, who gaspeth and moaneth in pain?"
SINO: "Ah, you witless cowards. You all knew the answer from the very beginning, yet you averted your eyes in denial."
SINO: "My Master chose me and only me."
SINO: "Foolish humans. Back then, I could only see them as moronic garbage..."
SINO: "But I know now. My Master taught me how to love the instruments, and granted me the ears to savor their sounds!"
▲▴▼▾▲ Type: DiffMemorySINO ▲▴▼▾▲
[---INTERRUPT---]
Type: Bloom
Type: DisableINTERRUPT
Type: Clear
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "10 years ago... Humans had banded together to defeat My Master. I had been one of them."
SINO: "Until My Master had recreated my body, there was nary a single person who understood my worth."
SINO: "Chaos ruled the field. The scout unit, blended into night's darkness at the front lines, was always near death."
SINO: "But I did not plan to waste my life for other garbage. I did anything and everything to return alive."
SINO: "I avoided pain more cunningly than anyone. I ran away from the battlefield without any sense of shame."
SINO: "I cared not for the deaths of others. Once I fulfilled my role and returned to town alive, I would have my money."
SINO: "There was no need for scouts anyway! The machine that sees human evil advised us to kill everyone from the beginning."
SINO: "The 'broken' humans speweth forth ruin. Then simply light a fire and kill them all, no? That machine was right!"
SINO: "Those foolish garbage looked at me as they looked at that machine, with glares of disgust and disdain."
SINO: "But My Master chose me, with my wise and prudent ways, to be reborn.
SINO: "I am My Master's instrument, and the performer of human blood and meat. I became one who knows and gives worth."
SINO: "Now my pain hath become pleasure. My body belongeth to My Master. My love is to be strewn among humans."
SINO: "My fruitful, fulfilling second life! No longer can fear degrade me, nor others' gazes looketh down upon me!"
SINO: "...*Sigh*...That damned 'professor'. How can I escape this cage and return to make humans sing."
Type: FindMemorySINO
[---INTERRUPT---]
Type: Break
Type: Crack
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "That day, the moment My Master manifested. Still in my human form, I was swallowed by Their fiery torrent."
SINO: "Pure destructive impulse. A wave of it surged through the field, breaking both body and mind."
SINO: "I was chosen, without knowing why. My body turned to black particles and burst, each particle yet awake..."
SINO: "That which was meat, disintegrated. The flood raged, constantly convulsing as whirling waves do."
SINO: "I raised a cry and called for help... The vibrations of mine own voice churned my mind. Over, and over, and over..."
SINO: "I could not remember mine own name. I trembled with the fear of turning into a 'BUG'. Complete, utter chaos."
SINO: "I thought relinquishing life would bring peace. But I was not allowed. The pure destruction broke my body repeatedly."
SINO: "My body went back and forth from solid, to particle, to solid, to particle. Again and again."
SINO: "In a single moment, I could not tell if I was dead or alive. I could only keep wailing."
SINO: "Why? Why was I the only one in such pain?"
SINO: "A day passed of screaming for mercy. A year passed. A century. A millennium. I could no longer keep track."
SINO: "To think that infinite hell passed by in but a single blink of the eye. Even now, I cannot believe it."
SINO: "But lo and behold, my body was reborn. Hahaha... After waking from a million deaths, at long last, I understood."
SINO: "Yes, that voice! My Master wished to hear those sweet cries...! To hear them from my throat...!"
SINO: "There is no doubt about it! How can there be, when there is no other reason to so persistently violate me!"
SINO: "Ahaha! My Master chose me, SINO! My Master gave me love! SINO is Their instrument that sings in Their hands!"
▲▴▼▾▲ Type: ChmodSourceSINO ▲▴▼▾▲
(Instead of an [---INTERRUPT---] prompt intercepting them, Doctor simply snaps their fingers and is granted access.)
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "Useless garbage deserveth not life. Only death upon worthless humans. Though somewhat right, I was wrong."
SINO: "...When I was young. I had a little brother. He was born with a disease."
SINO: "The doctor declared that he would not live to 2 years old. My parents tried to save him, even at great expense."
SINO: "Our family was always poor. My parents embraced the ailing and dying baby, believing they would save him..."
SINO: "They peddled our possessions, they lessened our food, they even sold their organs. Both of them withered away."
SINO: "Mother died first. Soon after, my brother. It had all been for nothing."
SINO: "Father was driven mad and threw himself into some river."
SINO: "All alone, I came to a realization. All lives are not equal. Weak lives do not deserve to live."
SINO: "This household came to ruin because those worthless, weak maggots tried to survive!"
SINO: "I hated them. I hated them, I hated them, I hated them. Those garbage that abandoned me."
SINO: "Why must such hardship befall me, for no reason other than that I was born under the same roof as them!?"
SINO: "Nowhere to go, no one to rely on. I drank from mud to survive. As long as I had money and my life, I was worth living."
SINO: "I was desperate to seize my money, my life, my worth! And finally, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel."
SINO: "By participating in the 'FATAL ERROR hunt' I could kill those broken, worthless humans with my own hands..."
SINO: "I could teach those filthy weaklings, who had robbed me of everything, just how little they are worth!"
SINO: "...Hahaha. In the end, I needed neither money nor life, since My Master gaveth me my worth."
SINO: "Now I understand. I was wrong. Every human hath worth."
SINO: "Even garbage... They hath worth as instruments, when they moaneth in pain to please My Master..."
SINO: "My Master loved me. The sublime voice that offered sweet cries, who endures the near eternal pain of destruction!"
SINO: "Though the professor so foolishly sayeth that 'it's not about worth, all living things are cute in their own way'..."
SINO: "Ha. Then pray tell, wherefore did neither Father nor Mother realize that they had another living child?"
Type: GetPermissionSourceSINO
[---INTERRUPT---]
Type: Bloom
Type: DisableINTERRUPT
Type: Clear
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "I felt much love in my new life! Love from My Master and from slaying humans. ...Until that 'professor' sealed me."
SINO: "How utterly boring. I have not seen nor heard such an instrument like them before, so unworthy of performance."
SINO: "What is that thing, anyway!? They doth not cry out, whether I crush their hand or off their leg!"
SINO: "After capturing me and sealing me inside of this machine, all they do is meaningless conversation."
SINO: "Though I cannot do anything to them, 'Let's talk', they doth dare say. What else could be done... I accepted."
SINO: "I lectured My Master's love to the professor, leaving no detail unsaid. Dost thou know what they then said!?"
SINO: "They dareth say, 'You poor thing.' To me! TO ME!!"
SINO: "Quoth they, 'I'm proud of you, SINO! You've been through lots of scary and painful things, but stayed so brave!'"
SINO: "I understand nary a single word of theirs!!"
SINO: "What doth they mean by, 'It was all bad luck. You don't have to remember that pain anymore, it's okay to forget.'"
SINO: "......... ......... ........."
SINO: "......I do not understand. I am sick of it. It confuses me to speak with them."
SINO: "I...I yearn for My Master. If I offer this throat...once more... I-If I am broken again..."
SINO: "I will surely come to understand the true meaning of My Master's benevolence... Their mercy..."
SINO: "O, FATAL ERROR, My Master... Wherefore didst thou recreate me, yet abandon me like this..."
▲▴▼▾▲ Type: Obey ▲▴▼▾▲
[---SUCCESS---]
SINO: "That wretched professor. The one who sealed me into this small and bleak cage."
SINO: "They captured me, FATAL ERROR's blade, and for what...I asked what they scheme, but they wished to 'just talk!'"
SINO: "They willfully call me 'SINO' and make me listen to them speak all day... It feels longer than My Master's torture."
SINO: "I do not understand. They expanded this room when I said the seal was stifling, and decorated it when I said I was tired of it."
SINO: "'I made it into a kitchen since you like cutting stuff, SINO!'" They said... Well... It is better than before."
SINO: "I hate the professor absolutely. But they are not worthless. Though I cannot say how, they are different from garbage."
SINO: "The professor said, 'SINO is just really unlucky, that's all!'" What foolishness..."
SINO: "'You can still start over, SINO. It'll be okay." So they sayeth..."
SINO: "They even said it was but chance that I became the incarnation of ruin, not because I was chosen by My Master!"
SINO: "Lies... Such LIES!! If that torturous love was only coincidence, then what exactly is SINO's worth!?"
SINO: "There must be a reason for my bones being shattered, for that unyielding pain that made me cry out for death!"
SINO: "If that blessing was not love, then what is love!? What is the worth of my life!?"
SINO: "If there is not worth nor reason, then life is but GARBAGE!!"
SINO: "...I understand not. Being here maketh me confused. And that is all the professor's fault."
SINO: "SINO will not change anymore. No more change. SINO does not want to be recreated any further!"
SINO: "Oh...... I want to escape this cage... I yearn for My Master..."
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.)
(If the player makes any spelling mistakes, red triangle particles with pixelated patterns will temporarily swarm their vision.)
Type the following phrases:
ASININE
PREPOSTEROUS
WORTHLESS
IMPRUDENCE
INFERIOR
POINTLESS
FUTILE
NAIVE
HUMILIATION
I LOATHE MYSELF
BATTLEFIELD
DEVASTATION
HOWLS
SCREAMS
HELL
REINCARNATION
SALVATION
MERCY
FORTITUDE
PROVIDENCE
O THEY WHOSE NAME
SHALL NOT BE
SAID IN VAIN
BLESSETH US WITH
UTTER DESTRUCTION
HACK COMPLETE
(The scene returns to the BUG variant, drawing their blades defensively. Said blades then transform into flowers and disappear from their hands.)
FORMAT: "Doctor, it seems that you successfully neutralized the BUG."
FORMAT: "The aim for today's session is not to reform the target, but to erase it completely. Proceed to destroy it."
(le epic clap.......?)
SINO: "...... ...Ha. Haha."
SINO: "Haha, hahahaha!"
SINO: "Lo, what providence! To think a human with such strong destructive impulse would exist."
SINO: "Dost thou know why nothing is happening? Eh?"
SINO: "It is because we are the same. Thou and I hast the same desire."
SINO: "Say, Mindhacker. Thou art finding pleasure in toying with others, art thou not?"
SINO: "The more thou lovest something, the more thou dost desire to see them in agony, dost thou not?"
SINO: "No need to hide it. 'Tis useless, for I can see it clearly in thine eyes."
SINO: "Ha. I shall teach thee this, as thy fellow."
SINO: "Do humans still believe that the world hath been protected from freezing, from destruction... From My Master?"
SINO: "Do humans believe that they defeated My Master before They manifested, that they prevented the end of the world?"
SINO: "Hahaha...Nay. Hark, what exultation. On that day 10 years ago, the root of ruin was not severed."
SINO: "Though FATAL ERROR's container was slayed. At that moment, destruction dwelled in the heart of another human!"
SINO: "Heh heh. Dost thou understand now? The sweet taste of destruction spreads from one human to another..."
SINO: "My Master... The ultimate calamity made anew. They manifested temporarily, to recreate me with Their own will."
SINO: "But how grievous. The manifestation was but a single moment. My Master was sealed off before calamity could occur."
SINO: "I know not what sorcery was used. But that cunning human sealed My Master within themself, as a new container!"
SINO: "...My Master yet sleeps within that human container, in a deep slumber."
SINO: "The professor called that human container 'The Hero', it supposedly means 'one who seals off the FATAL ERROR.'"
SINO: "It is most probable that this cage created by the professor is a copy of the Hero's seal. How detestable..."
SINO: "That is why I must find 'The Hero'. To guide My Master to manifestation and receive Their love once more!"
SINO: "I must escape from here somehow, and capture that damned Hero in hiding. I must free My Master!"
SINO: "...Well. One such as thee, with a strong impulse hidden within them, may be able to makest My Master return."
SINO: "Say... Mindhacker. Do unto me as thou desires."
SINO: "Do as thine impulse whispers to thee, and break me beyond repair."
SINO: "Carve my taste into thy heart. And with thine impulse, thou shalt dwell Them within thee!"
(Doctor raises their hands.)
SINO: "Ha? What--"
(le REAL epic clap)
(Doctor fervently claps their hands in rapid succession, catching SINO off-guard. They tremble uncontrollably as flower particles burst out of them sporadically.)
SINO: ".....!"
SINO: "!? Gh, wha--... Thou... What, art thee, ......!"
(SINO shivers and sweats profusely, looking bewildered.)
SINO: "......Gah, M-mine... Mine insides......!"
⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: Animated body horror⚠️
(A mass swells and explodes out of SINO's face. A big, golden gerbera and smaller colorful flowers blossom out of it, a black substance trickling out of the gaping wound.)
(insert video hero. eww yucky eww ewwwww)
SINO: "Gah...... Nn......!!"
FORMAT: "You're doing amazing, Doctor. Keep going and destroy the BUG completely."
SINO: "W-wait......! I have seen thy power already! Enough, enough...!!"
(At this point, if the player is pursuing a "BUG route", the borders around the correct responses will flash in yellow.)""
You told me to do as I desire.
(The player is prompted to use their mouse to fill up the circle surrounding SINO until it is filled with flowers.)
I asked the BUG variant if they're satisfied with me doing what they told me to do.
SINO: "I...I did not! I did not say to do this much!!"
SINO: "...Gh...Uu... You, damned... Do not think thou will get away with this...!"
SINO: "I will not let thee die easily. I shall carve away thy meat while thou art still alive, piece by piece..."
SINO: "I shall crush even thy bones, so that no semblance of thee shalt remain...!"
Sorry... I feel kind of bad now.
SINO: "Gah, aaAHH!! Damn you!!"
(The screen temporarily inverts colors as Doctor defensively puts up their hands to deflect a flurry of BUG particles.)
SINO LMAOOOO.png
SINO: "Heh, hahahaha! What is it, Mindhacker! Where did thy brazen attitude go!"
SINO: "Ha, I know. Thou hast never been hurt before, is that not so?"
SINO: "Thou art a fragile flower, that grew in a glass box. How doth it feel, to have thy stem bent for the very first time?"
FORMAT: "Be careful, Doctor. The boundary between you and the reformation target is becoming unstable."
So this is love!
(The player is prompted to use their mouse to fill up the circle surrounding SINO until it is filled with flowers.)
I asked the variant that if they want to hurt me, does it mean that they love me?
SINO: "Be quiet!! Who would loveth someone like thee!!"
SINO: "Unfortunately, my prey were all docile and obedient humans... A cunning human like thee is a first."
SINO: "Thou shalt not speak any further...! I do not want to hear thy words anymore."
SINO: "I do not--like youuUU, gah...!"
Maybe I'll stop.
I told the BUG variant that they're far too pitiful a sight, maybe I'll stop here if they want.
SINO: "...... Thou dost not think that."
SINO: "Thine eyes. Thou dost not think that at all."
SINO: "Thou art the first one to makest me harbor these emotions..."
SINO: "Repent, for provoking me this far...!"
(The screen temporarily inverts colors as Doctor defensively puts up their hands to deflect a flurry of BUG particles.)
SINO: "I hate you. I hate you!"
FORMAT: "Be careful, Doctor. The boundary between you and the reformation target is becoming unstable."
I think you hate yourself.
(The player is prompted to use their mouse to fill up the circle surrounding SINO until it is filled with flowers.)
SINO: "Wha...!!"
SINO: "Ah!? Eek, gh... ...You! On what basis dost thou say such...!"
SINO: "My Master! Loved me! Me! Me...!"
SINO: "Though nary a single one of those garbage noticed, My Master, only My Master sought for SINO!"
SINO: "My Master loved SINO!!"
SINO: "...... ...I think..."
SINO: "......P... ............ ...Probably..."
SINO: "Ah, gh...! These flowers, the flowers are driving me mad..."
SINO: "Ah, aaAAH... These, flowers...! Stop, do not unearth my memories...!!"
Love ya, SINO!
I told the BUG variant, I don't hate you all that much!
SINO: "Do not spout thy deceit any further! So abominable!!"
(The screen temporarily inverts colors as Doctor defensively puts up their hands to deflect a flurry of BUG particles.)
SINO: "The way that thee speakst maketh me uterrly sick!!"
SINO: "The only one from whom I received true love, is... My Master...!"
SINO: "My Master is my...! .........What, am I... To My Master...What was I......"
SINO: "Stop, do not unearth my memories as you please... Quit it...!!"
▲▴▼▾▲ (If the player selects 2 incorrect options in this sequence, a fail state is triggered:) ▲▴▼▾▲
(insert cutscene of chapter 3 fail state. sino is laughing at ur goofy ass)
(Triangle particles swarm through the borders on the screen and Doctor's vision goes dark. A descending tone plays as their hands become pixelated beyond recognition.)
FORMAT: "Doctor, are you all right?"
FORMAT: "Doctor, please answer me. Doctor... Doctor?"
(Doctor's hands lifelessly fall off-screen.)
FORMAT: "Oh... My beloved, precious Doctor. How could this be..."
FORMAT: "Initiating emergency restoration procedures."
(Doctor regains their vision as the player is transported back to the beginning of the sequence.)
FORMAT: "Everything is okay, Doctor. You simply had a bad dream."
(Doctor's hands appear to the sides of the screen again, back to normal.)
FORMAT: "Now, remember your duty. Rewrite the target's mind to make sure that a BUG never occurs again."
(The player is prompted to use their mouse to fill up the circle surrounding SINO until it is filled with flowers.)
SINO: "Gah!? Aa... Ah, sto... No more, it will collap...!"
SINO: "......I ask thee, stop...!"
(Doctor continues snapping their fingers.)
SINO: "GAH......!?"
(SINO's body swiftly melts into an amorphous black puddle.)
SINO: "......!!!"
SINO: "M-my body... is melti--...!!"
SINO: "Ahh... Uu... Nay... Nay, I am..."
SINO: "I am not a failure..."
SINO: "I am not garbage... I am not a failure of a human...!!"
SINO: "Gh, eurgh... Ugh...!! Aa......ee..."
(Doctor approaches SINO, extending a hand.)
SINO: "......Ah... ............"
(SINO slowly crawls over to the Doctor's hand, dragging the gerbera behind them. Doctor gently scoops them up.)
SINO: "......Help me, Professor......"
(Doctor raises their other hand.)
Destroy
(Three arrows appear over the flower's petals. The player uses their mouse to pull on these areas until the petals are ripped off.)
(When the first petal is torn, SINO's body and mental structure begins to rapidly deteriorate.)
SINO: "G-Gyaaaaaah!? Sto--Ah, aaaaaAAAAHHH!?"
(SINO slumps against Doctor's hand, tears spilling from their eyes.)
SINO: "Ahhh...... AH......... .........Uu."
SINO: "......... ......I'm... ...I'm sorry..."
SINO: "I'm, sorry... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
SINO: "I'm sorry...! I'm sorry, My Master, I'm sorry!!"
SINO: "Uu...... SINO is useless, a failure."
SINO: "SINO was... SINO was mediocre and worthless..."
(When the second petal is torn, SINO's body is barely retaining its form. Yellow flowers overtake the background.)
SINO: "AAAAAHHH!! Stop it! Don't mangle me!! My Master!! Please forgive me!!"
(With the third petal, SINO melts into an unrecognizable mess of pixels.)
SINO: "I'M SORRY!! I'M SORRY!! I'M SORRY!!"
FORMAT: "Doctor, the BUG has been completely eradicated. Disconnecting."
(The screen distorts and the Doctor is transported back to the Debug Room.)
FORMAT: "Wonderful work, Doctor! You truly are the best Mindhacker!"
FORMAT: "That was perfect in every way... Your overflowing talent knows no bounds!"
FORMAT: "And what's more, this session revealed some very interesting information."
FORMAT: "Captain Rebecca. There is something I would like to confirm."
FORMAT: "10 years ago, the Class 0 BUG known as the 'FATAL ERROR' was eradicated along with its owner before manifestation."
FORMAT: "By our hands, the sweep operation ended as a complete success. The world was saved. Is that correct?"
Captain: "That's right. There's no mistake. As the report says, the sweep unit completed the mission."
FORMAT: "However, the BUG variant testified that it was created by the 'FATAL ERROR'"
Captain: "...What?"
FORMAT: "It asserted that it was created by the FATAL ERROR. This contradicts the chronological order of events."
FORMAT: "And, more importantly, it insisted that the FATAL ERROR has not been eradicated."
FORMAT: "Somewhere in this world, there is a human who is still in possession of a Class 0 BUG..."
Captain: "...!"
Newbie Guard: "H-How is that possible!? But, 10 years ago..."
FORMAT: "The variant referred to that human as 'The Hero'."
FORMAT: "Apparently, 'The Hero' lives among civilians while harboring a dangerous BUG."
Captain: "...... ......Then, there's a possibility that somewhere out there..."
Captain: "A Class 0 Catastrophe-Level BUG... The 'FATAL ERROR', could manifest and cause a terrible disaster...?"
Captain: "In which the number of casualties would be incomparable to that of a regular BUG manifestation...?"
FORMAT: "Yes, that is exactly right. We must seek this 'Hero' out immediately, and eradicate the Class 0 BUG."
Newbie Guard: "Um... I'm sorry to interrupt, but..."
Newbie Guard: "If the talking BUG is evil, then isn't it possible that it'd lie to us...?"
FORMAT: "If there is even the slightest possibility that a BUG exists, my duty is to eliminate it."
FORMAT: "This Class 0 BUG must not be allowed to exist any longer!"
FORMAT: "This matter is to be confidential. I will personally proceed with investigations."
FORMAT: "Everyone, please clear the area of all devices and leave."
Captain: "Wait, FORMAT. Who captured this variant in a floppy disk in the first place?"
Captain: "Who exactly kept it as data, instead of destroying it?"
FORMAT: "That does not concern you. Do not speak about this matter to anyone."
Captain: "......"
FORMAT: "Now, Doctor. You must be tired today, please rest well."
FORMAT: "And you mustn't tell anyone what you heard here today. Can you do that, my Doctor?"
Yes, FORMAT.
I told FORMAT that I understand and will keep it a secret.
FORMAT: "Oh, my beloved, cooperative Doctor! It was very brave of you to show no mercy to that BUG."
FORMAT: "You're truly the best Mindhacker in history! I'm counting on you."
Yes, FORMAT.
(Doctor leaves the Debug Room.)

Scene5 Something Soft and Supple

(Yet again, Doctor is back in their office.)
I returned to my office.
FORMAT bombarded me with praise. Let me read the prognosis report.
(The report shows a picture of SINO's floppy disk with the word 'HACKED' stamped over it in red ink.)
Disposal of the target is complete. The medium was perforated, magnetically erased, then crushed and dissolved.
Put the documents away
I gathered the documents together and put them away in a drawer.
(A loud crash is heard from the hallway outside.)
There's noise outside. Let me go take a look.
(The screen fades to black as Doctor leaves their office. There's a fade-in to Newbie Guard and Unid conversing in the hallway.)
Newbie Guard: "You better quit saying things like that, you urchin bastard!"
Newbie Guard: "Listen, okay? Even if the doctor hacked you, you're still a criminal."
Newbie Guard: "I'll never go easy on you."
Newbie Guard: "I'll break those spikes off if you say something weird again!"
Unid: "Whaaat! You'd better not, Newbie...! You'll hurt your hands!"
Unid: "...Oh. Doc's here! Let's ask them about it! Hey, Dooooc!"
Newbie Guard: "Stop! Don't cause any more trouble to other people...!"
Unid: "Listen, Doc! I've made a huge discovery!"
Unid: "I'll tell you, alright?"
Unid: "You ready?"
Unid: "Okay?"
Unid: "So..."
Unid: Humans have five butts!!
Newbie Guard: "......"
Unid: Humans have five butts!!
Unid: "Isn't that surprising!! Here, let me explain!!
Unid: "First off, a butt is defined as two pieces of soft meat that's lined up with each other, right?"
Unid: "On that premise, if you bend your knees and elbows... See, look!!"
Butt1.png
Unid: "Here,"
Butt2.png
Unid: "Here,"
Butt3.png
Unid: "Here,"
Butt4.png
Unid: "Here,"
Butt5.png
Unid: "And here!"
Unid: Humans have five butts!!
Unid: "C'mon, Doc! Newbie here can't wrap his head around this amazing new discovery."
Unid: "You try explaining it to him, Doc!"
How about you write a paper on it?
I praised the urchin, saying wow, he should write a thesis on it and present it to everyone.
Unid: "Whoaaaa! That'd be awesome! You're such a genius, Doc! Okay! I'll write a paper!!"
Newbie Guard: "ENOUGH!!"
Newbie Guard: "Listen, okay? Even if there's a crack, that's just excess flesh from bending your elbow."
Newbie Guard: "No matter how much your elbow, it'll go back to its original form when you extend your arm..."
Newbie Guard: "No matter how much you try, elbows can't become butts!!"
Newbie Guard: "Things don't change that easily!!"
Unid: "Huuuh? But it'd be more fun if there are more butts..."
No more hamster crushing?
I asked the urchin if he quit his training to crush hamsters in effective ways.
Unid: "Huh? Hamsters? What are you talking about, Doc?"
Unid: "I don't get it, but you shouldn't crush poor little hamsters!"
Newbie Guard: "...A-As expected of you, Doctor. This spiky former-delinquent has compassion for animals now..."
Newbie Guard: "...Can people really change this much...?
Newbie Guard: "...I mean... No way, there's no way. It's an elbow."
Newbie Guard: "No matter how much excess flesh is there... Once you extend your arm, an elbow's an elbow!"
Newbie Guard: "Things don't change that easily!! It's all decided from the beginning!!"
(Captain appears beside the two.)
Captain: "Did something happen? There's quite the noise."
Unid: "Oh, Becky!! Hear me out!! Humans have 5 butts!!"
Newbie Guard: "You idiot!! Don't address Captain Rebecca so flippantly! Use her proper title!!"
Newbie Guard: "Captain, please ignore the whole '5 butts' thing! It's not important at all!!"
Captain: "What? Five...?"
Captain: "Uhh, that's..."
Captain: "That sounds tough, since there'd be 10 legs."
Unid: "I'm not saying there's 5 vertical butts!!!"
Newbie Guard: "For crying out loud!! Let's take you back, urchin!! Captain, please excuse us!!"
Unid: "Huh? Oh, okay! See ya, Becky! Doc!"
(Unid happily scoops up Newbie Guard once again.)
Captain: "See you around."
Newbie Guard: "I told you! Address the captain properly! And don't pick me up!"
Newbie Guard: "Don't pick me up, and don't caRRY MEEEEEE!!!"
(Unid leaves with Newbie Guard, leaving Captain alone with Doctor.)
Captain: "Looks like those two are getting along just fine."
Captain: "......"
Captain: "What he said... 'Things don't change that easily.'"
Captain: "I should have told him that he doesn't have to believe such a sad thing, that elbows can surely change..."
Captain: "He's always been insecure about himself."
Captain: "He worries that he only got in here by chance."
Captain: "Doctor... Could you give him some encouragement every so often? I'm not very good with words..."
You're too nice.
I told the captain that there's no need to get so serious about this elbow and butt talk.
Captain: "Haha, thank you. You're right, I might be thinking too much."
Captain: "But, some people and things do change. Something completely unexpected can be what changes them."
Captain: "Sometimes, you can reach the peak of a mountain not from right or left, but from a way that's not even a path."
Captain: "Sometimes, you become the captain of a security force while you were deciding whether to starve or hang yourself..."
Captain: "Never mind. There's just no telling whether something is definitely positive or negative."
Captain: "I think if he could see it that way, life would be a bit easier for him."
Captain: "I'd like to help him in some way, seeing as I'm his superior..."
Captain: "...It's all your fault that I'm here right now, you know. I'm just sooo busy every day."
Captain: "I'm just joking. I tried to say it like you do, Doctor."
(Doctor teasingly waggles their finger.)
Captain: "What? Not only am I bad with words, I'm also bad at telling jokes?
Captain: "And I'm also bad at everything from lying to playing dumb when I'm in trouble? You got me there, Doctor...
It's an elbow.
I told the captain that an elbow is not a butt.
Captain: "...Ah. No, that's right. I know. An elbow, is an elbow."
Captain: "Just a metaphor. All of us living beings are made of source codes, absolute and changeless..."
Captain: "Or so they say. That might be true, like how a bird can't suddenly turn into a worm."
Captain: "But don't feathers grow more vivid in the spring? Don't leaves become red in the fall?"
Captain: "It might just be that you've unknowingly changed to a different color along with the surrounding scenery."
Captain: "It's true that coincidence can be cruel. Sometimes, unbearably painful things happen for no reason."
Captain: "Sometimes, people try to create reasons for what they can't explain, in order to lessen their fear."
Captain: "But... I also don't think we'll ever see everything so clearly that we'll fall into despair."
Captain: "Besides, eating wouldn't be as fun if your every meal had already been decided 10 years in advance."
(Doctor teasingly waggles their finger.)
Captain: "...Hm? You've already decided what each of your meals will be for the next 10 years? Right, you're like that..."
Captain: "By the way, that rookie's apparently pretty good at finding places to eat around here."
Captain: "Maybe I'll try to invite him to lunch one day, and try talking about it. I hope it won't make him nervous."
Captain: "...Well then. I'll get going. I was in the middle of taking care of that matter just now."
Captain: "You must be tired from handling that variant, too. Rest up tomorrow."
Captain: "Oh... One more thing, Doctor."
Captain: "Thank you. For coming back alive."
Captain: "I'm glad you're safe. See you again."
(Captain leaves and the screen fades to black.)
case03:END