Kirschwasser's side-story: Meeting Albedo

[Narration, Kirschwasser]

I am— test model number 097. Until the prototype is complete, many experiments will be conducted for that single process– But, I was happy. Because our existence was something necessary. —for our Father's sake.

But, that day– it will come someday. MOMO, the Prototype, will be born, and our reason for existence will be lost… on that day—

– [Title – Kirschwasser's substory] –

[DARKNESS]

??:

---

Wake up— Wake up, poppet—

Kirsch: Who— are you–?

[The room becomes visible]

Kirsch: Unn– uunnn–

??: You seem to have awakened, little trinket. Your first lesson should already be complete. Do you understand who you are?– and who I am?

Kirsch: Yes— I am Kirschwasser, serial number 097. You are— Doctor Sellers.

Sellers: That's quite right, Mizrahi's abandoned child.

Kirsch: Abandoned child—?

Sellers: Yes, he has already judged himself, and escaped from this world.

Kirsch: !! Father—

Sellers: Yes, his research results are proceeding to snatch away many lives–His spirit couldn't bear that spectacle.

Kirsch: —–

Sellers: Despite his dedication, the door of Purgatory was opened. Gnosis were released into this world. —Yet even with that said, you cannot understand its implications, or how the world will proceed to change.

Kirsch: Um– I'm sorry—

Sellers: Hrmph. That damn Mizrahi. He had the nerve to make these dolls, even though they imitated his dead daughter. —Still, the majority of the Kirschwasser test models were discarded, and the completed 100-Series has fallen into the hands of the Federation. The fact that I was able to secure just one of you may have been fortuitous. —-guh!

Kirsch: Doctor Sellers—? …! – Sir, your legs–!

Sellers: — It's not a problem. ***It is the result of having sustained Mizrahi's bullets, and additionally, even going so far as to have made contact with a Gnosis. I'm thankful just to still be alive.

Kirsch: Um, but if I administer a nano treatment right away—

Sellers: —- it's fine. This wound is a lesson. The hostility, the obsession towards that man– Because of such things, I forgot what must be done… towards myself.

Kirsch: —-

Sellers: There is something else I need to have you do. –Do you understand where we are?

Kirsch: Yes. We're in the outskirts of planet Miltia's capital– in the control room of the generator of the Song of Nephilim.

Sellers: Correct. This device also possesses the ability to function as a spaceship which can be independently operated. I will escape from Miltia from here. You will control it.

Kirsch: Escape—?

Sellers: Yes. Very soon, this planet's fate will run out. Whether it be devoured by Gnosis, razed by bombardment from the Federation Fleet, or eroded away by U-Do— in any case, it cannot escape its demise. Before that happens, I must secure this device.

Kirsch: My internal records indicate— The organization you belong to, Doctor, …is Ormus– Is it for their sake?

Sellers: Hm—Records… They are always incomplete. Although the fact that I joined with Ormus was recorded, the reason I joined was not. (Though, in this case, that very incompleteness works to my advantage—)

Kirsch: Doctor—?

Sellers: Hmph, it's a long-winded monologue. Pay it no mind. Instead, please activate the spaceflight function. I will… try to get a little rest.

Kirsch: Yessir— Umm, because of your bleeding, please take some blood-forming medicine when you wake up—

Sellers: There's no need to worry about my health. You are to join this device with Proto Merkabah in orbit. That is all you should be thinking about.

Kirsch: Yes, understood.

[Sellers leaves]

Kirsch: (Earlier, the Doctor said– “The completed 100-Series has fallen into the hands of the Federation”– So she is completed… “MOMO”—)

[–FLASHBACK–]

Joachim Mizrahi: Soon– Soon you will be born into this world– And then, you shall do many good deeds. If you do– when you do– you can become human. You can become… my Sakura–

Kirsch: [looking on] —–

[–FLASHBACK ENDS–]

Kirsch: (That time, the one spoken to by my father– that child—) (If so, then our reason for existence has already—)

… Spaceflight function has been activated. 700 seconds until liftoff.

(With this, once this device has launched into orbit, my purpose is over.) (I won't have a reason to exist anymore–)

! …This is… an explosion– And it's from inside?! The Doctor— Nothing can happen while he's in treatment. I must first confirm the situation— The originating point of the explosion is… the deepest part of Level 1? Displaying image– This is–?

–

[ON SCREEN]

Nigredo: Albedo– I have to stop you.

Albedo: Hehehe, Nigredo– Your true colors have finally appeared. So that is your true nature.

Rubedo: —– (*unconscious*)

Albedo: Good thing, isn't it, Nigredo?…that Rubedo can't see you as the “executioner”—

Nigredo: Yes, it's as you say. I can deal with you— without restricting my power.

–

[BACK TO KIRSCH]

Kirsch: (Those children– what are they doing?—)

!— I know about those children— URTVs— The Designer Children manufactured by Doctor Dmitri Yuriev. It seems they were also deployed here on Miltia— If that's so, then their purpose is—?!

(Hurry, if you don't flee the Song—!)

Omitting liftoff procedures 21 to 138. Starting liftoff simultaneously with output confirmation.

(But, before that happens, those children have to clear out—) (The southern block of Level 1 will be jettisoned at liftoff time. If I can guide them there…)

–

[ON SCREEN]

Nigredo: Dammit, he's not going down—

Albedo: What's wrong, Nigredo? If you don't hurry, Rubedo will wake up

Nigredo: There isn't that much time… a little longer… just a little bit longer!

Albedo: Hehe, scary scary. But… not very effective on me.

Nigredo: Haaaah-!

Albedo: Hyahahahaa-!

–

[BACK TO KIRSCH]

Kirsch: *scream*! (They just fought each other with tremendous energy. Wh– What's going on?) (The URTVs— Oh good, the two of them have dropped to the south of Level 1.) –Huh? What is it this time–?

[SCREEN SHOWS AN IMAGE OF ASHER]

Kirsch: A maneuver-weapon has infiltrated–?

[BACK TO KIRSCHWASSER]

Kirsch: (That craft— It left without anything?) (No, it came to recover the URTVs. I see.) (Thank goodness for that… the device is about to liftoff.)

Space-flight function output has been secured. Thirty seconds to liftoff– 10 seconds– 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… liftoff.

–

[BLACK, NARRATION BY KIRSCHWASSER]

Liftoff occurred without a problem. If the spaceflight function was operating normally, and after breaking free of gravity, this device was also supposed to proceed to transition to the orbit of Proto Merkabah, which was positioned in a lunar orbit. Until then, there was nothing to do– Or so I thought– But– I had a certain premonition, so I went to check the situation on Level 1. That's where I met– that person–

–

[LIVE IN THE LOWER CHAMBER]

?? (little Albedo): Unn… unnn– (*moan*moan*)

Kirsch: ! Oh no–! A URTV was left behind— (A serial number is written on his palm. Number 667, Albedo—)

Albedo: *cough*… *coughcough*

Kirsch: (He woke up–? What should I do? There aren't any weapons here–)

Albedo: *gasp*– *cough*–

Kirsch: (His lifesigns are declining? Why in the world–?) Um, please… don't overdo it. I have a nano treatment ready, so please…

Albedo: Kuh— uhnn— W- Who … are you–? —–?!! Y-You're— Sakura Mizrahi?!!

Kirsch: Huh–?

Albedo: W-… Why are you alive? This time– This time I'll– I'll kill you!

Kirsch: *scream*! (It, It hurts— can't… breathe…)

Albedo: You— Because of you— *cough*… *cough*—

Kirsch: (The strength in his arm… loosened up…)

Albedo: *cough*… *coughcough*—

Kirsch: Um… It's alright—

Albedo: D– Don't touch me!— Whatever… whatever you are—

Kirsch: (He has mistaken me… for this person— Our living model, Sakura Mizrahi—) Your… your metabolic response is declining. Please, you need to rest….

Albedo: Haa, haa, haa— Stop it! Don't… don't touch me! … I didn't mean to! That time, I … I didn't mean to… really…! *cough*… *cough* Why did you end up dying?– For Rubedo's sake– You shouldn't have died!!

Kirsch: —— um…

Albedo: *sob*sob*—

Kirsch: Don't cry… Albedo… I'm … alive. (No, These aren't words I should be saying–) I'm here, so… (No… that's not right…)

Albedo: — you're… alive? You… survived?

Kirsch: Yes… so… sleep now, Albedo—

Albedo: *sob*sob*—

Kirsch: —–

Albedo: —–

Kirsch: (When he wakes up, what will he think of me?— I tricked him… will he hate me?— But… for now… Only now… I may have become a necessary existence for him… even if it was just as a substitute.)

–

[BLACK, NARRATION]

—That's how I first met that person… Albedo… And I had a certain premonition. Since the prototype was completed, we test models lost our reason for existence. But, I am still alive. Masquerading as young children, we, who do not age, are given time. So, surely… I want to think that it is enough time to search for those who need us.