Elmo Library › Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium 少女前线2：追放 › Events

Fading Existence

匿影而生

21 chapters · 1428 lines · English and Chinese below. Japanese and Korean, voices and theatre mode are in the reader.

Fading Existence 消逝的存在

(Without roots buried deep in the earth, even leaves nurtured by sunlight, sweet dew, and gentle breeze can never flourish.)（没有深埋于土壤中的根系，即使啜饮甘霖、轻抚微风，那些沐浴在阳光下的枝叶也终究无法葱茏生长。）

(To bear light in one's hands, one must endure solitude, fear no darkness, and shatter hard rock to root deeper...)（为了将光明握于手中，要忍受孤寂，要无惧黑暗，要迸裂坚硬的石土，向更深处扎根——）

(The warm orange afterglow of the setting sun casts an illusion of warmth over the wasteland.)（暖橙色的夕阳余晖，给荒地带来一片温暖的错觉。）

(A scavenger rubs a chunk of metal against his clothes as he rummages through a heap of trash.)（拾荒者在垃圾堆中翻翻找找，将捡起的金属块放在衣服上蹭了蹭。）

ScavengerNothing of value... Huh?没什么有价值的东西啊……嗯？

(A strange noise from nearby catches his attention. The scavenger tightens his grip on a pair of tongs and storms toward the sound.)（不远处传来的异响引起了他的注意，拾荒者握紧了手中的铁钳，气势汹汹地朝声源处走去。）

ScavengerDammit, it's gotta be Johnny and those rats again. I already told them this is my turf! This time I'll—ack!靠，肯定又是强尼那帮老鼠，都说了这块是老子的地盘，看我这次不把他们撵——呃！

(The moment he spots the ELIDs, he drops low and hides behind the garbage pile, holding his breath.)（在看到生骸的瞬间，拾荒者就赶紧俯下身，藏在了垃圾堆后面，屏住呼吸。）

ScavengerGood thing I got my gun with me...枪带了……还好。

ScavengerDamn it, didn't they just sweep this area recently...?可恶，不是说最近才把这周围清理了一遍吗……

(He peers carefully through gaps in the trash heap to observe.)（他小心翼翼地透过堆叠物的缝隙，观察情况。）

(The ELIDs haven't noticed him. Their gazes remain locked in the same direction as they snarl hungrily.)（那几只生骸似乎并没有注意到他，而是虎视眈眈地朝着一个方向，不间断地发出贪婪的低吼。）

ScavengerIs that... a person? A stranger... Not from around here.那是个……人？是生面孔……不是我们这的人吧。

(The person being cornered is holding a gun in one hand and gripping a black trash bag in the other.)（被生骸逼到墙角的人，一手举着枪，一手攥紧黑色垃圾袋。）

(In the next moment, the person swings the trash bag at the ELIDs, drawing their attention immediately. One leaps up and catches the bag between its teeth mid-air.)（下一秒，那人以闪电般的速度将垃圾袋抡向生骸，生骸的注意力瞬间被吸引，有一只甚至腾跃了起来，在空中咬住了垃圾袋。）

ELIDGrrr... Snarl...吼——咕——

(The ELIDs tear into it, shredding plastic and pale flesh-like chunks that still vaguely resemble human body parts.)（在数只生骸的合力撕咬下，一些肉色的块状物体跟黑色的塑料袋一起被撕成碎片，但依稀还能看见它们原本的形状。）

ScavengerThat's a... human foot... I-intestines...那是……人类的脚……肠、肠子……

(Bright red liquid and meat chunks drip from the ELIDs' fangs. The scavenger trembles, nausea rising in his throat, but he forces it down.)（鲜红的液体和碎肉从生骸的獠牙上垂落，拾荒者被眼前惊悚的一幕吓得双脚打摆，反胃的感觉冲上喉咙，但被强行压下。）

ScavengerUgh... Gotta... gotta run. Now's my chance... Yes, run for it...咕……得、得逃走，趁现在……对，快、快逃……

(Terrified, the scavenger flees without looking back.)（再也不敢转头，拾荒者落荒而逃。）

NikketaHandshake.握手。

(The mechanical dog places its paw on Nikketa's palm as the children cheer with delight.)（机械犬伸出前爪搭在妮基塔的手上，围观的孩子们发出欢快的赞叹。）

(Nikketa glances at the children.)（妮基塔给了孩子们一个眼神。）

NikketaThere's more.还有哦。

NikketaKulich, fetch Lily's gift.库利奇——莉莉的礼物。

(At her signal, the mechanical dog leaps up, drags a package from the pile of presents sitting in the corner of the office, and carries it to the girl.)（接到指令的机械犬一跃而起，从办公室角落的大包小包中拖出一个礼盒，叼到了女孩手上。）

Cheerful GirlIs this for me? Wow, it's a toy gun model! Thank you, Nikketa!给我的吗？哇——是玩具枪模型！谢谢妮基塔姐姐！

Cheerful GirlKulich is amazing!库利奇真厉害！

KulichWoof~ woof!呜~汪！

Cheerful BoyI want a present too!我也要我也要！

NikketaGet in line, everyone gets one.排好队一个个来，礼物大家都有的。

Mrs GraceListen to Nikketa, no pushing now.大家听妮基塔姐姐的话，不要急哦。

KidsOkay~!好——

(Amid the joyful chaos, a figure appears at the office entrance.)（在热闹的叽叽喳喳中，一个身影出现在办公室门口。）

??Miss Grace, Mangi Security's regular aid delivery has arrived. Could you check and sign for it? I'll cover for you here.格蕾丝老师，曼尼安保的定期援助物资到了，麻烦您去清点签收一下，这里我来帮您看着吧。

Mrs GraceAh, Mr. David. Mangi Security is always so punctual with their support. Thank you so much.是戴维先生呀，曼尼安保的资助每次都是那么准时，真是太感谢了。

(The young teacher blushes, clearly quite fond of the friendly young man.)（年轻的老师红着脸，似乎对眼前面容友善的青年颇有好感。）

Mrs GraceMs. Nikketa is handing out gifts to the kids. Please help keep things under control; I'll be back shortly.妮基塔小姐正在给孩子们发礼物，麻烦您帮着维护一下秩序，我去去就来。

DavidNo problem, leave it to me~没问题，交给我吧~

(The curly-haired young man smiles warmly and walks toward the children.)（卷发青年脸上露出讨人喜欢的笑容，走向孩子们。）

DavidOver here, kiddos! Line up and everyone gets one~来来，这边排队喔，都有都有~

DavidLong time no see, Nikketa.话说好久不见了，妮基塔。

NikketaIt's been a while.好久不见。

DavidHow's work lately?最近工作如何啊？

DavidHeard rumors that the Public Security Administration introduced a new salary framework. You get a decent raise?之前听小道消息，说治安局内部制定了新的薪资框架和基础工资，怎么样，涨了不少吧？

NikketaI can't comment. Regulations prohibit discussing our wages.我没法给您回答，有条例规定不能对外透露我们的工资状况。

DavidOh, come on now. Rules are just rules. What's the big deal anyway... But judging from the gifts you bought, you don't seem much better off than before?哎，条例是死的，就算说了也不会怎么样……不过，从你买的礼物来看，应该还和之前差不多？

Nikketa...……

DavidHaha, sorry. There I go poking my nose into other people's business again. I'll stop.哈哈，抱歉抱歉，八卦的老毛病犯了，我不继续打探了。

(David scratches his nose awkwardly.)（戴维不好意思地挠了挠鼻子。）

DavidStill, it's a shame someone as capable as you is stuck doing frontline grunt work at the PSA. If you decide to join Mangi, you'll have way more room to grow—and better promotion opportunities and pay, too.唉，不过还是要说，像妮基塔这么优秀的人形，在治安局做着最基层的工作实在可惜，如果来曼尼安保的话，会有更大的发挥能力的空间哦，当然也有更多升职加薪的机会。

DavidWith a raise, you could get even nicer gifts for the kids.涨薪了，就可以给孩子们买更好的礼物了。

NikketaThanks for the recognition, but I—谢谢您的认可，但我——

Cheerful BoyBut I think it's really cool that Nikketa is a public security officer!但是！我觉得当治安员的妮基塔姐姐很帅！

Cheerful BoyLast time I saw her rescue hostages on TV—it was so awesome!上次我在电视上看到妮基塔姐姐从绑匪手上救下人质的样子，可太酷了！

Lively GirlMe too! I saw her on the street once during a school field trip. I felt super safe!我也觉得！之前出去做社会实践，在马路上看到了妮基塔姐姐，我就觉得非常安心！

Shy GirlIf-if she quits being a security officer... we might not see her anymore...如、如果妮基塔姐姐不当治安员了，是不是就……不能经常见到了……

DavidHow could that be? She'll still visit when she can...怎么会呢？她还是可以抽空来这里的呀……

(Nikketa pats the kids on the head.)（妮基塔摸了摸孩子们的脑袋。）

NikketaI'll still visit often—with Kulich.我还是会经常来的，和库利奇一起。

NikketaAlright, everyone go play now.没事，大家都去玩吧。

(In response to the command, Kulich bounces off and leads the children away.)（得到指令的机械犬蹦跳着将孩子们带到了一边。）

NikketaMr. David, I don't believe doing frontline work is a waste of my ability.戴维先生，我不觉得做基层工作是对我能力的浪费。

NikketaYou've invited me to switch jobs repeatedly. I assume you've looked into my background?您三番五次地邀请我跳槽，想必也对我的背景做过一些调查吧？

DavidYes, that's why we want you.没错，我们正是看中了你的背景。

DavidGriffin was one of the rare companies in the field that were both competent and ethical.格里芬诶，也是业内难得有实力又有良心的企业了。

DavidWe were all sorry to see it dismantled.听说格里芬拆解重组的时候，我们大家多少都觉得挺可惜的。

NikketaI take great pride in my time at Griffin, but it was nevertheless a confounding experience... Sometimes I wasn't sure who the real enemy was.在格里芬的经历是我的骄傲，但也会让我感到些许迷茫……因为有时我并不确定我们真正的敌人到底是谁。

NikketaBut here at the PSA, things are much clearer.而在治安局，一切就明了很多了。

NikketaI protect civilians. My enemies are those who threaten them.我要保护的对象，是无辜的民众，而我的敌人，是那些危害民众安全的人。

NikketaEverything I do aligns with that goal univocally.我做的每一件事，都是实实在在地、落在了“保护民众”的这个目标指令之上。

NikketaAnd I really like this feeling of unambiguity.我还挺喜欢这种踏实的感觉的。

DavidHaha, I see... You are certainly more principled than most humans, Nikketa!啊哈哈，这样啊……妮基塔真是比不少人类还要正直实在呀！

NikketaThanks. As for the money, I just do my best to provide what I can for the kids.多谢夸奖，至于钱的问题，只能说，在我力所能及的范围内，给孩子们提供最好的吧。

NikketaSo for now, I have no plans to change jobs.所以，我现在并没有换工作的想法。

(She watches the happy children with a quiet smile.)（妮基塔看着和库利奇玩得开心的孩子们，淡然的脸上露出暖意。）

DavidFair enough, as long as you're happy.当然，你觉得好就行。

Mrs GraceMr. David, I'm back!戴维先生——我回来了！

Mrs GraceSorry, Ms. Chernova also delivered a bunch of supplies, so I checked them together.真是不好意思，正好碰上切尔诺娃女士也送了很多东西过来，我就顺便一起盘点了一下。

Mrs GraceI hope the kids weren't too rowdy?怎么样，孩子们没有很闹腾吧？

DavidNot at all, everything's fine.没没没，一切都好。

NikketaMs. Chernova came by?切尔诺娃女士来了吗？

NikketaKulich, get the birthday gift for Una—库利奇，去拿给乌娜的生日礼物——

Mrs GraceOh, there's no need, Nikketa.噢，不用了妮基塔。

Mrs GraceMs. Chernova didn't bring her daughter today, saying she's off on vacation in another satellite city.今天切尔诺娃女士没带她的女儿来，说是去其他卫星城度假了。

Mrs GraceHey, don't you both work at the PSA? Can't you give it to her at work?诶，你们不都在治安局工作吗？上班的时候拿给她？

NikketaWe're in different jurisdictions and different roles. Our paths don't cross at work.我们不是一个辖区的，而且岗位也不一样，平时碰不到。

Mrs GraceI see. Then we'll just have to wait till she comes back.这样啊，那等乌娜回来？

Mrs GraceA vacation... How nice~ Maybe you should take our kids on a trip too. Got any recommendations, Mr. David?真好啊~什么时候也带我们这的孩子出去玩玩吧，你有什么推荐的地方吗，戴维先生？

DavidHaha, that's a tough one. I'm not good at picking holiday destinations...哈哈，这下麻烦了，我不是很懂玩……

Nikketa...……

(Kulich circles Nikketa, gift in mouth, uncertain what to do.)（库利奇叼着礼物盒在妮基塔脚边绕来绕去，为失去了指令目标而着急。）

NikketaIt's okay. We'll give it to her later.没关系，之后再给她吧。

NikketaKulich, put that back for no—库利奇把这个先放回——

(Beep—BEEP, BEEP!)（哔——哔哔！）

(Nikketa's communicator rings with the PSA's emergency alert tone—a sharp sound that cuts through the joyful air like a blade.)（妮基塔的终端响起了治安部门紧急通讯特有的铃声，尖锐的声音像一根将欢快氛围戳破的刺。）

NikketaIllegal drug smuggling...违禁药品走私……

DavidWhat's wrong? An emergency?怎么了，有紧急情况吗？

NikketaYes. I have to head back now.嗯，我现在不得不回去一趟。

NikketaGrace, I'll leave the rest here and pick them up later.东西我先放在这了格蕾丝老师，忙完了来拿。

NikketaKulich, let's go!库利奇，走！

Shadow Forest 阴影丛林

(In the empty factory, several shadowy figures slip into hidden corners.)（空旷的工厂中，几个暗影悄悄潜伏进了无人的角落。）

NikketaThis is Nikketa calling Captain Jarvert. I've arrived at Cordon Point A to the west of the factory. Awaiting orders.这里是妮基塔，呼叫沙威队长，已到达工厂西侧守备点A，请指示。

CaptainNikke... Point A... one of... factory exits... must... hold... prevent... escape...妮基……A点是工厂安全出口之一，必……守住，防止嫌犯逃窜。

(Her captain's voice is scrambled with static, barely audible.)（队长的话被电流声吞了几个字，听上去很不稳定。）

NikketaCopy that.收到。

(She signals her team. Officers spring into action instantly and scatter into position.)（妮基塔做了一个手势，其他治安队员快速反应，散开到了工厂各个阴影处。）

(While monitoring her assigned area, Nikketa tunes her receiver to maximum gain and listens for tactical audio cues.)（监控着自己负责的区域，妮基塔将收音调至最大功率，仔细辨别战术耳机捕捉到的各种杂音。）

(Pzzz... zzz... pzzt!)（滋……滋……滋啦！）

NikketaOof...嘶……

(A burst of strange static disrupts her comms.)（一阵诡异的电流短暂地扰乱了妮基塔的通讯。）

Muffled Voice...Third... Assault... need... back...第……突击……请……援……

NikketaThis is the Second Patrol Detachment, Nikketa, ID Code 040901D. Please respond if you copy.这里是巡逻勤务处第二支队，妮基塔，识别代码040901D，收到请回答。

Muffled VoiceThis is... Third Assault Squad... ambushed in... warehouse area... requesting... backu—Aaaagh!!这里是……三突击小队……在仓、仓库区遇袭……请求……援……啊啊啊啊啊——

(Gunshots and screams are drowned out by the noise of metal crashing.)（物品落地磕撞的声音一下子将枪声和惨叫声拉得很远。）

(After trying the communicator a few more times, Nikketa quickly switches to the internal channel.)（妮基塔在呼叫几声无果后，迅速切到队内语音。）

NikketaThis is Nikketa calling Captain Jarvert. I received a distress signal from the Third Assault Squad. Do we respond?这里是妮基塔，呼叫沙威队长，接到第三突击小队的支援请求，是否响应？

Cautious Security Guard...Can't reach him. Comms might be down.……似乎是通讯故障，联系不上沙威队长了。

Cautious Security GuardBut what distress signal? I didn't receive anything on my end.而且哪来的支援请求？我这边并没有接收到。

NikketaMust be another frequency cutting in.应该是其他频段插入。

(Gunfire still echoes faintly through the comms. Nikketa ponders for a moment.)（通讯中还在持续传出模糊不清的枪击声，妮基塔思考了片刻。）

NikketaYou all stay here. I'll go check.你们留在这里，我去探探情况。

Cautious Security GuardWait, Nikketa—等一下妮基塔——

NikketaI'll be right back.我去去就来。

Shadow Forest 阴影丛林

(Nikketa clears the hostiles along the way as she heads into the factory warehouse.)（解决掉沿途的敌人，妮基塔一路突进工厂仓库。）

(Thick white smoke fills the room, obscuring her vision.)（仓库中充斥着大量白色烟雾，看不清前路。）

NikketaThe gas isn't poisonous... It's potassium nitrate... Maybe gunfire has triggered the fire suppression system...?不是有害气体，是硝酸钾……难道是枪火触发了灭火装置……

(She activates the micro thermal imaging module in her optics.)（妮基塔开启了安置在视觉模块中的微型热成像。）

NikketaThere...!那是……！

(Someone is lying on the floor just ahead. She rushes forward with her weapon raised.)（不远处的地上躺着一个人，妮基塔持枪快步上前。）

NikketaThat's a PSA uniform!这是治安部门的标识！

NikketaStill alive... Hang in there, I—还有生命体征……坚持一下，我这就——

Stern Security GuardDon't move! Drop your weapon, step away from the victim!不准动！放下武器，远离伤员！

(Heavy boots close in, surrounding her from all sides.)（沉重有序的脚步声从四面八方聚拢过来，将妮基塔团团围住。）

(She sees PSA insignias through the thick smoke.)（浓烟之中，妮基塔依稀辨认出对方佩戴的治安部门标识。）

NikketaI'm Nikketa, Second Patrol Detachment, ID 040901D...我是巡逻勤务处第二支队队员妮基塔，识别代码040901D……

Stern Security GuardI repeat—drop the weapon and step back!重复一次，放下枪，后退！

Nikketa...……

(Nikketa sets the gun down on the floor, takes a step back, and raises her hands.)（将配枪放在地上，妮基塔向后退了一步，举起双手。）

Stern Security Guard040901D, due to breach of protocol, your operations are suspended. You are to be returned for investigation.040901D，由于违规操作，现强制中止你的一切行动，遣返回治安部门，接受停职审查。

NikketaWait...等一下……

Stern Security GuardThat's an order, not a negotiation.这是命令，不是沟通。

Stern Security Guard040901D, comply.040901D，请配合调查。

(Click.)（咔哒。）

(The handcuffs she's heard countless times now close around her own wrists.)（这个妮基塔听了无数次的手铐声，这次响在了自己身上。）

Cryptic Invitation 隐秘的邀请函

NikketaHello, I'm looking for Captain Jarvert Roberts of the Second Patrol Detachment. Is he in the office right now?您好，我想找一下巡逻勤务处第二支队队长沙威·罗伯茨，请问他现在在办公室吗？

Receptionist...Nikketa, it's you again.……妮基塔，怎么又是你。

ReceptionistI've already told you many times—according to the directive, you're not even supposed to be inside the Public Security Administration building, let alone requesting to see your former superior.已经跟你说了很多次了，依照禁令，你现在都不该出现在治安部门的大厅，更别提见你的前上司了。

NikketaI just want to offer a detailed explanation regarding the accusations stated in the dismissal notice and clarify what actually happened during the incident.我只是想就革职通知上提出的、对我的指控，作出详尽的解释，以及阐述当时发生的真实情况。

ReceptionistDon't waste your breath on me. I'm just a receptionist. I don't understand any of that.别和我说这些，我只是个接待员，听不懂。

ReceptionistBut what I do know is this—the dismissal order must be followed without exception. Please leave immediately, or I will call security.但可以确认的是，革职指令是绝对要遵守的，现在请你立刻离开这里，不然我会呼叫安保。

Nikketa...I don't know where these rumors about "risk of going haywire" for my model came from, but I'd appreciate a chance to explain myself regarding the accusation of "violating protocol".……我不知道，关于我这一型号的人形存在“失控风险”的传闻是哪里传出来的，但关于“违规操作”这一项，我还是希望能给我一个解释的机会。

Receptionist...Let me give you a piece of friendly advice, for old times' sake—Any Doll dismissed by their original department in the satellite city has a two-week grace period to find a new job and affiliation. If you still haven't found one after that, you'd better pray you don't get scanned by any ID scanners.……看在平日的交情上，我好心提醒你——在卫星城中被原司解雇的人形，有两周的过渡时间来寻找新的工作和所属，超过两周还没有新的所属，你只能祈祷不要被任何身份检查的仪器扫描到。

ReceptionistNow, please leave. Don't make this harder than it has to be.现在，请你立刻离开，别为难我了。

Nikketa...……

(Realizing that any appeal would be futile, Nikketa no longer bothers to argue.)（眼见申诉无果，妮基塔也无意再浪费时间纠缠。）

(Before leaving, she takes a long, hard look at the emblem of the Public Security Administration on the wall.)（离开前，她深深地看了一眼墙上治安部门的徽记。）

(The emblem that once gave her strength and conviction now looks especially cold and ruthless.)（平日里带给她力量和信念的徽记，此时显得格外尖锐冰冷。）

NikketaRight, if I were to file a cross-jurisdiction appeal...对了，如果跨辖区申诉的话……

(Vehicles come and go at the entrance to the orphanage. Nikketa stands quietly by the gate.)（福利院门前车来车往，妮基塔静静地等候在门口。）

(One of the security guards sees her and leans out of the window.)（门口的安保看到了妮基塔，打开窗户探出头来。）

Orphanage SecurityNikketa, you've been standing outside the entrance for days now, but you never come in. Did something happen?妮基塔，我看你来门口守了好几天了，也不进去，发生什么事了吗？

NikketaI'm waiting for someone.我在等一个人。

Orphanage SecurityWho? I can help keep a lookout and let you know when they arrive.谁？我帮你记一下，来了通知你？

NikketaThanks, but... that won't be necessary.谢谢，不用……

(Suddenly, the person Nikketa has been waiting for appears within her field of vision.)（忽然，妮基塔的视野范围内出现了此行的目标。）

NikketaWait, Ms. Inesa Chernova!等等，伊涅萨·切尔诺娃女士——

(Hearing her name, the woman stops and turns around and is rather surprised to see Nikketa.)（听到呼声的女性停下了脚步，转头有些惊讶地看向妮基塔。）

InesaNikketa?妮基塔？

NikketaSorry to trouble you, but could I have a moment of your time? I need to ask a favor.抱歉，能不能耽误您一些时间，我有事情想要求助。

(The woman looks puzzled, but she stops to listen. Nikketa decides to speak as concisely as possible.)（看对方虽然不解，还是停下来听她说话，妮基塔决定将自己的情况用最简洁的语句表达出来。）

NikketaThank you for your time, ma'am.感谢您的耐心，是这样的，女士。

NikketaI used to work for the Public Security Administration in Jurisdiction E5. During a recent mission, I was wrongfully accused of violating protocols and dismissed from the force. I've tried to appeal, but all channels have been closed to me.我供职于治安局的E5辖区，在之前的一次任务中因误判违规操作而被革职，现在申诉无门。

InesaAnd what do you want from me?那你想我怎么做呢？

NikketaJudging by your uniform and insignia, your rank is higher than mine. I'm hoping you could assist me with filing a cross-jurisdiction appeal.从制服和徽记上来看，您的职级应该高于我，所以我希望您能帮助我完成跨区申诉。

InesaCross-jurisdiction appeals are highly unlikely. We've never worked together officially. Even if I outrank you, I can't vouch for you.跨区申诉不太可能，我们在公务上没有接触过，就算我级别高于你，也无法为你做担保。

InesaHowever, I can at least help you contact your superior and pass along a message.不过，如果是帮你联络上司，传递消息，那还是可以做到的。

NikketaIf you could help me get in touch with my captain, I would be very grateful.如果能帮我联系队长的话，也很感谢。

NikketaHis name is...我的队长叫……

InesaJarvert Roberts.沙威·罗伯茨。

InesaODE-13, Captain of the Second Patrol Detachment in Jurisdiction E5, correct?ODE-13，E5辖区巡逻勤务处第二支队队长，对吧？

NikketaYou... looked into me?您……调查过我？

InesaYou've had frequent contact with Una. For her safety, it's only natural that I'd check your background.毕竟你和乌娜接触也算密切，为了保证她的安全，查一查你的来历并不奇怪。

(It's a reasonable explanation.)（是合理的解释。）

InesaNikketa, imprint model VSK-94. Suspected of violating protocol in Operation Codename 342, causing injuries to a fellow officer. Further mechanical inspection revealed irreparable performance defects. Result—dismissal.“妮基塔，烙印型号VSK-94，在代号：342行动中，因涉嫌违规操作致同僚受伤，再加上机体检查结果中不可修复的性能缺陷，被革职处理”。

InesaThat's what you're trying to appeal, right?你想要申诉的是这个吧？

NikketaHow do you know all that?为什么您会知道这些？

InesaBecause I was the one who orchestrated everything.因为，是我策划的一切。

Nikketa...!……！

(The unexpected answer hits Nikketa like a lightning strike, but she only frowns briefly before immediately sizing up the woman in front of her.)（从未设想过的回答冲击着妮基塔的心智，但她也仅仅短暂地皱了一下眉头。她几乎是立刻用审视的目光观察起眼前的人。）

(Even through the sunglasses, Nikketa can sense that the woman's previously warm, smiling eyes have turned unreadable, as if there's some creature lurking just beneath the surface.)（虽然隔着墨镜，但妮基塔能感受得到，女人原本含着和善笑意的双眼，此时变得有些捉摸不透，像某种潜藏于地表之下的生物。）

InesaLet me properly reintroduce myself. My name is Inesa Grigorivna Chernova, head of the Counterintelligence and Investigative Intelligence Division of the Public Security Administration.重新自我介绍一下，我的名字是伊涅萨·格里戈里·切尔诺娃，是治安管理局反间谍与情报侦查部门的部长。

InesaApologies for not disclosing this earlier. It just didn't seem relevant, since our work didn't overlap.抱歉，之前并不是有意隐瞒这个身份，只是觉得我们的工作并没有交集，所以没什么说明的必要。

NikketaAnd now it is?现在，您觉得有必要了？

InesaHeh. No need to be so guarded. I'll explain everything.呵呵，不用这么防备，我会一一解释给你听。

InesaBut this isn't the right place for a conversation. Let's get in the car. I know a better location.不过，福利院门口可不是聊天的好地方，上车吧？我知道有一个合适的地方。

NikketaWait. Before that, can you show some valid identification?等一下，在此之前，你能出示有效身份证明吗？

NikketaEven if you're carrying a PSA badge, I can't just take your word for it.毕竟我也不可能仅凭一个治安管理局徽记就相信你的身份。

InesaNot bad. Even after the dismissal, you still take your basic precautions.不错，虽然被革职，但基本的警戒心还在。

InesaHere, take a look.给，看吧。

(Inesa presents her electronic ID for Nikketa to verify.)（伊涅萨展示出自己的电子证件让妮基塔检查。）

InesaWell? Satisfied I'm not lying?如何？我没骗你吧。

NikketaYour credentials check out. Thank you for your cooperation.身份信息真实有效，多谢配合。

InesaThen... shall we go?那么，上车吧？

InesaSit wherever you like. I'll make us some coffee.随便坐，我去泡杯咖啡。

(After taking in her surroundings, Nikketa sits down on the sofa in the cabin.)（环视四周后，妮基塔在小屋中的沙发上坐下。）

(The cabin is well-hidden and soundproof. Not a sound can be heard from outside.)（这间小屋的位置十分隐蔽，隔音效果也不错，周围听不到一点声音。）

InesaThe distress call you heard during that mission was actually a pre-recorded audio clip prepared by my tech team. We disguised it as coming from the squad's primary frequency and inserted it into your comms receiver through interference.在那次任务中你听到的求援声，其实是我安排技术人员事先录制的音频片段，伪装成了小队的主频段，通过干扰的手段插入到你的通讯接收器中的。

NikketaSo... the entire rescue was just a staged performance that you orchestrated—to get me "dismissed"?……也就是说，整个救援都是您安排的“一场戏”，为的是得到将我“革职”的这个结果？

InesaYour composure surprises me. I thought you'd be more upset after learning you were set up.你的冷静出乎我的意料，我还以为知道了自己被陷害会更加激动一些呢。

NikketaHow my emotional module functions is none of your concern. To me, this is simply filling in the blanks. I already know the method and the outcome, now I want to learn your motive.我的情绪模块如何运作跟您并无关系，对于我来说，现在我们所做的不过是在补完一条时间线，知道了手段和结果，我想把起因的空白也填上。

NikketaBut before that, I'd like to know... was that team member really injured?不过在此之前，我想知道，那个队员是真的受伤了吗？

(Inesa raises an eyebrow.)（伊涅萨挑了挑眉。）

InesaYou care about that? Don't worry, no one was actually hurt. They're all my subordinates, acting under my special orders. You can consider it part of the show.你在意这个吗？放心，没有人真正地因这件事受伤，他们都是我的下属，执行我的特殊指令而已，你可以理解为是这场戏的一环。

NikketaVery well. Then please answer my next question—Why did you orchestrate this whole performance?可以，那么请您继续回答我的问题——为什么您要策划这一场戏。

InesaSometimes, for more people to enjoy the sunlight, someone has to do things in the dark—things that can't see the light of day.有时候，为了能让更多人享受“阳光”，必须有人在黑暗中，做一些见不得光的事情。

InesaYou used to work for a PMC. You should know how this kind of thing works.你以前曾在P.M.C.供职过，对这类事情应该有一定的感知的。

NikketaWhen I worked for the PMC, the Commander whom I served under was always upright. I'm not familiar with the kind of things that "can't see the light of day" that you're referring to.我在P.M.C.供职时，跟随的指挥官一向行事磊落，我不了解您所说的“见不得光”的事具体是什么。

NikketaIf there's something you want me to do, just say it directly. I'll assess whether I can do it after I've heard the details.如果有什么需要我做的，您可以直接说明，能不能做，听完之后我会评估。

InesaAlright, since you're being this straightforward, I'll skip the preamble.行，既然你这么直接，那我也就不拐弯抹角了。

(Realizing Nikketa's extremely direct demeanor, Inesa adjusts her tone.)（意识到妮基塔极度直来直往的态度，伊涅萨调整了一下自己的说话方式。）

InesaDuring the recent operation to seize illegal drugs, we captured some suspects. But upon investigation, they turned out to be just low-level runners. The real big players are still hiding in the shadows.其实在之前收缴违禁药品的行动中我们抓到了一些嫌疑人，但根据之后的查证，这些嫌疑人只不过都是级别最低的下线，真正的大鱼还躲在幕后。

InesaOn top of that, we've received an anonymous report implicating Mangi Security. We need someone to go undercover inside Mangi Security and gather concrete evidence of their involvement in illegal drug trafficking.而且，我们收到了一些举报消息，指出曼尼安保也参与其中，我们需要人进入曼尼安保卧底，找出曼尼安保参与违禁药品走私的切实证据。

NikketaMangi Security? Are you sure?曼尼安保？你确定吗？

InesaYes, the same Mangi Security that makes donations to orphanages, just like we do.对，就是那个和我们一样，会为福利院捐款捐物的曼尼安保。

Nikketa...Can I take a look at the report?……我可以看看举报的消息吗？

InesaOf course.当然。

(Inesa opens a drawer and hands Nikketa a stack of documents.)（伊涅萨打开抽屉，拿出了一叠纸质材料递给妮基塔。）

(The report includes a blurry photo. In it, a person wearing a Mangi Security uniform is sitting on a worn-out sofa, holding a vial of some substance.)（那条举报消息也被打印了出来，是一张模糊的图片，图片上一个穿着曼尼安保制服的人正坐在破旧的沙发上，手里拿着一管药剂。）

InesaWhat he's holding is the contraband drug in question. In the industry, it's known as "Vitalis". It's rumored to treat "Doll Syndrome", but in reality, it contains minimal active ingredients and is highly addictive. Long-term use leads to mental instability, severe paranoia, and an inability to distinguish fantasy from reality.照片上的这个人拿的，就是涉事的违禁药品，行业内称“生息水”，被传是用于治疗“人形病”的药物，但实际上有效的药物成分并不高，反而有很强的成瘾性，长期使用会导致人精神错乱，产生强烈的被迫害妄想，且无法分清幻想与现实。

NikketaDoll Syndrome?人形病？

InesaOh, that's a common psychological illness among people who live and work long-term in satellite cities.哦，这是长期在卫星城居住、工作的人常见的心理疾病。

InesaPatients feel that they've fought tooth and nail for the right to live in a satellite city, hoping for a comfortable life, only to discover all their efforts merely serve to make life easier for the privileged in the White Zones. That realization makes them feel like they've been downgraded from "humans" to "Dolls". They often develop strong hostility toward actual Dolls... No offense.患者会觉得自己拼了命得到卫星城的居住资格，想要过上轻松舒适的生活，发现自己的一切努力只不过是为了让白区的特权阶级过得更舒适后，产生了自己从“人”降级成了“人形”的想法，且会对真正的人形产生强烈的敌意……无意冒犯。

NikketaNone taken.无所谓。

NikketaSo we're investigating this substance called "Vitalis"? Are there any other photos?所以要查的就是这个叫作“生息水”的东西吗？还有没有其他照片？

InesaNo... This photo was likely taken covertly. The sender's IP was randomly generated, probably to avoid retaliation.没有了……这张照片估计是非正常拍摄，传信方的IP是随机生成的，估计也是怕被顺藤摸瓜打击报复吧。

NikketaA single photo like this can't serve as evidence linking Mangi Security to "Vitalis".只是这样一张照片，无法作为曼尼安保与“生息水”有关的证据。

InesaWe do have a few fragmented clues, but... it's not sufficient for making formal accusations.还有一些比较零碎的线索，但是——当然都不足以作为指证曼尼安保的证据。

InesaAnd that's exactly why I need you.也正因此，我需要你。

(Nikketa casts Inesa a searching look. Inesa meets her gaze calmly.)（妮基塔再次向伊涅萨投去审视的目光，这位女士也坦然地接受了她的审视。）

NikketaOne last question—why me?最后一个问题，为什么是我。

InesaYou've had close contact with people from Mangi Security, haven't you?你和曼尼安保的人有密切接触吧？

(Inesa places another photo on the table and pushes it toward Nikketa.)（伊涅萨拿出一张照片，放在桌子上，推给妮基塔。）

(The man in the photo is David. The angle clearly indicates that it was taken without his knowledge.)（照片上的人是戴维，从拍摄视角来看明显也是非正常拍摄。）

NikketaNot exactly close, but he has been actively trying to recruit me. He's been encouraging me to jump ship and join Mangi.不算密切，但是他确实一直在替公司招揽我，希望我能跳槽去曼尼安保。

InesaThen joining them would be a natural step for you.那这个情况下，你加入曼尼安保就是顺水推舟的事了。

Nikketa...Would it really be that easy?……能有这么顺利吗？

NikketaI was "dismissed" for "protocol violations" and "performance defects". Would Mangi Security really take in someone like that?你们给我安的罪行是“违规操作”和“性能缺陷”，曼尼安保会接收这样的人形？

InesaIn reality, your "performance defects" don't exist. That would become apparent in any baseline diagnostics.但实际上，“性能缺陷”你确实没有，这个在做机检的时候能查得出来。

InesaAs for the "protocol violations", well... you know how rigid government organizations are. Private security firms have very different standards and protocols.至于“违规操作”嘛……你知道官方部门的规矩繁琐又死板，这种私人安保公司对于“违规”会有不一样的定义。

InesaBelieve me, they won't easily pass up this rare opportunity to recruit a high-performance tactical Doll like you.相信我，接收像你这样一个高性能战术人形对于他们来说是可遇不可求的。

(Nikketa eyes the documents spread out before her, then looks up at Inesa's face again.)（妮基塔看着摊在自己面前的资料，目光移到伊涅萨的脸上。）

NikketaSo after I complete this mission... what happens to me?那么，这个任务完成后，我会去到哪里？

InesaYou can go wherever you want. You could even come back to the Public Security Administration. I'll reinstate your service records.去任何你想去的地方，再回到治安管理局也行，我会给你重新录入档案的。

InesaOf course, you have every right to turn down this mission. It's dangerous, after all... In time, I'll clear your name, and you can still return to work.当然，如果你不想接受这个任务也可以，这个任务确实危险……过一段时间我给你翻案，你照样可以回来工作。

Nikketa...If you have such a thorough plan, why didn't you speak to me about it beforehand?……既然您有如此周全的计划，为什么不提前和我沟通？

InesaWhat's wrong? Didn't like being falsely accused?怎么，是觉得被诬陷的感觉不太好？

(Nikketa frowns slightly as she lapses into silence, her thoughts pulled back to that moment when her colleague pointed a gun at her.)（妮基塔微微蹙眉，沉默良久，思绪被拉回了被同事拿枪指着的那一刻。）

(She pushes away the unpleasant memory, focusing instead on Inesa's words and the core of the matter.)（她尽力排除掉那些让人不舒服的杂音，将算力放到伊涅萨所说的话、以及事情的本质本身。）

NikketaNo. It's just that with prior communication, I could've responded better. Everything before this felt senseless. For a moment, I even doubted myself—and the PSA.不，只是提前沟通我可以做出更好的应对，而且先前的所有让我觉得很不合理，有一瞬间我质疑了自己还有治安局的存在。

NikketaI don't like feeling that kind of doubt.我不喜欢产生这种质疑。

InesaHaha, I didn't know even Dolls have existential crises.哈哈，没想到人形还有这种存在主义危机的问题呀。

NikketaThat's not funny.这并不好笑。

(The mood, which had lightened a little, now grows heavy again.)（原本稍微轻松的氛围又变得有些凝固了起来。）

InesaSorry... I didn't mean to upset you.抱歉……给你带来了不好的感受。

InesaI really should've explained the situation to you. This is the general consensus around "undercover" work, but clearly you've never done this sort of thing before.关于这点我的确也该跟你解释清楚，这是“卧底”的共识，而你明显没做过类似的事。

(Inesa sits up straight.)（伊涅萨坐直了身体。）

InesaLet me put it this way. The reason I didn't talk to you beforehand is because I wanted the whole thing to feel natural—as if you really were dismissed for violating protocol. The less staged it looks, the better.这么说吧，之所以没有事先沟通，是因为我希望整个过程能够尽量自然，让你看上去是真的因为违规操作而离开治安局的，人为操纵的迹象越轻越好。

InesaMost undercover agents are trained early on, so they can perform convincingly.大部分卧底，一般是很早开始培养的，所以他们有这样的演技。

InesaBut someone like you, who's being chosen on short notice, might act unnaturally due to hesitation if warned in advance. You could've made mistakes that would be used against you somewhere down the line.像你这种临时被选中的，如果提前被告知，反而可能会因为心有顾虑而显得不自然，日后会落下把柄。

NikketaThat may be true, but weren't you worried things would go wrong? Like if I didn't follow the "script"?话是这么说，但你们不怕出其他差错吗？比如我并没有按照剧本来。

InesaBut you did come to me.但你来找我了。

(Inesa smiles faintly.)（伊涅萨微笑了一下。）

InesaI wasn't wrong about you. Your pursuit of truth has brought you here.我对你的判断没有错，你对真理和真相的执着，带着你来到了我的面前。

InesaThat kind of resolve is exactly what an undercover agent needs.这种执着正是卧底所需要的。

NikketaAnd what else... does undercover work require?卧底……还需要什么？

InesaHmm, let's see... Tolerance for loneliness and boredom. Acceptance of the fact that you will give your all and likely receive nothing in return.我想想啊——还需要忍受孤独和无聊，也要习惯付出百倍但颗粒无收。

InesaYou'll have to blend into the crowd, and whether you succeed or fail, you can never speak of it.将自己隐匿于人群之中，无论是失败或成功，都不可宣扬。

Nikketa...……

InesaSo, are you willing to take the mission?所以，你愿意接受这个任务吗？

(Nikketa looks into Inesa's eyes, sensing a scrutinizing gaze behind her glasses.)（妮基塔看向伊涅萨的眼睛，感觉到镜片之后的目光带着审视。）

(A strange emotion rises in her neural cloud, but she dismisses it as system noise.)（心智中突然产生了一丝异样的情绪，但她最后把这丝情绪归为了系统运行的杂音。）

NikketaDolls don't overthink. At least, I don't.人形不会想那么多，至少我不会。

NikketaIf it's something that helps people, something that's right... I'll do it.如果是对民众有帮助的事、正确的事，我就会去做。

(Inesa smiles and extends her hand.)（伊涅萨露出了一个微笑，朝妮基塔伸出了手。）

InesaI knew I wasn't wrong about you.我果然没有看错你。

InesaThen, here's to a successful collaboration.那么，就预祝我们合作愉快。

(Nikketa looks at the offered hand and shakes it gently.)（妮基塔看着对方伸出来的手，轻轻回握了一下。）

NikketaRight.嗯。

Covert Transport 暗线运输

(Two months after joining Mangi Security...)（入职曼尼安保的两个月后——）

(Having just wrapped up a task, Nikketa runs into David in the hallway.)（刚交接完任务的妮基塔，在走廊上碰到了戴维。）

DavidHey, Nikketa! Haven't seen you since your onboarding.嘿，妮基塔，自从上次入职以来又是好久不见了。

DavidHow's it going? Settling in alright?怎么样，已经熟悉这里了吗？

NikketaMore or less.差不多熟悉了。

DavidWhoa, your robodog actually passed approval? HR must really like you.哇哦，你的机械犬~居然通过审批了吗？人事对你还真是宽松啊。

DavidSo, how's the pay? Must be enough to get the kids at the orphanage something better, huh?如何？是不是工资涨了一大截？应该可以给福利院的孩子们买更好的东西了吧？

Nikketa...Isn't it explicitly stated in our contract that we're not to discuss salary with coworkers?……我们的合约里有明文规定不能向同事透露自己的工资吧？

DavidAw, don't be so rigid... But fine, it's cool if you wanna keep it to yourself. The salaries of Dolls and humans aren't exactly comparable to begin with.别那么死板嘛……不过不愿意说就算了，人形和人的工资待遇本来也就没什么可比性。

DavidOh, right—Nikketa, come to Hangar 3 after lunch. I'll introduce you to the team you'll be doing next week's long-haul transport mission with.对了，妮基塔，午休之后你来下整备三区，我带你见见下周一起执行长途运输任务的队友。

NikketaLong-haul transport?长途运输任务？

DavidWhat, no one told you yet?怎么，你还没收到通知？

NikketaHang on, let me check...稍等，我看看……

(Nikketa pulls out her terminal, which shows an unread task on her checklist.)（妮基塔掏出终端，清单上显示出一条未查看的任务。）

DavidHaha, you've got to check your task list on time! That's something Dolls should be even better at than humans, right?哈哈，不及时查看清单怎么行呢，这点人形应该比人类更擅长吧。

DavidMan, I'm telling you, this is one of the company's key transport routes. Usually, only the vets get—唉，我跟你说，这条运输路线是公司最重要的运输路线之一，一般只有资历比较老的成员——

(David frowns as he notices that Nikketa is still focused on her terminal.)（看着妮基塔的注意力还在终端上，戴维的嘴角抽了抽。）

DavidUh, Nikketa, you listening?呃，妮基塔，你有在听吗？

NikketaI heard everything, but I've got something to do right now. See you this afternoon, Captain David.我都听到了，不过目前我有点事，下午见了，戴维队长。

NikketaLet's go, Kulich.走，库利奇。

DavidHey, wait, I'm not finished—喂，等等，我还没有说完……

(Before David can react, Nikketa has already rushed off with her mechanical dog.)（不等戴维反应过来，妮基塔就带着机械犬走远了。）

David...Tsk.……啧。

Nikketa...To conclude, nothing suspicious has been found for now.……综上所述，目前没有发现任何可疑迹象。

InesaYou've just joined Mangi Security, and you're carrying out the most basic frontline tasks. It's normal that they won't expose you to core operations yet, especially since you used to work in the PSA. The key is to blend in and become part of their "background".你才刚进入曼尼安保，做着最常规基层的任务，再加上又是治安部门过去的人，不会让你接触到核心业务也是正常的，先融入进大环境中，成为他们的“背景”再说。

NikketaSpeaking of core operations, I just received a task today—one that's usually assigned only to more senior members.说到核心业务，我今天刚接到一个任务，据说一般是只有资历较老的成员才能接到。

(Nikketa hands her work terminal to Inesa.)（妮基塔将工作终端递给伊涅萨。）

InesaA long-haul transport from ODE-13 to LVI-14. Cargo category—food... Hmm...从ODE-13到LVI-14的长途运输，货物类别是食品……嗯……

(Inesa taps the armrest of her seat with a finger.)（伊涅萨的手指轻点座椅扶手。）

InesaThat's very suspicious. The route passes through loosely regulated—or rather, completely unregulated—contamination zones. There's plenty of opportunity for foul play.很可疑，运输的途中会穿越监管薄弱、甚至可以说是毫无监管的污染区，这其中可以做的手脚可多了。

NikketaYou mean there's a chance the cargo could be swapped in the contamination zone?您的意思是有可能会在污染区置换货物？

InesaExactly. But if Mangi Security really does run illegal ops like that, they'd normally assign someone experienced and familiar with their internal workings. It's odd that they'd entrust this to someone like you after just two months...没错。不过，假使曼尼安保真有这种违规任务，一般的确会交给资历比较老、懂得公司内情的成员，你刚进去两个月就被委以重任不太合理……

NikketaI understand. I'll stay alert and treat it as a regular transport unless something seems off.我明白。我会做好反侦察工作，没发现不对的话，就会把这个任务当作一次普通的运输工作。

InesaI'm counting on you.交给你了。

InesaOh, and take this.对了，这个你收着。

(Inesa hands Nikketa a USB drive.)（伊涅萨交给妮基塔一个U盘样式的挂件。）

InesaA little gadget developed by our tech team. It can automatically generate neural logs. All my Doll agents have one—to pass routine neural cloud inspections.技术部门开发的小玩意，可以自动生成心智记录，我手下的人形探员人手一个，用来应对心智记录检查。

InesaFrom what I remember, Mangi Security takes neural log submissions every two months. The next one is coming up soon, right?我记得曼尼安保两个月提交一次心智记录，最近也快了吧？

NikketaTomorrow, actually.就在明天。

InesaPerfect timing. This will get you through the inspection just fine.那正好，用这个足以应付检查了。

NikketaI also have something for you—or rather, for your daughter.我也有东西要给您。不、准确来讲是给您女儿的。

(Nikketa hands her a neatly wrapped box.)（妮基塔将一个包装精美的盒子交给了她。）

InesaThis is... for Una?这是……给乌娜的？

InesaA toy walkie-talkie and a recon manual...玩具对讲机和侦查手册……

NikketaIt's the public security officer toy set I promised Una.这是跟乌娜承诺过的治安官玩具套装。

NikketaShe's already received the toy badge; this is the rest of it.玩具徽章之前已经送给她了，这些是剩下的。

InesaOh, I see... Thank you. That's very kind of you.哦，还真是……费心了。

(Inesa seems a bit distracted. She accepts the box stiffly.)（伊涅萨似乎有些出神，她伸出手接过礼盒的动作也有些不自然。）

NikketaUna said her dream is to become a public security officer. She has a strong sense of justice. I like her a lot, so it's my pleasure.乌娜说她未来的梦想是当一名治安官，她的正义感很强，我很喜欢她，所以并没有感觉费心。

NikketaPlease give this to her when she returns from her trip.这个礼物麻烦您等她旅游回来后，转交给她。

(Inesa gently caresses the box as something comes to mind.)（伊涅萨摩挲着礼物盒，像是想起了什么。）

UnaMama, the day after tomorrow is my birthday!妈妈，明天的明天，就是乌娜的生日了哦！

InesaThe investigation shows... Hm? What did you say?本次调查结果显示……嗯？你说什么？

UnaUna's birthday! It's the day after tomorrow!乌娜的生日！在明天的明天！

InesaAh, right, sweetheart. Happy birthday. What gift do you want?啊，好的宝贝，生日快乐，想要什么礼物呀？

UnaI want the new security officer outfit from Dizzyland! Can I have it, mama?乌娜想要迪迪妮乐园新出的治安官套装！可以吗妈妈？

InesaOf course. Once mama finishes this report, we'll go buy it together, okay?当然可以，等妈妈写完这个报告，带你去买哦？

UnaYay~ Thank you, mama!耶~谢谢妈妈。

InesaIn the end... that case was too complicated, and it completely slipped my mind.结果……那次案件太过复杂，我把这件事给忘记了。

InesaBut Una never brought it up again. When that case was closed, she even baked me cookies to celebrate...不过乌娜完全没有再提起这件事，而在那个案件结束之后，她还亲手给我烤了小饼干祝贺我……

NikketaShe really is such a considerate child.她真的是个很会体谅人的孩子。

InesaShe is. So warm-hearted. She deserves the world... Ahem.是啊，她非常地暖心，应该得到这世界上最好的东西……咳咳。

(Realizing she's gotten emotional, Inesa clears her throat and puts on a polite smile.)（意识到自己似乎有些失态，伊涅萨干咳了几声，换上一副得体的微笑。）

InesaAnyway, thank you, Nikketa.总之，谢谢你，妮基塔。

InesaUna... may be away for a while, but I'll make sure to pass on your kindness.乌娜……可能还要出去很久，不过我会向她传达你的好意的。

NikketaNo need to thank me.不用谢。

(Nikketa isn't sure if it's her imagination, but Inesa's smile seems a bit forced.)（不知道是不是自己的错觉，妮基塔觉得伊涅萨的笑容有一丝勉强。）

(After Nikketa leaves, Inesa sits alone on the sofa and dials a number on her terminal.)（妮基塔离开后，伊涅萨独自一人坐在沙发上，拿出终端拨通了一个号码。）

(The ringtone lasts a long time before the other end finally picks up.)（回铃音响了许久，对面才终于接通。）

InesaIt's me... Everything is proceeding according to plan.是我……一切都按照计划进行。

InesaShe hasn't noticed anything suspicious. Her PSA records have already been deleted—there's no way back for her.她并没有察觉到不对劲，治安部门的档案已经删了，她回不去的。

InesaMm, yes... I understand. I'll continue to report to you if anything comes up.嗯、嗯……我明白，有什么事我会继续向您汇报。

InesaUh, wait—呃、等一下——

(Inesa straightens up slightly.)（伊涅萨稍微坐正了一些。）

InesaI want to ask about Una. Last time I heard her voice, she sounded like she had the flu... She's recovered? She's... swimming now?我想知道乌娜怎么样了，上次听她的声音，好像有些感冒……已经好了？现在——在游泳？

Inesa...She's got a weak constitution. She'll probably need some nutritional supplements after swimming.……她身体比较弱，可能在游完之后需要吃一些预防感冒的营养剂。

InesaI... I'll send you a list later. Please help buy them if you can.我……之后把营养剂的单子发给您，麻烦您看着买一下可以吗？

InesaOkay... Thank you.好的……谢谢。

(The call ends.)（通讯结束。）

(Inesa massages the bridge of her nose, then looks down at the beautifully wrapped box on the table. Apart from the officer-themed toys, it also contains a cute plush mascot wearing a mini PSA uniform.)（伊涅萨揉了揉自己的鼻梁，望着桌子上包装精美的礼盒。除了一些治安官装扮玩具外，礼盒中还有一个可爱的毛绒玩偶，是穿着治安管理部门制服的小小吉祥物。）

(She picks up the plush and buries her face in its soft and fluffy fabric, just as she used to bury her face in Una's thick hair when hugging her countless times.)（伊涅萨捧起玩偶，将脸颊埋在了毛茸茸的织物里，就像无数次拥抱女儿时，将脸颊埋进乌娜浓密的长发中那样。）

(A week later, the night before the transport mission.)（一周后，运输任务的前一天晚上——）

NikketaEven though the cargo swap is more likely to happen in the contamination zone...虽然在污染区置换货物的可能性更大，但……

(Avoiding the surveillance she had previously scoped out, Nikketa sneaks into the cargo hold.)（避开了事先就摸清的监控，妮基塔来到了货物储存区。）

NikketaJust in case, I should inspect the cargo beforehand.以防万一，还是先检查一下货物。

(Suddenly, a sound comes from the small door at the back of the hold. Nikketa ducks behind a shelf.)（身后的仓库小门突然传来声响，妮基塔矮身躲在了货架之后。）

Irate Voice...Damn, that Anthony kid is getting greedier by the day. His asking price keeps going up.……安东尼这小子真是狮子大开口，要价越来越高了。

Familiar VoiceHow much did you give him?你给了他多少？

Irate VoiceTwo hundred credit tokens. For one hour.200信用币，一个小时。

Irate VoiceOne hour—and he's even limiting our access time to the cargo hold! Apparently someone might notice if we take too long.一个小时，居然还限制我们进仓库的时间！说什么，太久了会被发现。

Irate VoiceWho's gonna know once we wipe the visitor logs and surveillance footage?!来访记录和监控一删有谁能知道啊！？

Irate VoicePlus, the guy always wanders off around this time. As long as the missing cargo goes unnoticed, no one's gonna bother checking the footage... Honestly, it feels like we're overpaying.而且这家伙总是在这个时间段出去摸鱼，没被发现货物有缺的话，谁也不会特意去查监控……总感觉这个钱花得并没有必要。

Familiar VoiceBetter safe than sorry.还是小心一点比较好。

Familiar VoiceDamn it, these people are ruthless... Let's raise the price of this shipment too. We'll earn it all back with interest.妈的，人坑人是真的狠……这次的货物我们也提提价，连本带利地赚回来。

Irate VoiceRaise it again...? You're not afraid no one will buy?还提啊……不怕人要不起啊？

Familiar VoiceOh, they'll buy it. Those poor bastards in the contamination zones rely on this stuff to survive.要不起也会要的，污染区的那些可怜虫就指着这个活狗命了。

(Nikketa identifies the two intruders through voiceprint analysis. One is David, and the other is a transport team member whom he previously introduced.)通过声纹对比，妮基塔对两名不速之客的身份有了概念。熟悉的声音正是戴维，另一个则是戴维介绍过的运输队员。

Nikketa...!……！

NikketaIt's them...是他们……

TransporterDavid, how many crates are we taking this time?戴维，我们这次拿几箱啊？

DavidSame as usual—three.老样子，三箱。

TransporterOnly three? Come on, this shipment is huge. We could sneak out more and no one would notic—Ow, why'd you hit me?!才三箱？拜托，这次货物这么多，多拿一点也不会被发现的，别玩不起啦——哎呦，你干嘛打我！

DavidIf we get caught, we're screwed! Ever heard of caution? I teamed up with you because I thought you had some brains. Now I'm starting to think I should've gone with a Doll. At least she'd be obedient like a dog.被人发现我们就玩完了，懂不懂什么叫谨慎？当初找你合作就是看你心眼比较多，现在感觉你还不如人形，起码人形像狗一样听话。

TransporterHey, that's going too far...喂喂喂，你也骂得太脏了吧……

(The transport team member tries to argue but shuts up when he sees David's dark expression.)（运输队员刚要反驳，抬起头看见戴维阴沉的脸。）

(He gulps.)（他咽了一口口水。）

TransporterUgh... Fine, three crates it is...咕……三箱就三箱呗……

TransporterScrew this! Why am I stuck with a lunatic like you... Anyway, speaking of Dolls—what's the deal with that Nikketa you introduced us to? Only two months in and she's already doing covert transports?烦死了，摊上你这么个神经病……不过说到人形，之前你带我们见的那个妮基塔，到底是什么来头啊，这才两个月就被派来做暗线运输啦？

DavidWho knows what HQ is thinking. They had me cozy up to her ages ago and poach her from the PSA... Every time I talk to her, I feel sick.谁知道上头是怎么想的，老早之前就让我和她套近乎，把她从治安局挖过来……每次和她说话我都觉得恶心。

TransporterWith how much they value her, and how she's learning all our business... You don't think she's being groomed to replace you as squad leader, do you?这么看重她，又让她熟悉我们组的业务……不会是想让她接替你队长的位置吧？

DavidI told you, I have no idea what those pampered fatsos upstairs are planning. Even if she replaces me, what can I do? These days, actual people have it worse than Dolls.都说了，我也不知道上头那群养尊处优的有钱大爷想要玩什么，就算要接替我也没办法，这年头人就是他妈活得不如人形。

TransporterCalm down, man! (Sigh)... But here's another possibility—What if we've been found out for smuggling, and Nikketa was sent to spy on us...?冷静冷静——唉……不过还有一个可能，就是我们倒卖货物被发现了，妮基塔是被派来监视我们的……

DavidHighly unlikely. Aside from Anthony, we haven't left any traces. And Anthony's in this with us—if we go down, so does he...基本不可能，除了安东尼那里，我们没有留下任何痕迹，而且安东尼和我们是一条绳上的蚂蚱，我们出事了他也跑不掉……

DavidStill, keeping an eye on her wouldn't hurt. If she ever does find out...不过，多防着点她也好，如果哪天真的被她发现了……

(David's eyes flash dangerously on his grim face.)（戴维阴沉的脸上露出凶光。）

DavidShe's just a Doll. We'll scrap her and be done with it.人形而已，报废掉就行了。

TransporterYeah, exactly. Just a damned Doll.就是就是，区区人形。

TransporterCome on, let's load the stuff into your vehicle.走吧，把东西放你车上去。

(The two men bustle about in the cargo hold for a while, then disappear behind the door with the cargo.)（两人在仓库中忙活了一阵，带着货物消失在了门后。）

(Nikketa steps out from the shadows of the shelves.)（妮基塔从货架的阴影中走出。）

NikketaSmuggling cargo... Deliberate collusion...倒卖货物、蓄意拉拢……

(She shifts her gaze to the goods on the shelves.)（妮基塔将目光移向货架上的货品。）

(She opens one of the crates. Inside are neatly stacked canned fruits. The packaging suggests blackcurrants.)（打开其中一个箱子，里面码着整整齐齐的水果罐头，看包装应该是黑醋栗。）

NikketaThese absolutely can't be regular fruit preserves... Otherwise, they wouldn't be taking such a huge risk.这些绝对不可能是正常的水果罐头……不然，不值得他们这么犯险。

(Nikketa reaches toward the crate, but quickly withdraws her hand.)（妮基塔伸出手，但马上收了回来。）

NikketaIt's not the time yet. I need to find a chance to investigate David.现在还不是时候，得找时间查一查戴维了。

NikketaHe just said "load the stuff into your vehicle"...刚刚他说，“放你车上”……

(Mangi Security's transport convoy enters a bleak town in the contamination zone and stops at a supply station.)（曼尼安保的运输队驶入污染区一座萧瑟的城镇，在一个补给点停了下来。）

(David, the transport squad leader, gets out of the vehicle, followed closely by Nikketa.)（作为运输队长的戴维下了车，妮基塔紧随其后。）

(Watching the station staff bustle around refilling water and recharging the truck, David makes a remark.)（看着补给站的员工忙前忙后地给运输车加水充电，戴维不禁感叹。）

DavidEven in a hazmat suit, I can feel how foul the air is... It's suffocating. How do these people get used to surviving in this kind of environment? Haha.穿着防护服我都能感觉到这里空气污浊，令人窒息……这些人是怎么习惯能在这种环境下生存的，哈哈。

Nikketa...……

DavidOh, right, I almost forgot—you're a Doll. Guess robots don't need to breathe, huh? Though you do mimic the action.哦，差点忘了，你是人形，机器人应该不需要呼吸吧？虽然看你有呼吸的动作。

NikketaThat's just to simulate human breathing—to avoid triggering the uncanny valley effect.这只是对人类呼吸动作的模拟，避免引起人类的恐怖谷效应。

NikketaDolls don't actually need to breathe.人形是不需要呼吸的。

DavidHumph, how thoughtful.哼，还真是贴心。

DavidAnyway, Nikketa, I'm stepping away for a bit to buy some stuff. Keep an eye on things here—对了，妮基塔，我要稍微离开去买点东西，这里你帮我看一下——

(An explosion cuts him off.)（爆炸声打断了他们的谈话。）

(Several ramshackle armored cars and motorbikes roar past, kicking up thick clouds of dust.)（几辆改装得破烂歪曲的装甲车和摩托车风驰电掣地开过，卷起大量尘沙。）

NikketaIt's... Varjagers!是……瓦良格帮！

DavidW-why are they suddenly—怎、怎么突然……

(David visibly panics in the face of the Varjagers' assault.)（面对瓦良格帮的来袭，戴维明显地慌了起来。）

NikketaCaptain David, order everyone to combat readiness and evacuate the civilians. I'll hold the front line.戴维队长，通知大家进入战斗状态，让无关人群疏散，我会在前面先顶着。

DavidI-I'm the captain! I don't need orders from a Doll!我、我是队长……不用你个人形来教我！

NikketaJust go!快去！

DavidTsk...啧……

VarjagerHahahahaha! Boys! Look what we've got here—fresh meat!哈哈哈哈哈哈，小的们，肥羊上门了！

VarjagerSlaughter them all!给我宰死他们——！

Covert Transport 暗线运输

(Nikketa moves through the battlefield like a panther, her actions efficient and lethal without any flashy moves.)（妮基塔如猎豹般游走在战场，覆手间没有任何花哨的招数。）

(For those who glimpse her even briefly, it's already too late—their fate is sealed.)（在看清她身影的一刹那，就已经注定了目击者倒下的命运。）

Proud Varjager MemberWait, t-this transport team's got a Doll that strong?! Our intel must've been wrong!等等，这运输队居然有这、这么厉害的人形吗？这情报不对啊！

Grumpy VarjagerScrew the intel! Just grab what we can or this whole trip's wasted!操，现在谁还管情报不情报啊！赶紧想办法多捞点，不然这趟真的白瞎了！

Grumpy VarjagerOkay, you draw the tin can's attention; I'll hijack the truck and drive off. Whatever we get is ours.这样，你去吸引机器人的注意力，我趁机把车开走，能拿一些是一些！

Proud Varjager MemberYou're sending ME into the line of fire while YOU make off with the loot?挨打的事我去，捞油水的事你来？

Proud Varjager MemberYou think I'm a damn fool?你他妈当我是蠢货吗？

Uncomplicated Varjager MemberA dirty rust bucket like you dares to lay a hand on my bros? You're so dead!你这破铜烂铁敢打俺兄弟，俺跟你拼了——

(As one of them revs a motorbike and charges at Nikketa, the two men stop arguing and exchange a look.)（看着不知从哪里冒出来的、跨着摩托车朝妮基塔冲去的同伴，原本争吵的两人对视了一眼。）

Proud Varjager MemberLet's go, bro! Split the take!走！兄弟，有好处一起捞！

Grumpy VarjagerHa! My thoughts exactly!巧了，我也是这么想的！

(Not far away, Nikketa notices the suddenly moving Mangi Security transport vehicle and immediately spots the two sneaky men in the cab.)（不远处，妮基塔敏锐地注意到了这辆突然被启动的曼尼安保运输车，连带看清了驾驶座上鬼鬼祟祟的二人。）

NikketaHmph.哼。

(She checks her sidearm, dashes up the nearby ladder in three quick steps, then hurls herself toward the charging Varjager biker.)（妮基塔固定好配枪，三步并作两步登上身旁的阶梯，接着朝骑着摩托冲向自己的瓦良格帮成员撞去。）

Uncomplicated Varjager MemberAaaahhhhh... Huh? Wait, w-w-w-w-wait, wa—ah!!哇呀呀呀呀呀呀呀呀……诶？等等等等等——啊！

(She kicks him off the motorbike mid-charge, grabs the handlebars mid-air, and swings herself onto the bike using its momentum. After steadying it, she guns the throttle and speeds after the truck.)（妮基塔一脚将他从摩托上踹了下去，双手拉住摩托车头，利用惯性旋身跨上了摩托车，稳住车身后立刻调转方向，加大油门追着运输车而去。）

(Thud—)（咚——）

(A dull impact hits the truck roof. The two Varjagers in the cab glance at each other.)（车顶发出了沉闷的响声，正在驾驶车辆的两个瓦良格帮成员互看了一眼。）

Grumpy VarjagerWhat the hell was that?啥啊？

Proud Varjager MemberProbably just another damned rock falling on your head! Hahaha! We've hit the jackpot! A whole truckload!是他娘的天天崩你脑袋的落石！哈哈哈哈哈哈，比起这个，我们真是赚大发了赚大发了！捞了整整一车！

Grumpy VarjagerO-o-oh, right! This stuff's in high demand in the contamination zones! We can jack up the price like crazy!哦哦哦对对对，这药现在在污染区可供不应求，可以尽情地坐他爷爷的地起他奶奶的价！

Proud Varjager MemberBut... we're supposed to turn it in, remember? Knowing the boss, how much do you think we'll actually get?不过……我们抢了这车东西是要上缴的，以老大那尿性……到时候分到我们手上的能有多少？

Grumpy VarjagerTsk... you've got a point. Maybe we should just pocket it all?嘶……你说得好像没错，不然我们私吞了？

Proud Varjager MemberAre you insane? Still, if we just skim a little off the top...你不要命啦？但稍微拿一点……

(Gunshots ring out before he finishes. Bullets pierce the window, hitting the driver's hand with deadly precision.)（话音未落，侧窗传来砰砰的枪响，子弹穿过车窗玻璃精准地打在了驾驶员的手上。）

Proud Varjager MemberBlyat!操——！

(The truck veers wildly across the terrain; the two inside are tossed around like rag dolls.)（运输车开始在荒地上打滑，失去了对方向的掌控，二人在车里被颠得七扭八歪。）

(Nikketa seizes the moment and leaps through the shattered window. Grabbing the steering wheel with one hand, she aims her gun with the other and fires two precise shots into their legs.)（妮基塔趁机从车窗突入，一只手扯住方向盘，一只手持枪，枪托抵着肩膀，对准他们的腿扣动了扳机。）

(Bang! Bang!)（砰！砰！）

Grumpy VarjagerAaahhhh!! You! I—!啊啊啊啊啊啊啊！你！我！

Grumpy Varjager...Ugh.……卟。

(Nikketa slams on the brakes, fighting the wheel, and barely stops the truck from crashing into a massive roadside boulder.)（妮基塔一脚踩向刹车，配合着方向盘，终于让车子在撞上路边巨石之前硬生生地停了下来。）

(She ties up the two Varjagers and sets them aside before inspecting the cargo.)（把两个瓦良格帮成员捆了捆，先放一边，妮基塔开始检查车上的货物。）

(Many of the cans were damaged during the commotion. Blackcurrant syrup and fruit are spilled everywhere.)（很多水果罐头在刚刚的颠簸中撞坏了，汁水果肉流了一地。）

NikketaThose are definitely blackcurrants... Hm?确实是黑醋栗的果肉没错……嗯？

(In one of the cracked cans, Nikketa spots the corner of a small plastic bag.)（在一些裂开的罐头中，妮基塔看见了一角小小的塑料袋。）

(She picks it up. Inside is a sealed sachet of brownish-yellow powder.)（捏起塑料袋，妮基塔发现了密封其中的黄褐色的粉末。）

NikketaCould this be used to make "Vitalis"...?难道这就是制作“生息水”的……

Proud Varjager MemberOw... Hey... Doll lady... Please spare us... We're gonna bleed out at this rate...哎呦……小姐……人形小姐……放过我们吧，再这样下去我们就要流血而亡了……

NikketaYou didn't get hit in any major arteries. You'll live.没有打到大动脉，你们一时半会儿死不了。

NikketaNow, I need more intel on "Vitalis". These—where do you usually sell them?现在我需要更多关于“生息水”的信息，这些东西，你们一般都会卖到哪里？

(She shakes the bag in front of them.)（妮基塔向他们晃了晃手里的塑料袋。）

Grumpy VarjagerY-you guys don't even know what you're transporting...? Ow... we sell them to underground brokers... or small taverns in the contamination zones... Ugh...你、你们自己运的东西自己不知道是什么吗……哎呦，就是卖给暗商……或者污染区的一些小酒馆里……嘶……

Grumpy VarjagerThey brew it into drinks and sell it to poor bastards suffering from radiation sickness...然后他们会制成饮品，卖给那些得辐射病的倒霉蛋……

NikketaRadiation sickness? You mean E.L.I.D.?……辐射病？你是说E.L.I.D.？

Grumpy VarjagerE-EL what now? I dunno, please, lady—No, Madam Doll—I can't remember stuff like that...啥、啥D？哎呦，饶了我吧人形小姐，不，人形姑奶奶，我咋记得住这个……

Grumpy VarjagerTsk. You mean that disease w-where your body grows rocks and stuff... I think taking too much of this makes people dumb or something...啧，就是那种、那种身上会长石头的病嘛……服用过量好像会变傻之类的……

NikketaIt's not for "Doll Syndrome", then? So this isn't the raw material for "Vitalis"?不是“人形病”？所以这不是“生息水”的药粉？

Proud Varjager MemberWhat now...? Never heard of that...什么玩意……听都没听过……

Nikketa...Figures. It's a psychological condition unique to satellite city residents.……确实不可能听过，这是卫星城居民独有的心理疾病。

NikketaThen what is this stuff called? You must know that at least?那么，这东西叫什么，你们总该知道吧？

Proud Varjager MemberLook, lady... Madam Doll... you let me—us—go, and I'll tell you all about it...这样吧，人形姑奶奶……你把我、把我们放了，我告诉你这个东西的相关情报……

(Before he can finish, a cold, black muzzle is pressed to his forehead.)（没等他说完，一个冰冷、黢黑的枪口抵上了他的脑袋。）

(He looks up at Nikketa, who's staring down at him with an expression as cold as steel.)（抬头，是妮基塔自上而下、没有温度的凝视。）

NikketaYou know very well... There's no room for negotiation between us.你应该很清楚，我们之间，没有谈判的余地。

Seeds of Doubt 怀疑的种子

NikketaThe canned food transported by Mangi Security concealed a substance called "Erdis"—a brown powder rumored to contain anti-E.L.I.D. properties. Its ingredients are unknown. It is often mixed into beverages and sold to E.L.I.D. patients. Its actual effectiveness is unverified, but it has not passed regulatory approval. It is, without question, a banned substance.曼尼安保所运送的食物罐头之中，藏有一种叫做“厄狄斯”的药粉，据传其中含有抗E.L.I.D.成分，原料不明，呈褐色粉末状，常被制成饮品出售给E.L.I.D.患者，真实功效有待考证，但目前可以确认的是这种药品并没有通过药监部门的审批，是百分之百的违禁药品。

(Nikketa pulls out a small plastic sachet and hands it to Inesa, who is seated on the sofa.)（妮基塔取出一方小小的塑料袋，递给了坐在沙发上的伊涅萨。）

NikketaI retrieved this on-site. I have video evidence to back it up.这是我从现场拿来的，有视频可以佐证。

Inesa...……

(Inesa opens the sachet, pours the powder onto her palm, and rubs it between her fingers.)（伊涅萨打开塑料袋，将药粉倒在手上，捻了捻。）

InesaYou weren't discovered while collecting this evidence, were you?你在取证的时候，没有被发现吧？

NikketaI don't think so. I destroyed the truck's dashcam. The only two eyewitnesses were the two Varjagers—I tossed them into a ravine. Statistically, there should be no solid evidence against me.应该没有，我破坏了车上的行车记录仪，唯二的两个目击者是瓦良格帮的，也被我丢进山谷了，从概率上来看，并不会被掌握切实证据。

Inesa...Lack of evidence doesn't mean you won't be suspected. No witnesses also means no one to testify for you.……抓不到切实的证据不代表不会被怀疑，无人目击换个角度来说也就是帮你无人作证。

InesaBoth you and the physical evidence disappeared for too long. If there's any discrepancy in the cargo count later, suspicions will naturally fall on you.这次你和物证单独消失了一段时间，动作太显眼了，如果之后做货物的盘点，发现有数量上的缺漏，很容易怀疑到你身上。

NikketaIt doesn't matter if they do. This evidence is enough to indict Mangi Security, and by then, I should be reinstated in the PSA.就算怀疑到我身上也没关系吧，这些证据足以起诉彻查曼尼安保了，在这之前我应该也要回到治安局了。

Inesa...Hold on. Who said you're coming back?……等等，谁说你要回来？

InesaThe mission isn't finished. Our goal is to uncover evidence of them trafficking "Vitalis".任务还没结束，我们的目标是找到他们运输“生息水”的证据。

NikketaFinding evidence of "Erdis", a banned substance, should prompt a full investigation by the PSA. That would likely lead to clues about "Vitalis", no?有了运送“厄狄斯”这种违禁药的证据，治安局介入彻查的话应该是能查到“生息水”的相关线索吧？

NikketaBesides, if the Varjagers' claims are true, "Erdis" is already causing serious harm in the contamination zones. The longer it's left unchecked, the more people will be endangered.再说了，如果瓦良格帮的人没说错，“厄狄斯”已经在污染区造成相当大的危害了，不及时处理只会危及更多污染区居民。

InesaNikketa, I'm not dismissing the results of your investigation, but...妮基塔，我不是要否定你的调查成果，只不过……

(Inesa rubs the bridge of her nose.)（伊涅萨揉了揉自己的鼻梁。）

InesaFirst of all, these security companies backed by big corporations have countless ways to evade risk. Just this bit of evidence isn't enough for a full investigation—and we could lose the chance to keep digging into "Vitalis". Secondly, please remember our jurisdiction. We are the Public Security Administration of Satellite City ODE-13. We're responsible for ODE-13 residents. The residents of the contamination zones are not under our protection.首先，这种背靠大企业的安保公司有的是路数规避风险，仅仅只是这些证据，不足以彻查他们，连带着可能会失去继续深入调查“生息水”的机会；其次，请你分清楚我们的职权范围，我们是隶属于卫星城ODE-13的治安管理局，负责对象是ODE-13的居民，污染区居民并不在我们的保护范围内。

NikketaSo you're saying there won't be any action taken regarding "Erdis"?你的意思是，目前不会就“厄狄斯”展开有关行动？

InesaThere will be. Just not right now.肯定会有，但不是现在。

InesaWe'll file the evidence for archival.我们会将证据提交作档案记录。

NikketaJust filing it?仅仅只是记录吗？

Inesa...Nikketa.……妮基塔。

(Inesa's tone darkens.)（伊涅萨的语调沉了下来。）

InesaI know that "justice" is a core keyword in your foundational logic—but justice in the real world isn't so simple. Sometimes, in order to achieve a greater justice, you have to allow some losses to happen—even if it contradicts your programming.我知道“正义”是写在你底层逻辑中的关键词条，但现实中的正义没有那么简单，有时候为了达成最终的正义，是不得不放任一些损失发生的，即使这与你的基础设定相悖。

NikketaSo, in order to protect justice, we must turn a blind eye to illegal activity? That logic makes no sense to me.为了正义，所以要对非法的事视而不见，这个逻辑我不理解。

NikketaAlso, you said the contamination zones aren't within our jurisdiction. But think of it another way—residents of ODE-13 are committing crimes. Doesn't that warrant immediate action?而且，您说污染区的居民不在我们的管辖范围，那换个思路，ODE-13的居民正在违法犯罪，这个难道不应该马上处理吗？

Inesa...Don't play word games with me.……别跟我玩文字游戏。

InesaI understand that this is very difficult for a Doll to grasp. You just need to follow orders. From now on, act cautiously and keep a low profile. Record things, but don't interfere. Gradually work your way into the inner circle. Understood?对于人形来说，不理解很正常，你只需要遵守指令就可以了。接下来，谨慎行事，不要有大动作，遇到事尽量只记录不干涉，循序渐进接近核心圈层，明白了吗？

(Nikketa locks eyes with Inesa for a long moment, then finally looks away.)（妮基塔与伊涅萨对峙许久，最后妮基塔先移开了目光。）

Nikketa...Understood.……知道了。

NikketaJustice isn't so simple...“正义没有那么简单”……

NikketaNo. Justice IS simple—Don't let those who hurt others walk free. No matter the situation, always do what you believe is right.不，正义其实是简单的——不要放过故意伤害别人的人，且不论身处何种境地，都要继续做自己觉得正确的事。

Grumpy VarjagerY-you guys don't even know what you're transporting...? Ow... we sell them to underground brokers... or small taverns in the contamination zones... Ugh...你、你们自己运的东西自己不知道是什么吗……哎呦，就是卖给暗商……或者污染区的一些小酒馆里……嘶……

Grumpy VarjagerThey brew it into drinks and sell it to poor bastards suffering from radiation sickness...然后他们会制成饮品，卖给那些得辐射病的倒霉蛋……

NikketaRadiation sickness? You mean E.L.I.D.?……辐射病？你是说E.L.I.D.？

NikketaPeople are committing crimes. People are dying because of it.有人在犯罪，有人因此遇害。

NikketaAs someone who knows the truth—and has the ability to do something—I can't just sit by and do nothing.作为知情者，和有一定能力处理这件事的人，我不能坐视不管。

(As the workday ends, employees stream out of the building. Once Nikketa confirms that David has left, she walks against the crowd into the office building.)（到了下班的时间，工作人员陆陆续续从大楼中走出，确认戴维也离开后，妮基塔逆着人流走进办公楼。）

(Countless terminal screens cast a faint blue glow on the empty office. Nikketa moves among them and sits at her own desk, pretending to be working on a report as she discreetly connects to Level II.)（无人的办公室中，一台台办公终端闪烁着莹莹蓝光，妮基塔穿梭其中，来到了自己的位置，装作忙于撰写报告的样子，隐蔽地接入了二级平层。）

NikketaFound it... David's IP address... but it's password protected.找到了……戴维的IP地址，不过需要密码。

(Nikketa cracks her knuckles.)（妮基塔掰了掰手指。）

NikketaLet's do this.来吧。

Seeds of Doubt 怀疑的种子

Nikketa...Just some recent transport logs. Nothing looks out of the ordinary...……只有一些近期运输记录，看上去好像没有什么异常……

(Nikketa scans through the logs carefully.)（妮基塔的目光在这些记录中来回扫描比对。）

NikketaMultiple shipments to the Phoebe Factory in LVI-14... Why would a pharmaceutical factory need so much... wine and drinking glasses? Even if it's for employee benefits, the quantity and frequency are excessive...有好几单都是运往LVI-14的菲比工厂……为什么药企工厂需要那么多……酒和水杯？就算是员工福利物资，这个量和采购频率也太……

NikketaMaybe... these—like the canned blackcurrants—are just cover goods to conceal banned substances?这些……和黑醋栗罐头一样，是为掩盖违禁药而购置的货物吗？

(She spots the PSA border control stamp at the bottom of the shipping manifest. Her expression darkens.)（看到了运输单底部、治安管理局边检部门的通关印章，妮基塔的目光暗了暗。）

NikketaRight, why didn't I think of this earlier... Hang on...对了，之前怎么没想到这个……等等……

(While flipping through the pages, Nikketa notices a peculiar number.)（翻页的过程中，妮基塔注意到了一个不同寻常的数字。）

(Among a long string of nearly identical timestamps, one transport log stands out.)（在运输所用时长的行列的一大堆大差不差的数字中，有一列极为突出。）

NikketaOrder 20710209—same route, but the transportation time was nearly double the usual duration. Listed reason... a Collapse storm...20710209的订单，同样的路程，这次的任务消耗的时间几乎是其他时间的两倍，备注原因是遇上了坍塌风暴……

(Suddenly, her personal communicator rings. She exits Level II temporarily.)（突然，她的私人通讯终端响了起来，妮基塔暂时切出二级平层。）

NikketaCaller unknown... Hello, this is Nikketa.陌生通讯代码……你好，这里是妮基塔。

Mosin-NagantHiya, Nikketa! It's Mosin-Nagant! Nagant and I are on assignment in ODE-13 right now.嗨嗨，妮基塔！我是莫辛纳甘！我和纳甘她们现在正在ODE-13出外勤。

Mosin-NagantWhy did you leave the PSA?你怎么从治安局离职啦？

NikketaMosin... Nagant? Uh...莫辛……纳甘？呃……

(Surprised by the unexpected call, Nikketa instinctively glances at the security camera on the ceiling.)（意想不到的联系让妮基塔愣了愣，她下意识瞄了一眼天花板上的监控。）

NikketaI can't really talk right now.我现在可能不太方便说话。

Mosin-NagantOh, sure. If you're free tonight, come meet us at District K, No. 153. Let's hang out!行，你今晚要是有空的话，来K区153号找我们哦，我们小聚一下。

Mosin-NagantSee ya~先挂啦~

NikketaGot it.好。

(The call ends. Nikketa thinks for a moment.)（通讯挂断，妮基塔思考了一下。）

NikketaIf I remember correctly... Mosin-Nagant works for the Public Security Administration too, though in a different satellite city...我记得，莫辛纳甘好像也在治安局工作，虽然是在另一个卫星城……

(A plan begins to form in her neural cloud.)（妮基塔心中有了想法。）

NikketaBut there's one more thing I need to do first.不过接下来还有一件事得先做。

(Nikketa backs up the transport records, logs out of David's terminal, and turns off the screen.)（妮基塔将运输记录扫描备份，随后退出了戴维的终端，并按灭了显示屏。）

Chasing Ghosts 捕风捉影

(In the deserted hallway, she stands before the door to the surveillance room.)（空无一人的走廊内，妮基塔站在监控室的门前。）

Nikketa(Sigh)... Looks like I won't be buying toys for the kids this month...唉，看来这个月是不能给孩子们买玩具了……

(She knocks several times, but no one answers.)（妮基塔敲了敲监控室的门，敲了几下，门都没开。）

(Just as she's about to inspect the door's keypad, she hears footsteps behind her. The surveillance operator appears, holding a meal container. Looks like he was out for dinner.)（当妮基塔正要去检查监控室的密码锁时，身后传来了脚步声，监控室的管理员出现在她身后，从他手中拿着的食盒看来，他是去用餐了。）

AnthonyA Doll? What do you want?人形？干什么？

(Though caught off guard, Nikketa recovers quickly.)（虽然出现了意料之外的状况，但妮基塔很快就镇定了下来。）

NikketaYou must be Mr. Anthony? I'm Nikketa.是安东尼阁下吧？我是妮基塔。

NikketaCaptain David sent me to confirm that the previous footage was properly deleted.戴维队长让我来确认一下之前的监控录像是否有删干净。

AnthonyDavid...戴维……

(He glances around cautiously and lowers his voice.)（管理员警惕地观望了一下四周，压低声音。）

AnthonyYou're new? Haven't seen you before.你是新入伙的？之前没见过你。

NikketaI was brought into Mangi Security by Captain David, working for him on the inside.我是戴维队长内推进曼尼安保的，专门来为他打下手。

AnthonyHumph, fine... Of course the footage was deleted. Does the paranoid bastard not trust me?咳，行吧……监控当然删了啊，这家伙疑心病太重了吧还怀疑我。

NikketaMay I double-check?能否让我检查一下呢？

AnthonyIt's not your place to tell me what to do, Doll. If David has doubts, let him come himself. He should know by now I don't work for free. Gotta pay up if he wants something done.轮不到你这个人形跟我指手画脚，要检查让戴维那个家伙自己来，我们合作多久了啊，还不知道我是拿钱办事的人吗？

NikketaC-could I please double-check?能否、让我检查一下呢？

AnthonyI said no—都说了不——

(He abruptly stops, his eyes fixating on the card in Nikketa's hand.)（他一下把之后要说的话吞了回去，因为他看见了妮基塔手上拿着的一张卡片。）

NikketaI just found this in the hallway—a withdrawal card worth 250 credit tokens. No idea who dropped it.刚刚在走廊中捡到的，价值250信用币的提取卡，不知道是谁丢的。

Anthony...Ahem. I'll take that. I'll drop it at lost and found.……咳，那交给我吧，我拿到失物招领室去。

AnthonyI'll be back in... 15 minutes.大概、15分钟后回来吧。

(After he leaves, Nikketa slips into the surveillance room and closes the door.)（管理员离开后，妮基塔毫不犹豫地踏进了监控室并关上了门。）

(Countless screens emit a faint white glow in the room—like eyes, all watching the intruder in their domain.)（监控室中，无数的电子屏闪烁着泛泛的白光，像一双双眼睛凝视着妮基塔这位入侵者。）

(Nikketa steps up to the control panel and begins searching.)（妮基塔来到总控台前，尝试操作。）

Chasing Ghosts 捕风捉影

Nikketa...Found it.……找到了。

(Data floods into her neural cloud as she navigates her Level II. A particular frame catches her attention.)（在二级平层中，海量的信息从妮基塔的心智中穿梭而过，不经意间，她捕捉到了一个画面。）

(In it, David is seen getting out of a vehicle. Nikketa notes down the license plate number.)（画面上，戴维正在从一辆车子上走下来，妮基塔记下了他的车牌号。）

NikketaIf the employee garage weren't only accessible to staff with registered vehicles, I wouldn't need to check the surveillance... Anyway, I've got the plate. Now... hm? Wait a minute...要不是员工车库只开放给有车的员工，我也不用来查监控……总之车牌号到手，那么……嗯？等等——

(The footage continues. A familiar figure appears, getting into David's private car.)（未停止的画面上，出现了一个熟悉的身影，正跟着戴维进入私家车里。）

NikketaIsn't that... Una?那是……乌娜？

NikketaInesa's daughter—what's she got to do with Mangi Security?……伊涅萨的女儿，为什么会跟曼尼安保扯上关系？

(Later, in a café in the commercial district, Nikketa meets up with Mosin-Nagant and her team.)（商店街的水吧中，妮基塔与莫辛纳甘一行人碰头了。）

Mosin-NagantHuh? Protocol violation? Seriously? What happened exactly?诶？违规操作？真的吗？具体情况是什么啊？

NikketaIt's... complicated.具体情况可能不方便说。

KseniaOho, sounds like you're hiding something.哼哼，有内情的味道。

KseniaIt's been a while since Griffin, but I remember back then, Nikketa was the most by-the-book of us all~虽然离开格里芬有一段时间了，但我记得妮基塔在格里芬的时候可以说是最守规矩的那一个~

KseniaBut wow, your workplace has such a bad vibe. The front desk totally flipped out and threw us out when they heard we were looking for you... What'd you do to your poor coworkers?不过不得不说，你们这的办公氛围可真是差，前台接待一听我们是来找你的，脸色都变了，直接让我们走……你到底对你的前同事都做了些什么啊？

NagantAhem... Ksenia!咳咳，科谢尼娅！

NagantSorry, Nikketa. If you don't want to talk, just ignore her. She just likes stirring the pot.抱歉妮基塔，如果不想说的话，不用理科谢尼娅，她就爱乱起哄。

KseniaStirring the pot?! I'm just curious. And hey, you yourself were wondering why she left the PSA before she got here, remember?我怎么就乱起哄了？好奇而已，而且前辈，刚刚妮基塔没来的时候，你不也很好奇她到底为什么离职了嘛？

NagantI-I was not...我、我哪有……

KseniaYou totally were! You practically had "Ooh gossip, gimme gimme!" written all over your face!有呢有呢，满脸写着“哇噻有八卦好想知道”。

KseniaBe honest with yourself, Senior~ Nagant~ who drinks milk~要对自己诚实一点哦，喝牛奶的纳·甘·前·辈~

NagantI did not! Cut it out already! And what's wrong with milk anyway...我没有你别瞎说！再说牛奶怎么了……

NikketaIt's not that I don't WANT to talk...不是不想说。

(Nikketa speaks calmly, her expression composed but earnest.)（妮基塔淡淡地开口，表情平静而认真。）

Nikketa...It's just that a lot of strange things have happened to me recently—things that are hard to explain.……只是这段时间发生在我身上的事，非常蹊跷，有很多没法解释的点。

NikketaRight now, all the evidence I have is fragmented. It doesn't form a complete picture. Rushing to tell you everything might not be a good idea.目前，任何已有的证据都是片面且零碎的，拼不出一个完整的事实，贸然告诉你们可能不太好。

Mosin-NagantYou could tell us what you do know. Maybe we can help you piece things together?其实你可以跟我们说说这些已有的事实，大家来帮你推断一下呢？

(Nikketa falls silent.)（妮基塔沉默了。）

Mosin-NagantHaha, of course, if you'd rather not, that's fine too. Just a suggestion.哈哈，当然，如果真不方便说也没有关系，我只是提议而已。

NikketaThank you, Mosin-Nagant. But... even if I can't tell you everything, I may still need your help.谢谢你，莫辛纳甘，不过……虽然我不方便说，但可能还是需要你们的协助。

Mosin-NagantHelp? Is it about... that matter? Related to your "protocol violation"?帮忙……是相关事情的吗？和你的“违规操作”有关？

NikketaIt is... somewhat.有点关系。

KseniaYou want our help without telling us the full story? You can't have it all, you know...?不愿意告诉我们实情还想让我们帮忙啊？这世上哪有这种好事……

NikketaI'll pay you.我会付钱。

KseniaAlright, boss—what kind of service do you require?好的老板，请问您需要什么服务呢？

NagantKsenia, your attitude changed real quick...科谢尼娅你的脸变得可真快啊……

KseniaWho'd say no to money? You've known me long enough.谁会跟钱过不去呢？前辈你又不是第一天认识我。

NikketaI'll make sure you're compensated for your time, since this would eat into your free hours.毕竟要占用你们的空闲时间，报酬我会支付的。

KseniaA reasonable client—what a breath of fresh air.真是明事理的甲方呀。

Mosin-NagantSo, Nikketa, tell us what you need help with. I'll need to assess the risk.嗯……妮基塔，你先说一下你想要拜托的事吧，我也要评估一下风险。

NikketaI have a license plate number. I'd like you to trace the vehicle's travel history. See if it's been to any suspicious locations.有一个车牌号……我想请你们帮我查查它的行驶轨迹，有没有去到什么奇怪的地方。

(The group exchanges glances.)（莫辛纳甘她们面面相觑。）

Mosin-NagantNikketa... you're not involved in anything too dangerous, are you?妮基塔……你真的没有在做什么很危险的事情吗？

Mosin-NagantAsking us to track a law-abiding citizen... This isn't just about time or money anymore.让我们查一个合法公民的行踪……这真的不只是钱或者占用时间的问题了。

Mosin-NagantCan you at least tell us why?可以告诉我们理由吗？

KseniaWhy isn't it just about money...?这怎么就不是钱的问题了……

NagantKsenia!科谢尼娅！

KseniaFine, fine, got it, Senior.好好好，知道了前辈。

(Ksenia shuts her mouth. Nikketa speaks again, somewhat guiltily.)（科谢尼娅闭上了嘴，而妮基塔有些愧疚地开口了。）

NikketaSorry... I-I can't really tell you that either.抱歉……这也、不太方便。

(A heavy silence hangs in the air.)（空气一度陷入凝滞。）

NikketaI know... it doesn't feel good to be forced into a situation without knowing anything.我知道……在一无所知的情况下被人推着走的感觉挺不好的。

NikketaHonestly, I don't fully understand it all either, so I can't jump to any conclusions. But when I piece together the truth, I WILL tell you everything.对于这件事，我其实也没有头绪，所以不能乱说，但等到我拼凑出真相的时候，我一定会把所有的事都告诉你们。

NikketaAnd if this causes you any harm, I'll take full responsibility.如果在这之间发生了什么损害你们利益的事，我会一并承担。

Mosin-NagantResponsibility? What if helping you gets us fired from the PSA?承担？如果你拜托我们的事，害得我们被治安局开除了怎么办？

KseniaUh, I doubt it'll come to that, as long as we're careful...呃，这倒不至于，只要小心行事……

NagantYou shut up!你别说话！

(Nikketa pauses, then seems to make up her mind.)（妮基塔沉默了一会儿，像是下定了什么决定。）

NikketaIf you do get fired... then I'll support you.如果害你们下岗了，那……我养你们。

Mosin-NagantHuh?哈？

NikketaI can take mercenary jobs in the contamination zones outside my main duties. They pay well, and I've already passed the qualifications...我可以在本职工作之余，接污染区雇佣兵的活，那个来钱快，而且我之前做过测试……

Mosin-NagantWhoa, whoa, wait a minute, what are you even talking about...?等等等等——什么啊……

(Mosin-Nagant rubs her forehead.)（莫辛纳甘扶了扶额头。）

Mosin-NagantNikketa... this is serious.妮基塔……这是一件严肃的事。

(Nikketa stops talking and lowers her gaze.)（妮基塔停了下来，沉默着垂下了视线。）

NikketaSorry. That was thoughtless of me.抱歉，我欠考虑了。

NikketaI do need your help. Out of the... trust we built working at Griffin, I chose to ask you.我确实需要帮助，出于……曾经一同供职于格里芬的信任，我选择了你们。

NikketaBut you're absolutely right—it's not fair to you if I don't tell you anything.但的确，如果什么都不交代的话，对你们太不负责了。

KseniaOh? So you are going to tell us the inside story?哦哦，所以，你要告诉我们内幕了？

NikketaI'll tell you parts of it—selectively.我会选择性地挑一些事来说。

(After Nikketa finishes her account, the group falls into deep thought.)（听完妮基塔的讲述，众人陷入沉思。）

KseniaThat's... a lot to take in. So you're saying the person tied to this license plate is definitely a criminal, and you suspect someone else is collaborating with them?信息量有点大……你的意思是，你让我们查车牌的这个人，是个罪犯，而你怀疑另外一个让我们跟踪的人，有勾结犯罪的嫌疑？

NikketaYes. The crime itself is already confirmed, but I haven't reported it yet to avoid tipping them off.是的，犯罪事实是确凿的，只不过为了不打草惊蛇，现在还没有上报。

NikketaI need more evidence to uncover whoever's behind him.我需要更多的证据，来挖出他身后的人。

Mosin-NagantSo what we'd be doing is essentially... assisting an investigation?也就是说，我们所做的事情，其实一定程度上，是侦查的一环。

NikketaThat's one way to put it.可以这么说吧。

(Mosin-Nagant takes in Nikketa's calm but resolute face and finally exhales.)（莫辛纳甘看了看妮基塔脸上波澜不惊的认真神情，松了一口气。）

Mosin-NagantAlright. Give me the license plate number. We'll head to the Ministry of Transport and dig around.我知道了，车牌号给我吧，之后我们去交通部门探一探。

Mosin-NagantAnd if you've got other plans, please be careful.如果你还有什么别的计划，一定要注意安全。

Nikketa...I do.……有的。

KseniaSeriously?还真有啊？

NikketaI also want to ask you to help me tail someone.我还想请你们帮我跟踪一个人。

(Nikketa pulls out a photo and slides it across the table.)（妮基塔拿出了一张照片，推到她们面前。）

(The image is shadowy and a bit blurry. Everyone leans in.)（照片在阴影中有些模糊不清，大家都往前凑了凑。）

KseniaThis person... I think I've seen her before...这个人……我好像见过……

NagantYou have? Where?你见过？在哪？

KseniaI haven't been idle these past few days after work in ODE-13. I've been picking up side gigs.来ODE-13的这几天下班了我也没闲着，有接一些外快赚零花钱。

KseniaA few days ago, I was working at a psych clinic, and I saw this person... The uniform stood out, so it stuck in my mind.前几天在一家心理诊所打工的时候，我见过这个人……因为穿着制服所以我印象比较深刻……

NikketaReally? Can you take me to that clinic?真的吗？可不可以带我去那家诊所。

KseniaI can, but...可以是可以，不过……

NagantKsenia, you're not going to ask for more money now, are you? You mustn't!啊，科谢尼娅你不会要趁机多收钱吧？不可以哦！

KseniaWhy not?! My intel is super useful! It will push your case forward a great deal!有什么不可以！？我的信息多有用啊，一下就推进了调查进度！

NikketaRight... How much do you want?嗯，你要多少？

NagantNo, Nikketa! Don't encourage her crooked schemes!不可以啦妮基塔，不能助长她的歪心思。

KseniaHow is this crooked? Senior, you're poor precisely because you don't know how to hustle.这哪里是什么歪心思，前辈你就是因为心智太不活络，才这么穷的。

NagantWhy, you little—!你！

(While the two bicker, Mosin-Nagant turns again to Nikketa.)（吵闹声中，莫辛纳甘再次看向妮基塔。）

Mosin-NagantI'm guessing you can't tell us why you want this person followed either?跟踪她的理由，也不能告诉我们对吗？

Nikketa...Sorry.……很抱歉。

(With a sigh, Mosin-Nagant leans in and places a hand on Nikketa's.)莫辛纳甘叹了一口气，探身过来按住妮基塔的手。

Mosin-NagantI'll say it again—be careful.我还是那句话——注意安全。

(Nikketa's calm gaze flickers slightly.)（妮基塔平静的目光闪动了一下。）

NikketaUnderstood.了解。

NikketaThank you all.谢谢你们。

Lure and Trap 伪造陷阱

(Night in Odesa is far from quiet. Soft light shines from the full height windows of high-rise buildings, calm and restrained.)（奥德卅的夜晚并不沉寂，那些镶嵌在高楼建筑中的落地窗内，散发着沉静又内敛的亮光。）

(A tall figure stands at one such window, looking down at the cold cityscape.)（一个高大的身影此时就站在某一层的落地窗边，俯瞰着这座稍微带点冷感的城市。）

??Mr. Scott, as I was just saying, Mangi Security's parent company has always had a good relationship with yours. We haven't forgotten whose help and support we received to be able to establish ourselves in ODE-13.斯科特先生，正如我刚刚所说的，曼尼安保的母公司和贵司关系一向良好，我们也并没有忘记现在之所以能在奥德卅立足是受到了谁的帮助与提携。

??Please do pass that along to Mr. Rurik.这点，烦请帮我转达给留里克先生。

ScottOf course. Everything we discussed in this call will be relayed to him verbatim, so please choose your words carefully, Ms. Carmen.我当然会转达，我们在通话会议里所说的一切都会丝毫不差地转达给他，所以请您务必注意措辞，卡门女士。

CarmenNaturally. I'll speak openly—so long as it's within my knowledge and within my bounds.当然，只要是我知道的并且能说的，知无不言。

ScottWhat Mr. Rurik seems most concerned about is the other technical team that "it" assembled.留里克先生比较在意的是，“它”之前组建的另一支技术团队。

ScottUntil recently, Girard's R&D team has been the unquestioned pioneer and leader in third-generation Doll research. We will not tolerate any theft of Girard's technological achievements at this critical juncture.在此之前，吉拉尔的科研技术团队一直以来都是开辟、领导三代人形研究的绝对核心，我们决不允许任何人在这个关键的时刻窃取吉拉尔的技术果实。

CarmenPlease don't let that trouble you.这个请您放心。

(The tall woman glances at her subordinate who just entered the room and signals for silence.)（身材高大的女性看了一眼刚刚走进房间的下属，示意来者不要出声。）

CarmenVSK-94's data have not been shared with the new technical team. Girard remains in the lead when it comes to third-gen Doll manufacturing.VSK-94的数据也并没有提供给那支新的技术团队，吉拉尔在制造三代人形的领域依然处于领先位置。

ScottLocked down that tightly? So this Doll codenamed VSK-94—how exactly does she differ from the others we've acquired from IOP?捂得这么严实吗？代号VSK-94的人形，到底和我们收容的其他I.O.P.生产的人形有什么区别？

CarmenI don't know. Mangi Security was simply instructed to contain and hold onto the Doll. We were not given any access to related data. There's been no further directive from the Council.关于这点我也不清楚，我们曼尼安保只是被告知收容，然后留存，除此之外没有任何知情权，目前理事会那边并没有下一步的指令。

ScottNever mind... No point asking further.算了……再这么问下去毫无意义。

ScottI'll go ahead and relay Mr. Rurik's orders, then.我直接传达留里克先生的指令吧。

(Carmen raises her eyebrows at the word "orders", but her tone remains respectful.)（听到“指令”两个字，卡门挑了挑眉，但语气依旧恭敬。）

CarmenPlease do.您说。

ScottThere's no doubt that VSK-94 is special. However, discovering the nature of her uniqueness will require your company's cooperation.VSK-94一定有其特殊性，这一点毋庸置疑，然而探明其特殊性，贵司的配合必不可少。

ScottOf course, we won't force Mangi Security to synchronize VSK-94's data, as that would place our loyal allies in violation of contract terms, which would hinder future cooperation and intelligence sharing.当然，我们也不强行要求曼尼安保同步VSK-94的数据，这会将我们忠诚的盟友置于违反条款的境地，对于后续的合作和情报获取不利。

ScottInstead, we hope Mangi Security will assign VSK-94 to a mission within Girard's jurisdiction. After that, we will detain her under the pretense of "trespassing on private property" and perform a study on her frame. The findings from this research will be partially shared with our loyal allies.所以我们希望，曼尼安保能指派VSK-94进入吉拉尔所控制的领域范围，随后我们将会以“入侵私人领地”的名义将其扣押，进行机体研究，研究成果部分将会与我们忠诚的盟友共享。

ScottThis method also offers a degree of deniability against accountability from "it".这样行动，也可以一定程度上规避“它”的问责。

CarmenWhat a meticulous and well-planned operation.真是“严谨”且“周密”的行动呢。

CarmenI'll report the full plan to the General Manager. Expect good news soon.我会将这次行动的详情告知总经理，请等着我的好消息吧。

(The call ends. Carmen loosens her collar and sits down on the sofa. The subordinate, who has been waiting nearby, hands her a glass of red wine at just the right time.)（通话结束，卡门扯了扯领口，走到沙发旁坐下，一旁等候多时的下属适时地给她递上一杯红酒。）

CarmenPioneer, "leader", "technological achievements"... Humph, such bold words.“开辟”、“领导”、“技术果实”……哼，还真敢说。

CarmenWhatever. Let's hear the report.算了，开始汇报吧。

(Carmen takes a sip of wine and listens to the report. Halfway through, she frowns.)（卡门抿了一口酒，听着下属的汇报，听到一半，她皱了皱眉。）

CarmenWhy was VSK-94 sent on a covert mission?VSK-94为什么会被派去做暗线任务？

SubordinateIt was probably due to a dispatching error.大概是因为任务派发出了差错。

CarmenProbably?大概？

SubordinateO-originally, VSK-94 was assigned to a regular transport mission, but its task number, content, and destination overlapped with those of the covert mission... which resulted in a management error.原、原本派发给VSK-94的是正常的运输任务，但由于任务的编号、内容物、目的地和暗线任务都有一定的重合……这是一次管理事故。

CarmenHas frontline management become this sloppy? I should discuss a personnel reshuffle with Christopher.基层管理居然已经这么松散了吗？有必要和克里斯托弗商量一下人事调动了。

(The woman's lips curl into a chilling smirk.)（女人的嘴角露出一丝笑意，让人有些不寒而栗。）

CarmenWas there any unusual behavior from VSK-94 afterwards?在那之后，VSK-94有没有任何异常？

SubordinateAccording to the neural log inspection, it appears not...从心智记录检查来看，似乎没有……

CarmenNeural logs from Dolls aren't reliable. They can't even be used as formal evidence.人形的心智记录并不可信，这玩意甚至无法在正式场合当作证据。

CarmenThat gives me reason to suspect that VSK-94 has already discovered our covert operations.那么我有理由怀疑，VSK-94已经发现我们的暗线业务了。

SubordinateSo, what's next...?那么，接下来……

CarmenNext? Since Girard plans to use the "trespassing" excuse, why shouldn't I do the same?接下来，既然吉拉尔想要利用所谓的“入侵私人领地”，我又何尝不可呢？

CarmenBut before that, I want to make sure my piece is still where it should be.不过在那之前，让我来看看我的棋子，是不是还好好地待在应在的位置。

SubordinateUnderstood.明白了。

SubordinateOne more thing—what do we do about David?还有一个问题，戴维要怎么处理？

CarmenIf it were just embezzlement, we could've just fired him. But he's come into contact with our covert business—this goes far beyond simple dismissal.如果只是监守自盗，开除就行，但他接触到公司的暗线业务了，就不是开除这么简单了。

CarmenHis recklessness may cause us immeasurable losses. We can't keep him around anymore.而且由于他的鲁莽，可能给我们带来不可估量的损失，这个人不能留。

SubordinateSo... unofficial disposal?那走非常规的处理流程？

CarmenNo need to rush. I'll make sure his death is worthwhile.不用那么急，我会让他死得其所的。

NikketaSo... this is the place?所以，是这里吗？

KseniaYeah. The vehicle owner whom you asked us to investigate—the one called David—shows up here the most frequently aside from Mangi Security's office and his home.嗯。之前你让我们调查的名叫“戴维”的车主，除了曼尼安保的公司大楼，和他的私人住宅，最频繁到访的地方就是这里了。

KseniaLook, the street sign matches the one in the surveillance footage.你看，路牌的编号和监控里的是一样的。

(The two Dolls circle around the warehouse.)（二人围着仓库走了一圈。）

NikketaDoors and windows are locked. Let's go in through the exhaust vent.门和窗都上锁了，从排气口进去吧。

KseniaUgh, the exhaust vent? My clothes just got laundered... Fine, but you'd better reimburse me for cleaning.啊？排气口？我的衣服可是刚洗的……算了算了，记得之后付我清洁费啊。

(They crawl through the vent and enter the warehouse interior.)（二人顺着排气管进入了仓库内部。）

KseniaBlegh! So much dust... What a dump. And dark, too.呸呸呸呸，好多灰……什么破地方啊，好暗。

(Nikketa and Ksenia each pull out a flashlight and start searching.)（妮基塔和科谢尼娅各自掏出手电筒，开始探索仓库。）

(The flashlights gradually reveal the warehouse's structure.)（光亮照见的地方，仓库的轮廓一点一点显现。）

(On the left side, many crates are stacked high on metal shelves. Nikketa climbs up and inspects them one by one.)（仓库左侧的铁架上方堆积着很多箱子，妮基塔爬上去一一查看。）

NikketaYes, all of them contain cans of Erdis... Hm?没错，都是装有厄狄斯药粉的罐头……嗯？

(Something to the right of the rack catches Nikketa's attention.)（铁架右侧的一处角落，吸引了妮基塔的注意力。）

(She jumps down and approaches a worn-out sofa placed in the corner.)（她从铁架上跳了下来，来到了这个角落，那里摆放着一个破旧的沙发。）

NikketaWait... this spot...等等，这个地方……

(She pulls out her terminal and retrieves the photo that Inesa had previously shown her—the one with the person holding a vial of Vitalis.)（她拿出终端，调出之前那张伊涅萨给她看过那张、持有生息水的人的照片。）

(The photo is low-resolution, but based on the tears on the fabric, she can tell it's the same sofa.)（照片的分辨率虽然很低，但从破损的位置来看，依稀可以分辨出是同一张沙发。）

NikketaThis photo... was taken here?这张照片……是在这里拍的吗？

(She closely examines the silhouette of the person in the image and compares it to David's profile from her neural cloud.)（她仔细辨认着照片上的人的轮廓，并在心智中调出了戴维的影像。）

NikketaProfile silhouette similarity... 70% match...外轮廓相似度高达70%……

NikketaSo David isn't just slinging Erdis, but also Vitalis...不仅是“厄狄斯”，戴维也有在做“生息水”的倒卖吗……

(A terrible hypothesis emerges in her neural cloud.)（她的心智中突然产生了不好的推测。）

KseniaHey, Nikketa! Come look over here! I found something weird!喂，妮基塔，来这边看一下！我找到了个奇怪的东西！

(Ksenia beckons at her from a distance. Nikketa turns and walks toward her.)（不远处传来科谢尼娅的呼唤，妮基塔转身朝着她的方向走去。）

KseniaMy flashlight rolled under a shelf just now, and when I reached under to get it, I found this.喏，我刚刚手电筒不小心滚到货架下面，捡的时候看到了这个。

KseniaIt looks like a toy, right? But it has comms and a camera... Kids' toys these days sure are fancy.这看起来是玩具吧？还带着通讯摄像功能……现在的玩具可真高级呀。

(Ksenia hands over a toy badge.)（科谢尼娅递过来的是一个玩具徽章。）

(It's a familiar toy PSA badge... with dried blood caked on it.)（熟悉的玩具治安局徽章，上面凝固着干涸的血迹。）

Nikketa...Where exactly did you find this?……你在哪个货架下面捡到的？

KseniaOver there.那里。

KseniaUh... you look kinda scary...呃……你的表情看上去有点可怕啊……

(Nikketa walks to the indicated shelf and points her flashlight toward it.)（妮基塔径直走向科谢尼娅所指的方位，用手电筒照了照。）

(Nothing obvious stands out.)（地上没有什么特殊的痕迹。）

Nikketa...……

(She grips the rack and gives it a shake, then applies some force to push it aside.)（妮基塔晃了晃货架，接着双手发力，将货架往旁边推去。）

(The old metal groans under the strain as it threatens to topple over, and Ksenia hurries over to right it.)（破旧的铁架发出了快要倒塌的鸣叫，科谢尼娅赶忙上前帮妮基塔扶着货架。）

KseniaWhoa, slow down! Those crates on top are gonna fall—唉，慢点慢点——等下上面的铁箱子都掉下来了……

(As the light hits the floor behind the shelf, bloodstains come into view.)（在光的追踪下，妮基塔和科谢尼娅看见了被货架遮掩住的一些血痕。）

(They're sloppily wiped, but still clearly visible.)（从状态上来看，明显是没有被擦干净。）

KseniaIs that... blood?这些是……血吗？

KseniaHey, hey, hey, don't tell me what you're investigating involves a murder, too?喂喂喂，我说，你要追查的这件事，不会还涉及命案吧？

KseniaIf that's the case, we really should report this to the Public Security...如果真是这样的话，还是上报治安局比较好吧……

(Ksenia continues prattling, but Nikketa is no longer listening.)（科谢尼娅还说了什么，妮基塔早已没有在听。）

(She stares at the bloodstains and grips the toy badge tightly.)（她盯着地上那些没有擦干净的血痕，握紧了手中的玩具徽章。）

Nikketa...Una.……乌娜。

Silence and Confession 沉默与自白

(As night falls, people returning to the satellite city crowd the commercial district, trying to shake off the day's fatigue under the neon lights.)（夜幕降临，回到卫星城的人们涌入商业街，企图在灯红酒绿中摆脱白日的劳累与疲倦。）

NikketaPence Psychological Counseling, District D, No. 1124... This is where you used to work part-time?……D区1124号，彭斯心理咨询……这就是你之前打工的地方？

KseniaYeah. And right about now is when I'd be on shift as a cleaner.啊，对，这个时间点正好是我排班做清洁。

KseniaI already told the front desk to call in a temp... Whew—我已经和前台打过招呼说找人补班了……呼啊——

(Ksenia stretches, watching the bustling crowd with boredom.)（科谢尼娅伸了个懒腰，百无聊赖地看着拥挤的人群。）

KseniaUgh... I wanna go shopping too...啊……我也好想去购物啊……

KseniaNikketa, we've been working full throttle today—first a warehouse out in the sticks, now a psych office... You'd better pay me for all this overtime!妮基塔，我们这一天工作强度可拉满了，又是探索郊区工厂，现在又要去心理咨询室……你得给我多算点加班费！

(Nikketa doesn't respond, seemingly lost in thought.)（妮基塔没有回应，似乎陷入了沉思。）

KseniaHey, Nikketa? Are you listening?喂，妮基塔，你有在听吗？

NikketaHuh? Oh... I'm out of funds for now. I'll pay you back later.嗯？啊……目前没有多余的经费，先赊着，之后补给你。

(Ksenia eyes the clearly distracted Nikketa and sighs.)（科谢尼娅看着反应慢半拍的妮基塔，叹了一口气。）

KseniaThat badge... Did it belong to someone important to you?那枚徽章……是什么重要的人的吗？

(Una's cheerful smile flashes through Nikketa's neural cloud.)（妮基塔的心智中闪过了乌娜元气的笑脸。）

NikketaI... can't say for sure yet.我……现在还不能确认。

NikketaKsenia, stand guard out here. I'm going in.科谢尼娅，你在这里给我放风，我进去看看。

KseniaAlright. Make it quick.行，快去快回吧。

(At the workroom by the entrance, Nikketa changes into a janitorial Doll's uniform and pushes a cleaning cart into the office.)（在门口的工作间里换上一身保洁人形的衣服后，妮基塔推着保洁车进入了办公室。）

NikketaUgh, the fit... is a bit tight.唔，这衣服……有点紧。

(The office is still open, but only a few people remain.)（办公室还没有下班，但明显已经没有多少人了。）

NikketaConsulting Room 1... Room 4... Archive Room... There.1号咨询室……4号咨询室……档案室……有了。

(The archive room isn't locked. Nikketa pushes the door open.)（档案室没有上锁，妮基塔直接推门进去了。）

(Despite the name, it's actually a server room. A terminal sits in the back corner for data retrieval.)（说是档案室，其实是个机房，档案室的最角落置放着查询用的终端。）

NikketaLet's see...我看看……

(She types a name into the terminal. A pop-up requests a password.)（妮基塔在终端中输入了一个名字，程序弹窗显示需要访问密码。）

NikketaOf course...嗯，想想也是。

Silence and Confession 沉默与自白

(She overrides control access—no more password blocks. She now has complete access to the archive database.)（夺取了操纵权限后，再也没有密码的阻拦，妮基塔在档案室的数据库畅通地穿行。）

(Data floods into her neural cloud. She quickly spots the entry she needs.)（数据流在她身边闪过，她眼尖地从中提取到了她要查询的词条。）

NikketaFound it. Inesa Grigorivna Chernova... Let's see if this will lead to any clues about Una...找到了，伊涅萨·格里戈里·切尔诺娃，不知道能不能从这里获得什么有关乌娜的线索……

(Excerpt from Counseling Session Audio Log #700123: Inesa Grigorivna Chernova.)（伊涅萨·格里戈里·切尔诺娃700123号咨询录音节选。）

Counselor: Then let's begin.咨询师：那我们开始吧。

Inesa: Alright.伊涅萨：好的。

Counselor: When you came in just now, I noticed you kept staring at this painting. Is there something special about it?咨询师：刚进来的时候，我注意到你一直看着这幅画，这幅画有什么特殊的吗？

Inesa: The girl in the painting... looks a lot like my daughter.伊涅萨：这幅画上的女孩子……很像我的女儿。

Counselor: You have a daughter?咨询师：你有个女儿？

(Ten seconds of silence.)（长达10秒的沉默。）

Inesa: An adopted daughter... to be precise.伊涅萨：准确来说……是养女。

Counselor: Adopted? She must have an unusual background?咨询师：养女？她一定有着不寻常的来历吧？

Inesa: She's... the orphaned child of a colleague.伊涅萨：她是……我同事的遗孤。

Counselor: What happened to your colleague?咨询师：你的同事怎么了？

(30 seconds of silence.)（长达30秒的沉默。）

Inesa: I can't say.伊涅萨：我不能说。

Counselor: A painful memory?咨询师：是不太好的回忆？

Inesa: Yes... I was there when he died. He died for me... So I must raise his daughter well, and provide her with the best life I can... This gift of life is incredibly heavy.伊涅萨：是的……他去世的时候，我就在现场，他是为我而死的……所以我一定要好好抚养他的女儿，在力所能及的范围内给她创造最好的一切……这份生命的礼物太重了。

Counselor: It sounds like she means a great deal to you.咨询师：听上去，她对你来说很重要。

Inesa: ...She is my everything.伊涅萨：……她是我的一切。

Inesa: At first, I truly did see her as just my colleague's orphan. But over the years we've spent together, she has become my daughter in every sense... Even if we're not biologically related, she's still my daughter.伊涅萨：最开始，我的确是把她看做同事的遗孤看待，但在这些年的相处中，她早已经是我的女儿了……虽然没有血缘上的链接，但她就是我的女儿。

Counselor: Aside from her, is there anyone—or anything—else that's important to you? For a person, having multiple emotional anchors is essential.咨询师：除了她，你还能想到一些其他的、对你来说很重要的存在吗？对于人来说，有多个支点是很重要的。

(One minute of silence.)（长达1分钟的沉默。）

Inesa: ...Sorry.伊涅萨：抱歉……

Counselor: It's okay. There's no need to apologize. Let's talk about something else—Do you still engage in charity work?咨询师：没事，这不是什么需要道歉的事。我们来聊聊别的吧，你一直有在做慈善？

Inesa: Yes. I occasionally donate to orphanages or take Una along to do volunteer work.伊涅萨：嗯，偶尔会给福利院捐款，或者带乌娜去做做义工。

Counselor: Is Una your daughter? Did she like going to the orphanage?咨询师：乌娜，就是你的女儿吧？她喜欢去福利院吗？

Inesa: I really enjoy doing that. She's such a kind child, always eager to help others...伊涅萨：挺喜欢的，她是个友善的孩子，喜欢做这些帮助人的事……

Counselor: She does sound like a well-behaved child.咨询师：听上去是个很乖巧的孩子。

Inesa: More than just well-behaved—She has a strong sense of justice... like a little sun. She loves watching the news and gets upset about anything unjust... Even when I tell her, "There's no such thing as perfect fairness in the world," she insists that even so... she wants to do her part to make things a little more fair...伊涅萨：不仅乖巧，还很有正义感……像一个小太阳，她很喜欢看新闻，并且会对一切不公平的事情感到懊恼……即使我对她说，“这个世界上没有绝对的公平”，她也会觉得，就算没有……那她也想为了尽量再公平一点，尽一份力……

Counselor: That sense of justice—did she pick it up from being around you?咨询师：很有正义感，是待在你身边耳濡目染吗？

Inesa: ...No. She's not like me. When it comes to things like fairness and justice... I've long since—伊涅萨：……不，她和我不一样，我对这种事情……公平、正义……我对这些事情早已经——

(Sound of a vibrating communicator, rustling clothes, a button being pressed.)（通讯终端震动的声音、衣物的摩擦声、按键的声音。）

Inesa: ...Sorry. Urgent work call.伊涅萨：……抱歉，有紧急工作。

Counselor: No worries. Let's end the session here for today, then.咨询师：没事没事，那今天的咨询就先到这里吧。

(—End of recording.)（-录音截止。）

NikketaUna... is her adopted daughter?乌娜……是养女？

Nikketa...I should listen to another one.……再听一听其他的吧。

(Excerpt from Counseling Session Audio Log #700201: Inesa Grigorivna Chernova.)伊涅萨·格里戈里·切尔诺娃700201号咨询录音节选。

Inesa: It's quite lively here today.伊涅萨：这里今天很热闹。

Counselor: Yes. There's a sharing event going on. The company even ordered some decent catering. How about a glass of Oldenlandia water?咨询师：是的，今天有分享会，公司还预订了不错的餐饮。要来一杯白花蛇草水吗？

Inesa: ...What's that?伊涅萨：……那是什么东西。

Counselor: A beverage from my hometown. Apparently, it was all the rage ages ago because of its unique taste, and now it's back in production. Want to try it?咨询师：是我家乡的饮料，据说很久很久以前以其独特的味道风靡过，最近又开始重新生产了。来一杯吗？

Inesa: No. I don't drink anything from outside.伊涅萨：不，我不喝外面的东西。

Counselor: Professional habit?咨询师：是职业习惯？

(Five seconds of silence.)（长达5秒的沉默。）

Inesa: You could say that.伊涅萨：算是吧。

Counselor: That's fine. Let's talk about your hometown. Are there any distinctive foods?咨询师：嗯，没关系。那我们来聊聊你的家乡吧，你的家乡有什么特色饮食吗？

Inesa: Mud cakes. Dried grass.伊涅萨：泥土饼、干草丝。

Counselor: Sounds... unappetizing.咨询师：听上去不怎么可口。

Inesa: In the contamination zones, having anything to eat at all is considered lucky.伊涅萨：在污染区能有吃的就算不错了。

Counselor: You were born in a contamination zone?咨询师：你出生于污染区？

Inesa: Yes.伊涅萨：是的。

Counselor: It must have been hard to climb all the way from there to your current position.咨询师：能从污染区到现在这个位置，一定很不容易吧？

(Rustling of clothes.)（衣物摩擦的声音。）

Inesa: ...It was easy... and also very hard. I sold my soul to get to where I am now. From this position, I have to do some very dangerous things. Whether I move forward or back, it's an abyss either way...伊涅萨：……很容易，也很不容易。我出卖了自己的灵魂，才得到了现在这个位置。在这个位置上，我得做一些非常危险的事，无论往前往后都是深渊……

Counselor: Then your soul must be of great value.咨询师：那你的灵魂应该也很有价值。

Inesa: ...A value that can be discarded at any time.伊涅萨：……是随时能被抛弃的价值。

Counselor: Let me ask you something—As an individual, would you rather be abandoned or choose to give up something yourself?咨询师：我有一个问题，作为一个独立的个体，被抛弃和主动放弃，你更愿意接受哪一个？

(One minute of silence. Fabric rustling.)（长达1分钟的沉默、布料摩擦的声音。）

Inesa: Neither. I don't want to lose anything.伊涅萨：都不好，我不想失去任何东西。

Counselor: You mean, if you give up your current position, you'll be left with nothing, right?咨询师：意思是，如果你放弃了现在的这个位置，你就会变得一无所有，对吗？

Inesa: ...Yes.伊涅萨：……是的。

Counselor: You'd lose your daughter too?咨询师：你也会失去你的女儿？

Inesa: ...I don't know. My daughter... loves police dramas. She's always looked up to me. I'm afraid that if she found out the truth about what I do, she'd be disappointed... and leave me. I can't accept that... I wouldn't be able to bear it...伊涅萨：……我不知道。我的女儿，她很喜欢警匪片，也一直很崇拜我。我怕她知道了我所做的一切，会失望，然后离我而去。我不能接受……不能承受那样的……

Counselor: One moment—before we go any further, I need to confirm something. Your work... doesn't involve any illegal or criminal activities, does it?咨询师：等一下，在此之前我想确认一下，你所做的事情和违法犯罪不相关吧？

(30 seconds of silence.)（长达30秒的沉默。）

Inesa: Of course not.伊涅萨：当然不相关。

Counselor: So it's not illegal or criminal, but it's something you cannot openly talk about, is that right?咨询师：虽然不相关，但也不方便说出来，是吗？

Inesa: Yes.伊涅萨：是的。

Counselor: That's fine.咨询师：好，没关系的。

(Electronic notification tone.)（电子提示音。）

Counselor: Time's up. That's all for today's session. See you next week, Inesa.咨询师：时间到了，本次的咨询结束。下周再见，伊涅萨。

Inesa: ...Goodbye.伊涅萨：……再见。

(—End of recording.)（-录音截止。）

Nikketa...Born in a contamination zone, sold her soul to gain her position... Was she talking about her current role at the Public Security Administration?……出身污染区，出卖灵魂才得到的位置……是指目前治安管理局的这个位置吗？

NikketaLet's see if there's a more recent recording... Got it.看看有没有近期的录音……找到了。

(Excerpt from Counseling Session Audio Log #710317: Inesa Grigorivna Chernova.)（-伊涅萨·格里戈里·切尔诺娃710317号咨询录音节选。）

(Five minutes of silence.)长达5分钟的沉默。

Counselor: Inesa, we've been doing these sessions for a whole year now, but I still feel like you're not truly opening up to me. Have I done something wrong?咨询师：伊涅萨，到目前为止我们已经进行了长达一年的咨询了。但我仍然感觉，你并不想对我敞开心扉。是我哪里做的不够好吗？

(Five more minutes of silence.)（长达5分钟的沉默。）

Counselor: I read your health report. Both your depression and anxiety have grown more severe. Are you sure coming here every week is actually helping?咨询师：我看了你的健康报告，你的抑郁和焦虑程度都有所提升，你确定持续每周这样来到我的咨询室，是对你有所帮助的吗？

Inesa: It is.伊涅萨：有的。

(Eight minutes of silence.)（长达8分钟的沉默。）

Counselor: I won't pressure you to reveal more than you're comfortable with, but I do have to remind you—If our conversations continue to be so brief and unfocused, then the time and money you're spending here might not be giving you the value that they should.咨询师：我并不会勉强你过多自我暴露，但要提醒你的是，如果我们的对话一直都是这么点到即止，话题也飘忽不定，那么你在这里花费的时间金钱和收获的价值其实不成正比。

(Ten seconds of silence.)（长达10秒的沉默。）

Inesa: You really do care about your work.伊涅萨：你还挺有职业追求的。

Counselor: It's just basic professional ethics.咨询师：这只是我基本的职业素养罢了。

(One minute of silence. Communicator button being pressed.)（长达1分钟的沉默、终端按键音。）

Inesa: This helps. I just... want someone to talk to.伊涅萨：有帮助的，我只是想找人说说话。

Counselor: Understood. Then let's keep having conversations like this.咨询师：明白了，那我们继续这样的谈话吧。

(Exiting Level II, Nikketa stands in front of the terminal and reflects on the recordings she just heard. Suddenly, she recalls the strange feelings she had when she first took on this mission.)（退出了二级平层，妮基塔站在终端前回想着刚刚的录音，突然联想到了不久之前、在她刚刚接受这个任务的时候，心智中产生的异样的情绪。）

Nikketa...My entry into Mangi Security was far too smooth.……我进入曼尼安保这件事，太顺水推舟了。

NikketaAnd from these recordings, it's clear that Inesa is hiding something... Plus, there's the surveillance footage of Una getting into David's car. Inesa must have some kind of connection to Mangi Security.而且从刚刚的录音来看，伊涅萨似乎有什么难言之隐……再加上之前监控里乌娜被带上戴维的车，伊涅萨一定和曼尼安保有着某种联系。

(Nikketa remembers the bloodstained badge.)（妮基塔想起了那枚带血的徽章。）

NikketaI need to record all this fragmented information and analyze it later... Right now, the top priority is finding Una.先把这些碎片化信息记录下来，之后再进行分析……现在的首要任务，是找到乌娜。

Bloody Lie 喋血的谎言

(Nikketa drives a transport truck along the roads of the contamination zone, occasionally pulling up a second map for comparison.)（妮基塔开着运输车行驶在污染区的道路上，时不时调出另一张地图进行比对。）

NikketaOrder 20710209—same route, but the transportation time was nearly double the usual duration. Listed reason... a Collapse storm...20710209的订单，同样的路程，这次的任务消耗的时间几乎是其他时间的两倍，备注原因是遇上了坍塌风暴……

NikketaBut it was a clear day—no such storm occurred. It must've been something else.那天是晴天，并没有坍塌风暴，一定是因为其他什么原因。

SystemWarning, you are off-route. Recalculating...警告，您已偏离路线，正在重新规划——

(Nikketa ignores the system alert and turns onto a different fork in the road.)（妮基塔无视了系统警报，向着另外一条分岔路驶去。）

(As they pass a massive landfill, Kulich, who has been quietly lying in the passenger seat, suddenly sits up and starts barking out the window.)（途经一个大型垃圾场时，原本趴在副驾驶位没什么动静的库利奇突然坐直了身子，并且冲着车窗外汪汪大叫了起来。）

NikketaAre you picking up a scent similar to the blood sample?是有和血液样本类似的气味信息吗？

KulichWoof-woof!汪呜——

NikketaAlright, let's get out of here.行，那就在这里下车。

(Following Kulich, Nikketa enters the sprawling trash mounds that stretch for kilometers.)（跟着库利奇，妮基塔走进这座绵延数公里的垃圾山。）

(Rubble, scrap metal... it's like a world long abandoned.)（残垣断壁、废铁残渣，这里就像是另一个被抛弃的世界。）

(Kulich leaps to an elevated spot, raises his head, and gently shakes it as if trying to pinpoint a scent in the air.)库利奇一跃到高处，仰起头，轻微地晃动脑袋，似乎是在仔细辨别着空气之中的气味信息。

(Before Kulich can make a move, Nikketa hears footsteps behind her.)（没等库利奇有下一步的行动，妮基塔就听见身后传来了脚步声。）

NikketaWho's there?!谁！

ScavengerHey! How many times do I have to say it?! This is my turf! You think you can mess with the king of this dump without facing his gun—OW!喂！说了多少次了！这里是老子的地盘！敢在你爷爷头上拔毛，先问问老子的枪同不同意——哎呦！

(Before he can even draw his pistol, a searing pain shoots through his wrist.)（没等拔出手枪，他就感觉手腕一阵剧烈的疼痛。）

(He looks closely and realizes the Doll, who was some distance away just a moment ago, is now standing silently right in front of him, gripping his wrist tightly.)（定睛一看，本来还离自己有一段距离的人形，不知什么时候已经无声无息地闪现到了他的身前，并狠狠扣住了他的手腕。）

(His gun clatters to the ground.)（他的枪掉落在了地上。）

ScavengerOw, ow—mercy, please, brave warrior! T-take whatever you want, scavenge all you like...哎哟！哎呦——好疼——这位勇士饶命啊！你、你可以在这里，想捡多少东西捡多少……

NikketaI'm not here to scavenge. I just need you to answer a few questions.我不捡这里的东西，我只需要您回答我几个问题。

ScavengerY-you got it! I swear I'll tell you everything I know, ma'am!您、您说！老子……不不不！小的一定知无不言。

NikketaHave you seen this man before?见过这个人吗？

(Nikketa pulls up a photo of David from her terminal and shows it to him.)（妮基塔调出终端中戴维的照片。）

ScavengerThis guy... I don't recognize the face, but...这个人……脸是生面孔，不过……

(The scavenger squints at the terminal, then slaps his forehead.)（拾荒者凑近了终端看着，半晌，他一拍脑袋。）

ScavengerOh, oh! That outfit—I have seen it before! A few months back, on the other side of the trash hill. He looked like he was burying something. When I saw him, he was facing off with some ELIDs...哦哦，这套衣服，我见过！几个月之前在垃圾山的另一边，他当时好像过来埋什么东西，我看到他的时候，他正在和生骸对峙……

NikketaBurying what?埋什么？

ScavengerOh man, lemme tell you—I was scared shitless!这个，我跟你讲，可他妈吓人了！

ScavengerHe had this black plastic bag and was surrounded by ELIDs. To escape, he hurled the bag at them. Guess what? They ripped it open, and a corpse fell out!他拿着一个黑色的塑料袋，被生骸团团围住，为了脱身，就将袋子砸向那群生骸，你猜怎么着？那群生骸扯着袋子，从里面扯出了尸体！

ScavengerUgh, intestines and fingers flying everywhere, just like in a horror flick...哇……那肠子手指满天飞，跟恐怖片似的……

(The scavenger gestures animatedly, but Nikketa's expression grows grim.)（拾荒者说得眉飞乱舞，但妮基塔心中一沉。）

NikketaWhere exactly did this happen? Take me there.他当时在什么方位？带我过去。

ScavengerIs-is this a murder case?! Am I helping solve a case?! Hahahahaha...是、是发生命案了吗？那我算不算协助破案啊？哈哈哈哈哈……

NikketaCut the nonsense and move!别废话了快带我过去！

ScavengerThis is it, I reckon.就是这里吧。

(The scavenger leads Nikketa to the other side of the trash hill.)（拾荒者带着妮基塔来到了垃圾山的另一面。）

(Months of wind and sand have buried all traces; there are no visible signs of the violence that he just described.)（几个月的风沙已经将过去掩埋，现场看不到一丝一毫拾荒者所描述的残暴痕迹。）

(But the scent of blood still lingers. As soon as Kulich arrives, he starts barking and digging at a specific spot.)（但血腥的气味还萦绕在这上方，因为库利奇一来到这里，立刻就冲着某一处大叫，并且挖掘了起来。）

NikketaHere?这里吗？

(Nikketa kneels down and begins sifting through the garbage with her hands. After a while, she stops.)（妮基塔跪下，用手一起翻动垃圾，不一会儿，她停了下来。）

Nikketa...……

(The scavenger leans over and sees Nikketa staring blankly at something in her hand.)（拾荒者探头看去，只见妮基塔呆呆地盯着手上的一个东西。）

(It's a very small child's shoe—powder blue, tattered and broken.)（那是一只很小的童鞋，粉蓝色的，早已残破不堪。）

ScavengerUh... that...呃……这个……

(Before the scavenger can say anything, Kulich, who had been wagging his tail beside Nikketa, suddenly leaps up and barks furiously behind them.)（还没等拾荒者问出声，原本挨着妮基塔摇尾巴的库利奇，突然一跃而起，冲着他们的身后大叫了起来。）

ScavengerEeeep! ELIDs! W-w-w-what the hell?! I thought this area was already cleared by hunters?!噫！有生骸！怎怎怎么回事啊！之前不是说已经有狩猎者清扫过这里了吗……

(The ELIDs drool and growl ravenously as they close in. The scavenger's legs give out in fear.)（生骸们流着口水围了上来，饥饿的声音从它们的喉管中传出，拾荒者吓得腿都软了。）

ScavengerWe're screwed... I didn't bring enough ammo...完蛋……我子弹好像带得不够……

NikketaStep back.退下。

ScavengerHuh?啊？

(The scavenger stares dumbly as Nikketa steps forward and plants herself in front of him. She cuts a sharp and resolute figure.)（拾荒者呆愣地看着走上前去挡在他身前的妮基塔，此时她的身影显得格外挺拔有力。）

NikketaI said step back.我说，退下。

NikketaLeave this to me.这里交给我。

Bloody Lie 喋血的谎言

InesaThis isn't the meeting frequency we agreed on. Seeing each other too often increases the risk of exposure. I told you this before, didn't I?这不是我们约定好的见面频率，频繁见面，被发现的可能性也会大大增加，这个我之前就和你说过吧？

(In a dimly lit room, Inesa and Nikketa sit facing each other.)（昏暗的小屋中，伊涅萨和妮基塔相对而坐。）

(Inesa seems irritated. Gone is the warmth and friendliness she showed at their initial meeting.)（伊涅萨的神情有些烦躁，不似最初在她脸上常见的那种温和亲切。）

InesaSo? What do you want this time?说吧，你到底有什么事？

NikketaI'll be direct, Inesa. Are you in contact with Mangi Security?我直说了，伊涅萨，您是不是和曼尼安保有来往？

(Inesa raises an eyebrow.)（伊涅萨挑了挑眉。）

InesaDo you know what you're saying?你知道你在说什么吗？

NikketaI suspect my superior is a mole for Mangi Security.我在怀疑自己的上司，是曼尼安保的卧底。

InesaTo make that kind of accusation, you must have quite a bit of evidence. Go on then.能做出这种指控，想来你也掌握了不少证据吧？来说说看。

NikketaNot hard proof, but—并不是切实的证据，但——

InesaThen save it. I didn't expect a Doll to be delusional.那就别说了，我没想到人形也会产生臆想。

InesaOr maybe... the alleged "performance defects" of your frame model—the ones used to justify your dismissal—weren't fabricated after all?还是说……之前为了将你革职，而捏造的“你这一型号的人形有性能缺陷”是真的？

(Inesa remains unfazed.)（伊涅萨恢复了游刃有余的状态。）

InesaListen, Nikketa. If you don't want this mission, you can back out. I only picked you because you seemed to understand the concepts of "justice" and "duty" better than other Dolls.听着，妮基塔，这个任务如果你不想做，可以退出，我还可以让其他的人形负责，选择你也只是因为你看起来比其他人形更懂什么是“正义”与“责任”。

InesaIn other words, you're the best option, but not the only one.换句话说，你虽然是最佳选择，但并不是唯一选择。

Nikketa...……

InesaThough I do need to correct what I said earlier.不过，我需要修正我之前说过的话。

InesaGiven your performance so far, if you do choose to quit, I won't allow you to return to the Public Security Administration. In fact, I'll request to have all your neural logs purged, just to ensure no confidential information leaks.综合你目前为止的表现，如果你选择退出这项任务，我也不会让你回到治安管理局的，而且我会向相关部门申请清除你所有的心智记录，防止机密外泄。

InesaNothing personal. It's protocol.并不是为难你，而是按照规矩办事。

(Inesa speaks casually, but Nikketa hears the veiled threat in her words.)（伊涅萨表现得很平常，但妮基塔听出了她口吻中威胁的意味。）

NikketaI don't care what you think of me. But you do seem to be contradicting yourself.我并不在乎您对我的任何评价，因为您此时看起来，非常矛盾。

Inesa...What do you mean?……你说什么？

NikketaYou keep emphasizing how replaceable I am, while at the same time making threat after threat to stop me from quitting.您一边强调我的可替换性，一边又在恐吓我，给我离开的风险加码。

NikketaSo which is it? Do you want me gone or not?您到底是想让我离开，还是继续？

InesaIt's up to you. I'm just making the consequences clear.随便你。我只是告知你有可能的结果。

NikketaI'm not leaving. I'll keep investigating.我不会离开的，我还要继续查下去。

InesaInvestigating what? Whether I'm Mangi Security's mole?查什么？查我到底是不是曼尼安保的卧底吗？

NikketaNo. I want to find out what happened to Una—and bring whoever hurt her to justice.不是，是查清楚乌娜的经历，将伤害她的人绳之以法。

(The tension in the room shifts the instant Nikketa utters the name.)（妮基塔念出的这个名字，迅速让有些剑拔弩张的氛围沉寂了下来。）

(Inesa's eyes widen slightly. For a moment, she's speechless.)（伊涅萨微微瞪大了双眼，短时间内没有说出一句话。）

(After a while, she finally finds her voice. It wavers as she speaks.)（过了一会儿，她像终于找回了自己的声音一样，颤抖着开口。）

InesaYou said... hurt... What happened to Una? What have you found?你说……伤害……乌娜怎么了？你究竟查到了什么？

(Nikketa pulls the bloodstained badge and broken shoe out of her backpack.)（妮基塔从背包里拿出了那枚带血的徽章，和残破的童鞋。）

(Speaking softly, she recounts how she discovered that a Mangi Security employee had been stealing company property, and how she found Una's toy badge in his warehouse.)（她放轻声音讲述了自己是如何发现了曼尼安保成员的监守自盗，又如何从他存放货物的仓库中找到了这枚属于乌娜的徽章。）

InesaAnd... this shoe?那……这只鞋……

NikketaI hacked that colleague's transport terminal and checked his delivery logs. Out of the 78 completed runs along this one particular route, 77 took almost exactly the same amount of time—within three hours of variance. But one delivery—on February 9 this year—took almost twice as long.我入侵了那个同事的运输终端，查看了他近期的运输记录，发现他有一条走了78次的固定任务路线，其中有77次的运输所耗时长之间的差距都在三个小时之内，唯独在今年2月9日的一次，他用了几乎两倍的时间来走完这段路程。

NikketaThat delivery's timestamp matches closely with when Una got into his car in the surveillance footage—just a day or two earlier.而那条记录的时间，正好和我在监控里看到乌娜被他带上车的时间相近，大概是那之后一两天。

NikketaSo while doing another delivery run, I took a detour to investigate the route.于是我在出运输任务的途中，改道去巡查了这条线路。

NikketaThat's when I found the landfill... and this shoe...在路上，我发现了一个垃圾填埋场，然后找到了这只鞋……

(Inesa falls silent. She turns the badge and shoe over and over in her hands, as if searching for any trace of life on the inert objects.)（伊涅萨沉默了下来，反复查看着手中的物件，似乎想从这些东西上找出一点生命的气息。）

(At last, she looks up and asks with a trembling voice.)（半晌她抬起头，发出了有些颤抖的声音。）

InesaDid you... find Una—or her...?你有没有……找到乌娜，或者乌娜的……

(For the first time, Nikketa recognizes the emotion known as "heartbreak" in Inesa's eyes. It makes her hesitate to speak the whole truth.)（她的眼神中第一次出现了可以称之为“破碎”的情绪，让本来打算实话实说的妮基塔有些不忍。）

NikketaNo... These two things are all I found.没有……我只找到了这两个东西。

(Inesa says nothing. She just stares at the objects in front of her, as if trying to trace Una's story through them... as if bracing herself to face a pain that might be too great to bear.)（伊涅萨没有说话，她直勾勾地盯着那两件物品，仿佛想通过它们，回溯乌娜的经历——那些有可能让她痛不欲生的经历。）

(Inesa's breathing is clearly audible in the silence.)（房间里很安静，衬得伊涅萨的呼吸声如此明显。）

(It is the kind of ragged breath that gives the illusion of someone drowning...)（那急促的喘息给人一种快要溺水的错觉——）

(Beep, beep, beep, beep...)（滴滴滴滴滴——）

(The sound of an incoming call pierces the silence like a knife breaking through ice. The air seems to flow again.)（通讯铃声像是一把插入冰面的刀，让空气涌了进来。）

(Inesa glances at the communicator beside her. On the screen flashes a codename she both fears and despises.)（伊涅萨看向手边的通讯终端，终端屏幕上跳动着一个让她恐惧又憎恶的代号。）

(She collects herself.)（伊涅萨定了定神。）

InesaHello... Mm... Yes, I'm listening...喂……嗯……您说……

(Inesa stands up and walks to the window. After a moment, she glances back at Nikketa.)（伊涅萨站了起来，走向窗边，半晌，她回过头看了妮基塔一眼。）

Inesa...She didn't report anything about that incident to me. She only said she encountered the Varjagers and lost a shipment.……她没有向我汇报相关事件，只说遭遇了瓦良格帮，损失了一批货物。

InesaEven if she did learn something, I can file to have her neural cloud reformatted... through completely legal and proper channels, no loose ends.就算她知道了什么，我也可以申请将她的心智格式化……走完全正规合法的流程，不会节外生枝。

InesaHold off for now? Alright.先不要是吗？好的……

InesaSo it was a task assignment error... No wonder. I'd been wondering why she was assigned to run that route...是派发任务出了差错……怪不得，我还在想她怎么会被调去运输这个……

InesaShould I dispatch a team of public security officers to the location?需要派一队治安队员到那里吗？

InesaUnderstood... I've taken note...知道……我记住了……

(As the person on the other end of the line seems ready to hang up, Inesa hurriedly stops them.)（对方似乎要结束通讯，伊涅萨连忙制止。）

InesaWait... may I speak with Una? Just for a moment—there are things I'd like to say to her.等等……我可以和乌娜说说话吗？一会儿就行，有些事想交代。

Inesa...We'll be allowed to meet after the mission?……任务之后安排我们见面？

Inesa...Alright.……好吧。

(The call disconnects.)（通讯被挂断。）

(Inesa remains by the window. Outside, a light rain begins to fall. Droplets trail down the glass, passing over her reflected face and vanishing into the night.)（伊涅萨站在窗边，此时窗外下起了小雨，雨滴从她映在玻璃上的脸庞上划过，消失在夜色中。）

Nikketa...Maybe it wasn't even Una's. The probability isn't absolute.……可能也不是乌娜的，概率不是绝对的。

InesaBut who was it...?那个人是谁……

NikketaWho was what?那个人？

InesaThe suspect. The smuggler of the illicit drugs... your "colleague". What's his name?那个嫌疑人，违禁药品的走私者……你的“同事”…… 他叫什么？

Nikketa...David. David Evans.……戴维，戴维·埃文斯。

InesaDavid Evans...戴维·埃文斯……

(Inesa grips the badge in her hand. Its sharp edges dig into her palm.)（伊涅萨握住了手中的徽章，徽章的棱角嵌进了她的掌心。）

(Like frenzied thorns growing from beneath a crumbling ruin, a burning zeal fills Inesa with a newfound sense of purpose.)（妮基塔仿佛看到在轰然坍塌的废墟之下，长出了疯狂而尖锐的荆棘，它们将成为伊涅萨新的支点。）

InesaDavid Evans...戴维·埃文斯……

InesaDavid Evans...戴维·埃文斯……

InesaDavid Evans...戴维·埃文斯……

(Inesa murmurs the name over and over, like a sorceress in the forest casting a dark, grotesque spell.)（伊涅萨像着了魔般反复低喃着这个名字，像极了森林里最凶恶的巫女正在施放钻心刻骨的咒语。）

NikketaInesa... Ma'am.伊涅萨……女士。

InesaHa... haha... it's all utter bullshit...哈……哈哈……全部都是狗屁……

NikketaWhat are you talking about?您在说什么？

(At the sound of Nikketa's voice, Inesa clutches her own throat with both hands tightly.)（听到妮基塔的声音，伊涅萨双手抓着自己的喉咙用力。）

NikketaS-stop it!您、住手！

InesaStay... back!别……过来！

(Inesa gasps for breath, her nails digging into her neck. After a while, her breathing steadies, and her eyes slowly clear.)（伊涅萨大口地喘着气，她的指甲陷进了脖子里，过了好一会儿，她的喘息声逐渐恢复常态，眼神也慢慢清明了起来。）

(She looks at Nikketa again.)（她再度看向妮基塔。）

InesaNikketa... are you interested in learning the truth?妮基塔，有兴趣知道一些真相吗？

NikketaPardon?什么？

InesaAbout things from the past... and things that are about to happen to you in the future.关于过去的一些事，和将来即将发生在你身上的一些事。

InesaI originally planned to help that vampire trick you to the end... so that when the mission ended, I could take Una and leave it all behind... But now that Una's gone, nothing matters anymore... If I don't fight back, I'll be bled dry in the end, too.我原本打算帮那个吸血鬼把你骗到底……这样任务结束之后，我就可以带着乌娜远走高飞……现在乌娜不在了一切都失去了意义……如果再不反抗，连我自己最后都会被吸干。

InesaAnd if that happens, I'll have no way to avenge her... Yes... while I'm still in the game...这样我就更没办法帮乌娜报仇了……对……趁我还在局中……

(Nikketa sees a dark flame dancing in Inesa's eyes.)（妮基塔看到一些黑暗的火焰，在伊涅萨的眼中跃动。）

(The all-consuming flame of hatred.)（那是象征着仇恨和吞噬一切的火焰。）

InesaBut this intel doesn't come free. I need your help—不过这些情报不是免费的，我需要你的帮助——

(She spits out the words with vehement clarity.)（她口齿清晰地说出这句话。）

InesaI want revenge.我要复仇。

Nested Action 嵌套行动

(At dusk, several Mangi Security transport trucks enter the docks at the port.)（暮色中，几辆曼尼安保的运输车辆驶入了港口的码头。）

NikketaWe've arrived at the port. Three more cargo zones until we reach the target location.已经到达港口区域，离指定位置还有三个货区。

InesaListen carefully, Nikketa. I'll repeat this one more time: Your mission this time—officially—is to restock the goods that were lost in the previous delivery. But due to the supplier's last-minute schedule change, they can no longer make the delivery. You and your team are to collect the cargo yourselves.听着妮基塔，我再重复一次，你们这次的任务，明面上说是为了弥补之前运输中的意外损失，而进行补货，但由于供货方的临时排期，无法送货，需要你们小队到指定位置自行取货。

InesaHowever, this is in fact an abduction targeting you. An armed group will intercept you shortly. For some unknown reason, they intend to capture you first. Don't make it too easy—Put up a bit of a fight just to keep up the act.但实际上，这是一场围绕着你策划的绑架，等一下会有一路武装拦截你们，出于某些我们都不知道的目的，他们会首先袭击并缉拿你，到时候不要太顺从，象征性地反抗一下。

NikketaGot it.知道了。

InesaHave you installed the remote controlled component I gave you?我给你的远程控件装了吗？

NikketaYes.装了。

InesaGood. If they shut you down, I'll reboot you remotely. When you wake up, stay still.好，如果他们将你关机了，我会帮你远程启动，开机的时候记住不要乱动。

NikketaUnderstood.好。

(After passing three cargo zones, the lead vehicle halts.)（驶过三个货区之后，前方领头的车辆停了下来。）

(Nikketa sees David jump down from the truck and signal for them to disembark.)（妮基塔看见戴维从车上跳了下来，并示意他们也下车。）

NikketaAre we to wait here, Captain David?在这里等吗，戴维队长？

DavidAccording to the mission brief, this is the place. Tsk, if it weren't for those damn Varjagers, we wouldn't have to make this trip...任务上说的是这里，啧，要不是那群瓦良格帮，我们还要多跑这一趟……

InesaDavid? Is that the one you said took Una away?戴维？是你之前和我说的，带走乌娜的人吗？

(Nikketa taps her earpiece twice.)（妮基塔敲击两下耳机。）

(That's the agreed-upon signal for transmitting information covertly when there's someone nearby.)（这是她们约定的，如果身旁有人在如何传递信息的方式。）

DavidHm? Someone's coming. Hey, over here!嗯？有人过来了。喂——这边——

(A shadow looms within the fog. David waves at it but stops short when it gets closer.)（薄雾中出现了一个渐近的黑影，戴维朝黑影招了招手，但却在黑影靠近之后停了下来。）

DavidTh-that's not human...不、不是人……

(The first thing to emerge from the fog is a cold gun barrel.)（最先在薄雾之中显露出来的冰冷的枪管。）

(Behind the automaton, a wave of red lights flickers to life—as if dozens of ELID eyes are readying for the hunt.)（紧接着，似乎是要响应指令一般，机械身后不远处的地方，亮起了一片红光，就像是即将进行狩猎的、生骸的眼睛。）

DavidWhat's going on...? Aren't we here to pick up cargo?怎么回事……不是来取货的吗？

(The armed automaton halts in front of them.)（持枪的机械在他们面前停了下来。）

AutomatonWarning: This is private property. Trespassers must surrender immediately, drop their weapons, and submit to questioning.警告，此为私人领地，私自入侵者需尽快投降，放下武器，接受质询——

AutomatonWarning: This is private property. Trespassers must surrender immediately, drop their weapons, and submit to questioning.警告，此为私人领地，私自入侵者需尽快投降，放下武器，接受质询——

DavidPrivate property...?什么私人领地……

NikketaCaptain David, they're not here for trade—We're under attack!来者不善，戴维队长，要战斗了！

DavidWait! Hold on!喂！等一下！

Nested Action 嵌套行动

(Seeing that they are outnumbered, many members of the transport team drop their weapons to save their own necks.)（看清了对方的数量优势，许多运输队的成员为了自保逐渐放下了武器。）

(Seizing the moment, Nikketa suddenly twists her ankle and collapses on the spot.)（见时机已到，妮基塔一崴脚，摔倒在了原地。）

(The attacking automaton takes the bait and slams its arm into Nikketa's side.)（进攻的机械果然抓住了这个机会，一胳膊抡在了妮基塔的身上。）

NikketaAh! I-I got hit!啊！我、我被打倒了——

(Nikketa feigns pain and flops to the ground.)（妮基塔装作吃痛的样子，顺势往旁边一趴。）

Inesa...That was... not very convincing.……稍微、有点假。

NikketaNo?是吗？

NikketaBut... they're low-grade droids, not Dolls. They probably won't notice.但……对方是比人形要低级的机械，应该不会发现。

InesaGood thing they're just droids...还好只是机械……

(Nikketa lies motionless. She feels one of the automatons move to her side.)（妮基塔倒在地上，一动不动，感觉有一台机械移动到了自己身边。）

AutomatonTarget secured. Now executing forced shutdown.目标已被控制，现在执行强制休眠指令——

(In the next instant, Nikketa loses all sensory and cognitive functions.)（下一秒，妮基塔失去了所有感官和知觉。）

Buried in Ashes 掩埋于灰烬之下

(Frame function check... complete.)（素体自检……完成）

(System self-diagnostic... complete.)（系统自检……完成）

(Power supply... activated. Remaining power: 100%.)（电源组……开启，剩余电量100%）

(Accessing neural backup... Connection established.)（访问心智备份……链接成功）

(Loading neural cloud... 5%... 20%... 35%...)（心智载入开始……5%……20%……35%……）

(When her senses return, Nikketa keeps her eyes closed.)（感官恢复的那一刻，妮基塔没有睁眼。）

(Through her sense of touch and internal sensors, she can tell that she is lying flat, her body rocking gently in transit. The journey seems steady.)（通过触觉和本体感受器，她意识到自己现在处于平躺状态，稍有颠簸，路途应该比较平稳。）

(Nikketa opens her eyes just a crack.)（妮基塔微微睁眼。）

(Within her limited field of vision, she sees that she is inside some sort of repair pod. Above her is a large piece of curved transparent glass. Beyond the glass is a space that appears to be a laboratory.)（有限的视野中，妮基塔确认了自己此时正处在一个类似于维修舱的装置里，面前是一大块透明的曲形玻璃，透过玻璃，可以看到一方空间，从布局来看，有点像实验室。）

InesaNikketa, are you awake?妮基塔，醒了吗？

(After a burst of static, Inesa's whisper comes through her earpiece.)（嘈杂的电流声过后，耳机里传来伊涅萨的低语。）

NikketaYes. I'm in a lab. The identity of my kidnappers is unknown.嗯。在一个实验室，绑架方身份不明。

InesaThe one who gave me the order and the ones who kidnapped you don't seem to be from the same faction. Otherwise, they wouldn't have asked me to send a Public Security team to extract you... They may be collaborating, but their alliance is most likely superficial...对我下达命令的那个人和绑架方似乎不处于同一势力，不然应该也不会让我派一支治安队伍把你捞出来……他们之间虽然存在合作，但深究下去关系很可疑……

InesaAt this point, all I know is that the one issuing me orders goes by the name "Sharktooth". Sounds like a codename. Gender unknown, identity unknown.目前为止，我只知道那个对我发号施令的人叫作“鲨齿”，听上去是个代号，除此之外，性别不明、身份不明。

InesaIt's up to you to figure out what you can from the kidnappers.就看你能从绑架方手上取得什么线索了。

NikketaI'll do my best.我会尽力。

InesaDo you know where the other Mangi Security members are being held?你知道曼尼安保的其他成员关在哪里了吗？

NikketaNo.不。

Nikketa...We've stopped. Ending transmission for now.……停下来了，暂时中止通讯。

(Nikketa closes her eyes.)（妮基塔闭上了眼睛。）

(She senses a faint vibration through her frame. A few seconds later, she hears the pod door open, then feels the cold, flowing air of the lab on her skin.)（感觉周身有轻微的震动，几秒钟后，舱门开启的声音传来，实验室中阴冷的、流动的空气拂过她的表面。）

(Multiple sets of footsteps move past either side of her frame. She senses the data ports on her body being accessed.)（复数的脚步声在她素体两侧穿行往来，她感觉自己身上的数据接口正在被打开。）

Reckless ResearcherI've left VSK-94's sidearm here.VSK-94的配枪我放在这了啊。

Worried ResearcherAlright. By the way... can a Doll run a performance test while in sleep mode?可以，话说……人形在休眠状态下可以跑测性能？

Reckless ResearcherYeah, with the latest upgrade, that function's included.可以的，升级到了最新版本，有这个功能。

Reckless ResearcherIt's too risky to boot her up. This model has incredible combat performance. The defense droids in our lab might not stand a chance.开机太冒险了，这个型号的人形在战术性能上比较优越，就我们实验室里的那些防卫机械不一定能打得过。

Worried ResearcherSpeaking of which... we've taken in many Dolls produced by IOP, with more or less the same specs. Why is this VSK-94 flagged for special containment?话说……I.O.P.这个型号的人形之前也收容了很多，性能啊、数据啊什么的其实都大差不差，为什么这个VSK-94会被标注为特别收容啊？

Reckless ResearcherIsn't that why we're doing unpaid overtime today?这不就是我们今天无薪加班的原因？

Reckless ResearcherStop speculating. Just get to work.别揣测了，干活吧。

(Nikketa feels data cables being plugged into her ports. Some large machinery hums from a short distance, and the footsteps gradually fade away.)（妮基塔感觉自己身上的接口被连上了数据线，紧接着，大型机械运行的嗡声从不远处传来，身边的脚步声也渐行渐远。）

(She opens her eyes slightly and sees a few researchers gathered around an electronic screen, engaged in discussion.)（妮基塔微微睁开眼，看到几个研究人员围拢在不远处的电子屏前讨论着什么。）

Reckless ResearcherAside from the exceptionally high combat performance... I'm really not seeing anything special here.除了战斗方面的性能异常优异……还真看不出什么特别的啊。

Worried ResearcherSo should we report the findings as-is?那这报告照实写吗？

Worried ResearcherWhat if the brass gets mad that we found nothing after they caused such a stir?上头发现大动干戈之后没查到什么，不会迁怒我们吧？

Reckless Researcher...Maybe we should dismantle her frame and inspect it thoroughly. Could be some hidden firmware only triggered under special conditions—routine tests wouldn't pick that up.……不如将她的素体拆开，彻查一遍呢？说不定有什么需要特殊手段才能启动的隐藏固件，常规跑测跑不出来。

Worried ResearcherIt's possible... but we'd need to relocate. The equipment here isn't sufficient... Hm? Why does it say the target frame is disconn—urk!也不是不可以……那要转移实验室了，这里的器材不够……嗯？怎么显示目标机体断——咳！

(Before the researcher can react, a swift strike from behind knocks him out cold.)（没等研究人员反应过来，后方一记利落的重击，让他瞬间倒地不省人事。）

(As another researcher tries to flee, Nikketa whips a broken data cable around him and yanks him back, then drives her knee into his stomach.)（有人反应过来想要逃跑，被妮基塔用扯断的连接线套住扯了回来，单膝重击在了他的肚子上。）

Reckless ResearcherKuh—puah!咳——哈！

NikketaA stun gun? Good thing I've used one before.电击枪？还好以前用过。

(She grabs the weapon from the researcher and aims it at the one who's heading for the alarm—only for her arm to be pulled askew by the groggy researcher that she hasn't finished off.)（从研究人员的手中夺过枪，妮基塔瞄准了正在冲向报警器的人，没想到被强撑着爬起来的研究人员拉偏了手臂。）

(Bang!)（砰！）

(The electrified dart hits the floor. Nikketa pivots and fires at the attacker who disrupted her.)（带电的飞镖落在了地上，妮基塔调转枪口，对准了限制她行动的人，扣下扳机。）

Reckless ResearcherAaaaghhh!啊啊啊啊啊——

(50,000 volts send him twitching to the ground. Just as she turns to deal with the last survivor—)（五万伏的电压让他瞬间倒地抽搐不止，正当妮基塔回过身准备去解决唯一的漏网之鱼时——）

(BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!)（嘟嘟嘟——）

(An ear-splitting alarm starts blaring. The lab doors burst open instantly, and a squad of mechanical guards pour in.)（尖锐刺耳的警报声在耳边轰鸣，与此同时，实验室的大门轰然弹开，大波机械卫兵鱼贯而入。）

NikketaTsk.啧。

(Nikketa falls back, grabs her sidearm, and dives behind cover.)（妮基塔迅速后撤拾起自己的配枪，委身躲到了掩体后面。）

(A brutal fight seems inevitable.)（一场硬仗在所难免。）

Buried in Ashes 掩埋于灰烬之下

(Nikketa manages to get the lab's doors to slam shut, locking out most of the reinforcements.)（在妮基塔的极限操作下，研究室的大门轰然关闭，大多数机械被隔绝在了门外。）

(Nikketa quickly dispatches the remaining defense automatons inside.)（妮基塔迅速将研究室内剩余的防卫机械解决。）

(Then, she catches sight of a sneaky figure trying to slink away.)（不经意间，她瞥见了一个鬼鬼祟祟的身影。）

NikketaHey, stop right there.喂，站住。

Panicked ResearcherEek!噫——

(It's the researcher who evaded her shot and hit the alarm.)（是刚刚逃脱泰瑟枪攻击，按下警报按钮的研究人员。）

(While she fumbles on the floor for a dropped weapon, Nikketa strides over.)（见他趴到地上胡乱扒拉着防卫机械掉落的武器，妮基塔径直朝他走了过去。）

Panicked ResearcherS-stay back!你、你不要过来啊——

NikketaSave yourself the effort. You can't beat me in a fight.我劝您不要白费力气，您是打不过我的。

NikketaNow, get over here.现在，给我过来——

(She twists the woman's arm and shoves her over to the lab terminal.)（妮基塔扭着那个人的手臂，将她带到实验室终端前。）

NikketaUnlock it.解锁。

Panicked ResearcherN-no...不、不要……

(Nikketa fires a shot near her feet. The blast makes the researcher flinch and cower.)（妮基塔干脆地朝她脚边开了一枪，巨大的声响和震动让研究员害怕地抱头蹲下。）

Panicked ResearcherD-don't shoot! I'll do it, I'll do it...别、不要——我我我给你解锁就是了……

(The terminal is soon unlocked.)（很快，终端的限制被解除。）

(Nikketa delivers a swift chop to the back of the researcher's neck, then catches her as she slumps forward and places her aside.)（在登入系统的那一刻，妮基塔直接给了研究员一手刀，然后托住她下滑的身体，把她安置在一旁。）

NikketaEven though the password's unlocked, I should switch to Level II. It'll boost the search and processing speed.虽然解开了密码，还是进二级平层吧，搜索速度和信息处理速度都会更快一些。

(She enters Level II and starts scanning for the keywords in the torrent of data.)（妮基塔切入了二级平层，在海量的信息中搜索着关键词。）

(Soon, she notices that some of the data in the terminal have been corrupted.)（很快，她发现终端中的信息遭到了一定程度的损坏。）

NikketaDid she sabotage the system before I knocked her out? Tsk, I shouldn't have been so hasty.难道是刚才开机的时候，她做了什么手脚？啧，不该那么快把她敲晕。

NikketaWait... What's this...?等等……这是……

(She opens an attachment in an email and finds a list.)（她在邮箱里某一封邮件的附件中，读取了一串名单。）

NikketaList of Required Samples for Technical Optimization of Third-Generation Doll Models...《关于第三代人形版本技术优化升级所需样本名单》……

(The attachment is a long roster of Doll photos and names—many are former Griffin Dolls.)（附件点开，是一长串人形的照片和名单，有很多都是前格里芬的人形。）

(She quickly finds her own profile. Aside from the basics, some information is beyond her understanding.)（很快，妮基塔在其中找到了自己的资料，除却基本信息外，还有一些她看不懂的内容。）

NikketaSender... "Sharktooth"? The same "Sharktooth" that Inesa mentioned?送信人是……「鲨齿」，是伊涅萨提到过的那个“鲨齿”么？

Nikketa...Participant of "Project Nebula Wind"... "Project Coronal Hole" priority containment subject... What on earth are these...?……「恒星风」计划参与者、「冕洞」计划重点收容对象，这些又是什么……

(Scrolling further, she spots two familiar faces.)（在下拉名单的过程中，她瞥见了两个熟悉的面孔。）

NikketaOTs-14 and DP-12... Why are they also here...?这是……OTs-14和DP-12……为什么她们也会出现在这里……

(OTs-14, like Nikketa, is flagged for special attention. Meanwhile, DP-12's profile is nearly blank aside from her basic information.)（OTs-14和自己一样，也被标注了重点关注的记号，至于DP-12，她的资料栏除了基础信息之外几乎是空白的。）

NikketaNone of this makes sense... This will need further investigation. First, let me copy everything.意义不明……之后需要查证，先拷贝下来吧。

(After exiting Level II, she hears pounding from outside the doors. At the same time, a call from Inesa comes through.)（退出二级平层后，妮基塔发现门外正传来沉闷的敲击声，同时，她收到了伊涅萨的通讯。）

InesaAny findings?怎么样了，查到了点什么吗？

(For a moment, Nikketa can hear strange noises on Inesa's end.)（恍然间，妮基塔好像听到了伊涅萨那边传来奇怪的声音。）

NikketaThis seems to be a temporary lab. Useful data is scarce, but I did find some things. Sending them to you now.这个研究室应该是临时的，有用的资料很少，不过还是查到了点什么，我先给你传输过去。

NikketaWait, what's that whimpering sound?话说，你那边怎么传来了“呜呜”的声音？

InesaIt's Kulich. Don't you remember? You left it with me.是库利奇，你忘了吗，你把它寄养在我这里了。

InesaThings also sound... pretty bad on your end.倒是你那里……听上去有些不妙。

NikketaThe security droids are about to breach. I've got five minutes max.机械卫兵正在破门，最多五分钟就要突入了。

(She hits send. The progress bar crawls slowly on the terminal screen.)（妮基塔按下了送信的按钮，终端的屏幕上，传信的进度条开始缓慢地爬行。）

InesaShould be enough. My public security team's in position around the building... By the way, are you really set on this?应该来得及，我下属的治安小队已经在建筑周围待命了……话说，你真的想好了吗？

(Nikketa tosses the unconscious researchers into a repair pod and shuts the lid, then starts searching for disassembly tools.)（将三个昏过去的研究人员扔进了维修舱并关闭舱门，妮基塔开始寻找拆卸工具。）

NikketaSet on what?想好……什么？

InesaStaying with Mangi Security.继续留在曼尼安保。

NikketaWasn't that the plan we discussed?这不是我们之前商量好的吗？

(Finding the tools, Nikketa sits and begins dismantling her own leg.)（找到了拆卸工具的妮基塔坐在了地上，开始拆自己的腿部素体。）

InesaGoing undercover isn't easy. The pressure of being discovered is one thing, but worse is having to do things that go against your values.卧底并不是那么好做的，顶住被发现的压力还是小事，关键是，有时候你不得不去做一些违背自己价值观的事。

InesaWe fought about this before, and even though you complied, I know you didn't agree with it.之前……我们就这件事发生过争执，虽然你最后服从了，但我很清楚你的态度，你不认同这样的做法。

NikketaI didn't. That's why I kept digging.我的确不认同，所以继续追查了下去。

NikketaI've already reported the Erdis lead to the proper authorities. They'll act on it.“厄狄斯”的线索我已经投递给相关部门了，相信他们会采取行动。

(She removes several micro-explosives from her open frame.)（从打开的素体中，妮基塔取出了数个微型炸弹。）

(She plants them on the doors and the terminal...)（她将炸弹安置在了门上、终端上……）

NikketaI might not be able to contain all the damage, but I'll save as many lives as I can... That's my philosophy.可能我没办法阻止某些损害，但我一定不会放弃减少牺牲……这才是我真正的态度。

NikketaNow that "Sharktooth" is starting to suspect me, the next step will be full neural cloud reformatting if they uncover anything else, right?现在，那位“鲨齿”已经开始怀疑我了，如果再被他查到些什么，下一步就会彻底格式化我的心智云图吧？

InesaYes, but I don't think they want to resort to that yet.是的，但我认为不到关键的一步，他应该并不想这么做。

InesaThey seem to be more interested in the data generated by your original neural cloud processes.你的原初心智运行所产生的数据，好像才是他们真正想要的东西。

NikketaThen this is a necessary step.那么这一步就有必要了。

(She attaches the final explosive to her own frame.)（妮基塔拿出最后一颗炸弹，安置在了自己的身上。）

NikketaIf I destroy my current neural cloud backup, they'll notice it when they run diagnostics on me. That'll serve as proof that I remain completely in the dark. It's the only way for me to stay at Mangi.只有把现有的心智备份摧毁，让他们在给我机检的时候注意到这件事，我才有消除自己“知情”的证据，继续留在曼尼安保。

NikketaWith you helping from the outside, we stand a chance of uncovering who "Sharktooth" really is—and what they're plotting.我们里应外合，就有机会查出“鲨齿”的身份，和他们酝酿的阴谋。

NikketaBesides, like I said before...再说了，我之前说过的……

InesaWhat?什么？

NikketaIf it's something that helps people, something that's right, I'll do it.如果是对民众有帮助的事、正确的事，我就会去做。

NikketaAnd by people, I mean everyone I can perceive, not just those defined by the rulebook.这个民众……是我所感知到的所有人，不止局限于规章制度上的条条框框。

(Inesa chuckles softly through her earpiece.)（耳机里传来伊涅萨的轻笑。）

InesaI really was right about you... Though I never knew you were this optimistic.我果然没有看错你……不过，之前我可不知道你这么乐观。

NikketaMaybe it's just part of my foundational programming.可能也是写在我底层代码中的设定吧。

NikketaSay... is your tech team reliable? Rigging such a powerful bomb here... won't blow my neural cloud to smithereens, will it?话说……你的技术团队靠谱吗，这个威力的炸弹装在这个位置……不会直接熔毁我的心智吧？

InesaNo promises.我不敢保证。

NikketaFigures.算了。

(Nikketa grabs the detonator.)（妮基塔掏出了引爆器。）

NikketaJust like you said, this is a necessary sacrifice.就像你说的，这是必要的牺牲。

NikketaKeep my neural logs safe. I'll see you on the other side.保留好我的心智记录，我们到时候再见吧。

(With that, Nikketa presses the detonator button without hesitation.)（说完，妮基塔毫不犹豫地按下了引爆器的按钮。）

Onset of Vengeance 复仇的开始

(A thunderous explosion erupts from the other end of the call. Inesa doesn't linger—She switches her comms to another channel while keeping her gun-wielding hand raised and steady.)（通讯那头传来如雷的轰鸣，伊涅萨没有过多停留，将通讯切到另外的频段，另一只手维持着举枪的姿势。）

InesaBreach now. Get Nikketa out. Detain the rest of the Mangi Security personnel... One's missing?可以突入了，将妮基塔捞出来，把曼尼安保的其他成员也扣下来……你说少了一个？

(Something nudges her weapon. Inesa glances down, then presses her gun harder against its target.)（枪被什么东西顶了顶，伊涅萨朝下瞥了一眼，持枪的手加大力度向下按去。）

InesaDoesn't matter. Leave the search for later. First, get Nikketa out.没事，之后再搜查一下，先把妮基塔带走再说。

(She hangs up.)（通讯挂断。）

(Inesa squats down, moving the muzzle of her gun from David's forehead to under his chin.)（伊涅萨蹲下身，持枪的手下移，原本抵在戴维额头上的枪管，顶住了他的下巴。）

InesaWhat were you shouting about just now? Hoping Nikketa would come to your rescue?刚才突然叫唤什么？难道希望妮基塔来救你吗？

DavidMmph... mmph... mmph!呜呜呜呜——

(Inesa yanks out the gag from his mouth.)（伊涅萨拔出了堵在他嘴里的布团。）

David(Cough)... You... crazy bitch! Who the hell are you?!咳、咳咳……你这个——疯子！你到底是谁！？

InesaThink carefully before you speak.说话之前想清楚了。

InesaYou call me crazy? You're not much better yourself. You have Doll Syndrome, don't you?不过要说疯子，我们应该半斤八两——你有人形病，对吧？

DavidWhat the hell are you talking about?! I don't understand a damn thing!你在说什么，我他妈一点都听不懂！

InesaThat's okay. I just want you to take a look at something—Do you know this girl?听不懂没关系，看得懂就行——这个女孩你认识吗？

(Inesa pulls out a photo and holds it in front of him.)（伊涅萨掏出一张照片，展示在他面前。）

(The moment he sees the photo, he visibly panics and averts his gaze.)（看到照片的瞬间，戴维明显地慌了，他移开了视线。）

DavidN-no, I don't know her. I've never seen her... That's right... never seen her...不、不认识，没见过……没错……我没见过……

(Bang!)（砰——）

(Inesa shoots him in the foot.)（伊涅萨对准他的脚就是一枪。）

DavidAah... AAAAARGHHH!啊——啊啊啊啊！

(Inesa grabs his hair, forcing him to look her in the eyes.)（伊涅萨抓起他的头发，强迫他直视自己。）

InesaNever seen her? Want me to help jolt your memory?没见过？要不要再帮你回忆一下，啊？

DavidI haven't! I haven't seen her!没见过！我没见过！

InesaTalk straight, and I might leave your corpse intact.你痛快点说，我还能给你留一个全尸。

(Inesa fires another shot—this one grazing David's thigh. He screams in agony.)（伊涅萨又开了一枪，子弹擦过戴维的大腿。又是一声惨叫。）

InesaDon't delude yourself that anyone's coming to save you. To your company, you're trash. Actually, no. Trash at least has recycling value. You don't even have that.不要妄想任何人会来救你，对于你的公司而言，你就是一个废物……不，废物起码还能回收，你连回收的价值都没有。

InesaSo I'll ask you again—Have you seen this girl?我再问你一遍，你见没见过这个女孩！？

DavidI haven't... haven't... No... wait... I have seen her...我没见过……没见过……不对……我见过……

(David's expression goes blank. His terror transforms into mania.)（戴维的神情突然呆滞了起来，极度的惊恐转换为了极度的疯狂。）

DavidHahahahaha, I HAVE seen her! But it wasn't a person! It was a Doll... that looked just like her! What I killed was a Doll—哈哈哈哈哈我见过！但我见到的不是人！是人形……是和她长得一模一样的人形——我杀的、也是人形——

DavidIt was a Doll... so it didn't really count as "killing", right...? "Disassembled"? "Damaged"? "Destroyed"?人形……不能用“杀”吧……应该说……“拆解”？“损坏”？“毁灭”？

DavidAnyway, I did nothing wrong... What I destroyed... was a Doll!总之，我什么错都没有……我毁掉的……是一个人形！

(Beneath her sleeve, veins bulge along Inesa's arm. She takes a deep breath and steadies her voice.)（伊涅萨掩盖在衣袖下的手臂，暴起青筋。她深吸了一口气，稳定住自己的语气。）

InesaTell me. Why... why did you destroy her?跟我说说，你到底为什么、要毁掉她？

DavidWhy? Because she was a Doll! Why the hell should a real, superior, dignified human like me have to escort a lowly, filthy Doll?!为什么？因为她是人形啊！我他妈就不懂了，上头为什么要让我一个活生生的、高等的、有尊严的人类，去——去护送一个低贱的人形！

DavidDolls may look like little girls, but they're crafty. She saw me taking drugs. Saw me stealing cargo... I couldn't let her live... She had to die...人形……就算是小女孩的形态也狡诈得很，她看到我嗑药了！看到我偷货了……她不能活、她不能活……

InesaSo... you killed her.所以……你杀了她。

(Inesa's finger tightens on the trigger. Her voice trembles.)（伊涅萨的手指扣在扳机上，和她的声音一样在颤抖。）

DavidKilled?! That's not the right word! It was disassembly!杀、怎么能叫杀呢！是拆解！

DavidI tore her into pieces... stuffed her into a bag... So much red tissue and lubricant came pouring out of her... It took me fucking forever to clean up...我把她拆成了一块一块……装到了袋子里……她的身体里流出了很多红色的组织液还有机油……妈的、我清理了好久……

DavidThen I packed her into a plastic bag... I was looking for a scrap yard... wanted to make a little money...然后我把她装进了塑料袋里，我在找一个废品回收厂……想换点钱……

(His voice, like a rusted blade grating through the air, pierces Inesa's skull and tears up the last shred of her sanity. Her breath quickens, as if the oxygen is draining from the room.)（戴维的声音像一把生锈的钝刀，伴随着嗡鸣，从远处射到伊涅萨的耳中，击中她的大脑，再刺穿她的理智。她的呼吸开始急促起来，似乎周身的氧气都逐渐被抽干了一般。）

(She braces against the wall with one hand, still holding the gun with the other. David's maniacal face begins to blur in front of her.)（她一手扶住旁边的墙壁以支撑自己的身体，另一只手维持着举枪的动作，戴维疯狂的面相在眼前开始变得模糊。）

(No... not yet...)（不行……还不是时候。）

(She grips the pistol with her other hand to prevent accidental discharge. Forcing herself to look at him, she pushes words through gritted teeth.)（她用另一只手，握住手枪，以防自己不小心擦枪走火，努力看向眼前的人，从牙缝中挤出来点声音。）

Inesa...And then?然……后呢……

DavidThen... oh, then I-I found a garbage dump... but I ran into ELIDs... on the way...然后……哦、然后，我我我找到了垃圾站……在路上……遇到了生骸……

DavidCouldn't let myself get eaten by ELIDs. I've got profitable gigs to run...我可不能被生骸吃了，我还有大生意要做……

InesaSo you used Una's body as bait to save yourself.所以，你为了自保，把乌娜的尸体丢给了生骸。

DavidTh-that wasn't a body—那、那不是尸体——

InesaArgh!啊——

(Bang!)（砰！）

(Inesa can't take it anymore. She shoves the muzzle of her gun into David's hand and fires straight into his palm.)（伊涅萨听不下去了，她将枪口抵住戴维的手掌，扣下扳机。）

DavidAAAAAHHH!啊啊啊啊啊——

InesaYou killed her... YOU KILLED HER!你杀了她……你杀了她！

InesaShe was a person! A person! A PERSON!她是人！她是人！她是人！

InesaShe could feel pain. She could feel. She was alive! A human being!她会痛，她有感觉，她是活生生的人！是人！

(Next, she shoots him in the throat.)（接下来是喉咙。）

DavidGuh... ack...啊……啊……

InesaHow does that feel? That pain you feel now—that's what she felt!怎么样？感觉到了吗？你现在的感觉就是她那时候的感觉！

InesaEven though I don't want to admit you're a human... but this is what you did!虽然我并不想承认你是人！但就是这样！

InesaYou murderer! YOU MURDERER!你杀人了！你杀人了！

(Broken sobs echo through the warehouse, but the gunshots continue.)（破碎的呜咽在仓库中回荡，但枪声还在继续。）

(Bang. Bang. Bang...)（砰砰砰——）

(Eyes. Thighs. Mouth... Inesa keeps pulling the trigger, not noticing that the lifeless body has already stopped breathing.)（眼睛、大腿、口腔……伊涅萨暴躁地扣动着扳机，没注意到枪下的人早已了无生息。）

David...……

(She fires the final bullet. Then she lowers her arm.)（射完了最后一发子弹，伊涅萨垂下了手。）

(Before her lies a mangled, unrecognizable pile of flesh, crumpled grotesquely at her feet.)（眼前是一团血肉模糊、残破不堪的碎肉块，它扭曲地瘫倒在了伊涅萨的面前。）

InesaHuff... huff...呼……呼……

(The warehouse is cold, but the rage has left her hot and breathless.)（仓库的温度很低，但狂怒带来的余温，让她闷得有些喘不过气。）

(She picks up the photo that had fallen to the ground. It's soaked with blood, but the girl's smile in the image is still warm and sweet.)（伊涅萨捡起了飘落在地上的照片，照片被血水浸染，但画面上女孩的笑容依旧温暖可爱。）

(Inesa wipes the blood from the photo with her fingers.)（伊涅萨用手指抹去照片上的血迹。）

InesaHuff... huff... ngh...呼……呼……呜……

(She lets out a wretched sob, like a lioness who finds her cub long dead.)（她发出了一声呜咽，像是母狮发现自己的孩子已死去多时的绝望。）

(After a while, she finally speaks. Her voice is hoarse from her earlier outburst.)（半晌，她终于开口了，嗓音因先前的过分激动已残破不堪。）

InesaI've killed too... but I don't regret it.我也杀人了……但我不后悔……

InesaI... avenged you, Una... Mama avenged you... And this is just the beginning. I won't stop until all vengeance is served...我……给你报仇了，乌娜……妈妈给你报仇了……这只是个开始，我一定会复仇到底……

InesaI promise you...我向你保证……

[Night, █/█/2071.]（2071年█月█日，夜晚。）

Scott...He's extremely dissatisfied. This operation yielded no usable intel, and we lost a research facility for nothing. Worse yet, the Public Security Administration is now watching us. What do you intend to do about this?……他很不满意，这次的行动，没有获得任何有效的信息不说，还害我们白白损失了一个研究所，而且……治安管理局的人也盯上了我们，你们预计如何为此次事件负责？

CarmenPlease don't worry, we'll take full responsibility.请别担心，我们当然会为此次事件全权负责。

CarmenOur interests are aligned with the Girard Group's.我们与吉拉尔集团的利益，是一致的。

ScottAligned... or are you just greedy for more?是一致的，还是想要更多？

ScottSo many simple missions ended in failure... Aren't we right to suspect your loyalty?如此简单的任务接连失败……我们是不是有理由认为你们存在二心？

CarmenYou're joking. Where's the evidence of divided loyalty?您说笑了，这二心在哪里呢？

ScottHmph. Since the URNC government dispatched the chairman to oversee Odesa, their policies have clearly aimed to strip us of control. You've certainly profited from those changes, haven't you?哼，罗联政府为奥德卅派来了接管该地区的首席，自从他上任后推行的各类政策，明显是想要从我们手中把当地的实际管理权全部接管过来，你们、应该从这些政策里获得了不少好处吧？

CarmenI don't know about business, but the message I've received from above is clear—We fully support your Group's actions.经商的事我可不懂，但我接受到的上头的意思，确实是全力配合贵集团的行动。

ScottFully support... or fully obstruct?是全力配合，还是全力阻碍？

CarmenMaybe someone else is doing the obstructing.或许阻碍的另有其人呢？

ScottWhat do you mean?什么意思？

CarmenIt fears the power of the Girard Group.“它”在畏惧吉拉尔的实力。

Scott...That's a bold—and dangerous—accusation.……你的指控很明确，也很危险。

CarmenYou're leading third-generation Doll technology, standing at the forefront of the era. And those who stick their necks out... often have guns pointed at them.掌握着第三代人形技术，行走于时代的前列，这种出头鸟，一般是会被枪指着的。

CarmenIf your Group insists on forcing your way into Project Coronal Hole, you'll attract even more attention.如果贵集团想要如此强硬地涉足冕洞计划，只怕会被更多双眼睛盯上。

ScottIncluding yours?——也包括你们？

(Carmen lets out a sigh.)（卡门叹了一口气。）

CarmenActually, just before the conference call, I got the General Manager's approval—We'll bypass the terms and conditions of Project Coronal Hole and begin synchronizing VSK-94's data to your Group going forward, to support your R&D plans.其实刚刚通讯会议前，我有得到总经理的首肯——我们会绕过冕洞计划的条款，今后将VSK-94的数据同步给贵集团，以支持贵集团的研发计划。

CarmenIt might just take a little longer. VSK-94 was seriously damaged in the incident, and we're doing everything we can to repair her.只不过可能要稍微晚一些，VSK-94经历了这次的事件，受损严重，我们正在全力修补她。

CarmenAlthough we don't quite understand what's so special about her, to show our loyalty and unwavering support to your Group, we are willing to do everything in our power to help the Girard Group stay ahead in third-generation Doll development.虽然我们对VSK-94究竟有何特殊之处，并不了解，但为了表示忠心与对贵集团的誓死追随，我们愿意尽一切所能，帮助吉拉尔集团在第三代人形研发领域保持领先的状态。

ScottIf this had been your attitude from the start, I wouldn't have doubted you so much.如果，你们一开始是这个态度，我也不会如此怀疑你们。

CarmenIt was our oversight.是我们考虑不周了。

CarmenAs an apology, we'll build a new research facility for Girard. Additionally, our current research into anti-E.L.I.D. technology can also be shared with your Group—to some extent.为了表达歉意，我们会为吉拉尔集团修建新的研究所，并且目前正在研究的抗E.L.I.D.技术，也可以与贵集团做一定程度的共享。

ScottUnderstood. I'll report this to the CEO.可以，我会转达给董事长的。

ScottAlso, I'd like to know—how do you plan to deal with the Public Security Administration?另外，我想知道，治安管理局那边，你们预备怎么处理？

CarmenWe've found a scapegoat. Handing him over to the authorities should suffice. You can rest easy on that matter.我们找到了一位替罪羊，把他交予治安管理部门即可，这件事请您大可放心。

CarmenIn a few days, you'll see the result on the news.过几日，新闻播报中，您就可以看到结果。

ScottAlright, we'll await your update. Let's leave it here for today.行，那我们等着你们的消息，今天就先到这里吧。

CarmenGoodbye.回见。

(Transmission terminated.)（通讯结束——）

(Carmen turns to look at her subordinate.)（卡门偏过头，看向自己的下属。）

CarmenHow's the David situation being handled?戴维的事处理得怎么样了？

SubordinateAll the materials have been compiled. I'll forward them to Ms. Inesa shortly.已经把所有资料整理好了，之后我会传给伊涅萨小姐的。

CarmenGood. Smuggling illicit drugs, unauthorized access, triggering a mech riot, and killing an important bargaining chip... That man has outlived his usefulness.那就好，违禁药运输、非法入侵、机械暴动，还弄死了重要的把柄……这个人没必要存在了。

CarmenDead men tell no tales.死人的嘴是最严的。

SubordinateBut... we may lose our grip... on Ms. Inesa.那……伊涅萨小姐那边……可能会脱离掌控。

CarmenDidn't we agree to let her meet her daughter after the mission?我们不是约定了之后让她和她的女儿见面吗？

SubordinateYou mean...?您的意思是……？

(Carmen swirls her wine glass. The deep red liquid casts a somber hue across everything.)（卡门轻轻摇晃着红酒杯，殷红的液体将一切染上了肃杀的色彩。）

CarmenOnce the mission's over, let her meet her daughter.等任务完成后，送她和她的女儿见面。

Looming Future 未来将至

(A month later...)（一个月后——）

(When Nikketa awakens again, Inesa is standing by the repair pod.)（妮基塔再次醒来，伊涅萨就站在维修舱的旁边。）

(She looks around. It's a small room, cozy and lived-in. On a nearby cabinet, a cute plushie in a PSA uniform stares at her with beady eyes.)（她环视四周，这是一个不大的房间，布置得很有生活气息。不远处的橱柜上，穿着治安官制服的可爱玩偶正用豆豆眼看着她。）

InesaAre you really sure about this?你真的想好了吗？

NikketaDidn't we have this conversation a month ago? Before the explosion?这段话……我们一个月前进行过吧？在爆炸之前。

InesaAh, looks like the neural backup did sync properly.哦，看来心智备份确实同步成功了。

InesaHow's your month at Mangi Security been?这一个月在曼尼安保过得怎么样？

NikketaSame as before. Routine logistics missions. I inspected every shipment—no drugs.还是像之前一样，执行常规的后勤运输任务，货物我都有检查，都是正常的，没有药品。

InesaLying low after what happened is only natural. They're biding their time.刚出了事，现在低调一点很正常，避避风头。

InesaBut honestly... are you really going to stay at Mangi Security? Even if you avoided Sharktooth's purge for now, based on what I know of them, they won't let go of their suspicions that easily. They've probably grown suspicious of me too.说实话……你真的要继续留在曼尼安保吗？虽然你这一波暂时躲过了“鲨齿”的清查，但以我对他的了解，他不会完全消除怀疑的，可能连带着已经怀疑起我了。

InesaAt this rate, the intel you'll be able to gather from inside might be negligible.这样下去，你待在曼尼安保能获得的信息可能微乎其微。

(Nikketa is silent for a moment. She steps out of the repair pod and flexes her joints.)（妮基塔沉默了一会儿，从维修舱里走出来，活动了一下关节齿轮。）

NikketaDid you see the report on David?之前关于戴维的报道，你看了吗？

InesaI did. A few days after the lab incident, they named him the mastermind. He was already dead though—reportedly shot by the lab's mechanical guards by mistake.看见了，研究所事件几天后，他就被当作始作俑者推了出来，虽然他本人已经不在人世了，据说是在研究室被机械卫兵误杀了。

NikketaJust like you said, these security firms backed by major corporations always have ways to avoid liability. As long as they produce a scapegoat, the fallout is minimal.就像你之前所说的，这种背靠大企业的安保公司有的是路数规避风险，出了事只要能抓到一只替罪羊出来顶罪就行。

InesaDavid was guilty, yes, but he was just a puppet. The puppeteer is still in the shadows.确实，戴维有罪，但充其量也只是个牵线木偶，操偶师还躲藏在幕后。

NikketaThat's why... I want to drag them out into the light.所以……我想把他抓出来。

NikketaAt first, I joined the Public Security Administration just to protect those around me. But now, I've realized that dealing with crimes in the open isn't enough.一开始我进入治安管理局，也只是想着能保护身边的人就好了，但现在，我发现仅仅是解决发生在阳光之下的事，远远不够。

(Nikketa walks up to the window. Heavy clouds blot out the sun. The satellite city is waking again to continue its slow decay.)（妮基塔走到窗边，浓重的阴云遮蔽了阳光，卫星城已然苏醒，开始新一轮的苟延残喘。）

NikketaYou said earlier that they'd keep a tight leash on me, and the chances of me finding anything are slim. But slim... doesn't mean none, does it? Especially since I still have something they want...你之前说，他们会对我严加防守，获得信息的可能性微乎其微，但微乎其微……不代表没有不是吗？毕竟我身上还有他们想要的东西……

NikketaEven if I can't obtain any intel, just being inside means there will be a time when I'm needed.而且就算获取不了任何情报，只要我潜伏在那里，总有用到我的时候。

NikketaBesides...况且……

(Nikketa looks into the distance.)（妮基塔看向了远处。）

NikketaI found... a few former colleagues of mine on that list, which means this might be connected to Griffin too...那份名单上，出现了我曾经的同事，说明这件事跟格里芬也有点关系……

NikketaAnd if it is, then someone I know will likely get implicated. Conspiracies and darkness fester in the shadows just beyond the sunlight. If I don't step into it myself, I'll never uproot the sickness that lies beneath... and I won't be able to protect the things I truly want to protect.如果有关系的话，那个人应该或多或少会被牵连其中……阴谋和黑暗，就在阳光的背面，如果不置身其中，就无法铲除潜伏的病根，也就无法守护真正想要守护的东西……

(She turns back to face Inesa. Her face is in shadow, but her blue eyes shine brightly.)（妮基塔转过身面对伊涅萨，她的脸藏在阴影中，湛蓝的眼睛却异常明亮。）

NikketaI don't want to lose anything important ever again.我不想再失去重要的东西了。

(Inesa looks down at her hand and smiles. Only then does Nikketa notice the toy badge in Inesa's hand—the bloodstains on it have been wiped clean.)（伊涅萨低着头，看着自己的手，笑了笑，妮基塔这才注意，伊涅萨的手中一直捏着那枚玩具徽章——上面的血迹已经被她擦干净了。）

InesaYou're a lot like Nikki.你还挺像“妮琦”的。

NikketaNikki?妮琦？

InesaShe's a character from a cartoon that Una loved. A detective.是乌娜很喜欢的一部动画片，妮琦是里面的一个探长。

InesaHonest, righteous, selfless... No wonder Una adored her. No wonder she adored you.直率、光明磊落、富有牺牲精神……难怪乌娜很喜欢这个角色，也难怪她那么喜欢你。

NikketaAbout Una...关于乌娜的事……

InesaShe always said... that when she grew up, she wanted to be like me—to be a public security officer and protect the people of the satellite cities.她总是说……长大想要跟我一样，做一个治安官，保护卫星城的居民。

InesaOne day, when she was still very young, I took her to the city's museum. That's where she first learned about the contamination zones. On the way home, she kept asking me...有一次，在她很小的时候，我带着她去卫星城的博物馆，她在那里第一次知道有“污染区”这个概念，回家的时候，她就一直在问我……

UnaMama, if I become a public security officer, can I protect the people in the contamination zones too?妈妈，如果当上治安官，也可以保护污染区的人吗？

InesaUna, the contamination zones aren't under the PSA's jurisdiction.乌娜，污染区的人，是不在治安局的管理范围内的哦。

UnaThen where do I have to go to protect the people there?那、我要去到哪里，才能保护污染区的人呀？

InesaWell... Mama doesn't really know.这个嘛……妈妈也不太清楚呢。

InesaUna, contamination zones are very big and very dangerous places. Isn't it better to stay in the satellite city?乌娜，污染区很大，而且是很危险的地方，留在卫星城不好吗？

UnaMama protects the satellite cities!卫星城，有妈妈的保护！

(The little girl tugs on Inesa's hand.)（小女孩晃了晃伊涅萨的手。）

UnaMama came from a contamination zone too, right?妈妈之前也是从污染区进到卫星城的吧？

UnaI want to protect more people like you!我想要保护更多和妈妈一样的人！

InesaSometimes I wonder... if someone like Una had rescued me from the contamination zone back then... would everything be different now?如果在那时候……将我带离污染区的，是像乌娜这样的人……是不是现在所有的一切就都不一样了……我时常会这么想。

InesaShe treated everyone around her with such pure kindness.她是如此纯粹和善良地对待身边的每一个人。

Nikketa...I'm not very good at comforting people.……我，不太会安慰人。

(Inesa exhales deeply, pulling herself out of her emotions.)（伊涅萨长舒一口气，将自己稍微从情绪中拔了出来。）

InesaNo need to comfort me.没有必要安慰我。

InesaI just figured, since we'll be working together long-term, and trust is the foundation of cooperation... I might as well tell you a bit of my past.我在想，既然我们之后要长期合作，合作的基础就是信任，那么稍微告诉你我的过去……也是可以的。

(She straightens up slightly.)（伊涅萨稍微坐直了身子。）

InesaI used to belong to the Neo-Soviet Military's special intelligence unit. I was embedded as an undercover agent in the URNC's public security system.我曾隶属于新苏联军方麾下特殊情报部队，是被安插在罗联治安系统中的卧底。

NikketaThe Neo-Soviet Military...新苏联军方……

InesaThat's right. That faction's gone now, but back then, we were just pawns at the very bottom of the food chain.没错，已经倒台的那一派，不过我们只是一些非常基层的消耗品而已。

InesaHaha... Back then, they claimed we were working for a better tomorrow—for justice and global order.哈……当时，他们说做这些是为了更好的明天，也是为了维护世界的秩序和正义。

InesaAt first, I only joined to get by, to put food on the table... But for a time, I truly believed in the work.那时候，我虽然更多地是为了能够混一口饭吃，才接受了他们的招募，但有一段时间，我真的是对自己的工作产生了自豪。

InesaI thought, if we won, people like me would finally be protected...在我的想象中，如果我们胜利了，那么和我一样的人就会受到庇护……

InesaBut all we did... was hurt more people like me. I could never tell Una about that. I was not a good role model for her...结果让我们做的事情……只是伤害了更多和我一样的人，我根本无法向乌娜提起这一段经历，我对于她并不是一个好榜样……

(She takes a sip of water and continues.)（喝了一口水润润嗓子，伊涅萨继续说。）

InesaAfter General Carter fell from power, my colleague and I returned to our military base to erase our files. But somehow, all our data had already vanished.在卡特将军失势之后，为了逃避被清算，我和我的前同事曾回到军方的驻地想要销毁档案，但不知道为什么，我们所有的资料都消失了。

InesaDuring the retreat, my colleague was shot dead by opposition forces while covering me. Before he died... he entrusted Una to me.在撤退的时候，我的前同事为了掩护我，被反对派的搜查兵射杀，临终前他将乌娜交给了我。

NikketaSo you're not even from the URNC.您甚至不是罗联的人。

InesaI wanted to become a citizen. To live like a normal person, under the sun.我曾想就这么成为罗联的人，过普通人的生活，活在阳光之下。

InesaUntil... Sharktooth found me. They had my file. They used it to blackmail me into using my rank and authority to carry out their dirty work. And they took Una away from me under the guise of "protection".直到……我被“鲨齿”找上，他的手上有着我的档案，并以此要挟我利用身份和职权，继续为他处理一些见不得光的事，并且……以“照顾”的名义带走了乌娜。

InesaI tried to uncover their identity, but they're too elusive. They never appear in public. I found no clues.我有想过查出“鲨齿”的身份，但他太过神秘，似乎从未出现在公众视野里，我几乎找不到任何线索。

(Nikketa remains silent.)（妮基塔沉默不语。）

InesaDoes your sense of justice urge you to arrest me right now?你的正义本性是不是在催动你现在就将我绳之以法？

NikketaYour crimes... are for the court to decide.您究竟有何罪行，会交由法庭审判。

NikketaFor now, we're just partners.现在我们之间只是合作关系。

InesaThe court... Depends on whose court it is.法庭……也要看是谁的法庭了。

InesaBut you're right. We're partners right now, and we have more important matters to deal with. One step at a time.但你说的没错，我们现在处于合作之中，有更重要的事去做，走一步算一步吧。

InesaFor you, it's about exposing the real mastermind. For me... it's revenge for Una. I feel so very guilty...对你来说，是将幕后黑手绳之以法；对我来说，是为乌娜复仇……我还是觉得很抱歉……

(Her voice grows faint. It's impossible to tell if she is speaking to Nikketa... or to herself.)（伊涅萨的声音越来越微弱，像是在说给妮基塔听，又像是在喃喃自语。）

InesaShe could have become the person she always dreamed of being... but her life got snuffed out because of my weakness...她原本可以成为自己理想中的人……却葬送在我的软弱之下……

InesaIf only I'd taken her and run... I could've given up everything—my status, my identity...当初如果，直接带着她远走高飞就好了……抛下这里的一切……身份地位我都可以不要的……

Nikketa...She already became who she dreamed of being.……乌娜已经成为她理想中的人了。

(Inesa watches as Nikketa walks over and takes the toy badge from her hand.)（伊涅萨看着妮基塔走向自己，取过玩具徽章。）

(Nikketa presses a few spots on the badge. Inesa's private terminal beeps.)（妮基塔在玩具徽章上按了几下，伊涅萨的私人终端响了起来。）

InesaThis is...这是……

(She takes out her terminal and sees an unread message. Upon opening it, she finds a photo—taken from Nikketa's perspective, showing herself.)（她取出终端，发现有一条未读信息，点开，发现里面附着一张照片——正是从妮基塔的角度，拍下的自己。）

NikketaThis toy badge is capable of taking and sending pictures. The anonymous informant who provided that photo you gave me before... was Una.这个玩具徽章有拍照传输的功能，之前你给我提供的那张照片的线索的未知举报人，是乌娜。

(Inesa stares blankly at the photo.)（伊涅萨呆呆地看着那张照片。）

NikketaEven when her own life was in danger, she chose to uphold the justice in her heart and sent valuable information to the person she trusted most.在自己的生命有可能受到威胁的时候，她选择了维护自己心中的正义，向最信任的人传递出有价值的信息。

NikketaShe already became the person she dreamed of being.她已经成为自己理想中的人了。

(Listening to Nikketa's voice—so much softer than usual—Inesa slowly rubs the badge with her fingers.)（听着妮基塔不同于往常的轻柔的言语，伊涅萨慢慢摩挲着徽章。）

Inesa...Nikketa, you're actually... surprisingly good at comforting people.……妮基塔，你其实还挺会安慰人的。

(She slowly buries her face in her hands.)（她慢慢将脸埋在了手上。）

(—It is a silent cry of grief.)（——这是一次无声的恸哭。）

(Nikketa averts her eyes. Her gaze happens to land on the plushie sitting on the cabinet dressed in a PSA uniform. It, too, silently watches over the sorrowful woman.)（妮基塔移开视线，刚好看到橱柜上穿着治安官制服的玩偶，也在无声地注视着悲伤的人。）

Kalina...That is what VSK-94—Nikketa—has gone through. She's still working undercover inside Mangi Security and will be sending us intel periodically.……这就是VSK-94……妮基塔之前的经历，她现在依然在曼尼安保中卧底，会不定期给我们传送情报。

KalinaCommander, Groza is also on that list, so please take extra precautions and stay vigilant.指挥官，闪电也出现在了那份名单中，所以请一定多加防范和小心。

(The Elmo travels smoothly on the road to Lviv. Outside the window, the sky is thick with clouds, and the view is dim.)（艾莫号平稳地行驶在前往利沃夫的路上，窗外阴云密布，视野昏暗。）

(I suddenly find myself picturing Nikketa's golden hair, radiant as the morning sun.)（我的脑海中突然浮现出了妮基塔灿若朝阳的金发。）

(Even in a murky, shadowed world, that clear path is reflected in her brilliant blue eyes.)（即使周身的环境晦暗不明，那条清晰的道路一定会映照在她湛蓝的眼睛之中。）

(The thought makes me smile quietly, and I try to hold her image in my mind for as long as I can.)（想到这里，我无声地笑了笑，尽可能长久地让她的印象停留在脑海之中。）

CommanderAlright, Kalin. I understand.好的，格琳，我知道了。

KalinaBy the way, Nikketa asked me to pass along a message to you.对了，妮基塔还想让我给你带一句话。

CommanderWhat is it?什么？

Kalina—"I will lie in wait in the darkness, but if you ever need me, I'll meet you in the light, Boss."——“我会在黑暗中蛰伏，但如果BOSS需要我，我一定会在光芒之中与你相见。”

Fan archive of the official game scripts. All story text and art belong to their publishers.