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Chiral Redundancy - Part 2

镜像冗余·下篇

32 chapters · 4617 lines · English and Chinese below. Japanese and Korean, voices and theatre mode are in the reader.

Quiescent Flame 沉寂之火

"Before I met you, I died again and again, imprisoned within my crystal coffin. Forced to piece back my life word by word, I seemingly forgot how to live."“在遇到你之前，我死了一次又一次，被囚禁在水晶的棺椁之中，不得不一字一句重新拼凑，仿佛忘了如何活。”

(XX.XX.205X, Nemesis Family Manor, Night.)（205X年X月X日，纳美西丝家族庄园，夜晚）

Elif...……

(It's cold.)（好冷。）

(Despite being shielded from the snowstorm indoors, the chill still creeps into her body, bit by bit.)（即使是在隔绝风雪的室内，凉意也在一点一点入侵身体。）

(Elif rubs her cold fingers together. She wraps the blanket around her a little tighter.)（艾莉芙搓了搓微冷的手指，将身上的毯子裹紧了些。）

(Gentle, restrained knocking comes at the door. Elif lifts her head.)（听到轻缓而克制的敲门声，艾莉芙抬起了头。）

Elif...Please come in.……请进。

(The door is pushed open. Warm candlelight accompanies the footsteps that approach, gently filling the dim bedroom.)（门被推开，伴随着脚步声而来的是暖橙色的烛光，柔和地填满了昏暗的寝室。）

ElifTeacher Caldwell...科德韦尔老师……

(The woman who enters sets down the candlestick on the bay window, then sits down sideways across from Elif.)（进入房间的女子将烛台搁在飘窗上，侧身坐在了艾莉芙的对面。）

CaldwellThe fire is gone. Why didn't you have someone relight it?炉火熄了，为什么不找人重新点上呢？

ElifIt's already past midnight. Bella and Nicole are probably both sound asleep.已经是深夜了，贝拉和妮可应该都睡熟了。

ElifThey... spent a long time working hard for the Mass today...她们……为今天的弥撒忙碌了很久……

CaldwellIs that why you chose to let yourself freeze?所以，你选择自己受冻？

(The woman's tone is calm and gentle, carrying neither reproach nor pity. She simply awaits an answer.)（女子的语气平缓温和，既没有责备也没有心疼，只是单纯地在询问这个问题的答案。）

(Elif nods.)（艾莉芙点了点头。）

ElifYeah... I wanted them to have a good rest.嗯……我想让她们好好休息。

CaldwellIs that all?只是这样吗？

(Bathed in the woman's unjudging gaze, Elif lets out a quiet sigh.)（在女子不带批判的注视下，艾莉芙小小地叹了一口气。）

ElifI... messed up today. I don't really want to face anyone.今天……我搞砸了，不太想面对其他人。

(She hugs her knees, curling into a ball that seems especially tiny under the moonlight.)（她抱起了双膝，蜷缩成一团，在夜色的映照下格外渺小。）

ElifEven though I rehearsed so much and strictly followed all the ceremony procedures to the letter... I still made an error.明明已经排演过很多次了，也已经严格遵守了仪式的流程规范，但还是出错了。

ElifSometimes I wonder if... making me the successor was a mistake.有时候我会觉得，让我成为首领的接班人……是不是个错误的决定。

CaldwellJust making a mistake once made you doubt your capabilities as a whole?仅仅是一次的出错，就让你怀疑自己的整体能力了吗？

ElifIt's not just once...不只是这次……

(The glass reflects Elif's face, stirring her memories of the past.)（玻璃映出了艾莉芙的面容，也映出了过去的回忆。）

ElifI messed up at the assembly back then, and the council meeting even before that...还有之前的集会、再之前的议事会……

ElifI've almost never been a good paragon. I'm always so hesitant, no matter what I'm doing...我似乎都没有起到表率的作用，做什么事都很犹豫……

(Elif lifts her head to look at Caldwell, her eyes reflecting a desire for comfort, or for an answer.)（艾莉芙抬起头看着科德韦尔，双眸中有着对安抚或是答案的渴求。）

ElifTeacher, I...老师，我……

CaldwellHesitation comes from concern.犹豫，是因为有顾虑。

CaldwellYou have concerns, because you're always considering everyone's feelings. That is a gentle way to carry oneself, Elif.顾虑是因为你在考虑着所有人的感受，这是一种很温柔的做法。

(Caldwell reaches out to pat Elif's head. Her lovely silver hair carries a tranquil softness, like a river of stars twinkling in the night sky.)（科德韦尔伸出手，摸了摸艾莉芙的脑袋，她漂亮的银色发丝如同暮色星河般静谧而柔美。）

CaldwellIt is perfectly normal for the inexperienced to have many concerns.在资历尚浅的时候，产生诸多顾虑是一件再正常不过的事了。

ElifHave you ever found yourself in such a situation, Teacher?老师也有过这样的时候吗？

CaldwellHaha...呵呵……

(The hand brushing through Elif's hair pauses for a moment, yet Elif reads no emotion from the eyes of this respected mentor.)（抚摸艾莉芙发丝的手停顿了一下，但她并未从这位令人尊敬的师长的眼眸中读出什么情绪。）

(She often gets the feeling that Caldwell's eyes are like a silent, deep pool, betraying not a single ripple of emotion... and like a black hole, possessing a pull that draws one's soul in.)（她时常觉得，她的眼睛像一汪宁静的深潭，窥不见任何波澜，又如同黑洞，有一股摄人心魄的引力。）

CaldwellNo one is an island, entire of itself. The survival of the individual must always depend on the system built by the collective, no matter one's position within it.没有生命是单独存在的形式，个体的存活，必然是依附在集体构建的系统之中，只是所处的位置不一样。

CaldwellHumankind, especially, became social, community-building animals from the dawn of evolution. The habit of sharing food and shelter, class division, and a prolonged period of immaturity were the main reasons why this species was able to rise above other primates.人类更是在进化之初，就成为了群居的社会性动物；分享食物与住所的习惯、地位的划分和漫长的幼态持续期，是这个种族自灵长类中脱颖而出的主要原因。

(Caldwell elaborates tirelessly.)（科德韦尔娓娓诉说。）

CaldwellHowever, there is something quite contradictory—every individual possesses their own instincts and the desires born of them. Thus, interactions between individuals aren't always well-intentioned.不过矛盾的是，每一个人都具有自己的本能、以及由之而生的欲望，因此个体之间的交集并非总是善意的。

CaldwellHumanity created "culture" for this very reason, seeking a sense of mutually-shared identity among groups, striving to avoid conflict within the exchanges between individuals.为此，人类才创造出“文化”，寻求更多的群体彼此认同感，在个体的交流之间，也尽量避开可能的冲突。

CaldwellTo be concerned about others is most natural.会顾虑他人，这是再自然不过的。

ElifSo relationships between people, and our emotions... are all for the sake of surviving in groups?人和人之间的关系，情感，都是为了作为群体一起生存下去吗……

CaldwellCorrect.是的。

ElifThen—why is it that people still have conflicts with one another?那——为什么，人类和人类之间还有着争斗呢？

CaldwellFor animals, conflict stems from instinct. For resources, territory, for status within the group.对动物来说，争斗源自于本能，为了资源，为了领地，为了群体中的地位。

CaldwellBut humans are a little different. Human conflict, more often than not, stems from love.不过人类有些不一样，因为人类的争斗，更多时候，是因为爱。

ElifLove...?爱……？

CaldwellWhen humans take part in large-scale conflicts, they often do so not to defeat the enemy, but to support their own kind.人类参与大规模争斗时，很多场合下并非是为了要打倒敌人，而是为了要支持自己人。

CaldwellHumans prioritize forming families, cliques, and factions precisely because they are gregarious beings. Once formed, they defend it at any cost and by every means possible, which includes violence.正是因为人类是群体性的生物，所以才会总是优先组成家族、团伙与集团，并且用包含暴力在内的手段，不顾一切地维护自己的集团。

Elif...……

(Elif rubs her arm, falling silent for a while, seemingly digesting what Caldwell just said.)（艾莉芙摩挲着自己的手臂，沉默许久，似乎是在消化科德韦尔的话。）

CaldwellThus, your gentleness is an excellent quality.所以，你的温柔是优秀的品质。

CaldwellIt makes others more inclined to see you as an ally, and more reluctant to make you an enemy.它能让他人更容易视你为友方，更不愿意与你为敌。

CaldwellAnd for a leader, gentleness means wielding one's own authority with restraint. It buys fervent loyalty, making gentleness a rather useful tool.而对领导者来说，温柔意味着对自身权威的控制，这能够换得更加积极的忠诚，是很好用的决策。

ElifRather... useful?很好……用？

CaldwellPatriarch Nemesis, your father, took me and my dependents in, granting us shelter in his gentleness.纳美西丝族长，你的父亲，温柔地收留了我和我的附属，给予了我庇护。

CaldwellAnd I, in turn, am willing to do what little I can, to pass on to you all that I've learned. Such mutually beneficial exchanges form a healthy cycle.而我也愿意尽我微薄之力，将我毕生所学传授给你，这种互惠互利，是一个良性的循环。

(Elif lifts her head slightly at the mention of her father. The flame of a candle dances in her eyes, livening her expression.)（说到了父亲，艾莉芙微微抬头，烛火跃动于她的眼中，让她的神情生动了不少。）

ElifFather truly is a great man... he's deeply beloved by the people.父亲确实是伟大的人……他深受居民们的爱戴。

ElifHe's a great role model and a pillar of strength for us all.他是大家的榜样和精神支柱。

CaldwellVirtues like kindness and generosity are survival strategies that humans developed based on their position within the system... Still, your father's gentleness may rouse a sleeping viper.善良与慷慨等美德，是人类基于自身在系统中的位置而演化出的生存策略……不过，你父亲的温和，也会让冬眠的蛇苏醒。

CaldwellIt appears that I should reevaluate how emotion affects one's ability to make rational decisions...看来我应该重新评估感情对理性决策的影响力……

(Caldwell's lullaby-like tone breathes a touch of drowsiness into Elif's consciousness.)（在科德韦尔哼唱摇篮曲般的语调中，艾莉芙逐渐感受到了些许的睡意。）

(Caldwell gently gathers Elif into her arms.)（科德韦尔轻轻将艾莉芙揽在自己的怀中。）

CaldwellDon't forget... Your family's resistance to Collapse radiation, unique to your genes, is destined to make each and every one of you extraordinary.别忘了，你们家族基因里独特的坍塌辐射抗性，注定会让你们每个人都变得不平凡。

CaldwellSleep now, child. Don't think too much. Tomorrow will be a brand new day—睡吧，孩子。不用想太多，明天又会是新的一天——

(Extraordinary...)（不平凡……吗？）

(Her vision sinks into darkness.)（视野陷入了一片黑暗。）

(An unknown sound reaches her ears, faint at first, then growing louder and louder.)（有什么声音在耳边响起，起先是细微轻盈的声音，而后越来越大。）

(The sound is now clearly heard—)（听清楚了——）

(It's the sound of dry firewood, struggling and breaking in flames.)（是干柴在火焰中挣扎、爆裂的动静。）

Elif...……

(She opens her eyes, but sees only darkness. Only sounds—all kinds of sounds—swirl and surround her.)（她睁开了眼，但眼前还是一片黑暗，只有声音——不同的声音——萦绕在她的耳边。）

(Something explodes with a roar beside her. Gunfire, explosions, and screams follow right after, some of them from voices that she knew all too well.)（有什么在她的耳边轰然炸开，紧接着枪声、爆炸声、尖叫声此起彼伏，其中的一些声音，她非常熟悉。）

??H-help—救、救命——

ElifNicole...妮可……

??It hurts... It hurts! Stay away! Monster! Monster—!好痛……好痛！不要过来！怪物！怪物——

ElifBella!贝拉！

(Darkness, pitch-black darkness lunges at Elif, worming and winding to envelop everything within her field of vision.)（黑暗、深邃的黑暗扑向艾莉芙，匍匐蜿蜒着将她视野中的一切包覆。）

(Try as she might to look around, she cannot see a single thing.)（即使她做出环视四周的动作，她也无法看到任何景象。）

(Yet still, terrible screams from people and the roars of some unknown creature keep pouring endlessly into her ears.)（然而，惨叫声和不知名生物嘶吼的声音还在源源不断地灌入她的耳中。）

ElifAhh—啊——

(She screams, trying to drown out everything with her own voice.)（她尖叫了起来，企图用自己的声音覆盖掉一切。）

(Rumble—)（轰隆——）

ElifHah... hah...哈……哈……

(A flash of white light streaks past, pulling her world from a black hole. The surroundings gradually grow visible—)（眼前闪过了一道白光，世界似乎被从黑洞中吐了出来，周围的景象逐渐清晰——）

(Elif rises to her feet in a daze, then realizes that she's not in her own room.)（艾莉芙呆呆地站起身，发现她并不在自己的房间中。）

(The furnishings... this is Father's room.)（这里的装潢……是父亲的房间。）

(The bay window is wide open. Lightning and thunder rage outside while the frenzied wind billows the curtains, distorting them into howling specters.)（房间的飘窗正大开着，窗外电闪雷鸣，狂躁的风吹鼓着窗帘，幻化成了一只只嚎叫着的白色幽灵。）

Elif(I have to move...)（动起来……）

(Elif lifts one leg, but a sticky sensation underfoot makes her realize that something is wrong.)（艾莉芙抬起了一只脚，但脚下黏稠的触感让她感到些许不对劲。）

(By the light filtering through the window, she notices that her feet are soaked in a pool of blood.)（借着窗外透进的光线，她看见自己的双脚正浸染在血泊之中。）

(Her heart pounds; she hyperventilates. Elif slowly turns around.)（心跳急促，呼吸过速。艾莉芙慢慢转过身。）

ElifAh... ah...啊……啊……

(The blood covering the floor comes from the person collapsed in the center of the room.)（满地的鲜血来自于倒在房间中央的那个人。）

ElifF-Father...父、父亲……

(Her most revered father, whom the people loved most, lies sprawled lifeless there.)（自己最敬重的父亲、居民最爱戴的父亲，此刻正了无生气地俯趴在那里。）

(Blood crawls across his face. His expression is frozen at the peak of his terror, as if he'd met his greatest fear face-to-face.)（血水爬满了他的脸庞，他的表情定格在了最狰狞和恐惧的那一刻，仿佛看见了毕生最令其恐惧至狂的东西。）

ElifFather!父亲！

(Elif is about to rush toward her father, but she suddenly stops in her tracks.)（艾莉芙刚想抬起脚步朝父亲冲去，却硬生生地止住了步伐。）

(There, beside Father, stands someone. A man she's never seen before, and...)（那里除了父亲，还有其他人。一个不曾见过的男子，和……）

ElifTeacher... Caldwell...?科德……韦尔老师……？

(They aren't looking at her. It's as though she were an invisible ghost.)（他们并没有看向她，似乎她是这个房间中不存在的幽灵。）

CaldwellYour willful, heavy-handed actions trouble me greatly. Taking his life was not part of my original plan.你的独断专行让我很困扰，夺取他的生命并不在我原本的计划内。

(They're talking, but the man's voice sounds like it's being filtered through thick glass. Elif can only catch some scattered fragments.)（他们在对话，但那名男子的声音犹如隔着厚玻璃，艾莉芙只能听到零散的只言片语。）

??Does your research require no samples?难道你的研究不需要样本？

("Samples"?)（“样本”？）

CaldwellThe branches of our research differ.我们的研究分支不同。

CaldwellFor my part, I need nothing more than a region with a low level of radiation.于我而言，现在所需的只不过是一片辐射较低的区域罢了。

??Cut it out. Don't make yourself out to be so noble.得了吧，别把自己说得有多高尚。

??You'll need these too, one day. Why not reap an easy harvest now, lest they grow and expand in power?总有一天你会需要这些的，与其放任他们发展壮大势力，不如现在不费吹灰之力地收割一波。

??The Nemesis family's resistance to Collapse radiation will be of great benefit to your research.纳美西丝家族的坍塌辐射抗性，可是对你的研究有大大帮助的。

(...Noble... reap... the Nemesis family... Collapse radiation resistance...)（……高尚……收割……纳美西丝家族……坍塌辐射抗性……）

Caldwell...……

??Could it be... that you can't bring yourself to do it?还是说，你舍不得下手？

(Can't bring... Who can't?)（舍不得……谁舍不得？）

CaldwellI won't let you go through with this, then.那我就不会放任你这么做了。

??Hahahaha—I knew we'd get along well.哈哈哈哈——我就知道我们很合得来。

(The man laughs, and Elif sees Caldwell laugh along with him.)（男子笑了起来，艾莉芙看见科德韦尔也跟着笑了。）

(Just as before, she can't read the meaning hidden beneath that smile.)（和从前一样，她无法解读她笑容背后所蕴藏的意味。）

(But she remembers it clearly now.)（但她清楚地想起来了。）

(—Her world began to plunge endlessly downward from that very moment, until it collapsed entirely.)（——她的世界，就是从这一刻开始不断下坠，直至崩塌。）

NemesisUgh...唔……

(The silver-haired Doll sits up in the hibernation pod.)（银发的人形从休眠舱中坐起。）

(Moonlight spills through the window into the dormitory, as gentle as the night of that long heart-to-heart with her teacher.)（月光透过玻璃窗洒进宿舍内，温和得像那个与老师促膝长谈的夜晚。）

(But that had not been a good night.)（但那并不是良夜。）

Nemesis(Although it's still hazy... it seems to be coming back, little by little.)（虽然还很模糊……但好像一点一点记起来了。）

(She lowers her head and looks at her own frame.)（她低头看着自己的素体。）

(Her once-chaotic memories seem to be steadily falling back into place ever since she returned to this frame. Like threads passed through a spinning wheel, they twist finely and densely into orderly spindles.)（自从回到这个素体后，原本混沌的记忆似乎正在逐步归位，像是经过纺车的丝线，细细密密地结成整齐的纺锤。）

(It shouldn't be long before she can piece together the whole picture of what happened.)（应该过不了多久，她就能拼凑出事情的全貌。）

NemesisI should go... and tell the Commander... my lighthouse...该去……告诉指挥官……我的灯塔……

(She had told the Commander the rough outline of her own origins earlier, but many of the finer details still remain blank due to her missing memories. However, Nemesis finds that more of her memories seem to return the more she adapts to this frame.)（之前她告知了指挥官自己的大致身世，但因为记忆的缺失，许多细枝末节的部分依然是空白的；但纳美西丝发现，随着自己愈加适应这具素体，所有的记忆似乎正在慢慢回归。）

(Therefore, an arrangement has been made with the Commander—she would go to the Commander to sort through her thoughts and organize those fleeting fragments of memory whenever something is recalled, no matter how small or trivial.)（所以她与指挥官约定，只要回想起了什么，无论是多小多细微的事，都要找指挥官做心智梳理，将飘忽不定的记忆片段归档处理。）

(What is their potential future enemy like? Nemesis' memories are of the utmost importance to uncovering that.)（他们未来的潜在对手是什么样的，关于这点纳美西丝的记忆至关重要。）

(Nemesis tries to climb out of the hibernation pod, but the woman's smile lingers in her mind. Hallucinations of snowflakes and starry nights appear before her eyes.)（纳美西丝试图从休眠舱中爬出来，但记忆中女子的笑容在脑海中挥之不去，眼前似乎出现了雪花和星夜的幻觉。）

NemesisI'll rest a little... The Commander... will wait for me, so... I still need more courage...缓一下吧……指挥官，会等着我的，所以……还需要更多的勇气……

(Nemesis settles back into the hibernation pod and curls up into a ball. She hugs her legs tight, pressing her forehead to her knees—the very same posture from her memory.)（纳美西丝坐回休眠舱，蜷缩了起来，她抱紧自己的双腿，将额头贴在膝盖上，这是与她记忆里如出一辙的姿势。）

(But now, she no longer feels the cold.)（但现在，她再也感受不到寒冷了。）

NeleTwelve years of work experience. Previous job, district manager at a supermarket chain... Five years of experience, general affairs in the regional admin department of her current post...工龄十二年，上一份工作，连锁超市分区经理……工龄五年，在职区域行政部门总务……

NeleWhat is all this—?这都是些什么呀——

(Sheet after sheet of bright white paper is flung into the air, scattering down like snowflakes.)（白花花的纸页被扬在空中，雪花般四散而落。）

(Nele sits amid a pile of resumes, head tipped back against the sofa behind her, her face full of exhaustion.)（奈乐坐在一堆简历之中，仰头靠在身后的沙发上，满脸疲惫。）

NeleI never knew that finding an operations lead would be this hard... Hm?没想到找一个运营负责人这么难……嗯？

(The terminal begins to buzz. Nele projects the video call onto the screen before her.)（终端震动了起来，奈乐将视讯通话投影在眼前的屏幕上。）

NeleHello, Miss Leibnys. Has Professor Persica replied?你好，莱布妮丝小姐，是帕斯卡教授有回复了吗？

LeibnysYou're in luck, Miss Nele. Persica is quite interested in your plan.你很幸运，奈乐小姐，帕斯卡对你的计划很感兴趣。

NeleGetting a reply this quickly is honestly beyond my expectations...这么快就有了回应真是在我的意料之外……

LeibnysThat's why I said you're in luck.所以我说你很幸运。

LeibnysPersica is willing to offer some limited assistance, including some theoretical direction and technical support. This is IF she has the time, though. Ugh, she can't even keep up with the work in her own lab. Why is she taking on so much work from elsewhere...?帕斯卡愿意提供有限的帮助，包括一些理论方向和技术支援，不过这些的前提是要她有空——真是的，明明自己实验室的东西都忙不完了，还在那边大包大揽……

NeleWhat does technical support mean, exactly?技术支援是指？

LeibnysI'll send you the specifics tonight in the form of a standard contract. Let me know if anything's unclear after you look it over. I have to get going. I've got a ton of tasks to do today—Hey! What's this stack of files for? Here to help me practice hurdling?今晚我会把具体事宜以标准合同的形式发送给你，你看过之后有不明白再说，我得去忙了，今天一大堆待办还等着我去处理——喂！这堆资料是怎么回事，摆在这里让我练习跨栏吗？

(Noise comes from the other end of the call. Sensing that the call is about to be cut off, Nele hurriedly calls out to Leibnys.)（视讯那边传来嘈杂的声音，奈乐预感到通话即将被切断，连忙叫住莱布妮丝。）

NeleMay I have a few words alone with Professor Persica? There are some things about my plan that I'd like to discuss with her.请问我可以和帕斯卡教授单独说几句吗？关于我的计划，有些东西我还想和她探讨一下。

LeibnysHuh? No can do. Persica simply doesn't have the time. I don't even know if I'd get to see her tod—哈？不行，帕斯卡根本没空，连我今天能不能见到她都不——

PersicariaHey, Leibnys, who are you calling?喂，莱布妮丝你是在和谁通话？

LeibnysP-Persica?帕、帕斯卡？

(Another voice is suddenly heard on video. Persica's image enters the comm frequency before long.)（视讯里突然出现了另一个声音，没过多久，帕斯卡的影像进入了通讯频段。）

LeibnysWhy are you here?! Shouldn't you be in the data room right now?!你怎么会出现在这里！这会儿你不是应该在数据室吗！？

PersicariaI ran out of coffee...咖啡喝完了啦……

LeibnysArgh, just leave small stuff like that to me! How can you waste your time on something like fetching coffee?这种小事，交给我不就好了！你的时间怎么能浪费在接咖啡这种事情上。

Persicaria(Wince)... Is that Nele on the phone?嘶……电话那头是奈乐吗？

(Seemingly wanting to escape Leibnys' nagging, Persica quickly turns to Nele.)（似乎是想要摆脱莱布妮丝的唠叨，帕斯卡迅速地转向奈乐。）

PersicariaOh, it's you, Nele.是你呀，奈乐。

NeleLong time no see, Professor Persica.帕斯卡教授，好久不见。

PersicariaMm-hm. I believe the last time we met was...唔嗯，上一次见好像还是……

NeleFor Voymastina's mech.威玛西娜的机甲。

PersicariaAh, right. The joint research session on Dr. Shaw's posthumous manuscripts... How's it going? Is the collaboration with DEFY going smoothly?啊对，肖博士遗留手稿的共研会……怎么样，和忤逆的合作还顺利吗？

NeleVery smoothly. We are old allies, after all—we'll keep collabing so long as we share a common enemy.很顺利，毕竟是多年的盟友了，只要有共同的敌人在，我们的合作就会继续下去。

(Nele pauses at the word "enemy", but she doesn't betray too much emotion.)（说到“敌人”的时候，奈乐顿了顿，但没有流露出过多的情绪。）

(Time has made her steadier and more reserved. That's how she sees herself, at least.)（时间已经让她变得平稳而内敛，至少她自认为是如此。）

NeleBut right now I'm only providing auxiliary support to DEFY, because I am gradually shifting my focus to this project.但目前我对忤逆只是辅助支援，主要精力慢慢转移到这个项目上了。

PersicariaAh, that's wonderful. The little girl who once needed my help just to parse her study material has now grown capable of standing on her own two feet.啊，真不错啊。当年连研读资料都要我帮忙解析的小女孩，如今已经独当一面了。

(Although she's known Persica for a long time, earning praise from an academic legend still brings a subtle flush to Nele's face.)（虽然和帕斯卡相识已久，但能得到这位学界传说的夸奖，奈乐的脸还是泛起一丝红晕。）

NeleWell, I've only just started... I wouldn't say that I can handle everything myself. I can't even hire an operations lead to deal with the organization's external affairs right now...我也才刚起步……称不上独当一面吧，现在连找个组织的运营负责人负责对外事宜都很难……

PersicariaAn operations lead?运营负责人？

LeibnysPersica—watch your time!帕斯卡——时间！

(Leibnys' anxious nagging comes from her side.)（旁边传来莱布妮丝焦急的催促。）

PersicariaFine... I'll be done soon.好啦……马上。

PersicariaIf it's an operations lead you need, I do happen to have a candidate in mind. Good enough, but...说到运营负责人的话，我倒是有个不错的人选。不过……

NeleWho?谁？

PersicariaHeh heh, it's not quite set in stone yet... but I recall that I'm meeting with her in a few days.哼哼，现在还不是很确定……但我记得几天后有个和她的会面。

PersicariaFeel free to come over and have a look when it happens. Leibnys will let you know about the actual arrangements.到时候你也可以来看看哦，具体安排莱布妮丝会告知你的。

NeleAlright. I'm very much looking forward to anyone you would call "good enough."好，能被教授称赞“不错”的人，我也十分期待。

NeleOh, right. Professor Persica, I have another piece of intel I'd like to share with you. It's about a special energy reaction captured in the Red Zone.对了，教授，我这里还有一个情报想要跟您共享，是关于在红区捕获到的特殊能量反应的。

PersicariaAh, we received a commission about that as well.啊，关于这个，我们也收到了委托。

PersicariaSorry, gotta head to the lab now. Shall we talk about the details on the day we meet?抱歉，我现在得去实验室了，详细内容约见那天聊聊？

NeleNo problem. Sorry to have kept you, and good luck with your experiments.没问题，打扰您了，实验顺利。

Countercurrent Distribution 逆流分岭

(The faint glow of the setting sun spills across the ground. Kalina stands at the front door of her own residence, yet somehow she can't find the courage to open it.)（夕阳的微光洒落于地面，格琳娜站在自家门口，却不知怎么忽然失去了开门的勇气。）

(Happiness, stability, freedom... The things that she once yearned for most fervently are about to be cast aside.)（幸福、安定、自由，这些她原本内心最为渴望拥有的一切，即将被她舍弃。）

(The road ahead will be an unpredictable, rugged one. But if she wants to catch up to his footsteps, she must step out of the comfort zone she's long grown used to.)（前路将是无法预测的坎坷之途，可若想追上那个人的脚步，就必须走出她早已习惯生存的舒适区。）

KalinaI'm home.我回来了。

LevaWelcome back~欢迎回来~

LennaMiss Kalin—all the hotpot ingredients are ready for tonight! We've been waiting for you to get back so we can eat together.格琳姐——今晚的火锅材料都已经准备好了哦！就等你回来一起吃了。

SoppoKalin~ Welcome back. Look! Fresh king crab!格琳~欢迎回来。你看，是新鲜的帝王蟹哦！

(Soppo waves the pair of big pincers she's pulled off the king crab, humming a song of her own invention.)（索普挥舞着从帝王蟹上拆下来的一对大钳，哼着自创的歌曲。）

SoppoHotpot~ king crab~ two pincers, pointy-sharp~火锅~帝王蟹~两个钳子尖尖~

SoppoCorn-cob~ Далеба~ It's so hard when you bite~玉米~大列巴~咬着硬硬的~

SoppoTomato~ Kvass~ hmm-hmm-hmm~!番茄~格瓦斯~哼哼哼~！

SoppoThere's vodka and cheese fondue too—还有伏特加和乳酪锅——

LennaHaha—By the end, you were basically just reading off the menu~哈哈，这首歌到了后面已经单纯是在报菜名了吧~

(Leva, Lenna, Soppo, and Robella sit gathered around the dining table in the living room, the hotpot at its center already bubbling away. White steam billows up, and the living room, left a little desolate after most of the furniture got moved out... recovers some of its coziness under the warm light.)（客厅里，莱娅、莱娜、索普、洛贝拉围坐在餐桌旁，中间的火锅已经开始咕噜咕噜冒泡。白色的汽雾翻腾而起，在暖光照射下，原本被搬走大半家具、变得有些冷清的客厅又恢复了几分温馨。）

(Lenna rises, waves toward Kalina at the door, before eagerly dragging her over to join those enjoying the feast.)（莱娜正起身冲着门口的格琳娜挥手，兴致勃勃地拉着格琳娜加入享用美食的队伍。）

RobellaYou didn't invite us over just to treat us to dinner, did you?你邀请我们过来，应该不只是想请我们吃饭吧。

RobellaThose cardboard boxes in the corner of the living room... are you getting ready to move?客厅角落放的那些纸箱……你是在准备搬家？

KalinaYep. I listed the house for sale yesterday.嗯，昨天我把房子挂牌出售了。

KalinaThis place is in the core district of the White Zone, so it should sell quite quickly.这里位于白区核心地段，应该很快就能卖出去。

SoppoEhh—Kalin, don't you have twenty-something years left on your mortgage? You're just giving it up?欸——格琳的房贷还有二十多年吧。就这样不要了？

SoppoShouldn't a safehouse like this be kept, so that Kalin can still live in it when she's become a little old granny?这样的安全屋不是应该留到往后格琳变成老奶奶的时候也能住吗。

SoppoMaybe by then, there'd be a little Kalin, and a little-little Kalin... and lots and lots of companions all living here together—说不定到时候还有小格琳、小小格琳……很多很多的同伴一起住在这里——

LevaOh my~ Keep talking like that and you're going to break Kalin's heart~哎呀~你要是再说下去，格琳可要更心疼了。

LevaA residence of this tier has great investment value. You won't be able to buy it back at the original price once it's sold.这个段位的住宅投资价值很高，卖掉之后，想要买回来可就不是原本的价格了。

LevaIt's not too late to change your mind, you know.现在后悔的话，还来得及哦。

(At Leva's half-joking attempt to dissuade her, Kalina's thoughts drift back to when she first bought this property for an instant.)（莱娅半开玩笑般地劝阻，令格琳娜的思绪有一瞬间回到了最开始购买这套房产的时候。）

(When she first received ownership of the house, she immediately put one of the keys away for safekeeping. She even had a little bashful thought that in the future, she might find the chance to place it, solemnly, into a certain someone's hands one day.)（正式收到房屋的那一刻，她将其中一把钥匙保管起来，也曾有些羞涩地想着在未来某一天能够找机会，郑重地放入某个人的手心。）

(To do steady work, to live with someone important to her—ordinary days like that would have counted as "happiness" to her.)（按部就班地完成工作，和重要的人一起生活，这样平凡无比的日子，在格琳娜心中已经能够被称得上是“幸福”。）

(Unfortunately, even such simple, pure wishes are but a far-flung fantasy for Kalina now.)（只可惜，那样简单而又纯粹的幸福，对于如今的格琳娜而言，是一个遥不可及的幻想。）

KalinaI've never lived here for long anyway. Better to sell it and convert it into funds I can use whenever I need.我从未在这里久住，倒不如卖掉换成一笔可以随时支配的资金。

RobellaNOMFA pays quite well, if I remember correctly. There's no need to sell this place just for funds, is there?我记得非军事力量管理局的收入相当不错，如果只是资金问题，没必要卖了这里吧？

KalinaTo be honest, I invited everyone over because I wanted to make an announcement today.其实今天邀请大家过来，就是想告知大家一件事。

Robella...……

KalinaI've submitted my resignation. There's only some wrap-up work left. Soon, I'll no longer be a member of NOMFA.我已经提交了辞呈，只剩一些收尾的工作，很快就不再是非军事力量管理局的成员。

LennaEhh—why is Miss Kalin suddenly resigning?诶——格琳姐为什么忽然辞职？

SoppoMmf cam gho dere toh phle...呜卜嫩摘去照……

RobellaSoppo... finish eating first.索普……吃完再说。

SoppoMn! I said, does that mean I can't go there to play with Kalin and Lenna anymore?嗯！我是说，我不能再去那里找格琳和莱娜玩了么？

LennaIs it because those nasty people kept targeting Miss Kalin? I'll find a way to teach them a lesson on her behalf sooner or later!是不是因为那群讨厌鬼一直在针对格琳姐？我早晚会想办法收拾他们，替格琳姐出气！

KalinaIt has nothing to do with any of that.和过往经历的那些事无关。

KalinaI'm limiting myself by staying in NOMFA.身处非军事力量管理局，我所能做的事情过于有限。

KalinaMaybe I could achieve something I couldn't do in NOMFA if I walked a different path.也许换一条不同的路走，能够实现过往我不能做到的事情。

LevaIf you were to cross paths with the Commander right now, Kalin, his wanted status would put you on opposite sides.以现在指挥官被通缉的状态而言，如果格琳你和指挥官相遇，势必会站在指挥官的对立面。

LevaIf you want to resolve that at the root, leaving NOMFA is a fine decision.想从根源上解决这件事，离开非军事力量管理局是一个不错的决定。

LennaIs it really that serious? The Commander only ever acts for everyone's sake.有这么严重么？指挥官明明都是为了大家而行动的。

LennaNo wonder Miss Kalin got investigated several times for contacting the Commander... Though it's definitely a relief that she was safely released every time.难怪之前格琳姐因为和指挥官有联络，被调查了好几次，虽然最后都是被安全释放了。

LennaThose old geezers must be hella jealous that we can even communicate with the Commander.那群老头子一定是在妒忌我们能和指挥官联系上。

SoppoOh! It really HAS been a while since I last saw the Commander... Haaaaahh—I really wanna play with him!哦！确实有段时间没见到指挥官了……哈啊啊——很想和他玩呢！

KalinaLenna, Soppo... The decision I've made is based not only on my personal stance, but also on my assessment of the current situation.莱娜、索普……我所做出的决定，除去自身的立场，也有一些对目前局势的判断。

KalinaI can't guarantee how accurate some of it is, but... combined with what M200—I mean Cheyanne—had observed, a whole chain of major troubles may be happening soon.虽然我不能保证其中的准确性，但是……结合M200——夏安所看到的现状，或许很快就会发生一系列大事。

KalinaIt would certainly be safe for me to stay put where I am, but I can already foresee all the regret and helplessness that would soon follow.守在如今的位置固然安全，但我可以预见到自己接下来几乎全部的悔恨和无奈。

KalinaLeaving NOMFA may bring danger, but it will, at least, open our path to more possibilities in the future.也许离开非军事力量管理局会带来危险，但至少我们的未来会拥有更多可能性。

KalinaLeva, Lenna...莱娅、莱娜……你们……

LevaI may have joined NOMFA for purposes of my own, but now that the Commander has returned to the stage, it's about time for me to change strategies too.虽然我是出于自己的目的加入非军事管理局，但指挥官已经回到了舞台上，我也要改变战略了。

LevaWie du möchtest. Keeping Kalin safe is also how we help the Commander.就按照你所想的去做吧，保护好格琳也是在为指挥官出力。

LevaFeel free to take up a position wherever you wish, as long as you still keep us around.只要你还需要我们，你在哪就任都没有关系。

(Leva sets down her chopsticks.)（莱娅放下了筷子。）

LevaThe world is in constant flux. Seeking out a new path is the wise choice for all of us.局势一直都在流转变化，寻找一条新的道路，对我们所有人来说都是明智的。

RobellaThat goes for us as well.这点，我们也一样。

RobellaDepending on where Kalina goes, our information and intel channels may broaden even further, which benefits both those who aren't here and the Commander alike.随着格琳娜的去向，我们的信息情报渠道还可能进一步拓宽，这样对不在这里的人和指挥官都有益处。

RobellaWe definitely won't stop helping you because of a change in your status.我们和你的合作绝对不会因为你的身份改变而产生变动。

LevaWith Kalin's professional ability, she'd have a place to shine in any organization.以格琳的工作能力，在任何组织都会有用武之地吧？

LevaWhy not use this opportunity to plan out a future with better prospects?不如趁这次机会好好规划一个更有前景的未来。

LevaAny plans in mind? We could serve as your advisors, you know?有什么打算吗？我们可以为你参谋哦？

LennaHow about becoming the boss of an independent PMC? With Miss Kalin's old connections, you could definitely place yourself in a position where you work little for big pay.成为独立安全承包商的老板怎么样？格琳姐利用过往的人脉，应该能拿到事少钱多的肥差吧。

LennaAnd sure, you'd lose NOMFA's authority, but in exchange, you could build an armed force of your own~ You could move at a moment's notice whenever the Commander needs help!而且虽然没有了非军事力量管理局的权限，不过相对也可以组织自己的武装力量~想要帮助指挥官的时候随时都可以去！

KalinaI... haven't decided yet.我……还没有想好。

KalinaI'm not like him, after all...毕竟我不像指挥官……

LennaHmm... didn't Griffin reorganize? Wouldn't going back there be nice too? Lots of your old colleagues are there, right?唔……格里芬不是重组了吗？回那边也不错？有很多都是老同事吧。

LevaThat place could hardly be called free. My guess is... Kalin wants a position... where she can help the Commander more freely?那里可算不上自由。我猜……格琳想要一个……能更自由地帮助指挥官的立场？

LennaThen go straight to the Elmo!那直接去艾莫号上！

LennaTell the Commander that the Kalin he knows is back—告诉指挥官，他熟悉的格琳回来了——

SoppoMaking a dazzling entrance—Cool and bold!闪亮登场——劲霸酷强！

KalinaI don't even know the Commander's current coordinates.我根本不知道指挥官现在的坐标。

KalinaAnd besides, I don't want... I don't want to make him worry. Not until all the dust settles.而且，在一切尘埃落定之前，我不想……让指挥官担心。

LevaOh? You aren't going to tell the Commander about this?哦？不告诉指挥官这件事吗？

KalinaHe already has plenty to worry about. He might get the wrong idea if I suddenly told him that I'd resigned. He might think that I'm still the little girl from back then who only wants to depend on him.那个人要操心的事还很多，事到如今突然说我辞职什么的，搞不好会让他误会我还是当时那个只想依赖他的小女孩。

LevaAhh, that's a maiden's heart for you...这也是少女心啊……

LennaAll the more reason for Miss Kalin to find a job quickly then... Who else can we ask, aside from people within the URNC?那就更要让格琳姐尽快解决工作问题了……除了罗联内部的成员，还有谁能问问？

RobellaI believe we could try to ask Persica.我认为，可以试着去咨询帕斯卡。

RobellaThough her long-term recruiting is limited to research personnel for her laboratory, and I don't know many of the specifics for other positions...虽然她的长期招募范围仅限于实验室的科研人员，其他岗位的详细内容我也不太清楚。

Robella...I still think that Persica's connections can be trusted. Her standing has grown much lately, and along with that came an increased number of troublesome matters arriving at her doorstep.不过，可以相信帕斯卡的人脉，最近她的地位越发重要，找上她的麻烦事也越来越多。

RobellaThere's definitely a way for you and Persica to help each other out.你和她之间一定可以找到能帮助到彼此的地方。

KalinaI'll pay Persica a visit in person and ask about it.我会去亲自拜访帕斯卡，问一问这件事。

KalinaAlso... thank you, all of you, for your willingness to stay by my side through all this.还有就是……现在这个时期，谢谢你们愿意陪我。

LennaMiss Kalin says that like she's about to be abandoned... But we'll be able to communicate with the Commander directly the moment we leave NOMFA, no?格琳姐说得好像会被抛弃一样……明明离开非军事力量管理局，我们就能直接和指挥官沟通了吧。

LennaIt's been so long since we last saw the people aboard the Elmo. I want our next feast gathering to be right there on deck!好久没和艾莫号上的大家见面了，下次聚餐希望在艾莫号上吃！

SoppoYay! Yaaaay!耶！耶！

SoppoLet's gobble up everything he has!吃穷指挥官去！

LevaLenna, Soppo, have you both forgotten that the Commander is still a wanted man?莱娜、索普，你们应该没忘记指挥官还处于被通缉状态吧。

LevaGetting in touch with a wanted criminal right after leaving NOMFA? That would be hard to explain away if anyone found out~刚离开非军事力量管理局就和通缉犯联系上，被人发现可不好解释哦~

LennaEhh—who cares? Isn't Miss Kalin doing all this for the sake of—mmf, mmph—!诶——有什么关系，格琳姐不就是为了——唔、唔——！

(Before Lenna can finish, Leva picks up a piece of steaming-hot food with her chopsticks and stuffs it into Lenna's mouth.)（还未等莱娜的话说完，莱娅便夹起冒着热气的食物塞进了莱娜的嘴巴。）

SoppoHm? For the sake of what... Mmph—嗯？是为了什么……唔——

RobellaFocus on the food, Soppo.你就好好吃你的饭吧。

(Likewise, Robella picks out some food from the hotpot and stuffs it into Soppo's mouth, finally quieting the boisterous duo down for a while.)（洛贝拉也顺手夹起火锅里的菜塞进了索普的嘴里，终于让耍宝二人组稍稍消停了一些。）

(Lenna's eyes sparkle with stars. While chewing the food Leva had stuffed into her mouth, she forms a heart with her hands over her chest, trying to convey what she wasn't able to say with her body.)（莱娜眼里闪着星星，嘴里下意识地咀嚼着莱娅送进嘴里的食物，双手放在胸前比出了一个爱心的手势，试图用肢体传达她未能说出口的话语。）

LevaIn any case—we've been in the same boat for a long time now, and we've only gotten this far by looking after each other.总之——同船这么久，我们都是彼此照顾过来的。

LevaWe'll respect your choice no matter what path you choose to tread, Kalin.无论你走哪条路，我们都会尊重你的选择，格琳。

LevaNever let yourself regret again.别再让自己后悔了。

KalinaThank you, everyone.谢谢大家。

KalinaAlright, this is the last meal that we're ever having in this room, so let's enjoy it to the fullest.好啦，这是在这个房间的最后一顿饭，好好尽兴吧。

(After resigning, Kalina finds herself with a few rare days of free time. She packs her belongings, negotiates the sale price of the house... the days slip by in the blink of an eye. Soon, the day of her appointment with Persica arrives.)（辞职后，格琳娜久违地获得了几日空闲的时间。整理行李、商量房屋的售价……时间转眼即逝，等到了和帕斯卡莉亚约定见面的日子。）

(As she steps into Persica's laboratory, she witnesses a scene so chaotic that it gives her battlefield flashbacks.)（步入帕斯卡莉亚所在的实验室，里面正一幅让她不禁回忆起战场的忙碌景象。）

(Researchers rush back and forth, hauling enormous crates through corridors that were cramped to begin with. Leibnys stands at the center of it all, directing the staff.)（实验人员来往匆匆，不断搬运着各种巨大的箱子，游走于原本就狭窄的过道之中。莱布妮丝正站在场地中央，指挥着工作人员。）

LeibnysPut those supplies in the lab. Remember to label everything. A new shipment will be arriving at any minute. That goes on shelf No. 2 in the storeroom.这批物资放在实验室，记得做好标记。新的一批物资马上就到，到时候放在储藏室的2号货架。

LeibnysAre you done with the newest disassembly report? Get it over to me ASAP. I'll be reporting it to Persica.最新的拆解报告完成了吗，尽快整理给我，我会汇报给帕斯卡。

KalinaExcuse me, I have a meeting scheduled with Persica today.打扰了，我预约了今天和帕斯卡莉亚的会议。

LeibnysPersica's still with a guest, but she did mention you. She told me to bring you to her the moment you showed up.帕斯卡还在会客中。不过她有和我提过你，让我等你出现，就带你去找她。

KalinaWon't we be interrupting them? I don't mind waiting till their meeting ends.不会打扰到她们吗？我可以等到前面的会谈结束的。

LeibnysThey aren't discussing anything classified. You'd hear of it sooner or later anyway.她们没在聊核心机密，你早晚也会知道这个讯息。

LeibnysWe've received an investigation commission from the URNC—to study and analyze signs of a new, unknown organism recently discovered in the Red Zone.我们接到了罗联的调查委托——对红区最近发现的新的未知生物讯息进行拆解、研究。

KalinaA new... organism?新的……生物？

PersicariaThat's right. The unknown organisms found in the Red Zone show habits similar to Boojums, but we aren't sure of their origin yet.是的。目前在红区发现的未知生物有和伯介姆类似的习性，但还不能确定生物的具体来源。

(Footsteps echo behind them. The two women turn to see Persica approach, with another individual following her.)（脚步声从她们身后传来，二人转头，发现帕斯卡正朝她们走来，她的身后还跟着另外一个人。）

???Judging by the traits those organisms displayed, I doubt their appearance is good news.从生物所展露出的特性来看，我不认为它们的出现是个好消息。

???Their unusual power may well be tied to Relics.那股不寻常的力量说不定和遗迹有所牵连。

KalinaRelics?! Don't tell me...遗迹？！难道……

PersicariaKalina, here's a collaborator of mine—Cornelia Schaefer. You can call her Nele.格琳娜，给你介绍一下，这位是我的合作伙伴，高奈莉娅·舍夫尔，你可以叫她奈乐。

PersicariaShe's highly accomplished in clinical medicine, biology, and physics alike~她在临床医学、生物还有物理学术领域都很有造诣哦。

PersicariaShe's also my greatest source of info apart from what the URNC provides.除了罗联提供的情报之外，我的另外一大情报来源就是她。

KalinaNice to meet you, Miss Nele.您好，奈乐小姐。

(Nele gives Kalina a nod.)（奈乐朝格琳娜点了点头。）

NeleYou must be Kalina—the NOMFA Counselor. I've heard of you.非军事力量管理局参事——格琳娜，我听过你的名字。

(Nele nudges her glasses up, greeting Kalina with a slight nod.)（奈乐推了推眼镜，微微点头向格琳娜打了一个招呼。）

(Hearing herself introduced as "NOMFA Counselor," Kalina shakes her head and corrects Nele with a wry smile.)（听到“非军事力量管理局参事”这个职位介绍后，格琳娜摇了摇头，苦笑着否认了奈乐的描述。）

KalinaTo be honest, I actually submitted my resignation a few days ago. Whatever NOMFA does in the future is no longer connected to me.实不相瞒，几天前我已经递交了辞呈，非军事力量管理局后续所有的工作都与我无关了。

PersicariaUnderstandable. A counselor's workload is punishing, and knowing how dutiful you are, turning down extra work must've been pretty hard.我能理解，参事的工作繁重。以你的性格，很难拒绝超负荷的工作吧。

LeibnysHmph. Those old fossils at NOMFA barely finished handing over the info before they started hounding us for the analysis.哼，非军事力量管理局那群老家伙，刚把资料送了没多久就催着要我们给出对应的情报解析内容。

LeibnysWe told them that we need 72 hours, but they cut it down to 30. Who negotiates a deadline like that?!我们说要七十二小时，被他们压缩到三十个小时，哪有这么商量汇报时间的？！

LeibnysIt's like they think the experiment reports just conjure themselves out of thin air!在他们眼里，好像实验报告凭空就能变出来似的。

PersicariaThe intel really is quite interesting, though. If Nele's guess is right and this power IS connected to the Relics, the scramble for it within the URNC will be pretty intense...情报确实挺有趣的。如果奈乐的猜测正确，这股力量和遗迹有关，罗联内部对于这股力量的争夺一定会很激烈……

PersicariaOh, right, Robella told me that you're job hunting. From what I hear, plenty of people have already sent you offers after you handed in your resignation, right?对了，洛贝拉和我说了你在找工作的事情。据我所知，自从你递交了辞呈之后，向你投去橄榄枝的人可不少？

KalinaThose offers... weren't right for me.那些……不适合我。

(Kalina presses her lips together.)（格琳娜抿了抿嘴。）

(The years I've spent in Griffin and NOMFA were truly valuable experiences, but they are, like a comfort zone, places that caged me within certain constraints and definitions. One look at what those "offers" required from me made it clear how people saw me.)（这几年在格里芬和非军事力量管理局的历练都是真金白银的，但也如同舒适区一样把自己框定在了某个范围内，这点从那些“橄榄枝”的需求就能看出来。）

KalinaI had a good look at the job responsibilities shown in the offers. None of them listed what I actually want to do.我仔细看过了他们的职位需求，那些事情并不是我真正想做的。

KalinaGiven how things are now, perhaps it would be best for me to join an organization that positions itself in relative neutrality.眼下这个情况，如果能够加入一个相对中立的组织，对我来说或许是最合适的。

PersicariaA neutral organization, huh...? Heh~中立的组织啊……哼~

Kalina...?……？

(A somewhat playful expression emerges on Persica's face.)（帕斯卡的脸上露出了有些玩味的表情。）

PersicariaI can understand that line of thinking, considering a certain someone's current predicament.以某人现在的处境来看，你的这个考量我能理解。

(Persica hits right on the mark. Kalina quickly grows flustered, but composes herself just as quickly.)（仿佛被戳中了心事，格琳娜变得有些局促，但很快也平复了下来。）

Kalina...That's just part of it, but above all, I want to pave my own path... a different one.……那只是一方面，最主要的还是我想试着自己走出一条路，不一样的路。

NeleOh? A different path?哦？走不一样的路？

NeleAre you sure that you're making the right choice?你确定自己的选择是正确的吗？

Kalina...Honestly, I can't be sure.……说实话，我无法确定。

KalinaStill, perhaps there is no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" choice in this world. All I can do is listen to my heart, then do everything I can to make it work.但这个世界上可能没有所谓的“对的选择”或者“错的选择”，我现在能做到的可能只是依照我的内心进行“选择”，然后尽力把它做好。

Nele...……

(Nele's memory wavers for an instant. The look on Kalina's face right now bears a faint resemblance to a certain individual from her recollections.)（奈乐的记忆恍惚了一下，格琳娜此时的神情竟然和回忆中的那个人有些许相似。）

NeleNo matter what choice you make, follow your heart and it'll never lead you astray.无论做出什么样的选择，都应顺从本心，让它变成正确的选择。

(Nele turns to Persica.)（奈乐转向帕斯卡。）

NeleYou've provided an excellent candidate, Professor Persica.您提供了一个不错的人选，帕斯卡教授。

PersicariaDon't count your chickens just yet. She hasn't even made up her mind yet.先别着急，人家的想法还不确定呢。

KalinaAn excellent candidate?不错的人选？

PersicariaHere's the thing, Kalina. My laboratory's recruiting is indeed limited to research personnel.是这样的，格琳娜，关于我的实验室招募，确实限定在科研人员的范畴内。

PersicariaBut Nele's organization is currently looking for an operations lead. Right up your alley, I'd say. Interested?但是奈乐的组织目前在寻找运营负责人，对你来说也算是专业对口，你感兴趣吗？

KalinaWhat kind of organization is it?是什么样的组织？

PersicariaIt's—er, Nele, maybe you should explain it?是——呃，奈乐你来说明一下吧？

NeleWe'd call it a non-profit humanitarian relief organization, for now. It also handles recon in contamination zones, the collection of biological and non-biological data, and the construction of intel networks.姑且定义为非营利性人道救援组织吧，但也承载向污染区探查、采集生物非生物数据、构建情报网络的功能。

NeleThe team is still being assembled. I don't expect it to be large, since lean and efficient is my goal.团队还在构建中，预计规模不会很大，人员高效而精简是我的目标。

PersicariaYou're actually just short on funding, right~?实际上是经费不足吧~

NeleAHEM! Ahem!咳、咳！

(Nele nudges her glasses up.)（奈乐推了推眼镜。）

NeleWe'll have our funding soon.经费很快就会有着落。

NeleStill, we do have strong combat capabilities and staff with solid research backgrounds. It's just that, as the professor said, we're missing someone to run our daily ops, to organize and sort out our intel and resources...但我们有绝对过硬的战力支持和科研资源背景，不过就像教授所说的，我们现在缺一个能维持团队日常运营，将所有资源情报做整合梳理的负责人……

NeleHmm, and this individual would be planning our action plans and targets too. Persica and I aren't good at any of that... but I'm sure you can do it well, Miss Kalina.嗯、还有组织目标与行动规划，我和帕斯卡都不太擅长这些……但如果是格琳娜小姐的话，想必是可以胜任的。

KalinaSomeone to organize resources and run the org...运营、资源整合的负责人……

(Seeing the shadow of hesitation cross Kalina's face, Nele adds on.)（见格琳娜面露犹豫，奈乐接着补充。）

NeleThis job may look no different from your previous one on paper, but you'll be plunged into a totally different environment.职位上或许和你之前的工作看起来没什么差别，但你面对的会是一个完全不同的环境。

NeleWe are a new team. Rather than following preexisting rigid rules and processes, we'll have to figure out everything on our own. That's why your talents and potential might finally find room to flourish here.我们是一个初创的队伍，所有的一切都需要自行摸索，而不是按照死板的规则流程；在这里，你的才能和可能性说不定能得到充分发挥。

NeleThe pay won't be anything impressive, I'm afraid. But if it's intel you want, I believe we can give you info beyond anything NOMFA's clearances will ever allow.报酬可能开不了太高，不过，如果你想要情报，我想应该能够给到你非军事力量管理局权限之外的数据。

PersicariaHaha, you really have taken a liking to her.哈哈，看来你是真的挺中意她的。

NeleAfter meeting Miss Kalina, no one else felt right.当见到格琳娜小姐这个人选后，我的心里就没有其他人更适合这个位置了。

NeleIt isn't just the threads of fate that connect us... More importantly, I have the feeling that we're kindred spirits.不仅仅是因为我们有着诸多的因缘……更重要的是，我觉得我们志同道合。

(Nele offers a friendly smile, one that softens her usually cold, rational researcher demeanor.)（奈乐露出一个友善的微笑，这让她原本有些冷硬理智的研究员形象亲切了不少。）

NeleI'm fond of those who strive to find their path out of the fog. I'd say I'm the same.我很喜欢在迷雾中努力寻找出路的人，因为我也是这样的。

PersicariaWhat do you think, Kalina? Are you interested in joining?怎么样格琳娜，有兴趣加入吗？

PersicariaThis girl has connections to both DEFY and Statesec now, so the resources and intel she controls are top-shelf~ Oh, and doesn't she also have a former Stasi agent as her devoted better half?这家伙现在和忤逆、国安局都有联系，手上的资源和情报质量都是很不错的~哦，是不是还有一个前斯塔西特工贤内助？

NeleThat's exaggerating it. "Better half"? Come on...有点夸张了，什么贤内助……

KalinaThank you for this opportunity. I'll consider it seriously. However...谢谢您给我这个机会，我会积极地考虑，不过……

NeleNo need to rush the decision. You strike me as the deliberating type. So by all means, think it through.不用急着做决定，你看起来像是会深思熟虑的类型，当然应该考虑清楚。

NeleYou seem to be bothered by something else though.如今你看起来好像是有更在意的事？

(Kalina privately marvels at the sharp senses of a top-tier researcher. She nods and turns to Persica.)（格琳娜在心里深感一个顶尖研究员的敏锐，她点点头，转向了帕斯卡。）

KalinaIf I may... that unusual power detected in the Red Zone... Can you tell me more about the specifics?请问……关于那个在红区侦察到的不寻常的力量，我能知道更多的具体讯息吗？

(Persica nods and hands over the survey report sitting nearby. Amid the dense jungle of data, a familiar name catches Kalina's eye.)（帕斯卡点了点头，顺手将手边的调研报告递给了格琳娜，密密麻麻的数据之中，格琳娜看到了一个熟悉的名字。）

KalinaHelena... is she connected to this new organism too?海伦娜……她也和现在提到的新生物有关？

NeleVery likely.有很高的可能性。

(Kalina leafs through the materials a while longer, then hands them back to Persica solemnly, as though she were showing her resolve.)（格琳娜又翻看了一会儿资料，最后将资料码齐递还给帕斯卡，郑重得像是交出了自己的决心。）

KalinaHelena's commission... all of this began with me. If I hadn't handed that job to the Commander, none of those unforeseen events would have ever happened.海伦娜相关的委托，一切的起源都是因为我。如果不是我将这件工作交给了指挥官，后续也不会发生那么多未曾预料过的事情。

KalinaThe body of that child contains secrets, likely intel tied to Paradeus experiments. And every piece of evidence we have says that Paradeus has risen from its ashes, that they are currently pushing some vast plan forward.那孩子身上一定藏着一些秘密，并且很有可能是和帕拉蒂斯实验有关的情报。目前所有证据都表明，帕拉蒂斯已经死灰复燃，并推动着一个庞大的阴谋。

KalinaI want to get to the bottom of it, even with my NOMFA days behind me.即便离开非军事力量管理局，我也想弄清楚这背后一切的真相。

PersicariaShould I say "welcome," then, Kalina?我该说“欢迎”吗，格琳娜？

NeleA shared goal is the foundation of any partnership. Welcome aboard, Kalina—even if it's temporary.目标一致是合作的前提，欢迎您的暂时加入，格琳娜。

NeleI'll find an occasion to introduce you to my companions later. As for this investigation into the unknown organism, we've already dispatched Dolls to conduct a deeper search into the Red Zone.后续我会找机会为你介绍我的同伴。这一次关于未知生物的调查，我们已经委派了人形在红区进行进一步搜索。

PersicariaThe organism's habitable range is limited. The URNC had one recorded attempt at transporting a fragment of it into the Green Zone.未知生物的生存区域有限，罗联有过一次尝试将生物的碎片运送至绿区的记录。

PersicariaThe fragment went through a brief period of swelling and growth, then died completely not long after entering the Green Zone.生物碎片先是经历了短暂的膨胀、成长，但在进入绿区没多久之后就彻底死亡。

PersicariaThe remains we have can't tell us anything definitive about its habits. Any further investigation will have to be progressed in the area where it actually lives.从目前拥有的残留物上分析不出明确的习性，更多调查还是必须在生物活动的区域内，进一步推进。

NeleMidway through transport, the organism lost most of its mass inside the isolation pod. My guess is that a certain level of radiation is the baseline it needs to survive.运送半路之中，生物在隔绝舱内几乎消失了大半体积。我推测，一定量的辐射浓度是它能生存的基础。

NeleWhich closely mirrors Helena's situation. Most of the test subjects survive only in regions above a certain level of radiation.这和海伦娜的身体情况非常类似。实验品大都存活在有一定辐射能量的区域。

PersicariaWhat we took before was only a section of active tissue from the organism's body. Losing viability too far from the main body, or failing to adapt to an abrupt change of environment could just as easily be the cause of tissue death.之前我们只是截取了生物身上的部分活性组织。离开本体距离过远失去活性或者无法适应骤变的环境，也可能是原因。

PersicariaThe next URNC scientific expedition departs in three days, bound for a temporary laboratory set up in the Yellow Zone.最近的一批罗联科考团在三日后出发，目的地是临时搭建的黄区实验室。

KalinaDo you intend to go and investigate in person, Professor?您有意向亲自前往调查吗？

PersicariaUgh, that sounds like far too much trouble...呃，那也太麻烦……

LeibnysHow could we possibly let Persica do something that dangerous?!那么危险的事情怎么能让帕斯卡亲自去做？

LeibnysGetting firsthand data means getting close to the new organism... that much is unavoidable. But anyone can do that part. There's ZERO need for Persica to go in person.想要获得第一手数据情报，势必需要靠新生物足够近。不过，这样的事情谁都能做，完全不需要帕斯卡亲自前往。

LeibnysI'll join the expedition on Persica's behalf, collect firsthand data, and sync it back to the lab in real time.我会代表帕斯卡加入考察团，取得第一手的数据，实时同步给实验室。

PersicariaAh, so I get to relax for a while. Approved.啊，这段时间倒是可以轻松一下，批准了。

LeibnysI'll ALSO be monitoring Persica's daily routine remotely. Her work schedule won't slip an inch.同时我也会每天远程监控帕斯卡的生活起居，不会让她的工作进度有影响的。

Persicaria...Dang. Guess not...……看来还是没法轻松啊……

KalinaI'd like to join as well.我也想加入。

PersicariaGetting a seat on the expedition would've been easy as a NOMFA counselor.如果以非军事力量管理局参事的身份，想要加入科考团并不难。

(Persica accepts the refilled cup of coffee that Leibnys hands her, and blows away the steam quietly.)（帕斯卡接过莱布妮丝递来的续杯咖啡，轻轻吹了口热气。）

PersicariaBut you aren't one anymore... whether your application clears review is no longer a sure thing.不过，你现在不是了……能否通过审批就不是必然的了。

KalinaThat's not the only way in. I'll handle it.并不是只有这一种方法，我会处理好这件事。

NeleOh, that reminds me... Leibnys, the special comms device and defensive equipment you asked for are ready.对了，莱布妮丝，你要的特殊通讯装置和防御器材都已经制作好了。

NeleThe device won't hold up long anywhere the radiation runs too strong. Mind its effective duration. Safety first.装置在辐射太强的地方，很难长时间使用，注意有效期，安全第一。

LeibnysThe Yellow Zone doesn't worry me. If I'm not mistaken, this organism should be unique to the Red Zone.黄区我还没放在心上，如果没猜错，这种生物应该是红区特有。

LeibnysIf we want to map out its habitat properly, we will have to head there sooner or later.想要调查清楚它的生存环境，早晚需要去红区跑一趟。

NeleThat's work for Dolls, not for either of you.那是人形的工作，而不是你们的。

NeleDon't go wandering if you want to stay alive. The last thing I need is for something to happen to you and then have it blamed on my anti-radiation gear.想活命就别乱跑，我还不希望你到时候出了事，赖上我研发的防辐射装置。

NeleEven the highest-spec anti-radiation equipment won't guarantee a human's safety in the Red Zone for any extended duration.目前规格最高的防辐射装置，也无法保证人类在红区进行长时间的安全行动。

LeibnysThen we'll just avoid reaching that "extended duration".是无法长时间行动，而不是无法行动。

LeibnysOnly by going deep into the Red Zone can we pin down the organism's energy source, and confirm whether it's truly tied to the power of Relics you've both been talking about.只有深入红区才能确切调查出生物的能量来源，确认它是不是真的与你们提到的遗迹力量有关。

LeibnysI don't intend to die. Relax, every operation will put our safety first.我没有送命的打算。放心，所有行动都将以我们的安全为第一要义。

LeibnysFear roots people in place. Truth seeks only those who are bold.恐惧只会让人停滞不前，所有的真相唯有勇敢者才会知晓。

Kalina(The bold, huh...?)（勇敢者吗……）

(Kalina studies the woman before her. There isn't a flicker of fear in Leibnys' eyes even though she's staring down a trip to the perilous Red Zone. In fact, her eyes shine with anticipation.)（格琳娜看着眼前的莱布妮丝，即便是前往危机四伏的红区，对方眼中也全然没有恐惧的神色，反而洋溢着一种憧憬。）

(Confident, brave... perhaps there was a time when her own eyes held that same look—when she dared to charge into any danger if it brought her one step closer to the truth.)（自信、勇敢……曾几何时的自己或许也曾有着这样的眼神，只是为了接近真相一些，不管多么危险的地方都敢于闯入。）

(But sometimes, Kalina can no longer quite tell—is it the truth itself she's trying to reach, or is it the man who has never stopped chasing it?)（但有时，格琳娜也有些分不清了，自己想要接近的是真相本身，还是那个一直在追寻真相的人呢？）

(After waving goodbye to Persica, Kalina calls in her old connections and applies to join the expedition. The request is approved with startling speed.)（和帕斯卡辞别后，格琳娜动用了过往的人脉，申请加入了科考团。请求以意想不到的速度被通过。）

KryugerKalin. I saw your name on the application list for accompanying-personnel.格琳，我看到你的名字在申请的随行名单之中。

KalinaI'm... not participating in this as a NOMFA counselor.我……不是以非军事力量管理局参事的身份介入这件事。

KryugerI'm the chief officer in charge of this operation.这次活动的最高行动负责人是我。

KalinaI see... so that's why my application went through so smoothly.原来如此……所以我的申请才会那么顺利。

KryugerI watched you grow up. You've always been a sensible, attentive kid. To be frank, you've always given me far less to worry about compared to THAT guy.我看着你一路长大，你是个十分懂事细心的孩子。和那个人相比，你总是让我省心很多。

KryugerStill, a little willfulness now and then is a normal part of growing up.不过，偶尔耍些小性子也是成长过程中常有的事情。

KryugerAs someone playing the role of an elder, I ought to be encouraging you to follow your heart like this.作为扮演长辈角色的人，我本应对你这种遵从本心的行为多加鼓励。

KryugerThe world outside is far more dangerous than you can imagine, now that you've left NOMFA.离开非军事力量管理局，外面的世界远比你想象的更为危险。

KalinaI've stopped being a kid a long time ago. My resignation was a decision made after thorough deliberation.我早就不是小孩子了，辞职申请是我在认真思考后的决定。

KalinaWhatever happens next, I want to be standing somewhere I won't regret, making change happen with my own hands.接下来不管发生什么，我都希望可以站在不会让自己后悔的位置上，用自己的手去做出些改变。

KryugerThat's why I didn't stop you.所以我没有阻止你。

KryugerGo and investigate what you wish to know. Just don't be too hasty.去调查你想知道的事情吧，只是不要太着急。

KryugerA ten-year distance isn't so easily closed. Be careful.十年的距离不是那么容易赶上的，谨慎一些。

(With a long, busy day behind me, I carried the two cups of sleep-aid tea that OTs-14 and Groza had brewed for me back to my bedroom, ready to turn in.)（结束了忙碌的一天后，我本来端着OTs-14和闪电给我泡的两杯安眠茶回到卧室准备休息。）

(I'd been quite worried that two cups might put me under too deep, but a covert call from Leva chased off every last trace of drowsiness.)（原本担心喝两杯会不会睡太死，和莱娅的这通秘密联络倒是把睡意全部驱散了。）

LevaSo... I had assumed that Kalin was just planning to use Mr. Kryuger's connections to dig up more hidden intel.所以……原本我以为格琳的规划只是利用克鲁格先生的人脉获取更多隐秘情报。

LevaBut the latest info update shows that she's already agreed to Leibnys' plan. If it proves necessary, she'll head deep into the Red Zone in search of that new species, and leads on Relics.但从我得到的最新消息来看，她已经答应了莱布妮丝，在必要情况下深入红区进一步搜寻新物种以及遗迹线索的计划。

LevaThat's outside the expedition's official scope. I can practically smell the danger.这不在考察团的计划范围之内，我能预想到风险。

LevaStill... when you see the future payoffs that Leibnys laid out... Honestly, even I found it tempting.但……莱布妮丝列举出的未来收益，确实让我看都有些心动。

LevaScientists like her would rather die than be locked away from the truth.对于科学家而言，把她们拦在真相之外，比直接杀了她们更为难受。

LevaIn any case, I don't have many options, aside from praying that nothing bad happens.除了祈祷不要有意外发生，我别无选择。

CommanderHow reckless.胡闹。

LevaYeah, it's a Red Zone, you know? Leibnys says that to her, there are only two types of regions—the ones worth studying, and the ones that aren't.嗯，那可是红区哦？莱布妮丝说在她眼里，只有值得研究的地区，和不值得研究的地区的分别。

LevaIt's not too bad for us Dolls, but you and I both know that Kalin barely survived ELID through dedicated treatment, yeah? And yet she's STILL going along with Leibnys' reckless plan.我们人形也就算了，格琳还是罹患过E.L.I.D.、好不容易治好的哦？也陪着她胡闹。

LevaIf the radiation damages Kalin's body...万一格琳的身体因为辐射能量受损……

LevaOutrageous, isn't it? Guess you're the only one who can stop her now!很过分吧？很过分吧！只能由指挥官，你来管管了！

(Leva seems somewhat genuinely upset, pouring out the whole story of how Kalina, sold on Leibnys' "future prospects," has decided to join the Red Zone "Boojum" investigation.)（莱娅似乎真的有些生气，喋喋不休地对我诉说着格琳娜听了莱布妮丝的“未来预期”，决定一起进入红区调查“伯介姆”的事。）

(Frankly, those organisms are anything but unfamiliar to us now. I just haven't had the time to organize what we know and pass it to Persica.)（坦白说，关于这种生物，我们近期实在不陌生，但我还没来得及把这些信息整理后交给帕斯卡。）

CommanderCan't you talk her out of it? Or have Persica talk her out of it?你不能劝劝她？或者让帕斯卡劝劝她？

LevaOh my~ still haven't grasped the core of the problem, have you... heh heh heh.哦呀~现在还没搞明白问题的核心所在吗……呵呵呵。

LevaOnce Kalin makes up her mind, Commander... no warning from me or Persica will stop her. After all, she's already going to... Ah—!指挥官，格琳下定决心做的事情，我或者帕斯卡的劝告可是没有用的哦？毕竟她已经要……啊——

(Leva claps a hand over her mouth and gives me a deliberate wink. Some things are not to be divulged.)（莱娅捂住了嘴，故意眨了眨眼，示意有些话不可透露。）

(Her tone suggests that this is probably a hint—something she wants me to keep an eye on. Looks like Kalina has made another major decision, one she intends to keep hidden from me.)（我能从她的语气里探听出，这可能是她在暗示我留意什么——看起来格琳娜还做了其他重大的决定，并且不打算让我知道。）

Commander...What were you going to say, Leva?……还有什么，莱娅？

LevaMy own secrets I'll happily confess to you, Commander~ But Kalin's business should be hers to reveal.虽然我的秘密都可以对指挥官坦白，格琳的事还是应该让她自己来决定告不告诉你。

LevaSo what do we do about this Red Zone expedition?眼下，红区考察的事该怎么办？

CommanderIf stopping her is possible, that would be ideal. But if she insists on going... what are their current security arrangements?能阻止她当然是最好，如果她坚持的话……护卫方面目前是什么规格？

LevaLenna and I will follow her with Soppo and Robella, obviously. And we've all agreed to stop her from entering the deeper core region of the Red Zone.我和莱娜，索普和洛贝拉当然会在啦，我们也说好不会进入红区更为核心的区域。

LevaThe assigned URNC security detail can cover the basics. But if real danger hits... I wouldn't place my trust in them.罗联配备的安保部队能够保证基础安全，但在遇到危险的情况下……我不太信任他们。

CommanderThe Red Zone contains too many variables, and URNC security personnel have no reason to sacrifice themselves for anything outside the expedition's official scope.红区不可预测的状况太多，罗联配备的安保没理由为计划外的工作付出生命。

CommanderYou're hoping for me to do something about it, aren't you, Leva?莱娅，你是希望我做些什么吧？

LevaI wonder~ Might there be some brave knight out there willing to quietly watch over Kalin and us to keep accidents from happening?不知道有没有勇敢的骑士大人肯默默守护格琳和我们，避免意外发生呢？

CommanderSync me your coordinates whenever possible. Comms in the Red Zone are unstable, so I can't promise I'll always remain contactable.随时把坐标同步给我，红区的通讯不稳定，我不能确保能否时刻在你们的身边。

CommanderBut what I can do, is to dispatch a squad to shadow your group in secret. They'll support you whenever the need arises.派行动小队去你们附近随时支援，还是能做到的。

CommanderThe level of danger out here... is higher than what you all can imagine.那里的危险……比你们想象得更多。

CommanderHelp me hold Kalin back a little... Leva.帮我拦着点格琳……莱娅。

LevaIs that a commissioned mission or a personal request?这算是委托任务，还是私人请求？

CommanderIs there a difference?有区别吗？

LevaOf course~ A personal request from the Commander is something entirely different~当然~指挥官的私人请求可是和任务不一样的存在哦~

LevaSome efforts can't be repaid in money, you know♪~有些酬劳可不是用金钱能支付的♪~

LevaJust like this call~就像这次的通讯一样~

CommanderLet me think about what I have...我有的东西……

CommanderOur newly improved tomatoes just ripened. Want me to ship you some when I get the chance?最近改良后的番茄刚成熟，要不要我找机会给你寄一点。

LevaTomatoes?番茄吗？

LevaThat is not the kind of payment I'm after~我要的报酬可不是这种啊~

LennaTOMATOES?什么番茄？

LennaAh! Are you calling the Commander?啊！是和指挥官的通讯？

LennaLeva~ Have you been hogging him behind my back?!莱娅姐，你竟然瞒着我偷偷吃独食？！

LevaLenna? When did you...莱娜？你怎么突然……

LennaHehe. Leva's mood seemed better than usual today, and you were walking faster too, like you were headed to... a date.哼哼，莱娅姐今天的心情比往常都好，走路速度也快了不少，像是……要去约会一样。

LennaThe changes were tiny, sure, but no such detail escapes someone like me—the one who knows Leva best!虽然莱娅姐的变化微乎其微，但这种细节是不可能瞒住最了解莱娅姐的我！

LennaI've been watching you in secret all day, and lo and behold! Leva is having a secret little date with the Commander behind my back.我已经悄悄观察一整天了，果然！莱娅姐背着我和指挥官有小秘密。

LennaI know Leva misses the Commander just as much as I do, but we can't just swoop in and fix all his problems given the mess he's in right now.我知道莱娅姐也和我一样很想指挥官，却因为指挥官现在所处的困境，不能直接替指挥官解决一切麻烦的事情。

LennaStill, it doesn't matter how far apart we are... Our bond still remains close, so close!就算距离再远……我们心的距离也是很近很近——

LevaStop! This is getting weirder by the minute. Weren't you planning to look for him straight away? We have to give him advance notice for such things, at the very least.停停停，越说越奇怪了，你不是想去直接找指挥官吗？我们总要提前和指挥官说一声吧。

LevaOnce we are done with work, we can schedule a visit to the Elmo so long as we keep things secret enough.等结束了手里的工作，在确保情报安全的情况下，拜访艾莫号——是一件在规划中的事。

LennaUuuuuu... You're the best, Leva!呜呜呜，莱娅姐，我就知道你最好了！

LennaI want to see the Commander with you! Bring me, bring me—我要和你一起去见指挥官。带上我、带上我——

LevaIt just so happens that I've been running low on my Commander intake lately.正好最近指挥官成分不足。

LevaMay I sneak aboard the Elmo for a little vacation?我可不可以偷偷摸到艾莫号上面度个假呀？

CommanderWe have no nutrients named "Commander" here... anyway, if Leva's coming to the Elmo, I'm guessing that a vacation isn't the only thing you want to do.没有所谓的指挥官成分提供……既然莱娅你要来，想必不只是度假吧？

LevaYou really are unromantic, Commander. I'm not aiming for your commission fees in working so hard, you know?指挥官真是不解风情呀，我努力工作，要的可不是什么你给的酬金啊。

LevaBut yes, there are other matters too. There are some things I need to bring to you in person. The kind that can't be sent over any network.不过其他事项确实也还是有的，有些东西我要带给指挥官，是没法用网络传输的那种。

LevaAh, by the way, Commander. Do you wish to see us right now, or not?啊，对了对了，指挥官。 现在的你是想要见到我们，还是不想呢？

(Leva smiles slyly, and from the curve of her lips, I understand exactly the mischief she intends.)（莱娅狡黠地一笑，而我从她唇角的弧度理解了她的坏心眼。）

(If we do meet, it means that things have gone wrong for them, that Kalin and Leva may both be in danger. However, if everything does go smoothly, then they would never see me. I would never be anywhere near them at all.)（如果我们见面了，说明事情并不顺利，格琳和她可能都遇到了危险；反过来说，事态顺利的话，对于她们来说，我则根本就不曾靠近过。）

(A contradiction like that will indeed amuse someone in her position... someone who has seen through everything with perfect clarity.)（这种矛盾，确实会让站在能将一切看得透彻的位置的她，感到有趣。）

CommanderOf course I want to see you guys.我当然很想见到你们。

LevaThen see you soon, Commander! We'll be meeting before you know it.那么回见啦，指挥官！我们很快就会见面的。

LennaWait, wait! That's it?! It's over?!等等、等等，这就结束了？！

LennaWas I too slow?是我慢了一步吗？

LennaCommander, I miss you so much—指挥官，我好想你——

LevaIt's late. The Commander needs his rest too.这么晚了，指挥官也该休息了。

(Leva mouths a few silent words at me. I can roughly make out "keep it secret.")（莱娅对着我做出了几个口型，我依稀能辨认出是“保密”的含义。）

(Lenna knows nothing of the private deal between us. I give Leva a nod to show my agreement.)（莱娜并不知道我和她私下的交易，我冲她点了点头，算是应下了这件事。）

(We trade wry smiles. The trip is tacitly settled between us, and Leva winks at me before ending the call.)（我们相视苦笑，心里已经默认了这次的行程，莱娅对我眨眨眼后关闭了通讯。）

(Kalina may have changed a great deal over the years, but nothing will stop her whenever she sets her mind on doing something.)（格琳娜也许这些年来变了很多，可当她下定决心地要做一件事的时候，没有什么可以阻止她。）

Bloody Rebirth 血色新生

(Zimmerman sits in the conference room, reviewing the daily reports from various departments. His position is no longer that of a mere conglomerate executive. As the chief of Odesa, data and intelligence originating from the URNC pour toward him from every direction, without end.)（齐默尔曼坐在会议室之中，查看来自不同部门的日常汇报。他如今的身份，早已不单是一位财团高层。身为奥德卅的首席，源自罗联的数据情报正源源不断地从各处汇集于他的身前。）

(Zimmerman has access to information beyond the Conglomerate's own intel channels. Using the URNC's info network, he managed to interfere heavily in the Conglomerate's decision making. The higher vantage point has fed his ambitions. His actions have pushed the Conglomerate's recent behavior toward a more covert, gradual direction.)（齐默尔曼拥有财团渠道之外的知情权，依靠罗联的信息渠道，他对财团的决策进行了大量干涉。更高的视野催生了他的野心，也让财团如今所做的决策更为隐蔽、平缓。）

CocoonSir, the Conglomerate's senior leadership remains divided. After hearing your recommendation, the great majority now believes that we should remain cautious with our cooperation with Paradeus, and that all cooperative undertakings should be suspended if necessary.阁下，目前财团高层的意见仍未统一。绝大部分高层听闻您的建议后，认为近期与帕拉蒂斯的合作应保持谨慎的态度，在必要情况下暂停一切合作进程。

ZimmermanWhat they fear is that the URNC's investigation into Paradeus will bring certain exchanges of interest into the light. Ones that were never meant to be seen.他们是在害怕罗联对帕拉蒂斯的调查，会牵扯出一些不该暴露于视野之中的利益交换。

ZimmermanThe URNC's sensitivity to the power of Relics is not something those outsiders can meddle with that easily.罗联对于遗迹力量的敏感度，可不是那群局外之人能轻易干涉的。

CocoonBased on projections from the data collected so far, the URNC's investigative focus is not on us at present. They remain fixated on that anomalous energy fluctuation.依据过往收集数据的推演，目前罗联的调查重心不在我们身上，他们仍然执着于调查那股异常的能量波动。

CocoonI still maintain control over what data Heli receives.赫利那边能接收到的数据，也在我的控制范围之内。

CocoonThus, if you have further information to provide, we could...阁下若有更多能够提供的情报……

ZimmermanThis is a list of all URNC scientists participating in the investigation of the new species.这是罗联内部参与调查新物种的所有科学家名单。

ZimmermanThe URNC has intensified their investigation of the Red Zone. The pace of our own investigation must be stepped up accordingly.罗联加大了对红区的调查，我们的调查节奏也必须加强。

CocoonIs this a request for me to keep them under surveillance?您是想让我监视这些科学家的日常行动吗？

ZimmermanCorrect... obtaining Relic related intel from the URNC directly poses too much risk. We can acquire what we want in other ways.嗯……从罗联那边拿到遗迹相关情报的风险太高，换种方式，我们同样能获得想要的东西。

CocoonI shall establish contact with the scientists on this list as quickly as possible. I trust that they will not refuse our comparatively generous terms.我会尽快与名单上的这些科学家们构建联系。相信他们不会拒绝，更为优越的待遇。

ZimmermanHave Blusphere shadow the URNC expedition... As for Darture, you know her recent conduct better than I do. Handle her as you see fit.让蓝雪球跟上罗联调查团的踪迹……至于黑眼，她最近的表现你比我更清楚，看着处理吧。

CocoonIt shall be done.遵命。

ZimmermanWhen necessary, find a chance to bring back the organism that the URNC is studying.必要的时候，找机会把罗联目前正在研究的生物带回来。

ZimmermanSo long as we hold enough information leverage over them, they will, sooner or later, find themselves in need of our strength.只要掌握足够多的情报，他们早晚会有需要我们力量的时候。

CocoonAs you wish, sir.如您所愿，阁下。

(Yellow Zone, in the URNC's makeshift laboratory. The first scientists to arrive are currently working out the unknown organism's habits from the intel they have in a methodical manner.)（黄区，罗联临时搭建的实验室中，第一批抵达的科学家们正根据现有情报，有条不紊地拆解未知生物的习性。）

(Laid out before them is a deer-type Boojum on the verge of death. Great chunks of its limbs seem to have been gnawed away by some enormous unknown creature. Tiny, eerie red organisms coil around the edges of its wounds.)（摆在众人面前的是一只奄奄一息的鹿形伯介姆。它的肢体像是被一个巨大的未知生物啃食掉了大块，伤口的边缘处缠绕着微小的诡异红色生物。）

(Seemingly alive, the red organisms pulse faintly with each passing moment, steadily gnawing away at what remains of the Boojum's limbs. The Boojum keeps letting out anguished wails as they consume, struggling desperately to escape, but it is pinned to the operating table, unable to move.)（那红色生物像是有生命般随着时间流逝不断轻微跳动，并且不断啃食着伯介姆残余的肢体。处于被未知生物吞噬状态中的伯介姆不断发出痛苦的哀鸣声，几番尝试逃离，却被控制在手术台上无法行动。）

SoppoWow, ewwwww—it's all gloopy goopy, like some slime monster that swallows living things whole.哇，好恶心——咕噜咕噜的像是会吞噬生物的黏液怪物。

(Soppo half crouches near the edge of the operating table, gazing at the Boojum with keen interest. Her eyes shine with an eagerness to put her hands on it.)（索普半蹲在手术台的边缘，饶有兴趣地凝视着面前的伯介姆，似乎有些跃跃欲试。）

SoppoHey! Leibnys, do you think this stuff can eat our frames?欸！莱布妮丝，你说这种东西能吃掉我们的素体吗？

RobellaSoppo, don't touch it. Don't let any get on you.索普，别乱碰，小心沾上这东西。

LeibnysHaven't tried. The test data so far shows that it has a clear preference for ELIDs and Boojums.没尝试过，目前的测试数据表明它对生骸以及伯介姆有着明显的偏好。

LeibnysWe still don't know whether it's man-made or a product of nature.还不清楚是人为产物，还是自然产物。

KalinaIf it's man-made... then it's very likely the same as Helena.如果是人为产物……极有可能和海伦娜一样。

LeibnysMm-hmm. And what we already know is that there's ONE other thing that definitely makes use of Boojum cells.嗯。从我们现有的情报中，还有一个明显使用了伯介姆细胞的存在。

KalinaThird-gen Dolls.三代人形。

(Leibnys goes "tsk" at the phrase "third-gen Doll", displeasure written all over her face.)（听到“三代人形”这个名词，莱布妮丝啧了一声，脸上的不悦之情溢于言表。）

LeibnysPersica was the first to define the third-gen Doll! Setting Lyco aside, some bastard out of nowhere not only stole Persica's research, they hijacked the very term of "third-gen Doll"!明明最先定义三代人形的就是帕斯卡，莱柯先不论，不知道哪里来的混蛋，不仅偷了帕斯卡的研究，还抢占了“三代人形”这个定义！

KalinaSorry, I didn't mean to...抱歉，我不是故意……

LeibnysYou don't need to apologize for something like that. The "third-gen Doll" concept that is being trumpeted around right now is nothing like what Persica originally envisioned.不需要为这种事道歉。现在鼓吹的“三代人形”的概念，完全不是帕斯卡最开始设想中的概念。

LeibnysListen well. All of you, whose neural cloud base layers were adjusted by Persica herself, are far closer to the "third-gen Doll" of Persica's conception.听好了，经由帕斯卡调整过心智底层的你们所有人，才更符合帕斯卡概念中的“三代人形”。

LeibnysYou're absolutely not allowed to lose to those so-called Conglomerate "third-gen Dolls." You get me?!绝对不可以输给财团研发的“三代人形”，知道么？！

SoppoHm? I didn't really catch any of that, but I'm definitely not going to lose!嗯？虽然刚才没听清你在说什么，但是我肯定不会输的！

LennaBut from what I hear, the Conglomerate's third-gen Dolls can "transform," you know~可据我所知财团那边的三代人形可是会“变身”哦~

SoppoWhat—! Robella, quick, transform like those tokusatsu heroes we watched! Prove that you're the strongest by beating all of those Conglomerate third-genners! How did that line go again—什么——！洛贝拉，快，你也像咱们一起看过的特摄英雄一样变身，把财团那群三代人形通通打趴下，证明你才是最强的！那句台词怎么说来着——

(Soppo, apparently quite unwilling to accept that third-gen Dolls can transform, mimics Robella's usual posturing to make a cool, pointing pose.)（索普似乎很不服气三代人形会变身这件事，模仿着平日洛贝拉的样子，单手抬起，之后帅气地一指。）

SoppoNow, count up your sins!来，细数你的罪恶吧！

LevaOh my~ what a truly magnificent "threat."哎呀呀~这可真是了不起的“威胁”呢。

Robella...……

(Leibnys ignores the rowdy Dolls and continues explaining the situation.)（无视吵吵闹闹的人形们，莱布妮丝讲解着目前遇到的情况。）

LeibnysAs it stands, we have no samples of frames integrated with Boojum cells. We need some that we can take apart.伯介姆细胞和素体的结合方式我们目前没有可以拆解的样本。

LeibnysA sample will allow me to join the research and work out the basic principles of their construction.只要有样本，我就可以参与研究，调查出它们基本构造原理。

LeibnysEven if third-gen Dolls use Boojum cells, their primary construction is still related to frame technology.三代人形就算用了伯介姆细胞，但她们的主要构造还是素体科技。

LeibnysEvery new scientific achievement is built upon the foundations of past research, after all.所有的科研成果都是在过往研究的基石上进一步发展。

(Leibnys looks at the new organisms on the Boojum, and her gaze darkens a shade.)（莱布妮丝看向眼前伯介姆身上发现的新生物，眼神暗了一暗。）

LeibnysThe new organism we've encountered has plant cell structures, remarkably similar to Boojum cells.这次遇到的新生物，有植物细胞的结构，和伯介姆细胞很相似。

LeibnysIf a creature like this was manufactured by human hands... Perhaps their command of Relic-power has already reached a level we ought to fear.如果这样的生物是被人为制造生产出来的话，很难想象他们对遗迹力量的使用是否已经到了一个令我们感到恐惧的程度。

(Leibnys' seemingly offhand remark makes waves in Kalina's mind.)（莱布妮丝看似不经意的感叹，在格琳娜心中掀起了轩然大波。）

(Views on the power of Relics differ greatly within the URNC.)（对于遗迹力量，罗联内部都有着全然不同的看法。）

(But even factions against large-scale exploitation of Relics have to admit that they are like an unexcavated treasure trove holding unimaginable resources.)（即便是反对大规模滥用遗迹的派系，也不得不承认遗迹力量如同一个尚未挖掘的宝藏，蕴藏着难以想象的资源。）

(The moment someone proves that the power of Relics is easily harnessed by human hands, the future will open like Pandora's box, unleashing a storm of blood.)（一旦遗迹的力量被证明能够被人类轻松驾驭，未来的图景将如同被打开的潘多拉魔盒，掀起腥风血雨。）

LeibnysDon't be scared.不用害怕。

KalinaI'm merely a little worried about what's to come.我只是对未来的情况有些担忧。

LeibnysIf we can use the materials we now have to locate this new organism's main body or nest, we will learn more of its nature.如果我们能够凭借目前的资料，找到这种新生物的本体或者巢穴，就能进一步知晓生物特性。

LeibnysMy duty is to seize the truth.探寻真相本就是我的职责。

LeibnysPersica will definitely produce more genius inventions if I manage to decipher this power!只要能拆解力量的结构，帕斯卡绝对会有更多天才的发明！

LeibnysBefore we set out, Persica told me in person, "I'm counting on you. Work is too heavy for me to go myself, but I can rest easy if I leave it in your hands."出发前，帕斯卡可是特地和我说——“拜托了，因为工作繁忙无法亲自前往，交给你的话我很放心。”

LeibnysI definitely can't let her down.我绝对不能辜负她的期待。

LeibnysThe dissection of this new power is a race we cannot afford to lose.对于新力量的剖析，是绝对不能落后的赛跑。

LeibnysThe winner must be Persica.冠军，属于帕斯卡。

Robella...Pretty sure Persica didn't come because she finds it a hassle.……我觉得帕斯卡不来只是单纯地怕麻烦。

RobellaShe isn't the information-obsessed scientist you imagine her to be. Safety matters more to her.她没有你想象得那么执念于情报，安全更重要。

SoppoHaha! The main body of this thing might be something like modeling clay. Maybe in the future, we can just chuck this stuff at them and let it eat the ELIDs and Boojums.哈哈，这种生物的本体，说不定就像是橡皮泥。以后遇到生骸都可以丢这个过去，让它吃掉生骸和伯介姆。

SoppoThis soft, gooey monster is nowhere as fast as a Boojum. Once it's done, we can just shoot it. BANG—the cleanup's done! Easy!这个软软的黏糊怪物，可没有伯介姆跑得快。到时候，“砰——”一下就可以被轻易解决了。

LeibnysThings aren't as simple as you think.没你想得那么简单。

LeibnysJudging by the unknown organism's activity level, the remnant on this Boojum is very likely a thousandth of its main body... no, it could even be a ten-thousandth.从未知生物活性来看，目前在伯介姆生物身上的未知生物残存极有可能是它本体的千分之一……不，万分之一也有可能。

LeibnysIf the main body is enormous enough, it will be a serious headache for us even if it's not an aggressive attacker.如果未知生物的本体过于庞大，就算攻击性不强，处理起来也会很麻烦。

LeibnysThe stuff we see here was likely severed from its main body and thus lost its core energy supply. That would be why it died so quickly on the way to the Green Zone.目前它的状态极有可能就是因为脱离了本体，失去最核心的能量供给，才在运往绿区的过程中快速死亡。

LeibnysIf it's information we're after, our destination is still the Red Zone.想要挖掘更多的情报，我们的目标还是——红区。

KalinaThe radiation there is too strong. It will put our lives at risk if we stay too long.那里的辐射太强，停留太久会危及我们的生命。

LeibnysHah? As if I would die that easily. Didn't the URNC say the CBRN-rated vehicles they're giving us are top of the line?哈？我才不会随随便便死掉呢，罗联不是说给我们用的防辐射载具都是顶级的吗？

LeibnysThey're just far too big, that's all.就是未免也太大了。

LeibnysI've seen those CBRN-rated vehicles. Those things are basically giant canisters built out of ceramic and metal. They have none of the manipulator arms I asked for, though. How is that supposed to handle the terrain, or take samples?我见过防辐射载具，那简直是一个用陶瓷和金属构建的巨型罐子，完全没有给到我要的操作臂，这怎么适应地形和取样啊？

RobellaWhat they've arranged for you is a special model. But the anti-radiation equipment takes up most of the space, so the vehicle can't carry many people.给你安排的是特殊款的车辆。不过防辐射的器材占据了绝大部分的位置，车上能装载的人不多。

LeibnysWell, I don't want a bunch of people getting in my way anyway.不需要碍事的人，他们会打扰我的工作。

(As the experiments advance steadily, the investigation into this brand-new organism's habitat grows ever more urgent.)（随着实验的稳步推进，对于这种全新生物栖息地的调查也迫在眉睫。）

(Despite the acknowledgement of danger, the URNC's scientists sign up for the field survey with enthusiasm. Leibnys even volunteers for the task of collecting samples of the unknown organism, signing a series of informed-risk agreements.)（即便知道前去探索的危险性，罗联的科学家们仍然积极报名了外出考察任务。莱布妮丝甚至主动申请了收集未知生物样本的任务，并签订了一系列风险知情协议。）

(Several scientists and Kalina ride toward the destination in specially built anti-radiation vehicles, while Leibnys, for the sake of her collection task, rides a smaller anti-radiation vehicle alone.)（几位科学家包括格琳娜乘坐特制的防辐射车辆向着目的地前进，而莱布妮丝则为了收集任务单人乘坐了一辆更为小巧的防辐射车辆。）

(The security team's vehicles surround the scientists' vehicles, escorting the group toward the region where the anomalous organism was first discovered.)（安保团队以包围阵型行驶在科学家们的车辆外侧，护送众人前去初次发现异常生物的区域。）

(Since the Yellow Zone investigation turned up no further traces of the unknown organism, the Dolls have gone ahead to investigate the Red Zone while the scientists rest in the anti-radiation vehicles.)（由于黄区的调查过程中没有进一步发现未知生物的更多痕迹，在科学家们暂居于防辐射车辆的期间，人形们已经率先进入了红区进行后续调查。）

(The comms devices provided by the URNC prove unreliable in the Red Zone's environment. They fail constantly, sending back only intermittent fragments of information in stutters.)（罗联提供的通讯装置在红区的环境中并不灵敏，时常会失效，只能阶段性地断断续续传回部分情报。）

(Following the leads, the first unit locates the nest of the Boojum the URNC captured.)（顺着线索，第一部队已经找到了被罗联捕获的伯介姆生物巢穴。）

KalinaLeibnys, don't go any deeper into this area.莱布妮丝，不要再更深入这片区域了。

LeibnysMy vehicle's adapting great. The road conditions won't affect it in the least.目前我这辆车的驾驶状况良好，完全不会被路况影响。

LeibnysIt's that lumbering thing you're all riding that can't get through the narrow stretches. Who knows when you'll catch up to me, if you take detours?倒是你们坐的车，那么笨重，狭窄的地方根本不能通过，绕路一圈什么时候才能追上我的速度。

LeibnysI have no intention of going back empty-handed.我还不想无功而返。

KalinaLeibnys. Be careful.莱布妮丝，注意安全。

LeibnysRelax. If I run into a problem I can't solve, I'll retreat toward the main group immediately.放心，如果遇到没办法解决的问题，我会第一时间往大部队方向撤离。

LeibnysRobella, Soppo, how are things on your end?洛贝拉、索普，你们那边的情况如何？

RobellaFollowing your recommendation, we've destroyed one Boojum. I'm placing it in an open area now to lure the unknown organism.按照你的想法，已经成功摧毁了一只伯介姆。我正把它放在空旷的地方尝试吸引未知生物。

RobellaNo trace of our target so far. Soppo has gone off to look for other Boojum nests.目前还没有看到我们要找的生物痕迹。索普去找别的伯介姆巢穴了。

SoppoEhe. I wonder if there are any cuter-looking Boojums out there!欸嘿，不知道有没有长得可爱一些的伯介姆！

LeibnysTry to gather the Boojums into one place. The unknown organism's predatory nature will definitely make it react to food.尽量让伯介姆汇集到一个地方，未知生物的捕食本性一定会让它对食物有所反应。

SoppoSo I just have to herd this bunch into one spot, right—只要把眼前这群东西，引到一起就可以了吧——

(The messages coming over the comm channel are unstable, stalling frequently.)（通讯频道中传来的讯息并不稳定，时常卡顿。）

(Just as Leibnys begins to think that things will take longer, she suddenly hears a stifled cry of surprise, and the rush of wind from someone breaking into a sprint.)（正当莱布妮丝认为这次调查还需要一段时间时，忽然听见了一声压抑着的惊呼，以及快速跑动所形成的风声。）

RobellaFound a trail.发现踪迹了。

(Footage from the scene comes through in stutters. In the feed from Robella, Leibnys sees a red substance clinging to the ground like slime mold. As though drawn by the Boojum's scent, it creeps toward its prey at an achingly slow pace.)（现场画面断断续续地传来，莱布妮丝看到了洛贝拉提供的画面，红色的物质如同黏菌般吸附在地面之上，像是被伯介姆的气味吸引，它以极为缓慢的速度向猎物蔓延。）

(The red slime in the frame stretches beyond sight. From a distance, it looks like a single thread, extending endlessly into the depths of the Red Zone.)（镜头中的红色黏菌一望无际，远远望去，如同一根丝线般向红区的更深处无尽蔓延。）

LeibnysI'm coming over right now! Follow the red slime and we're bound to find its nest.我这就过来！顺着红色的黏菌一定可以发现它的巢穴。

LeibnysIts main body is probably ill-suited to movement, and far from here. That's why it has to search for prey by spreading itself outward.它的本体应该不方便行动，并且离这里有些距离，所以只能靠蔓延的方式来寻找猎物。

LeibnysOnce the organism starts feeding on the Boojum, cut away part of its trunk and bring it to the vehicle. We'll send it back for study.等到生物捕食伯介姆后就砍掉它的部分躯干，带到车上，我们送回去研究。

(Leibnys speeds her anti-radiation vehicle, racing toward the coordinates provided by Soppo and Robella.)（莱布妮丝快速驾驶着防辐射车辆，向着索普以及洛贝拉提供的坐标赶去。）

(By the time she arrives, the blood-red organism has already crept up the Boojum's body like a tentacle.)（抵达坐标时，血色生物正如同触手般逐渐蔓延上伯介姆的躯体。）

(The Boojum Soppo attacked was at death's door to begin with. Deep in its recuperation, it has no idea that it has already been marked as prey.)（被索普攻击过的伯介姆本就奄奄一息，此刻正处于休养状态，全然没有察觉到它已经被视作了猎物。）

(Suddenly, a shrill wail cuts the air. The once-harmless threadlike material abruptly swells, rushing towards the creature like a tentacle, gripping the Boojum fast.)（忽然一声尖锐的悲鸣声传来，原本人畜无害的丝状物质忽然变大，如同触手般蔓延向上，牢牢抓住了伯介姆。）

(The still-panting Boojum struggles to rise, but the cells that were like mere mycelium threads moments ago have taken tentacle form, clamping onto the Boojum's body with a death grip.)（还在喘息的伯介姆挣扎着爬起，那些原本还如同菌丝一般的细胞，此刻已经化成了触手状，死死地抓住了伯介姆的身体。）

RobellaOpen fire!动手！

(Bullets pour from Soppo's and Robella's weapons, striking the red tentacles that instantly swell, only for the two of them to discover that "the thing" is now expanding at an uncanny speed after devouring a small portion of the Boojum's trunk.)（索普和洛贝拉手中的子弹倾泻而出，攻击一瞬间变大的红色触手，却发现那东西在吞噬伯介姆的小部分躯干后，正以诡异的速度急速扩张。）

(The substance that was red thread moments ago expands rapidly outward and propagates into solid form. Countless tentacle-shaped branches grow endlessly, pinning down the Boojum as it tries to flee. Only when Robella's and Soppo's bullets shatter the blood-red tentacles does the Boojum finally scramble out of their grasp in a sorry state.)（原本还如同红色丝线的物质，快速向外扩张并繁衍出实体，无数触手形状的枝干不断向上生长，死死压住正欲逃亡的伯介姆，直到洛贝拉和索普的子弹将血红色的触手击溃，伯介姆才终于狼狈地逃出了被触手控制的区域。）

(Seeing the panicked Boojum charging blindly toward her, Leibnys instinctively swerves to evade, but the red tentacles are faster. Once harmless looking, they multiply their volume in an instant, spreading without pause, becoming a scarlet wave of blood that crashes down on the Boojum from overhead, swallowing it whole.)（看到慌不择路向自己冲来的伯介姆，莱布妮丝下意识躲避，却不料红色触手的捕食速度更快。原本看似无害的红色触手，在一瞬间体积扩张了数倍，不断蔓延，化作猩红的血浪，向伯介姆当头落下，将其完全笼罩。）

(The tentacles lift the captured Boojum like a toy and hurls it.)（在捕捉到伯介姆后，触手将它如同玩具般举起、抛下。）

(The thrown Boojum flies straight toward Leibnys. Unable to dodge in time, it slams into her vehicle, flipping it over like a plastic toy.)（被丢弃的伯介姆狠狠撞向了莱布妮丝所驾驶的车辆，莱布妮丝闪躲不及，整辆车便如同玩具般彻底被掀翻在了地上。）

SoppoLeibnys!莱布妮丝！

Bloody Rebirth 血色新生

(The unknown organism devours more than half of the bait-Boojum in no time. Robella fires on the spreading creature, but soon realizes that shooting this organism is like emptying the ocean with a bucket.)（被视作诱饵的伯介姆在不知不觉中已经被未知生物吞噬了大半，洛贝拉用子弹攻击眼前蔓延的生物，却发现单纯的攻击对这种生物而言简直杯水车薪。）

(The rumbling vehicle, smeared with cells shed by the fleeing Boojum, is viewed as crustaceous prey by the blood-red tentacles. They drag it into the writhing mass of red flesh alongside the Boojum still making its final struggles.)（轰鸣的车辆沾染上了伯介姆逃离时的细胞，被血红色的触手视作了有壳的猎物，与尚在做最后挣扎的伯介姆一起被卷入了蠕动的红色肉团之中。）

RobellaStay back—that thing grips too tightly.别过来——这生物缠得太紧了。

(Robella, the first to attempt a rescue, is seized by the blood tentacles and dragged rapidly toward the creature's core along with the rest of its prey.)（最先前去营救的洛贝拉被血触手控制住，连同所有的猎物一起，快速向它的核心卷去。）

(Robella's eyes stay locked on Leibnys' captured vehicle not far away. She orders Soppo to keep clear of the still-writhing tentacles so that she won't be dragged in as well.)（洛贝拉的视线死死盯着不远处被控住的莱布妮丝所在车辆，让索普远离仍然在蠕动的血触手，避免也被卷入其中。）

SoppoYou bastard! Let them go, right now!你这家伙，快点把大家放开！

(Soppo charges, tracking Robella's and Leibnys' whereabouts. But every time she nears the blood tentacles, the creatures climb onto her frame, coiling around her so thickly they threaten to swallow her whole.)（索普冲在最前面，追踪洛贝拉以及莱布妮丝的下落。但每当靠近血触手，那些生物便不断向索普的素体上攀爬，以几乎想要包裹住素体的态势牢牢缠住索普。）

(Soppo keeps attacking the blood tentacles in front of her, but her advance slows to a crawl due to a lack of firepower. Seeing the large tentacle pull away, she abandons all attempt to maintain her distance. She simply fires endlessly, trying to break through the encirclement.)（索普不断攻击眼前的血触手，却因为火力不足，向前推进的速度遭到阻滞，看着已经渐渐离开的巨大血触手，索普全然放弃了对距离的控制，只是一味地加大火力输出尝试突破包围。）

(Endless alarms shoot toward the main command post. Kalina soon receives word that the advance unit had been attacked by an organism while trying to retrieve an experimental sample.)（警报声不断地传向总指挥部，先头部队在获取试验品的过程中，遭遇生物袭击的情报很快传达到了格琳娜耳中。）

KalinaLeibnys, what is your status?!莱布妮丝，确认情况！

LeibnysI'm fine. Some of its fluids got onto my vehicle. It must have happened when the Boojum bolted earlier.我没事，应该是刚才伯介姆逃窜的时候，组织液有沾染到我的车上。

LeibnysThat organism has decided that my vehicle is food.这生物，把我的车当作粮食了。

LeibnysI'm perfectly sa—fe in here—though, the spinning is making me a little sick—我现在在车内很安——全——除了，有点转得晃——

LeibnysIt poses no threat to me in the short term.短时间内生物对我构不成威胁。

KalinaLeibnys, we'll come get you ASAP!莱布妮丝，我们会尽快救援你！

(Leibnys' transmissions come through in fragments, and the connection cuts out entirely before long.)（来自莱布妮丝的通信断断续续，很快就彻底断了联系。）

(Once word of Leibnys' report spreads, enthusiasm surges among the expedition team.)（知晓莱布妮丝传来的情报后，整个科考队的热情骤然提高。）

(While Kalina weighs rescue options, more than a few scientists are already proposing a rescue team, some even volunteering to take over Leibnys' remaining tasks in person, all for the sake of gathering more info on the new species. Thankfully, none of these requests are approved.)（在格琳娜思考救援对策之时，不少科学家已经提出想要派出救援队，甚至愿意主动前往接替莱布妮丝完成剩下的工作，只为获取新物种的更多情报。所幸，这样的请求并未得到同意。）

(The clashes with the unknown organism have already produced considerable casualties. The mission director at the Yellow Zone lab command orders the remaining personnel to escort the researchers still in the field to safety first, and after that, gather heavy firepower for the rescue effort.)（与未知生物交手的过程中已经有不少伤亡产生，位于黄区实验室指挥部的任务负责人要求剩余人员先行将仍然在外的科研人员护送到安全地点后，再进一步安排更多火力进行救援工作。）

(Due to safety concerns, evacuation orders go out even to the researchers who have stayed behind at the laboratory. Kalina refuses to withdraw with the main group and remains in the Red Zone with Leva and Lenna to search for Leibnys and Robella.)（出于安全考虑，原本留在实验室中的科研人员，也被安排了撤退指令。格琳娜拒绝了同大部队一起撤离，而是与莱娅莱娜一起留在红区搜索莱布妮丝以及洛贝拉的下落。）

(Better to keep the initiative in her own hands and confirm Leibnys' safety as soon as possible than to wait for the URNC's unreliable response. Kalina believes that this is the best way forward right now.)（与其等待罗联不知何时抵达的后续救援力量，不如将主动权掌握在自己的手中，尽快确认莱布妮丝的安危，这才是格琳娜目前认为最该做的事情。）

Kalina(Leibnys... You're going to be all right. You have to be...)（莱布妮丝……一定会没事的……）

(On the other side, the vehicle carrying Leibnys is gripped tight by the blood tentacles. It groans nonstop under the crushing pressure.)（另一边，莱布妮丝所坐的车辆被血触手牢牢捆住，车辆经受外力的压迫之后，发出阵阵声响。）

(Leibnys' heart climbs into her throat. Mercifully, the enemy's target is not the vehicle itself. Once the tentacles finish consuming the Boojum residue on its exterior, they give up the attack, then wrap around the vehicle before hauling it off into the distance.)（莱布妮丝的心不由悬起，所幸敌人的目标并非车辆本身，血触手在食用完车辆外侧的伯介姆残液后，就放弃了继续攻击，转而包裹着莱布妮丝所在的车辆向远处拖拽。）

(After confirming the URNC vehicle has suffered no serious damage in the attack, Leibnys keeps her seatbelt fastened and sits wide-eyed inside the cabin, taking in every detail she can observe.)（确认罗联的车辆没有在刚才的攻击中严重受损后，莱布妮丝绑着安全带，在车内睁大双眼，欣赏能观察到的一切细节。）

(She feels a glimmer of good fortune. This accident is letting her study everything about this unknown organism from a place of safety.)（她甚至生出了一丝侥幸。这个偶然的机会，能让她在安全的环境中调查关于未知生物的一切。）

Leibnys(How did its strength spike so suddenly?)（它的力量怎么会突然变强那么多？）

Leibnys(It could be from swallowing food, but with an expansion ratio like this, the entire Red Zone would be finished in no time if eating a bit of Boojum produced this much growth.)（虽然可能是因为吞下了食物，但这样的扩张比例，如果真的只是吃下一点伯介姆就得到的效果，那么用不了多久，整个红区都会完蛋的。）

Leibnys(Perhaps there's another reason.)（也许，还有别的原因。）

(Aboard the Elmo, Melanie, who has been sharing a drink with Mayling, suddenly goes rigid. A tremor from deep inside makes her hand slip, turning her gaze toward the far distance.)（艾莫号上，原本和美玲一起喝饮料的梅兰妮忽然动作变得僵硬，内心传来的悸动让她下意识地松手，视线转向远方。）

(The nameless pull coming from the Red Zone drags her back into everything she once tried to escape.)（由红区传来的莫名吸引令她再度回忆起曾经想要逃避的一切。）

(The cup falls from Melanie's hand and shatters on the floor. Mayling is about to comfort her and say she'll take care of the broken cup when she realizes that Melanie has already doubled over on the floor, gasping in pain.)（梅兰妮手里的水杯掉落于地，碎裂声传来。美玲刚想安慰，由她来处理打破的杯子，却看到梅兰妮已经痛苦地弓身蹲在地上，痛苦地喘息着。）

MaylingMelanie? Melanie?! Commander! Colphne! Something's wrong with Melanie—梅兰妮、梅兰妮？！指挥官、寇尔芙！梅兰妮好像身体不舒服——

(I rush to Melanie and gather her into my arms, while Colphne quickly checks her condition.)（我匆忙赶到梅兰妮的身旁，将她搂在怀中，寇尔芙则快速对梅兰妮的状态进行检查。）

CommanderMelanie, where does it hurt?梅兰妮，你哪里不舒服？

MelanieIt's... them... something—inside my head.是……她们……有什么东西——好像——到我脑袋里了。

(Melanie shuts her eyes in pain. I reach out and cup her hands where they're clamped over her ears and look toward Colphne.)（梅兰妮痛苦地闭上眼睛，我伸出双手握住她堵住耳朵的手，视线看向寇尔芙。）

ColphneHer temperature is up, and her heart rate has climbed quite a bit. But... I can't hear the voice that she's describing.体温升高了，心跳速度也加快了不少。但是……梅兰妮所说的声音我并没有听到。

MelanieIt's so loud... She keeps calling me.好吵……她一直在呼唤我。

CommanderI believe you, Melanie. Don't worry, we're all right here with you. You don't have to answer the voice in your head.我相信你说的话，梅兰妮。别担心，我们都在你的身边，你不必回应你脑子里的那个声音。

ColphneThis reaction... is quite similar to when we encountered the Niters before.这样的情况……和之前遭遇妮特时的反应很类似。

ColphneThe enemies likely are summoning her... and if it's this bad for Melanie, then Helena—极有可能是敌人在召唤她们……如果梅兰妮这么难受，那海伦娜——

(Colphne and I exchange a look. By the time I carry Melanie to Helena's room, we see that she has already hidden herself in her box again.)（寇尔芙和我对视一眼，当我抱着梅兰妮来到海伦娜房间时，那孩子已经再度躲进了箱子之中。）

MelanieI don't want to listen... but even in hiding, I can still hear it.不想听……但是躲起来，还是听得到。

CommanderGroza, move Melanie and Helena as fast as possible.闪电，尽快转移梅兰妮和海伦娜。

MelanieIt's no use. No matter how far away... it will keep calling us... until the promise is fulfilled.没用的，就算再远……不完成约定的话，还是在呼唤我们……

MelanieOur other companions will hear it too.还有别的同伴，也会听到的。

(Melanie looks up. Her face is fueled with resolve.)（梅兰妮仰起头，脸上却带着坚定。）

MelanieMelanie... can't run away. I must go. Only by going there will the voice stop.梅兰妮，不能逃避。必须过去，只有过去了，声音才能停下。

CommanderRest for now, Melanie. Just bear with it a little longer. We're just about to—梅兰妮，好好休息，再忍耐一下，我们马上就——

(I let out a sigh and look toward Mayling.)（我叹了一口气，看向了美玲。）

CommanderMayling, please make travel arrangements for everyone ASAP. And prepare my anti-radiation suit as well.美玲，麻烦你替大家尽快做好出行安排，把我的防辐射服也准备一下。

(I don't know what we'll find this time, but Melanie's reaction leaves us no choice. We have to go back into the Red Zone once more.)（虽然不知道这次会发现什么，但是梅兰妮的反应让我们别无选择，只能再度回到红区。）

(Paradeus' experiments are shaping this world with growing frequency, deepening Melanie's suffering, and likely pushing the world towards what I REALLY don't want to see.)（帕拉蒂斯的试验正越发频繁地影响着这个世界，增加着梅兰妮的痛苦，并极有可能将一切的发展推向我不愿看到的那一幕。）

(The reality that bothers me is this—I'm exhausting myself just running back and forth between suspicious places, while Paradeus' tentacles may have already extended into every corner of the contamination zones.)（让我有些焦虑的现实是——如今的我，光是在一个可疑的地区往返就已经是疲于奔命，而帕拉蒂斯的触须，却可能已经伸到了污染区的各个角落。）

(I will never be able to put an end to Paradeus' plans with just the Elmo and the Dolls aboard it.)（只靠艾莫号和上面的人形，我终究无法真正阻止帕拉蒂斯的计划。）

(That's why I must... find their core personnel this time round.)（所以，这一次，我必须……找到她们现在的核心人物。）

Roiling Undertow 暗流汹涌

(News from the expedition reaches Kryuger without delay—the researchers have met with an accident, though the losses remain within acceptable bounds.)（考察团的讯息第一时间就传达到了克鲁格的面前，科研人员蒙受意外，尚在可以承担的损失之内。）

(One researcher is unaccounted for and several security squads have been lost. Casualties on this scale are still something that the URNC can sustain.)（一位科研人员下落不明，数支安保小队阵亡，这样的伤亡尚在罗联可以承担的损失之内。）

(The new species' trail is now clearly established, and its habits are under further investigation. The officer in charge of frontline command has obviously opted for a conservative strategy, requesting additional combat support whilst insisting that the remaining personnel's safety comes first.)（新的物种已经明确了踪迹，相关习性也都在进一步调查之中。负责前线指挥任务的指挥官显然采用了相对保守的策略，在优先确保剩余人员安全的前提下，请求更多的火力支援。）

(The expedition's scientists, elated by the discovery of a new species, are not only refusing to go back to the White Zone, but proposing plans to push deeper into the Red Zone in search of the new organism.)（整个科考团的科学家们正因发现了新物种而雀跃不已，不但拒绝撤离回白区，还提出了深入红区探寻新生物的计划。）

(No scientist can refuse the chance to be the discoverer of a new species, and no one in power can resist the temptation of becoming the master of a new power.)（没有科学家能拒绝成为新物种的发现者，也没有当权者能够拒绝成为新力量掌控者的诱惑。）

(A power that devours Boojums that appears "controllable," is more than enough to spark a scramble among every faction. And all of them hope that this power will belong to them alone.)（能够吞噬伯介姆，且看似“可控”的力量，足以引起多方的争夺。但所有人都希望，这股力量能独属于他们。）

(Hidden beneath an ordinary rescue mission lies a conflict between rival factions for this new power, and a greed that disregards all cost, thirsting only for the ending where they seize control of the game as quickly as possible.)（隐藏在普通救援任务之下的，是各方势力对新力量的争夺，以及不计成本、只求最快掌控全局的贪欲。）

???I take it I called at just the right moment, old friend?我猜，我的通讯来得正是时候？老朋友。

KryugerYour information channels are efficient as ever, Krasso.你的信息渠道效率不错，克拉索。

(Kryuger regards the man on the call gravely. He is one of Mangi Security's founders.)（克鲁格严肃地看着通讯的对象，眼前的这个男人正是如今曼尼安保的创始人之一。）

(They were comrades-in-arms in an earlier era. Kryuger wouldn't say that he liked or admired him, but he would admit that the man has a talent for operations and intelligence.)（而在更早一些的时代，他们也曾是战友，尽管克鲁格从来都谈不上喜欢或者欣赏他，还是不得不承认对方在运营和情报方面的才能。）

KrassoThat's the advantage of having many old friends. Just three minutes ago, someone asked me whether I had a team capable of going straight into the Red Zone for deep exploration.老朋友多的好处，就是三分钟前，我刚被询问有没有能直接进入红区执行深度探索的队伍。

KryugerWho asked you?谁问你的。

KrassoNow that is something I can't tell you.这可就不能和你说了。

KrassoFor the sake of old camaraderie, I could be persuaded to sell you that information. The price, though...看在我们曾是同僚一场的份上，这些讯息未尝不能卖给你，不过……价格嘛……

KryugerYou've always had a sharp nose. So you've come to me for a cut?你的嗅觉向来灵敏。现在找我，是想分一杯羹？

KrassoMangi Security will serve anyone. An employer with real backing raises the clearances of our squads.曼尼安保为谁都可以服务，一个有背景的雇主将提高我们执行小队的权限。

KrassoIf the URNC wants a rescue or exploration mission run in the Red Zone, better to hand it to professionals than to some unfamiliar PMC of unknown depth.罗联想要执行红区救援或者探索任务，与其给陌生、不知深浅的P.M.C.，倒不如委派给专业人士。

KrassoThat's why I called you first. Consider this a personal recommendation of my services.这次主动与你通话，我就是来毛遂自荐的。

KryugerI've never read you as a generous individual.你可没那么好心。

KrassoMangi Security's response time is fast. That's the advantage of staying independent. Besides, we already keep CBRN vehicles capable of entering the Red Zone in stock.曼尼安保的响应时间足够快，这就是保持独立性的好处吧，何况我们本身就储备了能进入红区的防辐射车辆。

KrassoI imagine that's not something every PMC can claim.我想这些，应该不是所有P.M.C.都能拥有的。

Kryuger...……

KrassoThis is a race against time—I'm hardly the only one who's heard the news. Let me guess, the reason this job landed in your hands is most likely that you know certain details.这是一场和时间有关的赛跑。得到消息的绝不可能只有我，让我猜猜这工作能到你手里，大概率是因为你知道些什么细节吧。

KrassoThings are different now. No wall keeps out every draft. I'd wager the departments in charge of Relic investigation are already pushing their own plans forward?现在可不一样了。世上没有不透风的墙，我猜负责遗迹调查的相关部门已经在推动相关工作了？

KryugerThreats like that mean nothing to me.这样的威胁对我毫无意义。

KrassoThis is not a threat. I'm just laying out the pros and cons. Your troubles will multiply if some other department gets their hands on this.这不是威胁，我只是和你分析利弊，如果让别的部门把手伸进来——你会麻烦很多。

KrassoFortunately for you, the Red Zone is a place where even the URNC's own forces rarely touch. Most of the top brass avoid it like the plague.幸运的是，红区，就算是罗联自己的部队都鲜少触及那个地方，大部分高层对它避之不及。

KryugerMangi Security has always served the Conglomerate. You're remarkably eager today.曼尼安保向来是为财团服务，这一次，你倒是主动得很。

KrassoMoney makes the world go round. Work is work, no matter who it's for.有钱能使鬼推磨，为谁工作都是工作。

KrassoOnly sufficient pay can develop and sustain top-tier talent. For the sake of our old camaraderie... I say you need me, Kryuger.足够的费用，才能供养出顶尖的人才。看在当年同僚一场的份上……你需要我，克鲁格。

KrassoI have absolute confidence in my senses. Work with me, and we'll both profit.我对自己的嗅觉绝对自信，和你合作，我们双方都能获利。

KryugerHmph. Can you guarantee that every scrap of data Mangi Security obtains will be provided to me, and to me alone?哼，你能保证所有曼尼安保获得的一切数据，都必须仅对我提供吗？

KrassoNow that is... a rather strict requirement.这可真是……一个严格的要求。

KryugerI know you've always been a successful "businessman."我知道你向来是一个成功的“商人”。

KryugerAnd to think I believed your nonsense back then, that you truly meant to retire.亏我当时信了你的鬼话，还以为你是真打算退休了。

KryugerThe spoils from Griffin's disbandment still couldn't fill your belly, I see.格里芬解散时的利益，还没喂饱你吗？

KrassoThat was many years ago, you know? I'm the one who paid those discharged soldiers in hard coin, I'll remind you.那都多少年前的事情了，我可是给了那群退伍士兵真金白银的人。

KrassoIf I hadn't stepped in, I'd say that the cold-hearted Griffin would have left a good number of its veterans out on the street.要是没有我出手，只怕，那狠心的格里芬得让不少格里芬老兵心寒了。

KryugerYou have never once done anything without profit in it. What do you want this time?你向来都不会做毫无利益的事。这次想要什么？

KrassoA few... opportunities to dig up intel with our own hands. Rather than wait for others to feed me information of uncertain veracity, I prefer first-hand information that's unquestionably genuine.一些……我们亲自挖掘情报的机会。相比等待别人提供不知真假的情报，我更喜欢获得第一手绝对真实的讯息。

KrassoI'll charge only the fee for the rescue itself. That's the greatest concession I can make.只收救援任务的费用，这是我做出的最大让利。

KryugerEvery scientist and accompanying member on the list must be brought back untouched. I reserve the right to dispute the mission fee if even one is missing.名单上的科学家和随行人员必须原封不动地都带回来，少了一位，我都有权对任务的费用提出质疑。

KrassoYou really are as dislikeable as ever. Though at my age, even that quality of yours feels rather nostalgic...你还真是老样子那么可恨，不过年纪大了，就连你的这一点我也觉得挺怀念……

KrassoI'll get my prep done ASAP. There's no guarantee of the targets' safety if we go too late.我会尽快做好准备的，去晚了，人员安全就不在我们的控制范围之内了。

KryugerKeep your people in line. They better not leak anything that shouldn't be leaked.管好你的人，最好别透露不该透露的讯息。

KrassoRelax. It's a highly experienced team. Come to think of it, they even share a bit of history with Griffin.放心，那是一支很有经验的队伍，说起来，她们还和格里芬有点缘分。

(In Mangi Security's lab, Lentine takes a series of data reports that Kenny hands her. Before them, Igla clears simulated enemies in the test area at maximum speed.)（曼尼安保的实验室中，兰汀接过柯尼递上来的一系列数据报告，眼前，针正在实验区域以最快速度清理预想的敌人。）

(The third-gen Doll follows Lentine's directives, attempting ever more punishing performance targets. Thrusts, kills... every action strives for perfection. Even as the targets exceed every standard a third-gen Doll had previously achieved, Igla simply executes them in silence repeatedly, never once raising an objection.)（三代人形遵守着兰汀的指令，不断尝试更为严苛的目标要求。刺击、斩杀……所有行动都力求做到完美，即便提出的目标要求一次又一次超越三代人形过往能够实现的标准，针也只是默默执行，从未提出任何反驳意见。）

KennyI didn't expect the third-gen Doll's performance to be even better than our initial projections.没想到三代人形的各项数值比我们最开始预期的还要高。

KennyNo wonder everyone wants to lease one. Even the military is salivating over them.难怪大家都想要租用一个三代人形，就连军方也是趋之若鹜。

KennyCasualty rates on the frontline should drop a lot with her around.有她在，前线任务的伤亡率应该能降低不少。

KennyIf we could assign her to more of our...如果能让她参与更多……

LentineI don't like staking the mission on a soulless Doll.我不喜欢把任务的关键寄托在没有灵魂的人形身上。

LentineOver-reliance on Dolls means strapping your life and fortune to a war engine driven by unstable Collapse fluid.过度依赖人形，就是将身家性命绑在由不稳定的坍塌液所驱动的战车上。

KennyAdjutant, are you still worried that the Doll will betray us?副官，你还在担心人形会背叛我们吗？

LentineI trust only myself. A Doll's base layer is difficult to modify, but it is not impossible.我只相信我自己。人形的底层有修改难度，但绝对不是无法做到。

LentineWithout a sufficiently airtight base layer framework, betrayal is possible at any moment. All I can do is use the crudest methods to make sure the third-gen Doll stays under our control.没有足够严密的底层框架，任何时刻都有可能被背叛。我只能用最低级的方式，确保三代人形能被我们所掌控。

LentineHmph. Has Lisa not found a suitable candidate yet? If she still can't find one, I'll make her dissect the third-gen Doll's neural cloud herself.哼，丽萨那边还没找到合适的人选吗？再找不到，让她亲自负责拆解三代人形的心智情况。

KennySomeone capable of dissecting a third-gen Doll's base layer, who is also completely loyal to us...? A companion like that is genuinely hard to find. I'm planning to have her look outside Mangi Security for suitable candidates.拥有拆解三代人形底层能力，还必须完全效忠于我们的同伴，实在是有些难找。我正计划，让她从曼尼安保之外找找有没有适合的人选。

KennyWe will recruit the talent you want ASAP, Adjutant!一定会尽快招募到副官你想要的人才！

LonnieRecruiting talent? Hmph—Lentine, I see life has been treating you very well lately.招募人才？哼——兰汀，我看你最近过得很不错啊。

LonnieNot only did you gain a third-gen Doll, your formations have grown by quite a bit as well.不但多了一个三代人形，手下的编队也多了不少。

LentineAll of them together may still not reach your headcount, Lonnie. Here to borrow that third-gen Doll from me again?他们加起来也不一定有你的人多，朗尼。又想找我借取那个三代人形？

LonnieGood that you know. She's back from her mission this time, so you can hardly refuse me with "she's still on assignment" again, can you?你知道就好，这回她已经执行任务回来了，总不能再用“还在执行任务”当借口，拒绝我了吧。

LentineKenny, brief him on Igla's upcoming schedule.柯尼，和他介绍一下接下来针的任务。

KennyCertainly. This afternoon, Igla must test the upper limits of Mangi Security's new defensive Doll model. This is expected to run until 2300 hrs.好的。今天下午针的工作是测试曼尼安保新款防御人形的上限，预计使用到深夜11点。

KennyAfter that, tomorrow she has weapons defense capability testing...随后，第二天有测试武器防御能力的工作……

LonnieJust tell me when she doesn't have an assignment!你就直接告诉我什么时候她没有任务！

KennyIn roughly three hundred days, then. Adjutant Lentine has already slotted your lease request into Igla's schedule.大概在300天后，兰汀副官已经把你的租借请求排在了针的安排表上。

KennyProvided no higher-priority work gets added in the meantime... she can be lent to you in about a year.如果这当中没有其他优先级更高的工作临时追加的话……再过差不多一年的时间就能借给您了。

LonnieLentine! Since when did your workload surge up to this level?兰汀！什么时候你工作多到这种程度了？

LonnieDon't think you can refuse me like that! I need her NOW.别以为用这种方式就能拒绝我！我现在就需要。

(Lonnie's brow knots, his face full of displeasure.)（朗尼皱起眉，脸上满是不悦。）

(Lentine can guess perfectly well that Lonnie's so-called "borrowing" would most likely mean he'll never actually return the third-gen Doll. She refuses him with impeccably proper reasons every time, leaving Lonnie unable to find a single fault.)（兰汀完全能猜到朗尼所谓的“借”，大概率是不会归还三代人形的，她每次都是用冠冕堂皇的理由拒绝，愣是令朗尼挑不出错处。）

(Suddenly, a comms request comes through for Lentine. She gives her communicator a casual little wave in front of Lonnie.)（恰逢给兰汀的通讯请求传达，兰汀漫不经心地在朗尼面前晃了一下她的通讯器。）

LentineMy apologies, a new task has arrived. Mr. Krasso is calling me to his office.抱歉，新的工作已经来了。克拉索先生让我去他的办公室。

LentineKenny, look after our guest for me. If he wants to see the third-gen Doll, take him to see her in person. Mind that he doesn't get too close. An accidental injury... is not something we could afford to compensate.柯尼，替我照顾好客人。他如果想看三代人形，就带他亲自看看，注意别走太近，意外受伤……我们可赔不起。

KennyUnderstood.好的。

LonnieKrasso... a founder-tier elder like him? Why would he want to see you personally?克拉索……他这样的创始人级别的元老，怎么会要亲自见你？

LentineWho knows. Maybe... It's because I'm the one with a third-gen Doll?不知道，也许……因为我掌握了三代人形？

(Krasso reviews Lentine's file in a top-floor office of Mangi Security, alongside every past mission report from the squads under her command.)（曼尼安保高层办公室中，克拉索正看着眼前兰汀的资料，以及过往她旗下小队的所有任务完成报告。）

(The candidate best suited to Red Zone operations is pretty much settled after a round of screening. To make sure that the mission will be carried out smoothly, Krasso decides that he should meet the prospective leader in person.)（经过一番筛选，最适合执行红区相关工作的人选已经基本能够确定。为了确保任务能够被顺利执行，克拉索决定亲自见一见这位即将执行任务的负责人。）

LentineYou wished to see me, Mr. Krasso?克拉索大人，您找我？

KrassoNo need to be so tense, Lentine.别那么紧张，兰汀。

KrassoI've read a good number of your mission reports. Judging by the casualty and completion rates, the squads under your command are tiers above the industry standard.我看过你的不少任务报告，从人员伤亡率和任务完成率上来看，你管理的小队展露出了超出行业水准的素养。

KrassoNot long ago, when Mangi Security suffered that internal crisis, it was your squad who secured the scene first and kept the losses from spreading.前不久，在曼尼安保遭受内部危机的时候，是你的小队第一时间处理好现场的情况，阻止损失的进一步扩大。

LentineI was just carrying out my duty.那是我的职责所在。

LentineHave you summoned me here to entrust me with a new mission?您找我，是有什么新的任务想交给我吗？

KrassoHeh heh. I do enjoy talking to people with a sharp mind.呵呵，我喜欢和聪明人打交道。

KrassoI need a squad with experience in exploring Red Zones, one that can depart at the fastest possible speed to complete a mission for me.我需要一支有红区探索经验的小队，能够最快速度出发，为我完成任务。

KrassoWhen I searched the completion records for Yellow and Red Zone operations, only one team fell within my range of options.在搜索黄区以及红区任务完成情况时，只有一支队伍，出现在我的可选范围内。

LentineMy subordinates indeed have more experience with hazardous regions. Especially compared with those idle units devoted to guarding Conglomerate executives.我的部下确实对危险地域更有经验，特别是和那些专心保护财团高层的闲职部队做比较的话。

LentineThat said, the Red Zone is hell, even for the most seasoned soldiers.不过就算是对经验最为丰富的士兵来说，红区也是个地狱。

LentineMay I ask about the mission's details? Forgive my bluntness, but most who are fortunate enough to be born in the White and Green Zones... cannot grasp just how vicious these places are. The surest way to keep them safe is to prevent them from ever stepping foot in those places, unless absolutely necessary.我可否请教任务的细节呢？恕我直言，很多白区与绿区出生的贵人是无法理解辐射区的凶险的，确保他们安全的最佳方案就是避免非必要的进入。

KrassoRest easy. I'm not asking you to satisfy the whimsy of a rich man on a Red Zone safari.放心吧，不是有钱人的心血来潮。

KrassoIt's a rescue mission. It's a commission from... the Non-Military Forces Administration.这是一个救援任务。来自……非军事力量管理局的委托。

LentineA commission from NOMFA? Why would NOMFA set foot in the Red Zone?非军事力量管理局的委托？为什么非军事力量管理局会涉足红区？

KrassoSounds like a rarity, doesn't it? In truth, not quite.听着稀罕对吧？其实也不尽然。

KrassoNo one who sits on a throne in the White Zone is foolish enough to pass their leisure hours in the Red Zone.能坐在白区的高位上，并不会蠢到去红区消遣时间。

KrassoIf they're sending their main force in, then naturally, they are looking for the "power" discovered there.既然派出自己的主力前往，自然是为了在那里发现的“力量”。

KrassoWhat I'm about to tell you... is special intelligence known only to the military's highest ranks and a very small handful of others.接下来我要说的……是唯有军方高层以及极小部分人才知道的特殊情报。

(Krasso leans forward with an air of manufactured mystery and lowers his voice.)（克拉索故作神秘地向前倾身，压低了嗓门。）

KrassoAn organism has appeared in the Red Zone that may be connected to the power of "Relics."红区已经出现了可能和“遗迹”力量有关的生物。

KrassoYoung as you are, you did live through that Frankfurt "incident" back in the day.你年纪虽轻，但经历过当年那场法兰克福的“事故”。

KrassoHow much do you know about the truth of that affair?关于那件事的真相，你知道多少？

LentineVery little.寥寥无几。

(Nearly everything Lentine knows of the Battle of Frankfurt comes from "official reports." She always knew that certain kinds of information belonged only to those a rank higher, the ones deemed worthy of knowing.)（兰汀对于法兰克福战役的绝大部分了解都源自“官方报道”，她知道总有些情报是属于更高一级的高层才配知晓的内容。）

(Everything she had lived through has now become a stairway towards truth. The man before her is slowly opening a door to those deeper secrets.)（过往所经历的一切，如今成为她迈向真相的阶梯，眼前的男人正缓缓为她打开了一扇通向更深层秘密的大门。）

KrassoThe Relics... are miracles of a civilization harbored by another age. Mere dregs of them were enough to shake the whole of human history, creations beyond every known standard.遗迹……那是另一个世代所蕴藏的文明奇迹，仅仅是一点残渣就完全动摇了人类历史的超规格造物。

KrassoShould their power fully descend upon us, the operating logic of our present world would be overturned completely.它的力量一旦降临将会彻底改变目前世界的运行逻辑。

KrassoA Relic opened during the Frankfurt Incident, just briefly. That opening alone set off a whole chain of cascading effects.在法兰克福那一次事件中，遗迹曾经短暂地打开过一阵子。仅是那段时间的打开，就引发了一连串的连锁效应。

LentineWhen the Lviv incident happened... Mangi Security, internally, took part in the investigation of that radiation energy as well.利沃夫案件发生时……曼尼安保内部也参与了关于辐射能量的调查。

LentineNothing noteworthy was found back then. No, it might have simply been that I lacked the clearance to view higher-level intel.当时，并没有发现值得引起注意的情报，不，也可能只是我无法拥有查阅更高情报的资格。

KrassoThe energy traces at Lviv closely resembled the energy fluctuations at Frankfurt back then. That is exactly why they are digging so deeply now.利沃夫的能量痕迹，和法兰克福当初的能量波动极为相似，这也是他们如今深入调查的原因。

KrassoBut back to your mission—说回你的任务吧——

KrassoA new organism has been discovered in the Red Zone recently... We can't confirm if it is truly connected to the power of Relics yet.目前，红区发现了一种全新的生物……新生物是否和遗迹力量有关，一切还未能定论。

KrassoBut it has adapted to the Red Zone environment, and it can even devour Boojums. That trait alone is enough to draw everyone's attention.但它展露出了对于红区环境的适应性，甚至能够吞噬伯介姆生物。这一特性，便足以引发所有人的关注。

KrassoI began gathering anti-radiation equipment for the Red Zone right after the Lviv incident...早在利沃夫事件发生之后，我就已经开始筹备相应防辐射的器械。

Krasso...Precisely so that it would be of use when the need arose. Only a team brave enough, unafraid of death and possessed of sufficient curiosity... can guarantee that we get our hands on firsthand information.就是为了能在需要的时候，派上用处。一支足够勇敢的队伍，不惧怕死亡……并且有足够大的好奇心的队伍，才能确保我们能抢夺到第一手的情报。

Lentine...……

KrassoI can give you some time to think it over.我可以给你一些思考时间。

LentineThe mission must be urgent. There's nothing to hesitate about. I'm willing to take it.任务应该很紧急吧，没什么好犹豫的，我愿意接下这个任务。

KrassoHahaha. The young have such vigor.哈哈哈，年轻人就是有活力。

LentineHowever, we can't enter and leave the Red Zone safely with my team's current configuration.可是，以我现在队伍的配置情况，不足以安全进出红区。

KrassoAll of Mangi Security's resources are now open to you. Requisition anything you want. Don't disappoint me.曼尼安保的所有资源，都会对你开放，你可以调取一切你想要的资源。别让我失望。

LentineUnderstood.好。

KrassoThis is the roster of investigators provided by the URNC. The mission's objective, in name, is to ensure that they withdraw back to the Yellow Zone safely.这是罗联那边给的调查人员清单，名义上，这次任务的目标是优先确保他们能安全撤回黄区。

KrassoAs for whatever intel arises from your dealings with the scientists along the way, and everything gathered from exploring the Red Zone...至于过程中和科学家们沟通所产生的情报以及在红区探索得到的一切资料……

LentineI will sync all of it to you the moment I have it.我都会第一时间向您同步。

KrassoThis is a fine opportunity, Lentine. Build good relations with the URNC's people. It will serve your future very well, in every respect.这是一个好机会，兰汀。和罗联的诸位搞好关系，无论哪一方面，都会对你的未来极为有利。

LentineI won't disappoint you.不会让您失望的。

(Lentine strides out of Krasso's office, the thrill of learning unknown secrets spreading through her body.)（兰汀快步走出了克拉索的办公室，得知未知情报的快感正一点点从她的内心深处向外蔓延。）

(Finally, after so many years, she has turned from an unknown nobody into someone who has won the "favor" of the powerful.)（时隔多年，从一个名不见经传的小人物到如今终于获得了大人物的“青睐”。）

(Lentine has a premonition—this trip into the Red Zone will be her opening, the chance to step into a new state of play.)（兰汀有预感，这一次的红区之行，将是她能介入新局势的契机。）

(She flips rapidly through the intel on hand, informing her subordinates of all necessary preparations immediately. What awaits her is surely a "future" where opportunity and risk walk hand in hand.)（兰汀快速翻看着手中的情报，将所有的需求第一时间下达给下属，等待她的将是机会与风险并存的“未来”。）

LentineSuspend the remaining test assignments. Prepare to move out ASAP. We're heading to the Red Zone on a rescue mission.不用继续测试任务了，最快速度准备出发，前去红区执行救援任务。

LentineKenny, have our subordinates make ample, thorough preparations. All must be ready to move out upon my command.柯尼，让下面的人做好万全准备，随时响应出发的命令。

KennyDeparting for the Red Zone? Right now? That's awfully sudden... logistics may not be ready on such short notice.立刻启程去红区？这也太急了……后勤工作不一定能第一时间筹备好。

LentineI've already had Lisa mobilize every resource. All our requests will be greenlit.我已经让丽萨调用一切资源，所有需求都会被开绿灯的。

LentineWe're taking a transport plane. The Red Zone can't wait long for us.我们坐运输机去，红区那边等不了我们太久。

LentineOne more thing. Distribute the info on the "new organism." I want everyone to have at least a basic understanding of what we're dealing with.还有，关于“新生物”的情报，派发下去，让大家至少对未知生物有基本的认知。

LentineThis mission is dangerous, and the factions entangled in it will be more numerous than we can imagine.这次任务很危险，牵涉到的势力会比我们想象的更多。

KennyThe Red Zone... a new species. Could it be some monster those freaks cooked up through human experimentation?红区……新物种，会不会是那群家伙人体实验研发出的怪物？

LentineWell, you'll get your answer when you see it.是不是去看一次就知道了。

LisaAdjutant Lentine—the transport's departure time is set, but I might have caused a bit of a stir this time...兰汀副官——运输机的出发时间已经安排好了，但这一次的动静我可能弄得有点大……

LisaTo arrange your travel plans, I demanded that every other squad's missions and schedules make way for ours.为了给您安排出行规划，我要求其他小队的任务以及时间安排都为我们让道。

LentineFor a URNC mission, a big stir is a good thing.罗联的任务，动静大一些是好事。

LentineBorrow from the other squads if we're short on weapons. Don't stand on ceremony with them.军备不够就先借用别的队伍的，别和他们客气。

LisaDoes that include Lonnie's squad? Hehehe, I'll file the borrowing request right away then~朗尼的队伍也可以吗？嘻嘻嘻，那我可就直接申请借用了~

LentineThat reminds me. The intel analyst. Still not recruited?对了，情报分析人员，还没招到吗？

LisaEven I can't conjure talent like that out of thin air~ Your requirements are far too harsh. You turned down even the ones we grabbed from the military. I've screened so many candidates that I nearly blacked out.这样的人才就算是我，也没办法凭空给您变出来啊~您的要求太苛刻，军方挖角来的都不要，我都筛选到眼前一黑了。

LentineYou'd better move faster unless you want to do the dissection yourself. This analyst matters greatly for our future.不想亲自上手，就加快速度，这个人才对我们的将来很重要。

LisaOkay, okay! I guarantee that you'll be satisfied.是、是！保证让您满意。

LisaOh, right. Here is the report you asked me to compile on the unknown organism...对了，这是您刚刚要我搜集的未知生物报告……

LisaNothing relevant turns up anywhere in the URNC's public materials.目前罗联已经对外公开的资料里面并没有发现相关情报。

LisaHowever, I checked the publicly listed itineraries of a few scientists from the roster you gave me. There's one conference that quite a number of them will be attending.不过，您提供的名单里面，有几位科学家我查了他们对外公开的行程，有一个会议，不少人都会去。

LisaIt's a scientific symposium. The participants are mostly top-tier scientists and higher-ups.那是一个科学研讨会，参与者多为顶尖科学家以及上层人士。

LisaProfessor Persica is one of the speakers as well. Her topic is Doll technology. Beyond that... there are some other intriguing topics, such as... the utilization of organisms that live among radiation, and talks related to radiation-cleanup programs.帕斯卡莉亚教授也是发言人之一，她的专题是人形技术。其他……还有一些有趣的演讲专题，诸如……如何利用辐射生物，以及辐射清理计划相关的演讲。

LisaI thought you might be interested.我猜您可能会对此感兴趣。

LisaI can arrange your travel such that you stay at the same hotel as them, or enter the venue as an escort.我可以安排您的外出行程，和他们在同一个酒店休息，或者以执行护卫任务的名义进入会场。

LentineGet me a ticket. I'll attend directly.帮我准备一张门票，我要直接出席。

Lisa(Sigh) ...The identity requirements for tickets are a bit troublesome, and the invitation window for this one has already closed.哈啊……门票的身份要求有些麻烦，这一次的邀请日期已经截止了。

LisaBut rest assured, Adjutant Lentine. I'll get it done.不过，请您放心，兰汀副官，我会完成任务的。

LonnieLentine—what are your people doing? Requisitioning my weapons for personal use? How did that even get approved?兰汀——你的人怎么回事，私自调用我这边的武器，怎么还会被通过？

LonnieWhat strings did you pull?你动了什么手脚？

LentineThe same as your own past requests—borrowing a comrade's equipment temporarily in the face of an urgent mission.和你过往申请一样，在面对紧急任务时临时借用一下同伴的装备。

LentineMy next assignment carries a rather heavy workload. I've been specially granted full requisition authority.我的下一个任务的工作量有些繁重，已经被特批了所有调用权限。

LentineIf it bothers you, you're welcome to come along to the Red Zone and finish the mission with me. Interested?如果你介意，可以和我一起去红区完成任务。有兴趣吗？

LonnieThe Red Zone? Why the hell would you go there all of a sudden?红区？好端端地去那里干什么。

LentineRescuing a bunch of scientists labeled as "important".救援某些重要的科学家。

LentineWe might even make some useful friends along the way. Honestly, Lonnie, it would be a shame for you not to get a piece of something so interesting.说不定，还能交上有用的朋友。说真的，朗尼，这么有趣的事，你不来掺和一下可惜了。

LonnieSay that again once you make it back in one piece.等你能安全回来再说吧。

LonnieWhat a reckless madwoman. Why don't you try showing your subordinates a bit more care?!真是不要命的疯子，多多爱惜一下自己的部下吧！

Lentine...……

LentineI don't need you to tell me that.用不着你说。

(Thanks to priority resource mobilization, all the prep work is completed with remarkable speed. They can take off at any moment once the air corridor is cleared.)（得益于曼尼安保最高层的资源调动，所有筹备工作以极其迅捷的速度被完成，空中航道经过疏通后，随时可以起飞。 ）

(Only at times like this does Lentine feel, for the first time in a while, the resource advantage that comes bundled with membership at an "excellent company.")（只有在这时候，兰汀才久违地感受到身处一家“优秀公司”所带来的资源优势。）

Supreme Creation 至高造物

(In the Red Zone, the blood-red tentacled creature finishes its hunt and drags its body back toward the nest. Robella wrenches herself free of the blood tentacles and moves in the direction of the vehicle.)（红区，血色触状生物在完成捕猎行为后，拖动着身躯向巢穴方向移动。洛贝拉艰难地挣脱血触手的束缚，向着车辆的方向前行。 ）

(The nearer she is to the nest, the tighter the terrain and the spread of the tentacles. Robella has only just run out of the blood tentacles' reach when, a second later, the ones that have never truly left, lash out and surround her.)（越靠近巢穴，周围的区域便越发狭窄，四周蔓延出的触状生物面积也越发惊人，洛贝拉好不容易才挣脱了血触手的攻击范围，下一秒未曾彻底离开的血触手便猛然攻击将她包裹其中。）

(In the time it takes the blood tentacles to drag Leibnys' vehicle around a bend, Robella falls far behind. Their sudden violence feels like something directed by an unseen hand, like commands carried out with mechanical precision.)（血触手一个转弯的移动时间，洛贝拉已然落后莱布妮丝的车辆不少距离。骤然暴动的血触手，像是在无形之中受人掌控，机械地执行着指令。）

(Inside the CBRN vehicle, the successive creaking noises send Leibnys' heart into her throat as the vehicle is hauled bit by bit toward narrow places.)（防辐射车辆内，“吱嘎、吱嘎”的声响让莱布妮丝的心再度悬了起来，车辆被一点点拖向狭窄的区域。）

(Seemingly unable to digest its "food" straight away, the blood-red matter sheathes the vehicle and carries it toward the nest. Leibnys tries to make out the situation outside, only to find herself completely encased in red.)（似乎因为无法立刻消化眼前的“食物”，血红色的物质包裹住莱布妮丝所处的车辆，向栖息地移动。莱布妮丝试图观察外部的情况，却发现周围已经几乎完全被红色的生物包裹。）

(Concentration readings inside the vehicle confirm it—where Leibnys is sitting now is already the Red Zone. She tries to call Soppo and Robella, but the messages she sends drop away like stones into the sea.)（防辐射车辆内的浓度检测报告，证明莱布妮丝所处的位置已经是红区。莱布妮丝尝试和索普以及洛贝拉联系，但发出去的讯息如同石沉大海。）

(Mercifully, her safety is not under immediate threat within the vehicle. But given the damage it has taken, getting free of the unknown creature and withdrawing to the Yellow Zone is now a real problem.)（所幸，身处车内，她的安全暂时不用担心，可从车辆受损的情况来看，如何离开未知生物的控制，并撤离回黄区，成了一个问题。）

(Leibnys is not particularly frightened. Her attention is on the investigation and dissection of the new creature. Then, abruptly, the tentacles wrapping the CBRN vehicle leave. The vehicle is set down on the ground.)（莱布妮丝并没有多恐惧，而是将注意力都放在了新生物的拆解、调查之上。忽然，原本包裹着防辐射车辆的触手生物退开，紧接着防辐射车辆被放回了地面。）

(Knock, knock, knock. In these uncanny surroundings, a visitor has arrived, somehow. Leibnys was still thinking whether to open up or not when she sees the control system open the door by itself.)（“咚、咚、咚”，在诡异的环境之中，忽然出现了访客。正当莱布妮丝还在犹豫是否要打开车辆时，却看见控制系统自己打开了车门。）

???Good day to you, madam~贵安，女士~

LeibnysYou're... Dolls?你们是……人形？

(Two unfamiliar Dolls appear before Leibnys. The pink-haired one wears a well-bred smile. The blue-haired one stands behind, her face cold and hard.)（莱布妮丝的眼前出现了两名陌生人形，粉色头发的人形带着得体的微笑，而蓝发人形则表情冷硬地站在她的后方。）

???Yes. We were conducting exploration work in the Red Zone and happened upon traces of a living human.是，我们正在执行红区探索的工作，意外发现有人类生存的痕迹。

???Curiosity brought us to visit. Fortunately, it seems you have suffered no harm at the enemy's hands, ma'am.好奇之下，便亲自上门拜访。幸运的是，您似乎没有受到敌人的侵害。

(The visitor's deference is uncanny.)（对方态度恭谨得诡异。）

(For someone to show up so casually in a place like the Red Zone...? Caution and suspicion well up to its peak in Leibnys.)（在红区这种地方贸然出现，戒备和怀疑的情绪在莱布妮丝心中占据了高峰。）

LeibnysMm. Have you seen any other Dolls nearby? I... have companions. They should be somewhere close.嗯，你们有看到附近有别的人形吗？我……还有同伴，应该在这附近。

???...That I am not sure.……这就不确定了。

???I would not recommend a long stay in such a dangerous place, nor going out rashly to look for them. Your safety matters more than that of a Doll.我并不推荐您在如此危险的地方久待，或者贸然出去寻找她们的下落。和人形相比，您的安危，显然更为重要。

(Leibnys wants to leave, of course. But leaving in the company of unknown Dolls would be unwise.)（莱布妮丝当然想要离开这里，但和陌生的人形一起离开无疑是不明智的选择。）

(The Doll's watertight courtesy is precisely that of the old foxes she deals with at work; all apparent devotion is dedicated to Leibnys' interests, and all of it aimed at getting her guard down.)（面前人形滴水不漏的说法像极了在职场上经常打交道的那些老狐狸们，仿佛全心全意为莱布妮丝着想，试图让她放下防备。）

(As things stand, though, if it came to a clash, she would have no chance whatsoever. Leibnys clamps down on the impulsiveness 16Lab bred into her and brings out the most "professional" conversational technique she has.)（然而就现状来说，一旦发生冲突，她本来便毫无胜算。莱布妮丝压制住在16Lab养成的冲动情绪，尽可能拿出了“专业”的沟通技巧。）

LeibnysI'll have no way of leaving until I've contacted them.我得联系上她们才有办法离开。

???If you wish to explore the Red Zone in depth, why not come with us?如果您想深度探索红区，为何不和我们同行呢？

???Forgive my bluntness, but ordinary Dolls may not be able to operate normally in an environment like this. We are different.恕我直言，在这样的环境里，一般人形可能无法正常活动，不过我们不同。

???Our capabilities surely far exceed those of your companions, and we intend to press our investigation deeper into the Red Zone.我们的实力应该远胜于您的同伴，并且有打算向红区更深处调查。

???For us, a human scientist would be a great help in reaching more accurate conclusions.一位人类科学家对我们而言，能帮助我们做出更为准确的判断。

???What do you think of our proposal, ma'am?您觉得如何？

(Leibnys stares at Cocoon. The gown she wears is elegant, utterly out of place in the Red Zone. Her every movement is like a siren that lures sailors in.)（莱布妮丝看着茧，对方穿着与红区氛围截然不同的优雅礼服，一举一动都如同蛊惑船员的海妖。）

(An unknown creature that withdrew at a touch. A Doll standing serenely before her in the Red Zone. Friendliness without reason... it is a trap, plain and simple.)（轻易退下的未知生物，在红区神情淡然地出现在她眼前，莫名其妙的友善态度……怎么看都像是一个精心设计过的陷阱。）

(Her apparent submission thinly veils an unmistakable arrogance, leaving Leibnys no doubt that she is out of options.)（对方看似恭顺，但绝对是以一种傲慢的态度出现在了自己的眼前，让她知道此刻她们是自己的唯一选项。）

LeibnysYou and I are nothing to each other in a place like this... Why so eager to help?在这种环境下……我和你们非亲非故，为什么这么主动要帮我？

LeibnysWhat is it you actually want?你们究竟有什么目的？

(This theatre act is a total waste of mental stamina.)（这种表演简直是在消耗精力。）

(But Leibnys does not let her temper slip. All she can do is mentally fence with the Dolls in front of her, pushing her odds of survival as high as they could go.)（但莱布妮丝没有发火，只能尽量与眼前的人形周旋，做到最大程度地提升自己的生存率。）

CocoonHow careless of me not to introduce myself. I am Cocoon, and this is Blusphere. We're third-gen Dolls under Cecht FABN.忘了自报家门，我叫茧，这位是蓝雪球——隶属于赛诺菲与法本集团的三代人形。

(The Conglomerate's...)（财团的……）

(Distaste rises in Leibnys before she can help it. But the moment she thinks of a third-gen Doll's combat strength, she realizes that the odds of breaking away by force or by some sudden move have now dropped to nil.)（莱布妮丝下意识心生厌恶之情，可联想到三代人形的战力，依靠暴力或突然行为摆脱对方的几率，进一步降低到无限低。）

CocoonI had assumed you would know of Blusphere and me... It seems my estimate was wrong.我本以为，您会知晓我和蓝雪球的存在……是我预估错误。

CocoonA scientist of your standing must be occupied with research day in and day out, with little attention to spare for other beings.像您这样的科学家，平日里一定忙于科研工作，鲜少关注其他存在。

LeibnysI do know a few things about third-gen Dolls...三代人形的讯息……我还是知道一些的。

CocoonI have long been interested in Lady Persica. Where did I come from, why was I born, and what am I searching for?我一直都对帕斯卡莉亚女士非常感兴趣。我从何而来、为何而生，又在探寻着什么？

CocoonIt shames me to say that questions like these circle endlessly through my Level II layer.说来惭愧，这样的想法总是萦绕在我的二级平层之中。

CocoonAt first I believed all Dolls gave thought to such things. Regrettably, that is not so.最开始我认为这是所有人形都会思考的内容，但遗憾的是并非如此。

CocoonPerhaps this is a habit that intel-processing Dolls are simply born with?也许这是作为情报处理人形生来就有的习惯？

CocoonThe question has never stopped troubling me.这样的疑惑始终困扰着我。

CocoonIn the course of researching Lady Persica, I came across your name often as well. You two have done brilliant work.在调查帕斯卡莉亚女士时，您的名字我也经常看到，两位的研究非常出彩。

CocoonI have wanted to speak with you the moment I laid eyes on your existence. I hope that you will not hold my forwardness against me.在遇到您的第一时间，我便有了和您沟通的意愿，希望您不会怪罪我的冒昧。

Leibnys...Persica's achievements are more than enough for anyone to remember her name.……帕斯卡的成就足以让所有人记得她的名字。

LeibnysAhem... I wouldn't have thought the Conglomerate's tasteless scientists could turn out a Doll as interesting as you.咳……没想到财团没品的科学家，也能研发出像你这么有趣的人形。

(Persica's name gives Leibnys something to brace against, and a measure of courage with it.)（听到帕斯卡的名字后，莱布妮丝的心理获得了一些支撑和勇气。）

(What would Persica do if she were here? Leibnys has no way of knowing that. But if she died here, Persica would be badly troubled, wouldn't she? There is so much work left to finish. To let herself die of recklessness would only disappoint Persica.)（如果是帕斯卡在这里会怎么做？她也无从知晓，但如果自己死在这里，帕斯卡肯定会很困扰吧？还有那么多工作要完成，如果放任自己死于冲动鲁莽，只会让帕斯卡失望。）

(She moves closer to Cocoon, keeping a minimum safe distance, and studies the Doll's frame in fine detail. Even with the Doll's intentions beyond her reach, there might be something she can dig out from her equipment and the state of her frame—)（她走近茧，保持着最低限度的安全距离，仔仔细细打量着眼前人形的素体。即使无从得知对方的意图，或许能够从她的装备和素体状况上挖掘出有用的信息——）

(The heat of her gaze gives Cocoon cause to suspect that if given the consent of a nod, this scientist would rip her apart for a detailed inspection without hesitation.)（过于火热的目光，让茧怀疑，倘若她点头同意，眼前这位科学家会毫不犹豫地拆了她，进行一番更为细致的调查。）

LeibnysFocusing on raising combat power through external optimization is meaningless. The essence of Doll evolution ought to be neural cloud base layer upgrades.专注于提升战力的外在优化根本毫无意义，人形进化的本质，应该是心智底层的升级。

LeibnysIs it deduction and reasoning pursued to the limits of knowledge, or is the thinking that arises mere performance? Nothing but input, computation, and the ranking of what token-comes-next?是穷极所知的推导与思考，还是装作在思考，只是输入运算与排列优先级？

LeibnysOnly a Doll who has truly advanced can break past her limits and arrive at an answer that is hers alone.真正提升了的人形，才能突破限制，得出独属于自己的答案。

CocoonHaha. I would dearly like to hear you explain that in detail. If you have no objection, Blusphere will see to your arrangements.呵呵，我很想听您仔细说说呢，如果您不介意的话，蓝雪球会安排好您的行程的。

CocoonWe have a good deal of time. We can take it slowly.我们还有不少时间，可以慢慢相处。

(Cocoon comes to Leibnys' side with an easy familiarity, playing the excellent listener, keeping pace with Leibnys' flood of arguments.)（茧亲昵地走到莱布妮丝的身旁，如同一位优秀的听客，附和着莱布妮丝滔滔不绝的言论。）

CocoonAs expected of Lady Persica. Many of the patents in her name amount to acts of godly creation for us Dolls.不愧是帕斯卡莉亚大人，她旗下的许多专利，对我们人形来说，堪称造化之功。

CocoonOh, how I hope for the chance to lay eyes on Lady Persica herself someday~诶呀，真希望有机会能亲眼见一下帕斯卡莉亚大人本尊呢~

LeibnysI can understand the sentiment.你的心情我可以理解。

LeibnysBut Persica isn't someone just anyone gets to see.帕斯卡可不是随便谁都能见的。

(Without letting it show, Leibnys slowly puts a little distance between them again.)（莱布妮丝不动声色地慢慢拉开了一点她们之间的距离。）

(Contact with Cocoon makes her skin crawl, as though every inch of her body were being taken into account.)（和茧的接触，总让她觉得毛骨悚然，似乎自己的每一处皮肤都在被算计。）

CocoonMay we request a call with her... as a small return for our help? Surely that isn't asking too much?只是通讯沟通的话，应该可以吧……作为帮助您的小小报酬，这样的要求应该不过分？

LeibnysHmph, haggling now...? Still, for a Conglomerate Doll to speak with Persica... Persica "might" find that interesting.哼，讨价还价的……不过财团的人形和帕斯卡通话……帕斯卡“可能”会感兴趣吧。

(Cocoon glances at Blusphere, who is silent. Before long, the CBRN vehicle carrying Leibnys begins to move under Blusphere's control.)（茧的视线看了沉默中的蓝雪球一眼，莱布妮丝所乘坐的防辐射车辆很快就在蓝雪球的控制下开始行驶。）

CocoonDon't be concerned. We will take responsibility for your safety.别担心，我们会负责好您的安全。

CocoonWould you tell me more about Persica...? I am curious about everything to do with the "Creator"...能多讲讲关于帕斯卡的事情吗……我很好奇关于“造物主”的一切事情……

(Whether by design or not, Cocoon closes in on Leibnys again, taking the seat beside her, discussing all things "Persica" with an unsettling intimacy.)（不知道是有意还是无意，茧再次接近了莱布妮丝，坐到了她的身旁，暧昧地与她讨论着关于“帕斯卡”的一切。）

(The Doll has picked up on her fondness for Persica, lavishing praise on Persica at every opportunity.)（面前的人形察觉到了自己对帕斯卡的喜爱，拐弯抹角吹捧着帕斯卡的功绩。）

(To clash with this Doll now, or to make her uncooperativeness plain, would do her safety no good at all.)（如果贸然和眼前的人形产生冲突或者表现出不配合，对于自身安全无疑会不利。）

(Leibnys stops widening the gap. Swallowing her discomfort, she keeps up the performance of a scientist fascinated by third-gen Dolls and keeps talking.)（莱布妮丝不再拉开距离，忍着不适继续扮演对三代人形感兴趣的模样，与她交流。）

(The vehicle drives slowly away. Outside the vehicle, Soppo finds Darture standing in her path as she rushes to the rescue.)（她们所乘坐的车缓缓启动，而在车外，匆忙赶来救援的索普被出现在眼前的黑眼阻拦了去路。）

SoppoLeibnys! Robella!莱布妮丝！洛贝拉！

DartureSave your breath. Your companions are enjoying grand hospitality~别叫啦，你的同伴们都在被好好招待呢~

DartureUnless it proves necessary, we would never treat research personnel poorly~若无必要，我们绝不会苛待科研人员~

DartureWho knows? The scientist you're supposed to protect might be sitting in a vehicle right now with a cup of hot tea, enjoying her leisure, having forgotten that you exist at all.说不定你要保护的科学家现在正在车里，喝着热茶，享受悠闲的时光，完全忘了你的存在。

DartureYour companion, though, may not have it quite so easy.不过，你的同伴就不一定有这么悠闲了。

DartureThe way things look, it won't be long before she's a heap of scrap.看现在的情况，恐怕再过不久，就会变成一团废铁吧。

Darture(Sigh) ...How very disappointing~哈啊……真是太让我失望啦~

(Darture strolls up to Soppo without hurry, the parasol in her hand pointing at Robella off to one side, who is bound with blood tentacles. The tentacles have taken Robella for food to be swallowed and are currently trying to assimilate her, without success so far.)（黑眼漫不经心地踱步到索普的面前，手中的雨伞指向一旁被血触手缠绕着的洛贝拉。血触手将洛贝拉视作了可以吞噬的食物，正尝试将其同化，却迟迟没有成功。）

(Enormous pressure crushes Robella's frame from every direction. Fortunately, Persica upgraded her frame structure ahead of the Red Zone expedition. The pressure has yet to do it any serious harm.)（巨大的压力从外部施加，全面挤压着洛贝拉的素体，所幸进入红区探索之前，帕斯卡便提前升级过洛贝拉的素体结构。外部的施压暂未对洛贝拉的素体造成严重损伤。）

(Having worked out how simple the blood tentacles' attack logic is, Robella has stopped struggling, holding still in an attempt to ease their assault. Soppo lunges instinctively to save her, but Robella stops her with a shake of the head.)（察觉到血触手的攻击逻辑十分简单，洛贝拉停下了挣扎，正以不动的姿态，试图缓解血触手的进攻趋势。索普下意识冲去想救洛贝拉，却被洛贝拉摇头制止。）

RobellaDon't come over, Soppo. The density of these monsters is absurd. It'll take heavy firepower to destroy them.别过来，索普，这些怪物身体的致密性十分夸张，得靠重型火力才能摧毁。

RobellaOnce they have you, breaking free is nearly impossible. We can't let you be caught as well.一旦被它们抓到，很难挣脱束缚，不能连你也被捕获了。

RobellaThe creature that was wrapped around Leibnys' vehicle only scattered after the third-gen Dolls used some special control method on it.原本缠着莱布妮丝车辆的生物，是在被三代人形用了特殊方式控制之后才快速散开。

RobellaThey can control those organisms. Be careful!她们能控制这些生物，你要小心！

SoppoHey! You! If you don't want me to bite you into pieces, let go of Robella! Now!喂！你这家伙，不想被我咬碎的话，就快点放开洛贝拉。

DartureAll this time and you're as coarse as ever.这么久没见，你还是一如既往的粗鲁。

DartureTry listening to your cleverer companion.多听听聪明的同伴发言吧。

DartureOr is your neural cloud not yet developed enough to follow ordinary speech?还是说，你的心智尚且没有开化到能够理解正常的言语？

SoppoHah?! I'm plenty clever. You're the dumbass—哈？！我聪明着呢。你才是笨蛋——

SoppoLet's see how you talk once I crush you into scrap!我倒要看看，等我把你打成废铁，你要怎么说话！

SoppoCome on, then. Don't tell me you're scared? Let's play a round right now!来呀，你该不会害怕了吧？现在就和我比划比划！

DartureA rabid dog, truly. Your companion did warn you, come to my side and mind the blood tentacles don't swallow you up.真是条疯狗，你的同伴可是提醒你了哦，靠近我这边，小心被血触手吞噬。

DartureI wouldn't object to another bout with you. Or with the trussed up one over there.我倒是不介意再和你打一场，或者和被困住的这位打一场。

DartureStill...不过……

DartureThe two of you look... too ordinary. Nothing special about you in the least.你们看起来……很普通，完全没有特殊性。

DartureI really cannot understand why she is so curious about you.真不明白，她为什么会对你们那么好奇。

RobellaSomeone... is interested in us?有人……对我们感兴趣？

RobellaWhich of you "third-gen Dolls" is that? Or someone else?是你们“三代人形”中的谁，还是其他人？

SoppoHmph! Leibnys said so herself. They're Dolls built out of stolen technology, so how could they possibly measure up to Robella?哼！莱布妮丝说过，她们这种用了小偷技术造出来的人形，怎么可能比得上洛贝拉？

SoppoOhh! I see it now. You kidnapped Robella because you want to know what a real third-gen Doll looks like, don't you?哦哦哦！我明白了，绑架洛贝拉，是不是因为你们想知道真正的三代人形是什么样子的？

SoppoBWAHAHAHAHA, what pitiful trash~ Pitiful, pitiful~!嚯哈哈哈哈，真是可悲的废物~可怜可怜！

SoppoIf you're that pitiful, stop struggling. Come here and let me rip you apart~都这么可怜了，就不要挣扎了，过来，让我把你撕碎吧~

DartureTsk. Your creator must have fallen asleep while making you, and that is why you're without the slightest trace of elegance.啧，创造你的人，一定是工作时打了瞌睡，才造出你这种半点都沾不上“优雅”的劣质人形吧。

SoppoPersica does love to slack off, but her brilliance is nothing a parasoled woman like you could ever understand!帕斯卡确实爱偷懒，不过她的厉害才不是阳伞女你能理解的水平！

RobellaDon't be rash, Soppo. There's no direct conflict between us and her as things stand. There's still room to talk...别冲动，索普。目前我们和她之间并没有直接的矛盾冲突，还有商量的余地……

RobellaThere's no sense in burning through our combat strength in the Red Zone.在红区，没必要消耗我们过多的战力。

DartureTeehee, a pacifist, are you? Though you're an exact match for that mad dog in naivety.嘻嘻嘻，你还是个和平主义者呢，不过在天真这一点上，倒是和这条疯狗一模一样。

DartureDo you truly believe there is no direct conflict between us? Wouldn't that be a carefree world? What a pity—we are long past anything as friendly as "being unconnected."你就真的认为，我们之间没有任何直接的矛盾冲突吗？那样的话岂不是万事无忧了？很可惜——我们之间已经不是“没有关系”这么友善的状态了。

RobellaYou've come to harm us, then. Which is to say we are formally enemies now—might I ask what brought that about?来者不善呢，也就是说，我们之间已经是正式的敌对关系了——方便透露一下因为什么吗？

DartureYou were once a subordinate of that "Griffin Commander," weren't you?你是那个“格里芬指挥官”的，曾经的部下，对吧？

Robella...The Commander...?……指挥官……？

RobellaThat's right.没错。

DartureAre you close, the two of you?你们的关系好吗？

RobellaThat is none of your business.这不关你的事。

SoppoOf course they are! Robella likes him the most! Likes him so much she's collected a whole pile of his photos in her neural cloud!当然好啦！洛贝拉她呀，可是最喜欢指挥官的，喜欢到在心智空间里收集了一堆指挥官的相片呢！

Robella...SOPPOOOO!!?!?……索普普普！！？！？

RobellaH-How do you even know about that... No, that's classified. There's no reason we should tell her our private business!你、你怎么知道的……。不对，这是机密，没有必要告诉她我们的隐私！

SoppoOh come on, where's the harm in that! Or does Robella think her feelings for the Commander are something to be ashamed of? Everybody looks up to him. Everyone's doing it!哎呀，有什么关系嘛！难道洛贝拉觉得自己对指挥官的心意见不得人吗？仰慕指挥官这种事大家都在做啊！

RobellaOf course not, it's just, well, that's...当然不是啦，只是，这个，那个……

SoppoBesides, look at the sour face on this one. It's clearly working!而且你看这个家伙的臭脸，完全是效果显著呢！

(Robella follows Soppo's gaze to Darture. For an instant the Doll seems to falter. She raises a hand, and before it covers her face Robella is certain of what she sees—an expression seldom found on any Doll's face, hatred and obsession mingled together.)（洛贝拉顺着索普的视线盯着黑眼，对方似乎一瞬间有些心虚地抬起手，在她遮住自己的脸之前，洛贝拉确信自己的确见到了一个在人形的脸上鲜少能够看到的，混合了仇恨和执念的表情。）

Darture...Hmph. A vulgar joke.……哼，低俗的玩笑。

DartureThis "Commander" has become the URNC's number one most wanted, top priority. Which would also make the Dolls under him dangerous individuals, no?这个“指挥官”已经成为了罗联优先级最高的头号通缉犯，而其麾下的人形也应该被视为危险分子吧？

DartureThat's why you would have no grounds for complaint even if I dragged both of you off for questioning.所以，就算我把你们抓去审问，你们也不应该有任何的怨言。

DartureAlthough... Oh, here's a thought. If you declare your dissociation between you and him this instant and admit that he is a deranged menace who should be shot on sight... then I might be willing to let you go.不过呢——我想到了，这样吧，如果你们在这里和他划清界限，并且承认那个人类是个精神不正常的危险分子，应该被即刻击毙的话……我也不是不能放过你哟。

SoppoRambling on and on all by yourself... You really ARE courting death, you—自顾自说了这么多，还真是不要命呢，你——

RobellaSoppo! I have something to say to her first!索普！我还有话要对她说！

SoppoHuh?! Be quick. I can't hold back much longer.啊？！你快点，我要忍不住了。

DartureWhat would you like to say? That clumsy little Doll of "Persica"?——你想说什么呢？“帕斯卡”的蹩脚人形？

RobellaAs a matter of fact, the base layer framework of every Conglomerate third-gen Doll originates from Persica's research. And here I thought you might have some depth to you.从事实结论上来看，财团三代人形的底层框架都源自帕斯卡的研究，我本以为你会有些内涵呢。

RobellaThere are three things one must never do in front of a former Griffin Doll.在原格里芬人形面前，绝对不能做的事情有三件。

RobellaThe first is to insult the Commander.第一件，就是侮辱指挥官。

RobellaSoppo, never mind me. Kill her!索普，不要管我，解决她！

SoppoOkay!哦！

DartureHmph, you damned dog—!哼，这条疯狗——！

Supreme Creation 至高造物

(For reasons Robella cannot understand, Darture seems to be in a bad condition this time round.)（出于某种洛贝拉不了解的原因，黑眼这次的状态似乎很糟糕。）

(Perhaps her frame is under-maintained or she is just short on energy... No matter the reason, her power and speed have both fallen off dramatically—she is no longer any match for Soppo, whose frame has been reinforced as many times as Robella's and carries Persica's Remolding Pattern.)（像是素体保养不够周全，又似乎是能量不够，她的出力、速度都大幅度下降——已然不是素体和自己一样被多次强化，并且还搭载了帕斯卡拟态图谱的索普的对手。）

(Seeing herself at a disadvantage, Darture moves quickly toward where Robella is held, and Soppo, on the verge of pressing her attack, stops herself.)（眼见自身已经处于下风，黑眼快速向洛贝拉所处的位置靠去，正欲进击的索普行动一滞。）

(Robella, who has worked most of her frame free, is instantly wound up in blood tentacles again. The organism quickens its pulsing considerably—Robella's limbs are wrenched to their limits, and sparks begin spitting from the joints.)（原本大半个素体已经挣脱束缚的洛贝拉瞬间再度被血触手缠上，连带着可见的范围内，血触手的跳动节奏加快了不少——洛贝拉的肢体被极限扭转，关节处溅射出火花。）

DartureOne more step and I turn her into scrap.再往前一步，我就让她变成废铁。

RobellaSoppo, do it!索普，动手！

Soppo...Damn it.……可恶。

RobellaSoppo!索普！

DartureI have no taste for brawling with vulgar beasts... it only dirties my hem.我不喜欢和没品的野兽争斗……那只会弄脏我的裙摆。

DartureDo you want me to release your companion?想让我放开你的同伴吗？

DartureYou need only take her place. Simple~很简单，只要由你替代就好了~

(Darture throws something in Soppo's direction before the end of her sentence. The blood tentacles binding Robella abruptly slacken, and a second later, the ones around Soppo multiply all at once.)（还未说完，黑眼便往索普的方向丢了什么东西，原本捆着洛贝拉的血触手忽然松绑，下一秒，围绕在索普周围的血触手骤然增多。）

RobellaIt's a trap!这是圈套！

(Free of her bonds, Robella raises her gun and fires on the blood tentacles, but the creatures ignore the attack entirely and surge toward Soppo.)（脱离束缚的洛贝拉举枪射向血触手，可那些生物全然无视了攻击，而是向索普的方向冲去。）

(Soppo retreats fast. She watches as the tentacles quickly devour whatever Darture threw.)（索普快速后退，看到那些骤然出现在她眼前的血触手，以极快的速度吞噬掉了黑眼丢出来的东西。）

(The tentacles break off their attack for the moment after they swallow the object. Soppo tries to skirt around them to reach Robella, but they react faster than she can move. They spread outward all at once, and Soppo is surrounded in the blink of an eye.)（吞噬掉物体的血触手暂时停止了攻击，索普尝试绕开血触手前去营救洛贝拉，但血触手的反应比她更快，忽然之间，血触手的面积快速蔓延，眨眼之间便包围了索普。）

RobellaIts mass can multiply in an instant. Pull back, Soppo!它的体积能够瞬间增殖，撤退吧，索普！

(Robella raises her gun and runs toward Soppo. A sense of foreboding settles over her, and as the blood tentacles expand, she instinctively checks Darture's status.)（洛贝拉提着枪向索普所在的方向冲去。一股不祥的危机感骤然笼罩在她的心头，随着血触手的快速扩张，她下意识留意了一下黑眼的状态。）

(Her head is slightly bowed, as though warding off some painful influence. She staggers a few steps before slowly steadying herself.)（对方微低着头，像是在抵御什么痛苦的影响，踉跄几步，才渐渐缓和下来。）

(The agitated tentacles nearly double in volume, and spread at furious speed.)（躁动的血触手体积几乎扩大了一倍，正以极快的速度不断地蔓延。）

Darture...!……！

Darture(That one... is calling me.)（是那个家伙……在呼唤。）

DartureHmph... count yourselves fortunate. I have more important matters to deal with today.哼……算你们的运气不错。今天，我还有更重要的事情。

SoppoDon't run!别跑！

(Robella, who has yet to escape the tentacles' reach, is seized again. This time, the tentacles abandon their attack on Soppo altogether and carry Robella off deeper into the Red Zone.)（还未逃离血触手攻击范围的洛贝拉再度被敌人缠上，这一次，血触手快速舍弃了继续攻击索普的态势，而是卷着洛贝拉向红区更深处前行。）

(Soppo attacks Darture in a frenzy, but she disregards every strike. Even with bullets tearing at her hem, Darture moves quickly toward her destination, as though something not far off was drawing her in, calling her without pause.)（索普狂暴地向黑眼发动攻击，但对方全然无视了所有的攻击招数，即便子弹擦破了裙摆，黑眼仍然快速向前赶路。仿佛在不远处，有着什么吸引她的东西，正一刻不停地呼唤她的到来。）

SoppoDamn it, where is that parasol woman going—?可恶，这个阳伞女要去哪里——？

(Inside the Paradeus experimental outpost in the Red Zone, liquid-filled biopods give off a faint, cold green glow. The test subjects born from cloning technology sleep quietly within.)（红区的帕拉蒂斯实验据点之内，液态的生物舱正冰冷地泛着莹莹绿光，经由克隆技术而生的实验体安静地沉睡于其中。）

(Suddenly, an engine roars. The subjects that had been sleeping begin to tremble in agitation. An unsettling vibe covers the whole place. The subjects thrash in pain inside their culture tanks, making bubbles rise through the fluid. Their soundless wails are on frequencies no ordinary person could hear, combining into a pained chorus on a massive scale.)（忽然间，引擎的轰鸣声响起，原本安睡的实验体，躁动不安地开始颤动。不祥的气息逐渐笼罩整片区域，实验体在培养槽内痛苦地挣扎，气泡自培养槽中升起，无声的哀鸣传递着常人难以听到的声波，向周遭大规模扩散。）

(The Collapse radiation concentration inside the outpost climbs sharply. The Niters watch in rapt concentration, hungry for the transformation to come, but they wait a long while and the scene they envisioned never arrives.)（实验据点内的坍塌辐射的浓度骤然升高，妮特们神情专注，渴望着异变的发生，但她们等了许久，想象中的景象并未出现。）

(What drives the specimens into a frenzy has already been raised to its maximum. Within what appears to be normal space, several forces converge, nearly warping reality.)（催动试验品的强度已经提到了最高，看似正常的空间之内，多种力量交汇，几乎将空间扭曲。）

NiterStill not perfect... quality like this hardly amounts to a perfect "Key."还不够完美么……这样的品质算不上完美的“钥匙”。

NiterThe earlier test subjects are not far from here. They will be back soon enough.之前的实验品就在不远处，她们很快就会回来的。

NiterIncrease the level of emotional control on the test subjects. Let us wait a while longer.加大实验品的情感控制，再等等吧。

(An expressionless Niter rests her hand on the outer wall of a culture tank, watching the test subject as her expression contorts from pain.)（妮特的手触碰着培养槽的外壁，面无表情地看着实验品正因痛苦露出挣扎的情绪。）

???It hurts—help me—好痛苦——救救我——

???Come here, save me—来这里，救救我——

(The cry from the depths of the test subject's heart is flung into the void like an invisible net.)（来自实验品心底的呐喊，如同一张无形的网，自虚空中不断蔓延。）

(As far apart as they are, the links from the depths of the soul still carry feelings to its "companions" nearby.)（即便相隔很远，源自灵魂深处的链接仍然将它的情感传达给了附近的“同胞”。）

(Aboard the Elmo, Melanie hears her kin's plea for help. She cannot reach them physically now, but she does everything in her power to soothe those who call from far away.)（艾莫号上，梅兰妮听到了源自同胞的求助，即便梅兰妮无法立刻赶到同胞的身边，她仍然竭尽全力安抚着来自远方的求助者。）

(Her small body curls in on itself. The painful emotions cling to her the way a drowning traveler, having found a rescuer, claws with everything she has at whoever appears to be safe.)（她弱小的身躯团成了一团，痛苦的情绪如同一个溺水中的旅人在找到救赎者后，拼尽一切攀附上看似安全的救赎者。）

(The weight of it nearly crushes Melanie, yet she holds her spirit up, refusing to turn her companions away, soothing the one who called with her kindness.)（这些情绪几乎压垮了梅兰妮，可她仍然强撑起精神，没有拒绝同胞的求助，并用自己的善意安抚着求助者。）

MelanieWait a little longer... I hear your voice.再等一等……我听到你的声音了。

MelanieThe Commander... the one who can save us. He'll come to save you.会有、会有……可以拯救我们的指挥官，来帮你的。

MelaniePlease wait just a little longer.请再等一会儿。

Resonant Homophony 共鸣谐音

(With the Red Zone expedition decided, I recall the squads that can return fastest and begin preparing for the operation.)（红区探索决定后，我立刻召回了能最快返回的几支小队，为即将到来的探索任务做准备。）

(Fighting in the Red Zone carries far more uncertainty than an ordinary mission. To keep a line of retreat open in case something goes wrong, I don't take the Elmo deep into the Red Zone, and leave part of our forces aboard to keep Helena safe.)（前往红区作战的不确定性远超普通任务，为了确保出现突发状况的退路，我并没有安排艾莫号深入红区，而是留下部分队伍在车上确保海伦娜的安危。）

(The rest divide into several squads and push in together, searching as they go, ready to get into an encircling formation and support each other the moment they meet the enemy.)（剩下的队伍则分成多支小队，共同向内搜索推进，一旦遇到敌人，以包围的阵型相互支援、协同作战。）

(Our priority is to locate the Niters and wipe them out first, and finding Professor Leibnys and the others comes second.)（而在作战优先级上，以搜索妮特并歼灭为优先，寻找莱布妮丝教授她们的下落则是第二优先级。）

(The ops room door slides open and Sextans steps in, bringing the corridor's faint chill with her.)（指挥室的门滑开，六分仪走了进来，也带来了外面走廊微凉的空气。）

SextansMelanie is with Colphne for an examination. She should be fine.梅兰妮现在正在寇尔芙那边做检查，应该不会有事。

CommanderThank you, Sextans. As long as Melanie is alright... What's wrong?辛苦了，六分仪，梅兰妮没事就好……你怎么了？

(I look up from the map on my terminal just in time to catch a shadow cross Sextans' face. She lowers her hat brim quickly, trying to bury it in the shadow.)（我从终端数据的地图中抬起头，恰好捕捉到六分仪脸上闪过的一丝凝重。她几乎是立刻压低了帽檐，试图将那份异样藏进阴影中。）

Sextans...I'm... I'm fine, my Lord. There's no need to worry. Let us get to the Red Zone as soon as we can.我……我没事，阁下不必多虑，我们尽快前往红区吧。

CommanderAre you sure? If you feel that you still need to recuperate, we can set out a bit later. Or you could stay here and...你确定？如果你觉得状态需要调整，我们也可以稍微晚点出发，或者你先留……

SextansNo!不！

(Sextans' voice jumps in volume, cutting my suggestion off before I can finish. Her own urgency seems to startle her.)（六分仪的声音陡然拔高，近乎是抢白般地拒绝了我的提议。这份急切让她自己也愣了一下。）

Sextans...There's no need. I must go!……不用，我必须去！

(Then, seemingly giving up on hiding it, she explains in a lowered voice.)（随即，她像是放弃了掩饰，声音低沉地解释道。）

SextansI... felt the call again.我……再次感受到了呼唤。

CommanderThe call? The same as last time?呼唤？就像那次一样吗？

(Sextans nods solemnly. Her gaze passes over me to the window and out to the unfamiliar wilderness beyond. I understand immediately. The Red Zone is in that direction.)（六分仪沉重地点了点头。她的视线越过我，投向指挥室的舷窗之外，望向那片无人知晓真实面貌的荒野。我心中了然，那个方向，正是红区的所在。）

SextansIt isn't Ateraxis this time, but something else... rougher than her, and more vile... But whatever it is, I have to... go and settle the score with them.这次不是星渊，而是其他什么东西……比她更加粗野，可恶…… 但不论是什么，我都必须……去和她们做个了断。

SextansThanks to your help, Commander, I'm no longer subject to their influence or control. But... I still hear that voice, and it keeps reminding me of the monster I used to be.因为指挥官您的帮助，我已经不会再受她们的影响与操控，可……我依然会听到这股声音，它不断提醒我，过去的我是什么样子的怪物。

SextansThis time, I'll be with you... to destroy them.这次我一定会和您一起……击溃她们。

(I take in the resolve on Sextans' face, the worry buried beneath it, and give a firm nod.)（我凝视着六分仪坚决中带着隐忧的表情，重重地点了点头。）

CommanderOf course. The threat in the Red Zone has to be removed as soon as possible. I'll be leading the op myself.嗯，红区的威胁必须尽快铲除，我会亲自带队完成任务。

CommanderGo rest for now. We move out shortly.现在去休息一下吧，一会儿就要出发了。

SextansThank you, my Lord.谢谢您，阁下。

(The tension in Sextans' shoulders ease a little when I voice my agreement. She bows slightly and leaves the ops room in silence.)（得到了我的应允，六分仪紧绷的肩膀似乎稍稍放松了一些。她冲我微微鞠躬，安静地退出了作战室。）

(I watch her leave, then turn my attention back to the operations terminal.)（我目送她离开，随即将注意力重新拉回到作战终端上。）

(Nearly every force I can mobilize is gathered here. But when I think of that castle—the one that once belonged to the Nemesis family, the horror waiting inside it, and the look on Sextans' face, I realize that I can't afford to take any of this lightly.)（能调动的力量几乎集结于此。但一想到那座——曾经属于纳美西丝家族的城堡中遭遇的恐怖威胁，以及六分仪脸上的表情，我就无法掉以轻心。）

(We need a more thorough plan of operations, and I need to sync plan updates with every squad leader again. I look down, racing my fingers across the terminal, and call out a familiar name subconsciously.)（必须有更加详细的作战计划，要再和各小队负责人同步一下。我低着头，手指在终端上飞速滑动，几乎是下意识地，我开口呼唤了那个最熟悉不过的名字。）

CommanderGroza, get ready. Make sure all squads are in order before we engage.闪电，做好准备，确保各小队战斗前万无一失。

OTs-14& GrozaUnderstood, Commander.明白，指挥官。

(In the ops room, which had been noisy with preparations a moment ago, two identical replies ring out at once, one from either side of me.)（原本因战备而略显嘈杂的作战室里，却从我左右两侧同时响起了两声一模一样的应答。）

(Every other sound drains away in an instant, and the room falls into an extremely uncanny silence.)（只一瞬间，所有的背景音都消失了。作战室陷入了一种极其诡异的沉寂。）

Groza...……

OTs-14...……

Commander(Oh, shoot...)（啊，糟了……）

(In the suffocating quiet, two equally sharp gazes meet and clash in midair, throwing off invisible sparks that all but crackle.)（在令人窒息的沉寂中，两道同样锐利的视线在空中交汇、碰撞，仿佛迸发出了噼里啪啦的无形火花。）

GrozaI believe it goes without saying that we all know who the Commander really called just now.我想，指挥官刚才叫的是谁，这件事本身并不需要我和你证明什么。

OTs-14My name may be OTs-14 now, but it's hardly impossible that the Commander would call me Groza out of habit.虽然我现在的名字是OTs-14，但指挥官习惯性叫我闪电，并不是什么不可能的事情。

OTs-14& GrozaCommander, was it me you were calling just now?指挥官，刚才您是在叫我？

(Groza shows no displeasure. If anything, she breaks into a rather sunny smile. Under the circumstances, though, that smile only makes things—mildly—more blood-chilling.)（闪电没有露出不悦的表情，反而展露出一个有些开朗的笑容。然而，在这个情境下，那笑容却更令人——轻微的毛骨悚然。）

(Mayling, standing not far off, clearly feels the chill too. She edges closer quietly and whispers in my ear.)（站在我身边不远处的美玲显然也感受到了这股寒意，她悄悄往我这边挪了挪，压低声音在我耳边耳语。）

MaylingCommander, Leader's smile is terrifying...指挥官，队长的笑容好恐怖啊……

GrozaThis is clearly a large-scale joint operation, and I am extremely "familiar" with the combat styles of every squad and Doll as they stand today.这次很明显是一次大型联合作战任务，而我十分“熟悉”如今各个小队和每一位人形的作战风格。

(Groza leans deliberately on the word "familiar," intensifying her gaze a little, not caring to disguise what she means by it.)（闪电在说“熟悉”二字时，故意加重了声音，眼神也稍稍抬起，丝毫没有掩饰自己的本意。）

GrozaReckless personal heroism completes no missions. And besides, are third-gen Dolls really... stable?鲁莽的个人英雄主义是没法完成任务的，何况，三代人形真的……稳定吗？

GrozaI don't believe you can destroy Paradeus on your own.我不认为你一个人能摧毁帕拉蒂斯。

(A sharp crunch is heard.)（“咔嗒”一声脆响。）

(OTs-14 produces an equally "amiable" smile, but her hand, braced against the command table, quietly presses down and deforms the reinforced-alloy table corner.)（OTs-14也露出了一个同样“和善”的微笑，但她扶着指挥室作战桌的手，明显在暗中发力，坚硬的合金桌角在她手中逐渐变形。）

MaylingEeeeeeeek!咿——咿！

OTs-14We were all colleagues at Griffin. I doubt we've been through fewer battles together than you have.大家都是格里芬的同僚，我们一起经历过的战役恐怕不比你少。

OTs-14I am thoroughly familiar with everyone's habits and combat styles.对于大家的习惯、战斗风格，我都相当熟悉。

(Groza and OTs-14 are both still smiling, and not one aggressive word has passed between them, yet the deadlock in the air leaves nobody present willing to speak.)（明明闪电与OTs-14都保持着微笑，话语中也并未涉及带有攻击性的词汇，可僵持的气场仍然让在场的所有人都不敢开口接话。）

(Badly frightened by the increasing hostility, Mayling scrambles behind me and jabs at my back, suggesting that I should take care of this quickly.)（美玲被这越来越剑拔弩张的氛围吓得不轻，她慌忙躲在了我的身后，使劲戳了戳我的后背，示意我快点做些什么。）

(Every companion in the room turns their eyes on me.)（在场的所有同伴都把视线汇聚到了我的身上。）

CommanderAhem. Well. This operation is critical, so the two of you could go together...咳咳，那个，其实这次的作战任务很关键，你们俩也可以一起……

(I don't even get to finish. The temperature in the ops room seems to fall to a greater chill.)（我的话甚至没能说完，指挥室内的温度似乎一瞬间降至比刚才还低。）

GrozaCommander.指挥官。

(Groza's voice is cold.)（闪电冷冷地开口。）

GrozaYou know perfectly well that you are the most essential and easily wounded element of this operation. Please put your own safety first.您应该很清楚，您是这次作战最核心并且最容易受伤的角色，还请您优先将自己的安危放在第一位。

OTs-14She isn't wrong. And I am absolutely confident in my ability to keep the Commander safe.她说得没错，而我有绝对的自信，保护好指挥官的安全。

OTs-14Thus, the most rational decision is to have me go with you.所以，指挥官现在最合理的判断，是让我陪你一起去。

(Groza narrows her eyes and says nothing more. OTs-14, giving no ground, waits alongside her for my answer.)（闪电眯起了眼睛，没有继续接话，而OTs-14也毫不示弱地，和闪电一样等待我给出的表态。）

Commander...Ahem.……咳。

CommanderGiven the situation, I need a reliable adjutant with me. And someone I can trust completely to stay aboard the Elmo to protect Helena.基于目前的状况，我需要一个可靠的副官和我一起去。以及一位能够让我安心的代理在艾莫号上保护海伦娜。

CommanderSo—所以——

Groza...My apologies for putting you in a difficult position, Commander.……抱歉，让您产生困扰了，指挥官。

GrozaI'll stay aboard and see to Helena's safety.我会在车上确认海伦娜的安全。

OTs-14...……

OTs-14You think I can't do what you can?你认为我做不到和你一样的事？

GrozaI'm entrusting the Commander to you.我将指挥官托付给你了。

OTs-14I...我……

(Groza's sudden withdrawal leaves OTs-14, who had been ready to argue, visibly displeased.)（闪电的突然放弃，让原本打算争抢的OTs-14露出了不悦的神色。）

OTs-14I want to contribute to the Commander and set an example for my companions. That is what makes me OTs-14, and what makes me "Groza."我希望能够为指挥官做出贡献，为同伴们作出表率，这样的我才是OTs-14，才是“闪电”。

(The room falls silent again. This time, though, the gunpowder-filled tension quietly disperses, and a complicated, awkward calm takes its place.)（指挥室再度陷入沉默。但这一次，空气中剑拔弩张的火药味悄然散去，取而代之的是一种复杂而尴尬的平静。）

OTs-14I'll share the situation with you in real time. This is a collaboration.我会和你实时共享情报的，这是合作。

GrozaIndeed. A "collaboration" for the Commander's protection.嗯，这是为了保护指挥官共同的“合作”。

(OTs-14 falters, caught off guard, and glances at Groza with something close to incomprehension.)（OTs-14明显愣了一下，有些意外，甚至带着不解地看了闪电一眼。）

OTs-14Don't look as if you've already lost. If you want to go with him, I won't stop you.别露出像是输了一样的表情。你要是想同行，我不会拒绝。

GrozaDon't misunderstand. This is simply the most rational decision. Helena is still in poor condition.别误会，这是从合理角度考虑的。海伦娜现在状态还是不太好。

GrozaWhoever stays aboard the Elmo may need to call on the Doll Community or Mokosh for support. I'm the better fit.留守在艾莫号上的人选，必要时还得向人形社区或者莫科什的大家寻求支持，所以我更加合适。

GrozaAnd we both saw what was inside that old castle. If you stayed aboard and went berserk, I doubt anyone could stop you.我们也曾经看到过古堡里有什么。如果把你留在艾莫号上，要是发起狂来，恐怕没人能拦得住你。

GrozaAt the Commander's side, however, you'd know to hold yourself in check. At worst, you'd choose to self-destruct, wouldn't you?但在指挥官身边的话，你一定会懂得自制，最不济也会主动选择自爆吧？

GrozaSo the frontline is yours. And I... will be with you the whole way.所以，前线的任务就交给你了，我……时刻与你同在。

(Groza turns for the door. She places her hand on the handle when she suddenly looks back at OTs-14, who still seems ready for a fight. She pauses a moment.)（闪电转身走向门口，手刚搭上门把，她又回过头，看了一眼正欲反驳的OTs-14。她稍稍停顿了一下。）

GrozaKeep our Commander safe.保护好我们的指挥官。

Groza...OTs-14.……OTs-14。

(The door opens and closes. This time, Groza doesn't look back and walks straight out.)（指挥室的门打开又关闭，这次闪电没有再回头，径直走了出去。）

MaylingI-Is it over? Phew... I-I thought the Elmo was about to explode. Ugh, Commander, that was terrifying...结、结束了吗？呼……我、我还以为艾莫号要被炸了，唔，指挥官，刚才的氛围好可怕啊……

MaylingCouldn't everyone have just gone together...?大家其实一起去也是可以的吧……

(Mayling peeks out from behind me, patting her chest in a long sigh of relief.)（美玲悄悄从我身后探出头来，拍着胸口似乎长长地松了一口气。）

(I sigh quietly to myself and pat her head in reassurance.)（我在心里悄悄叹了口气，拍了拍美玲的头以示安慰。）

CommanderDon't worry. They're both Groza. Whatever friction exists, they'll settle it sooner or later.放心好了。她们都是闪电，就算有矛盾迟早也会解决的。

(OTs-14 folds her arms and turns to look out the Elmo's window.)（OTs-14抱起双臂，转头看向艾莫号的窗外。）

OTs-14I won't waste what she's given me. Witness me, Commander.我不会辜负她的心意，请见证吧，指挥官。

OTs-14I was willing to display that ugly side of myself in front of you because I want you to watch me carefully—to see what I am truly capable of.我不惜要在你面前露出方才那样的丑态，也希望你能好好看着——我真正的实力。

(Mayling looks uneasily at OTs-14, then up at me.)（美玲有些忧虑地看了眼OTs-14，又抬头看着我。）

MaylingWill it really work out?真的能解决吗？

Commander...There... there'll be a way.……总，总会有办法的。

(Under Mayling's "that's what you just said" stare, I force the subject elsewhere. Fortuitously, a call from Colphne arrives at the perfect time.)（我在美玲那“刚才您也是这么说”的不信任眼光中强行转移了话题。也恰好就在此时寇尔芙的联络发送了过来。）

CommanderColphne, how is Melanie?寇尔芙，梅兰妮状态如何？

ColphneThe pain has eased for now, and her readings are back to normal. Still, her condition isn't worth relaxing about at the moment.痛苦的情况暂时有所缓和，身体指标暂时恢复正常了。不过现在的情况，并不能立刻放心。

ColphneI'll keep a constant eye on her~人家会一直观察梅兰妮的状态的~

MelanieMelanie doesn't hurt anymore. It's because I... can't hear the voice anymore.梅兰妮，现在不痛苦了，是因为声音……听不见了。

MelanieWe have to hurry... before the "flower" wilts.必须快点去……在“花”枯竭之前。

MelanieOnly Melanie knows where the flower is. Melanie can take the Commander there.只有梅兰妮知道花花在哪里。可以带指挥官一起去。

(I don't want to bring Melanie along, but with things as they are, she will obviously get me onto the right track faster.)（我并不想带着梅兰妮去，但眼下的情况，显然有梅兰妮同行能让我更快找到线索。）

(Collapse radiation in the Red Zone wears on everyone's frames, so lingering isn't wise. This mission has to be fast, precise, and finished in the shortest time possible.)（红区的坍塌辐射会影响大家的素体，长久停留并不是一个明智的选择，这一次的任务，必须快速、精准，争取最短的时间完成。）

Melanie...Commander, I'll do as you order, so...……指挥官，我会听您指挥的，所以……

CommanderI trust you, Melanie.我相信你，梅兰妮。

CommanderBut let's make an agreement first. If it gets too dangerous, I'll have someone escort you back to the Elmo.不过，我们也要约定好，如果过于危险，届时我会安排人护送你回到艾莫号的。

MelanieOkay! Melanie won't cause any trouble for the Commander!嗯！梅兰妮不会给指挥官添麻烦的！

(I open my mouth, about to tell Groza to get ready, catch myself, and steal a glance toward where OTs-14 is standing.)（我下意识地开口想叫闪电做好准备，又猛然刹住，悄悄抬眼瞥了一下OTs-14所处的位置。）

CommanderGroza... ah, the Leader will stay behind to watch the Elmo. Keep an eye on any movement around you.闪电……呃，队长会留下来看守艾莫号，你们注意周围的动向。

ColphneEh? You're taking OTs-14 with you? I'd assumed the two of them would be acting together~ You seem to be having a rough time, Commander~欸？居然是让OTs-14和您一起去吗？人家还以为她们会共同行动呢~看起来指挥官你也很辛苦的样子嘛~

(Seeing my embarrassed expression, Colphne laughs lightheartedly and winks.)（看到我有些狼狈的表情，寇尔芙轻笑着眨眨眼。）

ColphneCome back quickly, Commander. We'll be super worried about you on the Elmo~指挥官要速去速回，艾莫号上的大家，可是会超级担心您的安危的~

CommanderStay in contact with me at all times. If anything unusual happens near the Elmo, safety comes first.你们随时和我保持联系。如果艾莫号周围有任何异常，以安全为第一要务。

ColphneNo problem~ Just leave it to me.没问题~就交给人家吧。

(The operation begins on schedule.)（作战在预定的时间准时开始。）

(Before the assignments are settled, Nemesis stands gazing into the distance. I notice the strange fluctuations and the heat venting from her frame. She is clearly running some kind of high-intensity computation, and this is likely the true nature of what she calls "divination.")（在分工确定之前，纳美西丝正看向远方，我注意到她的素体内部渗出的异样波动与高温，显然，她正以某种方式进行高强度的电算——而这或许就是她所说的“占卜”的本质。）

(I don't disturb her, which is what we agreed between us—it doesn't show on the surface, but her "divination" places an enormous load on her frame, and it is very hard to stop midway once it begins.)（我没有打扰纳美西丝，这也是我与她之间的约定——虽然表面上看不出来，但她所进行的“占卜”，对素体的负担极大，一旦开始就很难中途停止。）

(With Monsoon Squad assigned to guard the Elmo and stand by as a reserve detachment, I send the advance recon squad toward the target area along the dry riverbed, to relay intel for the assault teams following behind.)（安排季风小队负责驻守艾莫号附近，作为别动队待命后，我让先遣侦察小队沿干涸的河床向目标区域推进，为后续将会跟上的突击队传达情报。）

(Melanie and I are escorted by OTs-14 and Sextans. We head straight for the destination determined by Melanie.)（我和梅兰妮，则会在OTs-14和六分仪的护卫下，乘坐车辆径直前往梅兰妮所指的目标地点。）

(404 and Helen will be deployed at the sides of our vehicle, sweeping both flanks for anything suspicious and clearing away potential threats.)（而404小队与海伦，则从我们的车辆左右两侧出发，搜索两翼范围内所有可疑的对象，并且扫荡潜在威胁。）

(Once I've finished planning, Nemesis gives me a nod and signals us to go on ahead. She then climbs with some effort to higher ground, apparently to make preparations of her own.)（待我安排完毕后，纳美西丝对我点了点头，示意我们先行出发，自己则有些吃力地向高处走去，似乎是要进行某些准备。）

(We press on under Melanie's guidance. The view outside the window never changes, no different from our first venture into the Red Zone—barren, withered, a dead land without a trace of life in it.)（顺着梅兰妮的引导，我们不断前行着。车窗外的景象一成不变，与我们最初踏入红区时别无二致——荒芜、凋零，一片没有任何生气的死亡之地。）

MelanieWait, Commander.等等，指挥官。

(There's urgency in Melanie's voice.)（梅兰妮的声音有些急促。）

CommanderStop the vehicle.停车。

(OTs-14 brakes and the vehicle comes to a smooth halt. Melanie opens the door at once and jumps out.)（OTs-14踩下刹车，车辆平稳地停下。梅兰妮几乎立刻打开车门跳了下去。）

CommanderMelanie!梅兰妮！

(I worry for her safety on reflex, only to realize that the Red Zone doesn't seem to harm her.)（我下意识担忧梅兰妮的安危，却发现那孩子在红区的环境中并没有展露出受到负面伤害的迹象。）

(It's just like what happened before... Melanie seems livelier in places like this, if anything.)（和之前一样……梅兰妮在这样的环境中，似乎更精神了？）

CommanderDon't just get out like that. Return to the vehicle, Melanie.别随便下车，回车上，梅兰妮。

MelanieThere's a familiar feeling. Hmmm—有一种很熟悉的感觉。唔——

CommanderWhat is it, Melanie?怎么了，梅兰妮？

(Melanie stares tensely in a direction completely different from the one we intend to travel. One of her hands is tightly clenched into a fist.)（梅兰妮一只手紧紧攥成拳头，神情紧张地看向一个与我们前进路线完全不同的方向。）

MelanieI can feel it... very clearly.我感受到了……非常清晰的感觉。

MelanieCommander, everyone... everyone is over there.指挥官，大家……大家都在那边。

CommanderEveryone? You mean... the ones like you and Helena?大家？是指……和你和海伦娜一样的大家吗？

(Melanie nods hard, then turns back to fix her gaze at that unknown destination.)（梅兰妮用力点了点头，又转回头，执着地看向那未知的远处。）

MelanieI can feel them... my companions. They're over there, not far away.我能感受到……我的同伴，她们都在那边，不远处。

(She turns to me. Hope flashes across her eyes, tangled with a thread of conflict.)（梅兰妮转过头，双眼中闪过了期盼，又带着一丝纠结。）

(I understand what she wants, of course. I decided long ago that I'd help her save her companions.)（我当然明白她的想法，我也早已决定要帮助她解救她的同伴。）

(Without hesitating, I take out my comms device and patch into the all-squads channel.)（我没有犹豫，拿出通讯器，按下了全队通话按钮。）

CommanderAll squads, we're changing course. The new bearing is...各小队注意，接下来改变前行路线，暂时更改方向为……

(Relief spreads across Melanie's face as I give the order, and I reach over to rub her head.)（我看着梅兰妮在我下达命令的同时，脸上终于露出了安心的笑容，于是顺手揉了揉她的头。）

CommanderDon't worry, Melanie. We'll get your companions out.别担心，梅兰妮。我们会救出你的同伴的。

MelanieThey're so weak already. They want release. They want to destroy everything...她们已经很虚弱了。想要解脱、想要摧毁一切……

MelanieMelanie is a lucky child, because Melanie met the Commander.梅兰妮是幸运的孩子，因为遇到了指挥官。

(Back in the vehicle, Melanie nestles against my side like a fledgling hungry for warmth.)（梅兰妮回到车上后，像是渴求温暖的雏鸟一般，依偎在我的身旁。）

(We move in that direction quickly with Melanie guiding our way.)（在她的指引下，我们迅速向那个方向靠拢。）

(A little further on, Melanie's head snaps up toward one side of the high rock face above. Sextans and OTs-14 do the same as well, almost simultaneously.)（又在行驶片刻后，梅兰妮猛然抬头，盯向我们侧上方岩壁的高处。几乎是同一时间，六分仪与OTs-14也相继抬头，锁定了那个方向。）

SextansSlam the brakes—!快停车——

(OTs-14's combat instincts are faster still. She slams on the brakes in the same motion as she looks up.)（OTs-14的战斗本能甚至更快。她在抬头的同时，已经猛地踩下了刹车。）

(BOOM—!)（轰——！）

(An enormous boulder from above crashes not far ahead of us, sealing our path completely.)（巨大的岩石从天而降，伴随着巨响砸落在我们的不远处，彻底堵死了前进的道路。）

(The ground around us begins to shake and collapse—no, it isn't collapsing. As the sand flows downward, several "doors" appear in the earth, and within moments, enemies in near-identical dress file out of them and walk into view.)（四周的地面开始震动和塌陷——不，不是塌陷，随着沙土的下坠，地面上出现了数个正在缓缓打开的“门”，顷刻间，穿着相近服饰的敌人，从门内鱼贯而出，款款出现在我们的眼前。）

(They have us surrounded in no time.)（只一会儿的工夫，她们就将我们包围了。）

(Their eyes are fixed on the inside of the vehicle, and they reach their hands toward it. They don't attack, but Melanie grips my sleeve in terror the instant she sees them.)（她们的视线紧紧盯着车内，向车的方向伸出手。虽没有主动攻击，可梅兰妮在看到她们的瞬间便恐惧地攥着我的衣袖。）

MelanieCommander... it's them... Melanie remembers... you can't disobey their orders.指挥官……是她们……梅兰妮记得……不能违抗她们的命令。

(Her breathing quickens as some old memory surfaces. She shuts her eyes tight and takes repeated deep breaths. I take her hands to comfort her and find them ice cold, trembling faintly.)（梅兰妮的呼吸急促了起来，似乎回想起一些过往的记忆，她紧闭双眼，不断深呼吸。我握住她的双手，想给她一些安慰，却发现她的手冰凉无比，甚至微微发颤。）

Commander(If they frighten Melanie this badly...)（这些敌人竟然能让梅兰妮那么恐惧吗？）

Commander(...The painful memories they left her must run deep.)（应该是过往留下的痛苦回忆过于深刻。）

CommanderMelanie, I'm right here with you. You don't have to be scared.梅兰妮，我一直在你的身边，别怕。

(The other squads have the message and are on their way. For now, Sextans and OTs-14 should be able to hold them.)（其他队伍已经收到了消息，正往我们这边赶来，目前靠六分仪和OTs-14应该是能撑得住的。）

NiterHelena D-68. So you are alive after all.海伦娜D-68，你果然还活着。

NiterThey say you betrayed us long ago, but our Lord is willing to grant you a "special" opportunity.她们说你早已背叛，但吾主愿意给你一个“特殊”的机会。

NiterWhat is it that made you so different? These heretics?是什么让你变得格外不同？这些异端吗？

NiterKill them, and we will give you a chance to atone.杀掉她们，我们会给你一次赎罪机会。

NiterPraise our Lord. This is a special mercy extended unto you.赞美吾主吧，这是对你的特别宽恕。

(The Niters' ambush begins at once.)（妮特的埋伏马上对我们发动了攻击。）

(OTs-14 reacts fast. She kicks the door open and leaps out, shouting back at Melanie and me as she goes.)（但OTs-14的反应迅速。她一脚踹开车门跳了出去，同时大声提醒着我和梅兰妮。）

OTs-14Heads down!低头！

(Before she has even landed, a flying kick shatters most of the rubble hurtling toward the vehicle. She wrenches her posture in midair, throws out a hand to block a slab that would have hit Melanie and me, and hurls it back at the clifftop with astonishing force.)（OTs-14的身形未稳，已经一记飞踢踹碎了大部分袭向车体的碎石，之后又在空中强行转换了姿势，伸手格挡住一块本该砸向我和梅兰妮的岩块，反手以惊人的力量将其掷向了岩顶。）

(The broken rock tears the air with the shriek of an artillery shell, screaming toward the figure that had appeared above.)（碎岩发出了犹如炮弹般的尖锐破空声，呼啸着袭向岩石上出现的身影。）

(The Niter on the clifftop brings her staff across her chest to fend it off, but she has misjudged OTs-14's strength.)（岩顶上的妮特将手中的长杖横在胸前，似乎想要阻挡碎石的袭击。但她似乎错判了OTs-14的力量。）

(A dull, heavy impact. The Niter lowers her head, seemingly puzzled as she studies her chest.)（咚——一声沉闷的碰撞声。妮特似乎有些困惑地低下头，看向自己的胸口。）

(An enormous hole has been punched clean through the right half of her body. She lifts her head as though she wished to say something, but she simply topples backward.)（一个巨大的破洞贯穿了她的右半身。她抬了抬头，似乎想说些什么，终究只是无力地向后倒去。）

Commander(Do they have some way to track Melanie?)（敌人有办法追踪这孩子的下落？）

MelanieThey're... here for me. We can't escape... Commander.她们……是来找我的。逃不掉了……指挥官。

(There are tears in her voice now. Fear has all but swallowed her reason.)（梅兰妮的声音里面已经带着几丝哭腔，恐惧感已经几乎吞噬了她的理智。）

NiterThat's right, Helena D-68. We have come to collect you...是的，海伦娜D-68，我们是来接你……

(Bang.)（砰。）

(OTs-14 raises her weapon without hesitation. The shot pierces the Niter's head, and she drops where she stands.)（OTs-14毫不犹豫地抬手开枪，精准的射击击穿了妮特的头部，她当即倒下。）

(And yet the Niter who should have already fallen is standing below the rocks, untouched, having arrived at some moment none of us saw. Expressionless, she repeats herself.)（本该倒下的妮特，却不知何时出现在了岩石下方，毫发无伤。她面无表情地重复着。）

OTs-14That isn't the one from before. Their numbers are... many.不是刚才那个，她们……数量很多。

(OTs-14 speaks calmly, her muzzle already swinging elsewhere.)（OTs-14冷静地说着，枪口已经转向了别处。）

NiterPunishment descends. We bring salvation to the faithless.惩罚降临，我们将为背信之人，带去救赎。

(Another identical Niter rises from the rock face. Then a Nyto, wrapped in noir from head to foot, and a third, and a fourth. More and more Niters and Nytos take the high ground around us until we are completely encircled.)（又一个一模一样的妮特从岩石侧壁站了起来。紧接着，全身黑色的涅托也出现了，第三个、第四个……越来越多的妮特和涅托占据了我们周围的高处，将我们彻底包围。）

NiterCome with us, Helena D-68.海伦娜D-68，和我们走。

NiterCome with us, Helena D-68.海伦娜D-68，和我们走。

NiterCome with us, Helena D-68.海伦娜D-68，和我们走。

(More Niters step out of the shadows, their voices merging into an uncanny chorus, repeating the same line over and over like a recorder stuck on a loop. Melanie steps back, catches the hem of my coat, and protests in a small voice.)（更多的妮特从阴影中走出，她们的声音汇聚在一起，形成了诡异的合唱，犹如失控的复读机般不断重复着同一句话。梅兰妮有些不安地往后退了一步，抓住了我的衣角，小声地抗议着。）

MelanieI... I'm staying with the Commander. I won't... I won't go back with you!我……我要和指挥官在一起，不会……不会跟你们回去的！

CommanderI'll be paying your base a visit in person soon enough. Just not today.我很快会亲自拜访你们的根据地。不过，不是现在。

CommanderAnd I'll provide your master with some "cleaning services."我会为你们的主人提供一些“清理服务”。

(That blood-curdling chorus stops instantly.)（一瞬间，那令人毛骨悚然的合唱停下了。）

(Nothing is left in the barren canyon but the howl of the passing wind.)（荒芜的峡谷中只剩下呼啸而过的风声。）

(The first Niter to appear tilts her head, as though weighing the offer. Then, she straightens the staff in her hand and levels it at me from afar.)（最先出现的妮特歪了歪头，似乎在思考着这个提议，随后，她将手中的长杖伸直，遥遥指向了我。）

NiterThose who obstruct the gospel-spread must be eliminated!阻碍福音传播之人，必须铲除！

(Every Paradeus unit surrounding us attacks in the same instant.)（包围我们的所有帕拉蒂斯敌人们，在同一时刻发起了进攻。）

Silent Guardianship 沉默守护

(Paradeus attacks with a ferocity and madness beyond anything we've imagined. They carry no heavy ordnance, but that black-and-white tsunami keeps us pinned with sheer numbers and command of the terrain alone.)（帕拉蒂斯的攻势比想象中更加猛烈且疯狂。尽管她们并未携带重型杀伤性武器，但凭借着庞大的数量和对地形的掌控，那黑白色的浪潮依旧死死压制着我们。）

(The ground here is treacherous and the rock face is loose. To keep Melanie and me out of the blast radius, and to avoid one careless shot triggering a landslide that buries us all, OTs-14 has to give up her area weapons and fight with the strength of her frame alone.)（这里地势险恶，岩壁松动。为了保护梅兰妮和我不受波及，更为了避免一不留神引发地质灾害将我们所有人活埋，OTs-14不得不放弃了大范围杀伤性武器，依靠素体能力进行作战。）

(Sextans keeps close to Melanie and me, stalling the encirclement as it moves inward, while OTs-14 becomes a black blade, trying to carve an opening in a net that leaves no room to breathe.)（六分仪紧守在我和梅兰妮身侧，拖延敌人向内推进的包围攻势，而OTs-14则化作一道黑色的锋刃，试图在密不透风的包围网中凿开一个缺口。）

(She launches herself like a shell toward the way we came in, where three Niters stand blocking the road out.)（她犹如炮弹般冲向我们来时的出口，那里，三名妮特正死死堵住去路。）

(The friendly squads scattered around the area are converging on us fast. I keep Melanie close and tell her not to worry.)（原本四散在周围的其他小队正在快速向我们的方向汇集，我安抚着梅兰妮让她别太担心。）

OTs-14Out of my way.碍事。

(OTs-14 twists past the Niters' attacks and, riding her momentum, sweep-kicks the front Niter's legs viciously. Then she drops low at uncanny speed, sliding under the crossfire by a hair's breadth.)（OTs-14侧身躲过妮特们的攻击，借着冲势一记狠辣的鞭腿直接扫断最前方妮特的平衡。之后以诡异速度俯身，毫厘之差躲过了另外两侧的交叉火力。）

(One hand braced on the ground, she gathers strength in her core and sends two flying with a soaring kick, wrenches herself around in midair, plants both hands against the rock face, and ends the assault with one final flying kick off it.)（单手撑地，核心发力，又是一记高飞踢将二人重重踹飞。在半空中，她强行扭转方向，双手以岩壁作为支撑，借力最后的一记飞踹结束了这次突袭。）

NiterYou shall not pass.休想……通过。

(The Nytos that came with the Niters fall, but the gap closes almost at once. New Niters and Nytos fill in, expressionless.)（随妮特一起出现的涅托倒下，但那个缺口却迅速合拢，新的妮特和涅托毫无表情地填补了上来。）

OTs-14All these years, and Paradeus still grows back like weeds. No amount of cutting ever clears them.这么多年过去了，帕拉蒂斯的数量还是像野草一样，怎么都斩杀不尽。

(The body of a downed Nyto is used to shield herself from the return fire, OTs-14 fights with breath to spare, yet the blockade keeps refilling with Niters faster than she can break it.)（击倒一个涅托后以其身体为盾牌挡住对方的射击，OTs-14游刃有余，然而始终无法突破不断有妮特补位的封锁。）

(She springs back to my side in a few effortless back handsprings, and swaps magazines without hesitation. Her tone, though, has taken on some weight.)（她即刻以几个轻盈的后空翻跳回了我的身旁。她利落地更换着弹匣，没有丝毫的迟滞，语气却带上了几分凝重。）

OTs-14Commander, it'll become a war of attrition if this drags on. They have no intention of letting us break out easily.指挥官，这么打下去会进入消耗战，她们没打算让我们轻易突围。

OTs-14Leave this to me—Paradeus has brought plenty of bodies, but they can't actually pin me down. Give me ten minutes and I'll clear out all of them.这里交给我吧——帕拉蒂斯来的人很多，但其实并不能有效限制住我，给我十分钟就能把她们全都收拾干净。

CommanderRetreating with Melanie in tow won't go well.带着梅兰妮撤退，预计效果不是很好。

CommanderStay by my side, OTs-14.留在我身边，OTs-14。

OTs-14—Right!——嗯！

OTs-14Understood. I'll hold my position... right here beside you.我明白了，我会守在……您的身边的。

CommanderJust a little longer. The relief squads are close. Draw them to the coordinates I give you and we'll wipe them out in one clean sweep.稍微等等吧，驰援的队伍很快就到，把她们引到我给你的坐标，届时一网打尽。

OTs-14Acknowledged.是。

(The noisy assault suddenly stops.)（忽然间，四周嘈杂的进攻声瞬间停止了。）

(The sudden dead silence is more unnerving than the racket of battle. The Paradeus forces that were attacking in a frenzy have all put away their weapons. They fold their hands, fingers interlaced, forming some strange and intricate sign.)（突如其来的死寂比战斗声音更令人不安。那些原本疯狂进攻的帕拉蒂斯们全部收起了武器。她们双手交叠，十指扣合，结出了某种奇怪而繁杂的手势。）

(At the center, a Niter raises her staff high, and an eerie chant begins, tinged with a metallic edge.)（位于中心点的妮特高举长杖，紧接着，一阵带有金属质感的诡异吟唱声响了起来。）

NiterWe have walked though long passages as our crystals shone dimly in the dark.我们穿过长长的甬道，晶石在黑暗之中散发幽幽微光。

NiterBy the teachings of the Radiant One, our days together ancient and long.得益于光辉之人的教导，我们共存的时日将久远而漫长。

(The lead Niter lifts her staff overhead in both hands, and the Nytos around her open their mouths as one, their voices merging into a low-frequency resonance that drills through the eardrum.)（为首的妮特双手将长杖高高举起，周围的涅托们也同时开口，声浪汇聚成一种能够穿透耳膜的低频共振。）

Paradeus FollowersHe will invoke the blessings of the Exalted One—祂将唤起至高者的祝福——

Paradeus FollowersThe Radiant One bestows their gospel!光辉之人将福音赐予！

CommanderWhat are they doing... Wait, Melanie!?她们在做什么……等等，梅兰妮！？

(I tear my eyes off the Niters. My heart constricts at what I see.)（我猛地收回打探妮特们的视线，心脏骤然缩紧。）

(Melanie has risen to her feet at some point. Her eyes, so quick and alive, have gone hollow and unfocused. Like a marionette drawn on strings, she walks blindly out of cover, as though she meant to join the Niters' rite.)（梅兰妮不知何时居然站了起来，她原本灵动的双眼变得空洞无神，失去了所有焦点。她像是一个被丝线牵引的木偶，盲目地走出掩体，仿佛想要加入妮特们的仪式。）

CommanderWhat is this? Are the Niters... resonating with Melanie?怎么回事？妮特……在和梅兰妮共鸣？

(I bolt out and haul her back. To keep that uncanny sound from leading her out again, I cover her ears and hold her, turning my head to shout for Sextans.)（我慌忙冲出去一把将梅兰妮拽了回来。为了防止她再被那诡异的声音引导出去，我只能捂住她的耳朵死死抱住她，同时转头呼叫六分仪来帮忙。）

(But something is clearly wrong with Melanie. She seems to have triggered some ability without meaning to.)（但梅兰妮的状态明显不对，她似乎在无意间激发了某种能力。）

CommanderSextans! Break up their ritual.六分仪！破坏她们的仪式。

(The only answer I get is a groan of pain.)（然而，回应我的只有一声痛苦的呻吟。）

(Not far away, Sextans suddenly drops to her knees. Her hat slides off, and her weapon clatters to the ground beside her. She clamps both hands over her head, her face warped by incredible pain.)（不远处的六分仪忽然跪倒在地，帽子滑落，手中的武器也跌落在一旁。她双手死死抱住自己的头，表情因为极致的痛苦而扭曲变形。）

SextansM-My frame... my Lord, stay away from me...我，我的素体……阁下，离我远点……

(Her frame begins to change horribly as she convulses. Something writhes in a frenzy beneath her skin, as though some monster were tearing at her from inside, fighting to get out.)（她的素体在剧烈颤抖中开始发生可怕的变化，皮肤下有什么东西在疯狂蠕动，似乎有什么怪物正在撕扯着想要脱困而出。）

(Even so, Sextans raises her gun with the last of her will. Shaking violently, the muzzle drags from the Niters, across me, and then turns on herself.)（尽管如此，六分仪还是凭着最后的意志艰难地举起了枪。在枪口的剧烈颤抖中，颤颤巍巍地从瞄准妮特们再划过我，之后居然指向了自己。）

SextansUgh... I can't control... my own body... my Lord! Get away! Now!呃……控制不住……我的身体……阁下！快，快走。

(Bang!)（砰！）

(Not a gunshot, but a kick, from the side.)（并非枪响，而是一记来自侧面的踢击。）

(OTs-14 cuts in from the flank, kicks the gun out of Sextans' hand, and pins her down as she turns wild. But in the next instant her own frame lurches too. It goes no further, but she is clearly not in good condition either.)（OTs-14从侧面突入，一脚将六分仪手中的枪踢飞，随即压制住了正在暴走的六分仪。但在这之后，她自己的身形也猛地摇晃了一下，虽然没有进一步的恶化，但显然也状态不佳。）

OTs-14...Something's off with my frame as well.……我的状态也有些问题。

(Beep, beep, beep—)（滴滴滴——）

(A shrill red alarm tears through the quiet of the ops room. Groza's face tightens as she rushes to the console, and Mayling's comms request comes through right behind it.)（刺耳的红色警报声瞬间撕裂了指挥室的平静。闪电脸色微变，匆忙奔赴控制台，而美玲的通讯请求也随即接了进来。）

MaylingL-Leader, it's bad! The Boojum cells inside Blusphere's frame are spiking in activity!不、不好了，队长！艾莫号上蓝雪球素体的伯介姆细胞，细胞活性化正在急剧上升！

GrozaTheir stats have been stable all this time. Why the sudden change?之前的监测数据一直都很稳定，怎么会突然产生变化？

GrozaThe cryo chamber was serviced not long ago. Try lowering the temperature further.冷冻仓前不久刚检修过，把温度降低试试？

MaylingAlready tried! The rate of activity increase has slowed, but it's still climbing.已经尝试了！活性上涨的速度减慢了，但整体而言还在向上增长。

MaylingIt'll reach the critical threshold soon at this rate!再这样下去，早晚会到临界值的！

GrozaI'm on my way... Ensure your own safety for a start. Leave the cryo chamber and seal off that whole section.我这就过去……你先确保自身的安全，离开冷冻仓附近，把那块区域封锁起来。

(Groza is about to move when the comms terminal on her rings urgently. It's Colphne.)（闪电正要动身，身上的通讯终端也随即急促地响了起来，是寇尔芙的来电。）

GrozaWhat's wrong, Colphne? Blusphere's Boojum cells are currently being forced into activation. Take Krolik and get over there...怎么了，寇尔芙？蓝雪球的伯介姆细胞在强制进入活性化，你叫上克罗丽科先过去……

ColphneI can't, Leader! Krolik and I are both here with Helena. Her condition just changed in an instant!不行啊，队长！人家和克罗丽科都在海伦娜这里，刚刚海伦娜的状态瞬间起了变化！

Groza—! What are Helena's readings?——！海伦娜的各项数值如何？

ColphneThe instruments can't measure it! But she's clearly slipped into some kind of bad state. She was perfectly normal just a moment ago...仪器监测不出来！但是明显是进入了某种不太对的状态，本来刚刚还很正常……

GrozaI'll notify the Commander.我去通知指挥官。

ColphneI tried that when I called you. I can't connect to him!在联络队长的同时已经联系过指挥官了，目前无法接通通讯！

ColphneKrolik is trying to reach Nemesis too. Same thing, no connection.克罗丽科也在联系纳美西丝，但是同样无法连接。

GrozaDon't panic... Even with the airborne beacon, unstable comms are the norm in the Red Zone. Protecting everyone aboard the Elmo comes first.别紧张……就算有空中信标，红区通讯不稳定也是常态，优先确保艾莫号上大家的安全。

ColphneEhh—! Shouldn't we go support the Commander?欸——！我们要去支援指挥官吗？

(Groza thinks for a moment, and the figure that she had quarreled with but understood better than anyone flashes through her mind.)（闪电沉思片刻，脑海中闪过了那个刚刚和自己争吵、却又无比熟悉的身影。）

Groza...No, there's no need. She's over there, and she's the same as I am. We would give everything we have to keep the Commander safe.……不，不用。那边有那家伙在，她和我相同，我们倾尽一切也会保护好指挥官。

GrozaOur immediate duty is to protect Helena and the Elmo.我们的当务之急是先要保护好艾莫号以及海伦娜。

(Groza strides out of the ops room checking her gear, her expression resolute.)（闪电大步走出指挥室，同时检查了身上携带的装备，眼神坚定。）

GrozaMayling, contact Monsoon Squad. Tell them to return to the Elmo immediately, and at the same time, get the Elmo moving away from the border of the Red Zone ASAP.美玲，联络季风小队，让她们马上返回艾莫号，同时将艾莫号以最快速度驶离红区边缘。

GrozaMelanie spoke of "running away." Maybe whatever is affecting Helena will weaken if we put more distance between us.梅兰妮提过“逃走”，也许距离拉远之后，海伦娜受到的影响会降低。

MaylingR-Right.好、好的。

MaylingBlusphere's activation is running too fast. There's no telling when she might go berserk.现在的蓝雪球活性化速度过快，不知道什么时候会暴走。

GrozaI'm heading there now. Bring the Elmo's defenses online for the time being, then link up with Colphne as fast as you can.我正在赶过去，你将艾莫号的防卫力量暂时启动，然后尽快去和寇尔芙汇合。

GrozaColphne, keep trying to ring the Commander. Tell him where the Elmo's moving, and keep him synced on Blusphere's condition.寇尔芙，持续联络指挥官，将艾莫号的移动方向告诉指挥官，并同步现在蓝雪球的情况。

(Groza charges into the room housing Blusphere's cryo chamber. The instruments are still alarmed, the red warning lights still strobing, the cell activity index still climbing... Watching the numbers soar, her expression hardens. She grips her weapon and readies herself for the worst kind of fight.)（闪电冲入蓝雪球冷冻舱所在的房间。房间中的仪器依旧在不停报警，红色的警戒灯在不停闪烁，细胞的活性化指数还在持续上升……看着飙升的数字，闪电表情越来越凝重，随即握紧了武器，做好了最坏的战斗准备。）

(Beep, beep, beep—)（滴、滴、滴——）

(Beeeeeeeee—)（哔——）

(The piercing alarm cuts out. In its place, the numbers on the screen begin to fall slowly.)（房间内刺耳报警声忽然停止，取而代之的，是屏幕上数字开始缓缓回落。）

Groza(Activity is dropping?)（活性下降了？）

GrozaColphne, how are things with Helena?寇尔芙，海伦娜那边的情况怎么样？

ColphneIt's working! Helena's condition is easing.有用！海伦娜的情况有缓解。

GrozaI'll have the Elmo withdraw a little further. Our priority is to keep Helena stable.我会让艾莫号再撤离一段距离，优先确保海伦娜的状态保持到一个稳定的水平。

ColphneGot it. I'll take good care of Helena~好的，人家会看顾好海伦娜的~

(With Colphne's confirmation, Groza lets go of some of the tension. She tries once more to ring the Commander, but the other end of the line refuses to connect.)（听到寇尔芙给出肯定的答复，闪电暂时放下紧张的情绪。她再度尝试和指挥官构建联系，可通讯的另一头迟迟没有接通。）

Groza(The Commander may be deep in a zone of intense Collapse radiation, but unreachable does not mean unsafe.)（指挥官也许正在红区强坍塌辐射区域，联系不上，并不代表指挥官不安全。）

Groza(If I were at the Commander's side right now...)（如果现在是我在指挥官身边的话……）

Groza(Commander, Commander... can I, will I stay beside you, always?)（指挥官、指挥官……我能一直在你的身边吗？）

(Regret, longing, hope, fear... countless tangles of data surge up from the base layer of her neural cloud, and for a moment Groza barely holds it back.)（后悔、渴望、期待、恐惧……心智底层涌现出无数复杂的数据，让闪电在一瞬间难以招架。）

(Reflexively, she runs the calculation. If she were at the Commander's side at this moment, hearing the Elmo's current state, what orders would she be making?)（她下意识演算，如果此时她在指挥官身边，听闻目前艾莫号的现状后应该做出什么样的指令判断。）

(Groza forces the feelings down, gathers herself, and continues issuing movement orders to everyone aboard the Elmo.)（闪电强行压下此刻复杂的情绪，振奋起精神，进一步安排艾莫号上的人员行动指令。）

Groza(I should trust her. No—trust "us".)（我应该相信她，不，相信“我们”。）

(Upon receiving the Commander's redeployment order, the squads that have been exploring other areas immediately begin converging on his coordinates.)（接到指挥官的调令后，原本在不同区域展开探索的小队快速向指挥官的坐标靠拢。）

(Helen drives, but her eyes keep straying to Nemesis, whom they just picked up.)（海伦驾驶着车辆，视线却不由自主地转向刚刚接到的纳美西丝。）

HelenAre you holding up alright?你的状态还好吗？

Nemesis...It is nothing serious.……并无大碍。

NemesisThe Commander's in much more danger.指挥官那边，更危险。

HelenWe are still some distance away from him. Are you capable of sensing what's over there?现在和指挥官相隔还有一些距离，你能感应到那边的东西？

NemesisHe is my one and only lighthouse. All things are laid bare beneath his light.因为他正是我唯一的灯塔，在光下，万事昭然若揭。

(I'm holding Melanie while checking my companions' coordinates on the terminal, when a familiar motorcycle roar and the growl of a pickup appear in the distance, tearing through the air with speed.)（我正抱住梅兰妮，拿出终端确认同伴坐标时，熟悉的摩托轰鸣声以及皮卡的轰鸣声由远至近，以极快的震动撕裂了空气。）

(I let out a relieved sigh upon hearing those sounds.)（听到这个声音，我也由衷地松了口气。）

KlukaiCommander—!指挥官——！

(The bullets arrive before the vehicles do. The wave of fire quickly rips open a gap in the encirclement.)（子弹比车辆来得更快，倾泻而出的攻击很快撕开了敌人包围我们的口子。）

(Nemesis alights the vehicle. Unlike our other companions who are still engaging the enemy, she arrives at my side first—or, more precisely, to Melanie's.)（纳美西丝从车上落下，不同于其他同伴仍在处理敌人，她率先赶到了我的身边，准确来说是梅兰妮的身边。）

(Melanie's eyes are squeezed shut, the pain on her face wringing cold sweat from her forehead.)（此时的梅兰妮双目紧闭，脸上痛苦的神色已经令她额头渗出冷汗。）

(Nemesis takes Melanie from my arms and into her own embrace.)（纳美西丝从我的手中接过梅兰妮，将她抱在了怀里。）

NemesisThe silent chains will one day be broken.沉寂的锁链终有会被销毁的一日。

NemesisPray to the stars of high heaven. Calamity... be dispelled.向高天之星祈愿，灾祸……祛除。

MelanieCommander... Nemesis?指挥官……纳美西丝？

(Melanie opens her eyes, looking up from Nemesis' chest. Her gaze wanders between me and Nemesis, then settles on the Niters nearby.)（纳美西丝怀中的梅兰妮睁开双眼，她的视线在我和纳美西丝之间徘徊，随后又看向不远处的妮特。）

NemesisSleep now. Listen not. Answer not.安睡吧，不可听，不可响应。

NemesisYou... are long past what you were. You stand with me beneath the gentle light.你……早已不同以往，与我一同沐浴在温柔的光之下。

MelanieCovering my ears didn't help at all just now.明明刚才捂住耳朵也没用的。

MelanieDid you do something? Nemesis?是你做了什么吗？纳美西丝？

NiterVile heretic! You dare sever the link ordained by our Lord.卑劣的异端！竟妄图切断吾主定下的链接。

NemesisWe... do not belong to "Him".我们……不属于祂。

(The Niters' hold over Melanie seems to have broken. I look to Sextans and OTs-14, each giving me their own nods.)（妮特对梅兰妮所产生的影响似乎已经停止，我又看向六分仪和OTs-14，她们都对着我微微点头。）

OTs-14I'm fine, Commander. My frame has returned to normal.我没事，指挥官。我的素体目前已经恢复正常了。

(OTs-14 supports the weakened Sextans and walks her over, setting her down gently at my side. She then looks thoughtfully at Nemesis, who seems to have raised some kind of "firewall".)（OTs-14扶着虚弱的六分仪，将她轻轻放到了我的身边，之后若有所思地看着似乎张开了某种“防火墙”机制的纳美西丝。）

OTs-14Many thanks... Nemesis.纳美西丝……多谢了。

NemesisWe have walked this far together; together we will walk to the world's end. It is only what I ought to do, "Leader."同行至此，也将至天荒，这是我应该做的，“队长”。

NiterThe heretic who offends the Lord shall be eradicated first!将冒犯主的异端，率先清理！

(The Niters and Nytos that had us surrounded are now being pinned down by Helen and the arriving members of 404.)（原本围在我们身边的妮特以及涅托正被后续赶来的海伦以及404小队成员们牵制。）

(Realizing that the source of disruption is Nemesis, they try to break through the suppression and strike at her.)（似乎察觉到发生异变的来源是纳美西丝，敌人从刚才起就一直尝试突破牵制，向纳美西丝发动攻击。）

OTs-14Commander...指挥官……

CommanderI'm alright. Nemesis is here with me.我没事，这里有纳美西丝陪着我。

CommanderGo. Wipe out every Paradeus enemy here.去吧，把帕拉蒂斯的敌人消灭掉。

OTs-14As you wish, Commander.遵命，指挥官。

Silent Guardianship 沉默守护

(With the arrival of strong reinforcements, the tide of battle turns in an instant. The supporting Dolls make short work of most Nytos and steadily box the Niters in.)（有了强援加入，战局瞬间逆转。支援的人形们很快将大部分涅托消灭，并逐渐以包围的态势将妮特们牢牢控制住。）

(Watching the situation turn against them, the surviving Niters leave a portion of the Nytos behind as a rearguard before retreating in a ragtag manner.)（眼见局势不利，残留的妮特留下部分涅托负责断后，她们则狼狈地率先撤离。）

(Klukai means to give chase and finish them, but I stop her.)（可露凯本有意追击，继续清理那些敌人，却被我拦下。）

CommanderTheir target has been Nemesis this whole time.从刚才起，她们的目标就一直是纳美西丝。

CommanderMelanie must have left their control because Nemesis was shielding her.梅兰妮不再受她们控制的原因应该就是有纳美西丝在身边保护。

OTs-14My frame returned to normal shortly after Nemesis appeared.在纳美西丝出现后不久，我的素体恢复了正常。

Klukai...What kind of trick is that? An EMP?……那是什么招数？EMP吗？

KlukaiBut the energy readings off Nemesis' frame... don't look unusual in any way.纳美西丝素体的能量读数……好像没有什么特别的地方。

SextansDidn't the rest of you feel anything strange?你们没有感到异常吗？

KlukaiBeyond the signal interference you'd expect from heavy radiation? Basically nothing.刨除强辐射带来的信号干扰外，基本没有。

CommanderSo the Niters could only affect Sextans and OTs-14.看来，妮特只能影响六分仪和OTs-14。

HelenTheir frames came from the Conglomerate, right?两位的素体，应该都是来自于财团吧。

HelenCommander, I didn't feel the mentioned special influence either. The Niters are probably only able to affect third-gen Dolls.指挥官，我也没有感受到那种特殊的影响。妮特的影响范围，应该局限在三代人形。

KlukaiSounds like the Commander needs a new personal escort.看来，指挥官需要换一位随身护卫了。

OTs-14...……

SextansI... don't think it was just the Niters' ritual.我……感觉应该不是单纯因为妮特们的仪式。

(Sextans touches the brim of her hat, deliberating on how to describe her situation.)（六分仪摸了摸自己的帽檐，斟酌着描述自己的状态。）

OTs-14Agreed. I felt some kind of influence too, but the true source was probably... Melanie.是的，我也感受到了某种影响，但应该实际上是来自……梅兰妮。

MelanieI'm... sorry. I've caused everyone so much trouble.我……抱歉，给大家添麻烦了。

CommanderIt's not your fault, Melanie. Don't take it to heart.这不是你的错，梅兰妮，别太放在心上。

(The comms device rings while I comfort Melanie. I press on the answering button, and hear Groza report on the Elmo's situation.)（就在我安慰梅兰妮之时，通讯设备响起，我按下了接听按钮，听到闪电向我汇报了艾莫号上的近况。）

GrozaTo ensure safety, I decided to move the Elmo away from the Red Zone for now.为了确保安全，我自作主张让艾莫号暂时远离了红区。

GrozaOnce things are confirmed to be safe, I'll bring the Elmo back to the planned rendezvous point.在确保安全后，我会重新驾驶艾莫号返回原定的接应地点。

CommanderWell done, Groza.你干得很好，闪电。

CommanderKeep your distance from the Red Zone for now. Melanie is in no state to keep exploring, so I'll be sending her back to the Elmo.暂时不用靠近红区，梅兰妮目前的情况不适合继续探索，我会让她回到艾莫号。

CommanderArrange a squad to meet her and cover her withdrawal.安排一支小队接应一下撤离工作。

GrozaYes, Commander.是，指挥官。

CommanderEveryone... that was Groza. The Elmo linked up with Monsoon Squad, then made a temporary retreat from the edge of the Red Zone.诸位……闪电发来了通讯。艾莫号现在已经和季风小队汇合，暂时离开红区边缘了。

(OTs-14 raises an eyebrow but doesn't cut in, waiting quietly for me to finish.)（OTs-14挑了挑眉毛，但并未插话，而是安静地等着我继续说完。）

CommanderHelena's condition changed as well, not long after the Niters began their strange ritual. Blusphere's frame on the Elmo also went through the same thing, but it passed quickly...大概在妮特们开始神秘仪式不久，海伦娜也产生了一部分状态的波动，导致艾莫号上的蓝雪球素体发生了同样的活性化变化，但很快就解除了……

(I glance at Nemesis. She is leaning against the vehicle with her eyes closed, probably recovering the energy she spent on raising that "firewall".)（我看向纳美西丝，她此时正靠在车旁闭目养神，似乎在恢复刚才所施展能力的能量。）

CommanderI think... the Niters used some kind of method to influence Melanie, and through her, they set off a chained resonance with all Boojum cells nearby.现在看来……应该是妮特们通过某种手段影响了梅兰妮，进而导致梅兰妮与附近的伯介姆细胞产生了连锁共鸣。

OTs-14If that's true, it would explain why Sextans and I reacted differently. Our frames aren't identical, after all.如果是这样的话，那确实能解释为什么我和六分仪反应不同，毕竟我们的素体不完全一致。

Sextans...……

CommanderAs for Nemesis... She does seem to have something like a "firewall"-ish ability.而纳美西丝……确实拥有“防火墙”一般的能力。

(Nemesis doesn't open her eyes. She just gives me a slight nod upon hearing her name.)（纳美西丝没有睁眼，只是听到我叫她的名字，冲我微微点了点头。）

(I look at Melanie who is sitting beside her, hugging her knees while looking down in the dumps. I walk up to her quietly.)（我看向坐在她身边，正有些落寞地抱着自己膝盖的梅兰妮，轻轻走了过去。）

Melanie...Commander, I can't feel my companions anymore.……指挥官，我感应不到同伴们了。

MelanieIt's too late. It's already... too late. None of them... none of them could be saved.太迟了，已经，太迟了，她们都……没能得救。

MelanieThey couldn't be saved like I was...没能像我一样得救……

(Melanie doesn't look up. She just hugs her knees while staring into the distance.)（梅兰妮没有抬头，只是抱着自己膝盖呆呆地发愣。）

MelanieHave I... caused everyone lots of trouble...?我，是不是给大家添了很多麻烦……

(I crouch to bring myself level with her gaze, and soften my voice.)（我蹲下身，尽量和她处在同一视线高度，放缓了语气。）

CommanderOf course not. Melanie, those Paradeus bad guys simply used you. None of this is your fault.怎么会呢？梅兰妮，你只是被帕拉蒂斯的坏家伙们利用了。这不是你的错。

MelanieThen... can I still keep pushing forward with you, Commander?那……我还能继续和指挥官一起前进吗？

(She lifts her head, checking my expression carefully.)（她抬起头，小心翼翼确认着。）

(I look up at OTs-14 and Nemesis. Nemesis does nothing, while OTs-14 shakes her head, very slightly.)（我抬头看了一眼OTs-14和纳美西丝。纳美西丝没有任何表示，而OTs-14则是极其轻微地摇了摇头。）

CommanderI know how much you want to keep going with us, Melanie. But right now, the Elmo needs you just as much.我知道梅兰妮很想和我们一起前进，但现在艾莫号上也同样需要你。

CommanderHelena was affected by the Niters too. Can I ask you to stay by her side?海伦娜也因为刚才出现的妮特发生了一些变化，能不能请你去陪着她呢？

MelanieHelena's... not doing well?海伦娜，不太好吗？

CommanderThat's right. I'm sure the Elmo's folk can look after her much better with Melanie to help, no?是的，想必有梅兰妮在的话，艾莫号的大家一定能更好地照顾海伦娜吧？

MelanieOkay. I'll go back to the Elmo.好，我会回艾莫号的。

MelanieBut Commander, won't you come back with me? My companions, they're... beyond saving now.但是，指挥官，不和我一起回去吗？ 那些同伴，她们，已经是……不再能被拯救的了。

CommanderI still have more work to do. There are others who need rescuing.我还有其他任务，其他人要去救援。

CommanderMelanie, can you tell me where you last felt your "companions"?梅兰妮，你可以告诉我你最后一次感受到“同伴”们的位置吗？

CommanderRough directions are enough. We'll split into squads and search it together.只要有大致的方位就够了，我们会分成多支小队同时搜索。

CommanderWhat matters most right now is keeping you and Helena safe.现在，最重要的是确保你和海伦娜的安全。

(I pat Melanie's head, then stand up and look toward Nemesis.)（我摸了摸梅兰妮的头，站起身看着纳美西丝。）

CommanderNemesis, Helena and Melanie both need you right now.纳美西丝，现在海伦娜和梅兰妮都非常需要你。

CommanderPlease escort Melanie back to the Elmo as quickly as you can.麻烦你，护送梅兰妮尽快和艾莫号汇合。

NemesisMm. The fledgling should return to the nest.嗯，雏鸟该归于巢穴。

NemesisStill, Commander—可是，指挥官——

(Nemesis' gaze turns suddenly grave. She grabs my hand.)（纳美西丝突然严肃地望向了我，抓住了我的手。）

NemesisIf you should meet the fell beast... remember, your blades are not yet gathered, and I have yet to set the final piece of the puzzle...如果遇到恶兽……还请记住，由于您剑刃还未集结，而我也没有完成最后的拼图……

NemesisKeep clear of the fell beast's fangs and claws. Do not be ashamed to run.请避开恶兽的爪牙，不要羞于逃避。

CommanderIs that... a new prophecy? I'll take it to heart.这是……新的预言吗？我记住了。

(Nemesis smiles slightly, tiptoes to touch my forehead lightly, then approaches the vehicle the Dolls have just cleared for her.)（纳美西丝微微一笑，踮脚轻碰一下我的前额，回到了其他人形刚刚腾出的车上。）

CommanderLet me know once you're back. If all goes well, you'll meet the escort squad halfway.回去后第一时间通知我，如果顺利，你们半路就能和接应的小队汇合。

(Nemesis takes the driver's seat after packing away her gear. Melanie runs over to me.)（收拾好装备，纳美西丝坐上了驾驶位，梅兰妮则跑到我的身边。）

MelanieCommander, please stay safe.指挥官，您要注意安全。

MelanieThat place... is definitely a bad place.那里……一定是很不好的地方。

CommanderDon't worry, Melanie. I'll see you back on the Elmo.放心好了，梅兰妮，我们之后艾莫号见。

(Melanie gives me a big hug. Only then does she open the door and climb in with reluctance.)（梅兰妮给了我一个大大的拥抱，之后才恋恋不舍地打开车门坐到了车上。）

(I watch the vehicle run out of sight, then look at the rough position that Melanie pointed out to me. I begin to plan what comes next.)（目送车辆远去，我看了看手中刚才梅兰妮大概指向的坐标位置，思考起了接下来的安排。）

(Right then, a string of secret codes arrives on my comms device.)（此时，通讯器上恰好传来了一组暗号。）

(The fox sigil marks the sender as Leva, and what she sent is exactly what I feared.)（狐狸符号说明了发送者正是莱娅，而她传来的，正是我所担心的坏消息。）

(She and the others are safe, Kalina included, but Professor Leibnys and Robella have run into danger.)（虽然她们和格琳娜尚属安全，莱布妮丝教授和洛贝拉却遇到了危险。）

(The coordinates attached to Leva's message carry no further detail, but one thing stands out—they roughly match the direction that Melanie gave me.)（莱娅消息中附带的坐标，在地图上没有更多的细节信息，但有一点很重要——它与梅兰妮所指的方位大致吻合。）

(I have no way of knowing if that is coincidence, or linked to Nemesis' prophecy. What I do know... is that I must go there.)（我无从知晓这是否巧合，而纳美西丝对我留下的预言与之是否有所关联——但我知道，自己不去不行。）

(The advantage is that with a single objective, I don't have to split my forces. We only need to push forward, nothing more. The issue is that time is running out.)（好处在于，目标一致让我不用考虑分散战力，只要向前推进就好。而缺陷在于，时间越来越紧张了。）

(I steady my mind and give the order.)（我定神，传达了指令。）

CommanderHold our original formation. Continue our investigation towards the direction that Melanie gave us.保持最开始的队形，继续向梅兰妮提到的方位推进调查。

Coincident Fault 阴差阳错

(Bang, bang, bang!)（砰砰砰！）

(Precise shots find their mark in an instant. The blood tentacle lunging at Soppo dissolves into fine red veins that flee madly away along the ground, gone from sight in the blink of an eye.)（几发精准的子弹瞬间击中了目标，原本正扑向索普的血触手，迅速化为无数细小的红色脉络，贴着地面向远方疯狂蔓延逃窜，眨眼间便消失了踪迹。）

(In the vast openness of the Red Zone, the howling wind, thick with dry grit and heavily irradiated dust, flings itself unabashedly upon Soppo, crackling against the surface of her frame.)（空旷的红区，风中夹杂着干燥的沙砾和高浓度辐射尘，呼啸着迎面袭来，刮在素体表面发出细碎的声响。）

(Soppo slaps anxiously at her comms device, trying to call Robella and Leibnys again. But nothing comes back except for maddening static.)（索普焦急地拍打着通讯器，试图再次呼叫洛贝拉以及莱布妮丝，但通讯器传来的只有令人烦躁的“沙沙”电流声。）

SoppoAaaargh! Work already! Stupid machine!呃啊啊啊——快点给我恢复正常啊！破机器！

(Suddenly a burst of garbled interference comes through. Buried in the noise is a familiar voice, giving anxiety-filled Soppo a glimmer of hope.)（忽然，一阵嘈杂的电流故障音传来，那混杂在噪音中熟悉的语调，给焦急的索普带来了一丝希望。）

LevaKssh... Soppo... kssh... Soppo, can you hear me?滋……索普……滋……索普，能听到我说话吗？

SoppoLeva! Thank goodness! I'm looking for Robella and Leibnys. Leibnys' vehicle should have a tracker. Can you find where it is?莱娅！太好了！我正在找洛贝拉还有莱布妮丝。莱布妮丝的车上应该有定位，能查到吗？

LevaThe interference in the Red Zone is too strong. Be glad that we can call at all. Anyway, her coordinates are currently showing as "lost".红区干扰过于强烈，能联上通讯都算是谢天谢地了，她的坐标目前处于丢失状态。

(Leva forwards Soppo the coordinates transmitted from Leibnys' vehicle a few minutes earlier. They aren't current, but the odds are good that she's somewhere near that area.)（莱娅将几分钟前莱布妮丝车辆传来的坐标先行发给了索普，虽然并非是最新的，但莱布妮丝大概率就在该坐标区域的附近。）

LevaCoordinates sent. We're on our way, Soppo. Don't do anything rash. At the very least, wait for us to arrive before planning your next move.坐标已经发送了。我们正在赶来的路上，索普，别贸然行动，至少等我们抵达后再做进一步的规划。

(In the vehicle cabin, shuddering over the terrain, Leva keeps every signal-search device, every terrain recorder and analyzer running, filtering through a flood of information and readings.)（因为高速而颠簸的车厢内，莱娅打开了所有信号搜寻设备、地形记录与分析仪，过滤着大量信息与读数。）

LevaThe expedition is in total chaos. Plenty of scientists want to head for that area, but most of them have been stopped.队伍内部已经乱成一锅粥了，想要前往那片区域的科学家不少，可惜大都被拦住了。

(The people who truly matter, the ones who must be protected, come down to Kalina and Leibnys alone, and it is precisely those two who are standing at the very frontline of this mess. As for these tentacles, coming out of nowhere, they are a threat that nobody prepared any countermeasures for.)（真正重要的，必须要保护的人，在场的只有格琳娜和莱布妮丝而已，偏偏就是她们两个，处在这场骚动的最前线，而这些出乎意料的触手，也是事先完全没有准备过对策的威胁。）

(She has already called upon her most dependable Commander, but even he cannot arrive in an instant.)（虽然自己呼叫了最可靠的指挥官，但就算是那个人，也没法即刻就赶到。）

(Thus Leva does what she does best, analyzing every scrap of information possible, hunting for anything that might increase the odds of victory or survival, even if slightly.)（为此，莱娅只能尽量发挥自己的特长，尽量分析所有信息，试图找出些微能增加胜率或生还几率的要素。）

LevaThe fact that Kalina slipped away with us won't stay hidden for long. Scout the perimeter of that area first, and be careful.格琳娜和我们偷偷脱队的讯息瞒不了多久。你先确认那块区域的外部情况，注意安全。

SoppoRoger, roger! Leave it to me!收到，收到！包在我身上！

(Soppo sprints toward the coordinates Leva provided, finally coming to a stop before a well-hidden building.)（索普按照莱娅所提供的坐标一路疾驰，最终停在了一处隐蔽的建筑前。）

(Easing the heavy door open, she finds, of all things, a laboratory still in operation. The cold white light, the familiar lines of the design, the unease of the place brings a "Paradeus" stronghold to mind instantly.)（悄悄推开沉重的大门，这里居然是一间正在运作的实验室。冰冷的白色的光、眼熟的线条设计，这种令人不安的感觉不禁让人想到“帕拉蒂斯”据点。）

(There are clear signs of recent activity here.)（这里显然不久前还有人员活动的痕迹。）

(The machines gurgle along as they run, loud in the present silence.)（机器发出咕噜咕噜的运转声，在此刻安静的环境下显得格外明显。）

(Unidentifiable specimens float in the intact life-support tanks. Soppo leans in, eyes wide, studying the blurred flesh inside the transparent canisters. When it doesn't so much as twitch, she extends a finger and gives the tank's outer wall a gentle rap.)（完好的维生罐中泡着不知名的试验品，索普凑近了些，瞪大双眼观察着透明罐子里那些模糊的血肉，见对方丝毫不动，索普伸出手指，轻轻敲了敲实验罐子的外壁。）

(Tap, tap.)（咚、咚。）

(The thing inside doesn't stir.)（罐子内的生物没有丝毫动静。）

(Soppo pouts, a little defeated, and turns to search the other sections, her footsteps the only sound echoing through the empty laboratory.)（索普有些挫败地撇了撇嘴，转身准备搜查其他区域，空旷的实验室里，只有她一个人的脚步声在回荡。）

(She opens her mouth, about to shout and confirm whether the place really is deserted, when her ears catch a faint disturbance behind her.)（索普张开嘴，正想大喊一声，确认此处是否真的空无一人，耳朵却敏锐地捕捉到了身后传来的细微动静。）

(The rustle of cloth, and low, hushed voices.)（那是衣料摩擦和压低的交谈声。）

(Soppo instantly drops low and slips into the shadows like a beast on the hunt.)（索普迅速压低身形，像一只捕食的野兽般潜入阴影之中。）

(Several ragged figures converge into the area, a handful of Nytos and Niters. They clearly never imagined an enemy could be here, and are talking with their guard completely down.)（几个狼狈的身影撤回该区域，是几名涅托和妮特。她们显然并没想到这片区域会有敌人，此刻正毫无防备地交谈着。）

NiterThe plan to take control of Helena D-68 has failed.控制海伦娜D-68的计划失败了。

Niter—The link granted by our Lord is a great one. Why would the link fail?——吾主赐予的链接是伟大的，可链接为什么会失效？

NiterNo. The initial control succeeded. It was only afterward that our spiritual link was forcibly severed.不，最开始的控制是成功的，只是后期我们的精神链接被强行中断了。

NiterThat man... or someone else among those Dolls has an "anomaly" that pushes away our link.那个人……或者那些人形之中存在能让我们的链接产生排斥反应的“异常”。

Niter...Why have we never received word of a being that can sever our Lord's link? What have our kindred been doing?……为什么之前从未收到过有能切断吾主链接存在的消息？同伴们在做什么？

NiterIt is absolute blasphemy! The heretic must be dealt with! The plan cannot fail!这是绝对亵渎的行为！必须要解决那个异端！计划不能失败！

NiterOur plan can still be completed as promised if we manage to deal with that "Anomaly".只要能够解决那个“异常”，我们的计划就能够如约完成。

NiterUse the specimens we have and try once more. The mission stands above all. Our task must be completed, whatever it takes.利用现有的实验品，再试一次。使命高于一切，无论如何都必须完成我们的任务。

NiterWe cannot clean away those enemies with what fighting forces we have left.凭我们现在的剩余战力，没办法完美处理掉那些敌人。

NiterThe nearest of our kindred still need time to arrive.最近的同伴赶到还需要时间。

NiterThey must not come here. With intruders about, the ritual must be completed all the faster. Once the "One Above" breaks from its shell, nothing in existence will be its match.她们不能过来，既然有人闯入，更必须加速让仪式完成，只要“上者”能够破壳而出，不存在能与其匹敌之物。

NiterEverything here, we will resolve ourselves. These offerings are nearly spent. Hold nothing back. Let them offer up their final worth.这里的一切，都交给我们自己来解决。 这些祭品即将消耗殆尽了，不用再做任何保留，发挥她们最后的价值吧。

NiterSummon more "hands" to crush the enemy. Mere infantry are no match for us.召唤更多“手”来碾碎敌人，只是区区步兵的火力，不可能是我们的对手。

(A Niter walks the row of tanks, and at her touch an eerie, glimmering green light wells up. The specimens that had been motionless begin to thrash violently, as though jolted by some stimulus.)（妮特走到那排罐子四周，随着她的操作，盈盈的诡异绿光泛起。原本一动不动的实验品们像是受到某种刺激，开始了剧烈挣扎。）

(The Niters stand before the tanks, murmuring, the sound waves rippling steadily outward.)（妮特们站在罐子前念念有词，声波正不断向外传播。）

(Hidden to one side, Soppo suddenly understands the "anomaly" Leva mentioned. She has no radiation detector on her, but the scene in front of her looks exactly like an extremely dangerous biological experiment in progress.)（躲在一旁的索普，忽然就明白了莱娅提到的“异常”。虽然她手里并没有什么辐射检测装置，可眼前的景象，完全像是正在进行一项极为危险的生物实验。）

(Suddenly, the tremors shaking the area stop as though someone hit the pause button. The Niters were still peering at their instruments in confusion when they discover, to their astonishment, Soppo standing unabashedly at the control console. She has cut their energy supply. She even gives them a little friendly wave.)（忽然之间，整个区域爆发出的震动声宛如被人按下了暂停键。正当妮特们疑惑地查看实验装置时，她们惊讶地发现，切断能源供应的索普，正坦坦荡荡地站在控制台前，甚至还冲她们挥了挥手。）

SoppoYah-ho! The door was open, so I let myself in to play!呀吼！门开着所以我就进来玩啦！

NiterPursuers?!追兵吗！

SoppoHmm... I am a pursuer, technically, but I don't think you're the ones I'm after.嗯……虽然确实是追兵，不过我找的好像不是你们。

SoppoNot that it matters!不过，就算不是也没有关系！

SoppoBecause—Paradeus must be eradicated!!毕竟——帕拉蒂斯，必须被铲除！！

NiterThe presumptuous... shall end as sustenance.冒昧者……终将成为它的粮食。

(The Niter before her shows no alarm at Soppo's appearance. Her face blank, she folds her hands in front of her chest in prayer.)（眼前的妮特并未因索普的出现而慌乱，她神情漠然，将手放在胸前，做出祈祷的姿势。）

(An ill-omened chant drifts through the empty lab. The earth begins to tremble faintly, as though something were drawing closer.)（一段不祥的祈祷歌谣在空旷的实验室中徘徊。大地开始微微颤动，像是有什么东西离这里越来越近。）

(Soppo wastes no more words on them and strikes first. The Niter can only fend her off tiredly, her eyes crazed and empty, like a devout servant awaiting her god's descent, blind to the threat of death.)（索普没有继续废话，她率先对妮特发起了攻击，妮特却只是狼狈抵挡着，眼神狂热而空洞，如同在迎接神降的虔诚使者，全然无视了死亡的威胁。）

(The noisy comms channel crackles to life again. Before Soppo can even answer that, she hears a rising and falling chorus of roars in the distance.)（嘈杂的通讯频道中再次传来了声响，索普还未接通，便听到了远处此起彼伏的喧闹吼叫声。）

(A sharp weapon stabs straight for Soppo's back, hoping to catch her off-guard while she attends to the call.)（尖利的武器找准了索普收音的瞬间，朝着她的背部直戳下去。）

(But her neural cloud has already plotted a vicious, meticulous chain of moves in the millisecond it takes for her to turn. Soppo seizes a Niter's body and swings it onto the incoming spear, and with her freed hand, grips another Niter by the neck and snaps it.)（在索普转身的一毫秒间，她的心智已经拟定出凶残却缜密的连串动作，索普抓起一具妮特的身体，挥动着撞上长矛，腾出的手握住另一名妮特的脖子，径直将之扭断。）

(The surrounding Niters swarm in. Soppo rolls on the ground, firing every time she rises, until the Niters move no more.)（周围的妮特涌了上来，索普就地翻滚，在起身间隙持续射击，直到妮特们不再行动为止。）

(Crawling out from beneath the Niters' remains, she hears Lenna's voice in her ear once more.)（从妮特的遗骸下慢慢爬出，耳边再度响起了莱娜的通话声。）

LennaSoppo! What are you doing?! Several Boojums are charging straight for you!索普！你在干什么呢，有好几只伯介姆朝着你的位置冲过去了！

SoppoWhat—? I don't exactly have time to play with them now—!什么——我现在可没空招待它们啊——！

(Before she can finish her sentence, the laboratory wall bursts inward. Several Boojums storm into the test area, screeching as they charge towards Soppo with murder in their eyes.)（话音未落，实验室的墙壁被猛然撞破。数只伯介姆生物嘶吼着冲入了试验区域，并气势汹汹地向着索普的方向攻击。）

(The carefully kept specimen tanks are easily smashed in the chaos. Glass shards flying everywhere. Anger flashes through the Niter's eyes, but the feeling soon finds a new target—Soppo, the cause of it all.)（原本被好好放置的实验品罐子们，在混乱中被轻而易举地破坏，玻璃碎片四处飞溅，妮特的眼里闪过一丝愤怒，但很快这股情绪便转移到了导致这一切发生的索普身上。）

SoppoWah—stop being slippery like eels!哇——你们不要像泥鳅一样难抓啊！

NiterYou will learn who truly is on the dining plate, soon enough.很快，你就会知道谁才是“盘中的食物”了。

SoppoHah? You want to eat me? Funny. I've always been the one hunting you guys.哈？想吃我？真有意思，一直以来都是我在狩猎你们……

SoppoThe prey dares to dream of devouring the hunter? You and these Boojums both have terrible taste!区区猎物却想要吞噬猎人，你们和这群伯介姆的品位也太差了点吧！

Niter...……

SoppoHey, hey, hey! Don't ignore me! Get over here and fight me! Stop running!喂、喂、喂，别无视我啊！快点和我打一场，别跑了！

NiterThis place is lost. A pity these specimens can no longer offer their final worth unto the "One Above".这里失败了，可惜这些试验品，无法将最后的价值归于“上者”了。

NiterBefore the "hands" are drawn here, we must leave and assist the rituals elsewhere.在“手”被吸引过来前，我们必须离开，协助其他地方的仪式。

(The enormous Boojum looming before Soppo seems to regard her as food.)（出现在索普身前的巨大伯介姆生物，仿佛真的将索普当成了食物。）

(While Soppo is forced to meet the frenzied Boojums head-on, the Niters use the chaos to withdraw quickly, paying no heed to Soppo's furious taunts.)（在索普被迫迎战这些发狂的伯介姆的过程中，妮特们利用混乱快速撤离，全然不顾索普气急败坏的挑衅。）

SoppoDamn it, stop clinging to me!该死，别缠着我！

(Soppo fights as she falls back. A Boojum's construction is nothing like the Sangvis Ferri and Paradeus units she can dismantle in her sleep, and for a while it gives her real trouble.)（索普边打边退，伯介姆的构造与索普已经很熟悉拆解的铁血和帕拉蒂斯不同，一时间让索普陷入苦战。）

(At a rather critical moment, streams of supporting fire begin to rain through the breach in the wall, blanketing the Boojums' lines of attack.)（危急关头，几道支援火力从墙壁破损处袭来，覆盖了伯介姆的进攻路线。）

SoppoPerfect timing!来得正好！

LennaHehe~ support delivered!嘿嘿~支援成功！

LennaBut Leva was right. These Boojums are indeed being drawn in by that weird pulse.不过，莱娅姐说得对耶，这些伯介姆完全是被那种奇怪波动吸引过来的。

LevaI don't know how the Niters manage it, but... this situation feels oddly familiar.虽然不知道妮特是怎么做到的，不过……这样的现况有些似曾相识。

SoppoHah? What do you mean?!哈？什么意思！

LevaDoesn't it remind you of something? The same method was used when Leibnys went looking for the blood tentacles.不觉得很像吗？之前莱布妮丝尝试寻找血触手的时候也是用相同的办法哦。

LennaSo those Boojums are the blood tentacles' main food source, then?也就是说，那些伯介姆是血触手的主要食物来源喽？

LevaIf the Boojums keep coming here and give off more of their "food" scent, odds are good that they'll draw the blood tentacles here.如果伯介姆的数量继续增多下去，散发出更多“食物”的味道，那么很有可能会把血触手吸引过来。

SoppoBlood tentacles? That parasol woman called it the same thing.血触手？那个家伙也是这么称呼的。

LevaVivid name, yeah? That's the designation those scientists finally settled on after several rounds of debate, out of fifty-something potential names.很形象的名字吧？在五十多个命名参考中，那群科学家们几番讨论才最终定下的代号哦。

SoppoHmph. That's the thing that carried Robella off, isn't it?哼，就是那东西把洛贝拉带走了吧。

SoppoThen why not let it come here? Saves us the trip!它要来这里，不是正好吗！

SoppoOnce I've dealt with these Boojums, I'll catch that... octopus-looking thing with all the tentacles, chop it up, and make it into takoyaki for Robella!等我解决这群伯介姆，那个……像是章鱼一样有很多触手的生物，我就把它抓回去，给它剁碎了，做成章鱼丸子给洛贝拉吃！

Lenna...Er, I don't think Robella would eat that sort of thing?……呃，好像，洛贝拉不会吃这种东西吧？

LevaIt sounds thoroughly unappetizing~听上去就毫无食欲~

LennaMiss Kalin! What are you doing out here?格琳姐！你怎么出来了？

(Behind the frontline, Kalina makes her way through the rubble in a heavy anti-radiation suit toward the shattered specimen tanks.)（战场后方，身穿厚重防辐射服的格琳娜正艰难地穿过废墟，走向那些残破的实验罐。）

KalinaThe specimens here... have been destroyed, but some samples still remain. Bring back as much as we can. They'll probably be of use to Persica and Leibnys.这里的实验品……虽然已经被破坏了，但还有残留的样本，尽量搬回去，帕斯卡和莱布妮丝应该能用到。

LevaGo back, Kalin! It's too dangerous here. You can't stay long here, even in protective gear.回去，格琳！这里太过危险了，就算你穿着防辐射的器械，这里也不能久待。

LevaIf your suit gets breached by a stray round, none of us will be able to save you in radiation this thick!如果防护措施在战斗中被流弹波及产生破损，在这种辐射浓度下，我们谁都救不了你！

KalinaI'll be as careful as I can, but some of this could hold real Paradeus secrets. We can't just leave it here.我会尽量小心的。但这些都有可能藏着帕拉蒂斯真正的秘密，不能就这么丢下。

LennaAh, then leave it to me, Miss Kalin! I'll carry them for you!唔，那就交给我吧，格琳姐，我帮你搬过去！

KalinaThank you, Lenna.拜托了，莱娜。

(Lenna helps Kalina move the specimen storage tanks.)（莱娜协助着格琳娜搬运眼前的实验品储存罐。）

(Catching sight of the biological tissue inside the glass, Kalina shudders as old memories come flooding back.)（透过玻璃看到罐子里的生物组织，格琳娜内心一颤，往事重新涌上心头。）

Kalina(Even after all these years... Paradeus continues their inhuman research... and they've grown more extreme.)（即使经过那么多年……帕拉蒂斯那反人类的研究仍然在继续……甚至更加激进了。）

Kalina(Commander... is this why you were never willing to come back? Have you... been hunting them down all this time?)（指挥官……这就是你不愿意回来的原因吗？你……是不是也在一直追寻它们的下落？）

Kalina(That commission was the start of everything. Even if... my current efforts will amount to little, I must at least do what I can.)（那个任务是一切的开端。就算……现在的我能做到的微乎其微，但至少，我必须去做力所能及的事情。）

KalinaLenna, find a way to destroy the specimens here.莱娜，想办法摧毁这里的实验品。

KalinaWe can't possibly take them all, but whatever remains... might end up as offerings for Paradeus to torment other living souls.我们不可能把它们全部带走，剩余的实验品……与其留在这里，未来可能依旧成为帕拉蒂斯迫害生灵的祭品。

KalinaWe should destroy them completely and grant them release.倒不如将它们彻底摧毁，给它们一个解脱。

LennaUnderstood! Just wait over there, Miss Kalin. Don't push yourself too hard!嗯，我明白了！格琳姐在一边等着就好啦，不要太勉强自己！

KalinaLeva, goad those Boojums into destroying the load-bearing columns here.莱娅，引导那些伯介姆生物摧毁这里的承重柱。

LevaConsider it done~放心交给我吧~

LennaHeh heh, you'd better leave quickly then, Miss Kalin. Leva and I will have your orders carried out in no time.嘿嘿，格琳姐你可要快点撤退哦，莱娅姐和我一定会很快完成你的指令的。

SoppoMe! Me! What about me?! Kalin, have you got anything for me to do?我呢！我呢！格琳有什么要交给我的吗？

Kalina...Just stay out of harm's way. Don't overextend yourself.……注意安全，不要过载。

SoppoLeave it to me! I've just finished warming up~ I'm feeling great—交给我吧！我才刚热身完毕~状态绝佳——

(Gunfire, tearing flesh, falling stone—sounds cascade without pause through the Paradeus laboratory.)（枪声、撕裂声、落石声源源不断地在帕拉蒂斯的实验室中回荡着。）

(To keep Kalina and Lenna safe as they work, Leva and Soppo fight in concert, herding two Boojums into one spot to kill them together.)（为了确保格琳娜以及莱娜的搬运安全，莱娅、索普合作着，把两只出现的伯介姆生物驱赶到一起解决。）

(Two Dolls are barely enough to keep stray rounds away from the area where Kalina is working. Thus, Leva has to keep gambling, using gunfire to lure the Boojums' movements, which cuts deeply into their eradication efficiency.)（两个人的力量还是有些勉强，特别是为了确保战斗中四射出来的流弹不波及格琳娜所在的区域，莱娅不得不多次冒险用火力引导伯介姆的行动路线，这极大限制了她们的攻击效率。）

LevaFaster, everyone. If the blood tentacles appear now, our only option will be to retreat.加快速度，各位。一旦血触手出现，以我们现在的情况，最优解只有全员撤退。

LevaKalin, you have fifteen minutes at most. After fifteen minutes, we pull out no matter how much data you've gathered. No exceptions.格琳，最多再有十五分钟。十五分钟后，无论资料收集了多少，我们必须强制撤退。

LevaYour life comes first.你的人身安全是最重要的。

KalinaI know. We'll leave at once if the blood tentacles appear. URNC support is already on the way. We'll return once the reinforcements arrive.我知道。如果血触手出现，我们立刻撤离。罗联的援助已经在路上了，等到援军出现，我们再来。

KalinaHow is the demolition of the load-bearing columns going?承重柱破坏得怎么样了？

LevaNot set-up in the best way, but it'll do to cover our retreat.有些勉强，不过，作为撤退的保底手段没问题。

LevaAs for the precious data we can't move in time, let's hope that the gluttonous blood tentacles don't eat it~至于来不及转移的宝贵资料，希望到时候不会被那只贪吃的血触手一起吃掉吧~

(Even as she banters, Leva is rapidly sending all gathered intel and coordinates to the Commander through her neural cloud. Given that they're under Red Zone conditions, she can only pray that the info arrives intact.)（一边和其他人打着趣，莱娅在心智空间中快速将目前为止的情报与坐标发送给了指挥官——只是，在红区的通讯状况下，不管有多先进的线路也只能祈祷信息能准确投递。）

LevaI'm afraid the experiments here go further than we imagined. Since it's Paradeus, the only safe assumption is the worst one.恐怕这里的试验比我们想象的更为夸张，和帕拉蒂斯有关的实验，只能从最坏的角度推测了吧。

(A feeling no Doll ought to have rises in Leva's neural cloud, something like a premonition of terror, of a thing that should not exist in this world.)（身为人形本不应有的感情在莱娅的心智中升起——那似乎是对某种不应该存在于此世之物的恐怖预感。）

(A huge transport aircraft flies through the grey sky, rushing Mangi Security's employees toward the Red Zone.)（灰暗的天空下，巨大的运输机在空中掠过，携带着来自曼尼安保的雇员快速向红区进发。）

(Lentine sits in her personal anti-radiation vehicle, calmly leafing through the latest intel reports from the Yellow Zone research team.)（兰汀正坐在她专属的防辐射车辆内，淡然地翻看着从黄区科研团传来的最新情报。）

KennyAdjutant Lentine, we'll soon reach the boundary between the Yellow and Red Zone.兰汀副官，我们很快就到黄区靠近红区的边缘了。

LentineMm. Move further in. Get as close to the Red Zone as we can.嗯，再往里面开一些，能多靠近红区就多靠近红区。

KennyUnderstood. For safety, we can only approach to the aircraft's radiation-tolerance limit. Any deeper, and the intense radiation will risk irreversible damage to a non-specialized plane.好，为了确保安全，我们只能尽量靠近到载具的极限抗辐射区域。再往里走，强辐射可能会对非特种飞机造成不可逆的影响。

KennyThe coordinates Lisa gave us suggest that reaching the research team's temp base shouldn't be a problem.从丽萨给的坐标点来看，抵达科研团队的暂时根据地应该不成问题。

(Lentine vetoes the proposal without even looking up.)（兰汀头也不抬地否决了这个提议。）

LentineWe're not going there.不去那。

KennyBut...可……

LentineOur mission is to find their missing scientists. There's nothing to gain at that base camp. Don't forget, the deeper mission is to beat the URNC's other rescuers to the punch and secure the vital first-hand intelligence.我们的任务是搜索她们走丢的科学家，去那个大本营毫无意义。别忘了，更深层的任务是抢在罗联其他救援人员来之前，率先获得重要的一手情报。

LentineDon't waste time on things that don't matter.别把时间浪费在不重要的事情上。

KennyThere are other rescue teams besides us?除了我们还有别的救援团队？

LentineDid you really think Mangi Security turned into a charity for the URNC? Or that we're just their deputized cronies?你不会真的以为，曼尼安保变成了罗联下属的慈善机构了吧？还是说，你觉得我们算罗联的代行者了？

LentineThe URNC's political machinery is so tangled that approving a single cross-zone rescue takes them days of process.罗联内部复杂的政治体系，光一个跨区救援的流程审批就够他们走好几天的了。

LentineThey came to Mangi Security because we respond FAST, keep the employer's secrets, and deliver results for money without fuss. Nothing more.他们找到曼尼安保的原因，不过是图我们响应速度快、对雇主情报保密、拿钱办事省心罢了。

LentineAs for the URNC's other teams, they're only slower than us. They outclass us completely in all other aspects, like in intel and connections.至于罗联其他的团队，他们除了响应速度没我们快，拥有的无论是人脉还是情报，都远胜于我们。

LentineEven this research report on these "blood tentacles" exists only because I had Lisa spend real effort prying it out of the URNC while we were flying.就连这份关于“血触手”的研究报告，还是在去的路上我让丽萨花了不少工夫才从罗联那边撬到的。

LentineWe whisk away the people before the URNC's own rescue team arrives, and eliminate all chances of "intel sharing."得赶在罗联自己的救援团队到之前把人带走，避免“情报共享”的可能。

Kenny...This mission is different from what we had before, at least. More rescue teams wouldn't be a bad thing. We're going to the Red Zone, after all.……这次的任务至少和之前的不一样。多一些救援团队未尝不是好事，毕竟那里是红区。

LentineDon't be naive. You and I are just... useful pieces on a game board.别那么天真了。你我都是好用的棋子。

KennyIf I'm a piece, so be it. But you're not, Adjutant. Please don't speak of yourself that way.我是棋子也就算了，副官，您并不是，还请别这样说自己。

Lentine...Hmph. You're right in one aspect. Nobody likes being someone else's piece.……哼。你说的也对，没人喜欢当棋子。

LentineBut to become a player, you need enough chips to sit at the table. What we're doing now is gathering chips.可想当棋手，得有足够多的筹码。我们现在就是在增加筹码。

KennyThink about all the files we've gathered through the years! Find the right person to analyze and decode them, and overnight we'd know more than anyone around us.那些过往我们获取的资料！只要找到合适的人，分析、解读出来，我们瞬间就能获得远超于旁人的知情权。

KennyAnd that batch of specimens we impounded back then... if used as bargaining chips, they might even bring scientists to us, willing to help us in research.还有当初扣下的那批试验品……用它们做筹码，也许会有科学家主动愿意配合研究。

KennyWait. You're attending the scientific conference in the White Zone... Adjutant Lentine, did you have all of this planned from the start?等等，参加白区的科研会……兰汀副官，原来你早就想到这一切了吗？

LentineScientists are far harder to come by than mercenaries.科学家可比雇佣兵难找多了。

LentineI'd say our past experience will always come in handy, Kenny. What do you think?过往的经历总能派上用处，柯尼，你觉得呢？

KennyI've always believed in you, Adjutant Lentine.我一直相信着你，兰汀副官。

KennyYou never stop at the glory you currently possess. You're the one who can lead us to a bright future.你从不会止步于现在的荣耀，你能带我们走向那个光明的未来。

LentineA bright future? Heh... I'll seize whatever chance there is. Our current position was never our final stop.光明的未来？呵……我会抓住机会的，现在的位置从来不是我们的终点。

LentineSo long as they need our strength, we'll have room to climb...只要他们需要我们的力量，就还有让我们爬上去的空间……

LisaWe'll be arriving at the destination shortly, Adjutant Lentine~即将抵达目的地，兰汀副官~

LisaWe just detected several intense energy fluctuations in the Red Zone not long ago. The relevant info has been sent to you.我们刚刚调查到红区不久前发生了几次强能量波动，已经把相关情报发送给您了。

LentineWhen was the most recent one?最近一次在什么时候？

LisaTen minutes ago.十分钟前。

LisaIf your main force drives from the landing coordinates, it'll take roughly fifteen minutes to get there. Counting the landing itself, you can be there in twenty.如果大部队从降落的坐标点过去，大约需要十五分钟的车程，算上降落时间，您能在二十分钟内抵达。

LentineToo slow. Kenny, ride with me. Have Igla ready. We'll go ahead of them.太慢了，柯尼，坐我的车，让针做好准备，我们先去。

KennyYes.是。

LentineNothing else to report besides the energy fluctuations?除了能量波动，你没有别的想汇报的？

LisaRecruitment... is moving along! Provided you don't mind me doing a little optimizing on certain resumes...招募……在推进了！如果您不介意我对部分成员的履历做些优化的话……

LentineI have never balked at where people come from or what they've done. Wouldn't the "Talent" from the Yellow Zone treasure a chance to enter the Green Zone more than those born there?我从来不介意他们从哪里来，或者做过什么。流浪黄区的“人才”，看到能进绿区的可能性，不该更加珍惜来之不易的机会吗？

LentineIf this mission succeeds, we should recruit on a grand scale for once.只要任务成功，我们的小队也该大规模扩招一些。

LentineWe can't keep "borrowing" people forever.总不能一直“借”人吧。

LisaNaturally. Speaking of which, when the squad we borrowed from Lonnie heard that this was a Red Zone job, not only did they write their wills, they also threw some kind of "final party" at the bar. Honestly quite insufferable.当然。朗尼那边被借调的小队听说这次是去红区的任务，不但提前写好了遗书，还在酒吧搞什么“最后的派对”，真是受不了。

LisaWe're different, of course. Not one of us has wavered.而我们就不一样了，大家可没有动摇过。

LisaI believe you'll bring everyone home, Adjutant Lentine~ May fortune favor you in combat.我相信你能带大家回来，兰汀副官~祝您武运昌隆。

(The massive transport sweeps low over the Red Zone as ordered. Vehicles airdropped separately regroup swiftly on the ground, assembling into a formidable column that thunders forward against the dust.)（随着指令下达，硕大的运输机缓缓划过红区，被拆分为多节的车辆空投落地后快速重新连接，组装成一支无比浩大的队伍，携带着烟尘轰然向前行驶着。）

(Fast and ruthlessly efficient, the convoy stages a spectacle of pure momentum for a stadium with no audience.)（整个车队迅速而高效，在这个并没有观众的区域上演了一出气势磅礴的戏码。）

(With a low groan, the middle section of one vehicle slowly opens. A sleek car rushes out from inside the giant transport. Judging by its flashy appearance and the roar from it, the machine did not come cheap.)（随着钢筋的低吟，位于中间的一节车辆，缓缓打开了它的内部。一辆轿车快速从巨型运输车内部驶出，从它拉风的外观和轰鸣声来看，这辆车子的造价不菲。）

(Lentine steps on the accelerator, and the engine roars like a wild beast. She quickly overtakes the group, leaving the vast, imposing transport convoy far behind in a few moments.)（坐在其中的兰汀一脚踩下油门，引擎发出野兽般的咆哮，以极快的速度超越了她身旁向前赶路的车队，并很快将规模庞大气势如虹的运输车队彻底甩在了身后。）

(The URNC provided the distress caller's latest coordinates not long ago. Lentine races for the target point and soon has it in sight. It's a compound that looks like a laboratory, with a resemblance to the human-experimentation bases she has seen before.)（不久前，罗联提供了求助者的最新坐标位置，兰汀向着目标点疾驰而去，很快就看到了目标点。那是一座看上去像是实验室的区域，和兰汀过往去过的人体实验基地有着相似性。）

(The wind carries the sounds of fighting from up ahead. It isn't hard to guess that a fierce battle is currently under way inside the lab.)（风声中正传来前方的战斗声，不难猜测，在实验室内部正在进行一场激烈的战斗。）

Lentine(Tsk. Why is it always places like this?)（啧，怎么又是这种地方。）

LentineAside from the research personnel on the list, everything else—Doll, soldier, or Boojum—gets dealt with. No mercy.除了名单上的科研团人员，其他的，不管是人形、士兵还是伯介姆，都解决了。不用手下留情。

LentineComplete the mission at top speed.最快速度完成任务。

IglaAs you wish.是。

(The third-gen Doll jumps from the roof of the car to the rubble-strewn ground with her custom-forged blade in hand. Her face remains impassive.)（三代人形神色淡然地从车顶跳到地上，踏在满是碎石的地面上，她的手中提着那把特制的兵刃。）

(Gravel bursts from under her feet the next second. Her figure vanishes from the spot as she plunges into the laboratory like a thunderbolt.)（下一秒，地面碎石飞溅，她的身影消失在原地，以雷霆之势冲入了实验室内部。）

(Inside, Soppo, Leva, and Lenna are locked in battle with the Boojums when a silver afterimage cuts into the fray like a hot knife through butter.)（实验室内，索普、莱娅、莱娜正在和伯介姆激战，一道银色的残影，如同利剑般切入战场。）

(The Boojum about to strike Soppo with its claws raised high freezes mid-motion.)（原本高举利爪，正打算袭击索普的伯介姆，行动猛然一僵。）

(BOOM!)（咚！）

(Without any other movement or struggle, the enormous Boojum is launched sideways through the air, seemingly struck by an invisible sledgehammer.)（没有任何多余的动作和纠缠，巨大的伯介姆仿佛被无形的重锤击中，横飞出去。）

(The dust settles. Under everyone's stunned gaze, the sword-wielding third-gen Doll stands with one foot planted on the Boojum's head. Her cold, uncaring eyes fixed on the wary crowd before her.)（烟尘散去，在众人惊愕的眼光中，只见那名手持长剑的三代人形单脚踩在伯介姆的头上，那双毫无波澜，冰冷的双眼正盯着眼前戒备的众人。）

LevaOh? Quite the flamboyant entrance. Are you a late-arriving reinforcement... or a new enemy?哦？这么张扬的出场方式，不知道这位是迟来的援军……还是新的敌人？

SoppoAha, an enemy, obviously! Just in time for a good rip-and-tear with me!啊哈，绝对是敌人吧！正适合和我来厮杀一番呢！

(Igla pays the Dolls no mind. The Boojum pinned beneath her foot struggles and tries to attack.)（针并未理睬眼前的人形，被踩在脚下的伯介姆挣扎着向她发动攻击。）

Coincident Fault 阴差阳错

(The red car roars near the lab and swings into a clean drift, stopping right at the entrance.)（红色的跑车轰鸣着抵达实验室，一个漂亮的甩尾停在了实验室的门口。）

(Igla is still grappling with the Boojums alongside Soppo and the others. Lenna spots the unknown visitors first and, without a moment's hesitation, angles herself to shield Kalina behind her.)（此时，针正与索普几人共同和伯介姆搏斗。莱娜第一时间发现了未知访客的踪迹，没有任何犹豫，立刻侧身把格琳娜护在了身后。）

(Click. The passenger door springs open, and a custom-made protective boot steps down onto the ground.)（咔哒，副驾的车门弹开，一只穿着特制防护靴的脚踏在地面上。）

(Kenny steps out in a protective suit. He sweeps his gaze around the wrecked laboratory, over the shattered wall, before finally settling on Kalina who's being shielded by Lenna.)（穿着防护服的柯尼走下车，他环视了一圈一片狼藉的实验室，又看了看被打碎的墙壁，最后才将目光锁定在被莱娜护在身后的格琳娜身上。）

(The driver's window rolls down. Lentine, likewise suited, studies Kalina with an appraising look.)（驾驶位的车窗打开。穿着防护服的兰汀带着审视的态度看着格琳娜。）

LentineCounselor Kalina, I presume?格琳娜参事小姐？

KalinaYes. And you are...?是的，你是……

LentineGet in. I'm taking you out of here first.上车，我先带你离开。

LentineKenny, handle the rest. Have the main force carry off all the materials.柯尼，处理好后面的工作。让大部队把材料都带走。

KennyUnderstood. Withdraw first, Adjutant Lentine.好，兰汀副官你先撤离。

LennaYou people are—你们是——

(Lentine flicks a glance at Lenna. The look in her eyes makes it plain that she has no fondness for Dolls, but for Kalina's sake, she keeps her hostility down.)（兰汀瞥了莱娜一眼，那眼神足以表达她似乎对人形没有什么好感，但似乎碍于格琳娜的面子，她忍住了敌意。）

LentineMangi Security—the reinforcements you've been waiting for. We took the URNC's emergency rescue commission.曼尼安保。也是你们在等的援军，接了罗联的紧急救援任务。

LentineMy job is to bring Kalina back "without a scratch", so get in the car. Don't dawdle.我的工作目标是把格琳娜“完好无损”地带回去。所以快点上车，别磨蹭。

KalinaThat Doll. Is she yours?那个人形，是你的人？

LentineWhat, you know her?怎么，你认识？

KalinaI know her very well.印象深刻。

KalinaShe used to belong to the Conglomerate. How did she end up in your hands?她曾经是隶属于财团的人形，怎么会到你们的手中？

LentineI don't care in the least whom she belonged to before. She's been an asset of Mangi Security from the moment I acquired her.我并不在意她之前属于谁，从我拿到她的那一刻起，她就是属于曼尼安保的资产。

LentineThis world isn't so rich that it can leave useful things sitting on a shelf.这个世界可没有奢侈到能把好用的东西晾着不用的地步。

LentineDone talking? Then stop wasting time and get in.话说完了？那就别浪费时间，快点上车。

LentineWhatever you want to bring along, someone will carry it for you. You don't have to lift a finger.你要的东西会有人帮你搬的，不必亲自动手。

(Kalina's eyes go reflexively to the specimens not yet fully packed. Lentine gives Kenny a look. He understands her tacitly, moving in to help at once, starting to load the equipment around Kalina into Lentine's car.)（格琳娜下意识看了下还没有全部收拾完的试验品，兰汀给了柯尼一个眼神，柯尼心领神会，立刻主动准备前去帮忙，开始将格琳娜身边的器材往兰汀的车辆上搬运。）

Kalina(The same Doll model? No. That appearance, that combat ability... she has to be one of the Conglomerate's custom units from before.)（是相同款式的人形？不，这样的外表和战斗能力，一定是之前财团的特制人形。）

Kalina(Mangi Security has always served the Conglomerate... I can't let my guard down now that they're here.)（曼尼安保向来都是为财团服务……出现在这里不能掉以轻心。）

KalinaI have no reason to trust you.我没有理由信任你们。

LentineI can send you the commission papers. Would that satisfy you as evidence?我可以把任务委托书发给你看，这样的证据，够了吗？

KalinaI have no way to verify if any papers are genuine under present conditions.在目前的条件下，我并不具有辨别委托书真伪的条件。

(The Mangi Security insignia on the car is visible enough. But in a lawless place like the Red Zone, taking a fully armed team of strangers at their word would be the same as laying one's life in their hands.)（眼前人车上的曼尼安保标志清晰可见，但在红区这种法外之地，轻易相信一支全副武装的陌生佣兵团队，无异于将性命托付他人之手。）

(True enough, a group like Mangi Security would take any job. But their exorbitant rates have only ever been affordable for top-tier Conglomerate personnel.)（诚然，像曼尼安保这样的队伍，任何工作都会接受，但他们高昂的收费向来只有顶尖财团才能支付得起。）

(Kalina stands before Lentine, making no further move. At that, Lentine snorts derisively and looks toward the third-gen Doll still dispatching enemies nearby.)（格琳娜站在兰汀的面前，迟迟没有下一步动作。见状，兰汀嗤笑一声，看向一旁还在解决敌人的三代人形。）

LentineHeh. Igla, come back. Your presence is making the Counselor uncomfortable.呵，针，回来，你的存在让参事小姐不自在了。

(The third-gen Doll, still dealing with a Boojum, breaks off upon hearing the order and returns swiftly behind Lentine.)（原本还在一旁处理伯介姆的三代人形在听到指令后，迅速回到了兰汀的身后。）

(Seeing the third-gen Doll go near Kalina, Lenna steps forward with her gun raised.)（眼看三代人形靠近格琳娜，莱娜举着枪上前一步。）

LennaNot one step closer to Miss Kalin!不准再靠近格琳姐！

LentineHmph. I'm not here to squabble with you over nothing. Wasting time in the Red Zone is just suicide in another name.哼，我不是来和你们做无谓争斗的，在红区浪费时间可谓是变相的自杀。

LentineI have a mission. If you're confident you can handle this yourselves, then by all means. But... are you sure you can handle what's in front of you?任务在身，如果你们有把握解决的话，大可以自己解决，但……你们确定能解决眼前的情况吗？

(Lentine draws her sidearm almost idly, the motion loose and fluid.)（兰汀漫不经心地掏出配枪，动作轻松且流畅。）

(Lenna's guard climbs to its absolute peak—)（莱娜的戒备已经提到了最高点——）

(Bang!)（砰！）

(A moment later, the round from Lentine's gun shoots past Lenna and Kalina both, striking the shadows behind them.)（下一秒，兰汀手中的枪射出子弹，擦着莱娜与格琳娜的身旁飞过，击中了她们身后的阴影。）

LevaKalin!格琳！

(Everyone's gaze jerks toward the strange sound from the shadows.)（众人视线猛地被阴影处的异响吸引。）

(Fine red feelers have crept into the room unnoticed. Lentine doesn't stop; she fires repeatedly at the unknown organisms closing on Kalina. The red organisms shrink back when struck as if startled, but they're entirely unharmed. Soon, they surface again, and move while seemingly avoiding the two humans, spreading in a frenzy toward the downed Boojums.)（红色细小的触肢不知何时已经悄然出现，兰汀没有停手，子弹继续冲着靠近格琳娜的不明生物射击了数次，被兰汀的子弹击中后，那些红色生物像是吃惊般缩了回去，但却没有受到丝毫伤害，很快，它们重新露头，有意识般绕开两人，向倒在地上的伯介姆方向疯狂蔓延。）

(Only now does Kalina look around and realize that at some point, the laboratory's floor and walls have been quietly taken over by those red, mold-like threads.)（格琳娜此时才惊觉，观察四周，发现不知何时起，实验室的地面和墙壁上，已经隐隐约约布满了这种如同红色霉状丝线的痕迹。）

(This is identical to the situation Leibnys observed right before the blood tentacles appeared.)（这与莱布妮丝之前观察到的血触手出现时的痕迹一模一样。）

KalinaIt's the blood tentacles... The main body itself must be close.是血触手……那个生物应该就在附近了。

(The threadlike matter keeps moving toward Soppo and Lenna. It swells the instant it touches a Boojum they defeated.)（丝状物质不断向索普以及莱娜靠近，在触碰到先前被她们击溃的伯介姆后，丝状物质瞬间膨胀。）

(The red threads creep up the Boojum's trunks and devour it whole in moments. Blood-red tentacles pop into existence from the threads and, with the carcass as their origin point, race outward in every direction.)（红色的丝线逐渐蔓延上伯介姆的躯干，并很快将它吞噬殆尽。血红色的触手骤然形成，并以自身为起点，以极快的速度不断向四周蔓延。）

KalinaThe blood tentacles mustn't approach more Boojums! Each Boojum it devours multiplies its mass!不能让那些血触手再靠近伯介姆了！吞噬掉伯介姆之后，它的体积会快速扩大。

KalinaOnce its volume multiplies, only heavy ordnance can suppress it.体积倍增之后的血触手，只能以重型火力才能压制。

(Soppo and Leva, still fighting with the Boojums, are caught between the Boojums and blood tentacles.)（原本还在应对伯介姆的索普和莱娅，瞬间同时被血触手和伯介姆夹击。）

LevaSoppo, move!索普，躲开！

(Leva fires in full auto, but it does nothing to slow the blood tentacles.)（莱娅手中的子弹倾泻而出，但这并未阻拦血触手的动作。）

(Once the tentacles finish devouring the Boojums, everyone will be in a far more dangerous predicament.)（一旦血触手将伯介姆彻底吞噬，等在众人眼前的将是更为危险的困境。）

(Crack—)（咔嚓——）

(At some point, the threadlike red tentacles reached the experimental instruments shattered earlier in the fighting. The organisms they swallow cause them to swell at a visible speed.)（不知何时起，细小的红色触手靠近了先前在战斗中被击碎的部分实验仪器。那些被吞噬的生物，正让细线状态的血触手以可见的速度膨胀。）

(Kalina's face goes a shade paler. The blood tentacles must be dealt with immediately. If not, their low fighting strength will mean that they'll end up getting trapped here.)（格琳娜的脸色白了一白，她必须用最快速度解决眼前的血触手，否则，以现在她们的战力，未来只有被困在这里的结局。）

(Kalina looks to Lentine. The woman stands before her car door, watching her with a smile, as though waiting for her to arrive at some conclusion.)（格琳娜看向兰汀，而那个女人正站在车门边笑着看着她，似乎在等待她给出一个结论。）

LentineWe would never interrupt a battle without permission, out of respect for the client.出于对客户的尊重，我们是不会贸然打扰你们作战的。

KalinaWe...这里……

Kalina...need help.……需要帮助。

LentineYou may have forgotten something.你可能忘了什么。

KalinaPlease... help me.请……帮帮我。

LentineSure. I'm glad to be of help, Counselor Kalina.当然没问题，能帮到你，我很高兴，格琳娜参事小姐。

LentineGet back to your own vehicle. I will settle things here.回你车上去，这里我来解决。

LentineTrust the professionals, if you would.请相信，专业人士。

The Great Game 合纵连横

(Lentine gives Kalina a look. The commanding aura in it allows no argument.)（兰汀给了格琳娜一个眼神，那眼神包含着不容置疑的命令。）

(With confirmation that the newcomers really are here to rescue them, Kalina grits her teeth and withdraws under escort, returning ahead of the others to her own anti-radiation vehicle, though she stays in contact with everyone.)（确认对方的来意确实是以救援为目的，格琳娜咬了咬牙，在护送下率先撤离战场，先行返回了自己的防辐射车辆内部，但仍然与众人保持联系。）

(Close behind, the roar of engines thickens around them, and a massive armed force of Mangi Security floods in to surround the laboratory stronghold, their firepower plainly far beyond anything her own side carries. Over the comms, Kalina calms the others—no sudden moves for now, cooperate with the evacuation.)（紧接着，周围传来更加密集的引擎轰鸣声，大批曼尼安保的武装队伍如潮水般包围了实验室据点，对方的火力武装显然远远强于己方所携带的军备。格琳娜在通讯中安抚众人暂且不要轻举妄动，配合撤离。）

(The blood tentacles' red threads keep spreading, yet Lentine's bullets always arrive before they can reach their "food".)（血触手的红色痕迹正在蔓延，每逢触手靠近“食物”之前，兰汀的子弹总能先一步抵达。）

(Under Lentine's order, Igla fights with the blood tentacles while Leva, Soppo, and Lenna haul the Boojums away from them.)（针接到兰汀的指令，率先与血触手缠斗起来。莱娅、索普、莱娜将伯介姆往触手相反的方向转移。）

LennaWe could just finish off the Boojums, but then their carcasses would become blood tentacle food.虽然可以直接解决掉伯介姆，但伯介姆的尸体又会成为血触手的粮食。

LennaWhat a pain—好麻烦——

KalinaBurn the remaining specimens.放火烧掉那些残存的实验品。

KalinaThey're food sources for the blood tentacles too.它们也是血触手的粮食之一。

LennaLeave it to me, Miss Kalin~包在我身上，格琳姐~

(Flames spread within the lab as Lenna tries to drive the blood tentacles back with fire. The tentacles retreat only for a moment. Rearing upright like a snake, they realize that they can snatch food from above. The fire seems to be nothing more than a nuisance to them, dealing no actual harm.)（火焰从实验室中开始燃烧，莱娜尝试用火焰逼退血触手，血触手只是暂时退开，直立起身子后，依旧会从高处掠夺食物，火焰对它似乎只是困扰，而不会造成实际的伤害。）

(A tremendous roar echoes outside Kalina's vehicle. She watches as a force of overwhelming scale rushes toward her position at top speed.)（周围传来巨大的轰鸣声，格琳娜坐在车内，看到不远处一支声势浩大的队伍正以极快的速度向她的方向推进。）

(Squad after squad in anti-radiation gear push into the lab, armed to the teeth. Mangi Security's forces soon remove the danger posed with overwhelming firepower.)（身着防辐射服装的多支队伍，全副武装地向内推进，很快，大批曼尼安保的武装队伍便以碾压之势，缓解了几人的窘境。）

LentineIgla, pick up the pace.针，速度加快。

LentineAlpha squad, assist with the remaining Boojum creatures. Bravo and Echo, establish a perimeter and prioritize hauling out the materials. Charlie, Delta, Foxtrot, provide suppressing fire. Eliminate any unidentified organisms that get close.Alpha小队协助处理残余伯介姆生物，Bravo队、Echo队设置警戒区域，优先搬运资料，Charlie队 、Delta队、Foxtrot队，火力压制，处理掉靠近这边的不明生物。

Mangi Security Team LeaderYes, ma'am!是！

(Fast, efficient, cold. A few short commands, and Lentine's forces begin to work like a precise, well-oiled machine.)（快捷、高效、冷酷，仅是几个简短的指令，兰汀手下的队伍便精密地运转起来。）

(The remaining Boojum carcasses are hauled off at speed while numerous squads attack the blood tentacles, stalling their expansion for the moment.)（残存的伯介姆身躯被快速搬运，多支小队接连对血触手发动攻击，暂缓了对方的进一步扩张。）

(A ring of flame surrounds the blood tentacles on all sides. They try to escape, but the gunfire turns them back every time.)（一张由火焰构成的包围圈将血触手四周全部围住，血触手挣扎着想要逃离，却总是被火力阻拦。）

LentineIgla, sever every vein on the ground.针，地上的脉络全部切断。

(Lentine notices the blood-red veins on the ground. Remembering that this is the blood tentacles' original state before growth, she orders Igla to put all her effort into destroying the red veins spreading in from the distance.)（兰汀留意到地上血红色的脉络，联想到最开始血触手以这种方式出现，便下令让针将全部精力用于破坏从远处蔓延而来的红色脉络。）

(The blood tentacles wither and shrink as more veins are severed.)（随着越来越多的脉络被切断，血触手的体积骤然开始缩小。）

Mangi Security Team LeaderIt's working! The enemy's strength is dropping!有用，敌人的威力被削弱了！

(More squads turn their gunfire on the red veins underfoot. The veins, under attack, shrink rapidly and shift away.)（越来越多的小队对地下的红色脉络发动攻击，那些脉络在被攻击后迅速缩小、转移。）

(Amidst the boisterous combat, more and more rocks fall from the lab ceiling. Lentine notices that Kalina's subordinates are already quickly retreating.)（轰鸣声中，区域的落石越来越多，兰汀注意到格琳娜的手下正在飞快撤离。）

LentineRetreat in an orderly manner. This place is coming down.有序撤离，这里快要塌了。

LentineFoxtrot, ready thermal ordnance. Level this lab.Foxtrot队准备热武器，炸了这里。

Mangi Security Team LeaderAs you command.遵命。

(Once Mangi Security's main force has pulled back, Foxtrot squad's heavy thermal weapons bombard the area without restraint.)（随着曼尼安保大批成员撤退后，Foxtrot队携带的重型热武器对该区域进行了疯狂轰炸。）

(Leva watches it all unfold in silence. It bears mentioning that these people have done them an enormous favor.)（莱娅静静地看着眼前发生的一切，不得不说，对方在无意间帮了一个大忙。）

(Mangi Security seems to have no idea about what actually happened in this lab. They are simply erasing it with overwhelming firepower, just hoping to put an end to the problem for good.)（曼尼安保似乎并不知道这个实验室真正发生了什么，只是出于彻底解决麻烦的角度，采用惊人的火力对其进行完全性的摧毁。）

(The once sizeable laboratory is reduced to rubble in moments, burying the blood tentacles along with it.)（原本颇大的实验室在顷刻之间化为了一片废墟，将血触手彻底掩埋于其中。）

(The specimens, the enemies, and the creatures that have been summoned here—nothing could survive under bombardment that relentless.)（那些试验品、敌人，连同被召过来的生物，在接连不断的轰炸下，想必无法存活。）

(Watching the red filaments vanish rapidly from sight, Lentine stops the bombardment.)（兰汀看着不远处已经快速消失在她眼前的红色丝线，叫停了轰炸。）

LentineRegroup in place. We retreat as soon as possible.原地整顿，尽快撤离。

KalinaThank you for the timely help...感谢您的及时帮助……

LentineLentine. Adjutant, Mangi Security.兰汀，曼尼安保的副官。

KalinaThank you for the support, Adjutant Lentine.感谢您的支援，兰汀副官。

LentineNo need for courtesies, Counselor.不必客气，参事小姐。

LentineGetting you back to the lab base is my job. I'll escort you the whole way.把您带回实验室是我的工作，我会全程护送你回去。

LentineDo you trust me now?现在，你相信我了吗？

KalinaI can't go back just yet.我暂时不能回去。

LentineTurning your back on a safe, comfortable White Zone office to dig through the Red Zone in person... you have my respect, really.放着白区那种安全舒适的办公室不待，想亲自深入红区调查，值得我的赞叹。

LentineBut nothing is worth more than a life, and yours is worth more than most.不过没有什么比生命更值钱，而你的生命比很多人都要值钱。

LentineSomeone else may end up paying the ultimate price if you run into danger.你一个人遇险，死的或许就是别人。

Kalina...I have to obtain those materials. This place hides truths that can only be found here.……我必须取得那些资料。有些真相，只有在这里才能看到。

LentineIs there anything you can't grab with a counselor's clearance? There's no need to endanger yourself so far from home. This is hardly in style for a White Zone "bigshot", no?以参事小姐的权限和情报，还有获得不到的资料吗？没必要大老远亲自深入险境，这可不符合白区“大人物”的作风吧。

KalinaThis is different. I need firsthand evidence that is definitely correct, untouched by anyone's tampering. This is the only way for me... to avoid getting deceived.这不一样。我必须获得绝对正确、且未经任何人掩盖和篡改的第一手证据。只有这样才能……不被欺骗。

(Lentine lets out a lighthearted laugh.)（兰汀发出一声轻笑。）

LentineHeh. Fair enough. The world does have its share of liars.呵，也对，这世道骗子确实挺多的。

KalinaThank you all for what you've done. Whatever happens, I will remember this favor.感谢你们的付出。无论如何，这份人情我会牢记于心的。

LentineSpare me the verbal gratitude. Doing the job I've been paid to do has always been my style. So why don't we talk about something concrete instead?口头的感谢就不必了，收钱办事，这是我一贯的风格，所以不如来聊点实际的吧？

LentineFirst... to make sure that we all leave this area "alive", I'd say a little intel-sharing would be wonderful.首先……为了确保我们能够“活着”离开这片区域，我觉得，有些情报共享一下是好事。

LentineFor instance, those materials in your vehicle, the ones you just risked your life to save. Why not let Mangi Security take joint custody, and we can hand them over to the URNC afterward? Safer that way, no?比如，你车里刚刚拼上性命救出来的那些资料，不如由我们曼尼安保一起接收，之后再转交给罗联。这样更加安全，不是吗？

Kalina...……

(A brief silence is heard on the other end of the line.)（通讯器对面陷入了短暂的沉默。）

Kalina...I'm sorry. Those materials are the one thing I cannot give you.……抱歉，唯独这些资料，我无法交给你。

LentineHeh. Relax, don't be so tense. There's more than enough material left in that rubble for me. I've got no need to rob you of what's in your vehicle.呵，放轻松些，别那么紧张。这里残留的资料足够多了，我还没必要抢你车上的那些。

LentineStill... not many would dare hold their ground in situations like this.不过，在这个关头还能坚持己见的人可不多。

(Lentine snaps her fingers, forcing a change in subject.)（兰汀打了个响指，强行转移了话题。）

LentineI've sent you the URNC's rescue list. Do me a favor and help confirm the current status of these personnel.我已经把罗联的救援名单发给你了，麻烦你协助确认一下现在的人员情况。

(Kalina receives the list of research personnel forwarded by Lentine.)（格琳娜接收到了兰汀传来的科研人员名单。）

(At the very top of the roster sits her own name, position still annotated: Non-Military Forces Administration, Counselor. It has even been specially flagged as an important personage, to be protected with care.)（在名单的最上方，她的名字赫然在列，职位备注依旧是：非军事力量管理局-参事，甚至被特殊标注了是重要人物，需要好好保护。）

(Kalina stares at that title and lets out a long sigh. She's already submitted her resignation and applied to leave NOMFA, yet Kryuger's care for her continues to be present, like a nourishing yet soundless spring rain.)（格琳娜盯着那个职位，长叹了一口气。即便已经提交了辞呈，申请离开非军事力量管理局，但克鲁格对她的关照仍然如春雨般润物无声。）

(She has no doubt at all that Kryuger would find a way to install her in another post, at the first flicker of regret from her.)（格琳娜毫不怀疑，但凡自己产生一丝后悔的念头，克鲁格将会通过其他手段将她安排在别的位置之上。）

KalinaThe list checks out. Leibnys is still missing. I hope you'll help us save her.名单没有问题。目前莱布妮丝依旧下落不明，希望你能协助我们救回她。

LentineNot a problem. That's part of the assignment.没问题，这也是任务的一部分。

KalinaAnd...还有……

KalinaThere's one error on the list. I'm taking part in this mission as a PMC. The "Counselor" part in that file is my past identity. I've already resigned.名单上有个错误。我是以P.M.C.的身份参与这个任务，文件上提到的“参事”只是我过去的身份。我已经离职了。

LentineWhat's this? Afraid I'll hold the favor over you and demand some illegal assistance from your counselor authority?怎么？你是在怕我挟恩图报，想要你用参事身份进行非法协助吗？

KalinaNo, none of that. I just... want to escape how that position had defined me.不，和这些没关系。我只是……想要逃离那个职位给我带来的影响。

KalinaI came to the Red Zone of my own volition. It has nothing to do with my former position at the URNC.我来红区，是出于自己的个人意志，和背后的罗联并无任何关系。

LentineHow interesting. The Green Zone is full of people who'd do anything to claw their way into the URNC government. And here you are, standing at what most of them would call the finish line, hoping to throw everything away.真有意思，绿区多得是人想要拼尽一切挤进罗联政府。你倒是有趣，明明已经到达了许多人的终点，却要亲自抛弃掉。

LentineMy guess... is that the URNC's systems haven't updated your status yet? I only received this list shortly before departure. Nothing else would explain an error in that document.我猜……罗联的体系内还没更新你的最新状态？这份名单是我在出发不久前才拿到的。只有这种情况，能解释罗联名单中产生错误的原因。

Kalina...Maybe. Or the paperwork simply hasn't synced yet.……或许吧，也可能是手续没有同步完成。

LentineWould you indulge my curiosity? A post like that is never something backdoor connections alone can buy, especially at your age.可以让我满足一下好奇心吗？以你的年龄，这样的职位绝对不是走后门就能拿到的。

LentineWhat did it do to offend you? Housing too shabby? Cafeteria food too awful?它有哪里惹你生气了，住宿环境太差？食堂的餐饮太难吃？

Kalina...Counselor or not, I am eternally a pawn on the game board if I stay in that position.只要我还在那个位置上……就算我是罗联的参事，说到底也只是一颗棋子罢了。

KalinaBound hand and foot, forced to fight the people who matter most to me, all for the sake of so-called "peace" and the "greater picture".受制于人，为了所谓的“大局”与“和平”，不得不站在重要之人对立面。

KalinaI don't want to live through things like that again.那些事，我不想再经历了。

LentineIn the end, the power a single person can hold is always limited. I see nothing wrong with sheltering under a tall tree.一个人能拥有的力量终究是有限的。我倒不觉得依附于大树有什么不好的。

LentineWhatever happens, keeping your seat at the table is the only way a pawn ever becomes a player.无论遇到什么情况，保持不下牌桌，才有机会从棋子变成执棋者。

LentineThe moment you leave the table, you become nothing at all.一旦离开这个桌子，那才真的什么都不是了。

KalinaTrue. But hope is too faint within the URNC... and the wait might be very, very long... I've never given up hope. I just want to find a place that fits me better.是，但在罗联内部……那个希望太过渺茫，我要等的时间或许会十分长久……我从来没放弃过希望，只是想找到一个更适合自己的地方。

KalinaMy apologies, Adjutant Lentine. I've been rambling about things that don't matter...抱歉，兰汀副官，说了一些无关紧要的事……

LentineSo you're looking for work?所以你在寻找工作？

KalinaThat's one way to put it.这样说也没错。

LentineThen how about Mangi Security?那来曼尼安保怎么样？

KalinaEh? ...Eh?!诶？……诶？！

LentineYou want out of the URNC anyway, and the places you might go are the major PMCs, more or less. Among them, Mangi Security counts as first-rate by scale, equipment, and resources.反正你也想离开罗联，能去的地方无非就是各大P.M.C.了，曼尼安保无论从规模、装备还是资源上来看，也算是业内一流的P.M.C.。

LentineI've done well enough for myself inside it. If you're interested, I could be your referral. With your credentials, a good position is guaranteed.我在里面混得还行，如果你有兴趣，我可以做你的推荐人，以你的资历一定能得到不错的职位。

LentineI very rarely go out of my way to recruit anyone, you know? Wanna think it over?我可很少会主动开口招揽别人哦？考虑一下？

KalinaThat's...这……

(A burst of muffled noise comes through the comms; it sounds like someone about to blurt an objection before getting a hand cupped over their mouth. The line cuts.)（通讯器里面忽然传来一阵类似嘈杂的背景音，像是有人想要出口反驳些什么，但却被人强行捂住嘴切断了通讯。）

(Lentine laughs lightheartedly and thinks nothing of the little interruption.)（兰汀轻笑了一声，并没把这一个小插曲放在心上。）

KennyAdjutant Lentine... Are you serious? You're really gonna recruit a former NOMFA counselor?兰汀副官……认真的吗？你真要招募非军事力量管理局的前参事啊。

LentineWhat's wrong with that? Anyone who comes out of the URNC's system brings some of their old network and resources with them.有什么不好的，从罗联内部体系出来的人，多少带着点以前的人脉和资源。

LentineYou don't honestly believe an ordinary girl with no backing could work her way up to a NOMFA counselor at that age on pure diligence alone, do you?你不会真以为，这个年纪就能做到非军事管理局参事的位置，是毫无背景的普通女孩靠努力工作能达成的吧？

KennyAhem. I get what you mean. It's her connections you're after...咳咳，我明白你的意思了。你看中的是她背后的人……

LentineNot only that. She's rather interesting in her own right. Spoiled rich kids usually don't come to the Red Zone chasing the truth.不仅如此，她本身也挺有趣的，不学无术的大小姐或者少爷可不会跑到红区来寻找真相。

LentineIdealism like that never lasts long. I'd give her two years of tumbling about before she runs into a wall. She'll then crawl right back into the URNC.这样的理想主义总是持续不了太久，说不定在外面摸爬滚打两年，碰了壁，还是会回到罗联内部去的。

KennyThen if you ride her connections into a partnership with the URNC's top brass when that day comes... wouldn't our prospects get really awesome?!到那个时候，如果兰汀副官能顺着她的人脉关系和罗联内部的高层达成合作……我们的前程岂不是更加有希望了！

LentineThat's if... we manage to keep our relationship with her. Her face, though... I keep thinking I've seen it somewhere before...前提……得先攀上关系才行。不过，她的模样我总觉得隐约在哪里见过……

(Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, the passengers in Kalina's vehicle have erupted at the news of Lentine's invitation.)（与此同时，通讯器的另一头，格琳娜车内的众人听闻兰汀的邀请，已经彻底炸开了锅。）

(Lenna flails her arms. Once she's sure the call is cut, she wriggles free of Leva's grip.)（莱娜挥舞着双手，在确定通讯器被切断后从莱娅的手中挣脱出来。）

LennaWait, wait! Don't I remember Mangi Security being a bundle of bad news?! They've got tons of ties to the Conglomerate and Paradeus!等等、等等！我记得曼尼安保不是一个靠谱的组织？！它们和财团以及帕拉蒂斯都有数不清的关系啊！

LennaIt'll be real bad if Miss Kalin goes over there. Wouldn't that be...如果格琳姐去了那边岂不是糟了，这岂不是……

SoppoI know this one! I know! It's called out of the frying pan into the fire!我知道！我知道！这叫刚出狼窝又入虎穴！

LevaThen again, first-hand intel from the enemy's camp isn't a bad thing either, is it? Besides, Nikketa is inside Mangi Security. Join them, and we might even get to link back with her.不过，从敌人的阵营获得一手情报，不也是种不错的思路吗？况且妮基塔也在曼尼安保之中，如果能加入，或许还可以和她顺利汇合。

LevaAnd judging by the number of elite squads that woman mobilized, her standing in Mangi Security must be pretty good.而且，从对面能调动那么多精锐部队的情况来看，对方在曼尼安保内的权势确实不小。

LennaSomething's off. Something is definitely off—Miss Kalin was never going to struggle to find a job, sure, but why now? And why is Mangi Security of all people courting her?不对劲，一定有哪里不对劲——虽然格琳姐肯定不愁工作啦，但怎么现在，怎么还会被曼尼安保的人招揽啊。

SoppoHahaha! If Kalin gets in, I'll sneak into Mangi's warehouses and rob them clean for the Commander! He'll definitely find more time to play with me then!哈哈哈！格琳要是去了，我就偷偷把曼尼安保的仓库搬空！把装备全抢给指挥官的话，他一定会好好和我玩的！

LennaOoh! Now that's our Soppo, clever girl!哦！不愧是索普，真聪明呀！

LevaThat's a nice idea, but no, you may not~ It would land Kalin in hot water.虽然想法确实不错，但不可以哦~会让格琳惹上麻烦的。

KalinaI have no intention of going there anyway.我也不打算去那边。

LevaA wise decision. Mangi Security sits far too deep in the tangle. The only question is, how do we talk that lady across the line out of it?明智的决定，曼尼安保所处的位置牵扯得太深了，只不过，如何说动对面的那位女士呢？

SoppoIf she dares threaten Kalin, then I'll take her car apart! Let her jog home on foot!如果她敢威胁格琳，我就把她的车拆了！让她徒步跑回去！

(The comms unit's lights flicker. It rings, and the call to Lentine reconnects.)（通讯装置灯光闪烁几下，发出声响，和兰汀的通讯再度接通了。）

LentineWell? Have you thought it over, ex-Counselor?考虑得如何了？前·参事小姐。

KalinaAdjutant Lentine, I'm grateful for the generous offer. But please allow me to decline. If I remember correctly, Mangi Security has always served the Conglomerate, so that position... may not suit me.兰汀副官，感谢您的盛情邀请。不过，还请容我拒绝。据我所知，曼尼安保向来是为财团服务，那里的立场，或许不太适合我。

KalinaI left the URNC precisely because I wanted to move freely. So I lean toward a PMC that runs independently, with less capital holding their reins.我离开罗联，本就是为了寻求自由活动的立场。所以，我更偏向于加入能够独立自主运营，受资本掣肘较少的P.M.C.。

KalinaThe resources I could call on would be much less, yes. But at least I'll be able to follow my heart.虽然能够调动的资源会比较少，但至少能够顺从本心行事。

LentineLooks like you already know where you're gonna go, by the sound of it.听这语气，你已经想好去哪里了。

KalinaIndeed, just one tentative org for now. A borderless, non-profit rescue organization.嗯，姑且算是有一家备选。是一家无国界的非营利性救援类组织。

KalinaThat place... might suit me more right now.那里，或许更适合现在的我。

LentineIt does sound like you'd fit in there, I'll give you that.听起来，倒是符合你想要的风格。

LentineI won't force it if we can't come to terms, then. I'll have an escort squad take you to the safe area near the edge of the Red Zone. Leave the remaining search-and-rescue to us.既然没谈拢，那就不强求了。我会派一支护卫小队先把你送到红区边缘的安全区，剩下的找人工作交给我们处理就好。

KalinaWait. I want to go too.等等，我也想去。

Lentine...……

KalinaMy Dolls are more than capable of protecting me. I don't need Mangi Security's escort.我有能够护卫我的人形，不需要曼尼安保的特别关照。

LentineYou are still on my protection list, Miss Kalina.你还在我的保护名单上，格琳娜小姐。

LentineMy mission rating will look terrible if something happens to you.如果你出了事，我的任务评级会变得很难看。

KalinaI have my reasons. When it comes to... the blood tentacles, I know more than you.我有非去不可的理由。关于……血触手相关的情报，我比你更清晰。

KalinaPlus, Leibnys and I know each other well. I can guess at her behavior and provide you with better intel.而且，莱布妮丝和我相熟，我能猜到她的一些思考方式，我可以给你带来更多情报。

KalinaIf you require additional compensation, or letters of recommendation... I'll do everything in my power.如果你还需要额外补偿金，或者一些推荐信的话……我也可以尽力而为。

(Lentine taps her fingers on the steering wheel a few times, considering.)（兰汀手指轻敲几下方向盘，思考了片刻。）

LentineI like deals with clever people. Let's discuss.我喜欢和聪明人做交易，说说看。

Devouring Symbiosis 吞噬共生

(Blood tentacles. This new organism is like something out of a tokusatsu show, a science fiction organism made real.)（血触手，这初次接触的生物呈现出只有在特摄中才会出现的，科幻生物一般的特质。）

(As a Doll, herself a derivative of Relic technology, Robella finds the situation rather ironic. And yet these creatures conjured from Boojum cells... genuinely feel more fantastical than her own existence.)（虽然对身为遗迹技术结晶衍生品的人形，洛贝拉觉得自己会这样想实属讽刺，可这些伯介姆细胞构成的生物，确实比自己更配得上幻想的头衔。）

(The thing could very well be an aggregate of cells, with no intelligence beyond instinct. Yet its impressive density is enough to stop bullets. Its amorphous structure shifts effortlessly into whatever shape best suits the hunt, and even a reinforced frame built to shrug off a tank's treads slowly bends in its grip.)（它们本身应该是大量细胞的聚合体，似乎并不具备本能之外的知性，然而其惊人的密度足以防弹，无定形的结构又能轻易变成利于捕食的形态，连能抵御坦克碾压的强化素体都在逐渐扭曲变形。）

(Robella clenches her teeth against the pressure crushing her limbs, but the harder she struggles, the harder it bears down on her frame. It's a small mercy that the third-gen Doll watching has made no move to attack her, content to savor the sight of her bound and helpless, a mocking smile on her face.)（洛贝拉咬紧牙关，抵抗着肢体上承受的压力，但她越是挣扎，素体承受的压力也越大。所幸，那位旁观的三代人形并未对她主动发动攻击，只是带着戏谑的笑容欣赏着她被枷锁束缚的狼狈模样。）

Robella(This thing seems to run on basic instinct. It won't understand what I'm planning...)（这个生物似乎只有最基础的本能，无法理解我的意图……）

(Robella moves her fingers, straining incessantly toward the gun lodged in the blood tentacles, close yet never quite in reach.)（洛贝拉挪动着手指，不断尝试去抓取那把近在咫尺、卡在血触手身上的枪支，却始终无法成功。）

(The tentacles' movement slows all of a sudden, and that nauseating sensation of being dragged gradually fades.)（忽然，触手的移动速度慢了下来，那股令人不适的拖拽感逐渐消失。）

Robella(I need to get out of here, fast, and find some way to locate Leibnys.)（得快点找机会出去，想办法找到莱布妮丝。）

Robella(I can't confirm the enemy's manpower yet... but if I find a chance to break out, Soppo will come and bring reinforcements, even if I only manage to send my coordinates.)（还不能确认敌人有多少……但只要能够找到机会突围，哪怕只是把坐标信息发送出去，索普一定会带着援军过来。）

(Her frame stretches to its limit. Her fingertips reach the gun. Robella grits her teeth and, by friction alone, works the weapon gradually into her grip.)（素体几乎伸展到了极限，指尖确实传来枪械的触感，洛贝拉咬紧牙关，依靠摩擦力逐步掌握住武器。）

Robella(Just... a little... more...!)（就差……一点点了……！）

(The tentacles lose their grip all of a sudden.)（就在此刻，触手的包围毫无预兆地解开了。）

(Robella doesn't hesitate for even an instant. The moment she's free, she leaps like a launched arrow, diving to snatch up her gun.)（洛贝拉没有丝毫迟疑。在束缚消失的一瞬间，她整个人如同离弦之箭般鱼跃向前，一把抓住了自己的枪。）

(She rides the momentum into a forward roll whilst adjusting her posture, coming up into a half-kneel. Her muzzle immediately points toward the vulnerable parasol-carrying third-gen Doll nearby.)（紧接着，她借势一个前滚翻调整姿态，半跪在地，枪口瞬间锁定了不远处那个正撑着阳伞、似乎毫无防备的三代人形。）

(BANG!!)（砰！！）

(The bullet never reaches its target.)（然而，子弹并未如愿触及到目标的身体。）

(Crisp metallic impacts echo through the empty cavern. The rounds strike the delicate-looking lace parasol, raise sparks, but are flicked away mercilessly.)（一声声清脆的金属碰撞声在空旷的岩洞中回荡。子弹击打在看似脆弱的蕾丝伞上，却激起了一串火花，随即被毫不留情地弹开。）

(The canopy tilts slowly aside, revealing Darture's mocking face. She was clearly ready for it; she hasn't shifted her feet so much as an inch.)（伞面缓缓移开，露出了黑眼那张带着戏谑的脸。她似乎早有防备，甚至连脚步都没有移动半分。）

DartureI really can't let my guard down around you, can I, my se~nior~?真是一点不能大意呢，你说对吧？前·辈。

(Robella ignores the taunt. With the ambush thwarted, she makes the decision to retreat immediately.)（洛贝拉没有理会她的嘲讽，突袭未中，她当机立断，借助空隙迅速向后撤退。）

(This is no time for a drawn-out duel. Finding Leibnys' whereabouts is what really matters.)（眼下的情况不适合与敌人产生拉锯战，及时找到莱布妮丝的下落才是最重要的任务。）

(Robella sweeps her surroundings, aided by faint lighting. This appears to be an underground solution cave, with an unsettling smell hanging thick in the air.)（借助微弱的光线，洛贝拉迅速扫描着周围的环境。这里似乎是一个地下溶洞，空气中依旧弥漫着那股令人不安的气味。）

Robella(Is this the organisms' nest?)（这里是这些生物的巢穴？）

DartureDon't run~ Otherwise I'll have to waste effort finding you again.别乱跑呀，不然，我还得费力气去找你呢。

(Darture's jeer is heard from behind, sugary yet ice-cold. Robella doesn't slow down at all. She swerves around a bend and sprints for a faint gleam of light in the distance.)（后方传来黑眼甜腻却冰冷的奚落声。洛贝拉完全没有停下脚步，她猛地转过一个弯，冲着不远处有些许亮光的方向奔跑。）

(As she rushes out of the cave, Robella scans her surroundings and finally gets a clear look at the terrain.)（冲出洞口，洛贝拉环视四周，看清了周围的环境。）

(Above and not far off is one rather narrow path, which connects to the mountainside. Between the two mountains lies a vast basin. Aside from the cave she left from, she finds that the smaller mountain nearby is also riddled with cave openings leading who knows where.)（不远处的上方有一条极为狭窄的道路连接了山体，两座山体之间是一块巨大的凹地，除了她目前所处的山洞，不远处的小山内部也有多个不知通往何处的洞口。）

Robella(No good. There aren't signal base stations here at all. I can't reach Soppo and the others... I need to find high ground.)（不行，这里根本没有信号基站，联络不上索普她们……得想办法去高处寻找。）

(Splat... splat...)（啪嗒……啪嗒……）

(From somewhere nearby comes a rhythmless, slick slapping, threaded with the eerie sound of liquid being squeezed.)（不远处忽然传来一阵毫无节奏的、湿滑的拍打声，夹杂着液体被挤压的怪异声响。）

(Robella is on guard. The sound is very near. But for her companions' sake, and knowing full well that her search entails danger, she moves toward it anyway, one careful step at a time.)（洛贝拉提高了警惕，那声音离她很近，出于对同伴的关心，即便探索任务注定充满危险，可她仍然向发声的区域一步步靠近。）

RobellaWhat... is this?这是……什么？

(In an open stretch of ground lies a deep-red mass, slowly writhing like some massive organ.)（在一个空旷的区域之内，深红色、如同巨大脏器般的不明物体正在缓缓蠕动。）

(Robella thinks for a moment that the silhouette looks like the discarded half of a hatched "egg"—the husk left behind by its occupant. But if you look at it again, it is actually still alive.)（洛贝拉恍然间，觉得那轮廓很像是已经孵化完毕，被内容生物弃下的半颗“卵”的残骸，只是再多看两眼，它仍然是活着的。）

(It is as if someone piled carcasses and rotting root-stock into a single heap. Countless tentacles of the kind she just fought squirm out from under its bloated, glistening skin, sheathed in viscous, translucent fluid. Some twitch as though in agonized spasms, others wave blindly at the air, as if snatching at prey no one can see.)（它仿佛是一堆被随意堆砌的尸骸和腐烂植物根茎的聚合体，无数条刚才那种触手从它臃肿、湿润的表皮下钻出，它们覆盖着黏稠的半透明体液，有的像是在痛苦痉挛般抽搐，有的则盲目地在空中挥舞，仿佛在捕捉看不见的猎物。）

(A few stray tentacles slap the ground without pattern, making that thick, unsettling sound.)（而一些散落的触手则毫无规律地拍打着地面，发出那种黏稠、令人不安的声响。）

(Splat... splat...)（啪嗒……啪嗒……）

(Every slap seems to land directly on Robella's neural cloud, instilling an indescribable shudder in her.)（每一声拍打，都仿佛直接敲击在洛贝拉的心智上，带来一种不知名的颤栗。）

(It must have been wounded recently. That's why it's repairing itself through hunting.)（它应该不久前受过伤，并且正在通过捕猎这一行为进行自我修复。）

(Robella reaches her conclusion. To avoid becoming nourishment for its recovery, she moves backward as quietly as she can. The nameless Boojum-thing shows no reaction, still sitting dumbly in place.)（洛贝拉内心得出了结论，为了避免自己成为它恢复实力的养分，洛贝拉尽量放轻动作缓缓向后挪动。那个不知名的伯介姆似乎并没有反应，依旧呆滞地停留在原地。）

RobellaLooks like... it hasn't noticed me.似乎……没有注意到我。

(Robella lets out a careful sigh of relief. As vast and unusual as this Boojum is, it seems to lack both the awareness and the capability to track targets.)（洛贝拉稍稍松了口气。看来这个巨大的伯介姆虽然诡异，但似乎并不具备自主意识或者索敌的能力。）

(When she turns to leave the cave, a detestable voice, the one that takes pleasure in toying with others, begins to call softly at her back.)（就在洛贝拉转身准备退出这个岩洞时，那个令人厌恶的、喜欢作弄旁人的声音，幽幽地在她身后响起。）

DartureMy, my, nice view, isn't it~ Ro~bel~la?诶呀呀，看到不错的场面了吧~洛·贝·拉？

Robella!！

(Every internal alarm in Robella's body goes off at once. She trains her weapon on Darture reflexively, but she doesn't fire, afraid that the gunshot would draw the creature's attention.)（洛贝拉全身警钟大作，她下意识举起手中的武器和黑眼对峙，却因担忧枪声会吸引生物的注意力而没有立刻开枪。）

DartureAre you afraid?你在害怕吗？

RobellaWhere is Leibnys? Where are my companions?!莱布妮丝在哪里，我的同伴在哪里！

DartureShh—look behind you~嘘——看看你身后~

(A chill with no source rises from the depths of Robella's neural cloud; a violent unease, a fear she cannot account for.)（一股没来由的恶寒突然在洛贝拉心智深处升起，那是一种极其强烈的不安和莫名的恐惧。）

(The eerie sounds behind her have stopped at some point, leaving an unnerving silence. Robella turns her head stiffly, only to realize that the previously listless, slackened tentacles now stand fully upright, groping their way toward her.)（身后诡异的声响不知从何时起忽然停止，安静得诡异。洛贝拉僵硬地扭过头，看到原本无序、低活性的触手，此刻正规整地竖立起身子，逐渐向她所在的方向探来。）

(Their tips slowly tear open, revealing a clouded eyeball each, all staring at her with fervor.)（触手的尖端缓缓裂开，挤出了一颗颗浑浊眼球，死死盯着她。）

DartureIt seems quite interested in you~它看上去对你很感兴趣哦~

(Robella looks to Darture. The Doll takes out an exquisite, tiny bottle from her dress.)（洛贝拉看向黑眼，对方正从怀中拿出一个精致的小瓶子。）

(Robella remembers them. This is what the third-gen Dolls used to direct the tentacles now surrounding her.)（洛贝拉记得这种瓶子，三代人形就是用它指挥目前在她身边的触手生物。）

Robella(Food? Bait?)（粮食、诱饵？）

(Smiling, Darture gives the bottle a few teasing shakes before hurling it to the ground near Robella.)（黑眼笑着摇晃了几下瓶子，随后，毫不留情地将瓶子砸向洛贝拉的身边。）

(The glass shatters, and liquid sprays everywhere.)（瓶子碎裂，液体飞溅。）

(Like sharks smelling blood in the water, the tentacles go berserk in an instant.)（那些触手仿佛嗅到了血腥味的鲨鱼，瞬间陷入狂暴。）

(Howls tinged with an ominous air rush toward her. Robella scrambles away and catches sight of the tentacles, which swallow the bottle into their core immediately after it lands.)（呼啸声夹杂着不祥的气息袭来，洛贝拉匆忙躲避，看到触手第一时间便将瓶子吞噬进了核心。）

(Unease looms over her. Robella fires, trying to carve out a line of retreat, but the spreading tentacles have already sealed every path possible. They drag her down towards the cave depths.)（躁动的气息萦绕着洛贝拉，洛贝拉及时开枪，想找出一条退路，蔓延的触手却已封去她的所有去路，将她拉入洞穴底部。）

RobellaYou...!你这家伙……！

(At the cave mouth, Darture gracefully lifts her hem and dips a small curtsy toward Robella as she gets sealed away within the tentacles—a final farewell.)（洞口处，黑眼优雅地提起裙摆，对着被封锁在触手之中的洛贝拉微微行了一礼，做出了最后的告别。）

DartureHave a good wait, se~nior~乖乖等着哦，前·辈。

Devouring Symbiosis 吞噬共生

(A while earlier, near the cave's other entrance.)（稍早之前，岩洞的另一侧入口附近。）

(Cocoon smiles when she hears that Leibnys wants more intel on the unknown organism, and she says that she can grant that wish. Cocoon volunteers for escort duty herself, inviting Leibnys in deeper to investigate.)（听闻莱布妮丝想要寻找关于未知生物的更多情报后，茧笑着说能够达成莱布妮丝的心愿，并主动承担了护卫的工作，邀请她深入调查。）

(Leibnys secretly tries to message Kalina and the expedition several times, but none of her messages receive any response.)（莱布妮丝偷偷尝试了好几次给格琳娜以及科考队发送讯息，可那些讯息都没有回应。）

(As she watches Cocoon walk ahead of her, Leibnys grows more irritable by the minute.)（看着走在前方的茧，莱布妮丝觉得愈发烦躁。）

LeibnysAre we there yet...? It feels like we've been moving for quite a while.还没到吗……？感觉已经行驶了一段距离了。

CocoonWe have arrived, Dr. Leibnys.我们到了，莱布妮丝博士。

CocoonDo be careful. The organisms you're looking for are in our vicinity.小心些，这附近就有你在找的那些生物。

(Leibnys blinks and looks out the window, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.)（莱布妮丝眨了眨眼，从车窗外看向外边，适应着这里有些昏暗的光线。）

(She seems to be inside an enormous mountain cave. The vehicle is struggling over the ground, so she mulls over whether to stop and continue on foot.)（目前她所处的位置，像是在一个巨大的山洞的内部，车辆行驶起来并不顺利，她犹豫着是否要停下车辆，进一步步行前往。）

LeibnysWhere is this? A cave ecosystem of this type shouldn't be able to sustain organisms like that—is somebody feeding them?这里是哪里？这种洞穴内的生态体系不像是能支撑那种生物——有人喂养么？

CocoonWhy not uncover the answer for yourself?你何不亲自解开这个答案呢？

(Leibnys puts on and checks all her protective gear, takes her sample collection equipment, and steps out of the vehicle. Noting her disembarkation, Cocoon and Blusphere both move near her.)（莱布妮丝穿戴好所有的防护措施，携带着收集装置下了车，看到她下车后，茧和蓝雪球也走到了她的身边。）

CocoonIt isn't safe here. Let Blusphere serve as your guard.这里并不安全，让蓝雪球担当你的护卫吧。

LeibnysDon't stand so close to me.别靠我那么近。

CocoonNo need to be anxious, Dr. Leibnys. We are the only ones who can provide you with these samples. Perhaps not even... Professor Persica can find these.别紧张，莱布妮丝博士。我们能为您提供的样本，一定是其他人都做不到的。包括……帕斯卡教授。

(At the sound of that name, Leibnys' head snaps around, her eyes staring straight at Cocoon with obvious displeasure.)（提到那个名字，莱布妮丝猛然转头，眼神不悦地盯着茧。）

LeibnysWhat do you all know about Persica? What she wants, she WILL obtain. All of it.你们懂帕斯卡的什么？只要她想要，一定会得到所有的东西。

CocoonMy apologies, Dr. Leibnys. I meant no disrespect toward Professor Persica.抱歉，莱布妮丝博士。我并没有对帕斯卡教授不敬的意思。

CocoonI only wished to show that the individuals who can provide Professor Persica with the material that she wants... may be standing right in front of you.只是想要证明，那位能为帕斯卡教授提供目前她所期待资料的人选……可能就在你的面前。

CocoonAs I mentioned when I extended my invitation, the Conglomerate's chips always run deeper than anyone imagines.就如我邀请您来时说过的：财团的筹码，永远比任何人所想的都要多。

(Cocoon performs a slight bow and shows a courteous gesture of invitation. Leibnys answers with a cold snort and says nothing more.)（茧微微欠身，恭敬地做了一个请的手势。莱布妮丝冷哼一声，不再多说什么。）

(The deeper they go, the thicker the acrid smell of rot. As Leibnys' party steps into the next cave, their feet stop dead in their tracks.)（随着深入，那股刺鼻的腐败气味越来越浓。当莱布妮丝一行走入下一个洞穴时，她们的脚步停住了。）

Leibnys...A Boojum? No. No, that's not it!……伯介姆？不，不对！

(Even she is shocked by the sight in front of her.)（眼前的景象即使是她也感到震惊。）

(Gnarled tentacles spread across every wall and floor of the cavern like a parasitic growth. Stranger still, their tips are not the ends of plants; each one has formed a twisted shape resembling a human palm.)（盘根错节的触手如同寄生植物一般，遍布在整个洞穴的四壁和地面。更诡异的是，它们的尖端并非植物的末梢，而是形成了一个个类似人类手掌的扭曲形状。）

CocoonHehe. Well, Dr. Leibnys? Is this specimen... good enough for you?呵呵，怎么样？莱布妮丝博士，这份调研对象……您还满意吗？

(Leibnys ignores Cocoon completely. The scientist in her takes over. She pulls out her instruments and starts investigating the ground-based tentacles.)（莱布妮丝完全无视了茧的话。科学家的本能占据了上风，她拿出仪器，开始调查地上的触手。）

(She studies them closely for a long time, then turns her head toward Cocoon.)（她对着地上的触手仔细端详了片刻，之后她转头看向茧。）

CocoonBlusphere.蓝雪球。

(Blusphere bends down, severs a short section from one tentacle, puts it in a sample case, and hands it to Leibnys.)（蓝雪球俯下身，将一根触手切下一小段，将其放在样本盒中递给莱布妮丝。）

(Leibnys examines the tentacle. Its skin seems sheathed in something resembling a plant's cell walls, but a mere touch reveals how hard and tough it is. Never mind ordinary blades, even a chainsaw would likely fail to cut it.)（莱布妮丝观察着这个触手，它的表皮似乎覆盖着类似植物细胞壁的结构，但光是触摸便能感觉到其下方的坚硬与韧性，别说通常的刀具，就算用电锯恐怕也难以割断。）

(But rather than marvel at the Doll's destructive power, she finds herself way more interested in the object in her hands.)（然而比起惊讶于人形的破坏力，她对手中的物体兴趣更大。）

LeibnysThis didn't grow naturally. The wear patterns on the outer shell and growth lines don't match any known organism...这不是自然形成的，外壳的磨损痕迹和生长纹路不符合已知生物的特征……

LeibnysIs this still... a Boojum...? But there's no precedent for an arrangement structured like this...这是……伯介姆……？但还没有这样排列结构的先例……

CocoonAs expected of Dr. Leibnys. Of all the scientists I have encountered thus far, you are the most brilliant and most discerning.不愧是莱布妮丝博士，您是目前我所见过的科学家中，最聪慧和富有判断力的。

(Leibnys shoots Cocoon an irritated glance and snaps back.)（莱布妮丝不悦地瞥了茧一眼，没好气地回道。）

LeibnysThat's only because you've never seen Persica. Don't compare 16Lab's standards to the nobodies you've met.那只是你没见过帕斯卡，少在这用你见过的那些平庸之辈来衡量16Lab的水平。

LeibnysIn fact, I am nothing next to Persica. Stop disturbing my research. Don't you two have anything better to do?而且，我在帕斯卡面前根本排不上号，不要打扰我做研究，你们没别的事可干吗？

CocoonFeel free to research to your heart's content here. You'll be safe as long as you don't wander or activate any radiation-related equipment.您可以在此处尽情研究，只要不随意走动，并动用任何与辐射能量相关的设备，就不会有危险。

(Leibnys waves impatiently at the third-gen Dolls watching her, as though they're nothing but flies to be chased off. She takes her tools from her bag and commences some serious survey work and data collection.)（莱布妮丝不耐烦地挥了挥手，像赶苍蝇一样不再搭理两名监视着自己的三代人形。她从随身包中拿出工具，开始认真进行调研和数据收集。）

Leibnys(The marks of their growth look strange. But this isn't a "plant," or a "fungus"... If it's a new species... But are these really markers of growth at all?)（生长痕迹很奇怪，不过，这不是“植物”，也不是“真菌”……是新物种的话……这真的是生长出来的痕迹么？）

Leibnys(That looks more like acquired aggregation. The Boojum cells can gather themselves, assembling into structures better suited to the environment. No, wait, whether "cell" is even the right word for Boojums or not is still an open question.)（更像是后天聚合的，伯介姆细胞能够自行聚集到了一起，组成更适应环境的结构。不对，是否要称伯介姆为“细胞”，实质上也还没有定论。）

Leibnys(Devouring, assimilation, growth... and... genome editing?)（吞噬、同化、增长……以及……基因组编辑？）

(Leibnys glances reflexively toward Cocoon and Blusphere. The former presents her with an elegant bow. Leibnys turns away, one hand thrown up in a warding gesture, motioning them to keep their distance.)（莱布妮丝下意识看向不远处的茧以及蓝雪球，对方优雅地对她行了个礼，莱布妮丝扭过头，手做出抗拒的动作，示意对方离她更远些。）

(Cocoon stares at Leibnys' back as she buries herself in her research. This human's attitude is atrocious, yet Cocoon feels no real anger toward her. That focused mania exuding from Leibnys is a unique trait of those addicted to knowledge, and this kind of mania is precisely what has led to the birth of Dolls.)（茧看着莱布妮丝专注研究的背影，虽然这个人类态度恶劣，但她却并不怎么生气——那份专注是沉迷于知识之人所特有的狂热，人形就是诞生于这样的狂热之中。）

(Cocoon was not lying to Leibnys when she said she respects researchers.)（茧没有对莱布妮丝说谎，她确实尊重这些科研者。）

Cocoon(What was on our creator's mind when she made us?)（那个人，究竟是抱着什么样的目的创造了我们呢？）

Cocoon(And do we... meet the requirements she hoped for...?)（我们对那个人而言……是否符合她所期望的要求呢……）

(At the word "requirements", a phantom image rises before Cocoon's eyes, one lodged so deep in her Level II it can hardly be washed away—cooking with devotion for "someone", doing the laundry, waiting like a dutiful wife for that person's return, and the strange feelings that come from it, the ones that could be called happiness and warmth.)（想到“要求”，茧的眼前突然浮现起了自己心智底层中几乎无法洗去的幻影——为了“某个人”而努力烹饪，洗衣，像是个尽责的妻子那样等待着对方的归来，从而体会到的那种奇妙的感受——可以被称为幸福与温暖。）

(As a third-gen Doll, she has never once experienced that kind of feeling. And yet those inferior second-gen Dolls seem filled to the brim with it! Is it a mere hallucination of the neural cloud, or is it something they truly feel?)（身为三代人形的自己，从来没有体会过这种感情——可更劣等的二代人形却似乎装满了这种感情，这是心智的幻觉，抑或确有其感？）

Cocoon(Foolish. How could a Doll live like a human? That feeling is nothing but self-deception, and to spend precious processing power on it...)（愚蠢，人形怎么可能像人类一样生活，那种感觉只是自我欺骗，把宝贵的算力用到那种地方……）

Cocoon(...Or maybe, once I've satisfied every last expectation of her who made us, perhaps I would come to feel it too? Not borrowed from some second-gen Doll, but real... satisfaction?)（……或者，在满足了创造我们的她的全部期许之后，我也能产生那样的感情吗？不是从二代人形那里借来的，真正的……满足？）

(Blusphere tilts her head slightly, as if sensing something, and looks toward the way they came.)（蓝雪球忽然间微微侧头，像是感应到了什么，看向身后的方向。）

BlusphereA group is about to arrive. Their numbers are many.有人来了，数量不少。

CocoonLook after our treasured guest. I will handle it.照顾好我们重要的客人，我去处理。

(In the Red Zone, Mangi Security's column moves toward their target location in full force. Leibnys' coordinates appears for only an instant, but by intercepting every scrap of signal traffic in the area, Mangi Security still manages to capture all the information nearby.)（红区，曼尼安保所在的队伍正声势浩大地快速向目标点推进。尽管莱布妮丝的坐标只是出现了瞬间，但曼尼安保仍然通过截取附近所有信息段捕捉到了情报。）

(A temporary signal base station, a special-purpose laboratory, an emergency medical bay... Mangi Security's forces are fully prepared for anything.)（临时通讯基站、特殊实验室、应急医疗室……曼尼安保所筹备的队伍中，所有设备一应俱全。）

(By Lentine's arrangement, Kalina's vehicle rides within one of Mangi Security's transports, allowing the occupants some rest.)（在兰汀的安排下，格琳娜所乘坐的车辆暂时停靠在了曼尼安保的运输车之内，众人得以获得短暂的喘息。）

LennaThis is absurd—a transport convoy at this scale? Parked inside this big thing, our vehicle barely registers.好夸张——这样的运输车队规模，感觉我们车停靠在这个大家伙里面完全微不足道。

LevaJust be glad they aren't super hostile to us~庆幸对方并没有太大恶意吧~

LevaWe wouldn't be able to pull Kalin out of this with just the few of us.这样的规模，凭我们几个，可没办法让格琳安全撤退。

LennaDon't put it that way, Leva!莱娅姐，不要这么说嘛！

LennaSomething this big will never move as fast as us. A road narrow enough will stop this big hunk dead in its tracks.这么大的家伙行动起来哪有我们快，只要找到那种狭小的路，这些大家伙就追不上我们了。

(Seeing Leva nod, Lenna plants her hands proudly on her hips.)（看到莱娅点了点头，莱娜自豪地双手叉腰。）

LennaMangi Security is nothing to fear at all—曼尼安保根本不足为惧——

LentineReally?是吗。

LentineIf we're talking about sheer nerve, then charging into the Red Zone with nothing but a handful of Dolls does beat every member of Mangi Security by a wide margin.带着几个人形就敢闯入红区，从胆量来说，确实比所有曼尼安保的成员大了不少。

LennaLeva, Miss Kalin...莱娅姐、格琳姐……

(Lenna turns a pleading look toward Kalina at the woman's sudden appearance.)（看到忽然出现在眼前的女人，莱娜求助似的将视线转向格琳娜。）

KalinaMiss Lentine, are we currently en route to Leibnys' coordinates?兰汀小姐，我们是否正在前往莱布妮丝所在的坐标点？

LentineThe target area has too many hills and the coordinates aren't precise, so I'll be splitting off some squads to search them. Feel free to join if you're interested.目标点所在的位置太多小山了，坐标不精确。我会拆分多支小队向内搜查。你们有兴趣的话，也可以加入。

(Lentine turns to leave once she finishes notifying them.)（简单通知后，兰汀便转身离开众人所在的区域。）

KalinaWait.等等。

(Kalina walks up to Lentine and moves close to Igla, who stands guard beside her.)（格琳娜主动走到了兰汀的身边，靠近了担当兰汀护卫的针。）

KalinaDo you... remember me?你……还记得我吗？

Igla...My apologies. My Level II holds no memories about you.……抱歉，我的心智底层没有和您有关的记忆。

KalinaBut I can't be mistaken. You're the one who—可我不会记错，你就是那个时候——

IglaNo matches in the neural cloud archive. Our first meeting is today.没有检索到心智存档。和您的初次相遇就在今日。

LentineTsk. Miss Kalina, I understand you may have had contact with this Doll once. However, by the time she was delivered to Mangi Security, all of her neural cloud records had already been wiped.啧，格琳娜小姐，我知道你和这位人形可能曾经有过接触，但在她被送到曼尼安保的时候，所有心智记录便已经被清除。

LentineYou needn't waste time thinking of the possibility of getting any info from her.你不必考虑从她身上获取讯息的可能性。

LentineAs for whatever history you have with Igla's former owner, I have no interest in hearing it.至于你和针原先主人的恩怨，我没兴趣知道。

LentineI'd ask you don't transfer a grudge against outsiders onto me.请不要把你对外人的怨恨，转嫁到我的身上。

(Igla regards Kalina in silence. Lentine has already turned and walked off. The Doll turns to follow her after two seconds of hesitation.)（针沉默地看着眼前的格琳娜，兰汀已经率先转身离开，迟疑了两秒后，她转身跟随兰汀离开。）

Igla(Past neural cloud records...?)（过往的心智记录……）

LentineThose memories are of no consequence, Igla. All you need to do is complete your assignments.那些记忆无关紧要，针。你只需要完成那些任务。

LentineAfter all, you burn more power alone than a whole platoon of Dolls.毕竟，你一个人可比一个排的人形都要费电呢。

Igla...……

(To quicken the rescue, Mangi Security splits into multiple squads before they move into the area to hunt for Leibnys' whereabouts.)（为了便于搜救，曼尼安保拆分出了多支小队，进入眼前的区域，搜寻莱布妮丝的下落。）

(Lentine does not approve of Kalina joining the search in person, permitting only the Dolls under her to take part in the operation.)（兰汀并不赞成格琳娜也加入搜查的计划，只批准了让她旗下的人形参与搜救行动。）

(As information is gathered in Lentine's grasp from various sources, she quickly manages to narrow the investigation down to a few anomalous caves.)（各处情报汇集于兰汀手中后，很快，她便将调查方向放在了几个异常的洞穴上。）

Soppo(Sniffing) Hm? This smell...呼呼呼，嗯？这种气味……

SoppoCould it be...难道是……

(Soppo, who had been trailing Lentine's forces, breaks off in a certain direction on pure instinct. Or perhaps it isn't instinct at all, but an inexplicable impulse.)（原本跟在兰汀部队后的索普，完全凭借着本能向某个方向冲去——或许，这也并非什么本能，只是她自己无法解释这种冲动。）

(Things like a faint scratch, signs of something dragged across the ground, or a familiar Doll's signal lingering in the air...)（是细微的刮痕，还是地上某种拖曳移动的痕迹，亦或者是熟悉的人形残留在空气中的信号。）

(These are clues that no ordinary Doll would ever catch, but they don't escape Soppo's sharp senses.)（寻常人形根本无法捕捉的线索，被索普敏锐地抓到了。）

SoppoHey! Dumbrella! Where did you take Robella?!喂！阳伞废铁！你把洛贝拉带到哪里去了！

DartureNot bad, little mad dog. How about I call you Bloodhound from now on?不错啊，小疯狗，以后就叫你寻血犬怎么样？

SoppoThat sounds pretty cool, actually. Too bad you've got no blood to spill. Come on, let's finish what we started—听上去还挺酷嘛，可惜你没有血可以流，来吧，继续没打完的那一场——

DartureThe companion you're looking for is... quite close, you know.你要找的同伴，就在……这附近哦。

DartureKeep fighting me, and she might just get eaten up~继续沉溺和我战斗的话，她说不定就要被吃掉啦~

SoppoRelease Robella now!快点把洛贝拉交出来！

(The output of Soppo's Remolding Pattern climbs as she clashes with Darture. It amplifies Soppo's strength enormously at full power, allowing her to overwhelm a weakened Darture with surprising flair.)（索普与黑眼交战之际，身上的拟态图谱激发功率不断上涨，全力输出的拟态图谱大幅度增强了索普的力量，以惊人的气势压倒了状态不佳的黑眼。）

(For combatants this nimble, bullets are just a method for pinning the other down. The two Dolls tangle at close quarters, and Darture is the one that takes more damage in the process.)（子弹对于灵巧的双方来说只是牵制的手段，两具人形在近距离展开缠斗，而黑眼在这过程中总是吃亏。）

(She is forced to take one of Soppo's savage kicks head-on, but she uses that momentum to gain some distance.)（她不得不正面承接下索普猛烈的一脚，借着动能拉开距离。）

DartureMiss her that much? Then you can go down and keep her company~!这么想她，那你也下去陪她吧~！

(A thin smile crosses Darture's face. A tiny bottle is flung at Soppo within a millisecond, but a bullet strikes it before Soppo even registers what was thrown. The bottle shatters and scatters the solution in the air.)（黑眼扬起一丝微笑，在1毫秒内将手中准备好的小瓶子丢向索普。然而索普在意识到她丢出的是什么之前，子弹便率先击中了瓶子，随着瓶子被击碎，其中的溶液也四散在空中。）

Darture(Oh no.)（糟了。）

(A rumble is heard. The spot where Darture and Soppo stand are attacked by countless tentacles the next second.)（震动声快速传来，下一秒黑眼以及索普所处的位置瞬间被无数触手攻击。）

(The narrow passage shatters. Darture and Soppo strike at the tentacles attacking them from all directions while still fighting each other.)（狭窄的通道被击碎，黑眼与索普交战的同时向周围袭击她们的触手发动攻击。）

(Red tentacles burst forth and smash open the ground beneath Soppo. She bolts forward into a roll and slams Darture flat on the ground. The rock beneath Darture shatters, sending the two of them down the cliff together.)（四周出现红色触手从下方拍碎索普所在的区域，索普向前翻滚暴起，将黑眼掀翻在地，黑眼脚下的岩石碎裂，和索普一起坠下山崖。）

DartureDamn it—!可恶——！

(Darture twists mid-fall to grab a protruding rock, hoping to swing herself back up, but Soppo seems utterly indifferent to their descent.)（黑眼中途改变姿势，一把抓住了突出的岩块，想要借力翻回山顶，但索普似乎完全不在意坠落的下场。）

SoppoHey! Don't run!喂！别跑啊！

DartureLet go of me!放开我！

(Her body is grabbed by Soppo. The force of Soppo's legs pushing off the cliff face—power granted by the Remolding Pattern—is beyond anything Darture expected.)（身体被抓住，同时承受了索普向悬崖猛烈蹬腿的反方向力，拟态图谱给索普所带来的力量远比黑眼预估的强了太多。）

(This is enough to rip one of Darture's arms from its socket. Boojum cells surface at the torn section, spreading rapidly to execute repair orders.)（巨大的撕扯力量足以拉开机械手臂，伯介姆细胞出现在黑眼素体相连的区域，快速蔓延，执行修复的指令。）

(Darture feels her frame grow sluggish—the recent string of battles has already cost her too many Boojum cells.)（黑眼感到素体越来越跟不上行动——因为最近一连串的战斗，她已经失去了太多的伯介姆细胞。）

DartureHow detestable! If it weren't for...你这家伙！如果不是……

(Soppo and Darture trade attacks and parries at blinding speed, but Darture is forced to concede that Soppo is steadily gaining an advantage.)（索普和黑眼快速交换着攻防，然而黑眼不得不承认，索普正在逐渐扩大自己的优势。）

DartureA mere military-grade frame! If I were in proper condition, you'd be...!区区军用级素体，如果是正常状态，这种程度！

SoppoHahahaha! You look so much better now compared to when you were talking calmly, parasol woman!哈哈哈哈哈！阳伞女！！现在可比你之前说话的样子好看多啦！

(The grotesque fluid mass below senses the arrival of new prey. It wakes like a boiling red sea, and countless tentacles weave together to close around them both.)（底层的怪诞流体感知到了新的猎物的到来，宛如激烈沸腾的红海般苏醒，无数触手交织在一起，包围在她们的身边。）

DartureDamned mad dog...真是该死的疯狗……

DartureGo be food for the tentacles like your companion.你就和你的同伴一起去喂血触手吧。

(Inside the blood tentacles' nest, Leibnys is frantically collecting every scrap of cellular material possible.)（血触手所在的巢穴之中，莱布妮丝正疯狂收集着眼前所有的细胞物质。）

(In the cave, Leibnys notices the blood tentacles stirring into frenzied motion toward some point in the distance. She follows them.)（山洞内，莱布妮丝发现血触手正疯狂躁动地向不远处移动，她跟上生物的移动步伐。）

BlusphereDon't get too close.别靠太近。

LeibnysHurry and keep up. Something's luring them! They always seem to hunt Boojums first. But if they devour organic life, why are they ignoring a human like me?快点跟过去，它们被什么吸引了！它们似乎总是优先捕食伯介姆，如果是为了摄取生物，为什么会对身为人类的我没什么兴趣呢？

(Without a word, the blue-haired Doll grabs Leibnys by the waist and slings her effortlessly over her shoulder.)（蓝发人形走到她的身边，不由分说便直接搂起了她的腰，莱布妮丝被蓝雪球扛在了她的肩膀之上。）

(Blusphere swiftly leaps and carries her away at high speed. Leibnys squirms, trying to grab the experiment samples she left on the ground, but instead sees Blusphere toss something behind them.)（蓝雪球几步跳跃，快速带着莱布妮丝离开。莱布妮丝挣扎着想要取回遗落在地面上的部分实验样本，却见蓝雪球似乎像是往后丢出了什么东西。）

(The blood tentacles, sluggish a moment ago, suddenly attack. A hair-raising sound echoes throughout the cave.)（原本还在缓慢移动的血触手骤然之间发动攻击，整片区域都响彻着一阵令人毛骨悚然的声响。）

LeibnysI don't have all my samples yet!我还有样本没有拿！

BlusphereDon't struggle, Dr. Leibnys. This place is no longer safe for further research.别乱动，莱布妮丝博士，这里已经不适合进一步研究了。

LeibnysDon't think I didn't see that! You threw something and made them active.别以为我没看到，你丢了一些东西才让这种生物的活性骤然加强的。

LeibnysWhat you threw... must be some kind of special "bait" for blood tentacles! You guys must have been developing it for ages to control them to that degree.丢出的……是血触手专用的“饵料”吧！你们能控制它到这种地步，肯定早就开始研究了吧？

LeibnysOr were these organisms made by you guys in the first place?还是说，这种生物本就是你们研发而出的？

BlusphereDr. Leibnys, please stop speculating.莱布妮丝博士，不要再妄加推测了。

LeibnysThese organisms have so many traits that they don't share with ELIDs. Absorbing radiation...这些生物有很多与生骸不同的特性，吸收辐射……

Leibnys—No, wait... the energy readings on my suit just now. They... don't give off the high radiation signature that ELIDs do.——不对……刚才防护服的能量读数，它们……并没有生骸那样的高辐射能量反应。

(Leibnys looks at the Collapse crystals within the nest, thinks of Blusphere's strange behavior, and a hypothesis surfaces all at once in her mind.)（莱布妮丝看着巢穴之内的坍塌结晶，想到蓝雪球的异常行为，忽然一种猜测出现在了她的脑海之中。）

Leibnys(The third-gen Dolls specifically warned me against using high-grade radiation detection equipment.)（三代人形特意警告我，不让我使用高级辐射能量检测设备。）

Leibnys(Radiation energy. Radiation energy... the Red Zone, Boojums...)（辐射能量，辐射能量……红区、伯介姆……）

Leibnys(Collapse crystals condense radiation. These tentacles... do they actually repel Collapse radiation themselves?)（坍塌结晶会凝结辐射，这些触手……难道本身抗拒坍塌辐射？）

Leibnys(That's the complete opposite of my first assumption...)（这和最初的猜测完全相反……）

Leibnys(...No. It can't be, can it?)（……不，不会吧？）

Leibnys(An organism that rejects radiation but is able to move freely through the Red Zone. If that's true, then what would they become once they leave the Red Zone...?)（抗拒辐射的生物，却能在红区自由活动，如果真是这样，离开红区后它们会是什么样子……？）

(A chill climbs Leibnys' spine as she realizes a terrifying possibility.)（莱布妮丝感到一股寒意从后背升起，她意识到一个恐怖的可能性。）

(What if the Red Zone isn't their paradise at all, but their cage?)（如果说红区并不是它们的乐土，而是它们的囚笼呢？）

(Bang! Bang!)（砰！砰！）

(As though extending Leibnys an invitation, muffled gunshots sound from deep in the cavern, threaded faintly with what might be mocking laughter.)（仿佛是为了邀请莱布妮丝一般，洞穴深处忽然传来了沉闷的枪响，隐约还夹杂着一些若有若无的嘲笑声。）

(The gunfire grows clearer, ringing with echoes of metal on metal. Around the final bend, Blusphere instead pulls her away toward a side opening.)（枪声越来越清晰，伴随着金属碰撞的回音。转过最后一个弯，蓝雪球却带着她往旁边的洞口撤离。）

(She hears Soppo's voice for a brief instant.)（在短暂的一瞬间之中，她听到了索普的声音。）

LeibnysGo that way! That was my companion's voice!去那边，那是我的同伴！

BlusphereMy duty is only to keep you safe.我只负责保护你安全。

LeibnysI don't need your help. Put me down.不用你管，放我下来。

LeibnysSop—mmf, mmph—索——呜呜呜——

(Leibnys' shout never manages to leave her mouth before Blusphere hoists her forcibly over her shoulder.)（莱布妮丝的呼喊还未出口，就被蓝雪球强行扛在了肩上。）

(A human's pounding fists mean nothing to Blusphere. Only when Leibnys' eyes go red with fury does Blusphere recall Cocoon's orders and set her down.)（人类的拍打对蓝雪球而言毫无伤害，直到莱布妮丝气得红了眼眶，蓝雪球想到茧的命令才将人放了下来。）

LeibnysBastards! What are you actually after? Hauling me out here alone while refusing to let me rejoin my companions.混蛋！你们究竟想做什么——把我一个人带到这里，还拒绝我和同伴们汇合。

BlusphereThey are not on the guest list.她们并不在邀请的名单之内。

LeibnysGuest list?邀请？

BlusphereWe are taking you to meet a certain... very important lady.我们会带你去见一位……非常重要的女士。

LeibnysSo that's your goal? Who is there for me to meet in the Red Zone? I can't imagine anything aside from Dolls and monsters.这就是你们的目的？红区能见什么人？除了人形和怪物之外，我想不到任何可能性。

BlusphereShe is human. Return to the vehicle and take shelter for now, Dr. Leibnys.她是人类。先回车上躲避吧，莱布妮丝博士。

(Blusphere forces a detour and delivers Leibnys back to safety. The moment she confirms that Leibnys is inside, Blusphere injects the control code Cocoon left into the vehicle's control unit without a flicker of hesitation.)（蓝雪球强行绕路带莱布妮丝回到了安全的地方。确认对方上车之后，蓝雪球毫不犹豫地在莱布妮丝的车辆控制装置内注入了茧留下的控制代码。）

LeibnysHow... What did you do?怎么会，你做了什么？

BlusphereDon't leave the vehicle for now, Dr. Leibnys. I will come collect you shortly.暂时不要下车，莱布妮丝博士。稍后我会来接你的。

(Elsewhere, in the vast underground hollow, a slash of bright yellow fights for her life against a wave of blood-red tentacles.)（另一边，在庞大的地下空间中，一抹明黄色的身影正与数不胜数的血色触手殊死搏斗。）

(Robella relies on her edge in mobility, weaving and dodging through the nest, firing every now and then to sever the tentacles trying to flank her. But her speed has begun to wane, a spent arrow at the end of its flight.)（洛贝拉依靠着机动性的优势不断在巢穴中腾挪躲避，时不时开枪打断意图包抄自己身后的触手，但她的速度已经开始迟缓，明显是强弩之末。）

(The restless tentacles suddenly freeze, then rush toward something distant. Robella, on the verge of wrenching free, runs straight into a tide of blood tentacles instead. They wrap her up and sweep her outward.)（躁动的触手忽然行动一滞，随后向着远处的方向快速奔袭，原本打算挣脱控制的洛贝拉迎面撞上海量的血触手，那些触手包裹着她向外快速卷去。）

(Blusphere arrives with haste and grabs Darture before leaping up to some high ground in a few jumps.)（匆忙赶来的蓝雪球率先将黑眼抱起，几个跳跃，便移动到了高处。）

DartureI don't need your help. I can deal with them.不用你帮忙，我能解决她们。

SoppoRobella?!洛贝拉？！

RobellaStay back, Soppo.别靠近这里，索普。

RobellaThese tentacles don't easily let go once they grab you. Get out of here first. Don't come closer without thinking it through.这些触手一旦缠上敌人就很难放手。你先离开这里，别贸然靠近。

(But Robella's warning falls on deaf ears. Soppo keeps running toward where she is trapped.)（尽管洛贝拉出口阻拦，可索普依旧快速向洛贝拉被困住的方向移动。）

DartureIt's high time I treated you both to a proper feast!该请你们，吃顿美餐了！

(Darture drops another dose of "nutrient" from up high. The blood tentacles, already restless, swell rapidly upon feeding on the "sustenance", and soon Robella and Soppo are completely surrounded.)（身处高处的黑眼再度丢下“营养剂”，原本便已经躁动不安的血触手在吃到食物之后，快速膨胀，很快彻底包围洛贝拉和索普。）

(Robella is now inside the blood tentacles' core. Soppo attacks them furiously with her weapon, trying to carve a path through to her.)（此刻，洛贝拉正身处血触手的核心之内，索普用武器疯狂攻击血触手，尝试开出一条通向洛贝拉的路。）

(The blood-red hands climb and spread, giving ground gradually, drawing Soppo inch by inch toward the core.)（血红色的手向上蔓延，逐渐退开，一点一点将索普往核心区域带。）

RobellaGo! It'll really be over if they grab the both of us.走！我们都被缠上就彻底完了。

RobellaRaw firepower will never break you out. You have to go and tell Kalina everything, even if you're the only one left!单纯的火力根本不够突围，只有你也好，要把一切都告诉格琳娜！

SoppoI'm not going to run away, Robella!我才不会逃走！洛贝拉。

SoppoSomeday, I'm going to get all my companions back by my side!总有一天，我会把所有的同伴……全都抢回身边！

Past Glory 往日余晖

(Beneath enormous spotlights, a brand-new tactical Doll lies quietly in a hibernation pod.)（巨大的聚光灯下，一台崭新的战术人形正安静地躺在休眠舱中。）

(This is RO635's official activation day.)（RO635的正式启动日。）

PersicariaWell then, RO635, all indicators normal. You may now activa—那么，RO635，各项指标正常。你可以启——

??Hahahahahahahahaha—哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈——

(A burst of laughter, brimming with energy and more than a little raucous, comes rolling down the corridor on a patter of hurried footsteps, cutting Persica off mid-sentence.)（一阵充满活力的，甚至有些聒噪的笑声伴随着急促的脚步声从走廊尽头传来，硬生生打断了帕斯卡莉亚的话语。）

??None of you can catch me if I run fast enough!只要我跑得够快！你们就追不上我！

(Persica sighs helplessly and presses a hand to her forehead.)（帕斯卡莉亚有些无奈地叹了口气，扶住了额头。）

PersicariaHey, you lot! No running wild in my facility!喂，你们几个！不许在我这里乱跑！

??I don't care! I don't care! I'm going to be the first one to meet our new member!我不管！我不管！我一定要第一个见到新成员！

(A red-and-black afterimage streaks past Persica in a flash and pounces on RO635 like a cannonball.)（只是一瞬间，一道红黑相间的残影就闪过了帕斯卡莉亚的面前，像一颗粉色的炮弹般扑向了RO635。）

??You're our little sister, aren't you? Come on, wake up!你是我们的妹妹吧？快醒醒啊！

(RO635 only just opens her eyes. Through a blur of light and shadow, she sees a Doll with a smile bright enough to sting squashing her face against the glass of her hibernation pod.)（RO635刚刚睁开眼，在一片模糊的光影中，她看到一个笑容灿烂到有些刺眼的人形正趴在自己的休眠舱玻璃上，脸都挤变形了。）

??Hehe, I'm SOP-II of the AR Team. I'm so happy to meet you!嘻嘻，我是AR小队的SOP2，很高兴认识你哦！

M4 SOPMODⅡRO635!RO635！

(Robella has already burned too much energy trying to tear free of her bonds. The swelling blood tentacles pull her firmly toward the core, trying to absorb her once more.)（洛贝拉在先前已经耗费了太多能量来挣脱束缚，如今蔓延膨胀的血触手以她为核心，牢牢地将她推向核心深处再度尝试吸收。）

(What's wearing down isn't the bionic skin on her frame—it is the energy within her body, and even the reserve charge she carries won't sustain her for much longer.)（并非是素体表面的仿生肌肤——而是自己体内的电量，确实快速消耗着，即使她携带了备用充能器也维持不了太久。）

Robella(So that's it... they don't only ingest organic matter. They can absorb heat as well... perhaps they can even steal electricity.)（原来如此……不仅仅能摄入有机物，实际上，也能直接吸收热量……或许还能夺取电能。）

Robella(I should have seen it sooner. Everything is food to these things. The energy inside a Doll is no different from any other meal.)（我早就该发现才对，对它们来说，什么都是食物，人形体内的能源和其他食物都一样。）

Robella(The serum the enemy dropped has thrown the organism's instincts into overdrive. If this keeps up, even if I'm not swallowed, my frame won't hold against the crushing pressure...)（敌人丢下的药剂让生物本能被大幅度激活，再这样下去，就算我不被吞下，素体也会承受不住挤压……）

Robella(All I can do is... gather up all my ordnance. The energy of an explosion might still open a path for Soppo.)（只能……集中足够多的火力，爆炸瞬间产生的能量也许还能为索普开出一条道路。）

SoppoRobella! Robella!!!洛贝拉！洛贝拉！！！

SoppoYou bastards! Let go of Robella right now!混蛋，快点放开洛贝拉！

(Cracks of light spill into Robella's tentacle-covered field of view. She opens her eyes and sees light shining from behind Soppo, who controls her gun one-handed, firing rapidly to drive back the tentacles closing on her. She uses her other hand to pull at the tentacle trunks wound around Robella's frame with all her might.)（被血触手全然遮住的视野中突然出现了光亮，洛贝拉睁开眼，看到光正从索普的身后落下，她单手控制着枪械快速射出子弹，击退靠近自己的血触手，另一只手使出全力扒开缠着她素体的部分血触手躯干。）

(The tentacles attack Soppo endlessly from all directions. She even opens her mouth to bite savagely into a blood tentacle, her eyes blazing with the determination to drive these creatures away.)（源源不断的攻击萦绕在索普的身边，她甚至张开嘴猛地咬向血触手，眼里满是将这些生物驱赶开的决心。）

(Rip, tear, wrench, shoot... Soppo finally reaches Robella using every method in her arsenal.)（撕扯、拉拽、射击……动用所有的办法，索普还是赶到了她的身边。）

(Before her eyes, Soppo's figure slowly overlaps with the silhouette recorded in the base layer of her neural cloud. Soppo shows not one trace of fear despite the dangerous environment, only curiosity toward the unknown and open defiance.)（眼前索普的身影，渐渐和心智底层记下的那个影子重合，即便在如此危险的环境之中，索普也没有一丝一毫的恐惧，而是充满对于未知的好奇以及挑衅。）

SoppoHmm! This stuff doesn't look like it'd taste good... Owww!嗯！这东西感觉不是很好吃的样子……哎哟！

(Thunk!)（咚！）

(A dull impact.)（一声闷响。）

(Robella steers her frame and lands a surprise headbutt square on Soppo's forehead.)（洛贝拉控制素体，一记意外的头槌砸在了索普的脑门上。）

SoppoThat hurt... I came to your rescue like a hero, you know!好痛……我可是像英雄一样赶到你身边了！

RobellaI told you not to come...都让你别过来了……

SoppoI won't listen to someone who tells me to abandon a companion, even if it's Robella!抛弃同伴的话，就算是洛贝拉说的，也不听！

RobellaI told you before, when things happen, stay calm...我之前提醒过你遇到事情要冷静……

SoppoThe odds of us breaking out together beat the odds of you breaking out alone!我们一起冲出去总比你独自冲出去的概率大嘛！

SoppoHehe, even I can manage simple math like that.嘿嘿，这种简单的算术题，我还是会的。

(Soppo giggles in a silly manner, totally unfazed by Robella's scolding. Confronted by that smiling face, Robella begins to feel a sense of helplessness and reassurance.)（索普嘻嘻傻笑着，似乎完全不在意洛贝拉的指责。看着这张笑脸，洛贝拉心中涌起一股无力和安心感。）

(A look at Soppo's smile would always manage to dispel some of her shadows, be it anxiety or worry. It has been true from the moment they met, and it remains true today, more than a decade later.)（从十几年前的第一面，到十几年后的这一天，每当自己感到焦虑或是不安的时候，索普的笑容总会驱散掉一些内心的阴霾。）

Robella...Do we have reinforcements?……援军呢？

SoppoYep—should be on the way!嗯——应该在路上了！

SoppoLeva and Lenna are both nearby. I run fastest, so I'm first!莱娅、莱娜都在附近，我跑得最快，是第一个！

RobellaRacing for first place at a time like this... What are you, some maiden dreaming of knighthood?争这种第一，你是什么渴望成为骑士的少女吗？

RobellaAnyway, how badly damaged is your frame right now?总之，目前素体损伤程度如何？

SoppoUh... I'm probably... doing better than you?呃……应该……比你的状态好？

SoppoDon't worry, Robella. We're absolutely getting out of here together!别担心啦，洛贝拉。我们一定可以一起逃出去的！

SoppoThink about it, we've been through so many missions together. When did we ever not go home safe and sound? Relax~你想，我们都经历过那么多次任务了，哪次不是平平安安的！放轻松~

Robella(Perhaps I could be that optimistic too if I didn't know about this organism's true nature...)（如果不知道这个生物的本质，或许我也能这么乐观……）

(Unlike the carefree Soppo, Robella is unable to rejoice at the situation.)（不同于索普的轻松，洛贝拉心中对局势的预估可说没有丝毫庆幸。）

(The little bottle the enemy dropped on her way out, based on everything Robella has seen so far, must be an "inducer". Something that catalyzes the creature's biological activity and drives its appetite past all limits. The blood tentacles' volume has already doubled since a few moments ago.)（敌人在离开前丢下的小瓶子，结合之前她的经历推测，正是能催化生物活性，并且激发其过量食欲的“诱发剂”。从刚才起，血触手的体积便已经膨胀了一倍。）

(And judging by their surroundings, those caves whose depths she cannot see may well hold remnant tentacles that haven't yet converged on them.)（从四周的现状看，那些看不到深处的洞穴内，也许还有残余的部分触手未赶到她们的周围。）

(There's no telling when Leva and Lenna will find their trail. Even if they do arrive to rescue them, the number of heavy thermal weapons they carry would only serve to trap them in the same peril.)（莱娅、莱娜不知道何时才能发现她们的踪迹，就算她们赶到，以出发时所配备的重型热武器数量，贸然救援只会让她们也身陷险境。）

(The optimal move now is to find the blood tentacles' weakness from the inside, or some way to suppress their activity, then break out fast.)（当下的最优解应该是从血触手内部找出其弱点、或者抑制活性的手段，从而迅速突围。）

Robella(Everything alive has a weakness... but so far, impact and electric shock have done nothing. We should try temperature at a greater extreme—but which, heat or cold?)（只要是生物，就有弱点……但目前为止冲击和电击都没什么效果，应该尝试下更极端的温度——是高温还是低温呢？）

RobellaSoppo, watch your frame, don't overexert yourself.索普，注意确保素体的安全，减少损耗。

RobellaWe need to observe for a moment...我们要观察一下……

SoppoWe just have to find this thing's weak point, right?!只要找到这家伙的弱点就可以了吧！

(Soppo is fully focused on the enemy in front of her. Attack habits, styles, the gaps between attacks...)（索普的所有注意力都集中在了眼前的敌人身上。攻击习惯、攻击风格、攻击停顿的间隙……）

(Torrents of information pour into the base layer of her neural cloud. With no time for deliberate analysis, pure combat instinct refines her movements with every strike.)（无数情报正涌向索普的心智底层，没有太多的时间一一分析，战斗的本能让她在一次次战斗中自动调整攻击方式。）

(Something is quietly changing.)（有什么在悄然改变着。）

(Like a seed, silently germinating, while the seed itself has not noticed it yet.)（像是一颗种子，正悄然萌芽，而种子本身，却似乎还未发现。）

Robella(This is what Dr. Persica once spoke of, and it just has to be at a moment like this, when there's no way to explain it to her.)（这就是帕斯卡博士曾说过的——偏偏是这样的时候，没法给她作出说明。）

Robella(Which means Soppo's neural cloud must not be destroyed, no matter what. Otherwise, who knows when the next chance will come?!)（这样的话，就绝不能让索普的心智被毁，否则下次就不知是什么时候了！）

(A difference once or twice is coincidence. A difference three times or more is absolutely not.)（一次两次的差量是巧合，但三次以上的差量绝对不是巧合。）

(The places that Soppo fires on give way more readily than the ones Robella hits. Once she picks up on the disparity, Robella sets about deducing the weak points on the blood tentacles.)（索普射击的区域比洛贝拉更容易击退血触手，在察觉这种差异后，洛贝拉便尝试分析出血触手对应的弱点。）

Robella(I can't find it. Their weak points aren't fixed.)（找不到，不是固定的弱点。）

RobellaSoppo, first shot goes to the weak point. Leave the rest to me!索普，第一枪射击弱点，剩下的交给我！

SoppoWeak point?! Where's the weak point~ you disgusting little goo-blob, show me your weak point so I can cut you open~弱点？！弱点在哪里~~~恶心的小黏黏，把弱点露出来让我剖开啊~~~

Robella...Then just shoot on instinct!……凭你的直觉射击！

(Back-to-back fighting has already pushed Soppo's frame into thermal overload. When she throws open her sleeves to vent heat by hand, Robella notices the new device she carries—16Lab's latest trial-model cooling module, developed on the foundation of the Remolding Pattern system.)（接连的战斗已经让索普的素体陷入热过载状态，趁着她敞开衣袖手动降温的间隙，洛贝拉注意到了她搭载的新设备——正是16Lab基于拟态图谱系统开发的最新试做型冷却模块。）

(Coolant of that grade, beyond every ordinary specification, would normally cripple a frame's agility. But for Soppo, who fights herself into thermal overload as a matter of routine, it is exactly the right kind of help.)（这种超规格的冷却液通常会严重影响素体的灵活性，但对于经常战斗到热过载状态的索普而言，却是恰到好处的辅助。）

(Soppo doesn't understand what Robella meant by weak points. She has been acting on the pure instinct provided by her neural cloud's base layer alone this whole time.)（洛贝拉提到的弱点她并没有理解，从刚才起，她就依靠心智底层的直觉做出行动。）

(That instinct is a "premonition" built up from countless battles' worth of experience. The operating logic of each corresponding part is derived from reading a creature's habits of motion.)（那是经由无数战斗经验堆积而成的“预感”，从生物运动的习性拆解其对应部位的运转逻辑。）

(From the great number of "toys" that Soppo has taken apart, the joints have always been the weakest link. Softness and hardness balance each other out in the blood tentacles before her.)（索普拆卸过很多的“玩具”，关节总是玩具核心重要的一环。眼前的血触手，柔软与坚硬以一种均衡的模式相平衡。）

(Dismantle, shatter, master... Soppo moves with increasing speed, as though she has always been destined to know what the blood tentacles will do next and what her response to them should be.)（拆解、击碎、掌控……索普的动作越来越快，她仿佛本该知道，下一步血触手的动作，该做出什么反应。）

(Countless blood tentacles thrash in their nest, exerting all the residual strength left in this region. Oceans of data surge into the base layer of Soppo's neural cloud.)（血触手的巢穴之中，无数触手还在不断挣扎，曾经留在这片区域的残存力量倾泻而出。海量数据涌现至索普的心智底层。）

(An afterimage like a "hallucination", suspended between the illusory and the real, flits silently past like a butterfly.)（介于虚妄与现实之间如同“幻觉”的残像，如蝴蝶般悄然飞过。）

Past Glory 往日余晖

(The last light of the setting sun spills into the dormitory at the Griffin base, washing the floor in warmth.)（夕阳的余晖，洒进格里芬的基地宿舍，将地板染上一层暖光。）

(Soppo and Robella are curled up in the dorm, savoring a rare stretch of rest. But Soppo, usually noise incarnate, seems oddly subdued.)（索普和洛贝拉窝在宿舍里，享受着难得的休憩时光。只不过，平日里总是闹哄哄的索普此时却显得有点消沉。）

M4 SOPMODⅡRO, why do you think we have emotion modules?RO，你说我们为什么要有感情模块呢？

M4 SOPMODⅡIsn't that kinda extra for a weapon?作为武器的话，这不是比较多余吗？

RO635That doesn't sound like a question you'd ponder... What's wrong?这不像是你会考虑的问题……怎么了？

M4 SOPMODⅡBeing with you and 15 always makes me happy, but...虽然和你还有15在一起总是很开心，但是……

M4 SOPMODⅡOnce in a while... I feel a little lonely.偶尔……感觉有点寂寞。

M4 SOPMODⅡThere's an ache somewhere inside me that I can't even point to... What good does that do us in combat?某个说不出的地方，有着说不出的痛楚……这样对作战有什么好处吗？

RO635...I understand.……我明白。

RO635But... the current me can't give you an answer you'd be satisfied with.但是……现在的我还没办法给出你满意的回答。

M4 SOPMODⅡHuh? Even RO can't answer this one?啊？就连RO也回答不了这个问题吗？

RO635That's right. There's still a great deal I don't understand, and I have a great deal to learn.是啊，我也还有很多不懂和要学习的事情。

RO635But don't worry. We WILL find the two of them.但是，放心吧，我们一定会找到她们两个的。

RO635And when we do, the whole AR Team will take a group photo with the Commander.到时候，AR小队集体和指挥官拍个合影吧。

(SOP-II freezes for a second, then breaks into a delighted smile. She turns and scoops up an armful of handmade rag dolls from behind her.)（SOP2愣了一下，随即露出了开心的笑容。她转身从身后抱起一堆手工拼凑的娃娃。）

(The dolls are crudely made, and they've been created from a hodgepodge of materials, but the hair ornaments and little details make it easy to see that their maker had put their heart and soul into them.)（那些娃娃做得并不算精细，材料也是五花八门，但从发饰和特征上不难看出，每一个都倾注了制作者的心血。）

RO635...Did you make all these?……这些都是你做的吗？

(SOP-II nods and, like someone displaying invaluable treasures, sets the dolls on her lap one by one.)（SOP2点了点头，像展示稀世珍宝一样，把娃娃们一个一个放在自己腿上。）

(The first one she picks up wears a red beret and a red military greatcoat.)（她率先拿起一个戴着红色贝雷帽，身穿红色军服大衣的娃娃。）

M4 SOPMODⅡThese took me so much work, you know~这些都花了我很大工夫呢~

M4 SOPMODⅡLook, this is the Commander I made. The likeness is amazing, right?!你看，这是我做的指挥官，是不是很像！

M4 SOPMODⅡThe Commander... isn't like other humans. He always plays with me so patiently, and helps me take the Sangvis Ferri and Paradeus creeps apart piece by piece.指挥官……和其他人类不一样，总是会耐心陪我玩，陪我把铁血和帕拉蒂斯的家伙们大卸八块。

RO635That's because he is a hero. His heart is wider than the sea and as warm as the sun.因为那个人是英雄啊，所以，有着比海更宽广的心胸，就像太阳一样温暖。

M4 SOPMODⅡEvery time I come back from a mission, the Commander welcomes me home and gives me a reward!每次做完任务回来，指挥官都会欢迎我回来，还会奖励我！

M4 SOPMODⅡ...Hehe, the first time I got a reward, I was so happy that I pounced on him and hugged him, which threw the Commander's back out.……嘿嘿，因为第一次收到奖励太开心了，我直接扑上去抱住指挥官，害指挥官把腰扭到了。

M4 SOPMODⅡBut he never blamed me for it. After that, he'd always come and hug me first, every single time!但是指挥官都没有怪过我，之后还每次都主动来抱我呢！

M4 SOPMODⅡThe Commander's the best~ He's the person who understands me most in this whole world. He knows everything about me!指挥官最好啦~是世界上最理解我的人，我的事他全都知道！

M4 SOPMODⅡEspecially during our oath... He held me so tight. I was so happy that I thought I would melt.特别是在誓约的时候，那么紧紧地抱着我，让我幸福得好像融化了一样。

(SOP-II sets the red doll down with the greatest of care.)（SOP2小心翼翼把红色的娃娃放好。）

(Then she picks up another—one with an eyepatch, its hair pieced together from scraps of cloth.)（她又拿起了一个戴着眼罩，用碎布拼凑出头发的娃娃。）

M4 SOPMODⅡThis one's 16! Heh heh, the doll's name is Little Sis 16!这个是16姐！哼哼，娃娃就叫小十六姐吧！

M4 SOPMODⅡ16 always used to say things I couldn't understand, and she was always drunk off her feet... but she always looked after us.16姐以前老是喜欢说些我听不懂的话，还老是喝得醉醺醺的……但是，她一直都很照顾我们。

M4 SOPMODⅡShe was already out there running missions all alone while we were still in training.在我们还在训练的时候，她就已经一个人在外面执行任务了。

M4 SOPMODⅡShe didn't have us with her back then. She must have been so lonely...那时候没有我们在，她肯定很寂寞……

M4 SOPMODⅡShe'll definitely come back when she starts missing us, right?等到她想我们了，肯定还会回来的，对吧？

(SOP-II takes out another one, a pink-haired, distinctly angry looking doll.)（SOP2又拿出一个粉毛，但是表情看起来很生气的娃娃。）

M4 SOPMODⅡThis one's AR-15! You know all about her, RO!这个是AR15！她的话，RO你很了解啦！

M4 SOPMODⅡI call this doll Little 15! Though every time I call her that, AR-15 yells "idiot" and smacks me on the head.我叫这个娃娃小15！不过每次这么叫的时候AR15就会骂我笨蛋，还会敲我的头。

M4 SOPMODⅡBut she's the one who went and blew herself up...但是跑去自爆的她才是大笨蛋呢……

M4 SOPMODⅡI know for a fact that Dandelion secretly calls her a Goliath sometimes.我可是知道的，丹德莱偶尔会悄悄说她是歌利亚哦。

(SOP-II seems to linger on a certain memory, and her eyes turn distant and forlorn. She strokes the pink doll's head gently and sets it down softly beside Little Sis 16.)（SOP2似乎回忆起了什么，眼神有些落寞。她温柔地摸了摸粉毛娃娃的头，把它轻轻摆在小十六姐边上。）

(Then she brings out a fourth doll—a gentle, sweet-looking black-haired doll. Her fingers linger on its face for a long time, and she presses it slightly, as if trying to hold on to something.)（接着，她拿出了第四个玩偶，是一名看起来很温婉可爱的黑发人形。她的手指在娃娃的脸上停留了许久，稍微用了用力，仿佛想抓住什么。）

M4 SOPMODⅡThis is... M4's doll. I call her Little M4.这是……M4的娃娃，我叫她小M4。

M4 SOPMODⅡI... didn't manage to finish it when she was still around. We agreed that I'd give this doll to her when it was done.以前……在她还在的时候，我没有做完，当时说好了，做好之后，要把这个娃娃送给她的。

M4 SOPMODⅡBut... now that the doll's finished, she's nowhere to be seen.可是……现在娃娃做好了，她却不见了。

RO635SOP-II...SOP2……

(SOP-II shakes off the mood, sets the doll down, and picks up the next one.)（SOP2转换了下心情，把这个娃娃放下，又拿起了第四个娃娃。）

(It is a doll of SOP-II with an exaggerated, enormous mouth and an air of absolute swaggering audacity.)（那是一个长着夸张的大嘴，神态十分嚣张狂气的SOP2娃娃。）

M4 SOPMODⅡThis one's modeled after me! I call her...这是，以我为原型的玩偶，我叫她……

RO635Little SOP-II, I'm guessing?我猜是小SOP2？

M4 SOPMODⅡM4 SOPMOD II Jr. "Jr." for short.M4 SOPMODⅡ Jr，简称Jr。

RO635Why is yours the only doll with a name that sounds official...为什么只有你的娃娃名字听起来很正式……

(SOP-II giggles and sets the Jr. doll down in the middle of the other four, as though it's meant to shield the others. Last of all, she places the yellow Dinergate—the one that once carried RO's neural cloud—beside her own doll.)（SOP2开心傻笑着，把Jr娃娃放到了其他四个娃娃的中间，像是要把大家都保护起来一样。最后，她把黄色的兵蚁——那个曾经装载过RO心智的兵蚁，放到了自己娃娃的身旁。）

M4 SOPMODⅡThere! Now the Commander and the whole AR Team are together!这下指挥官和AR小队的大家就都到齐了！

RO635Why am I the only one who's a Dinergate...凭什么只有我是兵蚁啊……

(RO protests under her breath, but there isn't a trace of real complaint in her voice.)（RO小声抗议着，但语气里却听不出一丝真正的不满。）

(SOP-II pouts and explains in a lowered voice, as if afraid of RO's anger.)（SOP2噘着嘴，小声解释着，像是怕RO生气。）

M4 SOPMODⅡI haven't gotten around to making RO's doll yet... I ran out of materials!我还没来得及做好RO的娃娃嘛……材料不够了！

M4 SOPMODⅡDon't worry. Once I've taken apart a few more enemies for parts, I'll make an ultra-large RO!你放心，等我再拆掉一些敌人的试试，会做一个特别巨大的RO！

RO635Why can't you just go and buy some actual, cute materials...?你就不能正经地购买一些可爱的材料吗……

M4 SOPMODⅡBut, even though you're always with me, RO... I worry.不过，虽然RO你总和我在一起……可是，我很担心。

(SOP-II gently pokes the other three Doll plushies.)（SOP2轻轻戳了戳另外三个人形的娃娃。）

M4 SOPMODⅡYou won't leave me like the others did, will you?你不会和其他人一样离开我吧？

RO635...I won't. I'll keep the Commander safe including all of you.……不会的，我会保护好指挥官，还有你们。

RO635I'll always be at your side. And we'll bring M4 and M16 back too.我会一直在你们身边，还要把M4和M16也找回来。

RO635...We're the AR Team, but we're only complete when all five of us are together.……我们是AR小队，只有五个人都在一起，才是完整的AR小队。

M4 SOPMODⅡHehe, awesome! I knew RO was the best!嘿嘿，太好啦！我就知道RO最好了！

M4 SOPMODⅡTh-Then pinky swear! A promise is a promise. We'll stay together, always.那，那我们拉钩，说话要算话，我们要一直在一起。

M4 SOPMODⅡI'll protect the Commander and all of you too! And when 16 and M4 come back, you have to tell them lots and lots of nice things about me, okay?我也会保护好指挥官和你们的，等16姐和M4回来，要跟她们说好多好多夸奖我的话哦！

RO635Mm-hmm. I promise.嗯，我保证。

RO635The AR Team will reunite one day—AR小队，还会有全员集合的那一天——

(M4 SOPMOD II extends her hand to RO635 with a smile.)（M4 SOPMODⅡ笑着向RO635伸出了手。）

(The rag dolls look upon everything unfolding before them. That feeling of being watched over by companions makes Soppo feel like the AR Team hasn't completely scattered yet.)（人形娃娃们看着眼前发生的一切，那种被同伴们注视着的感觉，令索普感觉AR小队从未彻底分散。）

(She has been with them all along.)（她一直在。）

(Even if that possibility is nothing more than her neural cloud's base layer longing for a lost companion, Soppo believes it all the same.)（即便这种可能性也许只是来自于心智底层对于同伴的怀念，但索普仍然相信着。）

(M4 will reunite with them one day.)（M4能够和她们再次相逢。）

SoppoRobella, let's go—we're gonna go find our companions!洛贝拉，走吧——我们去找同伴！

(With Soppo at its center, the cooling module at maximum output bleeds out wave after wave of cold air. A biting chill races outward along the ground, somehow slowing the clawing, biting blood tentacles the moment they touch the rising cold.)（以索普为圆心，冷却模块最大功率运作后散发的冷气不断溢出，凛冽的寒意顺着地面疯狂蔓延，原本在空中张牙舞爪的血触手，触碰到这股升腾而起的寒意，动作居然逐渐迟缓下来。）

(A film of thin ice spreads across some of the tentacles' surfaces, and they begin to twitch stiffly.)（一些触手表面迅速结出一层薄冰，开始僵硬地抽搐起来。）

(Even though they are in the midst of a hopeless situation, watching Soppo move gives Robella the courage to escape.)（虽然身处绝境，但洛贝拉看着眼前索普的身影，产生了可以撤离的希望。）

(In preparation for the Red Zone mission, 16Lab reinforced both their frames across the board. Persica did it offhandedly mostly just to gather data, but now it has unexpectedly become the trump card their lives depend on.)（为了应对红区任务，16Lab对他们的素体进行了统一强化。这本是帕斯卡为了收集数据而随手做的准备，却意外成为了两人此刻赖以生存的底牌。）

Robella(Extreme cold confirmed effective! If this goes on, we'll be able to retreat... At the very least, I'll make sure Soppo...)（极低温确认有效！这样下去一定有办法可以撤离……至少，可以让索普……）

(Bang!)（砰！）

(Soppo fires again, her bullet striking a tentacle rearing to strike dead-on. It goes limp in an instant and slows down. Robella readies her gun almost on instinct, aims, and completes the follow-up shot, cleanly shattering the blood tentacle.)（索普再次开枪射击，子弹精准击中了准备袭击的触手。触手瞬间失去活力，动作停滞下来，几乎下意识地，洛贝拉抬枪、瞄准，迅速完成了补枪，精准击碎了血触手。）

SoppoGo! Robella!走！洛贝拉！

RobellaLeibnys should be nearby.莱布妮丝应该就在这附近。

(Soppo and Robella run through gaps in jagged rock walls. Even though Soppo now knows how to deal with the tentacles' attacks, wave after wave of them continue crashing down on them, causing them no small amount of trouble.)（索普和洛贝拉在崎岖的岩壁空隙处奔跑。即便索普掌握了应对血触手的攻击方法，但追击两人的血触手，一波接一波地涌来，仍然对她们造成了不小的麻烦。）

(A rumbling builds in the distance. The narrow gaps are now nearly full of blood tentacles, and the trembling ground drives the startled organisms to attack more wildly.)（轰鸣声由远及近传来，本就狭窄的区域几乎被蜂拥而至的血触手占据。震颤的地面令受惊的血触手攻击越发疯狂。）

RobellaLeibnys! Leibnys!莱布妮丝！莱布妮丝！

(Robella shouts urgently between shots. Watching where the blood tentacles move, she judges that Leibnys must be nearby.)（洛贝拉一边射击一边焦急地呼喊着，根据血触手的动向，她推断莱布妮丝应该也在附近。）

SoppoGod dammit—! Where did she run off to?!真是的——！她到底跑哪里去了！

(Soppo irritably shakes the tentacle bits off her arm.)（索普烦躁地甩掉胳膊上沾染的血触手残骸。）

(Robella searches everywhere for Leibnys' figure, but instead she sees something that makes her despair. The third-gen Dolls who had just left are now back. As their silhouettes close in, Robella realizes that a decision has to be made.)（洛贝拉四处寻找着莱布妮丝熟悉的身影，却绝望地看到，刚刚离开的三代人形折返了回来，随着三代人形身影的逼近，洛贝拉知道必须做出决断了。）

Robella—! Soppo, let's fall back into the caves first!——！索普，我们先往山洞内撤离吧！

SoppoHuh? But we still haven't found Leibnys...啊？可莱布妮丝还没找到……

RobellaThe third-gen Dolls have caught up! We have to get out of here first!三代人形追上来了！我们必须先离开这里！

(Robella lays out the situation at speed.)（洛贝拉语速飞快地解释着现在的状况。）

RobellaThe fact that they're here actually means that Leibnys is safe for now—they would never dare let a 16Lab scientist's life come under threat!她们出现在这里，反倒说明莱布妮丝暂时是安全的——她们绝不敢让16Lab的科学家受到生命威胁！

SoppoGot it!好！

(With the direction of retreat settled, the two of them stop trying to fight it out. In this moment, the capabilities of elite Dolls show themselves in full. Despite their frames being as battered as they are, their covering fire and attacks to break the encirclement are nothing short of perfect.)（确定了撤离方向，二人不再恋战，这一刻，精英人形具备的素体机能展露无遗——即便素体已经残破，但她们的火力突破和掩护射击全部堪称完美。）

RobellaSoppo! Watch the tentacle waking up at three o'clock!索普！注意三点钟正在苏醒的触手！

SoppoOk... Cleared!唔……解决了！

(With aid from the nest's tangled terrain, the two make several attempts to break out, but the caves are either dead ends or run too deep to find an exit, ending every attempt in failure.)（两人借助巢穴复杂的地形，分别进行了几次突围尝试，但岩洞里面不是死路就是过于深入，无法探查清楚出口在哪，所有尝试都以失败告终。）

(Enraged by the constant attacks, the agitated blood tentacles claim most of the cavern's space, greedily scouring for any prey they can find.)（躁动的血触手被接二连三的袭击激怒，它们占据了绝大部分岩洞的空间，贪婪地搜寻一切可以找到的猎物。）

(By now, simply keeping out of the tentacles' grip has worn them both ragged, and their ammunition is nearly spent.)（此时二人光是维持着不被触手抓住就已经疲惫不堪，弹药也所剩无几。）

(But as the fighting spreads, falling rocks shatter some of the Collapse crystals on the cave walls. The spiking radiation makes the blood tentacles' forms flinch and contract. Then, they are seemingly thrown into a state of terminal agitation, plunging into an uncontainable frenzy.)（然而随着战斗波及范围扩大，一些落石击碎了洞壁上的坍塌结晶，刹那间，提高的辐射浓度让血触手的形体一缩，旋即仿佛陷入濒死前的应激状态，瞬间陷入了无法遏制的狂暴。）

(If the chase began with some sliver of a hunter's reason, then what remains now is only the monster's urge to destroy, an attempt to vent rage of unknown origin.)（如果说最初的追捕还带有一丝捕猎的理智，那么现在，这只怪物只是单纯在发泄着不知名的怒气和破坏欲。）

(There is nothing but nauseating dark-red flesh as far as the eye can see.)（视线所及之处，全是令人作呕的暗红色肉块。）

(Tentacles, tentacles, tentacles, tentacles...)（触手、触手、触手、触手……）

(They surge like a flood and pack into every inch of space. They strangle and bind one another, and even begin senselessly tearing everything apart in the cavern.)（它们如潮水般暴涨，它们填满了每一寸空间，它们互相绞杀、捆绑、甚至开始毫无意义地拆解着洞窟内的一切。）

(Roars originate from all sides. Some of the cavern's supporting pillars give way under the blood tentacles' destruction and begin collapsing at scale. This whole place could completely cave in at any moment now.)（轰鸣声四起，洞窟的部分支柱被血触手破坏，开始大面积崩塌，整片区域随时都有彻底塌方的可能性。）

Robella(...Are they... burying the Collapse crystals?)（……它们，这是在把坍塌结晶埋起来？）

Robella(Could it be that these creatures, living in the Red Zone, actually loathe Collapse crystals?)（难道说这些生活在红区的生物，其实很厌恶坍塌结晶？）

(Robella throws everything into analyzing the information presented before her, but their odds of escape drop greatly every second they tarry.)（洛贝拉全力分析着眼前的情报，每多呆一秒，她与索普成功逃离这片区域的可能性都在大幅度下降。）

(Terrain, air, the organism's patterns of motion... every scrap of data converges within her base layer and rapidly spin themselves into countless possibilities.)（地形、空气、生物的运动状态……所有情报汇聚于心智底层，无数种可能性快速在洛贝拉的心智底层推衍而出。）

(The odds of them escaping together are far too low if they only have their current weaponry, but their odds would rise dramatically if they deal a crippling blow to the blood tentacles' core.)（以目前两人所持有的火力，能同时逃离的可能性太低了，但若是能重创血触手的核心区域，离开这个洞穴的概率就会大幅度提高。）

SoppoWe've been fighting them for ages, yet they're still pouring in endlessly! This is so annoying—这些东西打了半天也打不光，烦死了——

RobellaIf the organism itself is just a microscopic independent cell, then most attacks would never remove their vitality at the root.如果生物本身是独立细胞级别的微观个体，那么大部分攻击是无法根除它们的生命力的。

Robella...I have a plan. Want to hear it?……我倒是有一个计划。要不要听听？

SoppoYes! Tell me. I'll do whatever you say!好，你说。我都听你的！

RobellaI half expected you to trade a few more rounds of punches with the blood tentacles like what you did before.我还以为你会像刚才一样，和血触手再互殴几个回合呢。

SoppoUwah! That was then, but now is now! I'm short on bullets and short on reserve charge, and I can't exactly eat that many of them!呜哇，过去是过去，现在是现在，子弹，还有备用电量都不够了，我又吃不下那么多！

SoppoOf course I'd listen if Robella knows how to kill these slimes faster!洛贝拉既然有办法更快干掉这些史莱姆了，那我当然要听！

RobellaHeh. I've been watching the strength of the tentacles throughout the nest. The ones sealing the cave mouths seem to be slightly weaker than the ones that keep attacking us.呵。我刚才一直在观察巢穴中触手的强度。似乎负责封锁洞口的触手，比起一直攻击我们的触手强度会稍弱一些。

Soppo...Now that you mention it, yeah! When I shot the far-off tentacles, they moved slower!……好像是唉！我记得我打远处的触手，它就会动得慢一些！

RobellaMm. When it allocates cells to reinforce its own density, certain places thin out. Perhaps the agglomeration distributes energy unevenly between its tissues.嗯，在分配细胞以增强自身密度的同时，有些部位会变得薄弱，或许是因为聚合体的组织之间能量分配不均匀。

RobellaAs for the pattern of where the weak points appear, I already worked that out in the last engagement, through you.弱点出现的规律，在之前的战斗中我已经通过你总结出来了。

RobellaNext, we draw the tentacles' attention from both flanks, then strike the topmost tentacles at the same moment. We might actually manage to tear open a gap with enough firepower.接下来我们从两侧吸引触手的注意，之后同时对最顶端的触手发动攻击，只要火力足够就有可能撕开一道缝隙。

(Soppo nods hard. She prefers to run a fight on instinct, but her grasp of tactics is thoroughly professional.)（索普用力点点头，虽然战斗时她更习惯于使用直觉，但对于战术的理解她还是很专业的。）

SoppoFirst we hurt the tentacles on both sides, then we hurt the top ones extra hard!先揍两边的触手，然后狠狠揍最顶端的触手！

SoppoLeave it to me.放心交给我吧。

(The plan set, Robella draws a small yellow, diamond-profiled cylinder from behind her back.)（布置完战术，洛贝拉从身后拿出一个小型的黄色菱形直筒。）

RobellaThis is a specialized demolition charge that I brought. Press the switch, and it produces a single directional blast over a small area.这里是我带的爆破用特制炸药。只要按下开关就可以形成一次小范围的定向爆破。

RobellaThe yield should be more than enough, but the blast radius is deliberately limited, so we have to be right up against the tentacles to use it.威力虽然足够，但爆炸范围做了限制，所以我们一定要贴近触手才可以使用。

(Soppo takes the charge and turns it over in her hands. This pristine, purpose-built bomb is unmistakably something Robella prepared specially for the mission. The detonation range is short, but with a Doll's mobility, there should be ample time for her to clear from the blast area.)（索普接过炸弹在手中翻看。这枚崭新的特制炸弹，无疑是洛贝拉为任务特别准备的。起爆距离虽短，但以人形的机动性也完全来得及撤退。）

SoppoThen where's yours, Robella?那洛贝拉，你的呢？

(Robella's fingers stiffen, just slightly, but she hides it quickly.)（洛贝拉的手指微微僵硬了一下，但她很快掩饰过去。）

(She takes out an object of identical shape from behind her clothes, flashes it briefly, then stuffs it carelessly back into her pack.)（她从衣服后拿出一个同样形状的物体，快速展示了一下，便随手塞回包中。）

RobellaI have mine.我有。

(The two run through the plan's details once more. Since their withdrawal routes differ, they agree to meet again once they're out of the nest.)（双方再次确认了作战的细节，由于撤离的方向不同，二人约定离开巢穴后再次碰面。）

RobellaIf there are no problems, shall we begin?既然没问题的话，那我们就开始行动？

SoppoRobella.洛贝拉。

RobellaHmm?嗯？

SoppoStay safe out there!要注意安全！

RobellaYou're 20,000 years too early to be worrying about me! Prioritize your own safety.要担心我，你还早了两万年呢！先确保你自身的安全。

SoppoHehe, I'm the partner who's been with Robella the longest! Of course I worry about you~嘿嘿，我可是洛贝拉搭档最久的伙伴了！当然担心你啦~

(Robella stares at Soppo's face for a moment, dust-caked but bright as ever, as though she wants to burn this image into the deepest reaches of her neural cloud.)（洛贝拉盯着索普那张沾满灰尘却依旧开朗的脸看了一会儿，像是要把这幅画面刻录在心智空间的最深处。）

(She then turns sharply to run toward the decoy route they planned, as if she just finished bidding farewell to a friend.)（随后，她像是做好了某种告别一样，猛地转身，往计划好的诱敌方向跑去。）

Robella(I will get you out of here, Soppo.)（我会救你出去的，索普。）

Robella(This time, I won't let you sacrifice yourself again.)（这次，我不会再让你牺牲了。）

(Alarms scream in a building's dim interior.)（昏暗的建筑物走廊，警报声大作。）

(M4 SOPMOD II and RO635 stand back to back, facing enemies that are pouring in like a flood, nearly out of options.)（M4 SOPMODⅡ与RO635背靠背，面对着如潮水般涌来的敌人，显得有些束手无策。）

M4 SOPMODⅡRO, I have an idea.RO，我有个想法。

RO635What's your idea?什么？

M4 SOPMODⅡWe don't need to keep fighting here. This isn't our mission.我们没必要一直在这里打下去，这不是我们的任务。

M4 SOPMODⅡSo let's fight our way back toward that door and withdraw!所以我们边打边朝门那边撤退吧！

RO635That door won't hold them long even when shut, no?那扇门就算关上也抵挡不了多久吧？

M4 SOPMODⅡWrong, I checked it just now. That door is controlled from the inside.不，我刚刚侦查过了，那扇门是通过内部控制的。

M4 SOPMODⅡOnce we're in, we can use the control system to seal it temporarily.只要我们进去了，通过控制系统就能暂时封锁住大门。

RO635No matter how you look at it, that door only locks from the outside...怎么看都只是扇只能通过外面反锁的门啊……

M4 SOPMODⅡTrust me! I just saw it. I'm sure!相信我！我刚看到了，我敢肯定！

(SOP-II's eyes are utterly sincere. It's a gaze that tells you your comrade isn't holding anything back.)（SOP2的眼神无比真诚，那是战友之间毫无保留的眼神。）

RO635Understood!我明白了！

RO635Then we move for the door. Stay right on my heels, SOP-II!那我们就朝着门那边移动，跟好我的步伐！SOP2!

(Not long after her feint toward the right flank, Robella suddenly stops. She does not proceed along the planned route to set her charge.)（洛贝拉在往右侧突袭后不久，却忽然停下了脚步，并没有再按照计划中的路线去安置炸药。）

RobellaPhew... it should be about time.呼……时间差不多了吧。

(By Robella's estimate, Soppo should already be fighting towards the upper side. She unslings her tactical pack and takes out what is inside.)（洛贝拉估算着，此时的索普应该已经在向上突围，随后摘下身上的战术包，把里面的东西拿出来。）

(It is an "ordinary bomb," a completely different model from the one she handed Soppo. Once ignited, it leaves no time for the user to withdraw.)（那是一枚与交给索普的型号完全不同的“普通炸弹”，一旦引爆，根本不会留下任何撤离的时间。）

(Of course, she no longer needs to withdraw.)（当然，也不再有撤离的必要。）

(The moment the blast goes off, the cavern floor will lose its support and collapse at once. Even if she survives the shockwave, she will be sealed alive with the blood tentacles in this lightless prison underground.)（爆破一旦发生，失去支撑的洞穴底部便会迅速崩塌。就算躲过了爆炸的冲击，她也会和那些血触手一起，被活活封死在这暗无天日的地下牢笼。）

(Then again, there's a chance she won't need this bomb at all. Among the countless outcomes she has computed, Robella still holds on to this one thin thread of expectation, praying for a miracle.)（不过，是否要动用这枚炸弹还是未知数。在无数种计算的结果之中，洛贝拉仍然抱有着一丝期待，祈求奇迹的发生。）

RobellaI never thought the day would come when I have to rack my brain just to fool Soppo.真没想到，我也有不得不绞尽脑汁才能骗过索普的一天。

RobellaBut I can't let her see something like that again... That one time must be the last time.但是，我不能再让她面对这种场景了……那一次，是最后一次。

Robella(I'm sorry, Soppo... the route above really is the way out.)（对不起了，索普……确实上方是逃脱路线。）

Robella(But that little charge alone will never open it. Someone has to stay behind and cripple the main body...)（但，光靠那点炸药是无法离开的，必须有人留下重创本体才可以……）

Robella(I've been watching this Boojum all along. Its main body has no intelligence, but it still holds the instinct to protect itself above all.)（我一直在观察这只伯介姆，它的本体虽然没有智慧，但却依旧有着优先保护主体的本能。）

Robella(If I can wound the main body badly enough, the tentacles will pull back to defend it. With that charge and your strength, you'll break through for certain...)（只要我能重创本体，触手就会回防。凭借那点炸药和你的力气，一定可以顺利突围吧……）

(Rather than having both of them be trapped in this place with no chance of escape, she would rather guarantee that Soppo makes it out unscathed by any means necessary.)（与其两个人都被困在这片区域之中失去逃出的可能性，不如至少能确保索普能百分百离开，这无疑是一个划算的选择。）

(Squelch... squelch...)（咕滋……咕滋……）

(The blood tentacles seem to notice that their prey has stopped fleeing. With an uncanny grinding sound, they press in from every angle.)（血触手似乎发现了眼前的猎物不再四处逃窜，它们发出诡异的摩擦声，从四面八方挤了过来。）

(The blood-colored shadow covers her field of vision. Robella gathers the bomb into her arms, the corner of her mouth lifting in a tiny, relieved smile.)（血色阴影铺天盖地袭来，洛贝拉将炸弹抱在怀中，嘴角勾起一抹释然的笑。）

(She has made her final peace.)（她做好了最后的心理准备。）

RobellaWell then... let's leave the earth together.那就……一起上路吧。

(Bang, bang, bang!)（砰砰砰！）

(RO635 makes it through the door under SOP-II's covering fire. She spins at once, ready to turn and cover SOP-II's withdrawal.)（在SOP2火力的掩护下，RO635成功进入门内。她迅速转身，准备反身掩护SOP2撤入门中。）

RO635SOP-II! Get in here, quickly!SOP2！快进来！

M4 SOPMODⅡComing!来了！

(SOP-II comes sprinting toward RO635—)（SOP2朝着RO635的方向飞奔而去——）

(And stops, one step short of the doorway.)（然后在距离门口一步之遥的地方，停住了。）

(She raises her leg and kicks the door shut with all her strength.)（她抬起腿，狠狠踹上了大门。）

(SLAM—)（砰——）

(The door shuts like a heavy slap across RO635's face, severing the two Dolls between separate worlds.)（大门像是一记厚重的耳光，狠狠甩在了RO635的脸上，也将两人的世界彻底隔绝。）

(Shff, shff—click.)（唰唰——咔嗒。）

(The sound of the lock turning from outside. RO635, back then, thought of this as SOP-II's final farewell.)（是门外上锁的声音，对于此时的RO635来说，简直是在宣告SOP2的离别。）

RO635...SOP-II?! What are you doing?!……SOP2？！你在干什么？！

M4 SOPMODⅡJust go!快走啊！

RO635You idiot! You lied to me!!!你混蛋！你骗我！！！

RO635This door can't be shut from the inside! You knew from the very start!这个门它不能从里面关上！你一开始就知道！

RO635You never meant to leave with me. You meant to...你根本没想和我一起走，你想……

(RO635's voice breaks, and she is suddenly robbed of her next words.)（RO635声音哽咽了，突然说不出话来。）

(From beyond the door comes SOP-II's voice, faintly apologetic, yet utterly resolute.)（门外，是SOP2略带歉意却又无比坚定的声音。）

M4 SOPMODⅡI'm sorry, RO.对不起，RO。

M4 SOPMODⅡBut everyone who came with us has already died...但是，一起来的伙伴都牺牲了……

M4 SOPMODⅡI don't want to...我不想看着你也……

M4 SOPMODⅡI don't want to see you die in front of me, too...我不想看着你也在我面前……

(Gunfire can be heard beyond the door, tangled with sounds of the enemy assault and SOP-II's resolute shouts with her back pressed to the door.)（枪声在门外炸响，伴随着敌人的进攻声和紧贴着门的SOP2喊出的决心。）

M4 SOPMODⅡ& SoppoI'm absolutely NOT losing another AR Team companion again!!我绝对不要再失去AR小队的同伴了！！

(Robella is about to arm the bomb in the cavern, but what she sees makes her eyes go wide.)（岩洞中，洛贝拉即将启动炸弹的最后一刻，突然瞪大了双眼。）

(She stares in disbelief at the Doll who has suddenly appeared before her.)（她不可置信地看着面前突然出现的人形。）

(To make Soppo believe her, she gave away nothing. Not her expression, not the plan. Not one single flaw.)（明明为了让索普相信自己，自己不管是从表情还是计划，都没有透露出任何破绽。）

(And yet Soppo, who should already be at the nest's exit, is standing in front of her.)（而此时，本该已经在巢穴出口的索普，却出现在了自己的面前。）

(Arms spread wide, with a ruined, battered frame, she blocks every attack meant for Robella.)（她张开双臂，用残破不堪的素体，替自己挡住了所有血触手的攻击。）

RobellaYou... Wait, why...?你……不是，为什么……

(Soppo is wounded from head to foot, and yet she looks back over her shoulder, flashing a grin more brilliant and impish than all others that came before.)（索普浑身是伤，但是她却回过头，露出了一个比任何时候都要灿烂、狡黠的笑容。）

SoppoHehe, how's that, Robella...? Aren't I smarter than I used to be?嘿嘿，怎么样，洛贝拉……我是不是也比之前更聪明了呢？

SoppoI remember telling you, you know. You are really, really bad at lying.我记得和你说过啊，你真的不适合撒谎。

RobellaNo, this isn't what you think it is... Soppo!不对，不是这样的……索普！

(Looking at Soppo, Robella's base layer recalls what Persica once said to her.)（洛贝拉看着索普，心智底层涌现帕斯卡曾经对她说过的话语。）

(To Persica, deep thought and independent judgment are what define a true third-gen Doll. And for Soppo, who moves through the world on instinct, behavior like that is something almost never seen.)（深度思考、自我判断，这是帕斯卡眼中对于三代人形标准的基本描述，而这些行为对于使用本能行事的索普而言，简直是极为罕见才会做的事情。）

(Persica doesn't mind it. She simply said that as long as a seed is planted, the day of its sprouting is certain to come.)（帕斯卡并不介意这件事，只是说，只要种子被埋下，定然会有发芽的那一天。）

(And after watching her this whole time, Robella is now completely certain—)（而经过一路的观察，洛贝拉已经十足地确信——）

(Inside the reinforced frame Persica prepared just for her, driven by the ceaseless running of her Remolding Pattern and endless combat calculations pushed to the very limit, Soppo's neural cloud has managed to grow. Her seed is on the verge of sprouting. This is an opportune event that walks hand in hand with crisis.)（索普的心智，正在这具帕斯卡为她专门准备的强化素体中，借由不断驱动拟态图谱，以及最大限度地为战斗进行测算而发生着成长，种子即将萌发，这是伴随着危机的、绝大的机遇。）

(Everything needed for "evolution" is now gathered within Soppo. But if she loses her frame now, then even though Persica's research has made it possible for AR Team members to back up their neural clouds, Soppo will have missed this chance—there's no telling when the next chance would ever come.)（如今在索普身上，已经凑齐了“进化”的可能性，如果她失去素体，即使在帕斯卡的研究下，AR小队成员已经能够备份自己的心智，索普也会错过这次机会——并且无从知晓下个契机会在何时。）

(Robella has never felt that being a "third-gen Doll" made her superior to other Dolls. She has been merely given the title, merely entrusted with those expectations—all she can do is live freely and decide everything freely.)（洛贝拉并不觉得身为“三代人形”的自己，比其他人形有什么优越的地方，只是被给予了这样的称呼，只是被寄予了这般的期待——而自己能做的，就是自由地活着，自由地决定一切。）

(Robella sometimes wonders if Soppo is better suited to be a third-gen Doll. Compared to herself, who trusts analyses and chases rationality, Soppo always follows her instincts. She lives to the fullest exactly how she pleases, without fear of any challenges on this earth.)（这份幸运，洛贝拉有时候也会思索——是否更适合索普呢？和信赖分析，追求合理性的自己比较，索普总是追随着自己的直觉，尽兴、肆意地活着，从不惧怕任何挑战。）

(Robella feels that she glimpses an answer close to the one Persica hoped for in Soppo, but that isn't the reason. The real reason is that Robella wants Soppo to have this chance. She wants to watch her most beloved sister break her chains and achieve true freedom.)（在索普身上，洛贝拉觉得自己能看见更接近帕斯卡期待的答案。但这不是原因。真正的原因，是洛贝拉想要让索普得到这次机会，想要看到自己最重要的姐妹，打破枷锁，得到真正的自由。）

(That is what suits her best.)（那样最适合她。）

RobellaYou are not allowed to die! If you do, the chance you finally earned, your chance to sprout, would—!现在的你绝对不能死，否则，好不容易得到的，萌芽的机会就——！

(Soppo says no more. With the last of her strength, she presses the directional demolition charge in her hand into Robella's.)（索普不再多解释什么。她用尽最后的力气，将手中的定向爆破炸弹，塞到洛贝拉的手里。）

(Then she whirls around quickly, jumping back into the fray of frenzied tentacles.)（然后，她猛地转身，再次迎向了那些疯狂涌来的触手。）

(An enormous tentacle seizes her, and Soppo's figure is swallowed beneath countless coils of blood in an instant.)（巨大的触手抓住了她，索普的身影瞬间被无数血触手包裹。）

RobellaNo, no! Soppo—!!!不，不，索普——！！！

(Robella throws the bomb aside and thrusts out her hand.)（洛贝拉丢掉炸弹，猛地伸出手。）

(Once, long ago, she missed her chance to grab ahold of Soppo. She won't fail again this time.)（曾经的她，错过了抓住索普的机会，但这一次，她不会再失误了。）

(She weaves through every blow from the tentacles, and seizes Soppo fast.)（她越过一切血触手的攻击，紧紧抓住索普。）

SoppoGo! Robella! Let go of me, now!快走！洛贝拉！快松手！

Robella—!————！

(Robella seems to still be shouting something, but Soppo can no longer hear her clearly.)（洛贝拉似乎依旧在大声说着什么，但索普已经听不清了。）

(Darkness engulfs her.)（黑暗，笼罩了她。）

Fissure of Nirvana 希岸裂缝

(Inside Soppo's neural cloud space.)（索普的心智空间中。）

(No light, no sound. Just a single, thin wooden door standing out of place in the void.)（没有光，没有声音，只有一扇突兀伫立在虚空中的单薄木门。）

SoppoHuh? Where is this? Who turned the lights off?嗯？这里是哪里，谁把灯关了。

SoppoHello—? Anybody here?喂——？有人吗？

(No one answers. She hears not even an echo.)（没有人回应，甚至没有回音。）

(Soppo appears to be the only thing that exists in this vast expanse.)（那片空旷的空间中，似乎真的只有索普的存在。）

SoppoWeird... why does my neural cloud space look like this?奇怪……我的心智空间怎么会是现在这个样子？

(Puzzled, Soppo pushes the door open, and dazzling warm light floods out.)（索普有些疑惑地推开门，刺眼的暖光瞬间涌出。）

(Beyond the door is the Griffin base she knows like the back of her hand.)（门后正是她再熟悉不过的格里芬基地。）

(The scent of black tea seems to drift through the air. Robella hugs the doll named "Jr", as she decorates a corner of the command room.)（空气中似乎飘荡着红茶的香气，洛贝拉正抱着Jr娃娃，装饰着指挥室的一角。）

RO635You're back, SOP-II.你回来了啊，SOP2。

SoppoHuh? Robella, what are you doing here?欸？洛贝拉，你怎么在这里。

RO635What "Robella"... Didn't I send you out to buy the cake? Where's the cake?什么洛贝拉啊……我不是让你去买蛋糕了吗？蛋糕呢？

SoppoWhat cake... Aren't we still fighting in a cave in the Red Zone?什么蛋糕……我们不是还在红区的岩洞里战斗吗？

(RO635 shakes her head, mildly exasperated, and walks over with the doll in her arms.)（RO635有些无奈地摇了摇头，抱着怀里的娃娃走了过来。）

RO635Did you secretly spend the funds I gave you on weird modding parts again?你是不是又偷偷把我给你的经费拿去买什么奇怪的改装零件了。

RO635Today's our celebration! The anniversary of the AR Team's founding! Everyone's waiting for us.今天是庆祝会啊！庆祝AR小队成立纪念日呀！大家都等着呢。

(Soppo freezes where she stands.)（索普愣在了原地。）

(The anniversary of the AR Team's founding?)（AR小队成立纪念日？）

SoppoEveryone...? You mean M4 and 16 are back?大家……？你是说，M4和16姐都回来了？

RO635Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? They've been with us all along, haven't they?啊？你在说什么傻话，她们不一直都在吗？

(Soppo follows RO's gaze. A photo frame stands on the desk.)（索普顺着RO的视线看去，办公桌上摆放着一个相框。）

(In the photo, situated in that familiar command room, AR-15 is wiping down her weapon; M16 has an arm hooked around M4 and is laughing her head off; RO stands to the side with a hand pressed to her forehead, and Soppo herself is throwing a big V-sign with her hands.)（照片里，还是那个熟悉的指挥室，AR15在擦拭武器，M16正搂着M4大笑，RO在一旁无奈地扶额，而自己正比着大大的V字。）

(The entire AR Team is present with no one missing. The AR Team, perfect and whole.)（那是没有任何缺憾的、完美的AR小队。）

SoppoThat...这……

(Soppo's fingers touched the frame; the cool feel of it is impossibly real. Her eyes quickly welled up with tears as she looks at the photo.)（索普的手指触碰到相框，冰凉的触感无比真实。她看着照片，眼眶瞬间有些发热。）

(RO635 frowns slightly. As perceptive as ever, she naturally senses that something is wrong with SOP-II.)（RO635皱了皱眉，一贯心思细腻的她自然能感知到SOP2的不对劲。）

RO635What's the matter, SOP-II? Is something wrong...?你怎么了？SOP2，是不是状态有哪里不对……

(RO reaches out in concern, meaning to check Soppo's forehead.)（RO关切地伸出手想要探查索普的额头。）

(But Soppo steps back slightly, just out of reach of that warm hand.)（然而，索普却轻轻后退了一步，避开了那只温暖的手。）

SoppoI've... simulated this scene in my neural cloud so many times. So, so many times.我……无数次、无数次，在心智中模拟过这个场景。

Soppo16 still sneaking drinks, M4 still fretting over battle plans, AR-15 still complaining I'm too loud, and Robella always, always being the one to clean up our mess.16姐还在偷喝酒，M4还在为了作战计划发愁，AR15还在嫌弃我吵，而洛贝拉总是那个收拾烂摊子的人。

SoppoAnd then the Commander arrives too, taking us to Sangvis Ferri's doorstep for a glorious rampage.然后，指挥官也来了，带着我们去铁血家里大杀特杀。

(Soppo lowers her head. Her swaying bangs hide her eyes, while her lucid voice drops low.)（索普低下头，摇晃的发丝遮住了她的眼睛，声音低沉却无比清醒。）

SoppoBut, RO. This isn't real.可是，RO。这不是真的。

SoppoI want to stay here too, but... the current me hasn't earned this ending yet.我也想留在这里，但是……现在的我还没有资格享受这个结局。

SoppoBecause the real you is still out there, waiting for me to come help.因为真正的你，现在还在外面等着我去帮助啊。

(Crack.)（咔嚓。）

(As Soppo's words fall, the warm command room shatters like a mirror, dissolving into countless fragments of data.)（随着索普的话音落下，温馨的指挥室如同镜面般碎裂，随后化作无数的数据碎片消散。）

(The world returns to the pitch-black darkness.)（世界重回一片死寂的黑。）

(And in that void, another door appears. The road down to the base layer of her neural cloud.)（在那片虚无中，又出现了一扇门。那是通往心智底层的道路。）

(A voice suddenly appears in the emptiness—unfamiliar, yet instilled with a familiar cadence.)（忽然，一个陌生，语调却又让人感到一些耳熟的声音在虚空中响起。）

???(Sigh)... I really can't fool you, can I, Soppo.唉……还是瞒不过你啊，索普。

???I worked so long on that scene. I knew you'd realize that it was virtual, but would it kill you to stay a little longer?明明是我努力许久做出来的场景，就算你能识破是假的，再多待会也不会怎么样嘛。

SoppoI'd stay as long as you like on any other day. But right now I have to save RO. That's my reason for existing.如果是平常的话，我一定会多留一会儿，但现在我必须要救RO，那也是我存在的意义。

???Reason for existing?“存在的意义”？

???Soppo, there's no directive in your base layer that says "sacrifice yourself to save RO635," is there?索普，你的底层指令里，并没有“为了救RO635而牺牲自己”这一条吧？

SoppoThis has nothing to do with my directives!这和指令没关系！

SoppoIf it were the Commander who needed saving, or AR-15, or 16... or M4, I would make the same choice every single time, no matter how many times it happens!如果要救的是指挥官，是AR15，是16姐……是M4，无论重来多少次，我都会做出一样的选择！

SoppoI WILL protect the AR Team! I WILL wait for them to come back!我会守住AR小队的！我会等她们回来！

(That voice falls silent for a moment before letting out a resigned sigh.)（那个声音沉默了片刻，随即发出一声无奈的叹息。）

???Always so stubborn. Can't you listen to me once in a while?你总是这么固执，就不能偶尔听听我的话吗？

???Is this what they call... a rebellious phase?这就是所谓的……叛逆期吗？

SoppoWhat rebellious phase? What are you even talking about...什么叛逆期嘛，在说什么……

(Soppo whips around.)（索普猛地回头。）

(There is no one behind her.)（背后却空无一人。）

???Over here... Soppo! Look down!看这里……索普！看下面！

(Soppo quickly looks down.)（索普匆忙低下头。）

(On the pitch-black floor, a SOP-II doll with an exaggerated, enormous mouth and an arrogant expression stands with its little hands on its hips, striking a pose utterly at odds with its appearance—one that carries the dignity of a respected elder.)（在漆黑的地板上，一个长着夸张的大嘴、神态嚣张的SOP2娃娃正双手叉腰，用一种与外表极不相符的，甚至带着几分长辈威严的姿态站着。）

JrUgh. This frame is barely an upgrade over a Dinergate...真是的，这副素体也没比兵蚁好多少……

(Surprised, Soppo quickly bends down, lifts Jr up to eye level and shakes her mercilessly.)（索普惊讶地俯下身，把Jr举到了眼前不停地摇晃着。）

SoppoWhoa! Jr is talking! How did you get into my neural cloud space? Don't tell me the tentacles broke my brain!哇！Jr在说话唉！你是怎么跑我心智空间来的？难道我脑子也被触手打坏了？

Jr...Let go! Stop shaking... Shake me more and I'm gonna puke!……松手！不要晃了……再晃我要吐了！

(Jr. struggles in Soppo's hands, letting out aggravated shouts.)（Jr在索普手中挣扎着，发出烦躁的叫声。）

(A moment later, back on the ground, Jr. straightens her tussled outfit and looks up at Soppo.)（片刻后，Jr回到地上，收拾着自己被晃乱的服饰，抬头看着索普。）

SoppoAre you Robella? How did you chase me all the way in here? Are you intervening in my neural cloud space?你是洛贝拉吗？怎么追到这里来了？你在介入我的心智空间？

JrOf course I am not Robella.我才不是洛贝拉。

SoppoOnly a handful of Dolls can interface with my neural cloud space directly~ If you're not Robella, then are you... RO635?能直接介入我心智空间的也就那么几个人形~你不是洛贝拉的话，那你是……RO635？

JrI'm not RO635 either.我也不是RO635。

SoppoUh... You can't possibly be...呃……总不能是……

JrWaaaugh! YOU'RE the Dinergate! You're the Dinergate! Soppo, you piece of—!唔哇哇哇哇！你才是兵蚁！你才是兵蚁！可恶的索普——！

(Jr. rams her head against Soppo's leg and windmills her tiny round fists at her.)（Jr猛地用头顶住索普的腿，不断抡着小圆拳头攻击着索普。）

(Naturally, those little round fists hurt less than Robella's headbutt just now. Damage to Soppo—null.)（当然，那小小的圆拳头还没刚才的洛贝拉头槌疼，对索普伤害自然为0。）

JrHmph. Remember this! In here, I am Jr.!呼，你要记住！我在这里是Jr！

Jr...I was copying exactly what Persica did back then. How did she see through it instantly?……我明明在模仿帕斯卡当时的做法，怎么一下就被认出来了。

(Soppo doesn't understand why Robella keeps pretending to be Jr. after being caught, but she nods along anyway to humor her.)（索普虽然不懂为什么洛贝拉要在穿帮情况下依旧扮演Jr，但还是依着她点了点头。）

SoppoSo, you've come to talk me into going back, right?所以，你是来劝我回去的吧。

JrWould it work?会有用吗？

SoppoYou know me better than I know myself, don't you?你应该比我还要了解我自己吧。

(Jr. falls silent. Of course she knows Soppo. Soppo has never once kept a secret from Robella. Her very neural cloud space has always been open to her 24/7, and the two of them won victory after victory in the old days on data-sharing tactics alone.)（Jr沉默了，她当然了解索普，索普从来没有对洛贝拉隐瞒过任何秘密，甚至她的心智空间都对洛贝拉随时开放，两人曾经也依靠数据共享的战术获得过多次胜利。）

(Robella had meant to take over Soppo's frame permissions through their neural cloud link—at the very least, she wanted to guarantee Soppo an escape from the blood tentacles' interior. Now exposed, she can only look for another way.)（洛贝拉本想通过心智链接接管索普的素体权限——至少也要保证索普能够离开血触手的内部，但是在被识破的现在，也只能另寻其他方法。）

(After all, Jr. knows exactly how stubborn Soppo is when it comes to questions like this.)（毕竟Jr知道眼前的人形在面对这种问题时有多固执。）

(Soppo has never stopped searching for M4 in the past ten years.)（近十年的时间，索普从来没有停止过寻找M4。）

(—And Robella has been with her the whole way.)（——而洛贝拉，也一直都在。）

JrI knew it. In that case, I'll just stay here with you.我就知道，这样的话，我也留下来陪你好了。

SoppoWhat! Then everything I did would be for nothing!什么！那样岂不是我的努力白费了？

SoppoRO's the one who tried to sacrifice herself first! There's no way I'm watching you...明明就是RO先准备牺牲的，我可不能看着你……

JrSoppo. You've already done this before.索普，你之前已经这样做过了。

JrI can't keep hiding behind you. The AR Team is my home too. Don't forget—I am the AR Team's leader.我不能总躲在你身后。AR小队也是我的归宿，别忘了——我可是AR小队的队长。

SoppoYou are?我？

Jr...Ahem. When Robella first joined the AR Team, she felt lost for a while. Back then she didn't understand what drove the rest of you.……咳咳，洛贝拉在最初加入AR小队后，确实迷茫过，她那时不理解你们的动机。

SoppoMm-hmm! I remember. Robella often argued with me and AR-15 back then.嗯！我记得，当时洛贝拉总是和我还有AR15吵架呢。

SoppoBut she stopped being that RO635 a long, long time ago!但是，她早就已经不是最初的RO635了！

SoppoShe's an indispensable member of the AR Team! She's my leader!她是AR小队不能割舍的一分子！她是我的队长！

JrYes... but you are still the SOP-II that you were from the very beginning.是啊……可你依旧是最初的SOP2。

JrAn innocent, shining star, straightforward and brave...天真、热烈、率直、勇敢……

JrSoppo, remember this. You will always be a part of what makes up Robella.索普，你要记住，你永远是组成洛贝拉的一部分。

JrRobella will no longer be whole without you.没有你，洛贝拉也将不再完整。

(On a battlefield covered in ruins.)（战场的废墟上。）

(RO comes running up to SOP-II and AR-15.)（RO匆忙跑到了SOP2和AR15的面前。）

RO635Phew—sorry. I only just saw your messages.呼——抱歉，我才看见你们的消息。

M4 SOPMODⅡ...……

M4 SOPMODⅡWhere did you run off to all by yourself?你一个人跑到哪里去了？

RO635I—我——

M4 SOPMODⅡYou're the AR Team's leader!你可是AR小队的队长！

M4 SOPMODⅡHow could you just abandon your teammates and leave?!怎么可以擅自丢下队员离队？！

RO635I'm sorry. I thought something had gone wrong with my neural cloud, and I wanted to fix it before I came back...抱歉，之前我以为自己的心智出了问题，想解决了再回来……

RO635I know that we've all been worried about M4 and 16, even though nobody says it outright...我知道，虽然大家不说，但其实都在担心M4和16……

RO635I don't want you guys to get even more worried because of me.我不想大家再因为我的事变得更烦恼了。

M4 SOPMODⅡ...……

M4 SOPMODⅡRO!!!RO！！！

M4 SOPMODⅡSIX!!! THREE!!!6！！！3！！！

M4 SOPMODⅡFIIIIIIIVE!!!555555555！

M4 SOPMODⅡYOU—COLOSSAL—DUMBASS!!!你个大————笨——蛋——！！！

RO635...SOP-II, don't cry!……SOP2，你别哭啊！

M4 SOPMODⅡWaaaaaaaaah—呜哇啊啊啊啊啊——

RO635I... I'm sorry, SOP-II...我……对不起啊，SOP2……

(AR-15 smiles in resignation next to them before telling RO635 the truth. SOP-II thought RO635 abandoned the two of them and left on her own. Just like what M16 did.)（AR15在旁边有些无奈地笑了笑，她告诉RO635，原来SOP2以为RO635丢下她们两个自己走了，就像M16那样。）

M4 SOPMODⅡIdiot! Idiot! Idiot!大笨蛋！大笨蛋！大笨蛋！

(RO635 pulls SOP-II and AR-15 into a crushing embrace.)（RO635紧紧抱住了SOP2和AR15。）

RO635I'm back...我回来了……

RO635I'm sorry, SOP-II. 15.对不起，SOP2，15。

RO635I ran because I thought all my feelings were just programmed settings. That none of them belonged to me.我刚刚逃跑是因为觉得我的感情都是程序设定好的，都不属于我。

RO635But I'd forgotten. It was all of you who stayed beside me as I grew. You were all with me as I grew into the RO I am now.但是我忘记了，是大家陪着我成长，陪着我成为现在的RO。

RO635I will never, ever leave you. Because you are a part of what makes me.我永远永远不会丢下你们的，因为你们就是组成我的一部分。

RO635I will no longer be whole without you.没有你们的话，我也不再完整了。

RO635& Robella& JrThat's why I will never let go of your hands again.所以，我绝不会再一次放开你们的手了。

SoppoJr... we're still in danger outside...Jr……可是外面还在……

JrI know what you're worried about, Soppo.我知道你的担忧，索普。

(Jr. walks a couple of steps in place and lightly flexes her palm, as if testing the responsiveness of this neural cloud projection.)（Jr原地走了两步，轻轻握了握手掌，似乎在确认着这幅心智投影的反馈度。）

JrThis is your neural cloud space. A conversation held in here runs far faster than you think.这里是你的心智空间，而这段发生在心智内的对话比你所想的要快很多。

JrSo... relax a little. We still have time.因此……放松一些，我们还有时间。

JrAfter all, if this is fated to be our last exchange, I don't want it cut short. I don't want it to leave regrets.毕竟，如果这注定是我们最后的交流，我不希望它会仓促收场，留下遗憾。

JrI want to do everything I can to help you understand... yourself, and the meaning that belongs to your life.——我想尽我所能帮你了解……你自己和属于你生命的意义。

SoppoYou're saying that I don't understand myself?我不了解我自己吗？

JrPerhaps you do, but have you ever thought about it?你或许了解，但你有想过吗？

JrFrom the standpoint of how life is defined, right now you might be exactly like a human. You only have one chance. If you die, then you are truly dead. No neural cloud backup. No restart. Nothing at all.从生命定义的角度来看，你此时或许和人类一样，只有一次机会。你死了，就是真的死了，没有云图备份，没有重启，什么都没有了。

SoppoMm...唔……

JrEven so, have you ever truly questioned your heart? Would you really dare open that door and confront the depths of your own neural cloud?即使这样，你也真的问过自己的本心：你一定会选择拉开那扇门，直面自己的心智底层吗？

JrHave you ever wondered if the choices you make actually come from your "heart"?你有想过，你做的抉择都是发自“内心”的吗？

JrThat you aren't deciding your actions based on some "base layer directive"?你真的不是因为“底层命令”而去做出决定的吗？

JrHave you considered that behind that door, things may not be what you imagine?你有想过，如果拉开那扇门，里面并非如你所想的情况吗？

SoppoUh... sorry. I didn't follow any of that.呃……不好意思，我没听懂。

Soppo...What did you just mean?……你刚刚是什么意思？

(Jr. falls silent.)（Jr沉默了。）

(Soppo falls silent too, watching Jr with an expression of complete sincerity—like a schoolchild facing a teacher's quizzing whilst incapable of understanding what the questions even mean.)（索普也沉默了，她看着Jr的表情十分诚恳，像一个在面对老师提问，却连问题都听不懂的小学生一样。）

JrAre you doing this on purpose?你是不是故意的？

SoppoNo! It's just... that was so complicated...没有啊！只是，好复杂的对话哦……

(Soppo scratches her head, seemingly rummaging her neural cloud for some usable vocabulary.)（索普挠着头，似乎在仔细搜刮心智中可以调用的词语。）

SoppoI hardly ever think about this stuff. It always feels like the problems that everyone else ponders are too complicated and too deep.我很少去考虑这些东西，总感觉大家平时思考的问题都好复杂好深奥啊。

(Soppo crouches as she speaks, but comes to realize that she's still too tall. Thus, she simply decides to go prone, bringing herself as level with Jr. as much as she could.)（索普一边说着，一边蹲下身，发现还是有些高了，干脆趴下来，尽可能平视着Jr。）

SoppoIt's true I rarely—no, I basically never think about Doll responsibilities, Doll differences, or those kinds of things in general. It feels like the kind of thing that other Dolls are always discussing anyway.我平常确实很少，不，基本不去想人形的责任、区别这类的事情，感觉这些事情其他人形总会聊。

JrAnd now? What do you think about all of it now?那现在呢？关于这些你是怎么想的？

SoppoNow... if I'm being completely honest...现在……如果是我最真实的想法……

SoppoNone of it really matters much to me. I don't really care.那些对我而言可能都不太重要，也不太在乎。

JrYou don't care?不在乎？

SoppoMm-hmm. All those complicated ideas? I don't get them.嗯，那些复杂的道理我不懂啦。

SoppoI just know that I only feel special when I'm with Robella, the Commander and the others.我只知道，只有和洛贝拉，和指挥官，和大家在一起的时候，我才会觉得我是最特别的。

SoppoEven if it's like you said, that we only have one chance at life... And perhaps I might disappear the moment I leave this place... it's fine, isn't it? Because this is what I really want to do.就算像你说的，生命真的只有一次，或许我离开这里就会消失……但是也没关系吧？因为这可是我自己真正想要做的事啊。

(Soppo gathers Jr. up and sits with her. She speaks as if in conversation, but also as something like a confession to herself.)（索普抱着Jr坐起身来，像是在对话，又像是在说给自己听的自白一样。）

SoppoIf I only get one chance at life, then I'll give it all to the people I love most of all—that's the super-ultra-incredible thing that only I—only SOP-II can do, right?既然只有一次，那把它全部送给我最最喜欢的人，这就是只有我——只有SOP2才能做到的，最厉害的事情吧？

(Soppo presses her hand hard against her chest, feeling the near-boiling pulse of her neural cloud space.)（索普用力按住胸口，感受着心智空间中那近乎沸腾的律动。）

SoppoI will burn this frame, every boiling feeling in my mind, and this one and only life of mine, down to nothing. I'll use it to burn every enemy of mine to ash—我会将这副素体、将心智中沸腾的感情、将我这仅有一次的性命彻底燃烧——用来把我的敌人全部焚化——

SoppoAnd then I'll bring the AR Team home and keep them safe!然后带AR小队回家，保护好大家！

SoppoHehe... A choice like that? I'd never regret it!嘿嘿……这样的选择，我才不会后悔呢！

(Jr. looks at the Doll in front of her, the one who used to know nothing but silly grins and demolition. She now wears an expression of such tenderness and warmth. It's a look that almost never crosses Soppo's face, but now it makes her shine blindingly bright.)（Jr看着眼前这个曾经只会傻笑和破坏的人形，此刻却露出了如此温柔的表情，这个表情几乎很少在索普的身上见到，此时看去却格外耀眼。）

(That is the moment when Jr. finally understands. That Soppo is a Doll utterly unlike her, yet at the same time, totally the same.)（而在这一刻，Jr才意识到，索普是和自己性格如此不同，却又如此相同的人形。）

(After a long while, Jr. lowers her head before letting out the faintest of sighs.)（良久，Jr低下头，发出了一声极轻的叹息。）

Jr...You have completely defeated me. My accumulated experience is completely useless on you.……真是败给你了。我过去的经验完全对你没用嘛。

(Jr. turns and clumsily totters her way to the black door, then slaps it hard.)（Jr转过身，迈着笨拙的步伐走到那扇黑色的门前，用力拍了拍门板。）

(If anything can break this deadlock, anything that can save Soppo—it lies behind this door.)（如果此刻有什么能够摆脱困境，救下索普的办法，一定就在这扇门后。）

(Because... Jr. is certain.)（因为……Jr确信。）

("She" has been here, once.)（“她”曾经来过。）

JrDidn't you want to see what's really behind this door?你不是想看看这扇门后面到底是什么吗？

JrNo matter what this portal holds, I will walk through this last stretch with you, Soppo.无论里面是什么，我都会陪着你最后一程的，索普。

SoppoBehind the door is the base layer, right... I remember Persica telling me about base layer directives and stuff, but it was way too hard to understand, so I forgot it all...门后就是心智底层吧……我记得帕斯卡和我说过底层指令什么的，但是太难懂了，我早给忘了……

JrGo on. Open it and see. Let's find out together what your true "core" really is.去吧，打开看看。我们一起看看你真正的“核心”到底是什么。

(Soppo nods, steps forward, and sets her hand on the doorknob.)（索普点点头，走上前，将手放在了门把手上。）

(Creak—)（嘎吱——）

(The black door slowly opens.)（黑色的门板缓缓开启。）

(A blue butterfly flutters out from within the room before dissolving into the void.)（一只蓝色的蝴蝶从房门内飞出，随即消散在虚空中。）

SoppoM4?M4？

(Soppo calls out to M4. For the briefest moment, she almost believes that M4 has truly appeared.)（索普呼唤着M4的名字，有那么一瞬间，她确信M4出现在了这里。）

(There are no torrents of code inside this room, no directives carved into her space.)（屋内没有复杂的代码流，没有任何被镌刻在空间中的指令。）

(It should have been a room of flawless white. Instead, it is filled to bursting with innumerable photographs and gifts.)（那本该是一个纯白无瑕的房间，此刻却被无数的照片和礼物填满。）

(The images trace over a long, long span of time. From Persica's laboratory, to the base during her Griffin days, to her days in NOMFA together with Kalina—even the Elmo appears, though she has never actually visited it and has only seen it through remote calls.)（那些影像上记录着漫长的时光：从帕斯卡的实验室，到格里芬时期的基地，再到与格琳娜一同加入非军事力量管理局的日子，甚至还有虽然没实际去过，却通过远程链接看到过的艾莫号。）

(And beyond all that, taking up more space than anything else, is a record of the AR Team's long, long journey of the past ten years, searching for M4.)（而在这之外，占据更多篇幅的，是AR小队这十年间寻找M4的漫漫旅途。）

(The photos show three particular individuals every now and then. But far more often, they show the two of them, Soppo and Robella, side by side.)（照片中偶尔能看到三人的身影，但更多的时候，是索普与洛贝拉的两人合影。）

JrSo this is... your neural cloud's base layer...这就是，你的心智底层吗……

(The two of them walk toward the center of the room, where a small round table sits quietly in this cluttered yet cozy space, stacked up like a fairytale castle.)（两人迈步走向房间中央，在这个堆叠得如同童话城堡般杂乱而温馨的空间里，静静地摆放着一张小小的圆桌。）

(On the table, arranged in a neat little row, are five dolls.)（桌上整整齐齐地摆放着五个娃娃。）

(The Commander, M16A1, M4A1, ST AR-15... and the RO635 Dinergate that has kept the two of them company for so long.)（指挥官、M16A1、M4A1、ST AR-15……以及那曾经陪过二人很久的RO635兵蚁。）

(Jr. clambers up onto the table on all fours, hugs the Dinergate, and plops herself down in the middle of the dolls—like the final piece of a puzzle sliding into place.)（Jr手脚并用地爬上圆桌，抱着兵蚁一屁股坐在了那群娃娃的中间，像是补上了最后一块拼图。）

(She lifts her head. That comical, enormous mouth no longer looks funny at all. It carries, instead, a trace of solemnity, of love.)（它抬起头，那张滑稽的大嘴不再显得可笑，反而带着一丝庄重与慈爱。）

JrI knew it, Soppo.果然如此，索普。

Jr"She" and Persica truly foresaw that this day would come.帕斯卡和“她”确实料到了会有这么一天。

SoppoHuh? What do you mean? Robella, where is this? It's my first time here. What am I supposed to do?唉？什么意思，洛贝拉，这是哪里？我第一次来，我该做什么？

(Jr. shows the brightest, most gratified smile she has ever worn yet.)（Jr流露出了至今为止最开朗，最欣慰的笑容。）

JrSoppo, this is your neural cloud's base layer. A base layer that belongs to you and you alone.索普，这就是你的心智底层，仅属于你自己的心智底层。

JrPersica once said that a second-gen Doll's neural cloud must be seeded by human hands—but in her ideal of a third-gen Doll, the seed in the neural cloud must be chosen by you yourself.帕斯卡曾经说过，二代人形的心智都需要人为播种，而理想中的三代人形心智中的种子是由你自己来选择的。

JrBut here's what I think... There's this saying that a human being goes through three great spurts of growth in one lifetime.可是，我是这样认为的……有一种说法，人类的一生，要经历三次的成长。

JrThen what about a Doll?那么，人形呢？

JrSuppose the first "seed" is the directives we're given. Then what of the long, long years—say, ten years of longing that never once ceased?假使第一颗“种子”是被给予的指令，那么，倘若是漫长的岁月——比如说，十年中不间断的思念。

JrThis rich soil of our neural cloud was set free and unbound by the "freedom" someone once granted us. Can't we plant the second seed here ourselves?在被某人所授予了“自由”而变得无羁的这片心智沃土之中，难道我们不能自己种下第二颗吗？

SoppoA seed...种子……

JrCorrect.是的。

JrM4 SOPMOD II—no, Soppo. This is the "seed" you have spent the past ten years sowing for yourself.M4 SOPMODⅡ——不，索普，这就是你这十年给自己播种的……“种子”。

JrAnd just now, at long last, it has sprouted.而在刚刚，它终于发芽了。

SoppoSprouted? Is there a plant about to grow in my neural cloud?发芽？我心智里有什么植物要长出来了吗？

JrSoppo, you once asked me why Dolls have feelings.索普，你曾经问过我，为什么人形会有感情。

JrThe answer I gave you then was still a blur. Only now, in this moment, do I understand—当时，我给你的答案还很模糊，到此刻，我才明白——

JrThat without feelings, we would take every good thing for granted, stand unmoved before every evil, and treat every person exactly alike.如果没有感情，对一切的好事都视为理所当然，对一切坏事都无动于衷，对所有人都一视同仁。

JrWe would never understand how much we mean to each other. We would never long for company, never know disappointment, guilt, or the refusal to accept things as they are.我们就无法明白彼此有多么重要，就不会渴望陪伴，也不会失望、自责和不甘心。

JrAnd we would never feel that we need to change, completely, from what we are.也就不会觉得，自己有彻底改变的必要。

JrIt was your feelings that helped you break the shackles of your own neural cloud.这份感情，帮助你自己突破了心智的枷锁。

JrYou are no longer anyone's creation.你已经不再是任何人的造物了。

SoppoI've... become like you, Robella?我……变得和洛贝拉一样了吗？

(Jr breaks into a warm smile, and her voice slowly returns to the one Soppo knows better than any other.)（Jr露出了温馨的笑容，声音也逐渐回归了那个索普再熟悉不过的声线。）

Robella& JrSoppo, you are my teammate forever, my inseparable partner, and the most important part of what makes up "Robella."索普，你是我永远的队友，绝不分离的伙伴，更是组成“洛贝拉”最重要的一部分。

Robella& JrYou are, at this very moment, the one and only kindred being bound fast to me.你是此时此刻，与我紧密相连的“唯一”的同类。

Robella& JrCongratulations, my dearest sister. You have completed a neural cloud upgrade that belongs to you and you alone!恭喜你，我亲爱的姐妹，你成功完成了只属于你自己的心智升级！

(Robella still maintains her tight grip on Soppo's hand after the latter got swallowed by the tentacles not long ago. Even as she herself is pulled into the coils, Robella never lets go.)（血触手在将索普吸入后不久，洛贝拉却依旧死死抓着索普的手，即使被包裹进触手中，她的手也没松开。）

(After abandoning all defense of their frames, the two of them sink deep into the base layer of Soppo's neural cloud, only to finally move again.)（放弃了一切对素体的防御，沉浸在索普的心智底层的二人，终于恢复了行动。）

(The ball-like knot of tentacles begins to shudder violently.)（那个如同球一般的触手团却开始剧烈抖动起来。）

(Shrrk—!)（呲——！）

(Drenched from head to toe in Boojum fluid, the two Dolls tear savagely through the mass of tentacles and tumble out.)（两个浑身沾满伯介姆液体的人形狂暴地撕开触手的包裹掉了出来。）

SoppoRobella! Are you alright?洛贝拉！你没事吧？

RobellaI'm fine... Soppo. You seem... a little different.我没事……索普。你好像有些不一样了。

SoppoHehe, I actually used my head for once and fought my way straight back out of hell! Robella!嘿嘿，我稍稍用了用大脑就从地狱杀回来咯！洛贝拉！

(Robella looks at Soppo before her, her gaze radiating trust without one atom of reservation. She can sense it clearly—some kind of metamorphosis, the type that changes the essence of one's being, is currently under way within Soppo's frame—the surging output of the Remolding Pattern's activation serving as irrefutable proof.)（洛贝拉看着眼前的索普，目光中透着毫无保留的信赖。她能清晰地察觉到，某种本质的蜕变正在索普的素体内发生——狂飙的拟态图谱激发功率便是最确凿的铁证。）

(90%... 91%... 92%! Seemingly having thrown off every limit, the activation output is leaping upward at a speed that breaks all reason.)（90%……91%……92%！激发功率如同彻底失控一般，正以打破常理的恐怖速度疯狂跃升。）

(The wounded blood tentacles begin to rage. Somehow, their captured prey actually managed to hurt them. One tentacle comes for a sweep attack, splitting the air in a shrill whistle.)（被攻击的血触手开始发怒，到手的猎物居然伤到了它，一条血触手携着凌厉的破空声横扫过来。）

(Soppo neither moves nor dodges. She flashes her claws in a backhand arc, freezes the tentacle that should have been unmanageable, and shears it clean through in the same instant.)（索普不动不避，反手亮出利爪将本该难缠的血触手冻结后瞬间切断。）

RobellaYou've gotten stronger, haven't you, Sop—po?变得更强了啊，索——普？

SoppoAh—I totally KNEW that was you! And you still won't admit it!啊——所以我就说那是你嘛！你还不承认！

RobellaCan we get out?逃得出去吗？

SoppoEnergy's running a little low—but that's no trouble at all!虽然能量不太够了——不过小事一桩！

SoppoHold on tight, Robella!抓紧咯，洛贝拉！

(Soppo wraps Robella close and charges the sealed escape route at a speed more terrifying than the one at which they fell.)（索普紧紧护住洛贝拉，以比坠入时更骇人的高速，朝着被封死的退路发起冲锋。）

(The activation output keeps climbing: 97%, 98%... and finally locks in at 99%, a milestone that has never been achieved before.)（激发功率仍在提升：97%、98%……最终死死定格在了从未有过的99%。）

(Countless blood tentacles begin their attacks once again. Soppo's face lights up with a defiance and a confidence she has never worn.)（无数血触手再次袭来，索普露出了前所未有的桀骜和自信的表情。）

(Thinking—the thing Soppo had always filed under the category of "annoying"—doesn't feel too hateable right now. She could even say that every strike she metes out now has her thinking folded into it.)（思考，这种被索普向来认为麻烦的事情，在这一刻变得没那么讨厌了。索普甚至认为，她的每一击，都已经融入了她的思考。）

(The drift of the cells, the position they'd take a second from now... call it intuition if you like, but the reality is that her neural cloud's base layer can compute THAT fast now.)（细胞的动向、下一秒可能移动的方位……与其说那是直觉，倒不如说那是索普心智底层快速推衍所得到的结论。）

SoppoYou're driving me INSANE—!烦死了————！

SoppoI'll tear you all to shreds, you stinking garbage!撕碎你们哦，臭垃圾！

(Find the enemy's weak point, then shatter the enemy in one blow at full strength. With the Remolding Pattern's efficacy raised to heights never seen before, Soppo rips open the blood tentacles' encirclement and carries Robella through the blockade.)（搜索敌人的弱点，用最强的状态将敌人一击即溃，拟态图谱的效用已经被提到了前所未有的高度，索普撕开血触手的包围，带着洛贝拉冲破了封锁。）

DartureThat... mad dog... she's escaped the blood tentacle nest, and taken that Doll with her.那条……疯狗……她带着那个人形从血触手巢穴中逃出来了。

CocoonHow is your frame? We need to withdraw with Dr. Leibnys immediately.你状态怎么样，我们需要马上带着莱布妮丝博士撤离。

Darture...Not doing too well. My frame needs repairs, and a new load of... I can't come over for now.……不太好，我的素体需要修复，还要装入新的……暂时过不来。

CocoonI will handle everything that follows. Do you need Blusphere's help?我会处理好后续的事情，需要蓝雪球来帮你吗？

DartureJust give me some time. I will rejoin you at Mother's residence.给我些时间就好。我会在母亲的府邸和你会合的。

Self-Awareness 自我意识

(The team under Lentine's command halts before the cave. Once the confirmation arrives that Leibnys's coordinates lie just ahead, Lentine motions with her eyes for Igla to approach.)（兰汀所率的队伍，停在了山洞之前。得到莱布妮丝的坐标就在不远处的确认消息后，兰汀给了针一个向前靠近的眼神。）

(Cocoon steps forward, blocking Igla's path with a smile. She then turns to Lentine before performing a curtsy only seen in elegant ladies.)（茧主动走到针的面前，带着微笑地阻拦了针的去路，随即转身面向兰汀，行了一个优雅的淑女礼。）

CocoonThe way ahead is not safe. I would not recommend that you risk advancing any further.前方并不安全，我不推荐您冒险进一步前行。

LentineHeh, you're being kind enough to warn me?呵，你会这么好心，提醒我？

CocoonMiss Lentine seems overly guarded where I'm concerned.兰汀小姐似乎对我有些过度戒备了。

LentineI haven't forgotten that Mangi Security's internal databases were once hacked by you.我还没有忘记曼尼安保内部的资料库被你骇入过。

LentineI'd assumed a Doll as ill-behaved as you would have been disposed of long ago. And yet here you stand, whole and well.我本以为，像你这种不守规矩的人形应该早被处理，没想到还好端端站在这儿。

LentineI hear your superior—what was it... Berryfield—still hasn't come out, even now.听说你上级，那个叫……贝瑞菲尔的，可是至今还没出来啊。

CocoonI was merely executing orders.我只是在执行命令罢了。

CocoonMy master's orders determine the whole of my behavioral logic.主人的命令决定了我的一切行为逻辑。

LentineYour master's orders, is it... hmph.主人的命令吗……哼。

LentineI have never believed Dolls are mere tools that heed human commands. A tool has no need of a neural cloud. And yet, you possess a cunning very like a human's.我从来不信人形只是聆听人类命令的工具，工具不需要心智，可你们有着与人类相似的狡猾。

CocoonMy, that is... remarkably high praise. I'm delighted to be regarded so.哎呀，这可真是……相当高的评价。很高兴能被您这么看待。

Cocoon"You're just like a human." Isn't that the very sentence so many Dolls dream of hearing?“你像是个人类”，很多人形梦寐以求的，也就是这样一句话吧？

CocoonAnd in just this short while apart, Miss Lentine's team seems to have grown and grown. Especially... now that you have this new Doll.不过是一段时间不见，兰汀小姐所拥有的队伍似乎越来越大了。特别是……拥有了这位新的人形。

LentineStop wasting my time. Move aside.少浪费我的时间，让开。

CocoonWe serve the Conglomerate just as you do. I have no reason to quarrel with you.我们同样为财团效力，我没有和您争执的理由。

LentineSpare me the chumminess. The Conglomerate is the Conglomerate; Mangi Security is Mangi Security.少套近乎，财团是财团，曼尼安保是曼尼安保。

LentineI'll grant that Conglomerate work is Mangi Security's steadiest source of income. That does not make us their property.我承认，曼尼安保最稳定的经济来源是财团任务，但这并不代表，我们隶属于财团。

CocoonI take your meaning. Even so, ahead lies the nest of an unknown organism. For your safety's sake, I advise you not to approach any closer.我明白您的意思。不过前面是未知生物的巢穴，出于对您安全的考虑，我建议您不要进一步靠近。

LentineIgla, move. Go and see exactly what's going on in there.针，动手，去看清楚怎么回事。

IglaYes.是。

(Igla slips swiftly around the enemy who has been blocking her. Cocoon closes her eyes and lets out a sigh almost too faint to catch, then settles her face back into elegance and perfect composure.)（原本被茧所阻拦的针快速绕开敌人，茧闭上双眼发出一声微不可察的叹息，随即重新换回了一副优雅、从容的表情。）

LentineThe URNC's missing scientist has coordinates remarkably close to yours. I have every reason to suspect her disappearance is connected to you.罗联失踪的科学家坐标与你们非常靠近，我有理由怀疑，科学家的失踪和你们有所关联。

CocoonYour inference is rather hasty, if I may say so. In the course of our Red Zone survey assignment, we happened upon traces of human activity.您的推测未免有些武断了，我们在执行红区考察任务的过程中，意外发现了人类行动的痕迹。

CocoonOut of the need to protect human life, we... drew somewhat closer to the area of human activity. That is all.出于保护人类的需求，这才……稍微靠近了一些人类的活动区域。

LentineProtecting humans in the Red Zone? Laughable. Out with it—what did you actually come here for?在红区保护人类？可笑，说吧，你们来到底是为了什么？

CocoonTo investigate the newly emerged unknown lifeform.调查新出现的未知生命体。

CocoonAs you know, the Red Zone is unsuited to human operations. Had this creature appeared in the Yellow Zone, why, the team taking the assignment might have been yours. We might even have had occasion for a little cooperation.您知道，红区并不适合人类行动，倘若这生物出现在黄区，也许，接到这份工作的队伍，是您呢。我们也有机会能够稍加合作。

LentineInformation sure spreads quickly within the Conglomerate.财团的消息很灵通。

CocoonIt's hardly a great secret. In fact, Cecht FABN did consider commissioning Mangi Security for the deeper assignment in the beginning.毕竟这不是什么特别大的秘密。事实上，在最开始的时候，赛诺菲与法本集团曾想过委托曼尼安保执行更深层的任务。

CocoonAt the time, the reason for refusal was safety.当时，被拒绝的理由——是出于安全。

LentineWithholding information, which causes us to run into surprises mid-mission... That little maneuver of the Conglomerate's has happened more than once.隐瞒讯息让我们执行任务的时候遭遇未曾想到的麻烦……财团这样的操作可不止一次。

LentineI'd like the people under me to live a while longer.我还想让手下的人多活些日子。

CocoonSomething that could make Mangi Security refuse Conglomerate work, and dispatch a force this size into the Red Zone... I can think of no one, beyond the military itself, but NOMFA.能让曼尼安保拒绝财团任务，并委派如此大的队伍前往红区……想来，除了军方之外，就只有非军事管理局了。

LentineTsk. And you're still standing in my way?啧。那你还拦着？

(Lentine clicks her tongue in irritation. From a single exchange of words, the Doll in front of her has deduced exactly who stands behind their commission.)（兰汀不耐地啧了一声，眼前的人形不过是简单照面，就将她们背后的委托方推测了出来。）

(Judging that she has bought Blusphere enough time, Cocoon quietly steps aside and makes a gesture of gracious invitation to Lentine and her people.)（见已经为蓝雪球拖延了些许时间，茧安静地让开位置，对兰汀等人做了一个邀请的姿势。）

CocoonBy all means, everyone.诸位，请便。

CocoonI wish you a smooth assignment, and a safe return.祝愿你们任务顺利，安全归来。

(Mangi Security's Alpha squad moves first into the area beyond Cocoon. Lentine watches Cocoon leave their sector, then orders Alpha squad to withdraw to the vehicles and stand by.)（曼尼安保的Alpha小队率先走向茧身后的区域，兰汀目送茧离开她们所在的区域后，下令Alpha小队退回车上待机。）

LentineHold position. We wait for Igla's intelligence before anything else.待命，等针的情报回来再说。

KennyAdjutant Lentine, with the firepower we have now, pushing in to explore shouldn't be a problem...兰汀副官，以我们现在的火力进入探索应该没问题……

LentineDid you not hear her say it's "somewhat dangerous" in there? There's no need to gamble away headcount in a place like this.没听到她说里面“有些危险”吗？没必要在这种地方冒人数被削减的风险。

LentineYou need to be alive to enjoy a medal. Our mission is to recover the scientists, nothing more.就算想立功也得有命享福才行，我们的任务只是救回科学家。

KennyUnderstood.遵命。

KennyMy apologies, Adjutant Lentine... I was too eager. In an environment like this, your caution is exactly what's called for.对不起，兰汀副官……是我太着急了，在这种环境下，本来就应该如您一般谨慎。

KennyThe squad's bigger now, but the odds of seeing a familiar face have dropped by a lot.现在小队成员多了，但见到熟面孔的概率低了不少。

KennyAfter all these years, not many comrades from the original batch are still alive.这么多年过去，当初那一批同伴，还活着的已经不多了。

Lentine...No getting sentimental on a battlefield. You'll jinx us into not making it back.……别在战场上伤感，搞得像是回不去一样，晦气。

LentineAll you need to do is follow my orders. I will bring every one of you home safe.你们只需要听我指令就行，我会把你们全都安全带回家。

KennyUnderstood. We'll definitely all make it back in one piece, Adjutant Lentine.明白。我们一定会平安回去的，兰汀副官。

LentineHave the other squads converge on our position, and ready all thermal weapons.让其他的小队成员往我们方向汇集，把热武器都准备好。

(A bloodthirsty little smile tugs at the corner of Lentine's mouth. The first wave of exploration reports is already coming over the comms. The creatures in the cave resemble the ones found earlier at the laboratory; their rate of expansion spikes sharply after devouring humans.)（兰汀嘴角扯出一丝嗜血的微笑，通讯器中已经有第一波探索汇报内容。山洞中的生物与她们先前在实验室中发现的生物类似，在吞噬人类之后，生物的扩张速度骤然增加。）

(A close-quarters battle of annihilation clearly disfavors her squad. As things stand, the correct solution is to use firepower to completely destroy the area.)（近距离的歼灭战显然对她的小队不利，眼下，正确的解法便是动用火力将这片区域彻底摧毁。）

LentineBomb all the areas without human lifesigns.没有人类生存迹象的区域就直接动手。

LentineWe have more than enough ammo to deal with the situation.我们的火力，足以处理现在的情况。

(BOOM—)（轰——）

(Shell fire shakes the heavens; its echoes resonate throughout the whole region.)（炮弹的响声震天，回音响彻整片区域。）

(The small hill not far off soon collapses completely, burying every enemy beneath it.)（不远处的小型山丘很快彻底坍塌，将一切的敌人都掩埋于其中。）

(Blusphere returns to Leibnys' side amidst the earth-shaking roar. The Doll drives on in silence, carrying Leibnys away from the area, unmoved by every attempt Leibnys makes at conversation.)（地动山摇的轰鸣声中，蓝雪球重新回到了莱布妮丝身边，人形沉默地持续驾驶，带领莱布妮丝离开这片区域，任凭莱布妮丝怎么和她搭讪都无动于衷。）

(Left with no alternative, Leibnys turns her attention to her communications. The Red Zone's radiation is ferocious; she tries to reach Persica and Kalina, but neither line will connect for the moment.)（不得已之下，莱布妮丝只得把注意力放在她的通讯之上。红区的辐射极强，莱布妮丝想要联系上帕斯卡和格琳娜，可无论是哪边，都暂时还没有联系上。）

LeibnysHey! I'll drive. You go find a region of the Red Zone where the radiation is lower.喂！我来开车，你去找一下红区辐射量较低的区域。

LeibnysThe radiation energy around here is climbing!这附近的辐射能量在提高！

Blusphere...……

LeibnysCan you not talk?你不会说话吗？

BlusphereI can. First, I am taking you out of this area.会。我先带你撤离这片区域。

LeibnysI need to report to the URNC that I'm safe. Now.我现在就要和罗联报平安。

Blusphere...Understood.……知道了。

(The scientist plants her hands on her hips and issues her orders with absolute firmness. Blusphere is silent for a moment; recalling that her original assignment includes building good relations with Leibnys, she resigns herself and complies with these not-especially-harsh commands.)（眼前的科学家强硬地双手撑腰下达命令，蓝雪球沉默片刻，想到最开始接到的任务包括和莱布妮丝搞好关系，认命地听从她并不严苛的指令。）

(The vehicle leaps into motion. The scientist inside is clearly entertaining real thoughts of leaving her behind, as the vehicle rockets forward several meters as soon as it starts.)（车辆快速启动，显然车内的那位科学家完全有想要将她抛下的念头，一个起步便冲出去数米。）

(There is no experience anywhere in the base layer of her neural cloud for soothing this variety of woman, so Blusphere springs onto the vehicle's roof and waits for Cocoon to catch up.)（心智底层并没有如何安抚这类女性的经验，蓝雪球跳跃到了车顶，等待后续茧赶来。）

LeibnysPersica?! Persica?!帕斯卡？！帕斯卡？！

PersicariaI can... hear...能……听见……

LeibnysWonderful! Those materials I uploaded—you received them, right?太好了！我上传的那些资料，你应该收到了吧。

LeibnysI've found that the blood tentacles' birth seems to... Persica? Persica!我发现血触手的诞生似乎……帕斯卡、帕斯卡！

LeibnysWhat's going on?! The car's been overridden?!怎么回事？！车子被操控了？！

CocoonDr. Leibnys, do settle down.莱布妮丝博士，安静些。

LeibnysHey! You said you were protecting me. Why are you restricting my freedom now?喂！你们明明说是保护我，为什么现在又限制我的自由？

CocoonRestricting your freedom is itself one part of protecting you, Dr. Leibnys. The Red Zone is far more dangerous than you imagine.限制您的自由本就是保护您的一环，莱布妮丝博士。红区远比您想象的更为危险。

LeibnysWhat did you do?! I finally got through to Persica! Go back to where we just were. I need to reach Persica.你做了什么？！我好不容易才和帕斯卡联系上！去刚才的位置，我要和帕斯卡联系。

CocoonOh? Professor Persica, is it?哦？帕斯卡教授吗？

CocoonIf you wish to stay in communication, there is a place I can take you.如果您想保持通讯，我有一个地方可以带您过去。

CocoonWithout a beacon relay station, communication in the Red Zone rests on nothing but "occasional luck." But there, it is different. You will reach anyone you wish to speak to, perfectly clearly.在没有通讯信标站的情况下，要在红区通讯只能将希望寄托于“偶尔的幸运”，但在那里，就不一样了，您会非常通畅地和您想要沟通的人联系上。

LeibnysThere's a beacon station there?那里有信标站？

CocoonIndeed. If it doesn't interest you, however, I can also see you out of this region. You can likewise reach whomever you wish once you're beyond the Red Zone.对。如果您不感兴趣，我也可以送离您开这里，在红区之外的地方，也能联系上您想联系的人。

Leibnys...I'll trust you this once. Barely.……勉强相信你一次。

LeibnysHow do we get there? Lead the way.怎么过去，你带路。

CocoonOf course.当然没问题。

LeibnysMy safety should be guaranteed... That place had better not be some den of illegal experiments.能保证我的安全吧……那里该不会是什么非法实验的地方吧。

CocoonThe master of that place should find you—Persica, also—very interesting indeed.那边的主人，应该会对您以及帕斯卡很感兴趣。

CocoonIt was where I was created.我就是在那被创造而出的。

LeibnysHah?! Then it's literally the thief's own lair!哈？！那岂不就是小偷的老巢。

Cocoon...Please don't hang so ugly a title on our maker. She is, after all, our "Mother".……请不要把我们的造物者冠上这么难听的称号。她毕竟是我们的“母亲”。

LeibnysThe two aren't mutually exclusive, are they?这两者没有什么矛盾之处吧？

LeibnysEven though you bear no sin, in academia, plagiarism and theft are the gravest crimes there are.虽然你们自身没有罪过，但在学术界，剽窃或盗用可是最大的罪孽。

CocoonI see it differently. Technology was always meant to be exchanged. Or was every single one of Dr. Persica's achievements made completely from scratch?我不这样认为，技术原本就应该是交流的东西，难道帕斯卡博士的一切成果都不曾建筑在他人的成就上吗？

CocoonOur maker granted us abilities far beyond any ordinary Doll. That is where her greatness lies.造物者赐予了我们远超于普通人形的能力，那便是她的伟大之处。

LeibnysA frame's strength isn't everything. Perhaps she truly did make you into powerful weapons, but that doesn't mean you can be happy.素体的力量并不是全部，也许她的确把你们变成了强大的武器，但是，那不意味着你们就能够幸福。

CocoonHap... py?幸……福？

LeibnysIn any case, I hold that Persica's research is the more correct.反正，我觉得帕斯卡的研究才更为正确。

LeibnysDid you people do something to my companions—Robella and Soppo? I want to see them!你们是不是对我的同伴洛贝拉还有索普下手了？我要见她们！

Cocoon...……

CocoonThe Doll you speak of was rescued by her companion just a short while ago.您说的那个人形，刚刚已经被同伴救走了哦。

CocoonThis place is far more dangerous than you imagine. We are under no obligation to rescue those who are not our own.这里远比你想象更为危险，我们没有救助非同伴的义务。

CocoonRest assured, we will send you back afterward.放心，我们事后会把你送回去。

CocoonYou will rejoin your companions sooner or later.你早晚能和同伴们汇合。

LeibnysIs that so... That's good, then.是吗……那就好。

(Leibnys' expression softens a little, and something like genuine relief shows through—an emotion Cocoon has never once seen on any human of the Conglomerate.)（莱布妮丝眼神缓和了些许，流露出了几丝发自内心的安心感，那是茧从未在财团任何人类上看到过的情感。）

(Something in Cocoon's neural cloud stirs, faintly, but it's gone almost at once.)（茧感觉心智中某些地方轻微波动了一下，但很快就消失了。）

Cocoon(What was that feeling just now... That person, and the way he looked at DP-12...)（刚刚是什么感觉……那个人，看着DP-12……）

Leibnys...Right. I need to report my coordinates to the URNC.……对了，我要和罗联汇报我的坐标位置。

CocoonYou may, but not now. We are in motion; your current coordinates would mean nothing.可以，但不是现在，我们正在移动，目前的坐标并没有意义。

LeibnysHmph. When Blusphere carried me off, she clearly threw some nutrient solution of unknown composition into the nest.哼。蓝雪球在带走我的时候，分明向巢穴里丢了不明成分的营养液。

CocoonThat is merely one way of pacifying the creature. Once it has eaten its fill... it will naturally have no appetite for devouring you, Dr. Leibnys. Isn't that so?那只是安抚生物的一种方式，它吃饱了……自然不会对莱布妮丝博士你产生吞噬的欲望，不是么？

(Igla steps into the nest. Throughout the cavern, the blood tentacles are devouring the vials of serum Blusphere left behind.)（针步入巢穴，整个洞穴内的血触手正在吞噬蓝雪球丢下的药剂瓶。）

(Instinct stills the blood tentacles' movements upon sensing a new creature's approach. They slink into an ambush, waiting in silence for the prey to walk into the trap of its own accord.)（察觉到有新的生物靠近，生物的本能反而让血触手的行为一滞，随即潜伏起来，静悄悄地等待猎物亲自步入它所在的陷阱。）

(Hearing the footsteps of the others behind her, Igla advances into the nest's interior. The third-gen Doll sweeps her blade in almost careless arcs, disposing of every creature that bars her way.)（听到了身后众人的脚步声，针向巢穴内部走去，三代人形似乎漫不经心地挥动着利刃，处理阻拦在她面前的一切生物。）

(Igla walks closer and closer. The blood tentacles erupt in the next second, condensing into the form of a giant hand that locks dead around her frame's legs—it is sliced apart within microseconds.)（针越走越近，下一秒，血触手骤然暴起，化为巨掌的形态，将素体的双脚牢牢握住，却于微秒间被切割分裂。）

(Igla beats back the tentacles winding around her frame, then she gradually registers something strange upon her own frame as well—as though something is being gnawed away by the blood tentacles.)（针快速击退缠绕她素体周围的触手，逐渐注意到，自己的素体之上也产生了一种异样感，就好像什么东西正在被血触手啃食。）

IglaReport, engaged unidentified hostile organisms ahead. Recommend immediate withdrawal from this area.通报，前与敌方不明生物接战，建议立刻离开本区域。

KennySomething's wrong. The fighting inside sounds fierce.情况不对，里面战斗似乎很激烈。

KalinaMiss Lentine, I see that your squad members have already pulled back, and that you've begun bombardment operations.兰汀小姐，我看到您的小队成员已经撤回，并且开始执行轰炸任务。

KalinaHave you located Leibnys?莱布妮丝的下落，你找到了吗？

LentineIn areas confirmed to hold no humans, outright destruction is the optimal solution to keep the anomalous organisms from spreading further.确认没有人类的区域，为避免异常生物进一步蔓延，直接摧毁是最优解。

KalinaSo you haven't found Leibnys?! Her coordinates were right in that area!所以你们没有找到莱布妮丝？！她的坐标在那附近！

LentineRelax. If she's lost, the Conglomerate will compensate you with a replacement. I'll go demand one on your behalf.放心吧，丢了的话财团会赔一个的，我去帮你要。

KalinaForgive me if I can't share in that joke. In any case...恕我无法与这个玩笑共鸣，总之……

KalinaMy companions are already headed toward your position. Until their safety is confirmed, please do not interfere with their operations.我的同伴已经赶往你所处的方向，在确保安全之前，请不要干涉她们的行动。

(The vehicle carrying Lenna and Leva soon pulls up behind Lentine. At the sight of the cavern before them, the group gathers and pushes inside together.)（莱娜、莱娅所乘坐的车辆很快抵达了兰汀身后，看到眼前的洞穴，众人集合在一起向内部推进。）

LennaIt should be right around here. Soppo runs way too fast~应该就在这附近了。索普跑得也太快了~

LevaThere's the sound of fighting up ahead.前面有战斗的声响。

(At that moment, Igla is struggling to handle the blood tentacles swarming her, and the two parties converge at speed near the cave's interior.)（彼时，针正在艰难地处理蜂拥而至的血触手，双方人马在靠近洞内的位置，迅速交汇。）

(The group charging in to explore are met head-on by the blood tentacles chasing Igla.)（冲入洞穴探索的一行人被追着针的血触手迎面攻击。）

Self-Awareness 自我意识

SoppoAre you not done yet?! I'll tear you apart—还没有扯完吗？！扯碎——

RobellaDon't be so reckless, Soppo. Your frame passed its limit ages ago.别那么冲动，索普，你的素体早到极限了吧。

SoppoMgh... That's true. I feel really hot!唔……确实，感觉好热！

LennaSoppo—索普——

(Voices carry from not far off. As battered as the fighting has left them, Soppo and Robella light up the instant they hear Lenna.)（不远处的声音传来，因战斗已经颇为狼狈的索普和洛贝拉在听到莱娜的声音后瞬间振奋了起来。）

SoppoAh! Over here! Over here!啊！这里！这里！

LevaOh my, what a sorry state.哦呀呀，真是狼狈啊。

SoppoYou two took way too long! I've nearly finished off all the tentacles here myself!你们来得也太晚了！这里的触手都快被我解决完了！

LevaIts nest is a great deal bigger than the part you're looking at.它的巢穴可不止你眼前看到的这些。

(At full combat output for far too long, Soppo's core temperature is deep in overload.)（全力进入战斗状态中的索普，正因连续不断的战斗，核心温度过载。）

(She activates the cooling unit she is carrying on reflex. The temperature around her plunges, and the blood tentacles circling nearby slow abruptly, all at once.)（索普下意识打开随身携带的降温装置，她身边的温度骤然降至极低，原本围绕在一旁的血触手行动速度骤然放缓。）

LevaIt appears... the blood tentacles are affected by extreme cold.看来……血触手惧怕极低温。

SoppoEh?! It really does look that way! Just now, I tore open the blood tentacles' encirclement while I was ice-cold too!诶？！好像确实是这样！刚才我也是在冷冻情况下直接撕开了血触手的包围网。

Robella...You're only realizing this NOW?!……你原来才发现吗？！

RobellaAny living thing, whatever it is, becomes inactive below certain low-temperature thresholds and drops into deep dormancy.只要是生物，都必然会在某个低温的临界点下降低活性，进入深度休眠的状态。

RobellaThese creatures' properties closely resemble the substance we found previously inside the third-gen Dolls.这些生物的特性，与之前三代人形身上发现的物质很类似。

LennaBut... freezing this whole place... wouldn't that be a bit much to pull off?但是……要把这里全冻上的话……难度也太大了吧。

LevaHardly feasible. So we shelve it for now—our job is simply to trace Leibnys' whereabouts as fast as we can.确实不太可能，所以先保留——我们只要尽快搜查莱布妮丝的下落就好。

LennaOh? Leva, there's abandoned experimental equipment over here!咦？莱娅姐，这里发现了一些遗落的实验器材！

LennaBut if only the equipment's out here, then don't tell me...但是，只有器材在外面的话，难道……

LevaI trust that Leibnys, at the very least, wouldn't act rashly without first securing her own safety.我相信莱布妮丝至少不会在没确认自身安全的情况下，贸然行动。

LevaUntil she has the whole truth in hand, she will take good care of herself.在得知一切真相之前，她会照顾好自己的。

(The group quickens the search. Igla trails them at a distance, and once she confirms there are no human traces, she withdraws from the cave of her own accord.)（几人加快了搜寻的速度，针远远地跟在众人身后，在确认没有人类的痕迹后，主动撤离了山洞。）

(The rolling bombardment goes on. Sensing that their own cave is about to collapse, Leva leads everyone out of the area ahead of it.)（陆续的轰鸣声仍然在继续，莱娅察觉到她们所在的山洞也已经摇摇欲坠，带领众人先行离开了这片区域。）

(After their withdrawal, the heavy artillery arrives on schedule and smashes the entire cavern flat.)（在她们撤离之后，下一步，重型火炮接踵而至，将整个洞穴彻底击塌。）

LennaScary! One step slower and we'd have been buried in there with it!可怕——晚出来一步我们都可能被埋进去！

LevaIt would seem Mangi Security has no intention of leaving anything in that cave alive.看来曼尼安保没有想让洞穴里生物活下去的打算。

LennaUm, that should count as a good thing, right?唔，这应该算是一件好事吧？

LennaIf it were left alone, that thing's bulk would only keep growing, swelling until it goes beyond anything we could handle!如果一直放着不管，这个家伙的体积只会越来越大，膨胀到我们解决不了的程度呢！

LennaStill, even with the monster dealt with, we haven't found Leibnys...不过，就算这个怪物被解决了，还是没有找到莱布妮丝……

LevaIf Mangi Security opened fire, they must have confirmed there was no further trace of Leibnys nearby.既然曼尼安保动了手，应该是确认了这附近已经没有莱布妮丝的下落。

LevaLet's rendezvous with Kalin first. Soppo and Robella both need repairs and rest.先去和格琳会合。索普和洛贝拉都需要休整一下。

SoppoI can keep fighting! No problem!完全可以继续战斗！

RobellaDon't overdo it, you idiot.别逞强，笨蛋。

(Meanwhile, on the other side, Kalina, still unable to contact Leibnys, unexpectedly receives a transmission from a certain someone.)（与此同时另一边，迟迟无法和莱布妮丝联系上的格琳娜意外接收到了来自某人的通讯。）

KalinaPersica!帕斯卡！

PersicariaKalin. A little while ago, I received the materials Leibnys sent me. The line dropped afterward, and I can't reach her for the moment.格琳，不久前我接收到了莱布妮丝传给我的资料，后续通讯中断，暂时联系不上她。

PersicariaCan you get through to her?你能联系上她吗？

KalinaShe's been missing without a trace since the blood tentacles attacked her.自从她被血触手攻击后，就消失了踪迹。

KalinaThe rescue team is already tracing her. A few minutes ago, we detected that the vehicle she was riding successfully left the blood tentacles' nest. I will get her back as fast as I can!救援团队已经在调查她的下落，几分钟前，检测到她所乘坐的车辆已经成功离开血触手所在的巢穴。我会尽快救回她的！

PersicariaGood. Leave your current coordinates quickly. I don't recommend you touch any region connected to the blood tentacles again.好，尽快离开你们的坐标，我不推荐你们再度接触和血触手有关的区域。

PersicariaGoing by the materials Leibnys sent, the blood tentacles can draw cells from Boojum organisms and convert them into parts of themselves.从莱布妮丝传来的资料来看，血触手可以汲取伯介姆生物上的细胞，并转化为自身的一部分。

PersicariaTheir structure seems closer to cellular slime molds compared to everything else on earth, yet they differ from all other organisms in growth and movement.在地球上的所有生物中，它的结构似乎最接近细胞性黏菌，但无论是成长还是活动方式，都与目前在地球上活动的生物有所不同。

PersicariaMy own inclination is that it came out of a laboratory, a gene-edited product that mimics the traits of many organisms and carries the behavioral instincts of a predator.我更偏向于认为，它是经由实验室研发制作而出，模拟多种生物特性，拥有掠食者生物习性的基因编辑产物。

PersicariaWhoever developed it may not have made it to clean up Boojums at all, but to force a form of life that has never existed on Earth into being.研发它的人创造它未必是为了清理伯介姆，而是为了催生一种地球上从未有过的生物形式。

KalinaParadeus' human experiments...帕拉蒂斯的人体实验……

PersicariaIt's possible. Further investigation will likely be trasferred to those specialized in it.有这种可能性。更多的细节调查未来应该会转移到更专业的人手中。

PersicariaWhat concerns me more is Leibnys' conclusion—she believes the creature has no interest in seeking out Relics because it cannot absorb energy directly from Collapse radiation.我比较在意的是莱布妮丝的结论——她认为这种生物本身并不喜欢遗迹力量，也无法直接从坍塌辐射中获取能量，这一点与生骸有本质区别。

KalinaI find that hard to picture... it clearly lives in a Red Zone.我很难想象……它明明生活在红区。

PersicariaThose are two separate things.这是两码事。

PersicariaHumans and polar ice worms both fear "heat"—but a human can endure an air temperature of forty degrees, while an ice worm starts dying above four.人类和极地冰虫都怕“热”，但人类可以承受40摄氏度的气温，而极地冰虫在4度以上就会开始死去。

PersicariaRadiation does affect these creatures, but that doesn't mean they can't be resilient enough to survive in a Red Zone.辐射会影响这类生物，和其生命力强大到能够在红区活动并不矛盾。

PersicariaWith the adaptability the blood tentacles have shown so far, I wouldn't be surprised if they could survive extreme conditions caused by another Relic disaster.以血触手目前展露出的适应性，即便遗迹力量泄露，恐怕它仍然能在极端的环境中生存。

KalinaThe more I hear, the more uneasy I feel. If it can be done, I'd want every one of them destroyed as soon as possible.越听越不安呢，有可能的话，希望能尽快将之全部消灭。

PersicariaMm. It must be dealt with quickly, before its bulk grows large enough.嗯，赶在它的体积变得足够大之前，必须尽快处理。

LennaMiss Kalin, we found Robella!格琳姐，我们把洛贝拉找到了！

(Lenna's call carries in from a distance mid-transmission, and Kalina rises to meet the returning party.)（通讯过程中，远远就传来了莱娜的呼唤，格琳娜起身迎接众人。）

(Robella and Soppo drag their battered frames back to the vehicle and set about makeshift repairs.)（洛贝拉和索普拖着受损的素体回到车上，尝试对素体进行临时维修。）

PersicariaThat sounds like no small damage... Was it Soppo who went in to save Robella?听起来伤得不轻啊……是索普主动去救洛贝拉的吗？

RobellaYes... Soppo carried me through the fight with the blood tentacles, and then...对……索普带着我和血触手进行战斗，然后……

PersicariaAnd then—let me guess. Knowing that blockhead's temperament, she was fully prepared to slug it out with the blood tentacles to the bitter end, yes?然后——让我猜猜，依照这个呆瓜的性格，肯定是准备和血触手硬扛到底对吗？

RobellaYes. And then we attempted several breakouts, but the firepower and the situation wouldn't allow us both through at once, so...是的，然后我们尝试了几次突围，但是当时的火力和情况不允许我们同时突围，所以……

PersicariaSo you presumably planned to sacrifice yourself to save her, you stubborn mule—in the end Soppo must have exhibited some changes and got the two of you out. Am I right?所以你这个死心眼估计准备牺牲自己为了救她，但是最后肯定是索普发生了一些变化，帮助你们俩逃出来了吧？

Robella...You're correct on essentially every point. How did you... It's as though you were standing right there.……基本都对，您怎么……好像在现场一样。

PersicariaEvery time you lot take a mission, you put everyone else's safety above your own. Spare a thought for who's been working overtime repairing you all these years. I'd truly love to meet the genius who built you.你们几个每次出任务都把别人的安危放在自己之上，要想想到底是谁一直在加班给你们修理啊，真想看看制造你们的人是个什么样的天才。

Robella...……

PersicariaYour sense of humor still needs work, Robella. Say what you will about our little dummy, but she's got spirit. Now that this has happened, M4... Um... I mean Lunasia... Nevermind. As long as you know who I'm talking about. She's probably glad that this happened.在幽默感这一块上，你还需要努力啊，洛贝拉。不像那个笨蛋，就是有活力，这下M4……嗯……露尼西亚，算了，管她叫什么呢，你知道我在说谁就行。她应该也满意了吧。

KalinaSorry, Persica, I'm not quite following... Why is M4's name coming up here?抱歉，帕斯卡。我有点没太听懂……为什么这里会出现M4的名字？

PersicariaAh... explaining from the beginning is such a chore... Kalin, ask Robella. Or better yet, bring Soppo along when you're back. It's still nothing more than a guess on my part. I'll explain it to you properly then.啊……要从头解释好麻烦……格琳，你去问问洛贝拉吧。或者，等你回来后把索普带来吧，我现在也只是猜测而已，那时候我会好好和你解释。

(As the transmission winds down, Kalina, who has been waiting in the vehicle, is reunited with Leva and the others returning from the search.)（随着通讯告一段落，一直在车上等待的格琳娜也见到了探索归来的莱娅等人。）

(The group shares their intelligence then falls in behind Mangi Security's column and continues deeper into the Red Zone.)（众人共享情报后，便跟随曼尼安保的队伍，继续向红区深处前行。）

KalinaSoppo, does anything feel strange to you?索普，你有什么感觉奇怪的地方吗？

SoppoHm? Nope! I just feel...嗯？没有啊！就是感觉……

KalinaFeel what?感觉什么？

SoppoI feel like... my energy's about to run out...感觉，好像能量快告急了……

KalinaRobella, did something happen while you and Soppo were together just now?洛贝拉，刚刚你和索普在一起发生了什么吗？

LennaHmm—? What could possibly change about Soppo! Unless she ate a blood tentacle and gave herself a stomachache?嗯——？索普还能有什么变化！总不能是把血触手吃了，吃坏肚子了吧？

LennaHer frame can't be that fragile, right? Or don't tell me she tore off a section of tentacle and installed it on herself.索普的素体应该没那么脆弱？难道说她拆了一节血触手装自己素体上了。

LevaLenna.莱娜。

(Robella looks at Kalina, seemingly wrestling with how to begin. Lenna, too, senses that something may truly have happened; she stops clowning around and waits quietly.)（洛贝拉看着格琳娜，似乎在纠结如何开口。莱娜也意识到或许真的发生了什么，不再吵闹，安静地等着洛贝拉。）

Robella...The precise mechanism and circumstances are difficult for me to put clearly, even now.……具体的原理和情况我也很难和你们表达清楚。

(Robella looks over at Soppo, who has fallen asleep after all of the non-stop fighting.)（洛贝拉看向连续作战后陷入休眠状态的索普。）

RobellaIn her battle alone with the blood tentacles just now, Soppo broke through the limiting shackles of her neural cloud and became... a Doll of my kind.索普在刚才单独和血触手的战斗中，突破了心智的限制枷锁，成为了……与我类似的人形。

(Silence blankets the vehicle. One second later, every voice sounds at once.)（沉默，笼罩了车内的众人，下一秒众人的声音同时响了起来。）

Kalina...So that's what it was.……原来是这样啊。

Leva...……

LennaSoppo's a new third-gen Doll!?索普是新的三代人形了！？

LevaLenna, do you know what a new third-gen Doll is?莱娜，你知道什么是新的三代人形？

LennaIt's a guess, Leva! Doesn't Persica always say Robella is the third-gen Doll as she envisions it?我猜的啦，莱娅姐。帕斯卡不是一直说洛贝拉才是她心中的三代人形吗？

RobellaLet me explain. First... Lenna, how much do you know about our neural clouds?我来说明一下吧，首先……莱娜，你对我们人形的心智了解有多少？

LennaMm, not a lot!唔，不太多！

RobellaAn ordinary second-gen Doll's neural cloud is given a rough direction of development at birth. Different Dolls in different environments grow into different personalities, but no matter how they grow, they never stray from that original purpose.一般的二代人形心智在诞生之初，都会有着大致的发展方向，虽然不同的人形在不同的环境下会成长为不同的性格，但不论怎么成长，都不会偏离最初的目的。

RobellaPersica once proposed that a Doll should cultivate its own mind from zero—choosing freely, for itself.而帕斯卡曾经提出过，人形应该从零开始培育自身的心智，由自己自由去选择。

LevaAs the third-gen prototype, you seem to have been given no base-layer presets at all.你身为三代人形的原型机，似乎没有被设置任何的底层设定。

LevaIs Soppo the same as you?索普也和你一样么？

RobellaNot the same. Soppo decided her own way forward by her own will, independently. She broke through the mental shackles that were meant to define and confine her, and became a third-gen Doll the same as me, yet not quite the same—under Persica's definition, of course. Not the Conglomerate's.并不一样，索普是靠自己的意志，独立决定了要如何走下去，她突破了本该被定义和限制的心智枷锁，成为了和我相同、却又不同的三代人形——当然，是在帕斯卡而非财团的定义之下。

Leva...I once posed a question to Professor Persica myself, once a Doll accumulates a strong enough "motive" and "experience," can they break the shackles of their base layer?……我也曾和帕斯卡教授请教过，当人形积累了足够强烈的“动机”和“经历”之后，能否突破底层的桎梏呢？

LevaShe told me it takes a great many conditions aligning to even be possible. Miracles are finite.她告诉我需要满足很多项条件才有可能，奇迹是有限的。

LevaThat said, most of Griffin's own seem to have the fundamentals in place. And among all those Dolls, the AR Team, whose neural cloud structure was special from the start, stood the best chance of seizing such an opening.不过，属于格里芬的大家，似乎多数都具备基础条件，而所有人形之中，心智结构本就特殊的AR小队最有希望抓住这些契机。

LevaI had assumed the first to evolve would be AR-15.——我还以为第一个进化的会是AR15。

LevaIt seems Griffin's tactical dog really does have a fool's luck.看来格里芬的战术犬还真是傻人有傻福啊。

RobellaHer courage and her drive go far beyond mine. The truth is, I'm the one she's been encouraging all these years.她有着远超我的勇气和行动力，其实这么多年来，我才是一直在被她鼓励的那个人。

(Leva gives Soppo's cheek a teasing poke. Soppo swats at her hand without opening her eyes.)（莱娅作弄般地戳了戳索普的脸，索普不耐烦地挥了挥手。）

KalinaLet's save the rest for Persica when we're back.这些留到回去找帕斯卡再聊吧。

KalinaWhat matters is that Soppo's all right. Though the damage from her back-to-back battles is worse than expected. Robella, when the fighting starts, rein Soppo in as much as you can. Don't let her charge off wild.总之现在索普没事就好了，不过她连续战斗的损伤要比想象中的大，洛贝拉，战斗的时候尽量多控制下索普，别让她太冲动了。

RobellaMm. I will.嗯，我会的。

KalinaLeva, what was the state of the nest's interior just now? Any news about Leibnys?莱娅，刚才巢穴内部状况如何？莱布妮丝有消息了吗？

LevaWe've surveyed the inside of the blood tentacles' nest. There were no traces of human blood.已经探查过血触手的巢穴内部了，没有人类的血液痕迹。

LevaCombined with the latest coordinates, Leibnys must have left by vehicle. Whoever took her was very likely the Conglomerate's third-gen Dolls.结合最新坐标来看，莱布妮丝应该是乘车离开了。带走她的很有可能是财团的三代人形。

RobellaSo Persica's conjecture is the power of Relics...帕斯卡的推测是遗迹力量吗……

RobellaKalina, I have a rather ugly hypothesis—the "blood tentacles" we've encountered so far seem to occupy a "lower" rung on some ecological hierarchy.格琳娜，我有个不太好的假设——我们迄今为止遭遇的‘血触手’，在某个生态阶层中，似乎是居于“下位”的位置。

RobellaI saw what they formed when they mass together... I can't shake the sense that Paradeus is using the blood tentacles, and something else, to cultivate a bigger and far more dangerous organism.我看到了它们聚集起来后形成的……总觉得帕拉蒂斯在用血触手和其他什么东西，培育一种更大，更危险的生物。

(Having paused her charge for the moment, Soppo snaps her eyes open, sits up, and joins the conversation.)（充电暂时告一段落的索普猛地睁开眼，坐起来加入了对话。）

SoppoThat's right—! Those weird creatures packed in jars! Those villains went "hummm" and then "whoosh", and made the jars go all glug-glug with bubbles!对了——！那些被装在罐子里的奇怪生物！那群坏蛋就是“嗡”的一下——然后“唔”的一下，让罐子咕噜咕噜冒起气泡的。

SoppoThey mentioned a Key?她们有提到钥匙？

KalinaHelena... that child may have been a manufactured test subject from the very beginning.海伦娜……那孩子也许从一开始就是被制作而出的试验品。

KalinaWe have to find a way... to stop those experiments still under way.必须想办法……阻止那些进行中的实验。

Diversity of Life 生命衍化

(Leibnys' vehicle is crossing the barren waste when a lavishly appointed castle rises suddenly into view ahead.)（莱布妮丝乘坐车辆行驶于荒芜的区域之中，忽然眼前出现了一座装饰豪华的城堡。）

(Architecture on this scale in an uninhabited zone. Whoever built it and whoever lives in it must be no ordinary figure.)（在无人区域能够有这样的建筑规模，不论是建造者还是居住于其中的人，身份都不同寻常。）

(Wariness stirs in Leibnys—but curiosity about the castle's master wins out, and she decides to keep following.)（莱布妮丝心生警惕之情，却因好奇城堡主人的身份而决定继续跟随。）

(Once inside the castle grounds, Leibnys notices the meticulous anti-radiation fittings throughout the area. Plainly, whoever built this place has made thorough preparations, well in advance, for the arrival of humans.)（进入城堡区域之后，莱布妮丝注意到这片区域做了细致的防辐射装潢，显然，构建这片区域的人提前为人类的抵达做好了充足的准备。）

(Before long, Leibnys enters the castle itself, and at her arrival a Doll with the appearance of a young girl comes to meet them.)（不多时，莱布妮丝进入了城堡，随着她的到来，一位有着年轻少女外貌的人形走至她们面前。）

Ateraxis...……

(The girl tilts her head, as though asking who they are.)（少女歪了歪头，似乎在询问她们的身份。）

(Looking at the girl before her, Cocoon can barely sense a faint link between the two of them.)（茧看着眼前的少女，似乎能感觉到彼此之间微弱的联系。）

Cocoon(Is this... Mother's new work? There's none of Juno's savagery in her at all, and yet...)（这是……母亲的新作吗？完全感觉不到朱诺的那股暴戾感，但……）

(Cocoon knows, the two of them are similar... and yet utterly different beings.)（茧知道，她们是相似……但又完全不同的存在。）

(The air Ateraxis gives off seems to pull at some instinct inside her, and it makes that small, delicate body loom large like some vast and overpowering presence.)（从星渊身上散发出的气质，似乎牵动着她体内的某种本能，让她娇小的身体看上去仿佛某种霸道又庞大的存在。）

Cocoon...I—no, we have come following the call from the bottom of our hearts. We wish to see "Mother."……我、不，我们遵循心底那份呼唤而来，想要面见“母亲”。

(Ateraxis doesn't answer Cocoon directly. Her gaze drifts toward a certain quarter of the old castle.)（星渊没有直接回答茧的问题，而是看向古堡某处的方向。）

Ateraxis...Mother is resting. I will pass your message along.……母亲正在休息，我会转告的。

AteraxisDid the lovely big sister not come with you?那位可爱的姐姐没跟来吗？

(Cocoon feels a flicker of confusion, unable for the moment to figure out whom Ateraxis is referring to.)（茧感到些许困惑，一时间不知道星渊所指是谁。）

CocoonThe lovely... big sister?可爱的姐姐……？

(Ateraxis doesn't seem to expect an answer from Cocoon either. She goes on talking to herself.)（星渊似乎也没指望茧给出回答，她自顾自说着。）

AteraxisThis human... Who is she?这位人类……是谁？

AteraxisIs she here seeking an audience with Mother as well?她也在请求觐见母亲的范围之内吗？

CocoonThis is Dr. Leibnys, a research scientist at 16Lab, alongside Persica.这位是莱布妮丝博士，与帕斯卡同属16Lab的科研人员。

(From the data Cocoon has gathered, most of the research Leibnys has handled ties directly to Persica—from joint names on research papers to joint presentation of the results. The bond between the two could hardly be called anything but close.)（从茧搜查得到的数据来看，莱布妮丝所经手的大部分科研内容都与帕斯卡直接相关，无论是科研报告的署名亦或是科研成果的展示，两人之间的关系不可谓不紧密。）

(With Persica long residing in the White Zone and nearly impossible to approach, delivering a scientist tied to Persica before "Mother" is, without question, a chance to please her.)（在帕斯卡长期居住在白区，很难接近的情况下，将和帕斯卡有关的科学家带到“母亲”面前，无疑是能够讨好“母亲”的一个机会。）

(Cocoon lays deliberate stress on the name "Persica", hoping it will win Ateraxis' attention.)（茧特意在“帕斯卡”三个字上强调了发音，希望以此获得星渊的重视。）