animus_network | [anon text] ⚙ heartful cry

Has anyone seen Saber? She's blond and wears a red dress.

I really need to find her or Rin if they're here. I'm not sure what's going on and I need to talk to them

Sorry, I don't know why I said that. My processors aren't working--no, I can't access them. I'm human. I'm human, but I shouldn't be.

What's it mean when something red starts coming out of a human's throat? That ain't normal. I'm in a lot of trouble, huh?

~~Rani~~ ~~Saber~~ Yu, Yosuke--you guys all helped me when I was in trouble once. I know it's a lot to ask, but can ya do it again?

[action; floor three]

['Hakuno' was sitting on the floor in a corner of the library, hidden behind the shelves and hugging his knees tightly to her chest. Why, why was this happening? Why was she seeing things she at once remembered and didn't remember?]

[A translucent wall of scarlet slid into place, locking between them with a bang of finality. Like a door slamming shut, one that could never be opened again. The roar of the crazed bloodthirsty warrior echoed through the Coliseum, shaking the ground and piercing the victorious Master's ears even through the wall between them. Even as Berserker raged and growled, his massive body was already beginning to dissipate. Overcome by the SE.RA.PH, the black pattern spread across his body like a plague as he was reduced to nothing and deleted.]

[And what of the girl beside him? There was only one result for losing Masters in the Holy Grail War...and already the same black matter was spreading across Rani's form. Yet...she seemed unaffected. A disintegrating hand traced her vanishing Command Spells--what was she thinking? Was it bitter regret? Anger that she lost, hatred that one she'd helped had defeated her?]

['Oh...']

[Slowly being overcome by corruption that spread across her body, the girl looked at the victorious Master with a gentle smile. Why...? Was she happy about this? Was she...was she grateful that Hakuno had been the one to defeat her?]

['It's over, isn't it?']

[That was all Rani said, with a sound that could well have been the faintest laugh. But as she began to vanish, her mouth moved once more, in a gesture without sound.]

['Goodbye.']

[Hakuno--Labrys shuddered violently, pressing her hands to her head. Why did she have to kill her friend? Why did she have to kill 024--Rani--her sisters--Shinji--Blackmore--]

[Why why whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy it wasn't fair--!]

[A sudden scream of anger and frustration cut through the library on the third floor, followed almost immediately by the sounds of a girl sobbing her heart out intercut with violent coughing.]

I'm s-s-sorry. I didn't wanna--didn't want to--I don't want to fight anymore. Saber--Aigis--somebody tell me why I h-have to keep fighting...

[responses from

effigiaexmachina]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's...it's, uh...

[A pause--the image of a girl with gleaming metal limbs and glowing golden eyes. The burning minotaur rising angry and murderous, the shining silver woman with the scarlet threads. All of them at once her and yet not her, as much as a reflection was the person in front of the mirror.]

[But another memory contradicted that. There was no real 'her' and yet there was. Sleeping, dormant, maybe dreaming? Someone else that was her and not her at the same time.]

[So which one was she, really? A metal chassis built by man or a dream made 'real' by the workings of the Moon Cell?]

L...Lab...rys. I'm Labrys, I think.

[Hm. Symmetrical double-headed Grecian axe. Interesting. It sounded like a pseudonym not unlike her own.]

You think? You must not question your identity, Labrys. To do so is to lose yourself.

I am starting to believe that it is imperative you remember who you really are and not the form you inhabit.

I-I'm tryin'. I think...I ain't human like Hakuno. Somebody built and programmed me.

But every time I try to remember, I keep comin' up with memories I probably ain't supposed to have. And I ain't sure which set's the right one.

You must categorize them. Write them down and separate them into two groups - Labrys and Hakuno.

As Hakuno is a Master, I may be able to help you if you question to whom the memory belongs.

Hakuno's...the one that's sleeping. She's got a really good friend out lookin' for her.

[A cryptic statement, but it made sense to her. The 'copy', the 'ghost in the machine' whose body was endless distances away. She was the Master that fought to survive and saw her opponents deleted. So 'Labrys' was the one made of metal, the one who developed a heart and fought because she had no choice and saw the mangled metallic remains of her sisters.]

Labrys--I'm an android. I was made t-to fight, but then I met Aigis and a-all my other friends.

So I'm supposed to be Labrys. Why do I remember being Hakuno?

Because one of the administrators here is conducting a vile experiment. I suspect there is magecraft involved, but I cannot confirm it.

And unfortunately, I am unable to assist in reversing it. This battle is not one I can defeat with my sword, so I leave it in the capable hands of scientists and magi.

[She brushes away a tear on the other cheek.]

I just don't wanna be alone. I don't wanna have to fight anymore, I don't want to kill any more of my friends no matter who I am.

...How come my whole life's gotta be some kinda experiment?

[Saber finally sits down next to Labrys.]

You are not alone; I am here. And your whole life does not have to be an experiment.

I ain't just a machine, or even a copy. I'm me, not just...not just somebody's stupid experiment.

Exactly. I think, therefore I am. Remember that and hold to it.

[Thank the Grail for giving her that common Western philosophy.]

Uh-huh.

Th...thanks, Saber. For not just runnin' off or callin' me crazy.

I have seen real insanity.

And my vassal was subjected to this as well.

[anon text] ⚙ heartful cry

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