March 9th, 2011
Nie Yun arrived at 13's quarters early in the morning. Observing 13 impeccably dressed and seated by the bedside, he realized his arrival was tardy.
"Is 24 absent?" Nie Yun casually selected a chair and sat.
"She departed moments ago," 13 stated placidly. "I surmised you desired a private discourse, thus I permitted her departure."
Nie Yun remained silent, focusing his full attention upon 13.
After approximately ten minutes elapsed, 13 disrupted the quiescent "dialogue."
"Did you not possess something to articulate to me? Why the reticence now?"
"Are you cognizant?" Nie Yun indicated 13 with his finger. "You have undergone significant alteration."
"Indeed?" 13's tone retained its customary frigidity.
"Regardless of your attempts at concealment..." Nie Yun gestured towards his own eyes, stating, "You harbor resentment towards me."
This time, it was 13 who fell silent. He slowly rose, approached the bedside cabinet, and retrieved his weapon, the COOL-FIRE.
Due to the injury to his left hand, he could only raise the firearm with his right, aiming it at Nie Yun's head.
"Observe, I asserted your profound animosity towards me," Nie Yun exhibited no fear, instead revealing a smile.
"You have consistently been correct." 13's frame trembled slightly. "From my initial acquaintance with you until this moment, you have committed no misstep. However, your gravest fallacy was engendering my existence..."
"You are not a fallacy!" Nie Yun interjected vehemently. "You are a masterpiece! The quintessential art of warfare! A flawless combatant!"
"Indeed!" 13 offered an awkward chuckle. "And subsequently, the tragedy of being human ensues. My sole purpose is the deployment of the specialized SEED projectile; why did you not simply manufacture a cannon initially? At the very least, it would not direct its muzzle towards you..."
"We required not merely the formidable potency of SEED, but also sought to demonstrate to other nations that such immense power could originate from a single individual." Nie Yun lowered his gaze. "Compared to an ion cannon safeguarded by tens of thousands, a sniper navigating through crowds is substantially more challenging to defend against."
"And consequently, I became the amalgamation of all your objectives!" 13 roared with agitation. "If such is the case, why bestow upon me consciousness? You could have employed that entity within my physique to supplant me. I lack his strength, am difficult to manage, and possess an exceedingly decadent consciousness..."
"Impermissible," Nie Yun shook his head. "'Emotion' remains merely a program. Although it represents your ultimate combat state, it is not a genuine person."
"What purpose serves a genuine person? Is formidable strength not precisely your pursuit?"
"You still fail to comprehend..." Nie Yun's tone carried a hint of disappointment. "He merely represents the effect when you operate at one hundred percent capacity..." He looked towards 13, continuing, "Yet, he understands neither hatred nor love. When human emotions reach their zenith, individuals often unleash several times their inherent power. He is the strongest, but you are stronger!"
"Director Nie exaggerates my capabilities," 13 retorted sarcastically. "Perhaps I shall never attain the echelon you anticipate throughout my existence."
"That shall not occur," Nie Yun smiled knowingly. "When you were rescued by 1 and the others, I became aware that you had already embarked upon the path towards greater strength."
"Your words elude my understanding."
Nie Yun slowly rose to his feet, pressing the gun's muzzle against his own forehead. "When your emotions become uncontrollable, he emerges... When you relinquish the will to survive, he emerges... Yet, not this instance. This indicates you have begun to yearn for survival; you will become stronger! He has already disintegrated..."
The COOL-FIRE clattered to the floor, accompanied by 13's tears.
"Why are you invariably correct?" For the first time, 13 wept, yet it was a tearful smile.
"I presumed I would terminate you. Yet my finger refused to depress the trigger. To me, you resemble a paternal figure, do you apprehend? You orchestrate my entire existence: life, combat, missions, comrades. You interfere in my world. Previously, I believed I yearned for demise; now I comprehend, what I desire is merely the autonomy to dictate my own destiny..."
"Forgive me..." Nie Yun tenderly embraced 13, like a genuine father caressing his child. "We were mistaken."
"If I were to perish, would you experience sorrow?" 13 inquired in a low voice.
Nie Yun offered no reply. He released 13 and walked towards the doorway. Pausing as he opened the door, he remarked, "I am unaware whom you encountered in Taipei. However, witnessing your current state brings me considerable elation. Formerly, you would not defy my directives, nor would you ever reveal your sentiments in my presence. For this alone, I owe that individual profound gratitude..."
"She is an exceedingly virtuous person," 13 wiped away his tears.
"Indeed?" Nie Yun closed the door behind him, standing just outside, not departing. Within his dry eyes, long-absent tears glistened. "Although your demise is preordained, I shall nonetheless experience sorrow. If I am a paternal figure to you, are you not, in turn, my son?"
13 did not overhear Nie Yun's sentiments uttered outside the door, for they were expressions of his innermost thoughts.
Simultaneously, within the subterranean base in Taipei, the door to a detention cell swung open...
"Have you acknowledged your error?" Annie inquired.
Satan, affixed to the wall, clenched his fists, glanced at Angel and Dove beside him, then lowered his head. "We acknowledge our error, Mother..."
"Excellent. Children who acknowledge their faults are commendable children." Annie smiled, undoing the trio's restraints.
"Proceed and cleanse yourselves first, then report to my office. I have an assignment for you," Annie articulated, shielding her nose with her hand.
"Understood..." The three, suspended for a day, responded listlessly.
Thirty minutes later...
"Reporting!" The three chorused.
"Enter."
Opening the door, Annie was habitually seated, peeling an apple.
"Ablutions complete, awaiting Mother's orders!" Refreshed by the cleansing, the trio exhibited renewed vigor.
"Excellent..." Annie nodded at Satan. "Where have the Chinese forces advanced to, are you aware?"
"Intelligence just received indicates over seventy percent of Taiwan's territory has been occupied. If they maintain their current rate of advance, they could assault Taipei within four days," Satan reported calmly.
"Our objective here was not to assist Chen Bian in defending Taiwan." Annie ceased her activity. "We merely sought to evaluate the mechs' combat efficacy. Fundamentally, our objective has been achieved. We initially planned to withdraw back to America in two days. However, since the arrogant Chinese disseminated reports of their single soldier severely damaging two mechs, the President and that fellow Edward seem utterly incensed. Thus, the objective has now shifted..."
Annie's gaze swept coldly across the three. "Aid Taiwan in the final decisive engagement, namely the Battle of Taipei. Our purpose is not to repel the enemy, but to compel 13's emergence! Eliminate him, and the mission concludes. Understood?"
"Understood!" The three chorused once more.
"Prior to that, there is a task requiring your execution." Annie sighed resignedly. "That imbecile Chen Bian has caused widespread demoralization among the populace. For the final battle, he even intends to drive civilians to the city's periphery to serve as human shields..."
"Despicable..." Angel murmured involuntarily.
"Indeed, despicable it may be, yet one must concede its tactical merit. Proceed and assist him with this undertaking..." Annie waved dismissively, signaling their departure.
Just as Angel was about to exit, Annie halted her again.
"Baby informed me everything. It appears you harbor rather personal sentiments towards that 13?" Annie's expression was impassive.
"Mother misunderstands, I merely because..." Angel attempted to elucidate.
"I desire no explanations; I merely wish to inquire." Annie paused. "Next time you encounter him, can you bring yourself to execute him?"
"Given the opportunity, I shall personally eliminate him!" Angel stated resolutely, fists clenched tightly.
"Excellent, you may depart..." A smile graced Annie's features.
Exiting the room, Angel unclenched her fists. In truth, within her heart, she remained uncertain how she would confront 13 again.
His smile, identical to her father's, remained deeply etched in her mind.
If possible, she genuinely wished not to kill this individual. Yet, tragically, mutual destruction seemed a predetermined fate scripted by an author in a novel, immutable...
Angel resolved silently within her heart: the next encounter must conclude this relationship, utilizing either her assault mech or her own life...