In the early hours of the morning in Orb time, the "shipyard," with many of its lights turned off, appeared somewhat dim.
Having changed into a new set of clothes, Christina held the hard drive containing the data and walked up to the pure-white mobile suit.
At this moment, many HAROs were still continuing to assemble the warship, producing mechanical operating noises that had been lowered considerably.
Christina casually picked up a laptop, connected the hard drive to it, and began typing rapidly on the keyboard.
"Are you really going to do this?"
At that moment, a familiar voice sounded behind Christina. "Roz will be angry when he finds out, you know."
"That's something that will happen several hours from now. By then it'll be a done deal, and there will be ways to make him accept it."
Christina didn't even turn her head, continuing her operation on the laptop. "Besides, if you really disagreed like Roz, you should be stopping me right now."
"Unfortunately… the option to stop you is unavailable to me." Big Haro spoke calmly, explaining why it could not stop Christina's actions. "I can only interfere with companions according to organizational rules — in other words, Roz — but your files still exist in this world, and I have no authority to interfere."
"I do not like to disrupt Roz's normal development path. I only guide him back on track when absolutely necessary."
In the dim Hangar, Big Haro's eyes flickered. "And besides, at a time when combat strength is urgently needed, what you're doing is also beneficial to Roz."
"That group of consciousness-data, and you, have already decided. I have no objections at all. As long as you get that machine-spirit's permission, even if Roz comes, he won't be able to do anything."
"…Yeah. You're right. We've all agreed."
Although it did nothing for her personally, Christina still took a deep breath to steady her chaotic thoughts.
She looked up at the seemingly "sleeping" pure-white mobile suit in front of her. "I know you're there."
Christina spoke, her eyes locked firmly on the head monitor of the machine. "I've already seen the battle records. You don't need to pretend in front of me."
"We're all companions — companions fighting for Roz Links — aren't we?"
Even though there was clearly no one in the cockpit, the mobile suit suddenly activated.
With a low rumble, the visor-covered eyes lit up through the narrow slit.
But the suit made no other movements; it simply lowered its head slightly, gazing at Christina standing in the dim light with her laptop.
"Since Big Haro calls you a machine-spirit… then I'll call you that as well."
Seeing the machine activate on its own, Christina paused, then spoke. "You who experienced Orb's great evacuation operation should understand… for Roz's sake, we must obtain greater power."
"According to Roz's theoretical report, as long as enough souls attach to the psycho-frame, its performance will increase dramatically."
"These consciousness-data have already volunteered to give Roz Links all of their strength… what about you?"
Christina looked at the mobile suit's head monitor, her right hand hovering over a button. If the machine-spirit refused, she would press it and halt the data-transfer operation.
"If you agree to let me inject their data into your psycho-frame, nod. If you refuse, shake your head."
Time passed second by second. The scene froze in a tense stalemate.
Just as Christina began to wonder if the machine-spirit didn't understand her words and whether she needed to translate them into binary—
In Christina's high-performance artificial eye, the suit's head monitor faintly nodded once, then returned to its idle position.
"Looks like she agreed too."
At some unknown point, Big Haro had floated beside Christina. "Three votes in favor, one vote against, one abstention."
After speaking, Big Haro extended a mechanical arm from beneath its wing and proficiently connected the laptop to the mobile suit.
"…Yes. This should be the best result for now."
Christina continued typing on the computer, preparing to copy the data into the psycho-frame.
Suddenly, a pop-up window appeared on the laptop.
"Do not copy."
Those words on the pop-up made Christina pause.
"…Did you all change your minds?"
Facing her question, the pop-up clearly froze for a moment, then shook repeatedly.
"No. Use cut."
Those words now appeared on the pop-up.
"…Are you all insane?"
Christina clearly could not understand their thinking. "Copying is the safest method."
"But then… would the ones fighting beside Brother Roz still really be us?"
The consciousness-data continued communicating with Christina through the pop-up. "In short, use cut on us, Christina."
"Let our remaining ashes… burn once more."
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After Roz woke up and looked at everything in front of him, he fell silent.
"Christina… what did you do?"
Roz's voice trembled as he reached for the hard drive beside the computer, originally used to store the consciousness data.
At this moment, the power and network indicator lights on it had already gone out, clearly showing it was turned off. On the computer linked to the hard drive, it displayed that the data had been completely transferred.
"…I just… did what I said I would last night."
"Everyone wanted to contribute their own power to Roz, even those companions who had already lost flesh as anchors."
Christina looked at Roz's current state, and in her heart floated the question, "Did I really do the right thing?" But by now it was too late. The consciousness data had agreed, and there was no need for regrets.
"If you're unhappy, you can hit me too."
"Christina!"
Roz suddenly set down the hard drive, grabbed the collar of Christina's clothes, and raised his right fist, as if he were about to strike her in the face at the next second.
Christina instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for the pain transmitted by sensors, and possibly a concussion.
But she waited a long time, and still nothing happened.
Christina cautiously opened her eyes and saw Roz in a state of inner conflict.
Even though Roz was furious, facing Christina and raising his fist, he simply could not bring himself to strike.
Whether facing Flay, George, or Yzak, Roz could act decisively to correct them in ideological disputes.
But Christina… since arriving in Orb in CE70, had always been by Roz's side. Undoubtedly, she was Roz's most important "companion," and from beginning to end, her position had always aligned with Roz.
The fist in his hand tightened and loosened. Finally, as if the tension drained away, Roz let go of Christina's collar.
"Big Haro… why didn't you stop Christina?"
"Because I can only interfere with companions who have records. But Christina is not an internal member; her records still exist in this world. She's not under my management."
Big Haro floated beside Roz, extending a mechanical claw to straighten the clothes on Roz and Christina. "So last night, I could only abstain. I couldn't do anything."
"I see…"
Roz sighed and remained silent for a long while.
He picked up the laptop and hard drive and walked toward the pure-white mobile suit.
"I'll go to the cockpit and operate it, see if I can restore their data."
Passing by Christina, Roz paused.
"…Christina, we'll talk properly later."
Roz opened his mouth, but in the end could not bring himself to say anything harsh, hoping instead to resolve some ideological issues through conversation with Christina.
"Mm… I understand."
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In the familiar cockpit, Roz connected the computer to the seat and kept tapping away at the keyboard.
From time to time, he swiped across the touch screen beside him, opening certain options.
"Phew… found it."
Seeing the familiar data before him, Roz let out a sigh of relief and began operating the computer, intending to cut the consciousness data back onto the hard drive.
"Beep beep…"
Along with an error sound, a "No Permission" popup appeared.
"No permission?!"
Roz froze for a moment, then started operating the computer nonstop, trying to acquire the necessary privileges. But the next second, the cockpit doors closed. Before Roz could react, the entire seat began transforming into NTD mode.
Unprepared for the sudden event, Roz was pressed into the pilot's seat as intense brainwave activity came from all directions.
Before Roz's eyes, dazzling and magnificent lights appeared, making it feel as if he had entered another world.
Finally, when everything settled, Roz found himself in a dazzling, gravity-free space, drifting within it.
No "Naked drifting," clothes still on… is this really the legendary "NT chat room"?
Just as Roz was still puzzled, a very young male voice sounded.
"First time meeting, I guess? Big Brother Roz."
Roz turned and saw a boy dressed in a white restraint suit, his face blurred into a shapeless form, standing in this radiant space.
As Roz thought to himself, "I should approach him," he felt solid ground beneath his feet.
"…Were you startled? Sorry."
The boy, seeing Roz's silence, assumed Roz was scared and suddenly panicked. "Many have already forgotten their gender and appearance. I remember the clearest of all."
"If Big Brother Roz can't accept it, we can also use the chat box…"
Before the boy could finish, Roz embraced him.
"No, it's fine… I just wish I had acted sooner in Blue Cosmos's operation."
Roz comforted the boy, who was about to descend into a frenzied state, helping him calm down.
The "warmth" wasn't simulated by data—it was the warmth felt when two minds, two souls, touched. Memories of the boy's long-forgotten early life surfaced in his heart.
"All right… where are we?"
Roz patted the boy on the back and separated from him.
"Also, I heard from Christina that this was your request."
Hearing Roz's words, the boy with the blurred face finally understood.
"Oh… this place, huh? This is a spiritual space opened by Big Sis for us to communicate."
The boy gave Roz a thumbs-up. "Compared to Big Brother Roz, your body must be sleeping soundly in the cockpit right now!"
"Big Sis?"
Roz paused, thinking about the name the boy just mentioned.
Marvin and the others often jokingly called Big Haro "Big Sis," but these consciousness data certainly wouldn't call Big Haro that. And now, having arrived in this mobile suit, calling her that…
"Hey, it's the Big Sis who fought alongside you."
The boy gestured. "Orb… that's the name, right? During that battle, Big Sis couldn't link to you and was really worried!"
"…I think I know who you're talking about."
Roz scratched his head but quickly grew serious again.
"But you haven't said why you would do such a dangerous thing."
"Even I can't claim to fully understand the psycho-frame. Your actions were too risky—your data could have been lost!"
"So what if it is?"
The boy's tone suddenly became calm.
"It's just death, disappearance. We were already dead long ago. What remains here are merely vengeful remnants of our souls."
"If it weren't for Big Brother Roz and Dr. Ryan, we would have become Blue Cosmos's killing machines or ended up in some disposal yard."
The boy spoke, his voice full of satisfaction and gratitude. "All the happy lives simulated through data we saw on the Internet… we've already lived them. A second life of enough happiness."
"But Big Brother Roz has always been out there, constantly fighting powerful enemies… just enjoying happiness without paying for it, we could never accept that."
The boy looked up at Roz. "After entering the psycho-frame, though everyone is asleep, Big Sis still needs time to integrate our power… but we feel unprecedented fulfillment."
"But once the psycho-frame turns green, you will disappear!"
Roz's tone was serious. "The miracles triggered by the psycho-frame come at a cost! Once activated, you will all be consumed like fuel!"
"Isn't that great?"
The boy's voice brimmed with joy and satisfaction. "Just dying to help Big Brother Roz—it's wonderful."
"Let our remaining bodies ignite as a fire flying toward the future, Big Brother Roz."
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Roz walked out of the Unicorn's cockpit in a daze and slumped down in the aisle in front of the cockpit.
During the brief exchange in the mental-space, Roz had almost been persuaded by these consciousness data, but in the end, he could only decide to avoid triggering the "miracle" as much as possible.
"Christina…"
Roz clenched his hands, the unwillingness in his heart surging out. "It's so frustrating… I wanted to protect them with all my strength, and yet it ended up like this…"
"I wanted to do more, but after all the actions, it always feels like I accomplish nothing."
At this moment, Christina had come to Roz's side without him noticing.
Seeing Roz's state, Christina understood that Roz had likely been persuaded by those consciousness data.
"You've actually done a lot already."
Christina crouched down and wiped the sweat from Roz's forehead. "You've protected many people too, haven't you?"
"Look, everything here is the result of your efforts."
Following Christina's words, Roz turned his head and looked at the shipyard.
Haro units of various colors maneuvered small specialized industrial machines, moving through the shipyard.
"Stand up. You are their spiritual pillar."
Christina stood up and extended her hand to Roz. "Besides, self-pity here isn't the Roz I know."
"The Roz I know, no matter what difficulties he faces, would show a reassuring smile and continue fighting."
Christina stared intently at Roz.
Roz remained silent for a moment, then grabbed Christina's hand, exerted force, and stood up from the ground.
"You're right…"
Roz stood and looked at the pure white mobile suit in front of him.
"I can't lose heart here. I must keep moving forward."
"Otherwise… if I give up at the first setback, how can I change this world?"
Roz lifted his head and looked at the head monitor of the mobile suit before him.
"…How am I supposed to fulfill the promise to Ryan?"
"And that kind of me… how canthat me beworthy of the Unicorn?"
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