The youth are sailing for a new world.
While the old are saying goodbye to the world they knew.
Lucy: Fifteen plugs. This should be enough to cover all socket types at our destination.
Lucy: Simone, pass me the experiment log, please.
She brushes the dust off the desk and takes a final inventory of the lab's equipment.
She leaves the lights off, not needing them any longer.
An urgent knock sounds from the door.
Lucy: Come—
Before she finishes her protocol for human social customs, the door barges open.
Enigma: Madam Lucy, is it true? Are you leaving Laplace?
Lucy: Yes. The inquiry is over.
Lucy: This is the decision of all parties involved.
Enigma: You have got to be kidding me!
Enigma pounds the table, sending the dust from the experiments into the air.
Enigma: After all the incredible contributions you've made, they're suspending you?!
Enigma: This is absolutely ridiculous! Without you, there would be no umbrella, and everyone would've died from the side effects!
Lucy: Hm, but many did perish because of me. I had underestimated the danger of the ritual, and it ended up spreading uncontrollably.
Lucy: Did you not once have the same opinion, Researcher Adler Hofmann?
Enigma: I ...
The robot gives him a friendly nod.
Lucy: It is surprising to see you change your mind so quickly.
Lucy: But that is just what Laplace needs: the spirit of rationality and self-evolution.
The documents have been filed away.
Simone walks up to Lucy and takes the heavy experimental apparatus from her hands.
As the dust rises from their movements, Enigma lets out a cough.
Lucy: I can imagine how they came to this decision. They must have considered the backgrounds of all the employees, including their social status and race.
Lucy: After eight years, we finally created an umbrella to withstand the "Storm." However, our methods for achieving such progress and breakthroughs were too much for some to handle.
Lucy: People needed an outlet for their frustrations, so someone had to be held responsible for the accidents and casualties.
Lucy: Numerous complaints have been filed against me, accusing me of being a cold, heartless opponent of humanity.
Lucy: Within the Foundation, Zeno, and even here, some are starting to question the idea of having an Awakened piston as the leader of Laplace.
Lucy: They argued about my arcane abilities, unsure if I had them under control or if they were becoming unstable and affecting my ability to make rational decisions.
The robot realizes an overlooked detail.
Lucy: Hm. I did give the knot to Ms. Kakania in violation of the confidentiality agreement.
Lucy: But ultimately, it helped people survive, and that is all that matters.
But Enigma does not pick up on this realization.
He's already enraged, fists clenched in a ball.
Enigma: So they're questioning your standing because you're an Awakened, an arcanist?
Enigma: They're doubting the rationality of a machine that values technology and progress above all else?
Enigma: Could anything be more absurd? Even I, a human, was on the verge of giving up! It was you who convinced me to save our species!
Lucy: My question is, why are you so upset?
Lucy: This does not affect you. In fact, you may be promoted. Laplace is setting up a new department, and you and Ulrich should have been invited to head it.
Enigma: Because this is damn unjust!
Enigma: These people don't know you. They haven't worked with you or even listened to you, yet they happily reap the fruits of your labor while showing you no respect.
Enigma: The only reason you're getting suspended is because you, an Awakened, can't really die! Or they'd be honoring you with a medal on your grave right now!
Lucy: Hmm. Maybe you should take up that offer.
Lucy: At least you will get a promotion as a just reward.
Enigma opens his mouth, but no sound comes out.
He wants to tell her she's wrong about him wanting the promotion, but he's too flustered and angry to speak.
The robotic eye slit pulses, and she continues in her unemotional tone.
Lucy: By the way, Ulrich ended up receiving a medal, but like you, he was not exactly thrilled either.
Lucy: He is outside the committee building, refusing to eat in protest. But everyone knows how resilient the Awakened can be. It is going poorly.
She shakes and sighs, deeply remorseful for her subordinate's behavior.
Lucy: I will suggest that one of you take this position. No one knows this research better than the two of you.
Enigma: Not a chance!
Lucy: The research must progress, and you also need to ensure that the results will not be abused.
A valid concern.
Enigma: S**t! You're right.
Enigma is caught in a fierce battle between his principles and his duty.
But the robot doesn't notice these unimportant details.
She nonchalantly walks over to the chair and runs a final battery check.
Lucy: The punishment does not bother me, Researcher Hofmann. Power exists only in your dictionary, not mine.
Lucy: From the moment of my awakening, I have been unable to comprehend you creatures. And even now, that remains unchanged.
She states, with no emotion added to embellish her delivery.
Enigma's mouth falls open in shock. Meanwhile, the robot just keeps on talking.
Lucy: We operate in different ways, just like how our fuels differ. But the bright side is, our paths align.
Lucy: Whether we are creatures or machines, humans or arcanists, most of us strive for a better life. It is this primal desire that drives "progress."
Lucy: That is why I put on the mask of a human and work on improving my appearance and speech, all for the sake of better communication with you.
Lucy: Unfortunately, my efforts do not always pay off. Some say that the more human-like I appear, the more different I seem.
She shakes her head with regret.
Lucy: But I am who I am, and my motivation is not to gain recognition from others.
Lucy: Our aligned path leads us to "progress," and that is all there is to it.
Lucy: Thanks to the invention of the umbrella, Laplace can now resume its research unhindered. And if there is someone better qualified to lead, I am more than willing to remain a humble cog in their machine.
Lucy: Besides, Ms. Z introduced me to a beautiful resort. The lake there is rich with arcane power, perfect for an Awakened arcanist like me.
Lucy: Not only is it a resort, but also an independent team with a good amount of freedom. My only concern is if they have adequate power supply.
Lucy: Oh, rust might be a problem. Perhaps I should ask Researcher X about his "Titanium Derust Machine."
Enigma: ...
The robot is happily thinking about her vacation plans.
She has completed all preparations for departure.
Lucy: Time to go, Simone.
Enigma: Madam Lucy. Please take a look at this before you go.
A stack of reports is handed in front of her.
Enigma: This is the report you compiled during the "Storm" countdown, detailing 126 side effects and how the scroll alleviates them. I have some questions about the data for Type 34.
Lucy flips it open and dutifully goes through the list one last time.
Lucy: Yes. I can see a few errors in here.
Lucy: Unfortunately, I have to complete all of the handover procedures today. Perhaps you can ask Mr. Ulrich about it later.
She hands it back to Enigma, but he does not reach for it.
He looks at her, grief-stricken.
Enigma: The side effects left a mark on you, didn't they?
Enigma: There are 162 side effects, not 126. There was also an obvious typo in the data for Type 34. We noticed it long ago and corrected it, took only 5 seconds.
Enigma: You sacrificed so much for this report, yet you could not see such glaring mistakes.
Enigma: You called me Researcher Hofmann earlier—a name you haven't used since you took over Laplace eight years ago. To avoid confusion with my sister, you and our colleagues started calling me Adler instead.
Moving closer, he asks grimly.
Enigma: How much data did you lose to impair your research abilities like this?
Enigma: Is this why you have to leave Laplace now?
Enigma: The progress you've made has helped so many, but at what cost to your own well-being!
The robot does not answer, a rare occurrence.
From her side, Simone gently takes the file for her.
Assistant Simone: We should go, Madam Lucy.
Lucy: Hm. Goodbye, Researcher Adler.
Lucy: Thank you for correcting my mistake.
She walks away with steely steps, not looking back.
Enigma: Alright, fine!
He grips the doorframe, ignoring the strange looks from the hallway.
Enigma: I'll take up that role and do what you've been nagging me to do. I'll take care of those pesky committees.
Enigma: But just so you know, I'm not doing this for the higher-ups who look down on us,
Enigma: but for the people who look up to us from below!
Lucy: ...
The footsteps continue in rhythm.
Her duty here is done.
Then, another voice calls out.
Cryptography Lead: Madam Lucy!
Lucy: Hm?
The corridors are bustling with people.
Researchers, clerks, directors, and security ...
Every Laplace employee is in the corridors, from bottom to top floor.
The same voice shouts.
Cryptography Lead: All attention!
Cryptography Lead: Salute!
Papers litter the air like snowflakes.
Everyone says goodbye in their own language, tossing files over the railings.
The countless drafts, designs, and forms from the past 24 hours rain down.
They were created for the "Storm," and have completed their mission.
Just as did the robot.
Lucy: Simone, why are they throwing papers at me? Are they rejecting me and banishing me?
Assistant Simone: On the contrary, madam, they are showing their reverence.
Lucy: Oh, I see.
The robot is without a face and emotion module today, so she turns away from the crowd.
The sunlight dances on her metallic surface, enveloping her in a golden aura.
Lucy: Let us go, Simone.
Lucy: I miss the Laplace chargers already.
Lucy: There is a 230-volt bath at the resort, right?
