"If our gods and our hopes are nothing but scientific phenomena,
then it must be said that our love is scientific as well"
-- 'L'Eve Future'
Repo-202 calling air traffic control.
We've arrived over the site. [The kanji means 'Look']
Now starting data-relay.
What's the situation?
52 minutes ago, the suspect killed the owner of an apartment.
That's the first murder site. Then, the suspect ran away.
The suspect then killed two cops in this unregistered alley,
which is the second murder site, and is currently hiding there.
We've sealed all the exits and we're planning on going in in two minutes.
That's a cyborg from Section 9.
Nothing good ever comes from messing with those guys.
Seems like Denkei wants to get involved. They're asking for a data-link.
First the police, then the Denkei...
Politely ask them to leave.
Help me
'The moon fails to shine down
'on either day or night'
'And the night bird
'calls out in sadness'
'When I turn to look,
'the flowers had all fallen away'
'It was as if all comfort
'had vanished from the world'
'As the gods leave
'to gather in the new world'
'Day breaks,
'and the night bird calls out'
'The blossoms beseech the gods'
'Even though in this world
'we may know grief and suffering,'
'Our dreams shall never die,
'and they fall from the branch in anger'
So far there have been 8 homicides by gynoids.
In each case, after killing their owners, the robots deleted and self-destructed.
The body in question is made by Locus Solus Company. Type 2050 'Hadaly'.
It's a beta mass production model for evaluation test.
It seems that it was loaned to the beta testers under contract for free,
but now all the machines have been recalled.
According to the latest report submitted to us,
there's no problem either in the hardware, nor the software.
You got all that?
The new gynoids go out of control without any known reason, and attack their owners.
The manufacturer did a recall in a panic.
What's left: The usual charges from the victims' families;
lawsuits over what's their responsibility; and the resulting compensation fees.
I think I understood everything, except why Section 9 is involved in this.
What does it mean, 'to understand'?
People can't ever know they understand; only that they hope that they understand.
Now there are two reasons for Section 9's intervention:
First, none of the victims' families have taken any legal action thus far.
They've always opted to settle out of court.
Second, one of the victims is a politician,
and one a retired police officer.
As long as there's a possibility that this may be a terrorist act,
it's our job to determine whether Section 9 should get involved.
Ishikawa and Azuma are in charge of investigating the victims.
You two investigate the gynoids.
No questions, just go.
I want to tell you, I did not volunteer for this job.
I know that I'm not as good as the Major.
It's not like that.
They've still got her listed as MIA.
All she ever possessed were her brain and her ghost anyway.
Even if she doubted either one ever existed.
Her body and brain just belonged to the government.
Even the classified information in her memory belonged to the government.
All they want is to reclaim her memory, regardless of whether she's dead or not.
So, where shall we start?
Locus Solus is far north, so let's start at the precinct, since it's nearby.
[The kanji means 'Police']
3014, we have a code 208.
Please provide backup for 2033.
It's you...
About the doll this guy destroyed yesterday...
Two of our young men got killed,
...don't tell me you're taking over this case.
We're here to decide whether or not Section 9 will take over.
Forensics is on the right side of the end of the 19th floor hallway.
Need me to show you the way?
No thanks. It's not like I'm a tourist here.
An unripe fruit attracts no birds...
...they only come when it becomes sweet.
When you were a cop,
didn't you bad-mouth guys coming out of the blue trying to take over the case?
That's why I lost it. It was like looking back at a younger me.
"What's the point of blaming the mirror if you don't like what you see."
"The mirror is not a tool for realizing the truth, but for obscuring it."
Both our faces aren't meant for mirrors.
Why do you keep coming back? I'm not going to cooperate.
I'll have you arrested if you persist.
I am Togusa from Section 9 of the police. This scary looking man here is--
The guy who blasted this girl with a double-ought buck.
If you only used a .50 calibre hollow point, the robot could have easily been recovered.
Two of the three victims were police officers.
She tried to commit suicide before getting shot...
...didn't she?
What was that about a suicide, uh...?
Haraway.
Miss Haraway, what was that about a suicide?
The gynoids somehow obtained permission to hurt people.
Therefore, they must end their lives as a result of conflicts with the third law.
"Protect your own existence as long as such protection does not harm humans."
Technically I think you should call it self-destruction.
If you wish to underline the difference between human and machines.
Is the self-destruction phenomena particular to a specific model?
I can't say that's completely correct.
These last few years, the number of robot related incidents have been rising sharply.
Most noticeably in petbot models.
What's the cause?
I don't know...
virus, microbe pollution, human-error during production, ageing parts...
It could be many reasons, but...
But what?
People throw robots away when they don't need them anymore.
They keep buying new products every time a new model comes out.
Some of the scrapped ones become vagrant and they deteriorate without maintenance.
The only thing a robot desires is to not be disposed of.
No way...
When people think "Humans differ from robots",
it's no more profound than people thinking "white is not black".
While this may not be the case for industry robots,
the androids and gynoids as petbots, at least, were built
free from utilitarianism and pragmatism.
Why are they are human-shaped?
Why did they need to be based on the most ideal human body?
I wonder why humans devote so much effort into making something in their own image.
Have you got any kids?
One daughter.
Children stray from the human norms.
That is, if you call 'human' that which has established self and act autonomously.
What is a child: an initial phase of a human being who lives without any concept of norms?
Obviously the mind of a child differs from a human's, and yet children look human.
The doll a girl plays house with doesn't replace a real baby,
nor is it a tool for practising parenting.
The girl is definitely not practising parenting.
Rather, playing with dolls and parenting just might be similar.
What are you talking about?
In other words,
parenting is a quick method to realize the ancient human dream:
to create an android.
Mind you, that's just my opinion.
Kids are... not dolls!
Descartes didn't differentiate between humans and machines
or organic world and inorganic world.
When his daughter died at the age of five, he found a doll that looked just like her.
He named her Francine and doted on her.
There was a story like that.
Why don't we talk about something more concrete?
What can you tell me about that robot from Locus Solus, the Type 2052 'Hadaly'?
Well...
It's a high quality product.
Although the body is a common beta model, it seems to be outfitted a Special mode.
Special mode?
It's equipped with some unnecessary parts for the maid functions.
What do you mean?
It's a sex doll.
Not something one wouldn't want to publicize,
but it's not illegal.
No wonder the families settled out of court.
The memory is reformatted when the robot stops functioning.
The producer did this just to protect their technology,
just a common measure
But...
But what?
A file was left in the sound buffer. Do you want me to play it?
"Help me"
Thanks a lot.
Hey...
I hesitate to ask such a thing, but...
I have never given birth to a child, nor raised one...
...and I'm not registered with an ovum bank.
Thank you very much, Miss...
Haraway. You don't need to add 'Miss' or 'Mrs.'.
That woman didn't seem like the technical type.
She's the type who would add her opinions in the extra info fields.
I used to do that often too.
That's why you didn't get promoted?
Anyways we'll get that gynoid's brain at Section 9's lab.
We're not gonna see her again, huh?
Is she your type?
To tell you the truth, I happen to like older women.
- What's next? - Let's just stick to the routine.
Starting with the shipment inspector?
09 calling 907. We have a 602 at the boathouse in area 201.
Victim is Locus shipment inspector.
Site was secured 2 minutes after the precinct's arrival.
907 roger.
What good timing.
"Spring day. Taking the carriage back and forth between this world and hereafter."
What? Just you?
Koga brought the stiff to the coroner's after 're-encountering' his tuna sandwich dinner.
Wuss...
That's the situation 22 minutes ago.
You made the new guys clean this up?
They gotta learn one day.
Let's go over the situation.
We've identified the victim's brain.
Head of shipment inspection at Locus Corporation. Jack Volkerson. 54 years old.
He disappeared after applying for a leave five days ago.
He rented this boathouse 3 days ago for one week.
Weapons used by criminal are kitchen knives.
We checked neighbourhood parking records and found one whose owner has a criminal record.
We are looking into the possibility of Bouryokudan involvement.
From a jacket which seems to belong to the victim, we found seven different cards.
We're trying to pull up the records for each one.
Well, well...
A .38 calibre Smith & Wesson, model 2602.
Seems like he didn't have the chance to use it.
If it's a gun like that, maybe it wouldn't have made much difference.
Looks like a "cyborg with illegally high output"...
Perhaps a professional impersonating a psycho.
969 calling 906. We will arrive in 20 seconds. Hey! What are you doing with th-
I'm not messing it up.
Let's leave the rest to forensics.
907 calling 09. We're leaving the site to 969.
09 roger.
Today is my daughter's birthday.
You got family, huh?
I'll drive you back.
I'm going in the opposite direction. Ishikawa?
Me too.
A daughter's birthday has priority, huh?
Seems fun here.
It's rare for you to come in person.
I came because parts of the stiff are missing.
I'll leave it up to you then. Have fun.
Why don't you leave it up to the local precinct?
The old man is really into this case.
We found it. They're in different containers in the fridge.
Heart, liver, kidney and pancreas.
What a meticulous bastard...
The fresh type by Inumaru Foods, huh? If dried, should last for half a year.
You call this food?
I hear you're teaming up with Togusa.
I think it's better than teaming up with a rookie, fresh out of training.
He's good for an ex-cop. Not like I have any complaints about him.
Well, only the Major could compare to you.
- Hey... - Ishikawa, you talk too much these days.
- See ya. - Batou.
What?
Just dry it.
It's a wise choice, considering the nutrition balance.
The cause of death is the rupture of cervical vertebrae.
Kitchen knives aren't the cause of death, but were used for dismembering the body.
So the killer dismembered the body after murder?
That seems to be true.
The organs stored in the fridge are confirmed to be the victim's.
He suffered from gastritis, and cirrhosis due to chronic alcoholism.
Why did the killer disassemble the victim's body in this detailed way?
Could be a psycho killer, or someone trying to impersonate one.
He was emphasizing the intent to punish or extract revenge.
In that case, the suspect most likely wasn't a pro impersonating a psycho.
What about the twisted doorknob?
Analysis report suggests it's created by a NR26 artificial arm, made in China.
Also known as 'Crab Pincers'.
That's military grade, isn't it?
You can find inferior copies on the black market.
It matched with the lacerations on the neck, by the way.
What about the owner of the vehicle with the police record?
Hard to say, 'cause the owner modded it at several chop shops, so--
Just give us the bottom line.
After cross-referencing with the nearby parking record,
the vehicle in question is owned by 'Koujinkai'.
Bullet-proof... Chassis and rear dampener were reinforced...
It was seen at the scene of the crime several times earlier.
This model is popular among cyborgs.
In other words, among thugs with criminal records.
Maybe Yakuza's revenge?
The question is the motive. What do we know about this 'Koujinkai'?
They're an longstanding faction of the Japanese Bouryokudan.
They deal in drugs, prostitution, gambling, slave trafficking,
real estate extortion, and just about everything else.
The boss, Inoue, got his head ripped off by the Hadaly 3 days ago,
and now this Wakabayashi guy is taking over.
It's obvious then.
The successor always avenges the death of the predecessor.
There's just one problem...
If the victim was expecting the revenge,
then why did he hide precisely where the Koujinkai lurk?
The data in the brain was erased,
so I guess we have no choice but to investigate the victim further.
Either way, this is the precinct's job.
Could it be terrorists using robots to mislead our investigation?
At this point, there's no political connection between the victims.
The possibility of terrorism is low.
We will transfer full jurisdiction of the 'Hadaly' case to Batou and Togusa.
The rest of you, return to regular duties. Dismissed.
Togusa.
Come see me before you leave.
What do you think?
For the time being,
we can just investigate the connection between Koujinkai and Locus Solus.
I mean about Batou.
It's standard procedure for one to verify the psychological tendencies of his partner.
But I am neither cyborg, nor a computer-neurologist.
"One need not have been Caesar in order to understand Caesar."
You have a family, right? Do you find yourself happy these days?
Yes... I guess...
"Most people are neither as happy nor as unhappy as they imagine."
"What's important is not to get fed up with living and lose hope", apparently.
What do you mean?
Looking at him these days reminds me of the Major before she disappeared.
"Let one live alone doing no evil, care-free, like an elephant in the elephant forest."
Director, why did you choose me?
Because it was the Major who had recommended you from the precinct.
What was that about?
"One need not have been Caesar in order to understand Caesar," he said.
That's true.
The world can't afford to live up to the standard of heroes.
Are you trying to start a war or something?!
You don't have to become Yakuza to enter Yakuza's den, but...
...you have to carry a weapon.
Hey, I want to make sure, before leaving...
Make sure what?
We're just gonna listen to their story, right?
You don't like Yakuza?
I hate them.
Me too.
Listen to them, that's it, right?
I told you, to enter Yakuza's den...
...you don't have to become Yakuza. But you also said you need a weapon.
I have a family!
I could go alone.
I'm going with you. I'm your partner. Just promise me.
We'll just listen to them. We'll try our best not to shoot.
- Satisfied? - Fine.
Then let's go, partner.
What do you want?
I need to talk to that Wakabayashi guy. Bring him here.
You said you'd try your best not to shoot.
I did... try my best.
Point man, go. There are more coming.
Oraa!
A mirage?
He hacked our eyes?!
Blame your second grade brains.
What's up?
Narrow and dark stairs. How should we do this?
Wait for my signal.
- I'll go first... - I'll go.
You're too big to back up quickly.
Huh?... Un... n?
Your little gift exploded right above my head.
Even if they had exploded with the maximum effect,
no way you can kill an armoured cyborg with only 2 grenades.
Are you mocking me?
Tell me. Not just about the murder of the head shipment inspector,
but also the connection with Locus Solus.
I was hoping for a good fight.
Come on, crab shit.
You don't look that tasty, but I'll give you a shot.
No way could you've hit me with a power move like that, idiot.
They said they would tell where the head of the shipping inspector was
so we made a deal.
I just came out of prison after 3 years!
I have no idea what my predecessor was doing with that company.
Still alive, partner?
I had a vision of my wife and daughter's face filling my mind...
That's not your wife or daughter.
That's 'Death'.
I said you two have full jurisdiction,
not that you could enforce the law without following proper procedure,
let alone raid the Yakuza's den.
This is not a jungle.
And you guys are not Special Force hitmen either.
Are you still angry?
I'm not angry.
It's just... I hesitate to say this after you saved my life...
...but when I team up with you...
...no matter how many lives I have, it won't be enough, I'm sure.
The full responsibility of the investigation lies on us two alone.
We'll get nowhere unless we take the initiative.
If there's any evidence against Locus Solus, it's up to us to find it.
But did you have to do it guns blazing?
If the old man were really angry, we would have been fired by now.
Stop here.
See ya.
[The kanji means 'Happy' upside-down. A Chinese store entrance tradition.]
You stepped into a kill zone.
That right arm, don't perform any modifications to it by yourself or anything.
There have been reports of newer versions of the control software
conflicting with your copy of the shooting operation software
and causing it to malfunction.
In that case, I'll reformat it.
Hey, where's the rest of my original?
Don't do it.
The organic material of that arm is matched with your DNA.
If I work it in, it'll be just like my original, huh?
Ouch! Hold on, dammit!
Since you brought my dog, that means...
We broke into your love nest.
When I imagine it crying, or hungry, covered with shit,
waiting for the master who doesn't come back,
I feel bad for the little fella.
I might not look it, but I like dogs.
I'm the one who kept it in my home for one night, though.
My daughter was so happy and my wife was pissed 'cause the carpet got dirty.
How long were you watching me?
That doesn't really matter.
It does matter! You fucking used me as a screen!
You're the sucker who didn't realize it.
If you blame it on someone, blame it on the old man.
Is it a clone?
Buying an original is expensive, right?
This clone comes from the first dog to be hybridized by artificial insemination.
It's not like you to be ghost-hacked so easily.
You let your guard down because your life became routine.
That's why I told you to dry it.
That's her favourite.
In this neighbourhood, I can get it only in that store.
You were like a puppet, completely under control.
After shooting yourself in the arm five times,
You were about to kill the old man in the store.
Even with your guard down,
There aren't many guys out there who can hack a brain like yours.
Other than the Major, that is...
Why didn't he just blow my head off right away?
Because his purpose is not to eliminate you, but to cause a scandal.
You raided the Bouryokudan's den and left over 10 people dead or wounded.
In the same day you started shooting up a grocery store.
People can't help but think that you went bonkers or your AI malfunctioned.
Hey, hold on! You mean this attack was not just an accident?
- If we get out of this now... - Section 9's existence will be in question.
If she was here, she would have said that.
A message from the old man: "Keep investigating."
"However, from now on, unless we find concrete evidence,"
"there's not gonna be any official support from the team."
We have no choice but to hit Locus Solus.
"There's no better way to keep the plan top secret than to act swiftly."
- "Fly far north immediately", he says. - Just the two of us?
You two are not enough?
No, but... What about the dog?
It's not right to have a dog in this profession.
Even worse, you are unattached.
Who's gonna take care of the her if you die?
You guys take care of that damn mutt.
This used to be the biggest information city in the far-east.
It was in full flourish. That's Etorofu Economic Special Division.
This huge group of towers is all that remains of the ruins.
They took advantage of weak national supremacy
Now this place is a paradise for enterprise criminals.
It has become lawless zone, outside of UN Cyber Police and ASEAN telecom jurisdiction.
"What the individual creates is an expression of the individual,
just as the individual is an expression of its genes." I remember those words.
You mean like a beaver's dam or spider's nest?
More like how an actinozoan changes into the coral reef.
Well, it's not that beautiful, I guess.
If the essence of life is the information that spreads through genes,
society and culture are also nothing but huge memory systems.
The city is a huge external memory device after all.
"How great is the sum of them!"
"If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand."
Old Testament, Psalms, Chapter 139, huh?
If you can recall words like that in an instant,
The expression form of your memory device is probably a bit biased.
You're one to talk.
Sorry for interrupting, but Locus Solus headquarters is coming up shortly.
We are detouring just for you guys, so take a good look at it.
The sight-seeing tour is over. Now preparing to land.
"Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks"
"In Vallombrosa, whereth' Etrurian shades High over-arch'd imbower."
Now it's Milton, huh? But we are not Satan.
'...And the night bird
'calls out in sadness'
'When I turn to look,
'the flowers had all fallen away'
'It was as if all comfort
'had vanished from the world'
'As the gods leave
'to gather in the new world'
'Day breaks,
'and the night bird calls out'
'The blossoms beseech the gods'
'Even though in this world
'we may know grief and suffering,'
'Our dreams shall never die...'
Ba... Batou!
You talk big now, huh?
Where did you learn to talk big enough to address me without any -san or -sama?
I haven't forgotten the favour you did for me!
"I don't have to remember because I never forget", huh?
Forgive me, Batou... -san!
I'm too good to be addressed with just -san from you.
Please forgive me!
I promise I'll remember this favour forever!
- You know this Kim guy, right? - I don't know anyone like that.
No, that name is everywhere in this city.
There's only one Kim I'm looking for.
We need trust in this line of business.
"There's two kinds of trust: Keeping secrets, and keeping promises."
You can't do both. Which kind is your trust?
They also say "without secrets, there is no promise"!
I'll ask it again. You know the Kim guy, right?
No, I don't know anyone with such a name...
"Life and death come and goes, (Like that of) A puppet in front of a stage,
When the string breaks, (The puppet) falls apart."
And then?
He used to be a long distance scout for the Army.
"If you can't go on top of people, or go below people,
you deserve to fall on the roadside."
He drifted from special forces to electronic forces and so on.
Smuggled weapons and contraband, so he ended up with a bad reputation.
In the end, he settled down as hacker, as is often the case with these types.
'Amazing background', isn't it?
"If an ass goes travelling, he will not come home a horse."
He ruined himself, as I expected from his personality.
He's just an idiot.
Let's go.
["Aemaeth" means "Truth" in Hebrew.]
Batou, he's in the study on the top floor.
We're too late.
He probably tried to hide underground somewhere.
He got his brain burnt out by an offensive firewall.
In any case, he wouldn't have been much help like this.
"As a testament, I rigidly ask you all not to donate any live flowers,
artificial flowers, or 'White Dove Releases'," it says.
Hey!
"When you sleep alone, you never look miserable like dead body."
Confucius-sama says you should not sleep like a corpse.
I don't have time to deal with your trashy joke.
Long time no see.
Last time we met was the landing operation in Nemuro.
I'm here on business.
Locus Solus huh?
They entered the market late as a robot manufacturer, but
they expanded the business rapidly after they concentrated
on developing and producing high-class gynoids.
Rumour is, they have close ties with politicians,
high level government official, and even criminal organizations.
They placed their production line on their multinational-registered plant ship,
anchored off shore, as they were fearful of the involvement of the authorities,
Their dolls are supposed to be pretty good.
Good enough to murder and commit suicide in the end, huh?
If that's true, it's a tactless story.
I can't understand people trying to put a soul into a doll and imitate a human.
If there were such a thing as a truly beautiful doll,
it would be flesh and blood without a soul.
A corpse at the edges of collapsing, yet standing precariously at its precipice.
Is that the reason to you transformed yourself into a pure AI?
Humans are inferior to dolls in the beauty of their appearance and movement.
No, even in their existence.
The unomniscient nature of Human's perception,
causes the incompletion of reality...
How complete this species is. Either they don't have consciousness,
or they acquire the infinite consciousness.
In other words, it can be realized only in dolls and Gods.
Why don't we talk business now?
No...
There's one other existence that can compare to dolls and Gods.
Animals?
Shelley's lark is...
full of deep unconscious joy.
Joy that creatures with strong self-consciousness like us can never feel.
For the offspring of those who devour the fruit of perception,
It's more difficult than becoming God.
They have no choice but to pretend to be dead by becoming dolls.
Is that why?
"While you do not know life, how can you know about death?" So says Confucius.
Humans that understand death are rare.
"We usually do not suffer death by choice, but rather by stupidity and custom."
In other words, humans die because they can't help dying,
but dolls in flesh and blood live knowing death is a given.
That's the reason Kim chose to turn himself into a robot completely.
And then?
After that, he drifted from special forces to electronic forces and so on.
Smuggled weapons and contraband, so he ended up with a bad reputation.
In the end, he settled down as hacker, as is often the case with these types.
'Amazing background', it is.
"If an ass goes travelling, he will not come home..."
What's wrong? Let's go.
["Maeth" means "Death" in Hebrew.]
Batou!
"In this month, today, I have passed away happily."
"Please advertise this publicly."
Hey!
You feel really disgusted, don't you?
I can understand that.
The doubt that what looks alive is actually alive...
Contrarily,
the doubt that things without life might be alive...
The reason why dolls are creepy is...
...that dolls are models of humans,
and it means they are nothing but humans themselves.
The fear that humans might merely be the sum of simple clockwork tricks and substances...
In other words the fear of the phenomena called 'human'...
essentially belongs to vanity.
Come on, let's talk business.
The science that tried to explain the phenomena called 'life'
played a role in producing this fear.
The belief that nature could be calculated leads to
the conclusion that humans can be resolved into simple machinery.
"The human body is a machine which winds its own springs.
It is the living image of perpetual movement."
The human-machinery theory of the 18th century...
has been revived by the technology of implanting artificial brains and cyborgs.
Since the time when computers made it possible to externalize the memory,
in order to extend the limits of their functions as a creature,
humans kept actively mechanizing themselves.
It's a sign of the intention to get over the natural selection of Darwin
and try to win the fights of evolutionary theory on their own.
And it is also the intention to conquer the nature that created them.
The illusion that life is equipped with complete hardware is
the source of this nightmare itself.
"God... ever... geometrizes..."
Let's go.
Batou!
How do you feel?
What happened to me?
That was a virtual experience maze. You got hacked by the AI.
Just as good luck happens three times, bad luck also gives three signs.
You don't see because you don't want to.
Even if you realize, you won't admit it. If someone tells you, you won't listen.
And you and up with catastrophe.
However, in our world, you don't even get three signs;
If you overlook the first sign, that's the end.
I told you, I don't have time for your nonsense.
When did you figure it out?
The one who is trying to deceive gets easily deceived.
You might have been a professional ghost-hacker,
but too bad for you I'm also a professional of counter-espionage.
And also, I have a guardian angel.
Search the for the record of the hall from that huge saved data
in the external memory device.
In Jacob Grimm's stories,
The golem was imbued with life from the word 'AEMAETH' written on its forehead;
In other words, the word 'TRUTH'.
but it then had its prefix 'AE' deleted, so now it said 'MEATH'
Specifically, it had 'DEATH' written on it, and the golem returned to lifeless clay.
That was the angel's voice saying there is no truth in this mansion.
You're saying you hacked through the firewall I built?
No way! No one can do such thing!
I told you, it's my 'guardian angel'.
Game over, Kim. You've got a lot of explaining to do.
That's just a doll.
You've become a bad loser, Kim. You think you can deceive me like that?
Batou, how can you be sure that this is not the
continuation of the virtual reality signal I created?
"I hear a whisper... in my Ghost."
Humans are merely the material from which the dream called 'life' is weaved;
'Dreams'...'Cognition'... and even 'Ghosts'...
If they were cracks or distortions in the uniform matrix of reality...
Then I'd also be a useless empty shell, like you,
but the shoes I'm wearing are different from yours.
For a bastard who doesn't believe in ghosts,
there's no such thing as insanity or nervous breakdowns.
Your so-called shell will continue to function
physically until the unworthy death comes to you.
Ackk...argh...aaaahhh...
Are you sure we are back to the physical reality?
There's nothing that distinguishes 'artificial' memories
from 'experienced' memories.
Whichever one this is, you have to understand before you go further.
It's impossible to know you're in a dream when you're dreaming. Sucks, huh?
As long as you have AI and allow external input to write to your memory,
that's the price you have to pay.
How can you be sure your wife and daughter
who are waiting in your house actually exist?
Maybe you're just a single guy
dreaming, in some room, of having family.
Would you want to wake up from that dream?
If you knew, why didn't you stop it?!
I needed to make sure Locus had hired Kim.
They expected me to come and ask Kim for a favour, so they set up a trap.
Tried to drive me off by putting me through a nightmarish virtual experience.
Probably something like that.
When they screwed me over and got me to shoot my right arm off,
they might have put a branch in my AI.
Like Ishikawa said,
there aren't many guys out there who can do this kind of stuff.
Locus Solus knows that too.
So you expected this from the beginning.
I was going to pretend to be trapped and try to get to Kim's AI,
but that Kim bastard, he's got some skills.
If there was no sign, I would have certainly never escaped.
What about the 'guardian angel' you were talking about?
She's gone.
Over the crack of the uniform matrix.
Somewhere in the vast net growing together with its whole domain.
If you want to search for evidence that you exist,
there are ways as many as there are ghosts.
For example, you have a daughter.
When we were in the jungle,
Kim would have known this too.
There's only one thing I figured out.
What?
I'm not good enough to be your partner.
So you want to give up now.
I know I say this many times, but
I want to stay alive and go back to my daughter.
You gotta earn that pay check, though.
What more is there to do?
With the data in Kim's AI,
we can prove that Locus Solus is connected to the crime that...
All we have evidence of is obstructing police investigation,
and violation of AI ethics.
Even worst, our investigation is unofficial.
We need material evidence to charge them with
the liability for the gynoids serial murder case.
You say so, but you've broken the line from Kim's head!
It's not broken. His ghost-hacked AI is still connected to Locus Solus.
We have to act quickly before they dispose of all the evidence.
People in the old days said a good thing like this:
"He is my disciple no more. Beat the drum, my little ones, and attack him:
you have my permission."
It's time to ditch the negotiation and start the violence.
Hey, this is different from our raids on the Yakuzas.
I'm not expecting too much from your Mateba.
"Birds hide up high in the sky, and fish hide deep in the water."
I've made contact with the escort.
Roger.
I'm surprised you decided to dive with that body.
It's very deep around here, so if you sink, we won't be able to find you.
I used to know this cyborg who dived as a hobby.
And?
I didn't understand her.
I'm doing this for you only because Lin introduced you.
I hear nobody has come back alive after going into that ship.
So I don't understand you either.
I know. Keep going.
Hang on tight.
In twelve seconds, I'll be in contact with the picket radius of the sensor.
I'll run the virtual signal on the line for only two seconds.
Roger.
This guy is directly connected to the security chief's AI.
Initializing synchronization.
I'm in. Give me the ship schematics.
Load completed. Are you on my eyes?
Of course! My great mentor is going in. I've started recording.
Watch and learn, little boy.
Intrusion!
Security system restarted on level two.
Probing the whole facility for AI activity.
Searching for the terminal with memory activity matching the size of the virus.
Searching for incubating virii at the same time.
Linking to the security chief impossible.
Performing system reboot.
System reboot completed. Security level two initialized.
Setting up detour into the invader.
Rebuilding the firewall.
Loading anti-virus definitions.
Virus scan in progress.
Tracing. Equip decoys. Anti-spy tool initialized.
- Incubating virus pattern found in firewall. - They have all become active.
Firewall 014 breached.
Firewall 032 error number 280 occurred.
Quarantining infected areas.
Surrounding firewall. Rebuilding at level one.
Enemy attacking firewall. Movement pattern identified.
Starting virus transfer.
Evacuate! It's too dangerous from here!
You'll get your brain burnt out!
Not yet. I can do a little bit more.
Idiot! Don't be unreasonable!
[This is a repetition of the 'Puppet' poem by Zeami.]
Gynoid's production line.
There was irregular input at the last process of type Hadaly.
Presumed to be unidentified incubating pattern virus.
Deploy all antiviral tools and inhibit it.
Impossible. The whole fuselage operation cannot link to the system.
Combat mode body control program loading in progress.
Caution. The body of THO7 line malfunctioning.
Security team, arm yourself and proceed to the line in question. Repeat...
The 'holy spirit' has arrived.
Long time no see, Major.
Or how should I call you now?
Technically, only part of me was loaded through the satellite.
This gynoid AI's memory capacity is a little cramp.
It's already full with just my combat mode body control system.
So forgive the quality of my facial expression and voice.
Pass this corridor, about 50 meters ahead,
there should be an emergency terminal.
I'll connect from there and overwhelm the system all at once.
You haven't changed at all.
Go ahead, point man. I will back you up.
Just like old times.
"Some look into a mirror and don't look evil."
"It doesn't reflect evil, but create it."
Hey, this is no time to get all emotional.
Not much ammo left.
"Namely, you should look down on mirrors; don't look into it."
Hey, are you okay?
I just have to hold this ship's control system.
Connect this to the side terminal on the floor.
I'm going to have to shut down physical control over this body 'til I finish hacking.
It's entirely up to your .30 calibre.
I can handle the shooting, but there's only 1 extra clip left.
If this turns into hand-to-hand combat, I can't guarantee holding them off.
I'm going to start.
There is irregular connection to the main system from within the ship.
Within the ship?
Searching for the connection point. Deploying offensive firewall.
There are multiple virtual signals from multiple terminals.
There is no indication of any AI activity increasing at any of the terminals.
Searching for all the external connection points.
Shutting down all the external connection including our company's line.
Input device outside the ship physically separated.
No response from emergency control system.
Remote initialization impossible.
Virus integration and spreading mode in progress in each section.
Core system firewall breached.
Preparing for system reboot.
Data quarantine started at level one.
Many irregular connections found in the core system.
Response speed is not keeping up.
I've overwhelmed them. I closed down all the external connections.
This ship is in stand-alone mode.
It's moving?
This ship is heading towards the nearest country
where we'll have jurisdiction to prosecute.
This ship itself is the evidence we need to prove Locus Solus' crime.
What if Locus tries to recapture the ship?
A convoy will show up to escort it.
I have already contacted naval support.
Meanwhile,
why don't we look at the secret behind Locus Solus'
ability to imbue their dolls with soul?
You already know the secret, don't you?
You have some idea too, right?
There's no noise. Are they shielding from electromagnetic radiation?
Ghost dubbing.
By experimenting on animals,
they've discovered that they can make a poor quality mass-copy,
but the original brain gets destroyed in the process,
so this technology was banned.
They brainwash the children smuggled by the Koujinkai,
and dub their ghosts into the gynoids' bodies.
No wonder Locus Solus' gynoids were so life-like.
"Help me"
You came to help me. Mr. Volkerson said so.
He said that people from the police will come.
That they would help me.
I am at my 4th dubbing,
but Sowana who came with me is at her 5th.
She doesn't hear anything and she doesn't answer anymore.
The shipping inspector who got killed changed the ethics code programming for these kids.
When Locus found out, they had him killed, under the pretence of predecessor's revenge.
That's my theory.
He said if the robots create some accidents, then somebody will notice.
That someone will come help us.
Don't you realize what kind of chaos you have caused?
I'm not talking about just the humans...
Didn't you think about the dolls who forcibly had malicious ghosts dubbed into them?!
B-But... But...
I didn't want to become a doll!
"You cry for bird's blood, but not for fish's blood."
"Fortunate for ones with voice."
If the dolls also had voices,
they would have screamed "I didn't want to become human!"
Let me ask you something. Do you think you're happy now?
Well... I'm feeling nostalgic...
At least I am at peace at this point.
"Let one live alone doing no evil, care-free,"
"like an elephant in the elephant forest."
Batou, remember,
When you access the net, I will always be besides you.
I'm gonna go now.
She showed up in that ship, right?
Your guardian angel.
Silence again, huh?
Do you think I'm gonna write that down in the report?
I'll come pick you up tomorrow at 0820 hours.
I will have to thank you for taking care of her also.
Why don't you come in, if you want?
I have no interest in intruding in other people's family occasions.
Papa!
Hey, a present! A present?
I didn't forget.
Yay!
'Follow me to a land across the shining sea
'Waiting beyond the world that we have known'
'Beyond the world the dream could be
'And the joy we have tasted.'
'Follow me along the road that only love can see
'Rising above the fun years of the night
'Into the light beyond the tears
'And all the years we have wasted.'
'Follow me to a distant land this mountain high
'Where all the music that we always kept inside will fill the sky
'Singing in the silent swerve a heart is free
'While the world goes on turning and turning
'Turning and falling.'
'Follow me to a distant land this mountain high
'Where all the music that we always kept inside will fill the sky
'Singing in the silent swerve a heart is free
'While the world goes on turning and turning
'Turning and falling.'
'Follow me...'
based on transripts by Meiko/Nebu re-timed and edited by necroboi (v3)