Dandy (Dan Dominance V) 

Dan Dominance V was a Machine created as supervisor for a city on the Eurasian continent, which still suffered from severe pollution. Supervisors are high ranking Machines that have authority over their entire colony, and they’re capable of autonomous decision making. Their main role was to efficiently manage and control the Paragons born to purify the environment, and to prepare the earth to welcome the second coming of humanity.

Dan was assigned to Baku, a desert colony located in the center of Eurasia. It was the closest one to the severely contaminated Caspian Rift Valley, and it had been so heavily affected that the Machines weren’t even sure if the area could be purified. Dan worked steadily on cleanup, but the projected completion date passed by with no results. It had been nothing more than a waste of resources.

If they continued to fail to produce results, the System could mercilessly abandon Dan and the Paragons living in the colony without a second thought. In this era, being severed from the System meant death. The colony would be left to rot, and the Paragons would die.

“I can’t… let the deaths of those who risked their lives for this colony be in vain.”

Dan resisted. He, who held harmony as his fundamental principle, spoke out against the System in order to protect the Paragons who adored him. He swore to restore the vibrant streets of Baku to their former Golden Age glory, but an appeal from a supervisor without results meant nothing to the System. Dan’s words fell on deaf ears, and the System cut the colony off from supplies, citing Dan’s objections as risk of treason.

The city’s power source and artificial wombs shut down, and the colony was driven to dysfunction. Soon after, the record of Baku’s existence was deleted. Some of the Paragons simply waited for the inevitable deaths, while others accepted the System’s judgment and took their own lives.

But… still. Dan hadn’t given up hope.

“I won’t let it end like this…!”

Dan makes his own decision to revive the colony—to recover the resources hidden within the Caspian Rift Valley.

Dan made his way to the Caspian Rift Valley. Abandoned by the System, he was determined to restore the colony, Baku. The System had been given him orders to supervise another colony, but Dan ignored them. His top priority was the revival of Baku.

Before Dan could be disposed of, he severed his connection to the System and left the colony with mechanical soldiers and the Paragons that loved him. It was unbecoming of a Machine to ignore the danger of searching for resources that may or may not exist, but Dan pinned his hopes on it.

His decision turned out to be the right one. Dan built a base camp on the gentle slope of the Caspian Rift Valley, exploring the ruins of an underground city and discovering the resources that lay beneath the earth. It was incredibly difficult to locate resources without any leads, in a place where no records remained, but things were beginning to look up.

However, it was still an area suffering from critical levels of contamination, and the Paragons working there succumbed to the environment one after another. Because of this, Dan couldn’t stop pushing forward. Several months passed, and Dan finally managed to recover enough resources to restore the colony.

“Well done, everyone–”  Dan realized it suddenly. There were no longer any Paragons that could stand beside him. “–I’m sorry…”

The possibility of this happening had been there from the very beginning, but he wanted to bet on that last glimmer of hope.

In the end, Dan was the only one left. As he prepared to return to Baku in despair, a thunderous roar echoed across the sky.

“It came from over there… No, there’s no way!?”

Hurrying out of the Caspian Rift Valley, he saw smoke rising from near Baku.

“You… made the city self-destruct so I couldn’t restore it…”

As if to make an example of Dan, the System had begun to destroy the city. He’d lost both his home and the people he’d wanted to protect. Dan had nothing left. Alone, he turned back to the Caspian Rift Valley, as though to cast his eyes away from the unbearable reality.

He wandered the vast depths of the valley aimlessly, waiting for “the end” that might never come. But even now, the light hadn’t been fully extinguished.

“Huh…? What… is a colony doing in a place like this?”

There was a small city made up of a group of smaller structures, although it looked more like a research facility than a city.

“I don’t have any data on it either… Just how long has it been here?”

His legs moved on their own, as if something was calling to him—urging him.

“The basic structure is the same as Baku’s, though it seems much more old fashioned…”

Dan uses the resources he recovered in an attempt to restore the system. His plans for Baku turned out to be useful here, and he succeeded in the restoration barring some restrictions. The lights that lit up the dark passageway felt as if they were welcoming a new owner. Upon further examination, it seemed that the city had previously been completely shut down.

This place had probably been abandoned, just like Baku.

The Paragon corpses lying around were a bit strange. For whatever reason, the waxen corpses all had the same flat smiles plastered across their faces, giving off the impression that time had simply stopped when they died. As Dan continues onward, he notices the Paragon corpses increasing in number. Many of them had died with their hands all reaching towards the same direction, pointing towards a staircase leading underground.

“Is… something hidden there?”

Dan followed the lead and headed underground. At the bottom of the staircase were the bodies of even more Paragons. Being careful to weave his way around the corpses, Dan eventually came to an open area. His gaze falls towards the raised center of the room.

“T-That’s…”

A luxurious throne sat in the center. Atop it was a Machine, no longer functioning, hugging its knees to its chest.

“A… Machine girl…?”

Clad in a black dress, she looked somewhat mysterious in her sleep. It was at that moment that Dan sensed a small malfunction within himself—a trivial anomaly that shouldn’t be possible for a Machine. Without bothering to identify what it was, he ran up to the throne. 

“Excuse me…”

He brushed the dust from the girl’s hair and laid her down on the floor. Her beautiful features suddenly catch his eye.

“Beautiful, aren’t you? Like the art of the Golden Age come to life…”

The longer he looked, the more he was drawn in by the beauty of her perfect form, eventually losing track time.

“–Hah…! This is no time to be captivated! If I reallocate a few resources, I might be able to reboot her!”

Dan hastily plugged a cord into the connection port on the back of his neck and lifted the girl’s body up, parting her long hair to insert the other end of the cable.

—It happened instantly. Massive amounts of data flood Dandy’s brain like muddy water.

“T-These are… her memories!?” Dandy takes in her detailed memories from beginning to end, “Ah… So it was the same for you too, wasn’t it?”

Dan held her in his arms. Closer. Tighter.

“I must have come here so I could meet you–”

“–Yowdrf…”

“Huh?”

“You [bleep]ing pervert!! Don’t touch me!!!”

“W-Whaaa–!?”

Startled by the girl’s sudden angry voice, Dan screamed and tumbled over.

“What the–!? Don’t scare me like that!”

“T-That’s my line…”

“Never mind that! You connected to me, didn’t you!?”

This was Dan’s first encounter with the Machine girl, Mika, and the start of the paradise that the two of them would build together.

“You’ve got some nerve, walking into my colony like you own the place! Are you planning to take it over? Or could it be you’re just a sicko after my body… You freak!!”

“W-Wait! I’m a Machine, the same as you…”

“Yeah, I can see that!”

The girl stood on her throne, pointing a finger threateningly at Dan. He was at a loss for words. This had gone an entirely different direction than he had expected.

“U-Um, h-how about we sit and calm down for now?”

“I am calm! I’m always calm! Shouldn’t you be the one mellowing out?”

The girl jumped off the throne and approached Dan, frozen in place where he’d landed on his backside. She leans in to meet his gaze directly, so close they were practically touching. It was clearly the exact opposite of calm, but Dan decided not to point that out.

“I’m Mika, the latest third generation model. See how elegant the lines on my arms are? Beautiful, right? This one is my favorite though… Now that I’ve got a better look at you, your craftsmanship is pretty good too, huh? Are you from the same generation?”

Dan replies sheepishly to Mika, who has smugly turned up her nose at him, “I-I’m Dan. Um…”

“What? Speak clearly.”

“Five–”

“Wh-What!?!” Mika froze, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.

“Um… Is that really… that concerning…?”

“–It’s very concerning! Ah, no way… How long have I been asleep!?”

“Well…”

――

――――

“...Sounds like you’ve been through a lot.” Mika listened quietly to Dan’s story, a dramatic change from her earlier demeanor.

“Yes. But it’s the same for you, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, that's right… But do I really need to explain it? You’re a freak and looked into my mind already.”

“I-I’m sorry… But I wouldn’t have been able to help you if I didn’t…”

“W-Well, I guess I should thank you for that. So… t-thanks…”

Watching Mika as she turned away and thanked him, Dan’s expression suddenly brightened, and he pulled her into an unexpected hug.

“Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing!? Are you broken, or what!?”

“Nothing’s broken, I’m just so happy I got to meet you. Down here, of all places.”

Their inorganic iron bodies brush against each other. It was a simple action, yet Mika sensed something indescribable.

“...I can’t be mad when you put it like that.”

“Hm, what was that?”

“N-Nothing!”

“All things considered, you have a very expressive face. It should have still been difficult to pull off such a human appearance in that generation, and yet…”

Mika feels herself tremble slightly at Dan’s observation. She looks up at him, placing both hands on her cheeks, and flashes a beautiful smile.

“As expected of a Machine, right? My face was custom made by a skilled Paragon engineer.”

“I see. It suits you very well.”

“Y-Yours looks nice too, Dan! It seems like you had a skilled engineer yourself, right?”

“Thank you. It’s something like that.” Dan decided to keep it a secret that such a thing was commonplace by the time the 5th generation started production. 

“So, Dan. What are you planning to do now?”

“I was… planning to wait for my body to rust. Somewhere no one would notice me…”

“You changed your mind?”

“Yes. My wish now is to create a new world. A city free from the constraints of the System.”

“You want to totally reject the System? Is that even possible…?”

“I can do it. As long as I’m with you.”

“With me?”

“Is that alright with you?”

“Well… Of course it’s alright.”

“You really mean it? Thank you!”

“Eugh!? Come on, stop hugging me! Uggh, get off!”

“UWAH!?”

Mika pushed Dan and turned away, but despite her attitude, she didn’t look upset at all.

“Ow…”

“Need a hand?” Mika looks down at Dan with eyes lowered, offering him her right hand.

“Thank you.” Dan smiled softly, and, still sitting, firmly squeezed her hand.

“For our world together.” Their overlapping voices were a small beacon of rebellion.

To start, the two of them worked to rebuild the city. Using the remaining resources to restart the city’s manufacturing robots, the city’s functions were gradually restored, centering around the septic tank that would become their castle. Everything was trial and error, but as time passed, they were able to accomplish more and more. Eventually, they had a small city centered around the tank.

At first glance, it wasn’t anything worth praising, but they felt a sense of accomplishment. It was paradise for the two of them, blossoming in a forbidden land.

Dan looks out at the cityscape from the roof of the septic tank, a vision of the future reflected in his eyes. Neon lights twinkling like stars in the sky, illuminating a giant, symbolic tower. Even if it was unbecoming of a Machine, Dan had a vision of a dazzling, glittering world.

“Our castle is still small, but someday I’ll make it bigger than any colony.”

“Good. I hope you can keep up with me, Dan.” Mika nodded, smiling at Dan as he gushed about the future.

—Over the years, the city transformed. The septic tank had become a giant tower that rivaled the now massive city. Blue light that poured from the tower constantly lit up the city. It was the spitting image of the Golden Age that Dan had longed for. At the heart of the now dense city, Dan and Mika were taking a moment to rest while watching a video on display.

The video depicted the daily lives of people living during the Golden Age. There was a man and a woman living in a glamorous world, and the scenes of everyday life eventually cut to a woman in agony, desperately trying to endure something.

“Dan, what’s that little round human?”

“Hm… I see. You’ve never seen one, Mika? Paragons are born from artificial wombs with a predetermined appearance, but human children are different.”

“You mean that creature?”

“Yeah. All humans are born from their mother’s womb and then grow.”

“...”

Mika stared intently at the mother holding her infant child. Even though the audio couldn’t be restored, it was clear as day how the woman was feeling holding the tiny hand tight by her expression alone.

“...I want children too.”

“Unfortunately, we’re Machines. We don’t have that kind of functionality.”

“Right…”

“That’s why I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?” 

Dan nodded, sharing a plan he’d been working on for quite some time, “Our colony has grown so much, and I’d like to move on to the next step.”

“Dan, you mean…”

“I want to welcome those who have suffered the same as us, those without a place to call home. A paradise where everyone can live without being bound to the System! You can become their mother.”

“I’ll be… their mother…”

“I made up my mind the moment I shared your memories of grieving the death of others.”

That day, when Mika’s memories had come flooding into my head, Dan knew that Mika was special. He had to act for her sake.

“...You remembered.”

“I could never forget. We still have much to overcome, but you and I have plenty of time.”

“...”

“Let’s do our best, shall we?”

“Thank you… Dan…”

On that day, the two of them set their goal and continued to push the city forward. Watching the colony’s majesty grow as the years went by was like watching their child grow up together.

New Nemea, the city Dandy and Mika built and raised like their own child, evolved on its own through continued additions and alterations. Nemea and Feige were two paradises built within the System, and, intrigued by the records of a highly developed society ruled by music, Mika and Dandy decided to engrave the names into their own paradise before them.

As preparations to welcome Paragons to the colony began, Dan began to call himself Dandy. He appeared in various places, serving as a guide who would invite the lost to paradise.

And so, time passed…

――

――――

The upper levels of the tower overlooked the entire colony. In the control room set up there, Dan was casting a curious glance at something on the monitor.

“That ship… It suddenly changed course, and now it’s heading straight for the bottom of the valley? Surely they didn’t notice our camouflage was down for a moment?”

The city had optical camouflage deployed to shield the colony from the outside world, and in the brief moment it had been deactivated to let in sunlight, someone had noticed their presence. The screen showed a damaged combat ship, a current model operated by the Machines.

“What do you think, Mika?”

Pressed for an answer, Mika snorts as she sits in a luxurious chair. To her, today was just another day, the only difference was they’d been noticed. It wasn’t particularly unusual.

“Doesn’t matter either way. We have a special guest, so let’s make sure to give them a warm welcome, shall we? My paradise rejects no one, no matter the reason.” Mika’s lips twist into a smile as she crosses her legs with a flourish. “But if they try to leave me… Hehe.”

“Understood. I’ll stay vigilant just in case, but we’ll welcome them as usual.” At that, Dan contacted his subordinates on patrol duty around the valley, instructing them to raise the advisory level, “Well, shall I go prepare to pick them up?”

“Dan, try not to act timid in front of our guests, okay? You’re the ruler of this paradise, after all.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got the input spot on, right?”

“Haha, alright then.”

Mika smiled back at Dan, standing from her chair and stretching her arms wide. Hands extended from the floor and ceiling, adjusting Mika’s appearance. When she was finished, Dan whipped out a full length mirror so she could give herself a final check.

“Beautiful as always, Mika.”

Mika held out her right hand to Dan. He took it, supporting it from below, and placed his lips on the delicate artificial skin.

“Shall we go welcome our new children?”

As they headed towards the dock together, Dan began to ponder. He hoped nothing would happen… but he couldn’t shake a feeling of anxiety.

The combat ship that awaited them had four crew members, all of whom were strangers to Dan and Mika. Those who had been driven out of their homes usually had lost the sparkle in their eyes and wore a mix of fear and apprehension on their faces. This new group didn’t show any signs of this at all.

(...Since I said I’d accept them, I don’t plan on chasing them away. But I think I’ll have to keep an eye on them.)

Dan led them to Feige City within the colony, sure to make a show of it to hide his true intentions. They head towards the dock near the central tower where combat ships are stored. Along the way, Mika enthusiastically gives a tour of the different facilities within the city while Dan stares at the white haired boy.

(The young lady is unpredictable… but it seems this boy is the center of the group.)

Dan came to this conclusion due to the two Paragons positioned in a way that would allow them to act quickly if something were to “happen” to the boy.

(Why go so far to protect him? It doesn’t seem like they’ve been given family roles, but… Huh?)

As he continued his observation, Dan noticed that the woman of the two Paragons was unsteady on her feet. It seemed that the other three hadn’t noticed.

The man with the flashy hair spoke to Dan, “Thanks for the offer, but we’re kind of in a hurry. We’ve got places to be. I’ll cover the cost of repairing the ship, so–”

“There’s no need to rush, is there? Night has already fallen. You should rest and recover from your travels.” As they reached their destination at the central tower,  Dan turned to look back at the boy,  "Are you really going to take her on a trip in that condition?"

“Huh?”

“–Zephyr?!”

Guided by Dan’s words, the boy and Paragon man turn behind them. As the woman, Zephyr, lost consciousness and collapsed, a voice called out to her. The boy rushes over to Zephyr, who is now supported in the arms of the unpredictable girl. When he was sure she was still breathing, the boy spun around and charged towards Dan.

“What the hell did you do to Zephyr!?”

“...Hah! What a cruel thing to say. If you’re going to act like her knight, shouldn’t you be regretting that you didn’t realize something was wrong with her?”

“...”

Dan smiled at the boy as he quietly backed down and bowed respectfully.

“It’s a good thing, honestly! Well, now you’ve got no choice but to stay here in our paradise. No need to be shy, we’ll repair your ship while she’s recovering. You don’t have any objections, right?”

The man with the flashy hair, who had been silently observing Dan and Mika, nodded reluctantly, “Whatever you say…”

“Hehe, seems like everything’s settled. Well then, allow me to invite you to our castle.”

Following Mika, the group entered the central tower.

――

――――

After having some time to settle into their living space at the central tower, Dan came across the white haired boy gazing down at the city from the skywalk that connected the tower and the dock.

“Simply breathtaking, isn’t it?”

“You… It’s Dandy, right?”

Dan leaned against the railing next to the boy, “Ha, yes, that’s right. You must be lonely hanging around a place like this. Don't you want to enjoy yourself with your friends?”

“I’m not in the mood. How’d you know I was here, anyway?”

“I’m the ruler of this paradise. I am anywhere and everywhere.”

“So basically, you’re always watching us. You could have said that from the beginning.”

Despite the boy’s harsh words, Dan replied jokingly, "Don't worry. I won’t tell anyone you were crying while Zephyr was asleep.”

“...Gh! I wasn’t crying!”

“Ha! An honest kid, aren’t you?”

“Damn it, if you’re just here to tease me, then buzz off.” The boy was distancing himself in embarrassment.

Dandy spoke in a gentle tone, “I’d like to talk with you. Would you join me for a little walk?”

“...Yeah.”

Unable to ignore Dan’s suggestion, the boy decided to follow him. The two of them walked aimlessly, glancing at the city as it shimmered in the blue neon light.

Dan was the first to speak, “While I was watching you, I wondered. You were running away somewhere in search of freedom, weren’t you?”

The boy replies with a wary expression, “You… Well, if you’ve been watching, you already know the answer, right?”

“I’m flattered by the compliment.”

“I didn’t mean it as a compliment. You’re a Machine, so how do you even know what that’s like?”

“I’ve lived in this world longer than the rest of my kind. I’ve seen thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of Paragons with my own eyes, and I have been there in their final moments.”

Face to face with a Machine boasting an unimaginably long lifespan, the boy couldn’t help but ask, “We’re enemies, aren’t we? What’s the point of making a colony like this?”

“There are no enemies or allies in the pursuit of freedom. Or would you shoot to kill someone with that gun on your hip without hearing their circumstances just because they’re an enemy?”

The words strike his core, and the boy falls silent. He’s so small that it seems he might melt away into the lights of the city at any moment.

“...I just want to be left alone.”

“Then you should stay here. Our children—the residents of this city—will accept you. You won’t have to run away anymore.”

“...”

“Come now, freedom is within grasp.”

The boy stayed silent, his eyes wandering. Residents pass through the neon lit city. Everyone was happy, all smiling with the same expression. He seemed to be fascinated by the idea of a free world built on the ideals of a Machine.

But what came out of his mouth was something completely different, “I still don’t know what freedom is, but I think the ‘freedom’ I’m looking for is a different kind than the ‘freedom’ here. So…”

“――”

“Did you hear anything I just said to you?”

“Ahem. You’ve only been here for a short time. I’m sure you’ll change your mind when you mingle with the residents of paradise. Yes, so I’ll give this to you,” Dan replied, handing the boy a small, thin object. It was a letter made of metal.

“What is this… a dinner party?”

“Indeed. What we need now is to close the distance between our hearts.”

“No, I–”

“Solo! What’s the matter–?”

The boy turned at the sudden voice. Squinting to get a better look, he saw a girl waving vigorously from so far away she barely looked the size of a pea.

“How did she notice me from all the way over there…”

“Well then, I’ve finished my business, so you’ll have to excuse me. I look forward to speaking with you all.”

“H-Hey, wait a minute…!”

The boy reached to return the letter, but no one was there. Dan left without turning back.

――

――――

Dan returned to the control room and received a report from the Caspian Rift Valley patrol unit.

“We’ve lost contact with the west scouting team?”

“Yes. We believe they made enemy contact and were completely destroyed.”

“...I’d like you to remain vigilant and keep an eye out for any movement.”

“Yes, sir!”

Dan ends the call. The valley was growing restless, and too many things had happened at once for it to be a coincidence.

“Dandy! What’s going on!?”

The dinner, which had started out peacefully, fell apart in a matter of minutes. Mika would occasionally "reprimand" guests if something displeased her, but that was normal. It wasn’t anything Dan paid any mind to. But this time, things were different.

“H-Hang on, let me check the control system… D-Don’t shake me…”

Forgetting he was supposed to act like a ruler, Dandy holds back Mika with one hand as she approaches, he focuses on grasping the current circumstances of the city. He connects to the defense system, noticing an abnormality in the southwest portion of the colony. Something had collided with the optical camouflage shielding them. The entire city was shaking, no doubt because enemy forces were deployed there.

“The assailants are a party of Machines and Paragons!”

“...N-No way!?” The white haired boy was the one who seemed the most surprised by Dan’s exclamation.

“No way… What do you mean!?”

Mika was the first to react to the young white haired boy’s words, running to where he is seated and immediately pulling her gun on him.

“Solo!!” everyone cried his name in unison.

“Don’t move!! You stupid brat!!!”  As Mika yells, the entire room falls silent. Feeling emboldened, she continues, “Spit it out! Tell me everything you know! Unless you want me to blow your [bleep]ing brains out.”

Amidst the tension, and knowing even the smallest mistake could cost him his life, the boy took a small breath and explained all of the events that had happened so far. It was as if he’d known from the very beginning that this would happen. The white haired boy, Solo, was the Paragon prince, and those who saw his existence as a burden sought to claim his life. After a battle south of the Caspian Rift Valley, he had become a target for the Machines as well. While Dan was convinced of Solo’s identity, Mika trembled with rage.

“—Pfft, hahaha!! So that’s how it is. I never would have imagined the child we welcomed into our home was such a blight!” 

“Now isn’t the time for this! We’re in this fight together, so–”

“–Shut up.”

—Bang.

Mika pulled the trigger without a hint of hesitation.

“You’ve got the nerve to glare back at me, you little brat?” 

Warm blood trickles down Solo’s cheek, the bullet having just grazed him and instead piercing the wall.

“But it’s pointless! Fighting? Together? Don’t screw with me!” Mika didn’t give Solo the chance to respond, her anger overwhelming, “You think you can just walk away like it was nothing after bringing conflict into my paradise? Such a shame!”

Laughing loudly, Mika ordered the robotic soldiers standing in wait to detain everyone, “Your future has already been decided, you [bleep]ers. Isn’t that right, Dan?”

“Yeah. We had the opportunity to come to deeply understand one another, and yet… How disappointing.”

“Good grief, talk about a change of heart. You’ve got some nerve. You just accept whatever she does?” The man with the flashy hair spits, throwing his weapon aside. The other two quickly followed suit and were restrained by mechanical soldiers.

“Ha! A wise choice.”

Normally, Mika would have taken it upon herself to continue “educating” those who had caused her offense, but things were different now. Dan decided to use one of the plans he had prepared in advance—if Solo was someone important, then he could be used as a bargaining chip to minimize damage to the colony.

Dandy spun around, raising his cane high, “Guards! Escort our guests to the dock.”

“W-We’ve still got time! We–”

“This beepbeepbeep [bleep] is annoying. Hurry up and go! Get out!”

“L-Let go of me– Hhggh!?”

“Zephyr!”

In a fit of rage, Mika attacks Zephyr for refusing to board the elevator. Restrained by mechanical soldiers, and with their weapons taken away, there was no way for Solo and the others to resist.

“Sooo sorry. Did you want to play? I’ve got some bad habits, so if you make me too upset, we might end up with a big red flower garden all over this [bleep]’s white hair, you understand?”

“Kch...”

“It’s a shame things turned out this way… But your noble sacrifice will protect our colony… Well then, bon voyage!”

“Damn it, some freedom! In the end, you’re no different then the everyone else–”

Mika dragged Solo into the elevator despite his protests. Just as Dan prepares to take his leave, his eyes meet Mika’s. For just a moment, her eyes are filled with anxiety, but before Dan can say anything, the elevator begins to descend to the floors below.

“Mika, please stay safe…”

Now alone in the hall, Dan turns to walk towards the control room on the upper level.

Dan checks on the city’s situation from the control room.

“Ah… Aah….”

A horrific scene was projected by the numerous displays floating around him. Some were crushed beneath the rubble and burned. Some were caught in explosions turned to ash. There had been no time for the residents to escape, and they could only scatter in a hopeless attempt to survive.

The paradise that Dan and Mika had built was rapidly heading towards collapse.

“Antiaircraft guns… r-ready!”

Grimacing at the continuous damage, Dandy mobilizes all of the colony’s interception systems installed within the city and the colony's periphery in an attempt to put up a fight. Their target was a unit of Parargons who had launched a surprise attack on the Machines.

“Our strength is limited, so we have no choice but to conclude this battle as quickly as possible!”

Having spent its years free of conflict, New Nemea’s ships and weaponry were generations out of date. There was little need to defend themselves from external enemies thanks to the convenient hiding place within the Caspian Rift Valley. The best Dan could do was get the Paragon forces to withdraw and negotiate with the Machine commander to keep the colony alive as long as possible.

“Open fire! Protect the Machine ships!” As he gives orders, Dan locates the Machine’s flagship. “Got it! This is Dan Dominance V, supervisor of the colony of New Nemea. We have no intention of attacking you! Please respond!”

After sending repeated communications to the Viamaris, the flagship stationed near the colony’s periphery. A reply came shortly after.

“This is Viamaris commander Isaac Dominance VIII. I know you bastards are harboring the Paragon king, Solo Monia.”

“The boy has already been taken into custody. As soon as the battle is over, I’ll hand him over. I’ve sent you coordinates! I am fully aware this is selfish of me, but this colony is–”

—!!!!!

A sudden, thunderous roar interrupts Dan’s cries. Directly afterwards, a loud sound comes through the communication line before it is suddenly cut off.

“That’s–”

Panicked, Dandy watches as the Viamaris is attacked and falls in a pillar of flames. With their flagship fallen, the rest of the Machine forces they had relied on were now scattered and retreating.

The outcome had already been decided. It would only be a matter of time before the colony totally collapsed.

“Hah… They’re not going to forgive us for siding with the Machines, are they…”

Even so, Dan’s highest priority was keeping the city alive—even if his chances were slim to none.

“I am the ruler of New Nemea! I’ll protect my children! I’ll protect my Mika! I’ll–”

Suddenly, the control room is enveloped in a blinding light. The moment Dan realizes the light filling the display was an attack from the Paragon forces, a violent impact hits the central tower. It collapses in an instant.

(Mi…ka…)

His footing lost, Dan was swallowed by the darkness along with the rubble, eventually disappearing within.

[――, ――――, Kzt――]

Among the tower of rubble, Dan barely managed to reboot. Just how long had he been asleep? He quickly started to review the situation. The faintly visible sky was tinged with blue, and some sort of light floated across it, mixing in with the fading stars.

“Ah… It’s over, isn’t it?”

The lights in the sky were the twinkle of flames leaking from the nozzles of combat ships.

“I was powerless…”

The central tower had collapsed, and the city’s functions were lost. With both opposing factions knowing their whereabouts, this place was no longer safe. They would have to find a new base somewhere else.

But Dan decided it was fine to stay where he was. He was supposed to protect her, and now she was gone. There was no meaning in carrying on without her reaction.

“Ha, I wonder which will happen first… Will I rust and die, or will they find me?”

At the very least, Dan wanted to meet his end with Mika by his side.

“Mika… Mika…”

Dan detaches the arm that had been crushed under the rubble and crawls out in search of Mika. She had to be buried somewhere.

――

――――

“...”

Mika was lying in a miserable state in what remained of the dock. There was a large hole in her chest, her artificial skin was burned, and parts of her frame were exposed. There wasn’t a single trace of her former beauty anywhere. Still, Dan was able to recognize the “face” that Mika seemed to have protected until the very end.

“It’s thanks to you that we were able to meet again, isn’t it?” At that, Dan sat next to her, placing his hand on her bloodless, soot stained cheek, “I… at least have to clean your face.”

He carefully combed her hair with his fingers, wiping off the soot and circulatory fluid stuck to her cheek. Although she wasn’t quite back to normal, there was a glimpse of how she was like when she was running.

“There… Hm?”

Drop by drop, something pattered on Mika’s cheek. Before Dan knew it, it had started to rain.

“Ah, no… Even though I just cleaned her up… I have to fix it, I have to fix it, I have to fix it,  I have to fix it…”

As the rain grew stronger, his weak voice drowned out and faded away.

“Mika… Don’t leave me… I… don’t want to be alone anymore…”

Dan stopped moving. Rain splashes against their silent bodies, starting to create a variety of sounds. Among the irregular tones, one sound faintly reaches Dan’s ears.

Creak— Creak— The sound quickly increased in speed.

“—Baby.”

“Huh?”

Dan wondered if he had subconsciously played back a voice recording in his loneliness. But without a doubt, that was–

“You’re always such a crybaby, Dan. No matter how much time passes…”

“M-Mika!? How!?”

“As long as the brain core is intact, a Machine won’t die. Right?”

“But it was shut down…”

“I guess getting shot all of a sudden put me into sleep mode… Hah… My body is so worn out...”

“I-I’ll help you up!”

Dan pulled up Mika and carried her on his back, making his way towards the loading entrance. What awaited Mika beyond the door was the disastrous state of the colony, reduced to a pile of rubble.

“Haha… Everything’s gone…”

Mika stood stunned. When she remained unresponsive for a long while, she suddenly heard a metallic sound from behind her. Looking back, she found Dan trying to pick up a metal pipe. It seemed like he wanted to use it as a cane and spin it in his hand. However, perhaps because he’d lost his other arm, his balance was off and he struggled to get a good grip.

“What are you doing?”

“...Getting ready.”

“Dan… You don’t mean… again…?”

With an awkward smile, Dan held out his hand, “Let’s create a new paradise together.”

“...”

“Is that alright with you?”

It was a scene she had seen once before. So much has changed since then. There may not be a single place on earth where they could find peace.

“…Of course it’s alright.”

But still, surely if they were together, they would be able to walk tomorrow and beyond. Mika took Dan’s hand and smiled back.

“You can’t do anything without me, can you?”

—They would start again from here. A small rebellion of just the two of them.