A Broken Heart

Campaign: Android Anguish

Chapter 11 / 4-2

A Broken Heart

Previous Quest

Ruined Town Run-In

Next Quest

A Curious Feeling

Summary

When Emile loses his temper and activates the android commander Laxi, she goes berserk and attacks friend and foe alike. This causes the dormant androids to reactivate, forcing the prince and his friends to work with Mascula in order to halt their rampage.

Dialogue

Now! Counterattack! Push the enemy back! Hraaaaaagh! Urk! R-retreat! Retreat and regroup!

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What in the blazes are you idiots DOING?! I thought you had them cornered! F-forgive us, sire! We failed to take into account the numerous abandoned buildings in the ruins of the town! The New Alberian Army is forcing us into house-to-house fighting, which negates the advantage of our superior numbers. So send in the androids already! Surely they won't be so easily cowed! Er, yes, sire. The thing is, the lead android seems to have...taken up with the enemy and shut down the rest of them somehow. Rrrrgh! That traitorous pile of scrap! Fine, then. If he won't do the job, I'll just find someone who will. Bring me the last android! B-but sir, if that android were to betray us as Mascula did— Today is no day for the feckless talk of cowards! Now shut up and do as I say before I have you clapped in irons and tossed into the sea!

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...... Awaken, android! Crush the traitor and his new friend, Euden! Checking condition. Error. Condition check failed. Engaging emergency protocols. Activating annihilation mode.

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Oh, this is NOT good! Graaaagh! Beginning suppression of this location. Initiating termination of all enemies. Wh-what the?! Stop that, you idiot! TERMINATE. T-T-T-TERMINA-A-ATE. TERMINATETERMINATETERMINATE TERMINATETERMINATETERMINATE TERMINATETERMINATETERMINATE S-stop... STOOOOP! Uwaaaargh!

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Sire, the imperial forces approaching the western ruins appear to have withdrawn. We should be okay for a while. Good. If we keep this up and buy ourselves time to move the villagers to safety, things might actually work out. And yet, this is not the time to rest easy. If the androids were to start moving again, we could easily find our backs against the wall once more. Yeah, I mean, Mascula told us he stopped 'em all, but can we really trust that guy? I don't think he's a bad...uh, android, but that also doesn't mean he's our friend, necessarily. I agree. After all, from his perspective, we're still trying to harm people. Never thought we'd run into someone who's even more of a goody two-shoes than us. What a world. We can think about the pros and cons of fighting later. The important thing now is that Mascula stopped the other androids. Yeah, but couldn't he have...I dunno. Made 'em LEAVE? It's creepy as hell to see 'em all standin' around like that. ...... Perhaps there is a way to further disable them while they are in this resting state. We could attempt to remove their arms and legs, for example. I'm not sure Mascula would like us doing something so drastic. And right now, we need to keep him as an ally. Yeah, probably best not to do anything that seems like a betrayal of his trust. Plus, I'd feel kinda weird deboning helpless androids like that. Your Highness, I bring news! A strange android has been sighted on the eastern front! Strange how? Strange in that it does not seem to be distinguishing friend from foe, and is instead attacking everyone on sight. Mascula didn't distinguish between friend or foe either! Yes, but his ultimate goal seemed to be one of peace. This new android is cutting down any who get in its way without mercy or quarter. Our lead garrison has already sustained heavy losses, which have been matched by imperial casualties. Furthermore— ...confirmed. Uh...sorry, what? Directive confirmed. Commencing operation. Terminating hostiles. Whoa, wait! Hang on! The androids are moving again! Somebody wanna explain what in the blue heck is going on here?! So it's happening here as well... What do you mean, Elisanne? The units on the eastern front also recently began moving again. Do you think it has something to do with that new android? I don't know. However, I imagine Mascula has more information, so I have sent for him with all speed. Got it. In the meantime, I'm heading out to the eastern front. Ranzal, I'll need you to stay and handle things here. Sure, boss. And apologies to Mascula or whatever, but if these fools decide to attack again, we'll wipe the floor with 'em! The Eastern Front D-D-Destruction. C-Commenciiiiing. Uraaaagh! Ungaaah! Critical damage sustained. Continued operation impossible. That android really is going after everyone... Mascula! What's happening?! That's Laxi. She's the android commander. Is she the reason all the others have started moving again? Yes. I can't stop her orders. Then I'll just have to stop HER. Wait, please! I'll...I'll stop Laxi! Er, can you do that? I will. I must. It is what I was made for!

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Laxi! Cease this at once! Ob-ob-obstacle to execution of op-op-operations detected. E-e-eliminating-g-g-g. Don't you remember me? I'm Mascula! Mascu...la? Mascula. There! You do know me! You appear to have sustained damage. Don't worry. I'll fix you. Mascula... Mascula. Mascula! TERMINATING MASCULA! Ah! TERMINATING OBSTACLE! TERMINATING MASCULA! TERMINATING! TERMINATING! Laxi, stop! Please! Maestro would be so sad to see us doing this! Maes...tro... Yes, Maestro. Why did he give us hearts if not to use them here? Hearts... Maestro... MAESTROOooOoOooo! Laxi, wait!

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Well, THAT was a totally normal thing that just happened. Mascula may have driven her off, but the other androids are still coming! Form up, everyone! We fight! Luca! Everyone! Please help me! Help you how? Laxi is the commander. If I can stop her, I can stop all the androids. We can end this battle. We can?! I think we should give Mascula's plan a shot, Euden! We're only going to suffer more losses if we keep fighting like this. Might as well take a chance on trusting Mascula. Thank you, Luca. Please, Euden! All right, Mascula. I'll trust you on this. Thank you. Now let's hurry! (Hold on, Laxi...)