Chapter 2.5 - Virtual Reality: Klaus's Mind
Around the corner of a building, the scenery changes suddenly to a narrow alleyway. Klaus is there with three men.
Jan: What’s this? It looks like Klaus…
Mikhail: No, that’s not Klaus’s shadow. More likely it’s a projection of some memory fragments.
Jan: Wait, I can hear something.
Klaus: Look, we had a deal.
Unknown: My apologies. It seems you’ve gotten used to this line of work. Even after all this time, such a passion for harvesting.
Melisse: …”Harvesting”? What kind of harvesting?
Lactis: Melisse, keep your voice down. We don’t want to disturb this fragile memory!
Klaus: Wait. I’ve worked hard. When do I get to see him?
Unknown: Him? He’s a very busy man. You can’t meet him face to face…
Klaus: …Busy?
Unknown: Naturally. He’s dealing with all of the 'neural narcotic programs' you brought in.
Jan: Neural narcotic programs…
Klaus: Hey, I had a deal with him! I want to see him now! Come on, please!
Unknown: I said you can’t see him. Or do you want out?
Klaus: …Hmph.
Unknown: I’m sorry. How about… when the time comes, I’ll try to arrange for an audience.
The memory projection disappears and the scenery changes to that of a town. They continue searching and come across three children playing in a park.
Melisse: …Children? Is this another piece of Klaus’s memory?
Jan: Possibly…
Amy: Hey mister, come play tag with us!
Lactis: They can see us? Captain, what should we do?
Jan: Interfering with the remaining memories could be dangerous, but it might be related to Klaus’s shadow…
Jake: You coming?
Nicholas: Hurry up~!
Jan: …There’s nothing else we can do. And we’re running out of time.
Playing tag.
Jake: You guys are soooo cool! I wanna become a policeman!
Jan: Oh really?
Jake: Well, I guess we gotta go home now.
Jan: Wait a second. You kids wouldn’t know anything about a man named Klaus, would you?
Jake: Klaus… Klaus torments us.
Nicholas: That’s why…
Amy: ...We need you to rescue us.
Jan: …
Nicholas: Well, we’re going now. Thanks!
The children disappear.
Melisse: Klaus torments them? What does that mean?
Lactis: Good question. I guess we’ll just have to find out from Klaus himself?
Jan: Indeed. And we’re running out of time. Let’s hurry.
Virtual Reality: Klaus’s Room
Klaus’s shadow is sitting on top of a bed, the only furniture in the room.
Klaus: Who are you? Why did you come into my world? Ah, it doesn’t matter. You’re just bystanders anyway. Humans are nothing more than raindrops streaming down a window. Don’t get in my way. I’ve finally come to the end of the line.
Jan: Are you Voyager?
Klaus: Voyager? I don’t know any Voyager. I was always alone. I never saw anyone.
Jan: Did you do what you did out of loneliness?
Klaus: Oh, I remember now. Voyager. The man who said he would give me peace.
Jan: Peace?
Klaus: Ahh… yes. That person… he was collecting... what was it? Neural programs. And he said if I helped him he would take away my emptiness. “Absolute peace,” he said. Do you have that too? Loneliness that you can’t bury? If you’re human, you probably do.
Jan: Voyager said he would take away your loneliness?
Klaus: Yes. That’s why I worked for him. And now I’ve finally found peace… the promised land he spoke of.
Jan: The promised land? Is this it?
Klaus: Here? You’ve gotta be kidding. I’ve grown tired of this disgusting place. Prejudice, betrayal, jealousy, hate… I’m sick of it. Good riddance.
Jan: Are there others like you?
Klaus: …Are there others like me? Others with tickets to the promised land? Ah, I’m sure there are… he needs the blood of Abraxas to fulfill his goal…
Jan: The blood of Abraxas… what does that mean?
Klaus: Abraxas… is the Zo…har’s…
Jan: What did you just say? “Zohar”… what is that?
Klaus: “And the bowl was poured on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.” [Revelation 16:8]
Jan: Those words!?
Lactis: Careful, Captain! This is a new pattern!
Klaus: “And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory!” [Revelation 16:8] He… he defiled the name of God and deceived us!!
Jan: Who, Voyager?
Klaus: No! Why him? Why does he get to go to the promised land!? Are you saying he’s worthy of salvation!? The man who covets the wealth of Abraxas and agitates the citizens… that Julius of all people should burn with light despite his greedy, vile existence!!
Jan: Julius? Mikhail, are you recording this!?
Mikhail: Yes, Captain!
Jan: Send it to headquarters immediately!
Mikhail: To headquarters? Are you sure? This is an illegal dive!
Jan: I don’t care! We have to make sure Patriarch Julius is safe!
Mikhail: The Patriarch!?
Jan: I’ll give you details later! Log us out now! Did you make a backup of the record!?
Mikhail: Yes… wait, this is bad!
Jan: What is it?
Mikhail: Klaus’s remaining consciousness is acting very much like an extermination program! Look out!
Melisse: Aahh-!
Jan: …!?
Jan turns towards Melisse’s voice, and behind him two macrophages appear next to Klaus’s shadow self.
Battle with Loki.
Jan: Klaus…
Melisse: Captain…
Jan: Klaus’s consciousness is collapsing from the aftereffects of the battle!
Lactis: The time limit is in 10 minutes!
Jan: Mikhail, recover… a-ah…
Lactis: Captain?
Melisse: Captain!?
Jan: I’m… f… ine… a-ah… aaagh!
Jan falls to his knees.
Melisse: Captain! Stay with us!!
The room goes dark.