Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[Location: Millennium Ruins - Junction M1]

There are anomalies scattered throughout Kivotos, each presenting its own unique troubles and mysteries. To investigate and study these anomalies, a club known as the Super Phenomenon Task Force, or SPTF for short, was formed in Millennium. The club consists of three members, each with distinct personalities and traits. On their way to an anomaly located in the Millennium Ruin, their first member spoke up.

"I'm a beautiful sickly girl and genius hacker, Eimi. No one can match my intellect." Himari said with a smug expression.

Himari Akeboshi has lavender-white eyes and waist-length hair that she ties into straight pigtails with navy ribbons adorned with gold. A white flower hair ornament rests close to her left temple. She wears a white robe over a single-breasted vest, with a cream blanket wrapped around her legs. She has black leggings underneath and wears navy blue smart gloves with golden wiring on the back. Additionally, she possesses elven ears and pale skin. Her halo consists of six arrowhead-shaped pieces arranged in a hexagonal pattern, with six glowing white petals. Notably, she navigates in an automated wheelchair equipped with specialized computers.

Her main weapon is a S&W Model 340-PD Revolver "Clifftop Flower".

"Hmm... sure, Himari. Toki, how far are we from the anomaly?" Eimi asked with a neutral expression.

Eimi Izumimoto has dark pink eyes and fluffy punk hair that reaches her waist, held back by a red clip on her left-side bangs. She is dressed in a heavy red and black jacket secured with a similarly colored striped belt, paired with a bikini top featuring zippers. Below, she wears a white short skirt with a black ammunition belt bearing her Millennium access badge, complemented by a red-striped tie. Her halo is composed of a pink dual circle connected by bridges within a dashed circle, with two sidelines edging it.

Her main weapon is a Spas-12 Shotgun "Multi Tactical".

"We are 5 km away from the target location." Toki responded without much emotion.

Toki Asuma has blue eyes and blonde hair styled in a bun. She is clad in a maid uniform with a white apron and a small blue ribbon, wearing a black dress with white trim and a large blue bow at her back. Her outfit includes an outer skirt, black fingerless elbow gloves with white rings, black web gear accented with blue elements, and long white high-heeled shoes with black heels adorned with blue circles. Her halo features five black outer segments rimmed in blue, with a small blue circle in the center.

Her main weapon is a H&K G-11 Assault Rifle "Secret Time".

"You can't just ignore me, Eimi." Himari said making a pouting expression.

After a couple of minutes, they arrive at the location of the anomaly. It wasn't like any they had seen before, as it glowed a massive red. The air became heavier as they got closer to it. Himari, intrigued by the anomaly, was also highly concerned about the air around them.

"Eimi, Toki, this anomaly is more unusual than I thought." Himari said as her face showing concern. "Let's head back and think of a plan for how to handle this anomaly. We should also inform Sensei of this matter as well."

"Okay." Eimi replied.

"Understood." Toki said as she eyed the Anomaly.

As they started to leave, the anomaly began acting up. Rocks and objects started to float, the glow intensified, and the ground shook violently. Toki sensed the rising danger.

"Himari, Eimi! Run!" Toki shouted as she run towards them.

But it was too late, the anomaly started to pull in everything around it. Rocks, a wrecked car, random debris, and even Eimi and Himari, who were holding onto a chair. Toki tried to grab onto something for support but was also pulled in. Moments later, the anomaly consumed itself, leaving nothing behind except Toki’s maid headdress.

In the following week, three more students went missing at Millennium Junction M1. Their fates remain unknown and undetermined. As a precaution, the Millennium Seminar issued an order to close Junction M1 to prevent further disappearances.

<<< Traveling... >>>

[Location: XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXX - Junction R2 "The Well"]

Inside an abandoned facility, a computer machine controlling the area was powered on. The screen displayed:

Lim-Tech ARDA Anomaly Control System - Pacific Drive

Loading...

Version: 1.6.2

Year: 1998

Importing Data...

Installing new Data...

Semi-Realism Mod

Mossberg-590 Shotgun Mod

Lim-Tech Bigger Boot Mod

Lim-Tech Easy Remnant Parts Install Mod

Lim-Tech Extended Side Storage Mod

Lim-Tech High-Capacity Internal Battery Mod

Lim-Tech Everything, But Better Mod

Player Quarters Mod

Millennium Paint and Decal Mod

Data Installing... Complete

Applying Changes...

The zone began to shift a bit, and a remnant of a car was significantly affected. It started to glow before eventually returning to normal. The remnant waited for someone to bond with it, to ensure their survival during any trip.

Once the changes were applied, the computer was powered down, along with the rest of the facility. With that, the zone was forever changed, awaiting the arrival of newcomers.

Welcome to the Olympic Exclusion Zone.

<<< Transmission Ended... >>>

Chapter Text

[Location: Unknown – Junction E8]

Toki slowly wakes up, lying on the ground. She feels some aching pain, and her breathing hurts a bit, but overall, she's fine. She begins to lift herself up and takes a look at her surroundings. It’s night, and she notices a massive wall to her left that appears to be about 300 meters high, with a large crack in it, surrounded by rocky terrain. To her right, she sees Eimi and Himari lying unconscious on the ground, along with broken rocks, a wrecked car, and the remnants of Himari's chair floating in the air.

Toki stands up to check on Himari first and notices a small bleeding wound on her forehead. She quickly tears a small part of her maid uniform to wrap around the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. After inspecting her for any additional injuries and finding none, she turns her attention to Eimi and sees that she is completely fine. Once she confirms that her companions are okay, Toki takes a better look at their surroundings.

The location they find themselves in is nothing like Millennium. It seems to be a valley with trees all around and a dirt path leading to an unknown destination. As Toki considers their next move, Eimi’s halo starts to flicker on as she begins to regain consciousness.

"Hello, Eimi. You have been unconscious for a while." Toki said as she walks gracefully towards her.

""Uh, what happened, Toki?" Eimi asked as she slowly standing up.

"It seems we aren't in Millennium anymore... I think." Toki replied uncertainly.

"Okay, then. By the way, where is Himari?" Eimi asked as she tries to gather her bearings.

"Over there." Toki responded, pointing to Himari, who is leaning against a wooden fence.

"Well, we’ll need to keep moving since we don’t know when rescue will come." Eimi said, walking towards Himari and preparing to give her a piggyback ride.

They begin to follow the rocky path, surrounded by glowing green substances. Soon, they reach a small valley where they must crouch to slip through a gap in the rocks. On the other side, they find a very old but still functional rusty street lamp. As they continue through the valley, they encounter more old street lamps and come upon a steep area they need to climb down carefully.

Their progress is halted by a fallen tree blocking their path forward.

"It looks like a dead end." Eimi said as she gently places the unconscious Himari down and leans back against the rocky wall.

"Wait..." Toki replied as she approaches the tree and touches it. "This tree looks like it can easily break. I think I can destroy it with my gun."

"Alright then, see if that works." Eimi encourages as Toki pulls out her assault rifle.

Toki begins firing at the tree, which splinters into many pieces. After expending all of her ammo, she reloads and tucks the assault rifle away.

"The path is now clear, Eimi. Stay here while I scout ahead." Toki instructed.

"Okay, just tell me when it's time to go so I can start carrying Himari." Eimi replied as she staying close to Himari.

"Understood." Toki responded before moving ahead to scout the area.

As Toki passed the destroyed tree, she noticed a small wooden roadblock barricade in front of her. Beyond the barricade, a flickering light from a car illuminated at a nearby shed. The sight of the car triggered something in her, but she couldn't quite place it. Deciding to set that feeling aside for now, she walked closer to the vehicle. As she approached, the radio inside the car crackled to life.

"Hello? Is anyone out there? Hello?... I could have sworn- never mind." A male voice emitted from the car's radio. Intrigued, Toki moved closer to inspect whether the car was still drivable. Once again, the radio came alive with the man's voice.

"Francis! The radar’s acting up again! You were supposed to tune up this piece of junk years ago!" he shouted to someone. As Toki examined the vehicle, she realized it was quite old. Millennium had transitioned to highly advanced technology and moved away from gas-powered vehicles.

The car was missing its front left tire, while the other tires looked crudely made. The body was rusted, held together by tape, with several missing panels. One headlight was barely functioning, and the left headlight was completely gone. The door panels were also rusty, and the rear right door was missing. The trunk was absent, while a small gas can sat in the top corner, adhered with some kind of goo. The front bumper was poorly constructed, and the rear bumper was missing. The carbureted engine showed signs of age, with some rust present. Inside, the upholstery was old, with a few sections tearing, but the windshield was intact.

Toki searched the shed for the car keys and a replacement tire. On the right side of the car, she found a wooden table that held the key for the ignition system, a perfectly fine tire next to it, and a small note beneath the key. Curious, she began to read the letter.

"To whoever finds this 1989 Buick LeSabre Estate, please take good care of her. I have to leave the car here because the government wants us to evacuate using their buses and won’t allow us to take our vehicles. So if you ever need a car, she’s yours to keep. The car is a real beauty and will keep on running, no matter her condition. Her name is 'Millennium Star.'

P.S. The alternator in the engine is busted, so you will need to find another way to charge the battery or get a new alternator."

After finishing the letter, Toki tucked the key into her pocket and quietly thanked the previous owner for leaving the car for others to use. She made a mental note of the car's year.

Next, Toki climbed into the driver's seat to check the gas gauge, which indicated a quarter tank remaining. However, there was no battery gauge, so she wasn't sure how much power was left. Exiting the driver's seat, she returned to the wheel on the table to pick it up. Carrying it over to the front right wheel well, she prepared to attach it.

As Toki positioned the wheel, she was astonished to see it attach itself to the car automatically, without any bolts needed to secure it in place. Confused, but relieved, she shrugged it off and turned to head back to Eimi to share the news.

"That took a while. What did you find?" Eimi asked as she saw Toki return.

"I found a car we can use. It’s old, and the vehicle itself is in a deteriorated state, but it's still somewhat drivable." Toki replied in her usual tone.

"Well, it’s better than nothing. Let’s move." Eimi said as she hoisted the unconscious Himari onto her back.

They walked down the path back to the car. Once they reached it, Eimi placed Himari in the front passenger seat and then took a seat in the rear middle. Toki entered the driver's seat, inserted the key into the ignition, and turned it. The car roared to life. She shifted the gear from park to drive, flicked on the headlights, and started moving. As the car left the shed, a voice came over the radio.

"The signal, yes, it’s back! It’s back!" The voice exclaimed. "This is Tobias Barlow and Francis Cooke, located in Mid-Zone, Sector B. Do you read me?"

Toki followed the dirt road; it was the only way forward. Mountains surrounded them, and the green glowing substance was starting to expand.

"... Toki, whoever they are, they don't know we lack a radio transmitter to respond, nor do they realize there are three of us. I also don't know if we can trust this adult, unlike Sensei." Eimi said, to which Toki nodded in agreement.

"I'm picking up your distress signal in the Outer Zone. Looks like you're somewhere around Sector E?" Tobias continued over the radio. "Hey, Francis! Come here. Yes, it's urgent. Leave that interferometer alone for a second, something is out there."

As Toki drove, she focused more on her surroundings. The trees were towering, some as high as three stories, and many rocks lined the walls of the mountains. As they approached a massive stone bridge, Tobias spoke again.

"We've got a live one! Do you copy? Hello? Is this thing working?" Tobias said confused.

"They don't have a transmitter. We won't hear a thing back." A new voice on the radio replied, which Toki guessed was Francis.

"Huh. But if they're stranded... could that mean they're from the outside? They're a breacher?" Tobias said as he contemplated the situation. Toki and Eimi had no idea what he was talking about. As they continued driving along the dirt path, Tobias spoke again.

"Hey, how'd you get through the Barrier Wall? No one's gotten into the Zone in ages and lived to tell about it." Tobias said over the radio.

"And if we don't get them to safety, this one won't either." Francis replied.

"That's a good point." Tobias said after thinking about it.

Toki and Eimi were increasingly worried about their current situation, especially after hearing that some people had died in the here. Toki continued to drive, while the two men communicated over the radio. They passed a fenced-off area on the right side of the road and approached a wrecked car up ahead. Just as they reached the wrecked car, the engine abruptly shut off. Confused by the sudden engine turning off, Toki glanced at the fuel gauge and realized it was empty.

"Toki? Why did we stop?" Eimi said with her concern evident.

"The car ran out of fuel. I'm going to check if the wrecked car has any gas left." Toki replied as she opened the door to exit the vehicle.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on Himari's condition." Eimi said as she placing a hand on Himari's head.

Toki went to the back of the car to grab a small gas can and pump from the trunk. After retrieving the gas can, she walked over to the wrecked car to siphon any remaining fuel. Meanwhile, the two men continued their conversation.

"Hey, You're in serious danger. The instability's closing in, and it's going to scramble you quicker than beef in a blender." Tobias warned through the radio. "Your closet shelter is a few miles east. Get there, however you can, and be quick about it."

Eimi felt a surge of anxiety after hearing Tobias's warning and leaned out of the car to call to Toki.

"Hurry up, Toki. If what they are saying is true, we might need to get going... now." Eimi said with a bit of haste.

Toki quickly started pumping fuel from the wrecked car's gas tank into the small gas can. As gas began to trickle out of the can, she dashed to the car’s gas port and began refueling. Once the gas can was empty, she climbed back into the car, threw the small can over Eimi and into the trunk, and started the engine. Suddenly, their surroundings began to glow green, and the air became harder to breathe. Toki pressed the gas pedal, trying to navigate away from the expanding green substance.

"Woah, woah, woah, hold the phone. There it is again, that blip on the spectrometer. I've seen that wave from before, but where?" Tobias said, deep in thought. "No kidding, could it be? A Remnant?"

"It can't be. There hasn't been one in decades." Francis replied.

Toki drives as fast as she can down the dirt path, turning the steering wheel sharply to navigate the corners. She hears one of the wheels get damaged as she hits a small bump in the road, but she doesn't mind; her only concern is getting to the shelter. Eimi is holding onto both front seats to avoid being thrown around or launched out of the car, while Himari, wearing her seatbelt, is somewhat secure. The men on the radio continue talking as they speed along.

"Look at that spectral fingerprint. Tell me that doesn't match the Remnants exactly." Tobias said.

"I don't know, but. What we should be looking at is how fast this Breacher seems to be moving." Francis replied surprised by the radar readings.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say they're going about the speed of a... no way." Tobias exclaims as he realizes something. "No way, do not tell me. They found a Remnant, and it's a car this time? Holy cripes, no one's had working wheels in here for ages. Boy, I'd kill to know how a combustion engine still chugging away out there."

Toki, focused on driving, isn't listening to the radio. She accelerates downhill, drifts around corners, and narrowly dodges a wrecked car on the path. Eimi wonders how lucky they are to find a working car out here, if what they’re saying is true, but she has her doubts.

"Ok, let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, the Breacher needs to get to safety. Then we can look into whether that car is a Remnant or not." Francis said.

"In my heart of hearts, I already know. They're back, baby!" Tobias replied.

Toki notices she's going 60 mph on the speedometer and is surprised by how fast this old car is handling the dirt road. Her reaction time feels quicker as she continues to narrowly avoid obstacles, making her seem like a master driver. Regardless, they are getting to their destination faster. Tobias then gives them a warning.

"When you find that shelter, go on and let yourself in. Oppy ain't going to like you poking around in there, but better to face her bad side than let the Zone eat you alive." Tobias warns.

As he finishes speaking, they arrive at a fenced-off area with a gate just as daylight breaks. Toki and Eimi will need to be cautious about this "Oppy" person he mentioned, but they hope everything will turn out okay.

Toki slows the car down and spots a small gap in the fence that the car can squeeze through. She drives carefully through the gap and emerges on the other side, where they see a garage-like structure. Toki drives behind the shop towards a garage door and then puts the car in park. Just as she does, the front left tire pops off the wheel well. She turns off the engine, switches off the headlights, and exits the car, followed closely by Eimi. Toki grabs the tire and reattaches it to the car’s wheel well.

As Eimi checks on Himari again, Toki surveys the shop area. The shop, while not in terrible shape, has clearly seen better days. It features concrete walls, a very old camera mounted on top of the garage door, a small concrete patch outside, a wrecked car to the left of the garage door, various pieces of junk scattered around, a glowing dumpster on the right, and a set of double doors.

Toki tries to open the double doors, but they won’t budge, so she looks for another way in. Circling to the right, she passes by more junk and discovers a wooden ramp leading to the roof. To her left, she notices a slightly open door with a red light seeping out and another camera mounted above it. She pushes open the door that leads into the shop and finds it resembles a small convenience store, though it’s cluttered with junk. To her left is a locked room with a keypad, to her right lies more junk, and directly in front of her is a power box with a large red light illuminated on it.

Toki walked straight to the power box and flipped the breaker. The shop lights turned on, illuminating the space and activating all the machines in the garage as well. Suddenly, a speaker in the garage began to broadcast a voice.

"Who's there?" A new voice, they sounded like an adult female, asked annoyed. "The shop has been breached?"

Toki guessed this must be Oppy, the person Tobias had mentioned. She hoped their presence wouldn't be a bother-

"You've got FIVE seconds to get the hell out, before I-" Oppy then bumped her head into something, which made her lose her anger very quickly. "Ow, my head."

Toki entered the garage area and noticed that the garage door was now open, with various machines powered up. In the middle of the garage was a workbench, to the right wall was a map she had never seen before, and there was a battery charging station of some sort. A machine with a wrench icon appeared on a screen, and gas pumps were located at both far ends of the room. A first aid station stood next to one of the gas pumps, alongside several metal cabinets on the left and end sides of the garage. There was another garage door on the far right with a camera mounted above it, a set of double doors to the left near the entrance of the convenience store area, and an old box computer setup beside the double doors. Lastly, a jukebox started playing music, displaying the message "Playing – The Garage (By Wilbert Roget II - Topic)".

Then, through the speakers, a short alarm sounded, and Oppy continued.

"An Emergency broadcast?" Oppy asked, sounding confused. At that moment, Eimi entered the garage with Himari on her back.

"Hello, attention, this message is for Dr. Ophelia Turner. We've sent a Breacher to your garage on official Zone business." Tobias announced as though he were reading a note aloud. "Now, we have it on very good authority that this person is in possession of a Remnant, which has taken the form of a car, and- uh..."

"Get off the Remnant thing, she's not going to care-" Francis tried to say quietly. Eimi stood beside Toki as they listened to the two male adults.

"Right, like I said, super official Zone business. Protocol demands that you keep them alive until we can get them to safety." Tobias continued and added a small threat. "Now, if you do not comply, I will occupy this broadcast channel with a recitation of the entire collection of poems I've personally written... that's 10 years and 17 volumes-"

Their signal gets cut and Oppy returns very annoyed.

"That voice. It's like a nail gun to the skull." Oppy said pissed. "So another Breacher, huh? Or Breachers as I see the three of you inside my shop via the cameras and it had to be three teenage girls with very particular outfits. That idiot doesn't even know how many breachers he was sending me? One of them is even unconscious, great. Anyway, how do you outsiders not understand that ARDA didn't build that 300-meter wall out there for FUN?"

Toki and Eimi exchanged confused glances at what Oppy was saying. "ARDA?" they thought. They were unfamiliar with this term, especially since they had been forcefully transported here. And what exactly was a "breacher"? Oppy continued speaking.

"Unless you three were one of the unfortunate who got zapped through?" Oppy asked. Just as Toki and Eimi were about to respond, she interrupted again. "Wait, I just remembered. I don't give a damn why or how you got here. You're trespassing, and I'd kindly like you to get the hell out of my Zone."

Toki and Eimi looked at each other, taken aback by the rudeness of this adult. Although Sensei could be strict, he was always kind when dealing with problems like this. It was surprising for them to witness such behavior from an adult.

"Unfortunately, the Barrier Wall is as fortified against Breachers trying to get in as it is against anyone or anything trying to leave. We have to find you three a way out. So you might as well start by fixing that car. Just don't break anything in my shop with those soft hands of yours." Oppy said as she finished her statement and cut off the conversation. Toki and Eimi began discussing their next steps.

"Toki, you bring the car in while I find a place for Himari to lie down. After that, I’ll get some medical supplies to properly treat her head wound properly." Eimi said.

"Understood." Toki replied as she walked back to the car to bring it into the garage.

Toki got into the driver's seat and started the car. She drove it into the garage and parked it on the sensor before turning off the engine. She then left the car and walked over to Eimi, who was in the convenience store area treating Himari's head wound with some unfamiliar medicine.

"Is it ok to use medicine that you have never heard of?" Toki asked concerned.

"Well... I guess. The medicine did its magic and healed the wound without leaving a scar or scratch." Eimi replied with a bit of surprised by the medicine's effectiveness.

"How long until she wakes up?" Toki asked.

"Not sure, but we’ll need to gather supplies from outside if we want to survive here." Eimi replied.

"Understood." Toki responded as she walked back to the garage. Suddenly, the speakers in the garage came to life again.

"Also, I suggest that put on the mechanic’s eye headset hanging by the projector map. Use it to scan the car. It'll tell you what needs fixing and how to do it." Oppy said nonchalantly.

Toki looked at the wall map and noticed the mechanic's eye. She picked it up, feeling its weight and the outdated technology. Without hesitation, she returned to Eimi to ask if she could transfer the software from the mechanic's eye headset to her suit's headset.

"You brought your suit's headset?" Eimi asked surprised.

"Yes, I always keep it with me at all times." Toki replied as she pulled out her suit's headset out of her maid's outfit.

"Okay, let's use that old computer." Eimi suggested.

Both Toki and Eimi approached a computer with a note labeled "Fax Machine." The setup included a keyboard, a mouse, an old telephone, and a miniature PC on the side. Eimi booted up the PC, which took some time, and then she extracted a USB cord from Toki's headset and connected it to the PC. She began reprogramming the Abi-Eshuh's headset, taking advantage of the backward compatibility in the hardware to transfer the software from the mechanic's eye headset.

While Eimi worked, Toki explored the garage. She rummaged through old boxes and discovered a metal crowbar alongside a backpack nearby. Upon inspecting the backpack, she found it was quite spacious. It contained 17 cans of food, various scraps, 3 first aid kits, some duct tape, and a document titled "Zone Motors and You #1." As she skimmed through it, and it was about checking and maintaining oil levels while keeping "Mosquitos" away. Toki wondered what that could mean.

After reading the document, Toki placed the items on the store's counter and stepped outside to investigate a glowing dumpster. Just as she was about to lift the lid, the dumpster unexpectedly spewed out several items: a handheld saw, a Mossberg-590 shotgun with a pistol grip, two boxes of buckshot, various plastic scraps, and a couple of road flares. At that moment, the outside speakers activated.

"Oh, it seems you've encountered the friendly dumpster. It can be nice or rude, depending on what items are thrown at you. Additionally, I see you've found a Lim-Tech backpack. That backpack can hold more than a standard one; I even heard it can accommodate three car panels. However, you'll need to test that yourself." Oppy announced through the speakers. "Also, it seems your friend is done messing with my mechanic's eye. You should retrieve your 'Abi-Eshuh' headset, or whatever you call it."

Toki was puzzled about what Lim-Tech meant but decided to collect all the items the dumpster had ejected into her backpack before heading back into the garage, where she saw Eimi waiting for her.

"Hey, Toki. I finished transferring the software to your headset, but the HUD is stuck on the screen. We'll have to wait until Himari wakes up, in order to fix that." Eimi said as she handed Toki's headset back to her.

"Understood. I'll get to work." Toki replied as she put on the Abi-Eshuh headset.

As she donned it, the headset powered on, illuminating the screen. The HUD instantly appeared, displaying health and radiation bars in the top left corner, a mission or task bar in the top right, and another bar in the bottom middle. While Toki was trying to figure out how to use the software, Oppy spoke through her headset.

"Hello, Driver. I’ll will be call you that since, you will be driving for your group of friends. If you need help figuring out how to use the device's software, I will leave documents for you to read regarding its operation. Remember, this is my garage. I don't care if you're a teenager who wandered in without permission, if you or your friends do anything reckless in my garage, I will activate the garage's security systems." Oppy explained and then added. "I will also be monitoring you via my terminal. Now, move along."

Unsure of how to respond, Toki decided to head toward the car to assess what parts it needed, in hopes of getting it running for their first trip into the zone. She also planned to review the documents explaining how the software worked while she was at it.

<<< Transmission Ended... >>>

Chapter Text

[Location: Oppy's Garage - Junction E8]

Toki began to skim through the document that Oppy had given her. It contained numerous features, including a "User Manual." For now, she focused on the scanning feature, which could identify what was damaged, how to fix it, and what tools were needed for repairs. After skimming the information, she proceeded to scan each part of the car needed for her first trip. Once she finished scanning, Oppy spoke to her through Abi-Eshuh's headset.

"Driver, it appears your car has several missing panels and doors. I doubt it will even be able to travel in its current state." Oppy said as she monitored the car through the cameras. "There are blueprints on the workbench for crude doors and panels. In the back of the garage, there's a wrecked car. Use the handheld saw, which we refer to as a scrapper, to begin removing the panels. The software will also show you how much health each panel has before it breaks down into raw materials."

While Oppy was talking, Toki glanced at the workbench and noticed the blueprints for the crude parts, which required Scrap Metal, Plastic, and Duct Tape. After reviewing the blueprints, Oppy continued her explanation.

"Also, don't bother asking when you break the wrecked car's panels or doors and it magically drops its raw materials. Lim-Technology has altered many things in the Zone, and sometimes we don't fully understand how it all works. In any case, make replacements for the missing parts of the car with it, recharge it, and refuel it before heading out." Oppy expanded with a flat tone.

Toki was unsure how to feel about Oppy’s assistance, as she remembered how hostile Oppy had been at first. Adults could be quite confusing, she thought to herself.

Toki then headed outside to the wrecked car. Once she reached it, she pulled out the handheld saw, which the software called the Scrapper, and began to saw off the panels and doors. As she worked, the health of the first crude panel dropped to 0 HP, and it broke apart into Scrap Metal, Plastic, and Duct Tape. She collected the materials and placed them in her bag, continuing to remove the rest of the panels and doors from the wrecked car.

After a while, Toki had dismantled all the panels and doors for its raw materials and stored them in her Lim-Tech bag. As she walked back to the workbench, Oppy spoke again through the headset.

"Driver, you don't need to worry about crafting the items yourself. The Lim-Tech on the workbench can handle all the work for you. Just place the materials on top and the blueprint for the item you want to craft beside it." Oppy explained. "Fascinating, isn’t it? Lim-Tech has transformed how we interact with our daily lives. Now, enough of my rambling and get that car fixed, Driver."

After Oppy finished speaking, Toki placed her bag on the workbench and set the materials on the table. Eimi entered the garage just as Toki set the blueprint for the crude panel beside the materials. In just a second, the raw materials transformed into a panel for the car.

Eimi’s eyes widened in surprise as she witnessed this. Toki simply grabbed the panel and walked back to the car, attaching it to the missing part. Eimi approached her, curious about how she accomplished that.

"The Lim-Tech on the workbench did it for me." Toki replied casually.

"… Okay then, I'll just grab more medicine and go back to Himari." Eimi said and shrugged as she walked over to the medical cabinet, collected the medicine, and then returned to where Himari was resting.

After some time had passed, Toki added all the missing panels and doors to the car, but she couldn't fix the missing light due to a lack of materials. Now, she needed to repair the damaged panels, doors, and wheels. As she scanned each part, she noticed that one of the steel doors was damaged and cracked (Requires Sealing Kit), two crude panels were damaged, and the front left wheel was loose (Requires Mechanic's Kit).

Toki's mission/task bar displayed a new task: "Get the Repair Putty, Sealing Kit, and Mechanic's Kit from the locker," and it marked one of the lockers. She walked over and saw two paint cans labeled "Repair Putty," a strange gun labeled "Sealing Kit," and a small case labeled "Mechanic's Kit." Just then, Oppy's voice came through her headset.

"Driver, it seems you have found some tools to keep your car running. I will leave some instructions on how each one works in your headset." Oppy said before cutting off the signal again.

Toki then received a notification about new documents being added. After reading through them, she headed over to the car with the tools in hand. First, she applied the Repair Putty to the damaged panels and door, splashing it on. To her amazement, the damage began to repair itself, and all the scratches disappeared.

Toki then focused on the door's cracked window. Using the Sealing Kit "gun," she shot the window, and as she did, the cracks and damages began to seal. She noticed that the Sealing Kit was now empty, but there was a note saying it could be refilled.

Toki considered the possibility of making more since there was a blueprint on the workbench. For now, she moved on to the last damaged part, which was the loose wheel. She pulled a wrench from the Mechanic's Kit and, following the instructions, gave the wheel a good whack. Miraculously, the wheel was perfectly aligned with the car.

After taking a look at the wrench in her hand, she noticed it had some damage and realized she would need to create a new Mechanic's Kit after a few uses. With the repairs finished, she went to the fuel pump to get the handle and began refueling the car. She also filled the small gas can located in the rear of the vehicle.

Once Toki finished refueling, she wondered how she would recharge the battery. When Eimi approached her.

"Hey, Toki." Eimi said, prompting Toki to turn and look at her. "I've been figuring out how all the technology in the garage works, and I found that most of it is from the 1960s, which is impressive. Also, the date on the computer says April 5, 1998. So, we somehow not only teleported to a different continent but also traveled back in time. I can't explain how all of this works until Himari wakes up."

"Understood." Toki replied and she then asked. "Eimi, is there a device or tool I can use in the garage to recharge the car?"

"Yes, as I read some of the documents about the garage. That..." Eimi replied and pointed to a table with a lever and car batteries on top. "Should be the 'Charging Station' to charge up the car's battery."

"Thank you, Eimi." Toki said gratefully.

"No problem! While you're out there, try to find some food, as we don't have much here. Don't worry about the water supply, there's a still-functional freshwater dispenser near the entrance of the convenience store." Eimi added.

"Understood." Toki replied as she walked toward the charging station.

Once Toki reached the charging station, she pulled the lever, causing the garage's electronics to turn off for two seconds before turning back on. With hopes of the car being fully charged, she pondered what to do next when Oppy's voice came through her headset again.

"Hello again, Driver. Now that you are done fixing your car, you should put the Lim-Tech Cardboard Boxes and Craft Mat, located near the gas pump, in the trunk of your car. This will provide you with more room to store items and allow you to craft while out on a trip." Oppy instructed in her usual flat tone.

Toki headed to the designated area and picked up the Lim-Tech Cardboard Boxes and Craft Mat. After opening the trunk of the car, she placed them inside. As she finished, Oppy's voice returned once more.

"Oh, forgot to mention this, there's a little prototype of mine in the garage. The ARC Device. Hook it up to wherever it'll fit." Oppy said.

A marker then appeared indicating where the ARC Device was located, along with new instructions in the Task/Mission bar that read: "Install ARC Device in the Passenger Seat." Toki headed to the where the ARC device is, grabbed it, and placed it in the car at the marked position. She installed it and began wiring it into the car's system. The ARC Device featured a disco ring in the center, with three anchors pointing upward, and a map displayed in the middle of the dashboard. Additionally, it added a battery meter to the left side of the steering wheel. After completing the installation, Oppy returned.

"This Beauty won't just be your tour guide. It's your Millennium Star, and the only way back to safety. Heck, you should consider it the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, if you plan on staying alive. That's how important this thing will be to you." Oppy remarked with a hint of sarcasm and continued. "Also, that's my very own invention. I'll tell you more about it if you live long enough to use it.

Toki glanced at the camera inside the garage. She wasn't much into the sayings of Trinity’s Sisterhood, but Oppy's comparison of the ARC Device to a deity watching over her, struck a her in chord. She will need to keep this device safe and operational at all times if she wanted to survive.

After that, Toki considered where to store her weapons in the car. After surveying the available spaces, she decided to place her G11 rifle beside the driver’s seat, ensuring there was enough room to still use the shifter. She stored the Mossberg 590 shotgun in the trunk. Once that was done, she prepared her "Lim-Tech" backpack with several first aid kits, a few boxes of shotgun ammo, a couple G11 magazines, a crowbar, and the Scrapper.

After double-checking everything, Oppy’s voice came through again.

"If you're all set, take a look at the projector against the wall." Oppy said.

Toki felt ready after her thorough check, so she approached the wall to see where to plan her next moves. Oppy began explaining.

"This is the Zone. Within these borders, all matter has lost the ability to hold a constant physical state." Oppy explained and continued. "What that means is the shape, size, and makeup of just about everything constantly changes. A mile of grass can turn into ten miles of swamp in a blink of an eye. And it does, constantly. It's caused by something we call instability. We're completely surrounded by it, and once you've watched it chew through entire mountain ranges, you'll understand that you don't want to get anywhere near it."

Toki absorbed the information, realizing this Zone could alter the terrain without explanation or reason. She knew she needed to familiarize herself with the map and understand how the Zone worked to navigate it effectively. Oppy continued his explanation.

"We can only survive in here within pockets of stability. That's what you three standing in now, and that's what you're seeing mapped on the 'Route Planner'." Oppy said and continued. "If we're going to find you three a way out of the Zone, you'll need to build a new antenna. Until then, you won't be able to detect stabilized routes beyond your immediate area."

Toki thought about how to build the new antenna and the parts she would need. But Oppy quickly provided the information she was thinking about.

"So you've got to go hunting for parts, and that means taking a drive. Go on, pick a route. The ARC Device in your car will then show you where you need to go." Oppy said and continued a bit more. "Also, don't worry about your friends here. As I said, this area you are standing in is safe. So going on your road trip to get parts and get back."

Oppy then cuts off the channel, leaving Toki alone with her thoughts about what to do next. She looks at the map and sees that there is only one junction available: Junction E5. She navigates through the Route Planner's controller, which displays options such as Map Legends, Hazard Types, Route Analysis, how much kLIM is required for a gateway, and the duration of the drive, among others. After skimming through the information, she selects Junction E5 in the Route Planner. The screen shows a lot of [???] under Route Analysis, just as the garage door begins to open.

With the garage door now open, Toki heads back to the car. Just before she gets in, Eimi approaches her.

"Hey, Toki. Before you go, I want to give you this." Eimi said as she pulled out a Millennium Star Bobblehead and handed it to her.

"Thanks," Toki replies, placing the bobblehead on the dashboard as she gets into the car and starts the engine. Just as she's about to leave, Eimi adds one more thing.

"Stay safe and come back alive, Toki," Eimi said as she waved a goodbye, as Toki drives out of the garage and onto the road.

Toki turns the steering wheel left and starts driving on the road. She then reaches a point with spotlights, which the software says is a checkpoint, and drives past it. As she is driving, she just now notices the radio on top of the rearview mirror. She turns it on and starts driving to her destination, which is a 3-hour drive. This will be her first trip into the zone and being alone once again.

Toki turns the steering wheel to the left and begins her drive. She soon reaches a point marked with spotlights, which the software indicates is a checkpoint, and drives past it. As she continues, she notices the radio mounted above the rearview mirror. She turns it on, Playing - Pacific Drive | Ilene Dracott - Train Song ♪ [Radio Song #11], and sets off toward her destination, which is a three-hour drive. This will be her first trip into the zone and she is heading out alone once again.

As Toki’s car passes through the checkpoint, a white 2009 Crown Victoria with ARDA decals parked outside the garage in the forest. The figure was wearing a M40 gas mask and white hazmat suit, and they were watching her leave with some binoculars. Once Toki's car is out of sight, the figure gets back into the Crown Victoria and drives off into the forest. The vehicle then disappears in a small bright yellow light, teleporting away.

<<< Transmission Ended... >>>