Zero POV:

I look out the window of my hidden room to see many buildings that are way more advanced than the ones of Blackreef. I also noticed that my Override Device is more high-tech than Colt has. Even the map of Orario shows that the city vastly futuristic compared to Blackreef. So far, I've only seen Blackburn's estate. I need to look around this city.

Zero: Well, I should scout Orario as well. With all this security, I better focus my efforts on getting the layout of this city with my own eyes. Okay, I'll arrive at the estate and start gathering information.

I go to the teleporter and select the Blackburn's estate. It sends me there and I look around to see the futuristic city. I begin moving and start scouting out the city. So many cameras and screens. And the people in this place seem to be unaware of the day looping as well. One more noticible thing about them is that all of them seem to be working for Tsurugi Industries.

Zero: So everyone in this city works for this Tsurugi Industries. Julianna did say they were always trying to one up them. Maybe because they had technology more advanced than what the Aeon Program had.

I see that many patrols go along a set path the entire day. The only time they stop are at checkpoints where guards can take a break. And those that don't fight are just going about their lives like nothing's happening. I guess they enjoy the loop just as much as those in the Aeon Program. Suddenly, hear something behind me and pull out my LIMP-10. It turns out to be One who just teleported.

Zero: One. What brings you here to Orario?

One: Well, I've always wanted to visit the big city. And this is the both the closest and the only city near Blackreef. So what's going on here?

Zero: Soldiers patrol regularly and everyone else here live differently from the Visionaries and Eternalists. They just live life normally. Maybe because they're trying to live what they believe would be their ideal day.

One: Hmm. As much as I would like to kill without consequence, something in me is telling me to avoid killing civilians. It's not a bad thing, just something I'm curious about.

Zero: Well, why don't we check out that giant building that literally says "Tsurugi Industries" on it. Good chance we might find this Akira lady.

One: Sounds good to me.

We head to the TI building and see that it's heavily fortified just like Blackburn's estate. It's clear that these soliders working for Tsurugi Industries aren't a bunch of gun-loving fantatics that joiend for the fun. I they have recieved actual training to be part of their security. I wonder why Tsurugi Industries wanted to be part of the Aeon Program.

Me and Zero sneak through a vent and enter the building. The vent leads to a hallway and above what appears to be an elevator. We wait for the people to walk away before landing onto the floor. We push the elevator and get inside it.

Zero: If I was the head of a corportation, where would I put my office?

One: Probably on the highest floor. There's a panel aboe the buttons that seems to fit a hand. Try touching it.

Zero: Okay.

I put my hand on the panel and it scans it.

Elevator: Scanning. Welcome back, Zero.

The elevator goes up and I pull back my hand. I am also curious about the elevator's familiarity with me.

Y/N: Did I... work here?

One: Maybe, who knows. Can we use what you have to grab some drinks?

The elevator reaches the top floor and opens to a room full of monitors containing camera feeds and several devices that are being worked on. They see a Akira Tsurugi standing in front of her desk and looking at them.

Akira: Welcome Zero and One. I've been expecting you two, my friends.

One: Oh, we're friends? I'm glad. But show us proof.

Zero: Yeah, can we trust you. We literally don't remember anything other than those for the last few loops.

Akira: So, you two are like Colt. Not surprising. Honestlu I can't blame any of you for wanting to break this loop. No matter how much time has passed, nothing every changes in this place. But what about outside? What's going on out there?

Zero: Wait, you remember the loops?

One: How are you able to remember the countless loops that both the island and the city has experienced, Ms. CEO?

Akira: Julianna tought me a mental technique that allows me to remember the loops no matter how many times it resets. Blackburn read her notes and taught himself how to use it as well. That's why we can remember more than you three.

Zero: Then why can't we remember all the other loops?

Akira: My guess is, you, One, and Colt accumulated so many memories that everything reset in order to make more space. Hence the amnesia you three share.

Zero: Well, I guess that explains it. Wait, you don't like the loop?

Akira: Not any more. It was fun for like the first 200 days, but it started to get boring.

One: Hey, where did this city come from anyway? It looks like it was man-made.

Akira: It was. Can I tell you both something interesting?

Zero: What is it?

One: I love interesting things.

Akira: This anomaly was used by the Aeon Program when Egor Serling decided to use it's unique properties for this loop. But it was actually discovered in the 30s by the Motherland's military and reasearched by the members of Operation Horizon.

Zero: The Motherland?

Akira: Where everyone in the Aeon Program came from. I don't know what happened with Operation Horizon, but the military decided to pull everyone out. Of course, they still left a good amount of their equipment here. There's bunkers all over the island.

One: As much I love a good history lesson, I think, we really need to get back to killing the visionaries and ending this loop.

Akira: Okay. Take these helmets.

Akira grabs helmets and gives them us. We put them on they have a pretty advanced system built into them.

Akira: You can communicate with each other through them and even Colt. And if Blackburn or Julianna gives you a call, you can just answer or hang up on them like a regular phone.

Zero: Why are you helping us?

Akira: (Sigh) Because I see what drove you three to try and break this time loop. Living the same day over and over again with nothign really changing, it starts to drive you mad. I want out of this thing. But please, don't tell Blackburn or Julianna. I need the right moment to convince her to help us.

One: Would that right time be when we kill all the other Visionaries and back her into a corner.

Akira: Unfortunately, that may be the only time I can try to talk to her into breaking this loop. One more thing. I need you two to kill me after every time we have a conversation such as this.

Zero: Why?

Akira: Curtis can sense where you are. And with the way he trained you two, if I'm still alive after you infiltrated the HQ, he'll know something is up.

One and I pull out our LIMP-10s and aim at Akira.

Akira: I'll see you two next time.

The two of us pull the triggers and kill Akira, leaving only a Residuum outline of her.

One: Take it.

Zero: You sure?

One: I don't want to make this demeaning for Akira by being the one to absrob it. Go on

I nod and absorb the Residuum. We hear something appearing behind us. It was a variant of One.

One Variant: Akira. One of the only people that got where we were coming from.

One: So we were alone and misunderstood?

One Variant: No, no. Much worse. But no need to tell you now. You two will remember in time. You will cry both cry with how things have changed. It's is sure to break your sanity. You two are all that remains of the humanity we once had. Take care.

The One Variant disappears and the two of us look at each other with confusion. What did she mean? Did we lose our minds? I mean, why else would we have no problems killing outside of the fact everyone returns the next day. Guess we'll only find out if we keep trying to break the loop.

One: I envy your cold personality.

Zero: How so?

One: You seem like you can keep a cool head.

Zero: I'm just good at keeping everything on the inside. But I still worry that our past is nothing like anything we'd expect it to be.

One: Were we really expecting anything of it?

Zero: Good point. I can see why we have a connection. We always seem to correct and balance each other out.

One: Opposites attract. Let's head back to Colt. We need to help him find a way to kill the visionaries in one day so we can all get out of this loop.

Zero: Agreed. Let's go.

Me and One leave TI Tower and find a way in the tunnel system to enter Blackreef and continue helping Colt.