Part 64: Alisa's Branch Ending: But History Refused to Change

Alisa's Branch Ending: But History Refused to Change

Last time, we definitely, totally killed Lukav. Now, it's time to get out of Ocean City before MIDAS goes off.



: I know.
And the landing craft immediately comes under attack...from Lukav's very intact wanzer.
: What is that!?
: Th-That's...!?
: Lukav!? He's still alive!?
: Liu, just keep moving at full speed! I'll finish Lukav!
: Don't Kazuki! If you upset the balance, it's gonna sink!
: Kazuki, don't do it!
: If I don't do anything everyone's gonna die! Don't worry, I don't die so easily!



: You'll all pay for this! I'll take you down with me!
: Lukav! You don't even know when you've lost!
: You're wrong! I never lose! I am the ultimate!



: If it weren't for you! You will all die with MIDAS!



Huh. Turns out that the ol' Berzuki is just as fragile in cutscenes.



So, Kazuki will risk his life dozens of times to protect Alisa, turns out Alisa isn't quite willing to return the favor.
: Forget it, Alisa! You're gonna die if you go!
: Let go! My brother's...!
: Dammit!
: Noo!
: ...A...Alisa!
: W-What are you doing!?
: Sis!?
: !



And Emma, despite having her brain burned out, manages to knock Lukav off the boat by tipping it slightly. Meanwhile, everyone else stares dumbfounded at the sheer scale of the anti-climax.
: What!?
: ! Now!! You're the one who's a goner!
We need deus ex machina power....NOW!



MIDAS goes off in a flash...



Lukav finally dies for good by being killed by the bomb that he himself set, after being knocked off of the boat by an NPC. The party has accomplished nothing, as usual.



The party lives!



Ocean City, however, does not.



Well, MIDAS is gone and we killed Lukav...er...were in the vicinity when Lukav was killed by a number of circumstances we had little control over! Try and rain on that parade, game!



: Is everyone okay?
: Kazuki! My sister...!
: Emma rescued you, Kazuki.
: Emma did?
: Yes.
: We're all alive!
Well, I'd describe Emma as 'alive-ish' personally.
: Emma...
: I don't know how she managed.
: I don't have a single line in the entire ending of this branch!
: She really wanted to save her sister.
: That's the power of the human mind.
: Emma...
: ...
: Emma, we're safe! You saved us all! Can you hear us?
Okay, so Emma's brain is even more broken than before. Come on, game, is that all you've got?



The Japanese government announced
that the explosion in Ocean City
was caused by the coup squad
using the USN's new weapon,
MIDAS.

The accident in Yokosuka Base and
Batangas were also caused by
MIDAS.

Japan made a formal apology to
the Philippines and plans to call
a freeze on the production of
MIDAS.
See, things are looking good!



The OCU did not made any
statements.

The DHZ announced that the civil
war in the DHZ was conspired by
the USN and Japan.

The USN denies all allegations
made against them about MIDAS,
and plans to fight.

Yuichi Kiryu, JBNN

Except the DHZ, Japan and the USN are all about to go to war over the MIDAS affair. So, it turns out that our party helped start World War III. Okay, game, I see your global catastrophe, and I raise you a emergency dramatic reversal power of love happy ending scene....and go!



: ! Emma? Are you awake!? Kazuki!
: ...?
: What is it, Alisa?
: Emma is awake!
: Emma? Really!?
: ...Where am I?
: A hospital in Yokosuka. You've been unconscious since Ocean City... I was so worried... Oh, I'm so glad...
: ...MI...DAS?
: Don't worry. MIDAS was destroyed with Ocean City. Japan and the Philippines are calling to stop the production of MIDAS.
I mean, the DHZ and the USN both are kind of planning to invade Japan, but, well, we stopped MIDAS...
: Yes. They're setting up a committee to oversee MIDAS production.
Well, at least we slowed MIDAS down.
: MIDAS was certainly lost in the explosion at Ocean City. We must end this madness here. We must not allow the tragedy to repeat. We have a duty to those who survived that tragedy.
: ...
: Stay still. You just woke up. Get some more rest.
: Beautiful ...flowers.
: Flowers? Oh, the cherry blossoms! Look at all the cherry blossoms.
: Yeah, it's spring.
: Cherry... blossoms?
: Let's go on a picnic! We have to celebrate.
: We're busy.
: There's time. You just don't want to see dad.
: He gets preachy when he drinks.
And when Kazuki's around, Colonel Takemura drinks a lot.
: Oh, he's fine. We all have to go together.
: I know!
: ...
Well, I guess that's short of a happy ending, so long as the game doesn't tack on some sort of scene making it seem as if the party's efforts were completely meaningless in the grand scheme of things. But no game would be cruel enough to do that...



The operation is complete.

But not entirely according to plan, eh?

The result is the same
We took care of Bal's betrayal, as well.

We also acquired the mind control data for
the Imaginary Numbers.

But alas no MIDAS.

That will also care of, as soon as
the new children are grown.

We'll have to squeeze the budget
for that, though.

That's the tough part.

We're counting on you, Prime Minister

The game doesn't identify him, but since the DHZ is led by a chairman, and the USN is led by a president, this is almost certainly the Prime Minister of Japan that's doing the talking...you know, the guy we went to incredible lengths to get back into power! And he's working for the same shadowy cabal that created the Imaginary Numbers! And, in fact, all of our actions just helped further their plan to rule the world! And the only reason they don't give a shit about Alisa and Emma is because they've refined their technology ensuring the next generation of Imaginary Numbers will re-invent it! The party managed to accomplish nothing! Thanks for playing!



The wages of the thread's sins made manifest.

Next Time: Let's try this again...