Part 21: A new objective is presented
We might've gotten involved in something outrageous. We've stirred up a hornet's nest.
I-I'm not afraid. After all, I am the insane mad scientist, Hououin Kyouma! We can't stop after coming this far. I can't control my curiosity, and watching an actual evil deed take place without doing anything about it just leaves a bad taste.
My throat has gone dry from the strain. I swallow my spit. In an attempt to keep whatever composure I can, I scold myself for trying to run away.
"What is this Jellyman's Report?"
Daru starts typing once I ask my question, but he soon clicks his tongue.
"It's not available from this account.""Then we'll postpone that. Search for things related to time machines."
"Nothing's gonna turn up, you know."After that, Daru spends about 15 minutes fishing through the accelerator division official's mail, but can't find anything about time machines after all.
"Words like accelerator technical committee and LHC project official came out, so I guess we should look for an ID from there. Maybe we can get more detailed information from them.""You can't examine it using Mr. Jack's ID? Well then, let's stop for today..."
By the way, what we saw just now was SERN's biggest server, but there's actually another one, a strange database.""Strange in what way?"
"It was buggy.""Buggy?"
"Well, rather, something that seemed like program code came up... It was too ambiguous and confusing, utterly impossible to decode, thank you very much.""Could it be encrypted?"
"That's not a cipher I've ever seen. It couldn't come into existence as a program in the first place. It just bothers me as to why they would have a database like that that nobody could see.""That does bother me."
"I'll try analyzing it for a bit."
But after about an hour, he starts to increase the piston speed of his fingers, eventually slamming the keyboard with both hands in frustration.
"Argh, I don't get it! I don't get it at all! This can't be a program at all, dumbass! Go to hell! Aaaaaaahh!"Oh great, he snapped.
"You should stop already."
"My head is spinning... I can't take it any more... fweh, fweheh..."This is bad. Darus breaking. Maybe I'm pushing him too far. He's done two all-nighters, so he's probably at his limit.
"Good work. Go rest, Daru."
"nuah. I'll go do that."
"I've never seen anything like this..."A program unlike anything he's seen... huh.
John Titor posted:
Subject: Are you being honest?
If what you wrote in your mail is all true, then it's very interesting indeed. Particularly concerning the IBN 5100's hidden ability, which I have not mentioned to anybody as of yet. I am indeed surprised by the fact that you know about it. However, I have not gone to the year 2000, though there is a possibility I may go there after this. There are three possibilities:
First, the possibility that the John Titor who appeared in 2000 is my future self. In other words, I, who have returned to 2010, will go to 2000 from here, and write about the things you have told me. But that would cause a chicken and egg paradox, wouldn't it?
Second, it's all your delusion or fabrication. For the sake of serious discussion of your statements, let's leave this possibility behind.
Third, there is a possibility that you saw something I wrote in a different world line. Basically, that means that 10 years ago, you existed in a different world line than the world line we're at now. However, that explanation brings out an impossibility. When the world line changes, every cause and effect is reconstructed from past to future in order to prevent paradoxes. That theory was proven in 2036. So, essentially, it's not expected for memories of another world line to ever remain unchanged. Not even for time travelers like me... Do you have any knowledge on this point?
I instinctively gulp. Flashes like electric shocks run through my head. There's quite a bit of text, but what catches my eye are the first several lines.
"Eh? Whatcha talking about?"Mayuri asks a question, but I don't have time to answer her. I'm desperately constructing my own reasoning in my head.
"John Titor... SERN... time machine..."
A surprising union of keywords. And now, one more... I shiver at my own ideas.
"Eh, seriously? How?"Using my phone's built-in camera function, I take a picture of the PC monitor displaying the program Daru called a 'bug'. I attach it to a mail saying 'Do you understand anything about this program's code?' and send it to Titor's address.
A mysterious database. Inside SERN. A program unlike any other Supah Hakah Daru has ever seen. Its true form...
"If my idea is correct, then John Titor should know...!"
"Hah? There's no way.""Say whatever you like! He'll answer soon."
Titor sent a reply. Though it was only a few minutes, it felt to me like an eternity.
John Titor posted:
Subject: Where did you find that?
That's written in an old proprietary IBN programming language used prior to 1975. You can only decipher it with an IBN 5100.
When I see what's written in it, goosebumps rise on my whole body.
"Heh, heheheh... Just as suspected."
"Which is?""Daru, my expectation was correct. I identified the true form of that program."
That retro PC has a certain unintentionally included function. In fact, for more than 25 years after it was sold in 1975, nobody except for a few IBN engineers knew about it. The one who first publicized that function's existence was the John Titor who appeared in 2000. A while after Titor's postings, an actual IBN engineer admitted to the hidden function's existence.
That reminds me, I talked about this with Suzuha just yesterday.
What an awfully strange coincidence. It's precisely synchronicity. Almost as if an almighty will is pulling the strings.
"Heheheh, no... absolutely not! This discovery of ours was an inevitability. For this is Steins;Gate's choice!!"
"So basically, SERN used IBN 5100s to construct a database? They used incompatible machines? How can you know that?""Then let me ask one thing: What is the best security against outside cracking?"
"Well, that's standalone, right--"
"If only IBN 5100s can read it, then that's pseudo-standalone, I guess...""So that means that what lays there are SERN's most important secrets!"
"So, Okarin, why do you know about that hidden function? Sauce?""For it is so described in the extensive Index Librorum Prohibitorum which lays inside my mind."
I was about to tell the truth of how Titor said so 10 years ago, but nobody would believe me.
"OC do not steal."I ignore Daru's retort.
"Mayuri, we've got an important talk, so assemble!"
"Hmm? I can hear you from here.""It's not a question of if you can hear or not! This is an assembly concerning the Future Gadget Laboratory - nay, the future of mankind! That's why I want it to feel more secretive, or like we're scheming something."
Staring closely at the monitor while exchanging pretentious lines is important for this cause, but currently the lab lacks that atmosphere. Especially Mayuri.
Well, looks like I have to give up on the particulars.
Video: One of many dramatic speeches
"Listen, you two! Hence forth, the Future Gadget Laboratory shall invoke its emergency top secret operations! This shall become the first step in the war against the huge darkness manipulating the world from the shadows! The enemy is SERN! While they appear to be a global research institution, they are a wicked lot engaged in evil research!"
"Okarin, you're loud... and I've been up all night..."Crap, I certainly am being too loud, which makes this not feel like a secret at all. Furthermore, the window's open. If Suzuha's down below, she'd be sure to hear us. With that said, I turn it down a notch.
"Understand? The world has no need for two mad scientists. Before those guys can get ahead of us, we must outwit them!"
"Who are those guys?""Those guys are those guys."
"Umm, Mayushii doesn't get it at all...""Basically, we need to obtain that phantom retro PC... the IBN 5100, wherever in Akiba it may be!"
