The Collection of The End

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Haven star space station dock, USS Bucephalus.

"So, Captain Renault, are you going to let me start from the beginning, or are you going to ask the questions?"

In a reception room, Ariel, who had changed into a space battleship uniform, held a record board and asked Renault.

Tychus was not interested in talking to learn information, Tosh was busy eating, and Jimmy had to be responsible for writing the action report, so Ariel and Raynor were the only ones present.

"Before that, why don't you explain the misunderstanding to your father first?" Renault glanced out the window, feeling that Speaker Bernat Hansen's cold, razor-sharp gaze was still scratching his body.

"Oh? What misunderstanding?" Ariel responded with a half-smile.

"What else could it be, just before..." Renault pointed to the space station.

About half a day ago, since the psychic jump channel of Haiwen Star was basically solved, and at most he could learn some details from the mysterious Ariel, Renault was ready to say goodbye to the Speaker.

But never expected that when the two were having an official conversation, Ariel suddenly said, "I want to leave Captain Renault for a while. Dad, don't miss me too much."

If it was just like this, forget it. The key point is that the botanist also directed the workers to transport large and small bags and even containers of things to Bucephalos, as if a married daughter planned to go to her husband's family.

At that time, Mr. Speaker’s eyes became sharp.

Renault had naturally seen strong winds and waves. When he realized something was wrong, he immediately came up with several explanations to explain. However, after Mr. Speaker looked him up and down, he didn't even ask the reason and went back to the previous topic.

This is embarrassing. The look in his eyes looks like the father-in-law looking at his son-in-law.

"Huh? You mean that I want to go with you?" Ariel waved her hand nonchalantly: "Don't worry about what dad thinks. Do I have to tell him, 'Because I discovered the federation's evil plan, so Do you want to go to Tarsonis with Captain Raynor to destroy the department's lair?"

"Uh..." Renault thought for a while and found that it was indeed the case. If she really said this, she would have to explain how a "weak" botanist could get involved in such a thing, and why she went... eh?

"No,

Wait, I don’t seem to know why you are going? "Reno retracted his gaze from the window.

"That's why I'm asking you. Do you want me to start from the beginning or you to ask?" Ariel adjusted her glasses frame: "The answer to this question is, 'Some of the vines were transported away through the jump gate. I have to go and get them. Get them back, if I don't control them, they will probably turn into something scarier than those bugs.'"

"Why...um." Renault paused mid-question.

"Look, that's it. After answering one question, a series of new questions will be born, so I personally recommend starting from the beginning." Ariel spread his hands slightly.

"Okay, please tell me." Renault nodded.

"Well... no," Ariel thought about it and shook her head again: "That's too stupid. I don't admit that it's me."

"..." Renault decided to remain silent.

"Let's do this. I won't tell you. You can see for yourself." After struggling for a while, Ariel turned over the hand that was not holding the clipboard and took out a flower like magic: "Smell it."

The abilities of psykers are really all kinds of strange... Renault cursed, leaning forward slightly and smelling the flower.

————

"Ms. Hansen, this is the sample you want~"

"Okay, thank you, Harry."

Perhaps in a few seconds, perhaps in a few minutes, when Renault regained consciousness, he saw Ariel, dressed as a researcher, talking to an institute employee who was suspected to be a porter.

Since his mind was still clear, Renault naturally did not greet her. He just looked up at the ceiling of the research room: "Is this what you want to show me? Ms. Hansen?"

The expected answer did not come, and Ariel, who was carrying a box in front of her, did not react to Renault.

"It seems you can only look here." Renault muttered, approaching Ariel to see what was in the box.

"Ouch!" "Bang!"

Because the research room seemed a bit disorganized, Ariel couldn't see the way while holding the box. She tripped to the ground after taking only a few steps. The box fell forward, hit the corner of the table and bounced back. The lid of the box was in mid-air. He opened it, and poured all the vines inside that were originally classified according to certain standards onto Ariel, and followed her falling movement to wrap her up tightly.

It was indeed too stupid, so stupid that Renault was a little worried that he would be silenced after seeing this scene.

When Renault thought Ariel would break free soon, she actually stopped moving after a few struggles.

Before Renault could step forward to check, the whole "picture" flashed. Most of the things in the research room were still in place, but Ariel and the vines wrapped around her had moved. This should mean that time has moved backward. Some?

The next second, the door of the research room was quietly pushed open, and two people wearing the uniforms of the research institute workers, but with strange expressions, walked in.

"This stupid woman seems to have been knocked unconscious by the plant toxins of 'Solian'."

"It just saves us the trouble of faking the scene. This toxin is already fatal."

"Just in case, put the toxins we brought along with you."

"Other researchers are not interested in those vines. She is the only one looking for death."

The two people who looked like federal agents muttered a few words to each other, then put on gloves, slightly pushed aside the vines to find Ariel's arm, injected some green liquid through a syringe, and then slipped away as quietly as when they entered the door. .

"Yes, you are seeking death." Reno shook his head as he watched the two federal agents leave.

"Uh ah ah..." Shortly after the agent left, Ariel let out a deep roar like a wild beast, and the vines that entangled her began to "fuse" with her in a manner that was completely inconsistent with the laws of physics.

The one who finally appeared was Ariel, wearing a gorgeous strapless dress composed of leaves, vines and twigs, and wearing light green eye shadow.

"Hmm... That's interesting..." The new-born Ariel's expression was much calmer than that of the previously reckless Ariel, her tone was lazy, and a sneer escaped from the corner of her mouth.

The next moment, she spun around and returned to her rustic appearance in a white coat and glasses. The only thing that remained unchanged was the murderous look in her eyes.

Then the illusion collapsed.

————

"Uh... I thought there would be a scene involving Mr. Speaker."

After breaking away from the illusion, Renault found that he was still close to smelling the fragrance of the flower, but the flower had disappeared, so he stepped back and sat down and said.

"You think too highly of him. He is a traditional scholar and will not participate in a project that weaponizes research results." Ariel retracted her hand and turned to look at Renault with her chin in her hand: "You should be able to roughly deduce what will happen next. Come out, do you have anything to ask?"

Indeed... Renault thought for a moment.

First of all, Ariel, who had gained the ability to control plants, naturally followed the clues to destroy the Federation's surface base, but the vines could not communicate with her, so she did not know that the really important research was located in the underground mine.

Next, because there was no support from the surface base, perhaps food or energy, the "hybrid" who had been locked up underground went on a rampage, destroying the research institute on the ground floor. The agents who fled in panic were discovered by vines, and Ai After Ruier noticed it, a yellow bird came directly to the back.

However, the hybrid fused with bugs was no longer under her control, and pure vines could not gain the upper hand in a fight, so she could only ask for help from the outside. At this time, her Bucephalos happened to be tracking the psychic jump. The signal came and the task was received perfectly.

Next, there is an action involving Renault and others.

At this point, the cause and effect are roughly clear. Although there are still some doubts about the origin of the strange power, it is not easy to go into details. So, the only questions that can be asked are...

"The vines that came when you triggered the alarm were just an act?" Reynold asked.

"Of course not. Plants really hate those kind of sound waves and will want to destroy the source of the sound. But as long as you get close to them, you will know that those sounds are caused by me, so naturally you can't attack." Ariel replied.

"So..." Renault's eyelids twitched: "They behaved like children who found out that their parents did something they hated and cried and made a fuss?"

"It's not quite accurate, but it can be understood this way." Ariel adjusted her glasses.

"So, what were the tiny vines you took away at that time?" Reynold thought of the "specimen" she took away amid the alarm.

"That's the 'Plant Essence'," Ariel replied: "It can enhance my ability and effect of controlling plants, but its external appearance is just a vine with a particularly strong vitality."

"So, deep in the mine, who is the thing or person that the federal agents want to escort?" Renault thought of the strange traces of the battle.

"According to the data, that was a man named 'Alex Reem'. He seemed to have very strong psychic abilities, and the other information is unknown." Ariel slid the data pad: "He was captured by the hybrid in the end, but after that It was not discovered again, maybe he burst out his potential at the critical moment and escaped through the psychic jump gate?"

"Speaking of 'capture', what happened to the federal soldiers you captured? Renault thought of the empty bases and mines at that time."

"In the container I moved onto the ship, they should be dreaming happily surrounded by vines." Ariel looked in the direction of the warehouse: "Throw them all out when we get to Tarsonis."

"Among all the information you have found so far, is there absolutely no information about the origin of those bugs?" Reno was not very interested in plants or federal soldiers, and took the initiative to ask about the main ingredients of the mixture.

"Those bugs are not the main business of this research facility, they only use them as useful materials," Ariel said, frowning: "Personally, once these bugs are mixed with vines, they will cause them Things that are out of control should be thrown into the deepest part of the universe."

"...Is there such a possibility," Renault frowned: "After they fused, they did not 'lose control', but some kind of more powerful 'controller' took over the control?"

"This is also the reason why I want to go to Tarsonis," Ariel's fingers crossed repeatedly on the record board: "These things can actually get rid of me even if they are not born with a 'brain' and act completely out of instinct. As the source of these bugs, it is really worrying how powerful the "mind" in Tarsonis will be, so I must go there myself."

"No, I don't think Tarsonis is the source of bugs," Raynor shook his head: "Otherwise, the outbreak of bugs in Tarsonis wouldn't have been so slow."

"Is there an insect infestation in Tarsonis?" Ariel asked quickly, and it was hard to tell whether she was worried or gloating.

"That's where our other battleship went," Renault shook his head: "I just hope they can stabilize the situation now."

"Uh-huh." Ariel nodded noncommittally.

Although with the current relationship between the two parties, it would be okay to tell her, but the alliance between "Reynold's Rangers" and "Korhal's Children" was better kept secret.

"So, the last question," Renault looked at the huge Heven star outside the porthole: "If you leave this planet, what will happen to those vines? Will they cause trouble?"

"No," Ariel shook her head: "They will maintain their original behavior pattern before receiving new instructions. This has little to do with whether I stay on this planet."

"In other words, the missing plants and bugs that may have been transferred to Tarsonis will all continue to act instinctively unless they are studied and utilized in the process - and this is simply a certainty." Raynor concluded.

"Now that you've finished asking, as a companion, can I also ask a few questions?" Ariel looked at Renault with her chin in her hands.

"Well... please, although I don't think there's anything in 'Reno's Rangers' that interests you." Reno made a gesture of invitation.

"My first question is... Captain Renault, as the leader of a mercenary regiment, where do you have the confidence to go against the Federation? Even if it is now in decline and besieged on all sides," Ariel continued to ask without waiting for Renault's answer. He continued: "The second question is, when you saw me gaining plant-related powers in the fantasy world, you didn't look surprised at all, and even showed a little 'nothing more than that' expression on your face. Why is that? "

She could indeed see into the illusion. Reno is not surprised by this obvious conclusion.

"I think you have already made a guess. Do you need me to answer?" Renault looked at Ariel.

"Obviously, you are connected with an organization that can compete with the Federation, and this organization has at least one extremely powerful psyker," Ariel said confidently: "Taken together, your backer is It’s obvious who it is.”

"Yeah...that's right." Although it was very simple, Renault still wanted to express his admiration for Ariel's analytical ability: "That's..."

"It's the Jupiter Empire!"

"..."

He took back his admiration.