You’ll see a version of me that’s grown. Stronger. Wiser.

Robella: …You’re still the same as before.
Levva: Hm?
Levva: Are you saying you think I’ve changed?
Robella: Ever since Griffin was dismantled and restructured, a lot of people have changed.
Levva: Yeah. Who would’ve thought our once-energetic logistics officer, who’s always busy running around the base, would end up as a senior counselor for a government agency?
Robella: That’s just human nature.
Robella: A person’s life is spent in constant change.
Levva: …Yeah, I suppose you’re right…
(Levva replied absentmindedly, diverting more processing power to cataloging the documents in front of her.)
Robella: But Dolls are different.
Robella: Leaving 404 and joining NOMFA with UMP9… That doesn’t seem like something the old UMP45 would do.
Levva: Does it not? I don’t think there’s much of a difference. Besides, we haven’t really left 404—we’re just splitting up to handle different tasks for now.
Robella: Even if your official affiliation hasn’t changed, this is still the longest you’ve been away from 404, isn’t it?
Levva: That’s true, but we’ve left it in capable hands. I miss them, of course, but I’m not too worried.
Levva: Once we wrap up this mess, Lenna and I will pack our bags and reunite with them, no question.
Levva: So? Does that clear up at least some of your concerns, Robella?
Robella: I don’t understand what you mean.
Levva: Alright, let me spell it out for you. Robella, you’ve had doubts about me—not just about my capabilities, but my stance too… Haven’t you?
Robella: That's...
Levva: No need to look so awkward about it. Honestly, I find it reassuring that you’re willing to bring it up. If I were in your shoes, I’d be skeptical too.
Levva: 404 has always insisted on self-governance. No fixed allegiances. No unnecessary constraints. So why would we willingly cooperate with a government agency like the Non-Military Forces Administration? Partnering with them means a lot of our usual work has to be put on hold.
Robella: That’s exactly what I don’t understand. The enemy we’re dealing with is formidable—I don’t want to work alongside someone I have doubts about.
Levva: Isn’t that the same for you and Sop, though?
Robella: Us?
Levva: From what I’ve gathered, neither you nor Sop have actually joined the Non-Military Forces Administration. Your official designation is still AR… just under a PMC now.
Robella: The AR Team had to find a way to continue existing outside of Griffin. This was the only viable option.
Levva: Oh? And you’re not the least bit concerned that I’ve looked into you?
Robella: Would it make a difference? You wouldn’t stop just because I objected. Besides, it’s not exactly a secret.
(Robella calmly sorts through the documents before her, not even glancing up. She quietly waits for Levva to continue.)
Levva: 404 had plenty of options. Ever since 2065, our business has been booming—constant orders, both corporate and private. You know what that means, don’t you?
Robella: That war has simply moved into the shadows…
Levva: Bingo. With Germany and France integrating into the URNC and the Neo-Soviet Union following suit, everyone is working hard to maintain their so-called ‘friendly’ relations. Open warfare is dying down, but the undercurrents are growing stronger.
Levva: A mercenary group profiting off the chaos suddenly claiming to want world peace? That’s a joke. But no matter what you do, there has to be a line. And even the most ambiguous boundaries require order.
Levva: 404 operates along that boundary. I won’t sit back and watch my teammates get swallowed by the rising tide.
Levva: The Non-Military Forces Administration happens to uphold the kind of order I need. Our objectives align.
Robella: So in the end, your real goal is still protecting 404.
Levva: Of course. I’m just an ordinary 2nd-gen Doll—once my logic is set, I don’t stray from it. Safeguarding 404’s future is my responsibility as its captain… or rather, its former captain.
Levva: That’s why I’m giving my full support to the Non-Military Forces Administration.
Levva: Sure, it’s a hassle, but they’re paying well.
Levva: If nothing else, even if you don’t trust 404’s conscience, you can at least trust 404’s commitment to a contract, right?
Robella: …Alright.
Levva: Great. Like you said, trust is the foundation of cooperation—
Robella: And?
(Seeing the shift in Robella’s gaze, Levva blinks playfully.)
Levva: So, Robella, how about clearing up some of my doubts in return?
Robella: I knew you wouldn’t just lay your cards on the table for nothing…
Levva: Oh, come on. The AR Team isn’t searching for M4A1, but instead, you’re assisting in the Non-Military Forces Administration's affairs. Anyone would be curious about that.
(At the mention of M4A1’s name, Robella hesitates only briefly before responding.)
Robella: People don’t stand still. They simply choose different paths.
Robella: Without Griffin’s intelligence network, the AR Team needed an alternative. The Non-Military Forces Administration was a viable option.
Levva: That’s all?
Robella: That’s the objective reason. As for the personal one… I want us to live more like humans. I want us to make choices like humans do.
Robella: Ever since Miss Persica modified me into a third-gen Doll, my base logic has been shifting. I’ve grown more curious about humanity—more drawn to them. I’ve also come to understand them better… to empathize with them more deeply.
Levva: Empathy is a vague concept for a Doll. Do the rest of the AR Team feel the same way?
(Hearing Levva’s question, Robella lets out a quiet sigh.)
Robella: …No… Even though their bodies are far more unique than mine—once damaged, nearly impossible to replace. This makes them just like humans, possessing a singular and irreplaceable “life.” And yet, at their core, their logic remains the same as ordinary Dolls—obedience above all else…
(Levva’s hand paused for a moment upon hearing Robella’s words.)
Levva: So, what you want… is for them to be able to make their own choices, like humans?
Robella: Yes… I know it’s difficult, and much of it still depends on Miss Persica’s research. But for now, what I want most is to walk toward the future—together with the members of AR Team.
Levva: Huh? You do realize that assisting NOMFA isn’t exactly a peaceful job, right? If you're so concerned about your teammates' safety, why bring Sop into this?
Levva: From what I know, after Griffin was disbanded and restructured, many T-Dolls opted for a more conventional life. That’s the ordinary path. What you’re doing now isn’t all that different from running missions for Griffin, is it?
Robella: Maybe, in your logic, my choice doesn’t align with reason. But for me, this is different. I am no longer a Doll that fights simply because it was ordered to. My teammates and I… our “lives” are no longer just dependent on cold, replaceable frames and lines of code. I understand that now.
Levva: Well, I guess an ordinary second-gen Doll like me wouldn't really understand.
Robella: …Is that so.
Levva: But at the very least, our goals don’t conflict.
(Levva stepped up beside Robella and extended a hand.)
Levva: Right now, we both work for the NOMFA. You and Sop are my teammates, just like 404—you’re my friend. I hope we can work well together.
Robella: …A sudden handshake? The investigators here must think we look ridiculous.
Levva: So what? We’re Dolls.
(Robella stared at Levva’s outstretched hand, hesitating for a brief moment before finally shaking it.)