威瑪戰爭 166－未來的命運
Weimar War 166 — The Fate of the Future
－－－鐵壁洪關附近・路德墜落的地方－－－
——— Near Ironwall Pass · The Place Where Luther Fell ———
推進器的轟鳴聲逐漸減弱。
The roar of the thrusters gradually faded.
路德低頭看了一眼機體狀態。
Luther lowered his head and checked the status of his machine.
「手臂、腿部狀態正常……大氣適應也沒問題。」
“Arm and leg systems are normal… Atmospheric adaptation is also functioning properly.”
螢幕上的數字不斷跳動。
The numbers on the screen continued to fluctuate.
「推進器燃料……剩下 10%。」
“Thruster fuel… 10% remaining.”
路德沉默了一下。
Luther fell silent for a moment.
「這樣根本飛不到任何基地。」
“At this rate, I won't be able to reach any base.”
他抬起頭，看向眼前陌生的世界。
He raised his head and looked at the unfamiliar world before him.
「這裡……到底是什麼地方？」
“Where… exactly am I?”
機體緩緩降落在森林邊緣。
The machine slowly descended at the edge of the forest.
眼前，是一片荒廢許久的森林。
Before him lay a forest that had long since been abandoned.
枯死的樹木交錯生長，地面覆蓋著厚厚的腐葉。
Dead trees intertwined with one another, while the ground was covered with a thick layer of decaying leaves.
空氣中瀰漫著一股詭異的氣味。
A strange smell lingered in the air.
淡淡的薄荷香。
A faint scent of mint.
以及……
And…
腐爛屍體的臭味。
The stench of rotting corpses.
路德皺起眉頭。
Luther frowned.
他立刻提高警戒，檢查四周後，從機體中取出地圖。
He immediately went on high alert, checked his surroundings, and retrieved a map from the machine.
地圖展開。
The map unfolded.
路德的表情逐漸變得難看。
Luther's expression gradually darkened.
「三號基地……太遠了。」
“Base Three… is too far away.”
他的手指繼續往下移動。
His finger continued moving across the map.
「最近的一號基地……」
“The nearest base, Base One…”
路德停頓了一下。
Luther paused.
「怪物的巢穴。」
“A monster's nest.”
他看著地圖沉默許久。
He stared at the map in silence for a long time.
最後，目光落在另一個座標上。
Eventually, his eyes settled on another set of coordinates.
「七號基地嗎……？」
“Base Seven…?”
路德咬緊牙關。
Luther clenched his teeth.
「先離開怪物活動區再說。」
“First, I need to get out of the monsters' territory.”
機體重新啟動。
The machine powered up again.
然而就在路德準備離開時，他並沒有注意到——
However, just as Luther was preparing to leave, he failed to notice—
森林深處，一根細長的黑色觸鬚緩緩從地面收回。
Deep within the forest, a long, slender black tentacle slowly withdrew into the ground.
彷彿有什麼東西……
As if something…
正在注視著他。
…was watching him.
－－－各基地・線上指揮會議－－－
——— All Bases · Online Command Conference ———
會議室內，數個基地長的影像投影同時出現。
Inside the conference room, the holographic images of several base commanders appeared simultaneously.
索尼亞看著眾人。
Sonia looked at everyone.
「所以，現在最適合過去支援的，是瑞德那邊？」
“So, Redd's side is the best place for us to send support right now?”
山德點了點頭。
Sander nodded.
「應該就是他們了。」
“It should be them.”
「我們現在這裡，不只要處理受損機甲，還要重新調度剩餘資源，短時間內很難抽出人手。」
“We not only have to deal with damaged machines here, but also redistribute our remaining resources. It will be difficult to spare any personnel in the short term.”
瑞德皺起眉頭。
Redd frowned.
「等等。」
“Wait.”
「你們……都沒辦法支援嗎？」
“You… can't support us at all?”
羅傑搖了搖頭。
Roger shook his head.
「我這邊可以調一批物資過去。」
“I can send a batch of supplies over.”
「但是救援的黃金時間，應該還是在你們那邊。」
“But the critical window for the rescue should still be on your side.”
賢吾接著說道：
Kengo continued:
「我們會先派無人機協助搜尋。」
“We'll send drones to assist with the search first.”
索尼亞點頭。
Sonia nodded.
「好。」
“Alright.”
他看向瑞德。
He looked at Redd.
「瑞德，你那邊可以嗎？」
“Redd, can you handle things on your end?”
瑞德沉默幾秒。
Redd remained silent for several seconds.
隨後點頭。
Then he nodded.
「應該可以。」
“I think so.”
「我們這邊已經準備好幾台載具了。」
“We've already prepared several transport vehicles here.”
索尼亞點頭。
Sonia nodded.
「好，有任何狀況隨時回報。」
“Alright. Report back immediately if anything happens.”
「那今天會議就到這裡。」
“Then that's all for today's meeting.”
眾人的影像一個接一個消失。
One by one, the others' holographic images disappeared.
然而索尼亞卻沒有離開。
Sonia, however, did not leave.
「瑞德，你留下。」
“Redd, stay behind.”
會議室內，很快只剩下兩人。
Soon, only the two of them remained in the conference room.
瑞德看著索尼亞。
Redd looked at Sonia.
「怎麼了？」
“What is it?”
索尼亞沒有立刻回答。
Sonia did not answer immediately.
他只是盯著瑞德。
He simply stared at Redd.
「你的任務……是什麼時候開始的？」
“When… did your mission actually begin?”
瑞德愣了一下。
Redd froze for a moment.
「你說什麼？」
“What do you mean?”
「我是說……」
“I mean…”
索尼亞的聲音變得低沉。
Sonia's voice became low and serious.
「你打算前往七號基地的想法，到底是什麼時候開始的？」
“When did you first decide that you were going to Base Seven?”
瑞德沉默了。
Redd fell silent.
很久。
For a long time.
久到索尼亞幾乎以為他不會回答。
Long enough that Sonia almost thought he would never answer.
終於，瑞德緩緩開口。
Finally, Redd slowly spoke.
「你確定要知道？」
“Are you sure you want to know?”
「這件事情……有點玄幻。」
“This whole thing… is a little unbelievable.”
索尼亞看著他。
Sonia looked at him.
「我聽麥特稍微提過一些。」
“Matt told me a little about it.”
瑞德的神情變得更加凝重。
Redd's expression grew even more serious.
「那我再問一次。」
“Then I'll ask you again.”
「你確定要我說？」
“Are you sure you want me to tell you?”
索尼亞沒有絲毫猶豫。
Sonia did not hesitate for even a moment.
「確定。」
“Yes.”
瑞德深吸一口氣。
Redd took a deep breath.
「因為麥特給了我一些……關於未來的簡報。」
“Because Matt gave me some… briefings about the future.”
索尼亞皺起眉頭。
Sonia frowned.
「未來？」
“The future?”
瑞德點頭。
Redd nodded.
「裡面有我。」
“I'm in them.”
「也有尤里。」
“Yuri is in them too.”
索尼亞的眼神微微一變。
Sonia's expression subtly changed.
「內容是什麼？」
“What do they say?”
瑞德卻沒有回答。
Redd did not answer.
「我晚點把資料傳給你。」
“I'll send you the files later.”
「你自己看。」
“Read them yourself.”
他站起身。
He stood up.
「我現在還有任務。」
“I still have a mission to handle.”
索尼亞看著他的背影。
Sonia watched his back as he walked away.
「瑞德。」
“Redd.”
瑞德停下腳步。
Redd stopped.
「你願意……當七號基地的基地長嗎？」
“Would you… be willing to become the commander of Base Seven?”
瑞德轉過身。
Redd turned around.
「什麼？」
“What?”
「這是什麼意思？」
“What do you mean?”
他的眼神逐漸變得銳利。
His eyes gradually sharpened.
「這就是你今天叫我留下來的真正目的？」
“Is this the real reason you asked me to stay today?”
索尼亞搖頭。
Sonia shook his head.
「不是。」
“No.”
「現在每一個基地，都需要有人負責。」
“Every base needs someone in charge now.”
「我們沒有辦法再讓任何一個基地處於無人管理的狀態。」
“We can't afford to leave any base without someone managing it anymore.”
瑞德沉默片刻。
Redd was silent for a moment.
「等這個任務回來再說吧。」
“Let's talk about it after I return from this mission.”
索尼亞點頭。
Sonia nodded.
「好。」
“Alright.”
「我會請布魯諾去協助笙竹那邊。」
“I'll ask Bruno to assist Shengzhu's side.”
「讓他幫忙處理七號基地的建設。」
“Have him help with the construction of Base Seven.”
瑞德笑了一下。
Redd smiled faintly.
「都等我們把路德救回來再說吧。」
“Let's talk about all that after we bring Luther back.”
「好。」
“Alright.”
兩人結束通訊。
The two ended the call.
瑞德的身影消失。
Redd's image disappeared.
幾秒後——
A few seconds later—
索尼亞的終端傳來一聲提示音。
A notification sound came from Sonia's terminal.
一份資料。
A file.
只有簡單的檔名。
It had only a simple filename.
「未來」
“Future”
索尼亞點開了資料。
Sonia opened the file.
第一頁。
The first page.
他愣住。
He froze.
第二頁。
The second page.
他的眉頭開始皺起。
His brow began to furrow.
第三頁……
The third page…
他的手開始微微顫抖。
His hands began to tremble slightly.
那不是戰術資料。
It wasn't tactical data.
不是基地配置。
It wasn't a base layout.
更不是普通的預測報告。
Nor was it an ordinary prediction report.
而是一連串……
Instead, it was a series of…
關於未來的死亡紀錄。
death records from the future.
索尼亞看著畫面，臉色越來越蒼白。
Sonia stared at the screen, his face growing paler and paler.
他第一次關掉簡報。
He closed the briefing for the first time.
深呼吸。
He took a deep breath.
重新打開。
Then opened it again.
又過了幾頁。
After several more pages,
他再次關掉。
he closed it again.
「不可能……」
“Impossible…”
他低聲喃喃。
he whispered.
第三次。
A third time.
第四次。
A fourth time.
他甚至開始不敢往下翻。
He was beginning to fear turning to the next page.
但最終，他還是咬著牙繼續看了下去。
But in the end, he gritted his teeth and continued reading.
不知道過了多久。
He didn't know how much time had passed.
索尼亞猛然站起身。
Sonia suddenly stood up.
椅子被撞倒在地。
The chair was knocked to the floor.
他甚至來不及關閉終端，便衝出了指揮室。
He didn't even have time to close the terminal before rushing out of the command room.
幾分鐘後。
A few minutes later.
索尼亞扶著洗手台。
Sonia leaned against the sink.
劇烈地嘔吐。
He vomited violently.
他抬起頭，看著鏡子裡的自己。
He raised his head and looked at himself in the mirror.
臉色慘白。
His face was deathly pale.
雙手仍在顫抖。
His hands were still trembling.
「這到底……是什麼……」
“What… is this…?”
他根本無法理解。
He couldn't understand it.
更無法接受。
He couldn't accept it either.
就在他準備返回指揮室時——
Just as he was about to return to the command room—
庫柏正站在門口。
Cooper was standing at the doorway.
「索尼亞？」
“Sonia?”
他猛然停下。
Sonia suddenly stopped.
「庫柏？」
“Cooper?”
庫柏看著他。
Cooper looked at him.
「你還好嗎？」
“Are you alright?”
隨後，他注意到索尼亞身後還亮著的終端。
Then he noticed the terminal still glowing behind Sonia.
「那是什麼？」
“What is that?”
索尼亞沒有回答。
Sonia did not answer.
庫柏走進指揮室。
Cooper walked into the command room.
畫面正停留在剛才那一頁。
The screen was still displaying the page Sonia had just been viewing.
庫柏看了一眼。
Cooper took one look at it.
下一秒。
The next second,
他的表情也凝固了。
his expression froze as well.
「……這是？」
“…What is this?”
索尼亞緩緩開口。
Sonia slowly spoke.
「這是……瑞德。」
“This is… Redd.”
畫面中的瑞德，已經完全失去了人類的模樣。
The Redd on the screen no longer looked human at all.
他的身體被無數怪物觸鬚貫穿。
His body was pierced by countless monstrous tentacles.
四肢扭曲。
His limbs were twisted.
胸口與腹部被大量黑色組織纏繞。
His chest and abdomen were wrapped in masses of black tissue.
而最令人恐懼的——
But the most terrifying part—
是他的頭部。
was his head.
無數纖維般的觸手，正從他的頭顱各處鑽入。
Countless fiber-like tentacles were burrowing into different parts of his skull.
甚至沿著眼睛、耳朵與後頸蔓延。
They even spread through his eyes and ears, extending down the back of his neck.
他的雙眼翻白。
His eyes had rolled back.
身體彷彿已經成為某種怪物的容器。
His body seemed to have become a vessel for some kind of monster.
庫柏看了很久。
Cooper stared at the image for a long time.
沒有說話。
He said nothing.
最後，他慢慢拉過旁邊的椅子坐下。
Finally, he slowly pulled over a nearby chair and sat down.
「……所以。」
“…So.”
他看著畫面。
He stared at the screen.
「這就是他選擇去七號基地的原因？」
“This is why he chose to go to Base Seven?”
索尼亞點頭。
Sonia nodded.
「對。」
“Yes.”
兩人沒有再說話。
Neither of them spoke again.
庫柏往後翻了一頁。
Cooper turned to the next page.
畫面出現了另一個人。
Another person appeared on the screen.
尤里。
Yuri.
下一頁。
The next page.
一號基地。
Base One.
再下一頁。
The next page.
怪物巢穴。
Monster's Nest.
再下一頁……
The next page…
瑞德的死亡。
Redd's Death.
庫柏的瞳孔逐漸放大。
Cooper's pupils gradually widened.
索尼亞也像是突然想到了什麼。
Sonia seemed to realize something at the same time.
他猛然看向庫柏。
He suddenly looked at Cooper.
「等等……」
“Wait…”
庫柏也同時抬起頭。
Cooper looked up at the same moment.
兩人對視。
Their eyes met.
一種從未想過的可能性，正在腦中逐漸拼湊。
A possibility neither of them had ever considered was slowly coming together in their minds.
「瑞德其實早該死了，包含尤里……」
“Redd was supposed to have died long ago… along with Yuri…”
索尼亞的聲音開始顫抖。
Sonia's voice began to tremble.
「他在改變命運。」
“He's changing fate.”
庫柏接著他的話。
Cooper continued his thought.
「他是在……改變那個未來。」
“He's… changing that future.”
索尼亞搖頭。
Sonia shook his head.
「不。」
“No.”
他重新看向畫面。
He looked back at the screen.
「如果只是改變，他根本不需要主動想辦法前往後方，退伍就好。」
“If he were simply trying to change it, he wouldn't need to deliberately find a way to go to the rear. He could just retire.”
庫柏沉默。
Cooper fell silent.
突然，他像是想起了什麼。
Suddenly, it seemed as though he remembered something.
「……路德。」
“…Luther.”
索尼亞猛然一震。
Sonia jolted.
兩人再次看向那份資料。
The two looked at the file again.
瑞德為什麼知道路德會掉落在七號基地附近？
Why did Redd know that Luther would fall near Base Seven?
為什麼提前準備載具？
Why had he prepared the vehicles in advance?
為什麼一定要去那裡？
Why was he so determined to go there?
為什麼在所有人都無法支援的情況下，他沒有猶豫選擇接下這個任務？
Why, when no one else could provide support, did he accept this mission without hesitation?
答案……
The answer…
或許從一開始就已經寫在那份簡報裡。
Perhaps it had been written in that briefing from the very beginning.
索尼亞慢慢翻到最後一頁。
Sonia slowly turned to the final page.
畫面上，只有一句話。
There was only one sentence on the screen.
「如果命運已經決定了結果，那麼至少要讓它發生在我選擇的地方。」
“If fate has already decided the outcome, then at least let it happen where I choose.”
庫柏盯著那句話。
Cooper stared at those words.
久久沒有說話。
For a long time, he said nothing.
而索尼亞終於明白了。
And Sonia finally understood.
「瑞德……」
“Redd…”
「他不是在選擇逃離命運。」
“He isn't choosing to escape fate.”
他的聲音低得幾乎聽不見。
His voice was almost too quiet to hear.
「他是在選擇……自己的未來。」
“He is choosing… his own future.”
庫柏緩緩站起身。
Cooper slowly stood up.
「不。」
“No.”
他看著螢幕上的瑞德。
He looked at Redd on the screen.
「他是在改變我們威瑪遜星的未來。」
“He is changing the future of Weimason.”
兩人站在寂靜的指揮室裡。
The two stood in the silent command room.
而此時此刻，他們終於明白——
And at that very moment, they finally understood—
瑞德之前所有看似無法理解的行動，
All of Redd's seemingly inexplicable actions,
那些奇怪的決定，
those strange decisions,
那些提前準備好的物資，
the supplies he had prepared in advance,
甚至他執意前往七號基地的原因……
even the reason he insisted on going to Base Seven…
全部都有了答案。
all finally had an answer.
他不是不知道自己正在走向什麼。
It wasn't that he didn't know what he was walking toward.
恰恰相反。
Quite the opposite.
他知道得太清楚了。
He knew exactly what awaited him.
而這一次——
And this time—
他選擇親手走進那個未來。
he chose to walk into that future with his own hands.
只為了讓其他人，不必走進去。
Only so that the others would never have to.
遠方。
Far away.
七號基地的方向。
In the direction of Base Seven.
微落的燈光及營火位在帳篷旁，大夥正在整理物資上運輸車。
Faint lights and campfires glowed beside the tents as everyone prepared the supplies for loading onto the transport vehicles.
而命運的齒輪……已經開始轉動。
And the gears of fate… had already begun to turn.
