Alright... we've established beyond a reasonable doubt that our D-Mails are indeed being sent into the past, but...

We didn't exactly improve my chances against Faris in the Rai-Net Tourney.

Now, Now.... we can't work miracles.

Sure... in Ruka's case there were issues of accuracy,

...but I'm confident the time machine will be fully operational... with one or two... ugh.

Time Machine!?

Mind your business.

That's exactly what I'm trying to do, if you hadn't noticed?

Now, would you like some milk, sugar, or flavored syrup?

No thanks...

Aww... having trouble choosing?

Meow, Moew...

Na, ah... God! You get the "Come Hither" stare, seriously!?

I want you to die in a fire so badly right now.

Oh Kyouma, why keep secrets from each other, my darling?

You really beleive me liable to crack under such a poultry display?

You are impervious sir... how about you, Daru?

Rest assured... he's just as strong as I...

We built a machine that sends text messages into the past!

Have you zero restraint!?

Really... well now...

Episode 9 - Chaos Theory Homeostasis II [Title Page]

Evidently, a secret is what we tell one person at a time.

Excuse me...okay, that is not fair! You can't just... ahh!

Why do you always have to be so predictable?

uhh... what I...

Just so you know... I was not having an argument.

Alright... but you certainly fooled me.

And your eyes are still bloodshot.

Whatever, I got dirt in them or something. Shut up!

uhhh... could this be anymore clichéd?

tsk... It wasn't what it looked like... things are complicated, okay? Don't even think about going there!

I didn't breach the wall. You're the one who brought it up.

Well... I don't wanna talk about it.

Christina...

Go away! Don't talk to me.

Look, for what it's worth... I cherish our friendship... I'm here to listen, so...

Seriously?

Hahhaha... As calculated, she took the bait... yes... wrapped around my little finger, like a mobster's pinky ring.

Hahahahahahaha...

Ass!

Nice work out there, today.

Yeah? Thanks Faris.

You're probably on your way to see Kyouma now? ...Ha?

mm hmm... He wants me to pick something up for lunch.

So... have you seen it with your own eyes then... the time machine?

I'm sorry?... ohh... you mean the Phone-Wave.

The what?

All the lightning and cracklings... and the tingly bit.... It actually kinda scares me... I don't know.

Oh wow!... I bet it looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

Yeah...

But if I had to be totally honest, I liked it better before they started messing with this time travel stuff.

How come?

haahh... well I guess...

Cause every time they use it... it feels like Okarin's further away.

This round table discussion will now commence.

Me first... please!

Go on...

Okay, point of order...

Mayushi said, she wasn't cos-playing today, but look at her.

She isn't cos-playing, that's her school uniform.

I just didn't feel like changing out of it.

Ultra-Realism... whoa!

...who knew it could be so...

That's enough, thank you... don't even finish your thought!

You are gonna eat, aren't ya?

Ha... agh... would you knock it off, I'm trying to chair a meeting here.

You told me to bring everybody lunch. I'm just doing what you said.

Forgive him, Sweety. He's just upset because he's not Sir Galahad.

The topic of discussion on the lab docket for the day...

...happens to be corporeal time travel.

Mayuri... is there any barley tea left in the fridge?

Hmhmm... I think so.

Realism is awesome!

It's me... the organization has infiltrated and demoralized by constituency.

I can't get a toehold on their diminishing attention spans with even the most grandiose of proclamations.

So, what's new you guys?

Are each of you Barbarians for dismissing so pregnant a topic out of hand?

It's a moot-point.

If we can send information to the past, who's to say we can't...

I say...

36 Bytes of information is our natural barrier, which means we're limited to text.

Plain and simple.

But, if you think we should try shoving a whole person across the boundary, go right ahead!

If you wanna risk turning into a gel-Okarin.

Sounds pretty grose.

Someone got schooled!

Look! SERN's already established how enormously difficult it is to travel bodily through time.

Bare in mind, if the world's largest particle collider can't manage it...

...what chances does a souped-up microwave have?

You act as though, we haven't seen what it can do.

No... I just don't know how.

What we do know, is that, SERN's methods revolve around the conjunction of a black hole and some kind of lifter.

It's a fair assumption, our set-up here works in the same manner.

It's also a fair assumption that, whatever is acting as our lifter... isn't the microwave.

So, what is?

Who knows... add to that, the fact that we can only send out D-Mails at certain times.

I mean, come on... even for a prototype... what we've got to work with here is fairly rudimentary.

Until, we know more... we should keep the wishful thinking at a minimum.

How... typical.

Yeah, okay, reality check, serious research isn't always a wildlife safari.

If you profess to be a scientist you should be...

I am decidedly not a scientist... I am a mad scientist.

Oh, for the love of... Could you be more of a Wesley? [Reference: Wesley Crusher of Star Trek: The Next Generation]

uhh... excuse me?

Were you just... referencing...

Look! Whatever you think I took that from... you're wrong. So, just let it go!

khehhe...

Please, try to stay focused!

Very well... back on point then. Speaking of SERN, what's our update on the intel we've culled from their internal server?

Christina... madam... Next Gen. [Reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation]

I said... leave it, the hell, alone.

Oh... going too boldly, am I? [Reference: Star Trek: The Next Generation (Intro Narration: To boldly go where no one has gone before)]

Yes, you...

I have nothing noteworthy to add.

I see... kindly, continue to investigate then.

Nurse Chapel [Reference: Nurse Christine Chapel of Star Trek: The Next Generation]

Damn it... lay off!

So Daru... how's the hacking coming along?

I got zilch man, sorry...

...until we can crack the proprietary code the companion server's built on... we're basically spinning our wheels.

Is... that not what the IBN is for?

You make it sound like we got one on-tap.

ughha... What are you saying?

What are you saying?

I thought we deciphered the code already.

ahh... I'm good, but not that good.

ughha.... so what's become of the 5100, then?

Dude! How in the frack should I know?

Nonsense!

ughha....

Okarin... what's the matter?

Okay... level with me, Christina... Have we not located the 5100 and brought it here?

I don't see how we could have... we don't have the first clue where one is.

Alright, just for the sake of argument... let's assume, I believe you.

To reiterate, you say, we got one on loan from Rukako's Father?

Yes! Exactly... you and I carried the damn thing here ourselves.

Yet, between the two of us... you're the only one with any memory of this.

Clearly, our D-Mails are shifting things around.

Yeah... but so, dramatically.

I mean, broken down, the texts we've been sending are trivial.

It's the Butterfly Effect!

In theory, even the simplest interference can cause world-lines to split...

...from one, where we didn't buy a lottery ticket...

...to one where we did, for example.

The facts of one world-line change, ever so slightly, and from there, the process just feeds on itself.

It's like shooting pool... one ball hits two... those hit two more a piece... and so on.

Time Travel's long been associated with this kind of risk.

So, where's the IBN in this world-line?

No idea... where was it?

No... no, you're right... We had one! I asked dad and he said we'd been keeping it in storage.

...thing is... it disappeared.

I see...

Well...

No cigar... they did in-fact have one as I remembered, but apparently, it's gone missing.

Great! Someone's pilfered it.

'Course they don't know when, which means the trail's gone cold.

So... a dead end.

Well, I don't know about anybody else, but keeping a computer in the shrine seems weird to me.

'Sides, who would've known it was there?

hnnn...

Hey, Faris?

Yeah, what's up?

Well... I've got all the questions for tomorrow's Maid Swap here.

Ten of them ought to do the trick. Don't you think so?

hunnnn...

If you could travel back in time and redo one thing, what would you choose, and why?

Heh hah... what would your answer be?

aehhh..... Oh well, you know... past is past.

I've never really been one to dwell.

Like the feline, my first and only concern is with the moment I'm living right now, taking pleasure in each...

ahahgha...

Sorry! Excuse me for a second.

Meow! Faris speaking.

Kyouma... hey what's up?

Is it true... that you once stored an IBN5100 at the Yanabayashi Shrine for safe keeping?

I didn't know, but I mean...

Well, dad had a bunch of old computers, so maybe it was him.

ahh... Kyouma...

Be straight! Not that it's any of my business, but does this have to do with your guys' time machine?

Come on... don't be shy. You sir... it's now or not!

Is that what I think it is?

Oh Wow! A real metal Upa.

Don't even think about trying me. You'll just lose it, again.

huh... what?

You can stand there if you want... I've got things to do.

'kay! Hang on a sec... Hey, Daru!

Comin'! Hold up!

ahhh... what is that?

Limited-Edition Swag! I've got zero impulse control.

Hey! Like you say, boss...

...when stein's gate opens... [the stowed of harder] there with cold, hard cash!

It's not a comic book shop!

Why are you even here? You should be holding down the fort.

You too! I do not like my assistant to be there by herself.

To hell with a bunch of that Ass-Munch! I'm not letting you drop in on Faris at home without me there.

If Daru gets to tag along, it's not fair if I can't.

I told you... I'm not even sure, why she invited me in the first place.

Hey Kirari! Hahaha...

Not again! Wait! ...damn it all!

The IBN 5100.

Shining Finger!

I need to talk to you, please!

Shining... wait! ...Kiryū Moeka!

Why? ...I don't understand, it's supposed to be here.

You...

IBN... I... heard you say...

Please... do you know where it is?

No, I don't... I thought you...

You... you don't know?

Okarin.... hehhh. Where's she going?

I don't know...

Come on, guys!

That girl really knows how to wear clothes.

I've gotta get her into cos-play one of these days.

Yeah...

Hold on! Am I wrong or are you talking like the two of you have met somewhere before?

Ah... because we have.

What!? How? When? Where?

You... brought her... into... the lab.

Huh! ...after Moeka sent her D-Mail... as far as the gang was concerned, she never existed.

Now though... when Ruka sends one... Moeka's somehow back in the fold.

Every time D-Mail gets used, some detail about the past drastically alters.

You sure, we've got the right address?

Pretty sure, yeah!

Let's see... it's on the top floor.

The young mistress will be with you all, in just a moment. Please wait here.

Well... I suddenly realize why Butler Cafés haven't really caught on.

Aww... I've never seen a real-life butler before!

Hahahaha... look... the people are like ants from here... what a splendid view!

Hahahahahaha!!!

Oh dear...

We're never getting him back.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Ahh... Hi there.

Huuhhhhh! Faris out of her maid get-up. My life is officially complete.

Faris! The opulence of your living quarters begs a rather obvious question. Do you not agree?

Yes?

Uuummmmm.... Meow Meow Meow!

Don't toy with me! Explain yourself, or we hereby part ways, madam.

uhhh... you don't have to be so rude!

My family owns a great deal of land here, in Akihabara.

Most of it, as a matter of fact!

Wait... so like the whole town is yours?

In a nut-shell... yeah.

Ahh... so I'm kinda confused.

She and the city, have the same name... kind of.

So... you know...

Ahhhhh.... No! ...I know her by no other name but Faris!

ahhuuu...

Stop acting like a petulant child.

It's quite alright actually. Moé culture thrives here mostly because of my influence, so it's sort of a compliment.

What... you!?

She has her finger on the pulls of our generation dude, I've always said so!

The Maid Café is the wellspring from which all man aflows.

I bow to her vision!

You're, very sweet! But I'll thank you not to let the cat out of the bag about all this.

I want everyone to treat me like the same old Faris, they know and love.

I will take your secret to my grave!

Thank You! Meow-ster!

Can the cat lingo! Where have you secreted the IBN5100!?

Oh! I'm gonna get to that.

But first! If you'd all be so kind, I have an itty-bitty little favor to ask.

Haa! You intend to extort us!?

It's really not that big of a deal, I promise you!

I'd just like to use D-Mail for myself. One time! That's all I want.

Why put a cap on it? You can send as many as you like.

Hey! Third-Party access is not something with which we're comfortable...

Yeah, Okay! So, we make Faris a lab member and it's not really an issue anymore.

Out of the question, damn it!

It's just, we don't yet understand the consequences.

Oh, I see! So, we can use it to win the lottery, but Faris that's crossing the line!

That's some B.S. man! [B.S. = Bull Shit]

She just wants to use it once.

uhh! That is not what this is about.

Wait... there is no guarantee we'll be able to find the 5100 again.

If again is even the right word now.

Faris may be able to help.

Very well... but you may only use D-Mail on condition that you consent to become a full-fledged lab member.

As of this moment, you are christened... 007... Akiha Rumi...

Ahhhh!! Shut Up! ehhh...

There... that oughta do it.

And you're absolutely certain, you wanna send it back in time 10 years?

Oh yes, I'm sure.

So, what does it say?

Something... secret.

That is not how this works.

As head of the Future Gadgets Laboratory, I have a right to know what we're unleashing on the world.

Na ah! Boys aren't allowed to pry into a girl's private life.

You wouldn't want people reading your text messages, would you?

Women's Lib! [Women's Liberation Movement]

uhhgrm... okay fine.

Simply hit the send button and the deed is done.

Hello?

Assistant... snap to... I require a status report.

Is that your idea of manners?

Glasshouse much.

aarghh... That woman! Of all the...

Hello?

Hououin Kyouma speaking, don't hang up!

Hououin? Oh, it's you! I thought I had a stalker or something.

What!... I show up on Caller-ID.

hheh... So... for all I know, a serial killer could've gotten ahold of your phone.

hahaho... A veiled confession that Hououin strikes fear into your heart!

If she does that one more time... I'm going to scream!

Bad connection or what?

uh... No... she's just a cold-hearted self absorbed harpy.

Now you listen to me!!

Hello?

Okabe Rintarou calling for Makise.

Speaking...

Ah, Yes. I was wondering, if I might impose upon you to activate the Phone-Wave as per the settings laid-out on the prior message.

That is, if I'm not interrupting anything important, of course.

Now, that is how to be civilized!

I see why you don't do it often, though.

You sound like a 12 year old when you talk like that.

Incidentally, don't you think it's time we stopped calling it the Phone-Wave. I mean...

I'm not polite often, because... A: I'm a mad scientist and... B: You're not worthy...

...no no no no... I'm talking to someone else in violation.

The two of them have something going?

Sometimes they have a little trouble getting along.

Well, you'd have to be here to understand, I'm afraid, but...

So, kinda... yeah.

...nevermind all that... what... what were you saying?

You know...

hm?

Maybe... this isn't such a good idea... uhh

Faris...

We have full discharge! Go for it. Now!

unnhh...

Aaarghhhh...

Hello?

hmm...

Who are you?

ha?

Daddy! Hehe...Umm...

Daddy!?

Uhm... Kyouma wasn't bothering you, was he?

No... sorry to run, but I've got to be on my way.

It was a pleasure meeting you, though.

uhnn...

Wow! Your dad seems like a really sophisticated type of guy.

Da! He raised Faris, he's gotta be like a secret superhero or something.

Ah, Sir... Are you familiar with the IBN5100, by any chance?

Well there's a name that takes me back decades.

You have one?

I'm afraid I jettisoned mine quite some time ago.

Do you remember, if you happened to donate it to the Yanabayashi Shrine?

Sorry... I'm not even familiar with the name.

Well... good day to you all.

Okay... so before Faris sent her D-Mail...

...the shrine had, had the IBN in storage but had gone missing.

...but now... apparently, it was never taken there to begin with.

Every time we send a message to the past... things get shifted around.

For every detail that changes...

...how many are out there that I have no knowledge of.

Oh God!... what if things can't be shifted back!

...what if we've gone too far!

Earth to Okarin!

Snap out of it, silly. I wanna stop at Nakano before we head home to get a nice ordoujinshi, remember?

Wait... Nakano!? You can't be serious!?

You do know that, Nakano's not exactly on the way home, right?

Yeah... sure be nice if they opened up the shop around here someday... where I could buy one.

Have you lost your senses?

Our backyard is lousy with such...

You're a real goof-ball sometimes...

Forgotten where we live, dude?

Yahehheh!

[END]