Tracen Academy Incident #6: Our new future

The evidence and testimony were clear: Agnes Digital had been an accomplice to Tachyon and was the one who spread the F12H-UM4 substance that transformed Uma Musume into mermaids. Thanks to her cooperation, a second mode of transmission was identified: Airborne spread. The investigators quickly sealed off the dormitories and evacuated all the Uma Musume to locations where they would have no contact with water. Although research into the substance was progressing, there were no signs of a cure or a way to return them to normal, making it essential to find Agnes Tachyon. At the end of her interrogation, Digital stated: "Tachyon-san and Cafe-san are at the lake. After they both transformed, she asked me to carry them in a box to a lake near the school. From there, they swam off, but I didn't see where they went." That was all that was known about their whereabouts, so no time was wasted in searching for the two fugitive Uma Musume. [LAKE NEAR TRACEN, APRIL 21, 2022: INTERACTION BETWEEN AGNES TACHYON AND MANHATTAN CAFE] Splash! (Manhattan Cafe swims at full speed across the lake, stopping right where Tachyon is waiting.) - Splendid, Cafe! Look at this time, it's much better than the last one! You're swimming faster than you ever did as an ordinary Uma Musume! - (long, weary sighs) Tachyon... how much longer do I have to keep swimming...? - Just a little bit longer, Cafe, this is the reason we came all the way out here. Your performance is far superior as a mermaid than as a regular Uma. - Tachyon... may I ask... why are you doing this? - Huh? What do you mean? - Why did you turn us into mermaids? You, me, the others at Tracen... Why? - ... For the future. - The... future? - Yeah... I discovered that as mermaids, we’re capable of breaking new boundaries. When I stopped racing, I was left wondering just how far I could have gone. I couldn't run like I used to anymore, so I had to develop something that would allow me and the other Uma Musume to achieve new and better results without having to retire for good. Besides, we look amazing, don't you think? As mermaid Uma Musume, we’re stronger and more powerful, people are going to love our new form. - I don't think everyone will like it, and there might be some Uma Musume who never get used to it. - They’ll come to like it in time... this is our future, our new era. - huhhhhh... I just want us to go back to Tracen so you can give me the cure for this... - Ah, about that... there is no cure. - ..... What? (Manhattan Cafe looked at Agnes Tachyon in fear) - There is no cure, Cafe. I developed the substance to become part of our DNA. We’ll be mermaids forever now! That’s what I meant by the future, our new era begins with us as mermaids. - Tachyon... you've got to be kidding, right? - When have I ever joked about any of my experiments? You are my perfect creation! - You... you... You're crazy! Stop playing as God! You've gone too far this time... - Oh, Cafe, Cafe... you know what I do is for the benefit of the Uma Musume. Don't look at me like that, besides, that tail suits you perfectly ♥︎ - Tachyon, stop it! You can't just leave us like this! You didn't even know if we all wanted this! - Oh, my dear Cafe... when you see it for yourself, you'll understand what I mean... let's get back to swimming... - TURN US BACK TO NORMAL, TACHYON! ME AND THE OTHERS! - Listen, Cafe! This is our new form, whether you like it or not! And there’s nothing left to do to fix it! (Cafe’s blood was boiling, she was furious with Tachyon... her tail went rigid, poised as if she were about to strike her.) - Tachyon, you... (But before Cafe could say another word, bright lights suddenly shone down on them. It was the police!) Megaphone: Agnes Tachyon! You are under arrest for unauthorized experimentation, compromising the physical integrity of Uma Musume, and several biohazard charges! - Cafe, we have to flee! We need to swim! Tachyon and Cafe began to swim at an astonishing speed far exceeding the average for ordinary Uma Musume leaving the police struggling to keep up. However, overconfident and believing she had lost them, Tachyon surfaced, unaware that they were waiting for the exact moment she broke the water. The police managed to catch her, they cast a massive fishing net that dragged her toward them. She tried to break free but failed... Tachyon had been captured. Cafe, on the other hand, did not surface. The moment she saw Tachyon being captured, she dove deeper into the river until she was completely invisible, her tail and hair provided perfect camouflage in the dark, deep water. She kept swimming until she had shaken off the police, and once the pursuit was over, she set her mind on one thing: return to Tracen.