03x21 - (Dub) Doppelganger

[bunniefuu]

[MIKOTO yawns]

I really haven't been
getting enough sleep.

I've been having nightmares
ever since I used

that first card.

[KANA]
Big sis Misaka!

Well, if it isn't little Kana.

Hello!

Hello to you too!

I see your usual friends
aren't around today.

Mm-hmm.

That's 'cause I'm going to
the Learning Core to study!

[MIKOTO]
Oh, yeah? Good for you!

[KANA]
Hey Misaka, can you walk with me

to the bus terminal?

[MIKOTO]
Huh?

Will you get lost if I don't?

[KANA]
Mm-mm.

[MIKOTO] Do you have to
go down a spooky road

or alleyway or something?

[KANA]
Not really.

Okay.

Then you don't really need
me to go with you, right?

[KANA] You aren't doing anything
anyway, so come on!

We're off!

[MIKOTO]
Um... Huh?

[KANA]
Y'know what?

I just remembered
I saw you on TV

during the Daihasei Festival.

[MIKOTO] Huh?
Oh, right, they broadcast that.

[KANA] You came in first
in the three-legged race

and scavenger hunt!

Yeah, well, if there's one
thing I'm confident in,

it's my speed.

Not that winning races
means a whole lot

when you get out
into the real world.

[MIKOTO] I mean, you're
not totally wrong, but

you need stamina for everything,
so I wouldn't say it's useless.

[KANA] You're such
a muscle-head, Mikoto.

That's not very nice, Kana.

I don't know where you
heard that word, but--

Uh-oh! The card man is gone!

[MIKOTO]
Hm?

[MIKOTO]
This is where that Trader was.

[KANA]
Hey, just wondering,

but do you know what
Indian Poker is?

There's usually a guy
who sells cards there.

And he had a whole
bunch of them.

But the rarest one he had
was called the "Bust Upper,"

and apparently it let
you dream your way

into bigger boobs!
Isn't that crazy?

So crazy, I doubt anyone
would ever fall for it, huh?

I mean, you'd have to
have a huge complex

about your figure to be
willing to spend money

on something fishy like that!

You'd probably have
to be short-tempered, too.

Always ready to fight.

Or be a sly little witch who's
always showing off--

[MIKOTO]
Just a minute!

How can you make a little girl
say such awful things,

Shokuho?

Uh-oh!
Looks like you found me out.

Oh, cool.
I'm already at the bus terminal.

Hey! It's big sis Mikoto!

I'm impressed you
figured it out.

Anyone could have!

[KANA]
Are you two friends?

--No, we're definitely not.
--No, of course we aren't.

[SHOKUHO]
Be sure to study hard

so you don't turn out like
this muscle-head.

[KANA]
Muscle-head?

See you later!

So after that roundabout way
of getting my attention,

what do you want?

Also, how did you even find
out about the card thing?

[SHOKUHO]
Oh, that?

There's something
I needed to look into,

and I happened to read
the Card Trader's memories.

But you know...
[laughs]

You fought for that card like
your life depended on it,

but I don't see
any change at all!

Perhaps your body's utter
refusal to allow you

to mature simply overpowered
the card's effects.

Shut up!

You think these lumps
of fat are so great?

[SHOKUHO]
Misaka? Have you lost your mind?

Yeah, sure, just go wallow
in isolated despair

moments after
assaulting someone!

[KUROKO] First there's the
blast-proofing on student buses,

then the fact that the shower
rooms are supplied

with theoretically pure water
from a solid-state plant.

It's all leaked.

Along with other secret
details about Tokiwadai.

The layout of various campus
facilities and structures

are out there for anyone
willing to find them.

It extends to other Garden
of Learning institutions

as well as some
major corporations.

Some of the leaks
contain security details,

which as you can imagine,
are especially dangerous.

And we think we know the cause.

It's these cards, commonly
known as Indian Poker.

Using them, a person is able
to share their dreams

with someone else.

Whether intentional or not,
privileged internal information,

normally kept secret from
the general public,

is now being put on
full display for anyone

who finds the right card.

[KONORI] So everyday knowledge
for an organization's

insider is precious
information for an outsider,

basically.

[UIHARU] Right, each school has
scrambled to take measures.

But this isn't a
commercial product.

They're made by following
an online guide.

So we can't just take
them off of shelves.

Antiskill has attempted
to contact the site

that uploaded the original
plans for the card writer

with hopes of convincing
them to remove it.

But identifying who
it is that uploaded

the plans has been difficult.

[KEITZ]
Ryoko Kuriba.

Shinshikimi Middle School,
in School District 20.

Age 14.

The photo is from
when she enrolled.

And you're sure she's
the one who came up

with the guide for Indian Poker?

You sure took your
time finding her.

It's been over a day
since I asked for this.

I don't give reports until
they've been substantiated.

Thank you.

Do you mind if I ask
why you're looking

into this? I'm curious.

Because of how
the cards function,

the principle is familiar.

[KEITZ]
Good instinct.

According to my investigation,

she also had a part in the
"Clone Dolly" experiments.

[SCHOOLGIRL] It's possible they
were exploring the option

of using the cards for
psychological doping

or brainwashing.

Whether that worked or not,
the cards we know of don't have

that kind of function.

But whatever their intent,

I'm going to find
the idiot who let this

get into the hands of the public

and give them a stern
talking to, so to speak.

[CAFÉ MANAGER]
One ramen!

[SCHOOLGIRL]
So, where is this girl?

[KEITZ] Sorry, that's still
under investigation.

That's not like you.

To be more accurate,
I'm pretty close.

She's apparently with
a research institute.

I've been able to confirm
that she's living

within the facility,
but I haven't pursued it

any further.

Because while I was
investigating that institute,

something felt off.

I wasn't certain the Ryoko
Kuriba at the facility

was really Ryoko Kuriba.

[SCHOOLGIRL]
What's that supposed to mean?

[SHOKUHO] So I was able
to pin down the creator

of these cards and
the organization

she's working with.

However, the experiments
they're doing there

are a bit "peculiar," let's say.
Basically, they're--

I just can't seem
to get over it.

The sheer weight of them
in my hands,

their softness, even though
a layer of clothing,

their springiness as they
pushed back against

my fingertips.

I mean, I was the one
who was grabbing them,

but it's as if they were
clinging to my hands--

That hurt!

I've had just about
enough of you reviewing

my breasts!

How long are you going
to keep obsessing

over that, anyway?

And that's not even touching
on how weird it is

that you were shocked
in the first place.

I'm not trying to gloat here,

but it's not exactly a secret
how big they are.

To tell the truth, I thought
they only looked big

from the chain of your bag
cutting between them.

And that, in reality, they
weren't all that much

bigger than mine.
I mean, we are the same age.

[SHOKUHO] Has Misaka
always been this dumb?

Anyway, did you hear
anything I said

or did you tune that out?

[MIKOTO] What, about how
you see this as a threat

to the control of your
brainwashing territory,

so you want to get rid of it?

Why am I not surprised
at that interpretation?

Perhaps it's because it's
as twisted as you are.

I'm gonna have to ask that
you stop focusing on me.

The experiment that Ryoko
Kuriba was involved in

is not directly related
to Indian Poker.

She was actually
acting as a test subject

for cyborg tech.

[MIKOTO]
Wait, cyborg?

[SHOKUHO] Well, to be fair,
that is an oversimplification.

But you know how
advanced artificial organs

have become, right?

From mechanical hearts to arms.

Though the experiment
she was part of

is pretty far removed from
the usual cybernetics stuff.

Ryoko Kuriba was essentially
turned into two people.

Her body was taken apart,

and artificial replacements
filled in the gaps

on both ends.

She went from having
one body to being reborn

as two cyborgs.

Okay then.

Was she in some sort of
accident and had to do it?

[SHOKUHO]
No, not at all.

It was purely for the sake of
advancing their research.

The two Kuribas lived
separate lives for a year.

And after that, her flesh
was reassembled

into her original body.

They say it went fine--

There was no mental
split or rejection

of body parts
to give them trouble.

Apparently, she retained both
halves of her memories

from when she
was split, as well.

Gotta say, that's a pretty
gruesome experiment.

But cyborg medical
treatments have helped

a lot of people
with disabilities,

and she volunteered.

If the whole thing
is over already,

I don't see any reason for
you and me to get involved.

Yes.

I agree with you,
as far as that goes.

However...
advancing cybernetic tech

wasn't the only goal
they had in mind.

As far as Kuriba was concerned,

the goal was to test
the compatibility

of the human body and
artificial replacements.

And on paper, the institute's
goal was the same, yes.

But let's just say that
if they were to stumble

upon something else
in the process,

they certainly weren't
going to ignore it.

That being the
generation of a soul.

Uh, what?

[SHOKUHO]
Where do you stand?

Do you think the soul exists?

You're not gonna
bring up that whole

"the body becomes 21
grams lighter when we die"

thing, are you?

This conversation
was already weird,

but that's pushing it.

[SHOKUHO] I've honestly no idea
how credible that theory is.

But let's suppose
the phenomenon of a soul

does in fact, exist.

Kuriba was split
into two people.

I wonder, what do you
think happened to

her soul during that time?

For example...

Let's suppose one
of the split Kuribas

were to lose her life somehow.

It's hard to imagine
that the other Kuriba,

in a separate location,

would die at the
same time, right?

That just sounds silly.

Well, then the question becomes,

when she was split in two,
did her soul follow suit?

Creating an entirely
separate, second soul?

And assuming her soul
did in fact, divide,

they still put her back
together after a year.

Leaving just one body.

In that scenario,
you have to wonder:

"Where would the
leftover soul have gone?"

In other words, you're
wondering if there's a soul

dwelling inside
the mechanical body

that could be made out
of her prosthetics.

Are we really doing this?

Wha--?
Stop giving me such a hard time!

I was just using the word "soul"
so it wouldn't go way over

your head!

For real though.

What does any of this have
to do with Indian Poker?

Also, if you found
out who invented it,

couldn't you report
that to Judgment

or Antiskill and be
done with it already?

[SHOKUHO]
I could.

However, before I do,
I was hoping for a favor.

I promise, it's not a major ask.

I simply want you to
break into the institute

and verify the outcome
of the experiment.

[MIKOTO]
Huh?

[SHOKUHO]
I could do it myself,

but let's say this mechanical
person does exist,

and I happen to bump into it.

There might not be much I can do
to get out of the situation.

I've certainly never
encountered such a being,

so who's to say whether
my brainwashing

would have any effect on it?

It would be much safer
to have a muscle-head

like you go instead!

Give me one good
reason why I should.

Because if they find an actual
use for this experiment,

such as the aforementioned
generation of a soul,

how many hundreds of people
will meet a similar fate?

They would need more
subjects to verify

their results with,
such as Child Errors.

Or perhaps even... human clones.

[SHOKUHO] Uh, wow okay,
didn't mean to rile you up.

Considering the labor
and expense,

building a cloning facility
solely for this experiment

wouldn't be worth it anyway!

So you can chill out.

Naturally, I'm not asking
you to do this for free.

Let's talk.

Those "Sisters" from
Project Level 6 Shift.

Didn't you want them
to be able to live

in normal society someday?

For them to live out
their lives in peace,

free from danger and prejudice?

What a nice thought.

But the obstacles
standing in your way

are pretty daunting.

You know what would help?

My ability to control
the human heart.

As well as all the personal
connections that I've amassed.

[MIKOTO]
Shokuho.

Why are you so intent on
involving yourself in this?

[SHOKUHO] I really don't want to
find myself indebted to you,

so let's make the deal.

You better not be lying.

I'll hold you to this.

In this case?
No, I'm not lying. I promise.

[KOZAKU] What was all
that nonsense about?

Mikoto's the kind of girl
who'd jump at the chance

to take down a crazy experiment
that could get people k*lled.

She doesn't need another reason.

And Misaki, you're not
really offering much here.

You would've wanted
to help out the Sisters

anyway, wouldn't you?

Come on.

"Let's make a deal."

"You better not be lying!"

"I promise."

This whole "deal" is just
to hide how embarrassed

you two are!

Why don't you grow up and--

You know, I could
easily break in

and investigate myself.

Or were you really just
trying to see how far

you can push Mikoto for
the sake of the Sisters?

Can you please get
out of here, Mitori?

I hope you weren't spying on us

just to get a reaction
out of me.

Not even close.

I'm way too busy for that.

I have a message from Keitz.

He says he's tracked
down where the real

Ryoko Kuriba is.

[KUROKO] Are you sure you
can't do whatever this is

another time?
It's already so late.

[MIKOTO]
Mm-hmm.

I made a little deal, so I
gotta hold up my end of it.

Who'd you make
this deal with, huh?

For whom would you
go out this late at night,

leaving me here all
by my lonesome?

I know what you're thinking,
and you are so far off base,

I promise.

Cover for me if the head
resident comes around, 'kay?

[KUROKO] All right.
I guess I can do that.

If anything happens, you'll be
the very first person I call.

How am I supposed
to respond to that?

Come back safely.

[MIKOTO] I haven't dressed
up like this in a while.

Oh, yeah.

Last time, they thought
I was a boy, didn't they?

Hmm.

Maybe I should have gone with
something a little frillier.

[RESEARCHER A]
We're all good.

Thanks for your hard work.

[DOPPEL] Hey, how long are
we going to keep doing

these routine tests?

I'd love to leave sometime soon.

[CHIEF RESEARCHER A]
Now, now.

This is an
unprecedented experiment.

We can't be hasty.

That's right, Chief.

We need you here
a little longer.

After all, we have to be
sure that everything

has gone as smoothly
as we believe it has.

I think you guys are all
worrying too much.

Ugh.

It feels like I've been living
in this place forever

at this point.

[DOPPEL] Well, sh**t.
I got that from my mother.

Wait, what?

I got that mug from my mom
before coming to Academy City.

I know that for sure. But...

I can't remember
anything about my mom.

And not just her.

My dad and my friends back home.

I can't remember much of
anything from before

I came to Academy City.

No, even stuff from
after I came to the city, too.

I can vividly remember
things that happened

when I was split in two.

I just don't remember
anything from before that.

Is it an aftereffect
of the experiment?

Am I... Ryoko Kuriba?

Am I...

Am I...

...human?

[MIKOTO]
Okay.

Did they know I was coming?

[MIKOTO]
Huh?!

[MIKOTO]
She's gone?

Why did the banners fall?

It should have held
a hundred kilos.

That's weird.

She must weigh a ton.

Then does that mean
Shokuho was right?

[CHIEF RESEARCHER A]
She ran away?

Yes, sir.

She destroyed the outer wall,

then jumped from the upper
floor and must have fled.

What do you mean she jumped?

She's supposed to have
a sense of human

self-preservation!

Well, about that...

There are only two things
that were destroyed

by the impact of the fall.

Namely her GPS and the
fast-acting restraints.

Which suggests she
planned this. Carefully.

Additionally, most of
the research data

that was caught in
the blast was lost.

Reconstruction
will be difficult.

Are you kidding?

Please tell me the damage
was limited to just here!

Yes. Nowhere else was affected.

[CHIEF RESEARCHER A]
O-Okay. Whatever.

Just hurry up and recover
the Doppelganger ASAP.

[MAN A]
Oh, yeah!

Weren't you scammin' people
with some kinda

fake cards earlier?

[MAN B]
Yeah.

[MAN A]
Huh?

What are you doing
in here, little lady?

You wouldn't happen to
be a ghost that haunts

this place, would you?

Oh, but look at the body on you.

Wanna have some fun with it?

[MAN A yells]

[DOPPEL]
Bodies.

People's thoughts
dwell within the brain.

Life dwells within the heart.

And emotions, on the face.

So, if you drive
the soul out of a body,

do you think it can
be made vacant?

[doorbell rings]

What, already?
I can't concentrate!

Hi.
Sorry for bothering you so late.

I'm with the management company.

We've had some trouble
with the water tanks.

The repairs are already done,
but we wanna check and make

sure the water quality--

There's no problem here,
now leave me alone!

All right, would you
mind signing off

on your consent, then?

It's standard procedure.

Sorry, I'm very busy,
so let's do this quickly.

[KURIBA]
She wasn't on the camera--

[MIKOTO]
Whoops.

Sorry for dropping in.

I was wondering if we
could have a quick word

with you.

What? Who are you people?

Would it help you calm down
if I said we don't bite?

We're not here to hurt
you or anything.

The third-ranked?
You're Railgun!

You're not here from
the research lab, right?

[WOMAN A]
Right.

I just happened
to find your name

while investigating
Indian Poker.

[MIKOTO]
Yeah, and for the record,

I was roped into this by her.

But after seeing what I saw,
I do want answers myself.

What did you see?

Just your cyborg breaking
out of the facility.

It was a little while ago.

Breaking out?

Finally, it happened.

[MIKOTO] Then I take it
you knew about that thing.

Yeah.

The chief and the other
researchers called her

"Doppelganger."

I saw her on the monitor
right after my surgery.

A mechanical puppet who
identifies herself as a human.

As me.

Everyone at the
facility was ecstatic.

They created a soul.

They said it was
uncharted territory.

So it's true?

There's a soul inside
of that machine? Wow.

[KURIBA] To tell you the truth,
even after seeing it,

I wasn't totally convinced.
Still not.

But I was also worried
that if it had happened,

it would inevitably create
some serious problems.

Why "serious?"

I mean, I understand
that she's going to be

a little sturdier than a
flesh-and-blood person

would be, but she's just
for medical use, no?

It's not like she's
built for combat.

Is it really a threat
when there's only one

of her running around?

Maybe.

I told them that someday
she would realize

that she isn't human,
but they said,

"Then we'll get some
more data from that,"

and "The lower levels
of the building

have layer after
layer of security.

Plus, she has a shutdown
device implanted,

so it's fine."

Idiots.

They refused to listen to me
about the dangers

of that thing.

This artificial skin will help.

Well, it is important
to look the part.

And while I'm at it, let's see.

[LEADER]
Found her.

An abandoned facility
in School District 20.

You were in there for a
pretty long time, Yaku.

Did you take a huge dump?

Or are we having
a lady's day today?

[LEADER]
Give it a rest, Naru.

Don't you realize the weight
of what we're dealing with here?

[SCAVENGER LIAISON]
That's the right attitude.

You had a big job to do.

A request straight from
the governing board,

and you guys messed it up.

I know you were up
against that monster,

but you still failed
and came running back

with your tails
between your legs.

Your reputation as
a dark side subsidiary

organization is in the pits.

If you make one more mistake...

[NARU]
Yeah, yeah, we get it already!

If we screw up this
mission, it's over.

We're as good as strays.

I wish strays were all we'd be.

[SCAVENGER LIAISON]
Now that we're crystal clear,

get a move on, you
dumpster-diving scavengers.

[LEADER] She talks down
to us like some kind of

self-absorbed teacher.

I wasn't expecting us to
be disrespected like this

from one failed mission.

Take it easy over there, Leader.

[LEADER]
Yeah, I know, Seike.

Okay, let's go, guys.

[NARU]
Oh, yeah!

Time to snag us that big
ol' hunk of scrap metal!

[NARU]
Manipulator of paper. Naru!

[SEIKE] Controller of
frictional coefficients, Seike!

[YAKUMARU] Your resident
chemical expert! Yakumaru!

[LEADER] Master of the birds-eye
view. Leader!

[GROUP]
The four of us combined are...

...Scavenger!

[NARU] Let's introduce
ourselves like that!

[GROUP]
Overruled.