A grey automaton constructed out of tubes walks along a grassy hillside, brandishing a long branch with a pouch tied on the end. This is A Pick-Me-Up Story.

The burning sun up ahead is slowly crawling below the edge of the view. The dense thicket of light wades away.
A grey sidewalk extends towards the horizon, within which a forest and mountain can be seen. Various grey items are laid throughout the grass on both of the sidewalk's sides.

With the added clarity of the scene comes a clearer view of the tainted soil. Countless abandoned belongings of peoples who have long since left the passage are strewn about the grass.

The robot looks down at one of the grey items that lies within the grass. A feint silhouette of a city stands in the distance.

The robot reaches down to pick the object up.

The protocol is begun anew.