act16mini

Also, the Doctor's intrigued by the Feranmut you mentioned.

It's done, Alanna. I've pulled into the transport bay.

The rest of the journey is up to you.

Hah, no problem there.

But there is one thing I still don't understand. What exactly is this 'Feranmut' you're searching for?

It's a type of... Uhh, this massive...

All you need to know is, it's some sort of mythical creature! I've heard there are incredible explorers out there planning to turn these legends into documented columns!

As for this beast, it flies for months at a time over the windswept dunes of Rim Billiton, flying over the highest peaks to spew flames at the sun. It appears in the mist of nightfall with a luster more brilliant than the moons!

We set out this time to look for some more useful clues! Isn't that right? Um... Ray?

You talking about the lady with the crossbow over there who's hardly said a word this entire time?

Forget it. She can enjoy the cold wind by her lonesome.

In any case, that's how mighty a Feranmut is.

Eh... That legend sounds all over the place. Don't think I've heard anything of the sort before.

I've heard of it.

A massive fowlbeast devours the clouds in the sky. Before it can finish eating the last cloud, right before the day the sky falls, the people on its back all jump into the boundless sea of stars...

A long time ago, the Doctor used to tell me bedtime stories like that.

I did?;Sorry... Don't remember that.

Well, umm, of course, you put it in different words, but...

I have a vague memory... Your tone at the time, it really made me want to believe the stories were real.

Never would've guessed it, but looks like our friend here has quite a vivid imagination underneath that hood.

But we're not after fairy stories here! We're looking for the real deal!

Mmmmh~ The freshly stewed, piping-hot sweet potato soup is ready!

Woo, this is the good stuff! Hurry up and dig in, everyone!

Appreciate it, Warmy!

Don't mention it. There's also veggies cooking in the pot!

Wait a minute... This flavor... Why does it have a hint of Originium slug?

Umm, well, I did add a little bit of slug slime.

I've tried it before, and the flavor's not too bad. It's soft and chewy, doesn't stick to your teeth, and it shouldn't be poisonous at all.

Wow, I think you're on to something.

By the way, Alanna, the food you served up before was pretty good. I didn't expect you to be such a cook.

Is it really so surprising? Do I look to you like a woman who doesn't know her way around the kitchen? The factory workers were always tripping over each other to get at my food!

Though... my real specialties are way more flavorful. Don't care at all for this light, time-consuming stuff.

Everything you ate just now, from the beet soup to the Originium slug slime sweet potato stew, was all prepared by Potlid here. I just served it.

It's Warmy's work? I know she's getting better and all, but... are you sure it's wise to let her do all that by herself?

Let her rest up, and I'll handle the rest!

Calm down– Don't go bugging her over it. She can handle it.

If anything, I think she'd be sad if she felt like there was nothing she could do.

She's always been like that, wanting to prove that she's all grown up and capable... Which is how she ended up in this condition.

Oh, right, Alanna...

Yes?

Has Warmy... been through something?

Even though she's always smiling and full of energy, I feel... a deep sorrow coming from her.

Her inner feelings seem at complete odds with her smile.

...Haha.

Kids like to act strong and tough. That's all there is to it.

But, normal kids don't cling to it in that way...

It's because of what her father said to her before he left home: 'I want you to grow up happily, just as you are now'...

The day before he left, it was her birthday. Nasty business, right? Children tend to take things like birthdays and birthday wishes awfully seriously.

Then, where is her dad now...?

Who knows? All I know is, the girl relies on me, because every time her father left home for work, it was in this vehicle.

Miners are the most common types you'll see aboard, with Cautuses a close second. And her father happened to be both. Like hell I'd be able to pick him out of a crowd.

Though, did I ever mention to you that this ol' girl's about to go out of commission?

Because several of the mines I used to stop at got shut down. The last one was due to deep depletion, all the rocks that got dug up were totally worthless. And then two years ago... a mining accident claimed another.

And so it was over the last two years, when this kid hopped onboard, saying that if she didn't keep the brightest smile on her face, her father wouldn't recognize her.

Alright, I'm gonna go give her some motivation, and a helping hand. She's probably a bit too fired up right now and wants to make a miners' family dinner on that little Originium stove you guys brought over.

You're pretty nice people too. It's been a long time since she's cooked for anyone else.

Though, I hope what you said when you sat down at this table is true: that you won't end up getting sick breaking bread with Infected...

Or at least, you're like me. Y'know, good things happen to good people and all. So that makes it perfectly fine to live with the Infected.

She didn't know the danger she was putting herself in when she decided to keep Warmy around.

Amiya.

I'm here, Doctor.

Do you feel guilty about it?;Do you think fate smiled on us?

Oh, is it written all over my face or something? I was just thinking...

...I keep thinking, what would have happened... had you never pulled me from the wreckage of that vehicle?

Walking along the streets of Rim Billiton, I always feel like those running and shouting Cautus children... are no different from me.

Disasters aren't uncommon in Rim Billiton. The dangerous old ways of mining, the unusually frequent Catastrophes...

Heh. There were some Victorian businessmen who said this is no way for people to live.

Oh, of course I'm not trying to say that life in Rim Billiton is terrible or anything... Though the natural environment here may be harsh, our homes are always full of warmth.

Rim Billiton's large households often come together to jointly adopt children.

But... I'm just happier that I get to do something like this.

Like being able to help Potlid?;Like fighting to protect the Infected?

Also, like being able to rescue you. And before that...

The young Cautus doesn't finish her words. You know there's something she's hiding from you.

Amiya's expression is somewhat wistful, but there's no sign of regret or remorse.

...Now that I'm looking back, every year since I left home has been so terribly long.

Everything seems to be speeding by around me, before I can grow taller or change out of my childhood clothes.

So, I find myself wondering... When I think of my mum and dad, what should I say to them to give them an idea of what I've been through...? So that they still recognize me?

But, coming back to Rim Billiton, it finally dawned on me.

The only thing I want to tell my parents is – I survived.

Because the Doctor took my hand.

You suddenly remember something.

You remember the huge Rim Billiton logo emblazoned on the laser mining module mounted atop the Rhodes Island landship. You remember seeing it before.

You remember some of the materials that Rhodes Island has gradually been making available to you lately.

Rhodes Island's predecessor, 'Babel,' customized this Rim Billiton mining module that was attacked during the initial shipment.

The mercenary team dispatched by Babel failed to stave off the attack, resulting in the deaths of many people on the transport team.

You remember the thick, black smoke, slowly burning in the empty wilderness.

Vague, distant emotions float into your mind along with the hazy memories.

Though it still doesn't feel like your own past, you cannot help but to feel an infinite...

...Loneliness.

What I wanted to search for... Was the vestiges of the journey that began here.

As well as the traces of Rhodes Island being dug out from here and towed across the entirety of Rim Billiton, before setting sail for the far reaches of the continent.

I was just thinking...

If I had never met Rhodes Island, if I had never met Dr. Kal'tsit or Theresa... If I had never met the Doctor––

What a shame it all would've been.

Phew... Finally helped tidy up around here.

But seriously, never would've expected Alanna and Warmy to be living together inside a truck like this. Good thing I didn't charge in, waving my hammer around, to try to rescue Warmy, or else this thing would've been a goner.

Speaking of which, when was the last time I had a campfire dinner with this many people?

Has there ever been another time where I got to enjoy such a merry one with Amiya and the Doctor?

A grunt? That's it?

Does it not make your blood boil? Those bastards in suits want to plunder our mines! And since when did my friends become as snobbish as the Victorians?!