act16mini

...Sorry.

I was just... thinking about the stories in some old books.

Don't look at us like that.

The way you look at the stars in the sky.

...Even back then, I wasn't always happy every time.

Eh...?

Amiya and the Doctor... they're fast asleep?

Must've had too much fun and gotten tired, huh? Seriously, it's not safe here. You'll catch a cold at this rate...

Savage?

Huh?!

Doctor, you're awake?

It's pretty dark tonight, and I couldn't see your face clearly and...

Did I wake you?

There are some beasts out there that never sleep.;Some people are still awake.

So you're looking out for Amiya here, huh?

Fair enough. The Billy barrens have always been dangerous, and the people you meet aren't always friendly.

––Which is why, you have no idea how anxious I was when I first met you!

You, a sickly foreigner, trekking through the wilderness with a little girl in tow! You were a goner!

You weren't afraid because you didn't know a thing about Rim Billiton. I could write it off as Amiya trusting you regardless...

...But it wasn't until a lot later when I understood why she always slept so soundly next to you.

You make me sound smart.;You make me sound like I'm always on my toes.

Well, yeah. You have a good grasp of everything, and a lot of tools at your disposal.

But, there are other areas where you don't seem that smart, which became evident the more we traveled together.

Like that one time you said, 'I know these berries are incredibly bitter,' but then took a big bite of them anyway before urging Amiya not to do the same.

...Well, yeah. You rarely get any time to rest.

Be it the barren wilderness, the glimmering of the starry sky, or the steel frames and cranes rising over a city, you can stare blankly at these things for a long, long time.

Maybe you didn't consciously decide to stay up to stand guard for Amiya, but you nevertheless managed to help her avoid some ferocious fowlbeasts and highwaymen.

Mind if I take a seat?

...It's just like it was.

*sigh*... I wanted to tell you something along the way, but we ended up getting tangled up in another weird mess again.

At least there wasn't any real danger.

Were our travels like this back then too?

Well... For me, the biggest difference was my attitude, I suppose?

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed back then, and wanted to go for a walk. A really long one.

I heard about it from the other Rim Billitonian operators.

You would've been even more famous here.

Well, yeah. It was because of that 'Cage Incident.'

But after everything was said and done, I followed you and Amiya on that trip, and to everyone else, it seemed like I'd ghosted them. By the time I returned, they'd mostly forgotten about the whole deal.

Which is exactly what I wanted.

At the time, I saw businessmen signing contracts to develop the mines for the people of Rim Billiton, but they turned around and threw us into cages, same way predators in the wilds snatch their meals.

But, I'm even sadder about the ones who promised to protect our land together, swearing not to let the old dukes strip us of our dignity.

Some people, as soon as they tasted wealth and status, turned out no different from the businessmen and robber barons.

Hmph. Just thinking about it makes me want to swing my hammer around and smash their glass houses to bits.

Please calm down, Savage.

Oh! I'm so, so, so sorry, Doctor! I didn't mean to scare you...

Heehee. It feels crazy to be telling this story again.

In any case, I was absolutely furious at the time.

I couldn't stand that feeling. Like people were suddenly plucked out of their own skin, made to become completely different people. That look in their distant eyes... didn't seem like any way you'd ever look at a friend...

To sum it all up, I can't trust them anymore.

And so I... have trouble understanding certain others.

Might I, by any chance, know once such individual?;Whoever those 'certain others' are, I hope they can live up to your expectations.

...Yeah.

Don't worry about it. My hammer's just for protecting you.

You and Amiya both gave me your answers.

Amiya already told me she's willing to go down that path, and doesn't regret it at all.

I can see how heavily that burden sits on her shoulders, but now, all I can do is try to help her carry some of that burden.

As for you, Doctor...

This isn't right, Kal'tsit. What are you playing at here? What happened to Amiya's body? How could you leave a CHILD as young as her to suffer this?!

––Tell me, was this the Doctor's decision? Is she nothing but a pawn to the Doctor?

I... I wanted you to swear to it. I couldn't shake the doubts that I had, but I also wanted to have faith in you, so I asked for a vow.

You promised that after you took Amiya from Rim Billiton, that you'd do your best to treat her with kindness and let her grow up healthy... and free.

...Yeah, I know.

There's no use asking for answers from an amnesiac Doctor.

But how about you, Kal'tsit? Are you waiting too?

Alright, two can play at that game. Time will tell all.

The same goes for you, Doctor.

If there's anything you need from me, please let me know.

(Point into the distance)

Hm? Already?

Oh, that's right.

She's been sitting there all night.

Doctor, are you trying to say that she's a threat?

Or, is your assessment something altogether different?

It's gotten late. Why don't you warm yourself by the fire?

If anything, you should go rest and replenish your stamina, since you were the one who got hurt today.

Warmy made a ton of food, and Alanna already put it away in the truck. I can go grab it and heat some up for you if you'd like.

I...

She's quite the chef, you know. I'd feel bad for you if you missed out.

How's she doing?

She's fine now.

Actually, you should go see her yourself.

Thank you. All of you.

But I... I felt her pain.

I always thought I didn't fear pain... But now, I can't stop trembling.

The woman holding the weapon is not shaking at all.

She simply stares into the night sky, as if she dares not avert her eyes or look anywhere else.

...I've seen Infected burn themselves to ash.

Sometimes, the only choice for those Infected who can no longer be saved is to send them away.

Something like that... should never happen to Warmy.

I... feel so terrible.

From the very beginning... I was the reason why the truck went off-route.

Yeah. Alanna told me everything.

Do you want to turn around and leave?

No.

But at least, I should...

Good enough for me. I mean, even the Doctor's interested in that Feranmut you mentioned now.

The stars sure are beautiful, aren't they? You've been staring at 'em for a while now.

...I can't say.

All I know is, they're far, far away, and shimmering in the darkness.

It's slightly better than staring just at the darkness.