act34side

Do you really mean to return?

I've finally found out that man's whereabouts.

No matter who he is or what vulpohole he's decided to hide himself in, he hurt our daughter. He needs to pay.

Then let me come with you. I don't care if it's famiglie standing in our way, cruel Catastrophes, endless tides, or fire raining from the skies, we'll face them together.

Would the shrine be alright without you?

Relax, it's just killing a few people. It long past time for those bastards to head to hell.

Then it seems we must part once more...

Heavens drink their fill, sky besot by sakura, drunken clouds stumble.

Was that a haiku? It's got a good rhythm, perfectly suited for reciting while swinging a sword.

(Blows nose)

The hell, man, why're you crying?

An assassin gets revenge for her daughter by crossing two big famiglie, so she's forced to flee to a distant country.

And many years later, she has to leave behind her gentle husband and re-enter the storm, all for her daughter's sake again.

When I think about the people in real life who live like that, I can't help it... The way I see it, the movie should be from <i>her</i> point of view!

I hope I don't gotta remind you that this film's supposed to be our famiglia's business card in the new city. And we're supposed to be reviewing it together.

We gotta control how this city looks at our boss and our business.

I thought you said it was great last time?

Great? Then why'd that killer lady show up outta nowhere?

'Cruel Catastrophes'? 'Endless tides'? 'Fire raining from the skies'? Who wrote this crap?

Sure, the Columbians poked a hole in the sky, but I ain't never heard of no fire raining down. When's this supposed to take place, anyway?

When're you gonna learn to have a bit of perspective?

A cold-blooded killer putting down her blade for a peaceful tomorrow in Nuova Volsinii, all thanks to our famiglia's influence. You can't get more with the times than that!

Eh, if you put it that way, the film's even more crap. But you're right, as long as it's to the Signora's liking—

Hey, which bastard touched the switch? We under attack?!

No, look at the screen!

Mr. Tin Man?

We have a press conference starting soon, so please keep it quick.

While you all were busy flinging all those things into the sky, I made a few rounds in Kazdel.

You know how I feel about this.

I do, young Banshee, I do.

My verdict is that they feel about you much the same as you feel about them.

Considering the many vile connections they have across Terra, if they <i>do</i> decide to get behind your project, there will be plenty of headaches for all involved.

Thanks for the tip. Now, the press conference is about to begin—

Don't be so hasty. Let me finish.

Nasti Lunorey, Director of Engineering at Rhine Lab.

You know full well that the dream you were promised can be shared with more than just the Sarkaz.

The Maylander Foundation will pledge their full support towards you and your Elf friend's brazen plan.

We will decide on a date to discuss the details later. That includes future launch plans, where we hope to re-establish a more complete—

Galleria Stellaria.

Yes, that's the one.

Nasti? You on the phone?

Once the conference is over, we'll need a meeting room, a coffee machine, and to clear an entire weekend off our schedule.

That bad, huh?

If only it were as simple as good or bad.

But first, the conference. Is Silence here?

I was hoping she'd stop by, but fat chance she's got the time.

I put one of those burdenbeast blind boxes from Kjerag on her desk, and sure, she'd opened it after a week, but the little beasty was already buried under an avalanche of files in need of review!

The guy who's supposed to be making a speech for us isn't here yet either.

Well, he's still got two minutes—

(Clears throat)

Ladies and gentlemen, the press conference is about to begin. Please quiet down.

I'll be happy to answer any and all relevant questions during the Q&A segment.

Sounds like he's in a good mood.

Let us first—

Playing the same trick twice? Doesn't it get old?

No, Ferdinand's confused too! This wasn't part of his plan! This is—

...The challenges we face are far greater than ourselves or Catastrophes. We must form a community...

...under the leadership of Ægir to overcome them together.

Repeat.

...an Ægir broadcast to all surface-dwelling peoples. We ask all of humanity to set aside your conflicts and prejudices, and join the Ægir in building a bulwark together.

The matrix has broken through the blockade and swept past the sea. Essential information and calculation results are about to make landfall.

The challenges we face are far greater than ourselves or Catastrophes. We must form a community...

...under the leadership of Ægir to overcome them together.

...'Under the leadership of Ægir.'

You're still looking towards the land, Dr. Kal'tsit.

Hmm... Like a mother, anxious about the child she had to leave behind.

A child, is it?

In one brief communication, you have delivered knowledge that countless others have given their lives for to no avail. Geographical data on the Foehn Hotlands and Infy Icefield, and images from even further north of the continent.

One way of 'showing goodwill,' I suppose?

To share knowledge is natural, while showing goodwill takes intention. I fail to see how the two are related.

It was essential to thoroughly evaluate the extent of shock this would be to our terrestrial friends. Were these not urgent times, we really should have been more cautious.

My concern is that—

There are immediate dangers more worthy of our attention.

How much longer do you believe Milliarium can hold, Consul Clementia?

With our fleets taking shifts, we can keep up continuous, twenty-four-hour covering fire for a week.

There have been no major changes in the Seaborn's movements. As the energy supplying the force fields dries up, the stopping power of our weapons will also gradually dwindle... but this is not outside expectations.

The city can hold for another half a month. No more.

How long will it take reinforcements to arrive from the home territories?

A week.

Our countless nanomachines have established steady information flows. Compressed fleets and cities can speed through them, traversing the oceans in an instant.

However, assembling our forces will still take time.

A week... How quick.

You need not hide your worries, Dr. Kal'tsit.

There are essential differences between the ways we and the landwalkers think. Simple sincerity is insufficient for reaching effective bilateral cooperation.

On the one hand, we hope that reinforcements will arrive as soon as possible. On the other, you worry that the subsequent contact and communications will be outside your control.

You even worry that Skadi and the Doctor have deviated from your plans.

You already know of Skadi's secret, then.

My Little Handy happened to record a chance meeting between Skadi, the Doctor, and Mártus on a street corner.

Compared to discovering the secrets of their identities, controlling who knows what is much more difficult.

An Abyssal Hunter with a Firstborn within her, and a Predecessor scientist who witnessed the rise and fall of the prehistoric civilization in person. They are both of great import to Ægir.

Based on simple evolutionary logic, the Firstborn would not have chosen to entrust the future of its kin to its killer.

We still have no idea how the Seaborn will become the final answer to resisting ruination.

Even with missing memories, the Doctor still bears that mission. How will this so-called 'death of all things' come about, and what can Terra do about it? We must find out.

Skadi and the Doctor are, without a doubt, the key to Ægir's solving of the riddles.

Skadi will face her blood. The Doctor's duty will be fulfilled. But it should be their choice, not somebody else's scheme.

I fear that once Ægir learns of their identities, it will devise ways to exploit them.

Horatia asked me earlier if I was hiding something from her.

And how did you answer, Madame Consul?

No need to worry. She does not know, yet.

You truly treasure Skadi and the Doctor, don't you? Even when confronted with a disaster threatening to wipe out civilization, you still wish to respect their choices.