act37side

Hannah! Slow—

Are those...?

...Originium weapons.

They're not standard Victorian issue. No idea of their actual provenance though.

Duke Cavendish's man sneakily taking over a factory, all so he can move weapons from God-knows-where into Londinium? What's he playing at here?

The dukes quietly stockpiling weapons within the city can only mean one thing.

And now we've left our fingerprints all over the place...

What do we do now, Vina? Looks to me like it's something way bigger than we can handle.

We can't handle it ourselves, but we can tell others.

Got a light, Hannah?

Bloody hell, you can still see the factory burning from all the way out here!

This is no laughing matter, Indra!

Of course it is! We messed up some wicked duke's scheme!

We... did something really big here.

At least we can say we've done nothing wrong, yeah?

Let the coppers handle the rest of it.

They say Londinium's so big it defies borders, but at times I feel it's rather small. Wouldn't you agree?

Who would have thought I would meet you here, Alexandrina. Your Royal Highness.

Who are you?!

I'm Morrill, a humble guest at the Cavendish estate. Nobody in particular. And yet, I would say I'm one lucky chap.

You know about the factory... You know what Duke Cavendish is up to.

Though I can boast of sharing some of the Duke's burdens, I was not wholly in the know about His Grace's plans for Londinium.

However, at this moment, my only concern is you, Your Royal Highness Alexandrina.

I must say, seeing Your Highness standing before me really does call to mind the sight of His Majesty, all those years ago.

You and he are so very alike. The same childish sense of justice, the same... price you must pay for clinging to it.

What do you want?

Your little adventure with your friends this evening... Hardly matters, I say. A few boxes of lost merchandise is hardly anything compared to meeting you.

Come now. At the very least, I'll let your chums leave alive. How about that?

Why should I believe a word you're saying?

Excuse my impertinence, Your Highness, but the truth is you have no other choice.

Or should I say, you are free to try and escape, but I will be keeping a close eye on your whereabouts.

No.

Vina! The hell're you doing?!

Stop swinging already! You've nearly beaten him dead!

*huff*... *huff*...

I...

It's fine, he's still breathing.

Vina... What's this all about?

You lot... Get out of here.

The factory, all this, it was all my doing. Nothing to do with anyone else.

Are you havin' a laugh?!

Vina... What was he saying? Why'd he keep calling you 'Your Royal Highness'?

...Because she's the heir to the throne of Victoria.

The daughter of the late King Alistair II, Alexandrina Vina Victoria.

I... I didn't mean to hide it. I just thought... It didn't really matter...

You daft, mate?

I'm not asking who you are, I'm asking why you'd try and shoulder all this by yourself!

Hannah...

Sounds like there's a long story you need to be telling us.

Sorry...

No time for that! Save it, we need to leave <i>right now</i>!

Where can we go, though?

Out the city.

Right now. This instant. Immediately.

I can't—

We're nearly out of time. Once the police notice the factory's up in flames, they'll contact the Defense Forces and shutter each and every port. When that happens, we wouldn't be able to fly out, even if we sprouted wings.

Don't worry about Norport. I'll hold the fort.

Wait, Baird, you're not coming with?! Hey, Morgan, say something, won't you?

I get where she's coming from. The Glasgow Gang's always going to be home to us, Hannah.

<i>Someone's</i> gotta welcome you lot home when you get back, right?

People are watching you. But I'm sorry, Vina. We can't protect you. Against real titans like them, the Gang's nothing more than puny little musbeasts.

You were never a Norporter, Vina. Or should I say, never only a Norporter. I knew from the day you joined us.

It's all my fault. I just wanted to protect you all, but... but now, I've dumped a heap of trouble on your laps.

Not wrong. If you're going to blame yourself, though, there's something I hope you keep in mind.

Remember that you owe Norport. Remember that one day, you'll need to come back here to repay everyone.

I swear. I swear I'll come back.

Yeah! It's our turf, after all! We'll snatch it right back someday!

But are you really set on coming with me? There's no need to tangle yourselves in all this.

I'm your trusted advisor, Vina. I'm worried for you.

If anyone comes looking to bother you, you're gonna need me to help bash their faces in!

Wherever you go, Vina, I will follow.

Never forget, Vina. No matter where you go, the Glasgow Gang will be with you.

I'll keep this place safe. We won it together, after all.

I promise you, Baird. I'll bring everyone back.

Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Here's to us. To the Glasgow Gang.

To the Glasgow Gang!

Dammit, dammit all... M-My Lady! It's the Duke of Cavendish's man!

My Lady, I-I'll contact Headquarters right away! Even if we must turn all of Londinium upside-down—

Suppress this event.

Very well, I'm contacting the hospital—What? Suppress it?

I will have my men handle this. Nothing to come will have anything to do with the Norport Police.

Do not worry. The chief of the Royal Police will <i>not</i> come calling on you about this or anyone else on scene, for that matter.

R-Really? How can you be so sure...?

While I cannot fix the future's course, sir, I can guide it towards a path of my liking.

This city will soon be welcoming a host of visitors. Do you not have more important things to handle?

You... Alright... Very well!

This too is part of your destiny, Vina.

<i>When we found out about Vina's past, I was amazed, sure, but I was more pleasantly surprised, as it were.</i>

<i>I could see the entire story in my mind's eye. A lost heir to the throne, a heroic fantasy rising from the streets.</i>

<i>Stories usually start with someone leaving, and end with a reunion. But reality begs to differ.</i>

<i>When we stepped out on the road away from home, none of us expected the way back could be so fraught with hardship.</i>

<i>I'm fond of the words Dagda spoke once we set foot on our home again, after many, many years away:</i>

<i>'History is like a sailing ship adrift, and every age sees its share of experienced helmsmen who think to change its course...'</i>

<i>'But in the end, none will truly ever know where the sunset and the river will take them.'</i>

Hey, who're you? Here to get some rounds in the ring?

I'd like to ask if this is where the Glasgow Gang is based? I'm looking for Siege. If I understand things right, she's your leader?

This gym's only got one leader now. She's called Baird.

Wait a sec... Lookin' at your clothes, you a noble?

Get out. You ain't welcome here.