act37side

<i>The solder who charged into the city with us stood in the setting sun, suffering our 'interrogation'.</i>

<i>We all know that Vina can influence Parliament... if she chooses to.</i>

<i>That was the day when I truly realized that Vina had not belonged solely to the Glasgow Gang for a long time.</i>

<i>Maybe my Vina already said goodbye to us that afternoon.</i>

<i>That day, all factories of the city came rumbling to life, and steam gushed up to the sky.</i>

<i>I saw her golden hair flying wild in the wind, blocking the fleeting tears in her eyes. She turned towards us with a smile and said—</i>

'We're home.'

<i>We're home. But things have not gone the way we expected.</i>

<i>Does going back home mean goodbye?</i>

<i>Will we lose Vina?</i>

'The factories welcome us!'

'There are survivors in the city!'

'Why do you stand in our way?'

'I'm sorry... dukes' orders. The Exemplars must not act on their own until the dukes have come to a conclusion.'

'Why are you pointing your bow at me?'

'Weren't we fighting side-by-side just a moment ago?'

'What do we do? Is that a... protest? In the city?'

<p=1>Londinium</><p=2>September 28th, 1098, 5:27 P.M.</>

The city was angry.

The troops that stood in our way... are they falling back?

The factories are waking up? I thought the Sarkaz had shut everything down.

...I remember these factories. I know where they are. I always will.

That's Miles Industries on York Street! And that's Coppola Foods on Scott Street! And that's—

'Consolidated Inc.'... 'Hankin's'... 'South Wicker Cargo'...

(Choked) Vina... I thought they...

Those that were silent, those that had been abandoned, those that had been commandeered by the Sarkaz, and those that continued to run timidly.

All the city's factories came alive at the same time, but the Sarkaz hastily pulling back from the battlefield outside the city had no time to notice.

The steam that gushed out was the breath of steel and machine. The factories were roaring.

What's going on?

They're helping us. Londinium is helping us.

March on, Exemplars. It's time to bring this to an end.

This is Lieutenant Diane Weber of the Sixth Column, Tenth Infantry Regiment. Lower your weapons, soldiers, and escort the Exemplars in their advance.

You're defying the dukes?

Before I was a soldier, I was a Londinier. This is my home too.

Go, Siege. The fight is not yet over.

We will take back what is ours!

The first squad starts lowering their crossbows, and they are soon followed by others, who step aside to clear a path.

Exemplars, forward!

We're home.

Keep the factories running at full steam! Keep the Sarkaz at bay just a bit longer!

The dukes want people to think there's no Victorians left alive, justifying them sitting on their hands out there. But we'll make 'em hear we're still here!

The people outside the walls will know we haven't given up yet!

Thanks for the assist, Madam Catherine. You can trust our guys; everyone has a trick or two up their sleeves.

Nine and the others are working on the other factories. This whole city is about to rise up.

Are you coming back... Feist?

Is it on?

On it is! The other factories have also been restored, just as the Doctor planned.

It's not just the citizens that are helping us though. There are other people, and they call themselves—

Reunion...

Well, well. I haven't seen the city so lively in years.

I just got word that alliance troops have cleared a path for the Exemplars.

That wasn't our orders. Are you happy with the test results?

It seems we have underestimated the influence of a miracle.

We should hasten our preparations, then.

Hey, boss, looks like we don't have to cause a commotion anymore.

They're letting the Exemplars through.

Pull the ambush and give a hand to the factories we captured.

Tell the people in charge that the boilers keep burning until I say stop.

You got it.

Welcome home, Vina.

<p=1>Speaker's Office</><p=2>December 10th, 1098, 9:28 P.M.</>

Speaker's Office.

Walker's fine. Parliament won't come down hard on him over this little thing. But tell him to stay safe.

There's no telling if the people watching us might find him inconvenient to them.

And... how are things going over there?

...Good.

We'll find you...

Allerdale.

I-I just go over there like this?

Yes. Just go over there and ask what the price is.

A-Alright.

The child approaches the merchant's stall and timidly peruses the wares.

Fireworks, kid?

Y-Yeah...

A special occasion? A gift? This one's real popular for celebrations!

B-But there's a lot of dust—

That's normal; it's been lying in the warehouse for a while. How about this, you buy one, and I'll give you one free—

What's that smell—

Fire! It's you, isn't it?!

Hah!

What are you standing there for? Run!

The merchant tries to put out the fire to no avail, and is soon surrounded by flames himself.

The exploding fireworks draws a gawking crowd.

The 'practical joker' has long fled the scene with the child.

'But... wasn't it supposed to be a joke...'

'Serves him right for marrying a devil woman, the bastard.'

The fire's getting bigger! I'll grab the man; you get the crowd out of here!

Yes, ma'am!

The piledriver spear rips the flames apart. The sounds of explosions and crackling fire sing joyfully in cacophony.

A Vouivre emerges from the flames, spear in one hand, the merchant in the other. She puts the merchant down in a safe place, then sits beside him, wiping the soot off her face.

Ach, sorry aboot yer stall, I think I might've...

It's fine, fine, don't worry.

Fine? This is... fine?

She points towards the raging fire, with fireworks still leaping out from time to time.

The gawking crowd continues to grow. A drunkard, seemingly oblivious to what is going on, pulls over an unsuspecting passerby and starts dancing.

Under the setting sun is pandemonium, drunken singing mixed with angry yelling mixed with the cackle of fireworks.

This street has not been so lively since the Sarkaz took over.

It is the very picture of chaos, but the merchant, who has already calmed down, begins to laugh.

I haven't seen the folks so happy in a very long time. Brings back memories...

But... it's <i>your</i> stall that's on fire.