act37side

You know what? I'm in a good mood today. Let's just call it a fireworks show for everyone!

Between you and me, ma'am... my wife can finally leave the city, tonight.

No injuries, ma'am. Should we go after the troublemaker?

Well, nobody got hurt—

We've got a duty to handle anyone who commits an offense.

Well, thank you, in any case. Say, can you dance? Or play an instrument?

What?

Can't let good fireworks go to waste, can I?

Maybe my wife will hear the commotion. My way of saying goodbye.

*sigh* I'm startin' to miss wartime. Even workin' on the farm. Anythin's easier than this 'keepin' the peace' business.

But, hey, if everyone's happy, who'm I tae complain?

Once she is satisfied that there is no danger, she lies down on a crate by the roadside, stretches, and lets the beams of the setting sun fall upon her face.

Gimme a haystack over this any day.

Where are you, Chenchen...?

Wh-Why did you burn his stall? You said you were just going to snitch something!

That shameless bastard's own fault for marrying a devil.

On the bright side, maybe somebody's already lynched his wife—

Whoa!

Who the feck are you?

Now's your chance to run, kid.

O-Okay!

Wh-What do you want?

Just doing a favor for a client. Maybe it'll bring in future business.

What's the situation with this batch?

Coast is clear, and the head count checks out, no problem. But word on the streets is that Parliament is looking for you.

Nothing they can actually do about it. Same as before, don't cause any trouble.

Speaking of trouble...

There's a kid in this batch that's giving us a hard time.

Why can't I see my dad one last time before we leave?

This man says there's fireworks outside. It's dad's fireworks!

Shh, quiet.

You don't want to leave either, do you, Mum—

The Sarkaz covers the child's mouth and holds her tightly, gazing up nervously at the woman looking quietly down at her.

I'm sorry, she's just not used to this... her father never left her side, even during the war.

Our deal with your husband was to get you out of the city. The rest is not my business.

If you want to stay, that's also your own decision.

Ma'am, they're just scared because they've never been through anything like this.

None of us have... Don't worry, I'll take care of the girl. She won't cause you any trouble.

But where are we going? What about Dad?

He'll come find us once he's taken care of things at home.

*sigh* I knew this day would come, the day the people from Kazdel came.

You don't like the Military Commission? Isn't Theresis your legendary hero?

I'm every bit the Londinier that you are. I've never been anywhere else since I was born, and I don't know no Theresis.

Your accent, that's not how commoners talk. I take it you ended up here because of the folks from Kazdel?

I—

Never mind.

You're a good person, ma'am. No one else would come close to us at a time like this.

Without you, the new Parliament might've... nothing to be surprised, I suppose. The bigwigs never change, whatever happens.

I've seen enough in my lifetime.

This new Parliament is different—

Maybe. For people like us, though, it all feels the same.

The aged Sarkaz soothes the sobbing child and sighs.

Don't be afraid, child. Your father is an honest man, more honest than most people I've met. He'll find you.

Alright... but where will you go after leaving here?

I plan on visiting some old friends. They left during the withdrawal with their twins, who work for a pharmaceutical company.

Do you know them, ma'am?

No. We have no time. You should get ready to leave.

What is your name, ma'am?

We will not meet again.

Humor an old woman, won't you? I just want to thank you, on behalf of myself, and all those who are afraid of you—

And I would rather not direct this gratitude to a code name that's ready to be cast aside any time.

Allerdale.

Beautiful name. Thank you, Allerdale.

Allerdale. A name that should have been laid to rest in the Mausoleum of Kings.

In the darkness where even the passage of time became blurred, she had sought to die in the ruins of history, to be forgotten by all those whom she disappointed, yet she was afraid to die, afraid to be forgotten.

But when muddy water dripped from the hole that the Steam Knight left behind and fell upon her palm, she opened her eyes and saw light.

What lay at the end of the light was life, and submission again.

Her hesitation may have lasted three days, or three minutes... in the end, she made the same choice as she once did.

'You will meet Vina again, someday.'

She recited it over and over in her mind, and crawled quietly into the light.

<p=1>Office of Provisional Supply Procurement</><p=2>December 12th, 1098, 5:32 P.M.</>

What do you mean, the reservation with Madam Major is no longer valid and I have to get in queue again?

Should we be trying to buy time for the Infected who can't get medication?

I'm afraid the reservation system is under maintenance. There are a lot of files that need to be organized following Madam Major's passing.

However, we are all very busy with preparations for Madam Major's funeral.

How long are we talking?

It should be up and running within seven business days. We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible.

Have you been to the Center for Biological Infection Control? More and more citizens whose conditions are deteriorating rapidly are being sent there by the day.

Most Londiniers didn't know how to handle acute Oripathy attacks before the war. The ones who need help the most are the ones getting the least of it.

They can't afford to wait... not to mention the proliferation of drugs that have little actual effectiveness...

Your feedback is noted. We will pass it on to the Center for Biological Infection Control. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Tell me where the Speaker's office is.

If you would like to visit the Speaker, I can assist you in making a reservation—

No need to ask him. I know where the Speaker is.

Come with me, Eliseo.

I apologize for the inconvenience. Please let us know if you need any other assistance. And thank you for the coffee, sir.

It is a very valuable gift.

Aren't you furious, Diane? This is no way for them to behave. I came to Londinium to—

To save us?

No... that's not what I mean.

But it's what you think, isn't it?

I-I mean no offense. I'm grateful that you've put a roof over my head, but I also see there's nothing but chaos in the matter of helping the Infected here.

I get that it takes time to build up and improve systems and workflows. Please understand, though, that it was my job to raise such issues, back in Columbia.

I just want to see more regulated and effective workflow to provide help to more Infected. And if I may say so, we're a little ahead on that front.

I've never been to Columbia, Eliseo, and I don't know how people like us are treated back where you call home.

I would love to see it, if I get the chance.

But that gentleman has done nothing wrong. He has done what was tasked of him in such cases; in fact, he has done it better than any of his predecessors.

Londinium has many problems. But things are getting better, even better than before the war.

It seems you trust this new Parliament?

No, but I trust the Speaker. Come, I'll take you to her.