story_ray_2_1

Don't mind me, little one. I might not be able to move my body, but that doesn't mean I can't budge a bit.

Since you took so much effort to come all this way, I have one more question for you.

If I am the Feranmut, if I am the light you were seeking...

Considering how far you've had to come to get here, what exactly were you hoping I would help you with?

I...

Hiya there, mind if I ask if... you've seen Ray around?

Ray? Saw her just a minute ago!

As soon as I gave her her food, she walked off while munching out of her lunchbox...

It looked like she was chasing after a hairy little shadow. Must've been her sandbeast?

Thanks! Sorry for troubling ya!

Mind if I... *huff*... phew... Mind if I ask if you've seen Ray?

I've actually seen her a bunch of times today... I was just baffled.

While I was in the office this morning, I saw her turn that corner lots of times, and she seemed to be walking faster every time she did it.

Now that I think about it, I've seen you a lot today as well, Alanna...

Be... Because I'm looking for her!

Hah... Hah... Hoo...

A-Are you alright, Alanna?

I... I'm fine...

Hey.

Whoa—?!

What's up? Everyone on the ship's been telling me you were looking for me, so I came over.

Is that so... Been spending the whole morning looking for ya, nearly turned the entire ship over while I was at it!

...Sorry. I was taking Rory out for walkies.

(Feeble bellyflop)

Is it just me... or is your sandbeast a little plumper than before?

Wraw?

I've been busy with work lately, so I asked some friends at Logistics to feed it for a few days.

By the time I got back, Rory had become a ball.

Umm...

So that's why I'm taking it on walkies when I'm free.

Ray suddenly seems to remember something, rifling through her jacket pocket.

This month's installment... Not enough.

Here's my meal card. Take it. Call it... interest.

You seriously still on about that? I'm not here to get my money back... I just hadn't seen posts about your 'adventures' on the local forum in a while, so I wanted to see how you were doing.

Mmm. Haven't been any safety violations lately, so haven't had to sign any guarantee letters.

That's great.

(Long sigh of relief)

What is it?

If I had known it wasn't about the money, I wouldn't have hid from you.

Didn't you just say you were taking the sandbeast out for walkies—?!

I couldn't think of a good excuse.

You—?!

You—this—

dorm—it's—

completely—packed!

Wraw—!

There is only barely enough space for the two and the beast to pass between the sandbox and the door, and finally they find a little more leeway by the bed.

When did this sandbox become so big... Must get in the way whenever you're hopping in and out of the room.

Rory needs more space, while I just need somewhere to sleep.

The two of them sit side-by-side on the bed, watching the sandbeast gulp down big mouthfuls of water in the sandbox.

I remember how it always used to hide behind that rock there... Never thought I'd see the day it wouldn't be scared of me.

The people here aren't scary. The last time Rory smashed up a target, Instructor Dobermann didn't get mad. We ended up fixing it up together.

That's great. Glad to see your life slowly get back on track.

Y'know, nowadays I spend all my time in Engineering helping debug new equipment. I might be busy as a bee, but it's a thousand times better than life in the mines.

No more worries about cave-ins or how muddy the drinking water is. Three hot meals a day and a nice, clean bed to sleep in.

Not even my wildest dreams back in the mines had peaceful days like this.

Mmm. Rhodes Island is nice and calm. Got everything you can think of.

To be honest, I was worried if you were suited to life aboard at first.

But when I was out there looking for you earlier, I noticed everyone got to know you already. Hell, you're even chums now. I'm not worried anymore.

So that's why I wanna say, you can stop worrying about paying me back too. You've got a steady life now, so give some thought to the future.

Once you've gotten your sandbeast a nice den, get yourself a little something too. Don't need to keep being a cheapo, y'know...

As Alanna looks around Ray's room, she notices a poster stuck to the ceiling.

Is that... the Frontier?

An old poster from Columbia. Got it from a roadside hawker during my last mission.

The poster depicts a patch of overgrown land. Above that land, the night sky, strewn with countless twinkling stars.

I also borrowed some documentaries about the place. They talked about how different the wilds of Columbia are from Rim Billiton's, about how there's weird patterns carved into the ground, and bits of iron of all shapes and sizes flying through the sky.

If that sort of stuff exists, dancing burdenbeasts don't sound too crazy.

Ray stretches out a finger, pointing at the moon on the poster. Her finger follows along the path of its light, all the way to some place even higher in the sky.

Once I've paid you everything back, I'll start saving up.

Once I've got enough, I'll hire a car, and head out into the Columbian wilds to find those burdenbeasts.

...Still thinking about those dancing burdenbeasts, huh?

Mmm. And that ray of light.

But why?

If you want to go look for a herd of beasts that might not even exist, you'll be giving up the peaceful life you got now.

...I dunno.

But ever since I saw that light, I haven't been able to forget it. Like how a sandbeast in the desert's always searching for water.

But this ain't a desert. Sandbeasts here can get water whenever they want.

There's no bottomless mines here. Even the dingiest closet here's brighter than the pit.

Don't tell me you don't like the place, Ray?

It's not that... I really like it here. It's way better than anywhere I've stayed before.

Right, and your sandbeast likes it here too—

Hey, wait, where's it gone? It was here just a moment ago...

It must've headed out after drinkies were done...

But I just closed the door...

The sandbox's entrance faces the window. A half-open window.

Have any of you seen Ray's sandbeast?!

Nope, doesn't it normally follow her around everywhere...? W-Wait, did it wander off or something?

Let's go help her find it!

The security cams have dead zones, so can't say for sure if it's still aboard...

I'll go borrow a car to chase after it!

No good! Rhodes Island's already miles away from where it was when the thing scarpered!

No, I need to find it...

Alanna! Alanna! Some operators reported something hanging off the bridge running across the deck.

I see you're close to the site, could you help check it out and do some repairs?

The bridge across the deck...

A-Alright, got it!

Hoo... Hah...

You... Y-You get over here!

Huff... Hah... I'm beat...

My God, didn't think it'd be able to run all the way up here, especially now that it's a furry little doughball...

(Scared cry) Wraw...!

The sandbeast throws itself into Ray's arms, rubbing its fur up and down against her hands.

I'm done with this fella. Of all the places in this huge ship, no idea why it decided to climb up to the high ones.

Also I'm the one who saved the little bugger, so why's it nuzzling up to you?

*sigh* I'm gonna go make my report.

Don't rub up against me, Rory. You gotta get punished if you do something bad.

Ray grabs the sandbeast's two claws, lifting them up over its head.

(Protesting cry) Wraw!

C'mon, speak up, why'd you scarper off to somewhere so dangerous?

(Excited cry) Wraw—

Whoa, where'd that thunder come from all of a sudden?!

What is it, Ray?

...There's a reason why Rory suddenly climbed up somewhere high.

Oh yeah?

Sandbeasts in the desert are dune-climbers. Sometimes, they'd stand somewhere high up to look out for predators and feel where the wind's blowing.

When the weather's taking a turn for the worse, sandbeasts will be the first to know, which is why Rory came over here.

Even though Rhodes Island has roofs and no predators, it's still going to do what it normally does.

But I heard that with real good care, sandbeasts can actually live indoors long-term without having to go back to the desert...

You can raise one like that, but it's always gonna be thinking of heading back, to feel the winds of the wilds.

(Spirited cry) Wraw!

I know... You still think about your days out in the barrens, don't you, Ray?

...You get me?

Of course I don't! I don't know a thing about whatever that ray of light means to you, or that herd of burdenbeasts you're always talking about.

...But I know a heart like yours is the type to sorely miss things.

It's like how I love my life in Engineering, but I still have times I look back at all the beautiful sights I saw while trucking.

Since you're thinking of going, go already.

...Thanks, Lanns.

Doesn't matter if you did it for Rory or for me, thanks.

(Happy cry) Wraw!

I've got one more question, Ray—

Raindrops the size of beans start falling from the sky. The desert welcomes in the year's first sunshower.

Several months later

Operator Ray. This mission will be in a comparatively remote region of Columbia, with very few supply points.

In addition, there have been recent reports of Originium energy fluctuations of unknown origin in the area. There will be a certain amount of risk involved.

Sure. I know my way around deserts, and my sandbeast is sensitive to airflows and the temperature. It'll help out.

I know that you're very capable, and have shown exemplary performance during several prior desert rescue missions.

But I still have to warn you that this mission is a long one, a month at the very least, and comms might not be particularly steady.

Got it. I'll follow the mission brief. If comms cut out, I'll follow the route and wait at the next supply point.

That's right. I wish you all the best, Operator Ray.

Oh, right!

Hmm? Is there something else?

Thanks for volunteering for this mission. To be honest, it'll be a huge help.

...No worries.

Phew, made it just in time. I heard you were heading off on a mission today, so I rushed over to give you some grain feed I bought for your sandbeast.

(Happy cry) Wraw!

Hey, don't just nuzzle up against anyone who gives you food!

Ray—!

...Potlid?

She heard you were heading somewhere far away, so she insisted on taking some leave to see you off.

You sure picked a bad time to set off. Right now, the cafeteria's clogged up with people waiting for her to make dinner.

This here's a lunchbox for you, Ray. I heard your later missions are gonna get real tough, so I made sure to pack you extra!

Sure, thanks. I'll make sure to eat it all.

I better get going, then.

Stay safe now, and don't forget to come home.

I won't. I'll pay you back your money, with interest.

I already told you, you don't need to pay me back—!

Pffeh...

Under the setting sun, Alanna and Warmy stand by the deck railing, watching Ray's car drive off into the distance.

Ray went to go find that light and those burdenbeasts, didn't she, Lanns?

When we had just arrived at Rhodes Island, she'd always tell me those stories. I thought she made them up just to make me happy.

Of course she believes in them too. She's not the kind of girl to tell fibs.

I'm really excited to hear all the new stories she'll have.

Same here. Let's wait for her and give them a listen when she's back.

(Loudly) I still got one more question—

(Loudly) You ever thought there's a chance you already found that ray of light?

(Loudly) Maybe you already saw that light a second time in your life, but your memory's all fogged up, so you never realized!

(Even louder) Well, the chase itself is pretty fun too!

Ray's mind wanders for a moment.

She turns her head to look back at the slowly-shrinking landship, a memory from what seems to be many years ago welling up.

On the day that she was rescued, there was a shadow as huge as a mountain, shooting rays of light through the fog.

And now, on top of that colossal ship, amidst layer upon layer of twilit clouds, stand her friends.

It is the place that she wants to leave, and the place that she will return to.

(Cry of freedom) Wraw!

The sandbeast's cry pulls Ray back to reality. She returns her gaze to the road ahead.

No need to rush, Rory. Heading there, looking about, just do it all slow and steady.

Doesn't matter if we don't find anything, as long as we keep up the search.

Ray drives past the dunes, speeding towards the depths of the barrens.

The setting sun behind her slowly falls, while the moons in front of her slowly rise. As she watches the moonlight, a lot of things come to mind.

She thinks of the herd of burdenbeasts that welcome the moonlight with dance. She thinks of Rory, looking out into the distance from on high.

She thinks of herself, always searching, always chasing.