🔍
George, everyone willing to go is here.
What about Tommy?
No sign of him.
That's fine. Volunteers only.
George.
You found what Catherine left for you, Feist? Was it what you were looking for?
Yes.
I'm glad.
Now get going, before you can't.
Wait, what's going on?
Do you know why the Sarkaz took Catherine?
She knew too much. They're executing workers like her.
Something didn't feel right, so I had Day climb to the top of the factory to check.
What...?
Catherine kept it from us. She thought we didn't know anything.
But we aren't stupid. We guessed what's going on.
What are you gonna do?
Nothing in particular.
We've put up with the Sarkaz for a long time.
More or less gotten used to it.
Some folk think the Sarkaz will let us go, so long as we put up with them a little longer.
Now they want to do away with Catherine.
You'll die.
Better than standing around and watching them kill Catherine.
No one standing here has anything left to lose.
I...
Stop.
You're with the Self-Salvation Corps.
We've heard about you. Lots of us are happy for you.
You've got more important things to do.
Don't let Catherine's sacrifice be in vain.
...No.
Doctor, I may have gotten some information from Granny...
But as the leader of this factory, Granny knows more about the Sarkaz production lines than anyone else.
She has significant strategic value, doesn't she?
Without a doubt.
Undeniably.
...I request help from Rhodes Island.
Are you there, Ascalon?
I know you're watching... here with me.
Here.
I'm sure you've identified the hostiles in this sector.
Describe the enemy deployment.
They've tightened defenses, leaving gaps on the outside.
It's mostly loosely-organized mercenary bands guarding the outer area.
We need time.
Distract the mercenaries and take out the sentries.
......
On it.
Thank you, Doctor, Ascalon.
Feist takes a deep breath.
🔍
Catherine smokes her cigarette quietly.
She watches as the Sarkaz drag one familiar face after another to the makeshift firing range.
She sees on those familiar faces anger, disgust, resignation.
Then, in the end, peace.
She knows her turn will come soon.
She feels a sense of calm that she has never felt before.
Feist was right.
Compromise and subservience will solve no problems.
She must pay for her choices.
But she got to see her grandson one last time, and left him a little gift, before she had to pay.
That's enough.
You're up, grandma.
Take her.
I can walk on my own.
Oh. Paprika.
Grimm never had you kill anybody, did he?
...Never.
Here's your chance.
Learn to kill.
......
This is how the Sarkaz treat a kid?
I heard what you said to her. You're right. She doesn't know what war is.
I didn't want to know what war was, if I could help it. No Sarkaz does.
But you left us no choice. None of you did. That's why it's time for her to learn.
......
I like that look in your eyes, grandma.
It's the same look I've seen on buddies who died with their eyes wide open.
I've killed a lot.
But it doesn't sit right with me, killing someone who can't fight back.
You can go back where you came from, if you don't have the stomach for it.
How do you know these workers didn't build the weapons that were used to kill your own people?
Morals are for peacetime. This is war. It's an argument we never got to have on fair, equal ground.
I don't need you to tell me that. I just...
Huh? A drone?
Now!
This is the place! I've scanned the area with the drone!
Move!
🔍
C-Can't I let someone else do it?
No.
I'm sure Grimm taught you not to question your captain's orders.
Either you kill her, or drop your weapon and I kill you.
I...
Do it.
......
But...
Do it!
I... I can't!
...I always said Grimm was too soft on you.
We're not here to convince the Victorians to give our homeland back. If you can't do it, you're going to get it—
Huh—a drone?
Captain! The workers are revolting!
What?
Feist, we've got the Doctor giving orders here. We'll keep the mercenaries pinned down. Go and get Catherine!
Alright!
Are you out of your minds?
[Effect(name="$e_spark_01_large",x = 200, layer = 1)]
No, we're not.
Do you know how valuable an experienced worker is?
They're in high demand, you know.
Feist! You—
Hmph...
You could have lived longer if you pretended not to know anything.
Too bad Granny always says I never know when to shut up.
You think you can beat me?
No, but maybe she can.
Wha—
Umph...!
Bollocks, that thing was heavy...
Thanks, George. That felt good.
Thank Feist.
What about you, Sarkaz? Not gonna fight?
......
...Girl.
Your captain was right. This isn't the time to talk about right or wrong. We can't.
But if you don't know what you're fighting for...
...No.
Y-You can't go...
......
Guess I've got no choice then.
Charge!
🔍
What's going on? Where is everybody?
I'm gonna have to report this, if I don't get a response—
Argh...
The Sarkaz warrior feels weightless.
In his blurring vision, he sees a black figure just before he collapses.
It was another Sarkaz.
Why... Sarkaz...
Last one.
Ascalon is talking to herself, but she puts away the weapon with complete confidence that she is right.
She can clearly see the angry workers routing the Sarkaz mercenaries from her position.
Violence without strength of numbers was easily broken before years of pent-up anger.
The balance of power is reversed. Memories float to the surface.
She casts her gaze in another direction.
The center of Londinium.
🔍
We've tied up all the mercs.
How many injuries?
Not many. The mercenaries with this kid were in a panic and slow to react.
They didn't even make up their mind to fight.
W-We—!
We... we just...
You tried to resist, but you were ambushed by cunning Londiniers.
Ascalon has cleaned up outside.
We don't have much time.
Their way, only a few old timers had to die.
Now the Sarkaz will have all your heads.
Is this your clever idea, Feist? Put all these years of patience to waste?
No.
If we watched you sacrifice yourselves to save our skins today, there'd be another group of victims tomorrow.
Until everyone only cares about themselves.
......
And... that's not your choice to make for all of us.
You're right. But it's not yours either.
This time, though, everyone came to rescue you of their own accord.
The Sarkaz have occupied the city for years... life is hard, but there are some red lines we can't let them cross. If we didn't come here today, we—
The Sarkaz will eventually boil us all.
George... you too.
It's not all of you here. That means there are some who don't want to see me come back alive.
......
Reality is crueler than you think, Feist. Right and wrong isn't so simple.
But what's done is done...
Catherine looks at Feist. It seems like she wants to say something.
She does not, however.
Let's go.
