This is how you do it, right? Aim at the enemy, then—
Londinium Worker A
Whoa!
Londinium Worker A
Bloody hell.
Catherine
Relax, Tommy. It's not much different from the machines you worked day after day, in that both can make a mess out of you in an instant. Just remember to keep the safety engaged when you're not using it.
Londinium Worker A
Ha, haha.
Londinium Worker A
Where did that white-haired Feline get all this stuff with things the way they are now?
Catherine
Look at the...
Londinium Worker A
Catherine?
Catherine
I'm fine. Chronic stuff.
Catherine
Look at the dust on these weapons. They're brand-new, but they've been in storage for a while.
Catherine
This isn't standard-issue military stuff, more like custom weapons for special operations, and they weren't made by Londinium factories
Catherine
Looks like Millscar is more than just your average gangster.
Londinium Worker A
Do you mean she's an informant for somebody big? So, she's willing to trade weapons with us because—
Catherine
Don't expect to play an important role in their games. These stuff were probably meant for something else, and she came to us only after that fell through.
Catherine
Or maybe Millscar raided some duke's secret arsenal in Londinium and selflessly decided to share it with people in need. Who knows?
Catherine
What she's after doesn't matter to us. We're just taking things one step at a time.
Londinium Worker A
We've sent a few scouts out since the sky turned red. For some reason, all the Sarkaz soldiers seemed to have pulled out of Highbury.
Catherine
That doesn't mean we're safe. Quite the contrary, it means the Sarkaz don't care about managing the city anymore. Factories, production lines... none of these matter to them anymore.
Londinium Worker B
I had a look at Magna Borough yesterday. It's been turned into a huge Arts Circle...
Londinium Worker B
Hundreds if not thousands are trapped in their strange witchcraft, fueling the Sarkaz altars.
Londinium Worker B
At this rate, it won't be long before it's our turn.
Catherine
...
Londinium Worker A
What are you planning? Should we get that thing we've been building out there, and—
Catherine
Don't be silly. Just because you got some decent gear doesn't mean you suddenly became a commando.
Catherine
We have a few decent weapons. They'll allow us to defend ourselves if the Sarkaz come for us, no more than that.
Catherine
We must—
???
'Wait for an opportunity.'
???
When do you think that opportunity is going to come, though?
Londinium Worker A
Wh-Who are you? How did you find this place?
Catherine
...I've seen your clothes.
Catherine
You went to all that effort to sneak into Londinium at a time like this, even investigating our background... what do you need with a few old workers, now?
Catherine
Reunion?
???
The 13th ventilation tunnel is running. There are marks on the 54th ropeway.
???
I suggest you double-check. If we can find it, so can the Sarkaz.
Nine
Oh, my name's Nine, by the way. And yes, I'm with Reunion.
Catherine
Thanks for the heads up.
Catherine
Did you come all this way beneath Londinium just to tell us this?
Nine
We want to know how long you plan to wait.
Nine
We have folks who used to work in Sudean Borough. They say the workers of Londinium were always proud that they built this great city.
Nine
But has it ever truly belonged to you, past or present?
Nine
Madam Catherine, your condition—
Catherine
I've heard the stories. I'll give you credit where it's due, but spare me that crap about the non-Infected taking everything from you. I'm not interested.
Catherine
What are a few rocks here and there in today's Londinium? We have a lot more to worry about.
Nine
True.
Nine
Infected or uninfected... none of that matters in Londinium now.
Nine
So, are you planning to take back the city?
Nine
From all who stood idly by while all this happened, from the people who allowed things to get to this point.
Catherine
What did you say?
Nine
Londinium is filled with Originium dust. Many will become sick and die because of it.
Nine
The culprit will be made to pay, whoever they are, whether they have rocks growing out of them or not.
Nine
Reunion won't wait at the finish line. Not anymore.
Londinium Worker A
You're—
Reunion Member A
Hey, Tommy! Remember me?
Londinium Worker A
Mayore! I thought you got sick and—oh, so that's how you ended up with Reunion.
Reunion Member A
Well, I'm back. Here, Oripathy prevention pills. Take one per day. There's only so much it can do, though, so you'd better pray that your luck's good.
Londinium Worker A
You guys...
Londinium Worker A
To tell you the truth... your look when you left the factory... I thought you would have loved nothing more than for all of us to become Infected like you.
Reunion Member A
Maybe I really did.
Reunion Member A
But it wasn't you who lost me my job. Wasn't Catherine, either. I know you lot tried to put in a good word for me, but those were the rules.
Reunion Member A
Maybe not anymore, though.
Nine
There's a lot we can help with—using and maintaining equipment, operating in high-Originium environments, tactics, covert operations. Anything you need.
Nine
We'll help you liberate this place, if you'll let us... from the people who saw all this as nothing more than the 'price of business'.
Catherine
We'll take the city back, with or without you, Nine of Reunion.
But the clouds no longer converged upon the pinnacle of the Shard, replaced by something else.
The branches and vines began to bear red fruit.
It is a bizarre scene, but somehow it inspires comfort rather than fear, as though this is how it should be, how it always has been.
The world seems to have always been like this; all that has happened is that someone had removed the back cover of a clock by accident, revealing the springs and gears underneath.
Originium is an integral part of Terra's ecology. Originium in the atmosphere bring about Catastrophe, and Originium in the body cause sickness. Even insects know to cover themselves in hard shells of Originium.
The coexistence of Originium and Terra is an immutable law, just like how two parallel lines can never intersect.
What to do with enemy mercenaries that we captured in the Lifebone, sir?
Manfred
Is this all of them?
Royal Court Soldier A
Yes, sir. Many of them previously served the Military Commission.
Manfred
Kill them all.
Royal Court Soldier A
Yes, sir!
Manfred
...
Manfred
Show yourself.
Paprika
G-General Manfred...
Manfred
...Paprika.
Manfred
Was I supposed to see you here?
Paprika
I... I was captured by the mercenaries here while transporting a shipment.
Paprika
I had to protect my squad...
Manfred
That doesn't explain why you didn't respond when the Military Commission attacked this skeleton.
Manfred
And what were you doing hiding here?
Paprika
I... I was just afraid.
Manfred
Hmph. Afraid.
Manfred
Your previous mission is over, Paprika.
Manfred
Your new mission is to execute these traitors to the Military Commission.
Paprika
But... but they're prisoners, defenseless—
Manfred
As warriors, they're traitors to their cause. As mercenaries, they've unilaterally broken their contract. One way or the other, they must pay the price.
Paprika
B-But they're in no position to resist anymore. They're no threat to you.
Paprika
What meaning is there to all this killing? Didn't you say yourself that you wanted as many Sarkaz to go home as possible—
Manfred
I gave you a chance, Paprika. I've been very patient.
Manfred
You're not the first one to disappoint me today.
Royal Court Soldier B
General!
Royal Court Soldier B
The engineers have examined the Lifebone. The structure is largely intact, and the mercenaries don't have the means to make direct modifications. However...
Royal Court Soldier B
We found a large amount of explosives that were not set by us.
Manfred
Explosives?
Royal Court Scout
Unable to reach Lieutenant General Nadine, sir!
Manfred
What?
W
That hard-headed Hoederer can come in useful once in a while. You really did lead an attack squad, Manfred.
W
Is this our first formal meeting? I guess I should introduce myself. I'm from Babel, and I'm here to take your life. You can call me W.
Manfred
A mercenary from Hoederer Squad...
Manfred
You came back to die?
W
Die?
W
Pfft. Have you thought for a moment that why your attack has gone a little too smoothly? Where did you think all the mercenaries went?
W
Who's surrounded now?
Manfred
You think this rabble can stand against the soldiers of the Military Commission?
W
I hope your bones are as hard as your words.
W
Because I'll blow your head off before your soldiers can even knock on the door.
Manfred
Hmph...
Manfred begins to swing, but shadows entangle his feet. Then bombs explode all around him before he can break free.
Ines
Aim, W!
W
Stop complaining! I told you I'm good at controlling explosions!
Manfred
*cough*—
Manfred
You're trying to destroy the skeleton—
W
Oh, is that not very convenient?
W
I'm not sentimental like Hoederer is. I have absolutely no problem making this big pile of bones your grave.
W
I wonder what Theresis would be sadder about: Losing this big guy, or losing his favorite foster son.
Manfred
You think I'd let you do that?
Ascalon
...Not a moment too soon.
W
Ascalon?
W
You look...
The bloodied assassin stops the foe's sword, not the slightest hint of wavering in her sleeve-blade.
Manfred
You...
Ascalon
You're not ready to kill me.
W
Cut off this guy's golden head, Ascalon, and I'll listen to anything you say for a whole year!
Right here, where the mountain's energies are most focused.
Kal'tsit
This will cause an extreme, uncontrolled Originium chain-reaction.
Kal'tsit
Get ready, Doctor.
Here goes nothing.
Amiya
Ready—
Black Arts penetrate the mountainous Originium.
Amiya
The collapse has begun.
Kal'tsit
Run!
You grab Mon3tr's claw, an action that has become second-nature. Mon3tr screeches joyfully and begins to run.
Behind you is the terrifying roar of destructive energy running rampant.
The violent chain-reaction causes everything around you to tremble.
Sudaram
...
The legions of Nachzehrers follow the trembling.
Amiya
The Sudaram are chasing us!
Kal'tsit
Don't fight them! Don't let them bog you down!
Warriors wrapped in tattered banners swarm upon you. Many of them are swallowed by the Originium chain-reaction, but even more join the ranks of your pursuers.
Mon3tr
(Unhappy Whining)
Sudaram entangle Mon3tr. You hear their hollow breathing echo in your ear.
The Nachzehrer warriors are trying to drag all of you into the pit of death.
???
'Shadows of conflict, yield to conflict.'
Logos!
Logos
Trust your elite operators, Doctor.
Logos
They'll show up when you need them the most.
I've always trusted you.I know I can count on you.
Logos
Don't let your guard down.
Logos
I sense turmoil in the fabric of reality. The Feranmut is coming.
Logos
I will attempt to create a waypoint to help us board the skeleton.
What should I do?
Logos
Jump down from the cliff.
...Alright.I'm beginning to regret what I just said.
