BB-6 Flickering Light

Look! Up ahead!

The bridge... it's been blown? How are we supposed to get across?

I-Is there another path? The Catastrophe cloud is still over our heads...

We can't go any further, not with all the wounded and children...

Damn, the Originium crystals on the ground are starting to glow...

They'll kill us before the Catastrophe even has a chance. *cough*

We need to—

*cough*—

*cough* *cough*—

We need to go... It's all *Sarkaz expletive* Originium particles in the air.

No medicine for more than a week now... all the injured... Infected... damn it!

Wh-What's that sound?

No reinforcements from Babel yet? Then keep looking for a path! Don't come back until you do!

The Catastrophe cloud's fully formed. Which *Sarkaz expletive* unit attacked the hospital? Not even Scareye's that crazy!

Stick together! It's too late to try to get out of the Catastrophe. We need to find some clean caves! Nothing with Originium traces on it, not even a little bit!

Doing this to the wounded... Theresis, you piece of...

Mom... my leg hurts...

Don't cry, don't cry... we're almost home...

No— no— It hurts— It hurts...

...I hear it.

Children are crying.

It's starting to snow. This isn't good.

Two thousand, three hundred and thirteen.

All confirmed.

Location and physical data logged.

Fewer losses than expected, but time's of the essence.

Watching your Arts up close is always a remarkable experience, Mantra.

(Nods humbly)

Was the Djall in HR able to get you a few assistants?

(Closes eyes)

A shame.

Message sent to all squads.

Cave, seven kilometers to the northeast.

The children are there.

But the Military Commission's drones have found us.

I'll stay. You go.

(Frowns)

They don't want to face my squad head-on in this terrain.

Just going to say hi. Will try to take Manfred alive if he's leading them.

Don't take unnecessary risks—

Doctor here.

Sorry I'm late. Operations in the CA area have concluded.

Continue to carry out Mantra's plan. I'll provide support elsewhere. The priority is to help the civilians and wounded.

Good timing, Doctor.

Thanks. Misery is distracting the Military Commission, but he needs help.

Is this the part where I volunteer?

Yes, Ace.

Awaiting your orders.

And...

Theresa will go directly to the affected field hospital at the center to prevent further casualties.

If all goes well... I'll meet you there.

Explosion! Explosion!

Move away from the glowing area! Back off! The Originium underground is being activated—

*Sarkaz expletive* Too late—

Gah— ...The explosions stopped?

Snow... floating in the air?

The snow crystals here are almost indistinguishable from Originium crystals. Control over them can be achieved with sufficient focus.

You... You're

Precise control over individual snowflakes is difficult, but it's not so difficult to hold a snowstorm off in an Originium-rich environment.

Have you been paying attention in class, Aidan?

Pith! You're here! You...

I can give you ten minutes.

Go back to the meadows at the bottom of the valley and head south. Scout will guide your path.

Don't you remember what I taught you? There are a lot of emergency precautions you can take in an Originium-dense environment, but you did nothing.

I—

Wait... you have acute Oripathy patients in your group! What were you thinking?!

Take this syringe! I'll do what I can. You have ten minutes to get everybody in order.

But you—

Move it, before the Catastrophe fully forms! This area will be safe while I can dampen it for a bit.

—One more thing.

I'm using several kinds of Arts at the same time right now. I want to see an essay from all of you on my table by this weekend, explaining which schools these Arts belong to.

So you better damn well make it out alive.

...It's me. Any instructions from Manfred?

What is he doing? Huh?

A Royal Court high rank in amongst the Babel forces and refugees? Impossible! Look it up!

Doubt there's anything to look up. Manfred probably made up the excuse on the spot.

Even if they were there, they're Babel prisoners now. Rescuing prisoners in the middle of a Catastrophe is not part of the contract.

But we have to do it anyway. Dammit, get Thorn Squad to check the blockade...

Alright... 86 here. Hello? Hello?

No response. Where did they go? It's not time for the shift change yet, is it?

...Wait.

Isn't it a little too quiet?

There were fowlbeast cries only a moment ago...

All the animals must have fled the Catastrophe.

It'll sweep through this place in five hours. This is no time to be taking a nap.

Hand me the schedule.

I said, hand me the—

Huh? Hey, where did you go?

Hello? This is Squad 86! Anyone hear me? Anybody? What's going on? Somebody's—

You called?

—

Phew.

Three squads silenced. No alerts. The path is clear.

Combat personnel, follow these coordinates. Medics, take the injured and follow the markings I've left.

...There's something I need to confirm.

......

It's the Military Commission's frequency alright, but these were scouts, not the rogue mercenaries that attacked our positions.

Mission briefing 'Strawberry'. Just monitoring the retreat of the civilians... hah, Manfred even lied to them that there was a 'Royal Court high rank' here.

Well, I guess I'll leave the rest to Ascalon.

......

Babel.

Are you my death?

You led the attack on Babel positions. Who's orders are you following?

It's just doctors and Infected civilians—

Ngh.

What are you—

......

—!

Bomb... you're crazy.

Surrender. You have no chan—

......

...It's me. I'm done.

Sorry, couldn't take him alive. He blew himself up.

Something's not right.

He recognized me as Babel immediately, realized he was no match for me and quickly chose to blow himself up.

Abnormally decisive. Could be some experienced spy, or...

Wait.

I found a pouch. It's undamaged. I must have cut it off.

There's a Babel sleeve badge and a Military Commission medal inside.

It's not unusual for a mercenary working both sides of a war.

And a piece of paper. Possibly personal notes.

Most of it is illegible. The only thing I can make out is...

'...del. Home.'

......

Forget it. Not important.

Communications are out? Well, I guess the old stuff won't do it when a Catastrophe is so close.

Let's hope the other teams found a way out.

Don't just stand there.

Bring all the Infected who can't move over here.

What's the point? It's not like they'll be able to get away from the Catastrophe.

Just do it. It's not like you have anything to lose, is there?

And...? Some of them are comatose.

My condition isn't that far off from theirs. I'll end their suffering.

Originium particles will spread when they die. I'll take the brunt of it. Take your bow, keep your distance, and finish the job.

(Mumbles) Hell no.

Hey, stay away from the Infected. Julie will deal with them.

...Infected.

You're just leaving them here like firewood.

I'm not doing it because I want to.

Is there any hope for them?

No. Just death. They'll turn to dust in ten minutes or so.

They could have been saved.

Does living a little longer count as being saved?

......

Their conditions are too severe. If they don't die here, they'll die in some forgotten alleyway in Kazdel. I should have stayed in Sargon...

Here, give them these suppressants. It'll at least relieve their pain.

Where did you get these suppressants? No, who are you anyway? When did you get here?

Don't move!

Your ID code, now, or I'll—

Let the Doctor pass.

It's fine.

Everything will be fine.

You look familiar—

Y-Your Highness! How could you—

We're right in the middle of the Catastrophe! W-We're very grateful, but...

You shouldn't have come! It's too dangerous—

Your... Highness...

I'm sorry I came late.

Too late to save your lives... I'm sorry I couldn't do enough...

Please... don't...

I'm listening, my children.

I will remember how all of you lived and died... forgive me that I could not promise you more, but for your family, children, friends and comrades...

There will come a day when they will no longer live in fear.

......

Your lives should have been so much more.

Now, though, dream a warm dream... a dream that will come true.

Sleep, children of Kazdel. Sleep in the warm embrace of home.

Sleep.

Thank... you...

......

So, you... er...

You can call me anything you like. Even 'evil spirit', if that's what you prefer.

I-I don't mean that! It's just, this is the first time we've spoken to each other alone.

You brought us many victories. I've had a hand in some. They also say you're an expert on Originium...

...'Expert'.

Yet it's the first time I've seen Infected die like this with my own two eyes.

You're lucky.

I never thought it would be so...

Does living a little longer count as being saved?

...Never mind.

It's time to go, Theresa.

Right.

But it's too late, even if we leave now. And the Military Commission has set a trap for us...

It'll be fine.

Let's go home.

Doctor.

I heard about the operation. You...

Doctor?

There's something I want to ask, Kal'tsit.

Go ahead.

As a physician, is it saving a life when all you can do is stave off death for a little while?

Unless it goes contrary to the patient's wishes, the duty of a physician is to save lives.

That's what we've always worked to do.

Why do you ask?

Looking at Amiya and the people around us makes me feel that you shouldn't have to deal with this kind of suffering.

......

And I...

Doctor, Kal'tsit, there you are.

The intelligence meeting just ended. The unexpected Catastrophe has led to a stalemate, and some breathing room for us.

The two of you need to get some rest. Especially you, Doctor. You've hardly slept since you've been back, right?

I'm fine...

Doctor... do you think all this is your fault?

It is.

I won't run from my responsibility, and I won't wallow in self-pity... I just need time to accept the present.

I—

......

You're tired, Doctor. I'm grateful that you have chosen to bear the burden of these emotions for the sake of this great land.

Your pain and struggle shows your kindness and ideals. I won't try to wipe them away, but we could share this burden, if you are willing...

...?

(The Doctor is rejecting me? Or is it...?)

Sorry, Theresa, but this is not something you need to take on.

No need to use Civilight Eterna on me. It takes a toll on you too. There are more important uses for it.

More important than helping someone who's given everything for us?

Hehe... thank you. I mean it.

You and Scout said we have some breathing room, right?

I'll make dinner for us, then. I learned it off Misery.

For our future challenges.

......

Priestess... What have we done...?

I'm afraid not. It's impossible.

Doctor... it hurts...

Thank... you...

...Originium won't infect me.

Did we ever imagine that such pain would come?

What would you say about what's happening to this world?

(Unknown language) Originium.

(Unknown language) The last spark that we have passed on.

......

(Steady breathing)

It's working.

It's several times more effective than existing suppressants. Amiya's blood Originium crystal concentration has dropped significantly.

But...

It's just a prototype. I haven't found a way to mass-produce it on Terra yet.

Doctor!

I know you're experimenting on yourself... but you really don't look well.

Just some research on blood.

Originium doesn't infect me. We've had safety measures in place since it was just an energy project. Maybe this could be used to mitigate the symptoms of Oripathy.

And Theresa... she's not like you. Civilight Eterna is not some kind of powerful magic. She has simply created Originium Arts in its most fundamental form, through the accumulation of a long legacy.

With her help, we may be able to develop more advanced Oripathy medicine that can be mass produced...

I'm more concerned about you right now, Doctor.

I'm fine.

If Originium has transformed you into beings identical to us, then there will be a way to create a serum in place of my own...

No matter how complicated the present issues are, if Babel can develop an effective Oripathy medicine...

It will be more than just the Sarkaz that support us. It will be all of Terra.

Then, we can—

No, listen to me.

You have not relaxed for an instant, from Rim Billiton, to the Sarkaz civil war.

I chose to wake you up in order to point the way for this civilization, one that's surprised me at every turn.

I don't want you to waste away now.

You need to take care of yourself.

...Sorry.

Right now, though, what I want to do most is alleviate Amiya's pain.

I see you, Amiya. You can come out.

Doctor... am I interrupting anything?

No, just curious how you got in when I didn't hear the door open.

I found a lot of secret passages.

Secret passages?

Yeah. Closure said not to tell anyone, so I haven't.

No wonder Dr. Kal'tsit can't find you for checkups. You've been hiding there all along.

...I promise I won't run away, if you go with me.

Alright, I'll try to make the time.

You've been really busy. Dr. Kal'tsit said even she has hardly seen you lately.

Whenever I see you, you're all by yourself, carrying a stack of papers, head down, walking from one end of a corridor to the other.

If someone says hi to you, all you do is nod, then keep on walking without a word.

Sounds like you're describing a really rude person. Sorry, Amiya.

No, that's not what I meant... you just seem really unhappy.

Why would you say that?

Before we came to Rhodes Island, you were curious about everything, cuddled up with the burdenbeasts at night, crouched down to look at tiny rocks in the mines, and went to pick fruit from beckbeast dens...

You enjoyed everything, even the things that didn't interest me as a kid.

But now... whenever I talk to you about something fun, all you say is, 'I'm glad you enjoyed it, Amiya.'

But I came to talk to you about it to make you feel happy...

Are you unhappy because I'm not getting better?

It's not because of you, Amiya. This is about me.

And... you can hear noises outside the ship, can't you?

Yes. Like the huge drills in Rim Billiton. They're so noisy... I don't like them.

Me, Theresa, Dr. Kal'tsit, we all have a lot of things to do. It's not your fault.

...Alright.

Do you have time today, Amiya?

Yes!

I want to go up the deck and see the clouds. It's going to rain. They have very interesting shapes, and I could talk for a long time if there was someone there to listen to me.

Of course! But... don't you have work to do?

It's okay... I'll be done soon.

Doctor!

...It's okay. The Doctor just passed out on the deck due to exhaustion.

Thank goodness... it's not something serious.

What about the wound on the Doctor's arm?

Trying to contract Oripathy. The Doctor tried many ways: breathing in dust, exposure to Originium-dense environments, even a direct incision with active Originium...

I tried to get the Doctor to stop, and I asked Scout to do the same, but...

No one wants to see the Doctor get hurt.

Maybe the Doctor is in more pain than we see on the surface.

What about Amiya?

Terribly frightened. She wouldn't stop crying. It took a lot of effort to get her to sleep.

This is... a sculpture?

A gift from a rescued Infected to the Doctor.

Ace was the first to hear Amiya's cry. He carried the Doctor back and left this behind.

See, Doctor? You've established connections with so many people. You're not alone.

But what are you hiding that you wouldn't even tell Kal'tsit or me?

......

The Doctor truly wants to help Amiya and Babel. I can feel that.

But I also can't help but feel that the Doctor leaves some thoughts unsaid... some concerns, some doubts.

I believed these sentiments were the result of such an abrupt awakening, and that they would go away in time.

But they haven't.

The Doctor is being torn apart by these unsaid things, tormented by hesitation, pain, and guilt.

Perhaps I don't understand the Doctor as well as I thought.

I don't know how to ease the Doctor's pain. And if neither of us know what the Doctor is thinking...

Then the Doctor of Babel will always be alone, all the love and respect notwithstanding.

...Kal'tsit.

Yes.

I will explain to the Doctor in time.

This... is Originium?

When was this memory...? The Doctor's emotion, pain, hesitation, and... fear?

Who was that... accompanying the Doctor in despair?

No, Kal'tsit said there was another—

...!

Theresa!

...!

What happened, Theresa?

What did you see?

I... I saw Originium.

It had assimilated the entire continent. The Doctor felt pain and anxiety over it.

—

Was that the Doctor's memory? No... a dream?

Give me a hand, Kal'tsit. The feeling, the noise and the wailing... I...

Theresa.

I told you that Originium once decided the distant future of this land. There were two choices.

We were too focused on tangible suffering, Catastrophe, Oripathy. Casting our eyes toward that future brought too much difficulty and too little meaning.

The Doctor chose one of them... the future that the Doctor spoke of to me, personally.

I could not forget that future the Doctor described. Never, in all these years.

But the other cold and empty thought has often shot up my spine in the middle of the night over the past ten thousand years.

I cannot speak of it.

But you can sense my anger with your power.

That means that Civilight Eterna exists outside of the boundaries of language.

......

So, Theresa.

If you saw a future that you are not willing to accept, I hope you, Civilight Eterna, can change the course. Only you can.

If you saw the side of myself or the Doctor that is strange to you...

Kal'tsit?

No, Kal'tsit, that's not what I meant—

—The Doctor's feelings toward Amiya, toward us, toward you, are sincere. That is the truth.

Trust the Doctor, and trust me. I will find the answer to what is tormenting the Doctor. And when—

Ugh...

Doctor!

Doctor... you're awake.

What happened to me?

You fainted as you were leaving the deck with Amiya.

Hgnh... where's Amiya?

A little shaken, but she's fine.

You're still in bad shape. What were you thinking?

......