Arknights story · Somniloquium Serenum
SS-3 Music Room's Radiance
In Umiri's dream, she has just been released from prison when an attempt is made on her life by a former boss's underling, Francis. Soon after, she receives yet another invitation from a 'Don' to join a Famiglia. As Sakiko searches for Umiri, she runs into Francis, and finds something is amiss.
2 scenes, 201 lines
1. Before Operation
106 linesThe rain falls like tears, and I am but a single drop within this endless sea.
In this lonely night, I am no longer lost.
I do not fear being afraid.
Prisoner 48038, step forward.
Sir! Your orders?
Did you forget anything when going over your personal effects?
No, sir, I made sure to check everything!
Head straight down the corridor to the little window at the end and sign your name. You're free to go after that.
Y-Yes, thank you, sir!
The sound of heavy jogging echoes down the corridor.
The heavy footsteps of boots gradually drew nearer, echoing down the hallway.
Umiri.
Here.
Get lost. I don't want to see you again this year.
Umiri picks up her bass guitar case in one deft motion and strolls leisurely out of the prison.
Siracusa is much the same as ever, welcoming her return with an interminable drizzle.
Put our boys and girls in every shop on this street and the next ones over. Everyone keeps an eye out. We are NOT letting her run away!
Got it!
Just got news from North Street, boss! She's heading this way!
Keep your eyes on her! Don't let her run off!
I... I don't think she's trying to hide, boss.
...Get everyone back here, pronto!
In the narrow alleyway, a gang of ghoulish thugs surrounds the girl with the bass guitar case.
We meet again... Umiri.
Heh, and here I was wondering why a pro like you never got taken in by any famiglie.
See, after ours fell on hard times, I asked around, and that's how I learned you made your career out of being a traitor.
You've gone through a dozen names bouncing around every famiglia out there.
Our contracts never said we couldn't do work for others.
And like I said long ago: I only take my reward and fulfill the duties that match it.
Is that why you sold our secrets to our enemies?!
...I don't know what you're talking about.
Don't play dumb, you goddamn traitor! Ever since you showed up, our people have been getting screwed left and right!
All thanks to me and the don being stupid enough to trust you. We even invited you to join us!
Francis, I don't remember what I've done to offend you all—
Hmph. What, you owe so many people you can't even remember?!
The don's dead, everyone's dead! We had hundreds of people, and now it's just our dozen left!
...What do you mean?
We busted our asses moving from Columbia to this stupid place, but you had to go and get everyone killed!
I...
No more talk. There's enough of us here to teach her a very painful lesson today!
I don't want to have to fight with you...
Umiri tries to stay the impending clash through words, but the gang shows no signs of relenting as they approach her—
She is forced to put her case down.
Alright... let's get her!
I wouldn't go any further, now, bambina.
Something just started up over there. You're not safe alone. Go the long way round, quick.
...Thank you for the warning.
The girl pays the passerby's advice no heed. She continues on in the exact direction she was warned against.
The rain patters against the ground, washing Siracusa's every stain away.
The girl steps into the alley. It is clean and tidy, so utterly spotless as to seem newly built.
Siracusa's cleaners are consummate professionals.
Not the slightest stench of blood hangs in the humid air.
You... You looking for Umiri?
The billiards room of a casino. Nobody would expect someone to live here.
A few cardboard boxes are assembled into a makeshift bed. The most basic of toiletries fill a bag nabbed for free from a fast food joint.
The billiards table is covered in envelopes, envelopes containing Umiri's payment.
She opens them up one after the other, tossing the golden coins within onto the table. Soon, the pile of coins stamped with 'Famiglia' and 'Ordine' has become a miniature mountain.
And there the coins are left, out in the open, without the slightest protection. She wouldn't care the slightest bit if they went missing.
...Hmm?
Umiri checks over the envelope in her hand once more. There is nothing in it.
She flips it over. On its front is the insignia of a famiglia, along with the sender's address.
She's here, boss.
The guys in the prison didn't give you any trouble, did they?
They're all old friends. Besides, they know who my employer is. They wouldn't want to stick their hands in the fire.
But I imagine you didn't summon me just to ask that, did you, sir?
Kheheh. Just concerned for a business partner, that's all.
Sir, when did we become partners?
When you signed your contract with me, you wouldn't even use your famiglia's name.
Well, if you want to become 'partners', and I know you do, then let me lay my cards out—
Umiri, I'd like to have you for a long-term job.
What kind of job requires us to meet face-to-face?
I'm thinking... of inviting you into the famiglia.
There's nobody inside.
Why did you insist on coming along? You're obviously afraid of her.
You're not a mafioso, you wouldn't get it! I gotta... I gotta get revenge, for everyone's sake!
What exactly happened between you and Umiri that you find so unforgivable?
If you ever got betrayed the way we did, you wouldn't forgive her either...
Our famiglia was mostly ordinary folk running away from the Columbian frontier. We didn't have much of a network or resources, so we've always been looked down upon by the local mafia.
Fast forward a couple of years, and one day, the boss decides to spend a fortune hiring someone.
And that was Umiri?
Yep. Once we hired her, it was peace and quiet for a long, long time.
Those were the good days. Didn't have to worry about anyone raiding our place, or looking for trouble at our door...
But when we invited her to actually join the famiglia, she declined. Then the next day, she vanished. Just, gone.
And right as we started getting suspicious, a bunch of goons stormed in to stab us in the gut. No idea who sent them.
I still can't bear to look back at what happened that day... It was too much, too much!
And you're under the impression Umiri sold you out?
Well, who else could it be?! You're crazy if you think it's a coincidence!
...I'm not willing to believe that Umiri would betray someone like this.
The Umiri I know is much like you've described. Strong and capable, a reassuring presence.
And always eager to uphold her duty as part of a group.
I mean, but facts are facts...
Did you see any trace of her amongst the people in that raid?
...I did not.
Then do you remember what the raiders themselves looked like?
Can't forget for the rest of my life.
Sakiko takes a deep breath, moving her hand to the self-defense weapon in her pocket.
What if... someone was deliberately trying to break you apart?
What if... someone was keeping a close eye on Umiri this entire time?
...What're you trying to say?
Before Francis can react, the cabinet doors all around them are thrown wide open.
Within each is a burly mobster, and all together, they raise their weapons at the pair in the center of the room.
No funny moves.
2. After Operation
95 linesAt first, I treated it as no more than an ordinary job.
A small, unremarkable famiglia needed my strength to find their footing in turbulent Siracusa.
But with every day that passed, they came to trust me more, even letting me in on important family meetings.
I knew it was never part of the contract, but I very much enjoyed the feeling of belonging with these people.
Yo, Umiri, my girl! Been a few days since I saw you. How you doing?
Here, some tangerine cream pudding. If I remember right, that's your flavor of choice, yeah?
No need, I have my own.
Hey, screw you, be a little grateful!
I heard you chased off those goons harassing us, all by yourself! Just wanted to show my appreciation!
Keep your distance from me. I'm just a hired thug doing what I'm paid to. I'll be leaving once I'm done.
If your boss sees the two of us getting friendly, it won't end well for you.
It'll be fine. He was telling me earlier, for a while now he's been thinking of inviting you in with us...
...I recommend you ask around Siracusa about my reputation.
Who needs to ask? You're the strongest person we've ever met!
If you ask me, better say yes right now. We'll get together for tonight's family dinner—
You say it's a family dinner, but it's usually more of a band concert...
Hey, we might not be the strongest famiglia, but you can't beat our sense of camaraderie!
Besides, you joined in the jam session plenty of times. Everyone really gets along with you, y'know.
...We can talk about this when I'm free.
That's what you said last time—
I'm going now.
I turned down his kind invitation.
But as I walked home, my heart was filled with some nameless emotion.
One I have never felt before.
That night, I lay on my bed, tossing and turning. I got no sleep at all.
Before the sun rose, I had packed all my things—
...Who would come looking here?
Umiri. There's been a situation with the boss, and he wants you to take some of the heat.
But I already decided to...
We've made arrangements with the prison. They're waiting for you downstairs.
Here's your payment. If you don't think it's enough, we can always add more.
......
Umiri, what's gotten into you today? I say something?
This is how it's always been, yeah? This is the deal—we pay up, you do the job.
C'mon, get going. We'll find a way to get your sentence down to six months. That's no time at all. You'll be out before you know it.
As a hired hand, it's not uncommon at all to have to be the fall guy. I know my way around life in prison.
But just this one time, this one single time, I suffered like nothing else.
For six months, there wasn't a single moment that I wasn't thinking of getting out, of returning to the famiglia, to their band's parties.
I'd found for myself where I belonged.
But I never thought it would end like this—
The don's dead, everyone's dead! We had hundreds of people, and now it's just our dozen left!
We busted our asses moving from Columbia to this stupid place, but you had to go and get everyone killed!
What happened in these six months?
I don't know. The only thing I do know is that—
Once again, I've lost my 'home'.
Umiri. You've done a lot for me, at great personal risk to yourself. You've earned a position from me.
I permit you to join my famiglia.
...You know I've always been a lone agent. I won't be joining any famiglie.
Because you don't want to, or because you can't?
......
I'm not like those ruffians who go about calling themselves 'Don', Umiri.
Over half my life I've been here, wrangling with the big famiglie. They're tricky, they're sly. Never once left this poker table.
You want me to get you to a table with bigger stakes?
Clever girl.
This is separate from making a deal. I need to do a lot more thinking when it comes to joining a famiglia.
The only thing I need to consider in a deal is the money on offer. If I'm going to be part of a famiglia, I need to consider the character of its leader.
Kheheh, I know I don't have the best reputation. But that's precisely what we have in common, isn't it?
Umiri. Is anyone willing to take you in, aside from me?
......
Siracusa's a dangerous place. All you'll find under the banner of Famiglia e Ordine are conspiracies and schemes.
How long since you had a peaceful night's sleep?
Lying on your cardboard boxes, dagger in hand in case anyone tries to sneak up on you...
'The lone wolf finally finds a home'.
A return to the pack, a restoration of rank and reputation... or a mutt's death in the wilds, your corpse quartered by hungry beasts.
It's your choice.
I...
Boss, she's led some suspect folks here.
Sakiko's hands are shackled behind her. She cannot move them an inch.
There was another. He managed to run. We're sending boys after him.
Do you know this signorina, Umiri?
I don't.
Don't you recall that we have old debts to settle?
Seems she holds something against you.
I'll give you time, I'll give you space, Umiri. You handle this yourself.
I already said I don't know her...
This is your final test before you join my famiglia.
This time... better not try to fake the scene with blood bags.
Sakiko and Umiri are left alone in the alleyway.
But both know there are people invested in how their duel ends.
Umiri knows the boss is watching.
Sakiko knows Morpheus is watching too.
I don't have anything against you. Why are you trying to get killed?
I am here to bring you back.
Bring me back?
Not back to the billiards room, but back to the place you're meant to be.
I don't understand what you're talking about.
Even so, I have to pull you out of this. I cannot allow you to throw your life away in this manner.
Your boss sent his underlings to stab Francis's people in the back.
I hardly believe that the man who stabbed you in the back would grant you the home you wish for.
But... but...
Exploited like a piece, sacrificed like a pawn, again and again... Is this really the life you want? Is this the trust you so desire?
In all the time you've spent here, not once have you wanted to hurt a single soul.
Just a moment ago, I saw your case inside. Your bass is in there, isn't it?
You never needed to suffer like this, Umiri.
Umiri... Let's get out of here. Together.