Arknights story · Critical Phase Transition
17-14 What the Snow Cannot Hide
Eloysius looks for Vetochki, inspiring her to tell the people about what happened in the Far North, so that she can push for the passing of The Winter Emergency Resource Allocation Act at the citizen's forum. In the sealed district, Alita helps the Rhodes Islanders out of trouble. The assembled Infected fighters discover a ghastly sight within the 'factory'.
1 scenes, 273 lines
1. Before Operation
273 lines......
There are none left. Absolutely none. The entire way here, there have been no Infected who failed to get aid and shelter.
'I made the right decision.'
'I made the right decision.'
As she walked to the treatment center, she told herself this, over and over.
But... what next? What must she do to make this situation a lasting one?
...I see.
Elotta, you should know that the red on an Imperial Guardsman's uniform represents the red of blood.
......
A soldier who slew countless enemies on the battlefield used his torn uniform to hold his spilling intestines inside his body as he crawled back to camp, all so he could celebrate a momentary victory for his comrades who would not return.
When he died, his blood had soaked through the makeshift bandages, clinging tightly to his stiffening body and sticking to his abdomen.
Correct. Which is why you do not need to worry yourself too much about this matter. You were decisive in your judgment. There is nothing more to it.
But I executed him without a trial, without permission—
Is it not normal for an officer to act first and report later under extraordinary circumstances?
We need not even carry out a court martial. Anyone with eyes would approve of your difficult decision.
Then will Platon's family be implicated?
I can only say that I did not hear anything about his family inciting him to act this way in your report just now.
But this does not mean any guarantees as to their fate.
What do you mean?
Once more, you look only at the 'truth', without making an effort to piece together the cause behind it, correct?
When Count Lunin first began dealing with your father several years ago, he was an honorary citizen who could only support a small workshop, but he has now become a new noble, with textile factories spanning several districts of Grypherburg.
I fear nobody would see this rate of progress and think he did it by his own effort. And when the partner he relied on lost his glory, and could not render more aid—
No matter if he managed to devour the hand that once fed him, or if they fall together, the shift in resources resulting from this commotion will not flow down to those who never had anything to begin with.
This is the greatest problem our modern nation faces. No matter how much bread we may produce in aggregate, we cannot ensure it reaches everyone.
We cannot fill the bellies... of all our people.
......
Which is why you should not be worrying about whether people will suddenly fall from grace due to your actions.
If you still wish to do something worthwhile, then consider my words carefully.
......
We must act, before even more people are fed into the insatiable machine that is the empire.
I must...
Vetochki.
Hmm?
Where is the general?
'The g-general'? Wh-Who is that?
...Is Gospodin Hellagur in?
He's... r-reading books... with some of th-the little kids.
Little kids? Littler than you?
Sixteen. If you were the daughter of a noble, you'd have the formal right to inherit. A woman grown.
B-But I'm not... and I d-don't want to be one.
Then do you want to go somewhere where you can tell your story, where you can fight for fair treatment for all your friends?
We can... go and... t-testify?
D-Dur-nar said... the courthouse... is that sort of p-p-place.
No, Vetochki. Not this time. I won't lie to you. You will not be going to testify.
There is a bill called The Winter Emergency Resource Allocation Act, to be voted on in Grypherburg's first citizen's forum.
If it passes, it will save the lives of countless people unable to keep themselves warm this winter, countless workers who lost their jobs due to lack of resources.
Before all that, you can go and give suggestions, tell them your story, raise support among the people. You will help the proposal pass. You will help your comrades.
Th-Then... I'll go.
However, it means you will need to get up in front of everyone. There will be no lack of unsightly faces there, ones just like the 'lords' you saw during your time in the mines.
This may also be very dangerous. The Infected are still not allowed to walk the streets unchaperoned, and you will make yourself stand out. Although Hellagur and I will protect you—
Alright then.
Then let me find a way to make them give you back the identity that should have been yours in the first place.
You're back.
Judging by the look on your face, did you get confirmation about something?
I have... received a whistleblower report.
From Vasily's daughter.
Eloysius?
You remember her.
Because her mother gave her such a rare name.
Why would she report on her own father?
In her own words... 'This all has crossed my bottom line. I had to make a choice to prevent even more people from falling victim to my father's absurd schemes.'
This report—perhaps testimony—exposes his attempts to pull Duchess Volkina and the pro-war faction into an alliance. It is able to force him to be suspended pending inquiry, perhaps even be temporarily detained.
But even if we exploit the fact that he has exposed an entry point into the interior of the pro-wars through his treachery, this will not touch on the root of the issue at hand...
I suggest sealing this report and all other results of related investigations, to be used at a later date.
If we use that evidence to control him, then the vice-chairman's current behavior is no longer important.
Precisely.
How interesting... First the students in Katorga, now the new generation of the Imperial Guard. The vast majority of our youth are awake now.
But what about those stubborn, sundowning old men? Why do they still turn a blind eye to all the contradictions and challenges exposed by our lack of minerals? Why are they so devoted to making trouble for people outside their circle?
Are they not like a chronic illness plaguing Ursus...? When did our nation lose the strength to fight disease within?
Your Imperial Majesty... Though you may see them as disease, they are also the flesh the empire demands.
Fortunately, we are witnessing a new power be born within this nation, even though they are still young sprouts unable to break through the permafrost... We wish them to have more time.
You're right... 'Disease' and 'flesh', who should be the one differentiating them?
How do I ensure that, when this power emerges from the soil, I will not be seen by them as 'the chronic illness plaguing Ursus' myself?
Your Imperial Majesty?
......
Tell me plainly, Witte. How likely is The Winter Emergency Resource Allocation Act to pass, if things stay as they are?
If we only factor in the possibility of men following their good conscience, then thirty percent, no higher.
As I have said before, there is no man who would willingly give up his own profits. What you aim to do will leave them one last bit of grace, though none of them will thank you for it.
Your magnanimity will be as pearls before meatbeasts.
This will be their last chance.
If these beasts are still ungrateful, then this will be their last chance to use their 'innate authority' to sit at the table.
The signal-blocking mechanism here is very strange...
I can't guarantee that I've found the right place, but there shouldn't be any guards popping out to intercept us when we get out.
Let's focus on getting out first, then. At least we haven't heard any alarms.
We've been walking in the dark for ages now, Raidian. Where's this exit you were talking about?
Do you have night vision, Mon3tr?
I mean, yes, but I might as well not have here. It's all just walls and stairs. No sight of even an emergency exit sign.
Can you tell what materials they're made of? Walls and doors have their differences. Even if they appear the same visually, their materials will let us tell them apart.
Look, but don't touch without proper caution. The doors may be electrified.
...
Oh, this is...
Light from outside? But aren't we underground? How did sunlight get through the ceiling?
Though it appears to be a courtyard, that light isn't natural light.
Secret installations such as these cannot simply add a real glass ceiling. It would be far too conspicuous from the surface.
It reminds me a little of that research institute we visited in the Far North. The construction style, I mean.
But the impression I get is completely different...
It's too quiet.
It doesn't feel stifling here.
Right...
Isn't that good?
It looked that way from the outside, didn't it? But now we know the truth of the matter inside.
Defenses here are strangely lax.
No Army Shieldguards like the one we saw earlier either.
Stay alert, everyone.
I'll find us a route without anyone along it so we can scout this place out.
It's so strange... We can't find any doors leading out.
It's like a maze in here.
I don't think we can keep avoiding places with other people, Raidian.
People may have their own unique body signal frequencies, but I can't rely on just that to determine if they're friendly on first contact.
Amiya!
Let go of her!
I've been watching you people for half an hour. A group suddenly appearing in the second floor halls, with some sort of goal in mind, but never actually leaving.
How did you get in here, and what're you trying to do?
Sir... Please, calm down, we're—
I want someone else talking.
We were sent here by the State Council!
We're here to help with Project Zero!
Don't be stupid. The scholars the State Council sent over were already assigned to their labs. You really think you can fool us?
I see. You must be spies who slipped in during that explosion outside!
Mind how you speak. We are from Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, and have been dispatched by the State Council of the Ursine Empire. We are here to help with research into Project Zero's pharmaceutical applications.
Here is our warrant of appointment with the tsar's seal, as well as our documentation from the legislature. You'll find our Zelgrad immigration stamps there too.
As for why we have been pacing about the halls, it is naturally because—
Because we forgot how to get back.
Which lab are you from?
I'm the director of Lab Six.
Hah, Lab Six has already been dissolved. Even their director got banished. Who do you think you're trying to fool—
Here's my ID.
Alita Valueva...
If I were you, I'd ask others before I pick a theory to believe in.
Someone like your boss, Zina, for example. I believe she's in charge of security for the entire institute. She'd know who all the new staff in Lab Six are, surely?
......
What do we do, boss?
Hail Zina on her channel and ask her!
Y-Y-Yes, sir!
The blonde researcher turns away from the guards, sweeping her eyes across the Rhode Islanders. Her eyes stop on you for a moment, before finally settling on Raidian.
I can't believe I forgot to get someone to show you the way out. Lab Four's not on this floor. I've been so busy these past few days, I'd forget my own head next.
Once this misunderstanding is all sorted out, I'll lead you there personally.
...We are grateful to you, really. And after you took the time to bring us up to speed on your project, too.
I'll need to bring you around all the labs, then you'll see that New Lab Six's project is the one with the most resources at its disposal here.
......
Boss, Zina confirmed this is the name of New Lab Six's director.
Hmph!
Amiya!
Once we see the Generalik, he'll know of what happened today.
Random questionings, seizing guests. I see how you treat others.
Move it!
......
Well then... Madam Alita Valueva—
Not in a hurry to go? Come with me then.
*cough*—Suka!
Who the hell are these people? How do they have so much firepower?!
It's all one individual's Arts! Saw it with my own eyes!
You serious?
We need to get out of here right now, sir! They've smashed through everything in their way, none of our emplacements could hold them back longer than half a minute!
Absolutely not! We were ordered to guard this place, and if any of you dare to take even one step back, I'm cutting off your legs—
Before he can finish, a scarlet streak flies past his nose, screeching as it slams into the wall behind him in a burst of flame, illuminating the dark, cramped 'factory'.
The officer locks in place, stiffly turning his neck until ice-cold steel presses up against his sweat-stained skin—
Stop.
If you have even the slightest bit of a conscience, or a slimmer of remorse...
I'll give you one chance. Out of the way.
Crossbow bolts whistle through the sky from all around her. One last volley from the desperate defenders.
Waves of flame flick their way up the bolt shafts, igniting the Originium in the bolt heads in an instant. They explode into amber smoke.
Talulah simply stands there, light and shadow flitting across her face. As the soldiers try to figure out what this expression means, wretched yells come from nearby—
First one, then another... More and more soldiers fall, and the yelling dies out alongside their breaths. Slowly but surely, all that remains is the sound of a sword being sheathed.
...I nearly forgot how you do things.
Forget the soldiers. More importantly, I don't see any researchers here.
Secret facilities like these almost certainly have emergency escape routes installed by the army. They most likely left the moment they heard about our activities.
Gather up the materials and all the clues you can find. They couldn't have taken away all the evidence in such a short amount of time.
I need your help, everyone.
Alright everyone, split up. If you notice anything, report it right away. Time is of the essence.
The miners give her a shout of agreement before they separate into groups.
Closure stands away from them as she surveys the site of the battle just now. Everything has been reduced to piles of charcoal.
(Quietly) Is this what it was like to face her, Amiya...?
Did you say something, Closure?
...Ah, err, nothing.
Let's help them out, Tonya. The secrets you want to know are most likely going to be here, and who knows, we might find some meds for that weird disease!
Yeah, if it can help my sister—
What?
T-T-Tulin, no...
What is it? Don't rush, take it slow.
Tsar's mercy... I-I, I...
I'll take a look.
Red walks past the dumbstruck miner, pushing open the door behind him.
The smell of rust strikes him in the face. Part of it smells like blood, another part like iron steeped in water, and yet another part like rust heated to the point of burning, all mingling together—
Hand me a flashlight.
......
What in the—?!
The crowd follows the beam of light with their eyes. The first thing they see is a giant glass vat, shattered in half... and whatever is inside it is leaking out.
Drip, drip... It spills, mixing with the dirt, gravel, and blackened clots of blood strewn across the ground.
There are fingers and toes, mud still staining them. There is a backbone, one that is stooped, hunched and elderly. There is—
An object, gently bumping against their boots before stopping.
Red looks down. It is a swollen, damaged, rubbery body, coated in an ashen gray. Half of a cheek presses against the ground, as two dark, empty sockets stare back at him.
He closes his eyes and stays silent. But even so, he feels something gaze at him from the abyss. It sees him stand there, sees him breathe, sees him live.
Until someone vomits.
Oh... What... What is this?!
How could they... No...
(Crying) Ueargh... *cough* *cough*—
(Crying) Red, please, shut that door, I'm begging you...
The voices of his comrade startle Red. With a tremble of his hand, the light shoots into the darkness... There, there are more vats.
Some are empty, spotless, as if they have been polished, washed, and tidied. Even the metal brackets below shine, reflecting back the light.
Some are not so empty.
Within the oily liquid, glistening Originium crystals shine as they jut out of butchered bodies, cluster by cluster, like bushes growing on sand.
(Weeping) Damn you, Red, you idiot... Damn you!
The man wails as he tries to wrestle the flashlight out of Red's hand, but try as he might, he cannot break Red's vice grip. The swaying light sweeps across the entire room.
Other Reunion members surround him, trying to pull away their comrade after he had lost his wits. But they cannot. More step forward. Everyone helps drag away the one man, his feet leaving two marks on the ground.
More of them sit on the floor in exhaustion, silently watching the scuffle as they let their tears flow freely.
These... What... What are...
Stupefied faces turn towards her, as flashlights illuminate another corner of the room.
Junk?
Personal effects, more like.
Bedding. Broken bowls. Blackened bread as hard as rock, yet still gnawed in half. Even golden dentures. All tossed into the corner.
As the footsteps approach, the pile is covered by the shadow of a frail woman.
Tonya kneels before the pile, her hands sifting through its ice-cold contents—and then she sees it. She knows this blanket... She would never be mistaken about it.
A blanket that was once wrapped tight around a child, the edges of the red cloth a faded white, now covered in a thin layer of dust—
Her little sister's.
She cradles it as if it were alive, pressing it against her cheek.
A blanket with nothing to wrap around, the smell of detergent and sweat still lingering in the fabric. She buries her face in it, her shoulders heaving up and down as the cloth slowly soaks in her tears.
Nina... My poor, poor Nina...
Tonya does not stop calling out her sister's name, as if saying it could bring her back to her. But there is too much spit clogging her throat, too many tears slipping into her mouth, so all she can choke out is a rasp.
......
Talulah does not turn away. She clenches her fists tight, so tight her arms begin to shake.
The shoulders of her shadow looming against the wall begin to heave as well, as if pressed down by something extraordinarily heavy.
Suddenly, they drop. She feels a rough, strong hand gently holding them down.
Talulah turns, and is greeted by a pair of mauve eyes. They do not look away, as unwavering as the hand on her shoulder.
...Tulin?
They need you, Talulah. Need us.
Tulin nods towards the men. The miners cough as they see Tulin approach, trying to reset their emotions.
The youth gently consoles them, holds their hands, hugs them, helps pull up the ones laying on the ground... Though many of their faces are still stained with tears, they no longer tremble.
Then, Tulin heads towards someone else who is also relatively calm. Someone currently looking at the very first vat, lost in thought.
Have you found anything, Closure?
I noticed all the vats have cables and tubes attached to them... I'm afraid I don't know much about this topic. Do you know what the military might have been doing to the Infected?
I inspected them just now.
These machines are strange, but I can see the readings on the meters...
They were calculating how much Originium these Infected would turn into after they died.
They were turning the Infected into 'fuel' to combat the Originium shortage.
That's... That's my best guess, yeah.
But Tonya's sister wasn't Infected, she just caught that strange disease. But her blanket's here all the same...
I noticed many of the bodies here have the same symptoms.
Look at these remains from the first vat. Ulcerated pustules, covered in green scars. Clearly the disease Tonya talked about, but no signs of Oripathy.
The First Army was obviously researching this new disease, and it just so happened to show up after Zelgrad revised their Infected policy.
You said the Sarcophagus might have released some disease that seems infectious. If they're gathering the Infected to sacrifice them for Sarcophagus research, this 'strange disease' must be related to it.
We need to tell everyone the truth about this 'Sarcophagus' right away.
The First Army let this disease spread freely, which means everyone's lives are in danger. We have to get them out of here.
We can't hide our raid from the army for very long. They'll have a response soon enough.
But if we just need to stall for time and protect you as you evacuate, then Reunion can do that.
Let's not waste time, then. We need to—
Tulin sees Closure give a faint shake of the head. She hesitantly walks to Tonya, still rooted to the floor, before stretching out her hand.
...Closure?
Sorry... I'm really not good at giving pep talks.
Err... Right, you said you never saw a Sarkaz before, yeah? Well I'm a Sarkaz from Kazdel, real old school.
Kazdel's a lot worse off compared to Zelgrad. Maybe only half the kids in the city have a roof over their heads... and only half of the kids ever get to grow up.
But even so, we still call Kazdel home.
Eventually, we built a lot more houses, and planted a lot more crops. There was also one amazing person who got everyone together to research medicine that could actually treat the pain of Oripathy...
When everyone worked together, life really did get better... We all treasure our home.
Tonya slowly lifts her head as she looks at the Vampire before her, meeting her teary gaze.
I'm really sorry that... Zelgrad couldn't be a place like that for you. But there'll definitely be a day you find somewhere you can really call 'home'.
Nina... couldn't make it to that day.
But if you work alongside us, Tonya, there'll be lots of other kids who can.
......
After a moment of silence, Tonya grabs onto Closure's hand and pulls herself up.
This place... is right by the district I live in.
I can... I...
I'll go with you... and get everyone out of here.