Arknights story · Critical Phase Transition
17-2 Belated Redemption
Ursus is thrown into turmoil as its mines dry up. Anatoliy, son of the First Army's Marshal, has contracted Oripathy, and is murdering innocents out of despair, until the Marshal brings him someone who appears to be able to cure the pain of Oripathy: Hierda. She 'heals' Anatoliy.
1 scenes, 190 lines
1. Before Operation
190 linesI understand the situation.
My concern is, will this information also cross the desk of the General Chamber of Commerce as we are speaking?
I expect so. Something on this scale cannot be covered up completely. The G.C.C. will find out.
Intel from multiple sources indicates a high likelihood that something abnormal is happening to the Kolossal Prime Vein, and that Ursus is facing an energy crisis.
This is corroborated by the recent movements of the First Army on the border... it's certainly cause for concern.
We do not know if the energy issues will spread to other regions, nor how Ursus may react.
Has there been any official communication from Grypherburg?
In the face of such a crisis, the empire's first reaction is to hide the truth, rather than seek cooperation. Their stance is clear as day.
A dying beast is a dangerous one. Even without its energy advantage, the Ursine war machine remains terrifying.
We have defeated many foes. We are not afraid of war. But we must be even more vigilant about threats from within.
You are concerned that the G.C.C. will use this as leverage against the Adeptus?
Even they must know the threat we will face if Ursus chooses to expand at this time. Kazimierz cannot afford another incident!
Do not underestimate the merchants' thirst for profit.
They're already making their move. The invisible war already began when they framed their first innocent campaign knight.
Fetch me Liam. Quickly.
And where is the scion of Nearl these days?
Enough! Stop blowing it up! Do you want the whole mountain to collapse?!
Don't you understand, mudak? There's nothing here! Not even one chunk of Originium! It's all dried up! Gone!
Shut your trap! We must keep digging! This isn't the Far North... the ore in the east isn't gone! We just need to get it out first—
'Find the Originium'! Those are our orders!
Well, you can hang us all then, because those orders aren't happening!
Ivan's gone blind and I'm deaf in one ear! Better to hang than have all my organs turned to mush by the bombs!
Turn us Infected and bury us in the mountains for all I care! Maybe you'll get the Originium growing again that way!
Gosudar-batyushka... have mercy on us... have mercy on Ursus...
...That concludes my report.
Intercepted communications indicate that the Third Army has received news and announced a ceasefire with the Seventh. Only mobile units remain on standby.
Where was the explosion?
In the wilderness of Central, roughly 2300 km in a straight line from our front lines with the Fourth Army, with no nomadic cities making their winter transit nearby.
But the scattered settlements in the area were not evacuated in advance. Rumors are that the people and animals were annihilated instantly, leaving behind only strange-colored soil and ash... it must have been incredibly powerful.
......
Has the First Army really developed such a terrible weapon?
Stand by for further instructions from Command.
The Marshal will make the right decision. Until then, as soldiers of the 6th Artillery Regiment of the Second Army's 2nd Division...
We will continue to stand against the traitors outside Grypherburg.
...Here ends the Grand Duchess's message.
The last batch of supplies has been delivered, and what information we have on the First Army's new weapon is included in the letter.
Her Imperial Highness wishes to communicate that this is the full extent of the help that the Far North can provide to the Fourth Army.
We have fulfilled our end of the bargain. We pray that you do not forget yours, even in the current stalemate with the Second Army.
......
I understand. But I hope Her Imperial Highness sees the present situation clearly.
The conservatives maintain an iron grip over the Council. Backed by the First Army's research, they deny our legitimate claims, our desire to make Ursus great again.
Time is precious. We will be handing over the nation if the Fourth Army does not achieve the expected aim, and Bresk will hardly be immune if that happens.
It is not my place to respond on behalf of Her Imperial Highness, but I shall deliver your message faithfully to her.
Perhaps I could also tell you an old fable, on her behalf.
The north wind and the sun made a wager on who could get a passing traveler to remove his cloak—
......
Escort the honorable herald out.
Make sure she leaves the base and delivers my message to Bresk safely.
I'm afraid I have another important matter to attend to on this trip, and will not be returning to Bresk immediately.
I wish you the best of luck. For the glory of Ursus.
......
For the glory of Ursus.
Get lost...
Get lost!
Hah... you brought this on yourself.
You can blame your own insolence.
The young man kicks away the body of the soldier whose throat he just cut, and walks toward the depths of the command center.
The path leading from the deck is littered with bloody bodies, some of which are still twitching. None of the onlookers dare come any closer.
......
Anatoliy.
Footsteps. The crowd quickly disperses.
Against the crowd, a pair of boots steps through puddles of blood, stopping only at the sound of metal clanging against blade.
The soldier gazes down at the young man.
Are you done fooling around?
......
Then put your sword down.
As I've told you before, while you're free to punish those who anger you, showing your rage is simply showing your weakness.
It is disgraceful, Anatoliy.
But you've imprisoned me here. While I'm in pain and life has lost all meaning, you just keep me locked up here!
You would not even allow me to witness the birth of Kushkina.
It's for your own safety.
Safety? Hah, safety!
I'm in the heart of the First Army's territory under your great leadership, Marshal Buterina! Is there any place in Terra that is safer?
Yet you would not allow me to step out, not even onto the deck...
Have I become your prisoner just because I have Oripathy? Am I no longer your son, no longer a glorious soldier of Ursus?
Nothing has changed, Anatoliy. I treat you as I always have.
Then let me go! I want to go to Zelgrad. I want to patrol and watch over my city as I always have—as you promised!
......
Silent again. You're going back on your word, aren't you?
Get someone to clean up, Yasha. As usual.
Yes, madam.
Mother!
Yes, synochek, I promised you that Zelgrad will be yours. But not yet.
You must not leave my sight until your condition is stable. Do you understand?
No, I don't!
If you won't let me go, I'll keep killing with this sword that you gave me until there's no one left to guard me. These kozyols wouldn't dare raise a finger against me anyway—
I said, until your condition is stable. Once it is, you can go and do whatever you want to do.
You're playing word games now. Have those handsome Grypherburg bureaucrats changed how you feel about words?
I should have killed them all.
I captured that Cautus who claims to heal Oripathy.
What?
Her companions were all Infected, as the rumors say. They feel no pain and show no symptoms.
I think it is worth seeing her, even if she's a fraud.
You would show my pain and weakness to a fraud?
Of course not.
The soldier touches the blade at her chest with her finger. Trembling, the young man finally lowers his sword.
Then, the mother pulls her son into a tight embrace.
If she is truly a fraud, then neither she nor her companions will leave here alive. But if she can truly stabilize your condition, even heal it...
Then I shall embrace her, as I embrace you now.
A lowly Cautus who came from nothing will become a member of the glorious First Army. Because she helped you.
Mama...
Wipe your tears, synochek. Our guest will be here soon.
Bring her, Yasha.
The blood and gore is quickly cleaned up, and the floor once again sparkles as new.
Heavy, orderly footsteps approach, but there is discordance in the order. A lighter footstep, decidedly out of place, causes everyone to look up.
Its source soon reveals itself.
......
What—
Neither a middle-aged man raggedly dressed in self-styled piety, nor a well-dressed charlatan.
Just a girl with a delicate frame and eyes wide open, herded along the dark carpet like a burdenbeast.
Uh...
She's the one?
What could she possibly do? A stiff breeze could blow her over. She wouldn't even make good firewood.
Do not be deceived by appearances. She is indeed the leader of those vagrants.
My personal guard found her surrounded by adoring vagrants, as at the Grypherburg trial over two years ago.
It made our removal of her from the crowd seem shameless and preposterous, just like that trial.
You would compare her to the Yurodstvo?
Enough of that. As long as she can help you, I do not care what she is, whether she's a peasant or the Yurodstvo.
Come forward.
The girl shakes her head hesitatingly without moving her feet.
Uh...
Are my companions being taken care of?
I want to make sure of that.
You certainly have nerve.
I only hope to protect my companions.
You must recognize that you are in no position to bargain.
This is your last chance. Come forward.
......
The Cautus seems to recognize the situation and comes forward as instructed, but Anatoliy begins backing off hastily.
Anatoliy?
She's Infected! Why doesn't she heal herself, if she can heal the Infected?
She's a fraud, Mother. I don't want to waste time on such fruitless endeavors. I don't have time—
Take it back.
Mother?
Take it back! You must not say such things. You have time. You'll get better. You must.
The tall woman turns to the girl and peers into her eyes.
You will heal my son, as you have healed those vagrants.
If you can heal him...
I, Svetlana Ulyanova Buterina, Marshal of the First Army, vow that the First Army shall protect you and your companions for the rest of my days.
......
I have to assess his condition, but my presence seems to bring him discomfort?
How can I heal him if I can't even touch him?
As if a little distance would be a problem if you really had the power to heal Oripathy!
The young man turns his head, as though trying to hide the Originium crystals on his cheeks in his hair, refusing to even look at the girl, much less approach her.
The Cautus girl seems to make up her mind. She takes one look at the commander who forcibly 'invited' her here, then approaches the young man.
I take you at your word, madam...
Stay away from me, peasant!
If you take one more step towards me—
Detest the Infected, do you?
Then you will become what you hate the most.
You trampled upon what little dignity we had left, Generalik, just because you have a marshal for a mother, never tasting the mud and blood of true battle...
You should have paid for your arrogance long ago!
Get away! Get away from me!!
Anatoliy, put down the sword—
The Cautus does not stop. The blade grazes her neck, leaving a small wound.
The young man stumbles backward, covering his face with his hand, as though he is the one wounded.
A sudden, violent flare-up of Oripathy, or just painful memories awakened by the sight before him?
I'm not—I didn't—
...Please, calm down...
It'll be over soon.
The young man has no room to back off further. When he is about to fall, the girl reaches out and takes the taller youth in her arms.
Both of them fall to the ground. The young man's trembling hands let go of his sword; no more angry words come from his pale lips.
The pain has overcome him.
Argh—
Your condition is serious...
And you're starting to hyperventilate.
Ugh...
Follow the rhythm of my breathing, and let my words help you rediscover the feeling of full lungs.
The Cautus touches his cold, tense fingers and sees the black crystals emerging from flesh, hard and sharp as their host.
She puts her hand on the young man's forehead, her voice soft and gentle as she guides his breathing.
*exhale*
'Believe. Believe in our life.'
'Believe in our body and mind, believe in every beat of our heart, believe in every inhale and exhale.'
'Believe that we...'
'...are the source of all strength.'
*cough* *cough*!
You are just someone in pain.
I... I don't need your pity—
I don't need the pity of an Infected, of all people...!
This is not pity, only sorrow.
For I cannot cure your Oripathy.
...Fraud...
The only thing I can do...
Is soothe your pain in this life.
—!
As the black Originium on the surface of the young man's body fades and changes, the menacing expression on his face softens.
His eyes remain closed, but his heaving chest has calmed.
Hence, we pass over to the other side.
Where there is no pain, no sorrow.
The land of eternity.