9-14 Banner in the Wind

Hnngh...

Finally awake, huh?

Considering the damage your lungs have taken, just breathing is going to hurt like a bitch. You'd better save your air.

*cough*, *cough*...

Your abdomen was pretty much torn open... you're in worse shape than I thought. What kept you alive?

Aha... not that I'm a doctor, but I know a thing or two about the anatomy of this race or that.

My friend thought you were a Vouivre. You can't blame him for that. He's young. He never saw your ancestors tromping across the world.

Hnnnng—!

Simmer down. That wouldn't be good for you.

I've seen your Arts, and I've taken some precautions. I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to set this house on fire.

......

Now look at that face there. Feeling a little relieved now that you know you can't fight me?

That might be more natural than your instinct to defend yourself—Might be the truer emotion, one from a deeper place in your heart.

No...

Sounds like you're mighty friendly with that word.

You were forced to become someone you don't want to be. I can see that in your pain.

Who's using you? The moneyed ones who just have to stick their hands everywhere? Maybe the shadows in the high tower? Or some thirsty nationalists ready to bring their country back?

No, none of those. You're a gang with a puppet for a leader. There's no way you could've put this together in such a short time under Londinium's watchful eyes.

——

You... you're a lesser kind of shadow, shoved out onto the stage.

Now does that mean your puppetmaster's of your same blood?

Stop...

Stop what? Too scared to even let me talk about him? Or is it her?

Sure enough. It's not just you. The whole of Victoria... no, the whole world trembles in fear of that one.

She must be about your age, but she turned the tables on the ones who'd use her, and so quickly too.

It looks like change is coming sooner than I thought... We'll need to be ready.

You... Latera...no...

No need to go guessing at my motives.

I didn't care who you were when I decided to save you. Now I actually know who you are, but it hasn't changed my mind one bit.

You... are...

You're better off not knowing who I am.

As soon as you're strong enough to move, you'd best skedaddle. And don't ever tell anyone who saved you either.

I'm not gonna let you die here. That's all you need to know.

......

Okay... Thank...

You can thank me later. All I can do right now is remove the infected tissue and stop the bleeding.

You got run through with the most infectious kind of Active Originium. A heaping helping of Originium granules shot into your circulatory system through those wounds.

I gave you an inhibitor shot, but I'm afraid that won't be enough to stop crystals from forming in your organs and even on your skin there.

Soon enough, you'll pass out again with a fever. That's a good thing. Then you won't have to deal with the nasty inside-out pain that comes with the acute attack.

You may cough up blood. I'll try to keep your head up so you don't drown in your own blood vomit.

Ugh.... Mm-hmm...

And that's just the start of the suffering. You probably can't go back to your old life. Oripathy's writing a whole new course for you.

Your followers will abandon you. Some will hate you, look down on you. It won't be easy for you to lead again, and it'll be hard to get your kin to accept you as you are now.

Hah...

Oh? There's that face again. That's not despair. No, that's relief, at becoming an Oripathy patient?

Well, I don't blame you. No matter how intense the artillery barrage, it's never enough to pin down a young red dragon.

You're looking to dodge destiny, but fighting something like that's gonna come with a hefty price tag.

I got one thing wrong there—

You may be less belligerent than your kin, but you're just as tenacious, and no less courageous.

Ughh...!

Relax. Get some sleep. I'll be here.

It's... too...

...dangerous...

............

It's dangerous here? That's what you manage to squeeze out before you go dark?

——

It's definitely a little too quiet.

I'm gonna say you're more than just a pawn to them. Looks like a change of plans.

This is a risk, but Rhodes Island needs your intel... I'm sure Kal'tsit will understand.

Report. We haven't found her.

You idiot!

What good are you morons when you can't even keep track of one girl?!

S-Sorry!

You're sure she was struck?

Yes... One of my sentinels saw it himself. There was an execution this morning when the bombardment happened, The Leader might've...

She's our bloody Leader! You understand, don't you?!

You remember what you swore when you joined? Now you run with your tail between your legs the moment the enemy shows?!

It—It all happened so fast! We didn't have time to respond...

Besides, The Leader said she wanted some time alone, and ordered to keep everyone away...

So what if I tell you to drop dead, you gobshite!

And you tell me you're not bloody useless!

Stop it. Beating him to a pulp won't do us any good.

We just need to know if she's dead or alive, and where she is.

Let... me... do it...

Alright. Just don't go overboard.

*Sigh*...

P-Please forgive me... *sobs*... Please...

What's... going on... Ugh! Bleuch—

Hah... hahahaha!

Did you see... her...?

She fell! She fell! Hahahahaha! She fell! Got blown up! Dead!

...dead...

—That's what you call not overboard?

I used... too much... Need to... remember this...

Well, that's bloody disgusting. Remind me to steer clear of this sick bastard when he tests his drugs out.

At least we know he wasn't lying.

The blast knocked her out right here, and she was heavily injured. It was most likely fatal.

But she couldn't have gone far with that wound. So where is she? It's not like she got blasted clean through the ground!

I don't mind blowing up the whole street again.

Next time you blow anything up, let people KNOW first!

Who said we're blowing up a street?

We need to find her, even if we have to burn down the whole city to do it. One street won't stop us.

It's clowns like you, stupid as the Victorian Army, that make holding this city rapidly more trouble than it's worth.

So what do you think we should do?

Who takes the fall when The Leader finds out we lost her, huh?

The Leader's anger is not the only thing we have to fear.

I invite you to think about it. In the eyes of our many warriors and compatriots, she stands for Dublinn.

If she breaks free of our control, it won't matter whether our enemies or our ill-meaning 'friends' get their hands on her. It isn't a happy ending.

Come to think of it, she... she knows all our bloody plans!

............

Say, those two ladies... do they know about this?

They left as soon as the meeting was over. I don't think they would've caught word just yet.

Mandragora's not fond of the girl. She's not going to care.

Harmonie... I'm not even sure if she's on our side.

Watch your words. We all stand by our Leader.

Say what you will, I don't care what you do with Harmonie, but Mandragora's a good girl. Don't you dare drag her down.

Why would we, my friend? She's an inseparable part of our team. Like us, she longs to demonstrate her talents and loyalty to the Leader.

I've no idea what Harmonie said to Mandragora, or why it has her hanging onto every word. She's too happy to be doing it, too, almost like she expects something.

What's so important about a transmitter that it's worth delaying our victory?

The Leader still hasn't shown any hint of approval toward our plans.

As long as we can prove to her that we've done no wrong, we still have a chance to persuade her yet.

So you mean, we still have to look for her?

Even if we must search the entire city.

Alright. Enough chit-chat, then. Let's move!

Wait, wake 'The Convict' up.

Huh? Us five aren't enough to drag her back?

Don't forget our agreement. We all will take credit for our achievements.

Get a load of you... You'd sell your own mother.

If the idea's to keep the outside from catching wind of this, then what are we doing with these troops?

Naturally, we'll bring them with us. After all, the more hands, the better, until we find our quarry.

And once we do...?

I'm sure we all know what comes next.

No one can escape Dublinn—

And no one may ever glimpse its secrets.

We need to get rid of these bandages—

But I washed them already...

That's not going to help. The whole box has been contaminated by the Originium on the ground. We can't be sure the dust's been completely washed off.

Jane, look, I know you're speaking sense, but we don't have enough supplies.

Look over there. They're carrying even more people in. Look at how seriously wounded they are...

Are those...

Do you know them?

I... yes, I... knew them.

But I don't think they'd want to see me here.

Could you look after them? I'll head for the clinic and see if I can find some supplies.

Jane, look! Someone's here!

Out of the way!

............

Sir, are you here to help us?

Out of the way means out of the way.

Wait, are you... Ronan?

......

Go block-by-block, and make sure you're thorough! There's a lot of alleys around here, and she could be hiding anywhere! Got it?

What are you doing, Ronan? It's us! Your neighbors! You put on new clothes and suddenly you don't know us?

I have... an important mission. Piss off, or don't say I didn't warn you!

Craig's hurt. Please, help him. He's helped you out so much...

What are you talking about?!

*Whimpers*... I...

(The wounds on her back are serious...)

(And her kid, Craig... he's had a bad wound to his head too.)

(I need to stop their bleeding, but I know they don't look kindly on me...)

You've searched this whole place?

Are you positive no one here matches her description?

(Are they looking for somebody?)

Ugh. No... no. All these people shoving in here, it's a mess. What do we say to the higher-ups if more of them sneak in once we turn and leave?

(Are they... looking for the woman Outcast saved?)

(Does that mean she's in danger...?)

(I need to go.)

Oi, you lot. Get up, and leave at once!

Sir, we have far too many wounded here. None of them can move...

I give no shit you can't move. Get up and go!

I want all these Oripathics out of this district! Keep an eye out in case they pop. Even the Originium shards outside aren't as dangerous as this lot!

Let's take a fine example. This boy with the bloody face—

*Whimpers*... M—Ma...

Craig, Craig! No, please don't take him! I beg you!

You! You're not just abandoning them, you're going to kill them?!

What's your bloody problem?! We're Tarans, all of us! What's wrong with a sacrifice for Tara's great cause?!

Ronan, that's what you said last time, and that's when we lost Saoirse!

(Saoirse...?!)

(It's him... He's the one who betrayed Saoirse...)

(And then they took her and... they...)

(He traded Saoirse's life for that uniform!)

She deserved it! She betrayed—our—trust!

That's what you get for failing to understand our great Leader's struggle! And if you don't cooperate, you're next!

Enough.

Jane? I... I thought you'd left?

And who do you think you are? Wait, I've seen you before... You're not Taran, are you?

Please, stop.

You talk like it sounds so light. Who are you to decide who should sacrifice for anything?

What's that you're holding... A banner?!

You... You're a Victorian soldier!

Am I...?

......

No, not anymore.

But. If you insist on trampling the lives of the innocent, then I am your enemy.

Innocent...? Do you know what they've done? You call them innocent?

This child, and everyone here... None of them's got clean hands.

Then... what about you?

You traded your own people for your position, and now you turn around to oppress them... Who will judge you?

And who are you standing up all cocksure for? Come on, get her out of here! And round up all the Infected mingling with the Victorian deserter! It's time we clean them up!

Please, help us! Help...

That's far enough.

What are you trying here? Bugger off already!

Look at you carrying that tatty banner wherever you go. You don't have what it takes to be a real soldier, do you?

Whether that's so, or whether it's not, I will not let you continue doing evil here.

Oh, can you not even cop on? What do they have to do with you? You're going to let them fiddle you like this? Thick as a brick up there, you are!

I...

...*Sobs*...

True, I can't speak Taran.

I can't cross my heart and claim I've experienced the life you all have.

I don't have Oripathy, either.

But...

For the past two years, every day, I've walked the same streets as you.

I've heard your tears. More than that, I've seen your smiles.

I know deep down that we are all the same people, living our lives.

As long as we're human, we will make mistakes. Those who do—should be stopped, and judged. They should be tormented by their own hearts—

But. It's not for some ungrateful brute to decide their fates.

You... You're going to protect us? You don't hate us?

*Exhale*... I'd be lying... if I said 'not at all.'

I'll stop pretending... there's no bitterness between us. What Craig did was wrong, too, and I've no intention of shielding any guilt.

But a friend has taught me—the evil I see before me has to be stopped.

This has nothing to do with which side I'm on. I'm doing what's right.

Th—Thank you...

...Ah...

Calm down, Craig. You don't need to tug so hard.

It doesn't matter if I was ever a good soldier. I've been ready to fight from the moment I deserted.

But your wounds...

(Rip—)

The banner's the cleanest thing I have on me, and there's a better use for it right now.

*Sobs*... I—I'm sorry... M... Miss...

Don't worry for now, Craig. You get some rest.

As for you, soldier, it's time you leave—

And before you do, you'll need to pay for what you did to Saoirse.

What, and you'll make me, all by yourself?

If I have to.

...We're with you too.

What... What are you all doing?!

Are you going to resist Dublinn?! O'Brien, you should be helping me get her! Don't forget how Damian died!

No, Ronan. I haven't forgotten about Damian, but on the other hand... I haven't forgotten about Saoirse either.

We've done a lot of bad... I'm not blind. Now that it's come to this, I can tell who's really been trying to help us all along.

She's not even Taran!

Do you see the looks in their eyes?

We stand together. For now, at the very least.

You... absolute idiots! You'll all die here for your foolishness!

Watch your injuries. Don't push yourselves.

Leave these villains to me.

I will win this battle...

No—together, we will win this!