Arknights story · Operator Records
Long Journey
Elysium is in a town working to become a Messenger, but danger creeps near.
1 scenes, 302 lines
1. Interlude
302 lines
Letter for you! I'll leave it right here.
I'm going into town this afternoon. Write down anything you want me to buy you before I go. Don't be late, because I won't wait!
Wow, that was fast! Thanks, Elysium!
Going into town again? For that thing that you have... what's it called? A transmitter?
A transmitter-receiver—or transceiver!
It's second-hand and the range is limited, but look at the case and the paint job! Don't you think it goes well with my outfit?
I'll never understand your tastes...
Bring me back some cigarettes. Same brand as last time.
I also want one of those hair curlers everyone's been talking about. Could you get me one?
Sure. The latest model, right? I'm on it.
Hey, sonny, what about my—
Now, who was it who asked me for cigarettes, then got caught by his family and got his allowance cut? As if I've forgotten.
Not for another forty or fifty years, at least.
The memory on you!
Kids these days just can't let anything go...
Ignore him. The doctor told him to stop smoking and he doesn't listen.
Here's the money for the hair curler. Thanks for that.
How many years has it been since he left home?
Three? No, he was in Columbia that third year, then went north to Sami.
The Snowpriests stopped him when he tried to go further north, so he changed course and continued on his way.
A healthy man who knows some Arts can always find a job, as long as he's not too picky.
When he ran out of money, he would find work wherever he was and save a bit before heading out again. He has seen many sights along the way.
Some places were rich and prosperous, some poor and barren.
He did not stop at this town because there was something special about it.
He just wanted to rest.
A new hair curler, and... well, I guess just a tiny little pack of cigarettes.
Still missing one component for the transceiver... hard to find an amplifier around here.
Hey, am I imagining things...?
Or does the sky look a little ominous to me?
Oh, it's ominous all right.
You think so too? Great minds think alike!
There's something special about you, isn't there? I would've believed it if you said you just robbed the shop. I'm guessing you didn't manage to sell too much today.
It's none of your concern. We're not an ordinary shop.
But you've got stuff to sell, don't you?
It's...
It's a prophylactic that we're distributing.
Prophylactic? Really? It's not for Oripathy, is it?
They say the meds that really prevent Oripathy are so expensive that only the very rich can afford them, and the stuff you can get easily on the open market doesn't actually work.
But I think I've got a good eye for people, and you don't look like hucksters to me. Are you legit?
......
You heard?
You talk a lot.
Just being friendly. It's my secret to getting along.
Especially when dealing with people who look dangerous, or when I see something that maybe I shouldn't have, like drugs of unknown provenance—
Maybe if I'm talkative you'll take it easier on me when you beat me to a pulp. I'm sure the gentlemen over there will, at least.
No, I'll aim for the face.
Come now, say what you're really thinking, don't be shy.
But now I'm beginning to think you don't look like scammers or smugglers.
We're not.
We're a... pharmaceutical company. Our mission is to eliminate the Infected problem.
Eliminate the Infected, or eliminate the problem? Well, I that's what I would've asked, if I didn't have what I assume to be a deep trust in you.
I suggest you watch your mouth if you don't want it punched.
Oh, no violence, please!
Alright, I've taken up enough of your time. I ought to be on my way.
Might be a good idea to put someone else on the front desk though, friends!
Just get lost! Mind your own business.
......
Catch.
Three thaler.
You're charging money? I mean, three thaler isn't that bad...
Captain...
He wasn't talking to himself, was he? Was he talking to you?
......
But... how could that be?
......
............
Sorry, sir, but we're out of that particular amplifier.
Seriously? But you're my last hope!
Are you sure? You don't have one lying in a corner of a warehouse or something?
I've looked everywhere. Plus, we keep good records of all our transactions.
You've been here before. Still working on that machine you were talking about last time?
Yes, the transceiver. I've been doing all the modifications myself.
I have very little experience with this stuff, but things have been going relatively smoothly, learning on the fly and doing it myself. I'm surprised that I'm learning so quickly!
I'm just looking for the right amplifier to take its performance up another level.
What do you think about me becoming a Messenger? My Arts would fit right in. I was born to be one, wasn't I?
Ha, becoming a Messenger is about more than just putting together a transmitter.
You've got to take exams, right? Don't worry, they used to call me Rey de los tests back home.
What does that mean?
It means I'm really good at tests.
......
Let's get back on topic.
It's not a common model, but I could try to get one for you, if you can wait.
Attention. Attention.
This is an emergency public service announcement.
Hmm?
......
Serious face there. Who's the letter from?
Quiet, give me a second...
......
Yes! Good news!
What's the good news?
I bet it's got something to do with Elysium. The signature on the letter looks like the Messenger that was reassigned to the city a while back.
The Catastrophe Messenger!
Elysium's been here a while. He can't stay in that little attic of ours forever.
So I wrote a letter and the Catastrophe Messenger said Elysium could move into his house.
Really? He'd be so gracious?
Who are you talking about? What Catastrophe Messenger?
Did we ever have one? Wasn't Elysium saying he could be the town's regular Messenger?
Well... we used to have a Catastrophe Messenger.
The town gave him a house, hoping to entice him to stay.
But you know those types, they won't stay in a backwater like this for long.
I'm getting grumpy just thinking about it. See you later.
...Sigh.
Can't blame them, though. The big cities pay much more than we can. No way for us to stop them.
Hmph! Who cares! We have Elysium.
He's given himself a codename. He says the first step to becoming a professional Messenger is having a cool codename. He seems serious about it.
I hope so!
......
Say, I'm getting a bad feeling...
Hey! Everybody!
Go outside! Look up at the sky!
Our Catastrophe Messenger predicts that a localized Catastrophe will take place southwest of the city in a few hours.
While the Catastrophe is not expected to present a threat to the city, citizens are advised to exercise caution when going outdoors for the next few days.
In particular, we strongly advise against traveling to the southwest until further notice.
Attention. Attention—
......
My supply routes don't come through the southwest.
It shouldn't affect your thing—
Here's the deposit! I'll be back; just get that item for me!
Hey! Where are you going?!
To race against a Catastrophe!
Going back now means taking a massive risk.
Elysium can't help but ask himself: Is he really that attached to the town?
Hard to say. Probably not so much that he should risk his life for it. He's only been there a few months.
But he also understands that he can't just stand by and watch, can't just wait for the storm to pass.
And there's no point in thinking about what he can't do.
He needs to focus on what he can do.
Mom, I'm scared of that big cloud in the sky...
D-Don't be scared! We'll go and find dad!
Was that an earthquake?! What do we do?
Help! I'm trapped under this frame! I can't move my leg!
I'm coming! Hang on!
What's going on?
Catastrophe! Catastrophe!
It was like this the last time! We need to run! As far and as fast as we can!
Aah!
Look out!
Whew...
That was a perfect rescue, wasn't it? A judge would've given that ten out of ten. What do you think?
Elysium! Y-You're hurt!
What are you doing here? Didn't you go into town?
That? Just a scratch.
I heard through the grapevine that someone needed my help—alright, I came back because I heard on the radio that this area might get hit by a Catastrophe.
How's that? Pretty selfless, if I do say so myself.
Y-You fool! Idiot! Why did you come back?!
Wait, why are you yelling at me?
Save the jokes, now's not the time.
Tell everyone to get ready to move... this sort type of Catastrophe will be on top of you before you know it. We don't have much time!
But where do we go?
Leave that to me.
I'm an expert at surviving in the wilderness.
Stay close to me! Don't get separated!
Originium levels in the atmosphere will increase sharply in the presence of a Catastrophe, and the wind might be carrying active Originium particles. Keep yourself covered, especially any wounds!
But you just got hurt...
Don't worry, I have a secret weapon.
(Well, how about that, those meds I got are gonna come in handy!)
(Let's hope they're the real deal.)
Just hold on!
We're almost... there!
Lock and bolt the door... alright, we'll be safe for now.
Is this an underground shelter?
Yes, an abandoned one.
I never knew about this place. How did you find it?
I'm rather adept at pathfinding. Let me tell you, I mapped this entire area with my own two feet.
There's nothing here I don't know about, including shelters that have been abandoned for years.
Now, please, shower me in praise.
Huh? Oh... you're amazing, Elysium!
Yup, keep going, I know you've got more in you!
......
Ahem... well, we definitely owe you one.
So we should just wait? We left in such a hurry that we didn't have time to bring a lot of supplies... how long will we be in here?
Until the Catastrophe passes and things return to normal outside, at least.
Sudden Catastrophes like this tend to go as quickly as they come.
I don't want to think about what might have happened if you didn't come back.
You're welcome.
But we should make a plan for future emergencies. This shelter is pretty old. It's taken a beating.
I wouldn't have picked it if there were crystal clusters growing from the ground, but fortunately that's not the case this time.
There's just nothing we can do about Catastrophes...
If we had some sort of advance warning, at least...
That's good news. What are you fiddling with?
Just some machines... imagine that I'm yelling out in a radius of a few klicks that 'We need help here!'
It might not be useful right now, but it never hurts to be prepared.
The earth's shaking... how long is this gonna last?
Eek! What was that noise?
Sounds like something fell...
I'll go take a look.
The Liberi passes through the crowd of townsfolk crammed into this dark shelter.
A panicking mother holds her child tightly in her arms. The elderly sit in a corner, like a row of wrinkled statues.
Elysium can hear the occasional sob. There seems to be fewer people here than he thought there would be. He tries not to think about it.
He looks at the source of the sound. Above them is the door that they came in from. A little bit of dirt drops in with every vibration.
He gets a bad feeling.
The Liberi extends his hand.
Then he stops, stunned.
The door has been blocked by fallen rocks and can no longer be opened.
We can't get out?! How could this...
Don't panic! Just a little hitch in the plan. We'll dig our way out.
......
Relax, everyone. We still have my transceiver, and I've already sent out a distress signal. All we have to do is wait.
Really? That's great!
(The range is limited without an amplifier, though...)
(I need to think of a way.)
(I didn't manage to take the medicine either. Now my injured shoulder is starting to feel numb.)
(We were in the ashring for a while. I had wrapped it in cloth, but that's not exactly enough.)
(Seriously? Just my luck...)
(......)
(Well, maybe that's not so bad, given the situation...)
Things seem to have calmed down.
Good news. It looks like the Catastrophe has passed.
Any news?
Not yet, but I'm happy to report that I've achieved a breakthrough in the transmission range! Help should be here soon now that the Catastrophe is over.
I hope so...
Your wound looks worse. What about the secret weapon of yours?
Er... well, it's not time to use it yet.
Don't worry, I'll use it when I have to. When I have to.
......
How many layers of dirt are up there? We're not getting through!
We can't hold out much longer without food and water. Are you hearing anything?
Settle down. We should save our strength if there's no way through.
How are we supposed to settle down? You've been sending that signal for ages. With no response!
No one's coming to help us! We're all gonna starve to death here!
That piece of junk doesn't have the range!
Keep our distance? What do you mean?
How many days have we been here?
I don't think I can hold on...
Just a bit longer!
How long do we have to wait...?
I've got this! I'm beaming a transmission out there!
We're done for...
We were always doomed, whether we stayed up there or came down here.
Don't... *cough*... say that...
(Almost... almost... we made it this far...)
(Come on, don't disappoint me, 'pharmaceutical company'...)
*cough*, *cough* *cough*...
(The wound's swollen, maybe festering, and I'm hurting all over, like that time I got run over by that contraption in Rim Billiton... worse, actually.)
(My Arts are getting more powerful, though it aches when I use them.)
(Is this how it feels to get Oripathy?)
(Looks like I won't get to use those meds after all.)
......
What's that... sound...?
Response...
It's here, right?
How the heck did that signal find us?
Is Rhodes Island so well-known already? We've only just gotten started.
......
Captain, we're reading vital signs below.
Ready to dig.
Welcome... oh, it's you, Elysium.
Morning, folks. It's been a while! Nice to see that the rebuilding is going well.
Yeah... all thanks to you. We wouldn't have made it otherwise.
Just simple houses to protect us from the elements. Nothing complicated.
Where have you been?
Me? A bunch of nice people who don't look so nice dragged me away to treat my sickness. I've never seen a doctor so scary, I tell you.
Your sickness...
Well, have a seat, er, I'll pour you a drink.
Oh, there's no need for that, I'll be going in a moment.
I just wanted to come back and say goodbye, because I'm leaving.
Y-You're leaving? But you said...
Oh, the Messenger thing? Well, er, sorry about that.
I guess I just want to see the world, you know? Like they say, don't put a fowlbeast in a cage... well, however the saying goes.
......
......
But we haven't thanked you for saving our lives yet!
Yeah. It's just a little sickness... it's no big deal.
If you're leaving because you're Infected—
It's okay, I hear you.
But people will get scared if there's an Infected living in town. They won't want to talk.
We're not scared!
I know, I know. There's always a risk, though.
But...
Oh, don't give me that look. It's not so bad.
You remember Rhodes Island? The people who dug us out of that hole? I'm going with them.
They're going to keep treating me. Things don't get any better than that!
Can they cure your sickness?
Well... I don't know.
Will you come back?
Of course! I'll drop by when I get some free time.
Where are you going now?
Well, I'm not sure.
I guess I'll go with the Rhodes Islanders for a while. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful journey.