Arknights story · Operator Records
The Hopeful Ones
The connection between Lucilla and a Church of the Deep cultist has made her the target of strict Sea Patrol monitoring, but nobody expects what she does next.
1 scenes, 216 lines
1. Interlude
216 linesAttention, all units. Lucilla is currently aiding a Church of the Deep cultist escape.
She is to be regarded as an additional suspect in our pursuit.
Her actions are proof enough. She intends to betray Ægir.
Twelve hours ago, Sea Patrol Station
You're saying that Anya schemed to lure the Seaborn occupying the volcanic power station to the city? Pft, what a sick joke. You're even calling her a cultist.
This is no joking matter. The stolen Seaborn attractant pheromones, the timing of her going out to the sea... everything points towards Anya and her mentor. I hope you will cooperate with our investigation.
Our city moved so it could avoid Seaborn, right? You mean she tried to attract the Seaborn that weren't even chasing us? *sigh* Why would she even do that?
What is she doing now? Where is she?
Her vital signs were already gone by the time of the incident.
She's... dead?
Sitting in the mezzanine of the transparent dome and quietly admiring the scenery outside, one may have the illusion of floating in the middle of the sea, surrounded by clear water.
*phew* I'm feeling a bit dizzy.
Want some neuro-stabilizers? I prepped some just for you. They inhibit the vertigo you get from a fear of heights. If you can't handle the bitterness, I also have—
Lucilla plucks some sweetener from her pocket with an exaggerated flourish, making Anya laugh.
I heard your bioprobe got destroyed by the Seaborn again this morning, so I figured you'd be here after cleaning up that mess.
Yeah. Ran into a few of them while out reinstalling it.
Again...? How close were they this time?
......
This has been happening more and more often over the past six months, hasn't it? Every time you come here, you look absolutely exhausted.
......
Are you asleep?
Lucilla cranes her head over to have a look. Anya's head is resting on her shoulder as she quietly looks out at the clear waters outside the dome.
Tell me, Anya. Is the sea out there really that terrifying?
I... I work in the spot closest to the sea every day, but I've never seen them before.
I only ever see the unending streams of legionnaires heading out, and you and your mentor doing your best to restore the ocean's ecology.
Sometimes, I think... What's the frontline really like? What price did you pay for the peace I see inside the dome?
Anya softly murmurs something. Lucilla can't help but lean over and look her in the eye.
Lucilla leaves the Sea Patrol station, still in a daze. She tries helplessly to contact Anya, over and over, but there is no response.
What's this...?!
Lucilla,
I am sure you have also gotten involved in the Sea Patrol's investigation, and they told you that Anya attempted to provoke the Seaborn from the power station into chasing our retreating city.
I have something important to tell you about her true cause of death.
Please come meet me immediately after receiving this message, for her sake.
As her friend, you wouldn't ignore this, would you?
Pappus
*cough* At least I can't see any Sea Patrol uniforms...
You are really... All I said was that they were shadowing me, and you just took off... Aren't you scared of them branding you as my accomplice?
She sacrificed herself, yes.
......
We promised to see an exhibition together, but she suddenly stood me up to go out to sea with you. What did you two discover? Is she the reason why the Sea Patrol are tailing you?
They suspect I am a cultist of the Church of the Deep, but they have no proof.
Well, are you?
I am not fond of that label, and I do not believe in any doctrines as such. I merely believe what I believe.
...So, that's a 'yes.' What about... what about Anya?
Anya. She was my greatest student, whether in academia, or in my approach towards the Seaborn. Did she not tell you anything?
......
They've stopped running. Keep your distance; let them think they shook us off.
I've identified the woman Pappus contacted: Lucilla, a dome maintenance worker with the Academy of Technology's Institute of Facility Management.
I know her. We did our own investigation into her not too long ago. She said that even if she herself fell in with the Church, Anya would never fall.
Tap into the closest camera. Let's hear what they're talking about.
You're lying. You said you wanted to tell me the truth, but you're saying the same thing the Sea Patrol did—
'She's a cultist; she led the Seaborn to the city.' Like her death was no surprise. Like she got what she deserved.
So where's the difference? Wasn't there supposed to be some kind of hidden truth?
Calm down, Lucilla. Lower your voice.
I am calm. I'm the calmest person here in this ridiculous... whatever's-going-on!
I sought you out because it must be you who realizes her truest desire. Only you can do this.
I want you to take Anya's remains from the reef I concealed them in, and return them to the city. Once you see them, you will understand everything.
Her... remains?
Alright, it's safer to discuss it in here.
I know it's a shock, having to hear your close friend be referred to as 'remains.' But you must understand the heroic sacrifice she made to see her wish come true.
You're saying this was all her own choice?
The conclusion she and I arrived at withstood countless refutations and proofs. Humanity is but a link in the ocean's food chain. If we do not wish to be at its lowest rung, we must evolve.
And the very peak of evolution, the Seaborn, have thrown wide the gates for us.
Yet we refuse to partake in it, all for the sake of so-called 'human dignity.' Is that not arrogance? Is that not irresponsible towards the future of humanity? Is that not—
Stop. 'Evolution,' 'arrogance'... I have no idea what the hell you're on about.
*sigh* I understand your doubts. In truth, Anya had similar misgivings to my proposal at first.
But as you now know, in the end she even snatched the pheromones from my hand to guide the Seaborn herself.
If one is to take the reins of destiny for all humanity, then one must be suitably aware of the suffering and moral condemnation one is to shoulder. Does that not sound like the Anya you know?
Lucilla glares at the old man. She considers denying what she has heard, but all the facts ring true.
You still haven't said what's going on with her remains.
Before she left, she promised me that even if the plan failed, she would bring back living Seaborn cells.
I gave my all to retrieve her one remaining hand. What she promised me was still tightly in its grasp.
As you know, there is no means of bringing it into the city. The dome does have entrances for cleaning robots, though, which should be exactly the size I need.
All you need to do is put on a little show as a dome maintenance worker and make it past their checks.
Anya's last wish...
......
If this really is what she wanted... I just need to bring her home, right?
Tell me which reef you hid her... remains in.
(Anya and her wish were hidden in the reefs close to the power station...)
You must steel your mind, Lucilla. Considering it's been more than twenty-four hours since the incident, your friend's remains will be unrecognizable.
Don't worry. I just want to see it for myself. Her last wish.
You mentioned during the investigation that you once harbored fallen thoughts, too. But you've made the right choice by reporting Pappus to us.
I just don't think calling the Seaborn to attack the city sounds like something she'd wish for.
Regardless, I still hope you'll reconsider our proposal. Pappus has gone into hiding. It'd be more efficient if you were able to lure him out.
I...
We discovered a human hand within marker range. We're requesting an analysis from the technicians.
The Sea Patroller hands over a transparent vessel. A pale, waterlogged, and bloated arm rests within.
......
Lucilla does not lift her gaze from it.
Are you alright?
She is not. Her mind feels like it is tearing apart at the seams, blocking out all rationality. Lucilla stands rigid as a corpse herself, before she collects herself enough to speak.
That's her hand, alright. We were always looking over the same control panel, tapping it now and then... I'd recognize her nails anywhere.
Do you know what's in her hand?
Under the careful ministrations of the technician, a small, sealed jar for storing liquids is prised out from the hand's grasp.
(That's...!)
(So that's what it was. I get it now. This little jar you were holding onto so tightly. This is your wish, Anya.)
...You know, I've just made up my mind. I'll help you. I'll help you guys get Pappus out in the open.
Five minutes until the meeting, Lucilla. Pappus could come out at any time. Stay close to the building. You're deviating from the route, and it'll be hard for us to show up promptly if anything happens.
......
Lucilla?
No response. Everyone, prepare for non-compliance from her.
—
Pappus has appeared.
Come with me, quick. The Sea Patrol knows about our plan. I'll help you escape.
What? I need more details—
There's no time! Just run already!
I guess we were right to be worried.
Attention, all units. Lucilla is currently aiding a Church of the Deep cultist escape.
She is to be regarded as an additional suspect in our pursuit.
Her actions are proof enough. She intends to betray Ægir.
This is... the city's water circulation system?
The pipes are interlinked with the dome, so they fall under my purview as well. I've closed all the sluice gates that I can; should buy us some time.
This isn't what we discussed, Lucilla.
Dome monitoring's more strict than usual while the city's moving. The inlets are the only places that don't get extra scrutiny. Thing is, one of us needs to squeeze in to intercept the thing.
Wait, let me consider this.
Why, worried about the risk? As Anya's esteemed teacher, surely you're as brave as she was?
With this sudden turn of affairs, can I still trust you, Lucilla?
We don't need to trust each other. You want your thing, I want to fulfill Anya's last wish. That's all.
Pappus looks Lucilla in the eyes and ponders for a brief moment.
If she had intended to betray him, she wouldn't be helping him flee. That would be ridiculously inefficient. He loosens up.
When we met yesterday, your eyes were clouded with hesitation. But now, that's all cleared. I'm glad to see you make the right choice.
Sure, but we're short on time. You need to get into the pipe, now.
Now? But I'm not wearing any protective equipment.
Sorry, what was that? Anya grabbed the attractant pheromones from your hand without the slightest hesitation, and you're worried about a little thing like that?
Quick, I've already opened the feeder gate! I can't keep it open for long, so just get in already!
But this is—!
Right as Pappus senses that something is off, a push to his back sends him tumbling straight into the pipe.
Lucilla closes the sewage gate. She looks into the air, her hands trembling slightly as they grasp the gate handle.
But after a moment, she snaps out of it, and smiles.
Gah! This stench! This isn't sewage, is it?!
Where are you, Lucilla?
Did you find anything down there?
The flow's too strong and the walls are slippery! I-I can't keep my balance! AHH!
You just gotta keep at it. Feel around in the water. This is for the sake of the city's future, remember?
Why is there sewage in the city's water inlet pipes? Urp! Pah! Bluerghh...
Oops, I forgot to mention, those are actually the inner circulatory pipes. They handle residue from algae fermentation. The water inlet pipes are incredibly important; no way they'd let you in.
You tricked me, Lucilla! Why did you-! *vomits* Urgh... *cough* *cough*!
...Open the gate. Let me out.
Talk to me about Anya. What was the last thing she said to you?
Geh... *cough*! How do you expect me to talk down here? I can't even breathe...
Answer me, or we'll be here all day.
I've already told you everything you needed.
......
Fine, if you really must know— Urgh! *cough* *cough*! After the Seaborn took over the power station, I realized this was my only chance. I had to lure them over, before the city had evacuated too far away.
I was close to the power station before I noticed that Anya had rushed over as well. In her haste to head out to sea, she'd had no time to recharge her pod's power to full, something I only learned afterwards.
We were right next to the station, and the Seaborn had already spotted us. We had no time to discuss things. We had to, at the very least, successfully release the pheromones and lure them to the city.
And so, she snatched the pheromones from my hand and promised she would complete our mission, bidding me return to the city. I got into my own pod. Someone had to perform the backup plan, after all.
Her pod, however, ran out of power and was caught by the Seaborn. The last thing I heard through the comms was her saying, over and over again, that she would hold it tight. *cough* *cough* *cough*! Geh—
Hold what tight?
She could only have meant the live Seaborn samples. Though we'd had significant disagreement over the backup plan I suggested, in that moment, we had a tacit understanding.
I already asked the Sea Patrol to find her remains.
...You told on me to the Sea Patrol? Lucilla, do... do you really understand Anya?
Heh. Right. You were always hiding away in the dome, shying away from the Seaborn, looking out into pure waters. How could you understand what she felt? What I felt?
I saw what she held in her hand. The thing she 'held tight' even as the Seaborn tore her apart and devoured her.
You took what Anya sacrificed her life for—
It was an unopened vial of attractant pheromones, Pappus.
Tell me, Anya. Is the sea out there really that terrifying?
I... I work in the spot closest to the sea every day, but I've never seen them before.
I only ever see the unending streams of legionnaires heading out, and you and your mentor doing your best to restore the ocean's ecology.
Sometimes, I think... What's the frontline really like? What price did you pay for the peace I see inside the dome?
Idiot.
Huh?
You don't need to know. It's... It's better if you don't.
Anya's eyes widen slightly as she points out into the ocean. Lucilla follows her finger, and what she sees causes her breath to catch in her throat.
Magma from the volcano is seeping out of the seafloor below the city, its radiance illuminating the reefs and organisms within them.
A seabed sunset. Lucky! Would've missed it if I came over late.
Lucilla can't help but lean over and look her in the eye. Anya's joy-filled gaze reflects the ocean they both so dearly love. The home of the Ægir.
'The Hopeful Ones.' Don't know why, but that phrase suddenly popped into my head... Oh, right! It's the name of the art exhibition coming up soon. When's it open...
Ah, it's in two days!
Then I guess we know what we're doing after work that day? Let's go check out this 'Hopeful Ones' thing.
I knew she never intended to release those pheromones. She would never lead the Seaborn to the city.
And you... You stupid, cowardly...
Lucilla, you know perfectly well that Milliarium could withstand an attack from this wave of Seaborn, so why would it retreat?
Because it's not retreating. It's moving towards dry land. Ægir is set to engage in another pointless struggle—
Oh, great, more of this nonsense!
Let me conclude this little speech of yours for you: Wanting to escape the Seaborn? A pointless struggle. Fighting against them? Also a pointless struggle.
Was Anya saving your ass also a pointless struggle to you?! Hah! Sounds like I really did do the right thing!
Just stop this. Even if you do drown me here, it won't prove either of us right, and it'll be of no benefit for the future...
......
Do... Do you really intend to go through with this, Lucilla?
......
Very well. If that is the future you believe in—
Pappus's voice is cut off by a furious slam on the other side of the call.
We've found Lucilla by an entry to the city's inner circulatory pipes. No sign of Pappus.
Teams two and three, search for Pappus. Team one, with me!
Don't move, Lucilla.
Huh, this is the first time I've ever been pointed at like this.
Where's Pappus?
Don't know. I'm not the head of the Institute of Incubation, so don't bother asking me about missing children, okay?
He's an important lead. He can't die yet. He's in the pipes, right? Where exactly?
Seems you Sea Patrollers also love talking to yourselves and not listening.
There's a rage in you. I've seen it plenty of times in these sorts of cases. A fury in the eyes of the victim's friends and family that cannot be quenched.
......
You don't have much time left. Five minutes have passed since you arrived here. If he truly is somewhere in the pipes, he should be reaching his limits about now.
Don't you think that drowning in a sewage pipe is a fitting way for him to go?
Tell us where he is, now.
Suspect Pappus has been found! First aid robot requested!
In the distance, Pappus, reeking from head to toe, lies flat on the ground. Deathly pale and motionless.
Let me see. He's...
*cough*...
Still alive—
Luckily the pipe was not closed here; it let some fresh air inside. Nearly unconscious by the time we found him, but he was still trying to crawl out of there.
Upon hearing that the pipe was left open, the Sea Patrol captain realizes something. He turns to Lucilla. A bitter, self-mocking smile flashes across her face, tears swelling up in her eyes.
Guess I couldn't do it after all. I couldn't go against her final wish. The one she sacrificed her life to save... Hmph.
Once again, you made the right choice. I hope it came from the heart.
Relax. Sorry to say, but there's no fallen dome maintenance worker for you to execute here.
For causing you guys so much trouble, I'll accept whatever punishment you see fit. Keep it quick, though. I have an exhibition to visit later.
Even though the one I wanted to go with isn't here anymore, I promised her I'd go and see them. The ones who hold onto hope.
Lucilla walks towards the Sea Patrol ship, her relief clear on her face, and a spring in her step. She looks down at her hand, clasped as though it is being held by a familiar grasp.