Big Blue Tank II

Oh my... It's hard to believe Billy is gone. Perhaps he let his confidence get the better of him.

I suppose that would be a fitting end for him.

My instructions are the same for you. Capture the catalyst and bring him to me.

Failure will not be tolerated.

Of course, my lady. Your wish is my command.

If the interlopers in question are headed towards your forbidden zone from Texas Beyond, they'll inevitably have to pass through this area.

And fortunately for us, this planet is itself a large and enticing trap.

I expect it's only a matter of time before those meddling busybodies practically jump into my arms. I can't wait.

Just to be certain, make absolutely sure you do not freeze them or add them to your collection.

The Master must arrive here alive.

Hehe, not to worry, I'm well aware. All right, ta-ta for now.

Glory to Space Shinkageryu and the goddess.

...Well, she's still a little too cool of a customer. Are you sure she can handle this?

Heh. Worry not, my lady.

After all, her cruelty to her opponents once she has lured them in close is utterly unfathomable.

She is not called "The Freezing Sword" for nothing. Her strength lies in her temperament, not her swordplay.

(Well yeah, seeing how she wasn't originally a Saber.)

Of course, there's always the chance she ends up freezing them anyway and just claims it was an accident or somehow unavoidable...

And you don't see that as a problem!?

Magnificently done. I now have no doubts that you are serious about defeating the Space Shinkageryu.

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I did give you my word, so yes, you can. We will stay up here and keep watch, so that you don't find yourselves surrounded.

Okay, the space elevator's all ours! I set it up so we can control it from the Maanna. Although...

Hey, Ishtarin? Are you sure it's safe for us to go to Big Blue?

You don't think its gravity might end up smooshing us into space pancakes if we get too close to its core?

I must admit, I am a bit worried about that as well. You could be going straight to your deaths.

Think about it. If it's safe enough for Space Shinkageryu to set up a base where their people can live, then it must be safe enough for us to go in.

So no, I'm not at all worried about going inside. All I'm worried about is who'll be there waiting for us.

Since we have to use that elevator, there's no way we can sneak in undetected. We'll probably have to fight them off the moment the doors open.

So make sure you all stay sharp down there. And if we happen to run into one of the Six Blades

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You got it. I'm counting on you, Master!

This is horrible! I had no idea there was so much bedrock around the core!

Whoa! According to these readings I'm seeing, it's a natural mine with some unbelievable kinds of ore!

This place is practically a mountain of invaluable resources, Ishtarin!

Aw man, I'm also seeing a bunch of hostile readings headed our way through this blizzard! Guess we won't have time to go treasure hunting after all!

I-I don't know what you mean. That mountain of gemstones wasn't tempting me at all. Nope. Not this goddess. No way, no how.

C-come on, I'm a goddess of justice here! I don't have to snap out of anything!

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My, my. It's hard to believe you claim to be a goddess Servant when you go around dressed like...that.

I'm sure it's just a title you gave yourself, but when it's so completely absurd, well, it just starts to feel like a cruel joke.

You're like a commoner who worked herself to the bone just to get into a prestigious school, and now goes around bragging about it to everyone who will listen.

Is this a cry for help? Would you feel better if I made friends with you?

Who're you calling a commoner!?

You don't even have the guts to face me without hiding behind your soldiers, you aristo-hick!

Hehe, that was a very good comeback. Did you also graduate from Queens, by any chance? If so, we share the same alma mater.

There you are. And from that aura of yours, you must be one of the Six Blades!

Hello there, everyone. Welcome to Big Blue Tank.

I am Anastasia Lakekicker, the woman who encased Big Blue's core in this icy membrane.

As a noblewoman, I usually like to offer my guests a nice sweet cup of tea...

...but you gave up the right to be treated as guests when you trespassed on my private land.

So I'm afraid you'll have to disappear without a trace now.

Your private land? That's rich, coming from the person who showed up to steal it.

Whether this planet belongs to a goddess or not, I know damn well it doesn't belong to Space Shinkageryu.

Of course it doesn't. That's why I'm only asserting ownership over this land, not the planet.

I worked hard to cultivate this icy land, and you have no idea how much it costs to keep it running.

And if that wasn't bad enough, there's no end of petty thieves who try to make off with the gas and Altrium.

You should count yourselves lucky, really. Most of the thieves who come here end up at the bottom of the methane sea.

We'd never even know about them if they didn't turn up freeze-dried whenever we clean the pipeline.

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...Please don't say that, Fujimaru. Now you're making me feel cold...

Same... It really is freezing out here.

I thought I could just ignore it if I pretended not to notice, but no, this is just absurdly cold...

Ahchoo!

Oh, sorry. Please, don't mind me.

GODDAMN COLD!!!

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You're right, it's cold here. Really frigging cold.

But you only have to deal with it for a little while. Me, on the other hand? I'm stuck here forever!

I haven't been transferred once ever since I let the boss know I was good with cold environments and got assigned to this planet!

Yes, the pay is great. And that's really nice.

But I have nothing to spend it on!

Not even SpaceEx will deliver to this planet!

And now I can't even quit because I've become so used to the climate here that I can't go to any planet where the temperature even briefly goes above zero!

I even tried commissioning a frozen container once, so I could travel around the universe, only to mistakenly end up delivered to fish markets everywhere I went!

Thanks to that, all my memories of that trip are of the salty sea breeze and yummy seafood!

And of course, all my workers are robots, so while they're great at their jobs, they're lousy conversationalists! It's so boring here I could die!

My body might be used to the cold now, but my heart will always yearn for warmer climes!

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I'm sorry. It's been so long since I had guests that I simply couldn't help getting a bit worked up.

By way of apology, please, allow my elite security guards to entertain you.

Wow! She's just letting all the feelings she's been holding back run wild now, isn't she!?

I'll say. This kind of overblown excitement is so familiar to me it's actually making me want to relax my guar

No, I can't afford to relax it now! Here they come, Fujimaru!

I can see the glint of their silver Saber Badges even in this heavy blizzard... I guess these robots really are elite.

But unfortunately for them, I can conceal my presence in this weather just as well as I can in the dead of night!

Let's do this! Saber Ninja Art: Mt. Rokkou Avalanche!

With all this snow here to hide me, my Fire Support will have them stunned in no time!

Hey, guys! Is it just me, or were those robot Sabers

It's not just you. They were crazy strong!

In my book, no self-respecting Saber would ever mix throwing daggers and swordplay...but I can't deny they otherwise fought like the real thing.

I guess Space Shinkageryu actually does have some genuine swordfighters among its ranks!

Indeed they do. These robots were all cloned from Lady Ashtart's personal bodyguards.

They used to be stationed on Dark Maanna before I secretly froze and brought them here.

I couldn't get by here without them, but I can't deny they're slower here than they were on Dark Maanna. I suppose this isn't exactly the most optimal working environment for them.

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Indeed. Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but this place is REALLY cold, isn't it?

Most of the time, that's all there is here. There's no sounds... No smells...

Everything here just freezes, shatters, and falls into the ice ocean, never to be seen again.

It's a cruel, cruel world, but it's nothing if not clean and efficient here.

And having you Wild Space West bounty hunters show up here all covered in dust and grime utterly ruins that.

Unless, of course, you've got some sort of special gift for me to make up for that?

Like, say, a rare, one-of-a-kind Master?

Sure, I've got a gift for the host. I was taught to mind my manners, after all! Here, I brought you a ton of lead!

Holy crap, she just deflected those shots with the soul-freezing cold! Quit shooting at her!

This member of the Six Blades specializes in fighting Archers!

My, my, your friend there is exceptionally observant. I can't believe she figured it out that quickly.

Yes, I am one of the Six Blades. I am Anastasia the Freezing Sword, aka the Archer Killer.

That is to say, I am an all-new kind of Saberone who is strong against Lancers and Archers alike.

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I actually agree with you, but putting that aside...

Master from another universe. Distinguished bodyguards.

I am told you defeated Billy at Texas Beyond.

In which case, perhaps you already know what it is I'm going to say next?

You want us to hand Fujimaru over, right? Then maybe you can figure out what I'M gonna say next: HELL NO.

Now, I've got a question for you.

And what might that be?

What is the Space Shinkageryu actually mining here? 'Cause I'm pretty sure it's not just precious gems.

Really? That's what you want to know? That's not very interesting. How disappointing.

But...very well.

I can't very well send my guests down to hell empty-handed, so if that's truly the answer you want, I'll tell you.

This planet's core is made up of supremely, incredibly dense high-quality Altrium.

That being the case, well...I doubt I need to tell you what someone could make with the gas that composes the bulk of this planet.

No way! So this whole planet is actually an Altrium refinery!?

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Well, Master. Altrium can indeed be found all throughout the Servantverse.

But despite that, it's also incredibly annoying to work with, because for whatever reason...

...it's near impossible to find or make whenever you really need it.

That's why I wasn't able to repair Stallion II, which led to the whole Saber Wars I thing, but I digress.

My point is, everyone needs Altrium, but it's really, really hard to get your hands on a steady supply of it.

So if there was a place where you could mine and sell as much as you wanted, you'd make an absolute killing.

That explains why Space Shinkageryu could afford to build such an elaborate facility.

And here I thought you guys were warriors, not a bunch of petty crooks.

Of course we are. Who do you think eliminated everyone that stood in our way?

I don't know what kind of underhanded trick you used to defeat Billy, but it won't work on me. You're in my territory now.

This frigid ocean is cold enough to freeze the very sun. Now, it will be your grave.

Do your worst, you hicks. I, Anastasia the Freezing Sword, will turn you all into Santa Claus in the dead of winter.

Ohhh, I get it! Because we'll be frozen so solid we'll end up with ice beards!

Ishtarin, X, if it's cool with you, I'm gonna sit this one out! I don't think I'll be much help here anyway!

You better believe I'm gonna bring it! 'Sides, I have a feeling me and the ice queen here have lots in common!

It's over!

Your evil business shuts down today! So you're fired, and you won't be getting a golden parachute!

Gnnh... I can't believe I lost so miserably...

No, never mind that. Your swordplay... And now that I look closer, your face...

What's going on? Does this mean there's more than one Primordial Goddess...?

...

Uh-uh, keep your hands where we can see them, sister. It's obvious you're not out of commission yet.

Now give yourself up, and don't try anything stupid.

We don't want to kill you. We just want the bounty on your head.

That, and all the info on Space Shinkageryu you can give us.

I'll be straight with you, Anastasia. I'm not after you.

I know there's another swordfighter in Space Shinkageryu who uses the same katana I do.

So I want you to tell me where I can find them, and what their name is.

On second thought... I'm guessing that Ashtart lady's the swordfighter I'm looking for. Am I right?

...Hehe. I'm afraid you'll just have to meet the boss and see for yourself.

As for me, I'm a Grand Duchess. I won't ever kneel and beg for mercy. Why? Because... (Click)

Oh crap! Ishtarin! Fujimaru! This whole landmass is starting to collapse!

She must've blown up the bedrock! We've gotta get out of here before we fall straight into Big Blue's core!

Anastasia!!

Hehehe... You can't kneel and beg if there's no ground to kneel on, right?

I am the Grand Duchess of Ice. The times betrayed me, and my people banished me.

I refuse to be captured or to be forced to live in the world at large by its rules. If my story has come to an end, all that is left for me is to sink to the bottom of the icy sea.

But I am glad that at the end, I made a friend to keep me company in that frigid eternity. What do you say? Will you join me?

Being your friend is one thing, but there's no way in hell I'm dying with you!

Come on guys, let's hurry to the elevator!

Oh my, you would leave me here to die? How cruel.

Oh please, you think I don't know your game? I can tell you have a one-person escape pod prepped and ready to go.

Damn, you figured it out, huh? And I thought I had you.

I suppose great minds really do think alike. Are you sure you wouldn't like to be friends after all, goddess of good?

I'll think about it if we both make it out of here! See you around, you...obnoxiously difficult to kill Grand Duchess!

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Atmospheric pressure has reached armor-crushing levels. Recording wind speeds of two-thousand five-hundred kilometers per hour.

Thirty-eight seconds until we reach Big Blue's core. Thirty-eight seconds until the Maanna is destroyed.

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Oh crap! The Maanna'll never be able to withstand the pressures of a gas giant's core! If we get pulled into that, this whole ship will end up about the size of a raisin!

Jane, fire up the engine, full throttle! Give it all the Altrium we've got!

Nnn, I don't think it'll work. There's no way we're getting out of this gravitational field with standard space-horsepower.

If we're gonna survive, I think we're gonna have to do that thing you hate, Ishtarin!

Huh? You don't mean...

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The Maanna's a pretty old model, but that also means it's pretty easy to understand its workings.

And one nice side effect of that is, the better the energy you feed it, the better the output you get in return.

So if we feed it some gems, it'll have just as much pep as Ishtarin!

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Ulp...

All right, fine. Besides, it was my idea to stop by here in the first place, and I know all the gems in the Servantverse won't do me any good if I'm not alive to enjoy them.

So...okay, we can use my gems. But, um...how much are we talking, exactly?

Gimme a sec! I've just gotta do some quick math. Let's see...

We'll need either five-hundred kilograms of space lapis lazuli, or three-hundred fifty kilograms of space rubies.

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.........Wat?

That's our choice: five-hundred kilos, or three-hundred fifty kilos. Of course, if you wanted to really splurge and use space diamonds

Are you NUTS!? Are you sure we can't get away with, say...a tenth of that?

Sorry, Ishtarin, but this is physics, not a street market. No haggling!

Ten seconds until the point of no return. Nine. Eight. Seven.

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...

Why do you look so happy about this!?

Six. Five. Four.

Ishtarin!

Three. Two. One.

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Aah! What am I doing!? Jane! Give it all the rubies we've got!

We'll skip some steps and do a short-range jump! Get us away from Big Blue as fast as we can move!

You got it! Bye-bye, limiters! Let's go, Maanna, let's go♪

All turbulence on Big Blue Tank has ceased. This area is now safe.

Phew. Another close call for our heroic bounty hunters. Glad that's over with.

So how's Ishtar doing? Is she in one of the sleep pods to recover from the shock of losing all those gems?

No, it looks like she's up on the deck thanking Altera. She's always been conscientious about things like that.

Very impressive, bounty hunter. I quite enjoyed sitting back with a leg of mutton to eat and watching the show you all put on.

Zerco even recorded the whole thing. He says he would like to make a sci-fi movie from the footage.

Apparently, he plans on calling it "Worthless Goddess VS. Grand Duchess of Ice: Showdown on the Frosty Sea."

That sounds like the title of a monster movie, not a sci-fi flick!

...Oh, whatever. If you want to make a movie, go ahead. Just make sure you send me residuals if it sells well.

Anyway, what are you going to do about that elevator shaft now that the mining operations have ceased?

We will leave it as it is. We trust the goddess will take care of it when the time is right.

Thanks for all your help.

Aw, it was nothing. We were in the area anyway. So hey, you wouldn't happen to know a shortcut to any forbidden zones, would you?

Like, say, one right around here on the interstellar map?

...So you seek the Floor of Space.

Then you know about this place? Have you ever been there?

I have not, for we have no business there. But if that is where you wish to go, and time is of the essence, then you should take the Path of Stones.

The Path of Stones? Do you mean the asteroid belt not far from here?

It says here there are black holes and space debris blocking off various routes through it, and it looks impossible to navigate with a standard space map...

But if we can get through, it does look like it could be a shortcut.

And while Fujimaru hasn't said anything about it, I'm sure he's dying to get home as soon as he can...

So this'll be a good chance to prove he made the right choice coming with me!

That said, I must warn you that it is a dangerous route, and autopilot will be of no help to you.

Still, after seeing what you are all capable of, I expect you could make it through there in about the average ninety-minute runtime of a film without even needing the extra time for trailers.

Well, I'm sure I'll figure something out. Thanks for all your help, Altera!

By the way, are you...

Hm? Am I what?

...No, never mind.

May the goddess watch over you on your journey.

Once Ishtarin gets back, we can finally do the slingshot maneuver around Big Blue! I can't wait!

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Oh? What's up? Is it something you don't want Ishtarin overhearing?

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...

Good question! I don't have a clue, either! She doesn't seem like one to me!

How about you, Fujimaru? Does she seem like a demon driven solely by her resentment and need for vengeance?

Right? Then there's no problem!

Ishtarin's still Ishtarin, no matter what class she is!

Oh... You mean how greedy she can be? Well, there's a reason for that...

Ever since a little incident years ago...

...Ishtarin kind of had no choice but to become more, um...predatory? About money stuff.

But don't worry! Deep down, I promise she's a hard worker who's really, reeeaaally earnest!

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Okay, I'm back! Come on, let's rev up the engine and get going!

We're going through an asteroid belt next, so it's time for me to work my piloting magic!

So we'll be breaking through the Sargasso region, huh? A shortcut sounds great to me.

Oh, by the way, Ishtar, I was wondering what was up with the way you and the Grand Duchess were trading barbs even as you kept the tone polite.

Have you two met before or something?

No, it's not that. Ishtarin just used to attend a school for proper young ladies, so she already knows how to handle princesses.

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What, you got a problem with that? I wasn't always a bounty hunter, you know. I used to go to school like anyone else.

I see... I guess every Servant has their own story, huh?

Still, I was surprised you didn't perk up more when you found out the planet was made up of high-purity Altrium.

Oh... Yeah, I guess I was just too angry to pay attention to that at the time.

But honestly, while I did hate to pass on those gems, I don't mind letting the Altrium go.

I mean, if I took over that operation and started selling it all myself, I'd be no better than Space Shinkageryu, right?

A goddess of justice always helps people out, and is compensated for her time with money and gratitude!

If I just focused on the money and didn't care who I hurt to get it, I'd be the only one enjoying myself!

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What about you, X? Wouldn't this have been a good chance for you to build a new spaceship?

Oh man, you're right! I can't believe I forgot all about that.

Hehe, maybe you've started to rub off on me more than I thought.

Ishtarin's pretty tough with contracts and payments, but she's way more relaxed about profit and loss.

I love that selfless side of her. She always seems to sparkle extra bright when she's being generous!

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What's that supposed to mean? Flattery won't buy you a discount!

All right, enough pointless chatter! Let's get going already!

Besides, if we hang around too long, that frigid Grand Duchess might show up looking for revenge!

You got it! Bringing Maanna's engines online!