CW-ST-2: Restless Waves

CW-ST-2 Restless Waves	Lone Trail: The Coming of the Future Previous CW-3 (Story) Next CW-4 (Story)
Danger rushes in like a tidal wave.

Characters
Doctor Ho'olheyak Ifrit Kal'tsit Muelsyse Rosmontis Saria Silence Blake Ferdinand Jackson Jara Justin Jr. Loken Tin Man Columbian Soldier Defense Section Employee? Vice President's Secretary
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

“

Saria gets taken out by a sniper and the Doctor encounters a threat. The military and the Vice President reach a tentative settlement. In the midst of all the panic, the most unexpected person appears.

”

<Background 1>
Ifrit	Silence! Finally! Ever since I entered the city I've been wondering when I would get to see you...
Silence	......
Ifrit	Um... S-Silence?
Silence	Ifrit, come over here.
[Silence has one of her drones check at Ifrit.]
Ifrit	Don't worry, Silence. I'm all good here, good enough to knock out a row of bad guys while carrying you in one arm and running laps around them! If you don't believe me, I'll even carry Saria with my other arm just to prove it! Ha... haha...
Silence	Stop speaking for a bit, you'll affect the drone readings.
Ifrit	Oh... okay.
Silence lowers her head to examine Ifrit, just like she used to do, with the same meticulous and gentle manner as ever, but Ifrit still feels very nervous. She has never been scared of Silence getting angry at her. One of the first things she learned growing up was that Silence's anger stemmed from a concern for her. She knows that after Silence is angry, she helps her take care of the things that were doing her harm, and helps her chase off the things that were scaring her. It was not real anger. But Ifrit is scared of this silent Silence. When Silence does not show an ounce of anger, and rather, is quieter than usual, she realizes– Something must have hit Silence's limit.
Ifrit	The skies in Trimounts are always gloomy and grey, and the storm clouds are as big as monsters. No wonder you used to always walk into my room with your hair all drenched. Oh, and "hot dogs," do you like 'em? The Doctor bought some for me and Rosmontis, and I wanna try one with strawberry-flavored syrup next time.
Silence	......
Ifrit	Silence... I decided to come here myself. I bothered Dr. Kal'tsit about it for a long time, and also wrote the Doctor a super long letter. I completed all my courses and trainings in the last few years, I can do a whole lot of missions, just like you and Saria...
Silence	Blood Originium-Crystal Density has slightly increased.
Saria	What are the estimated rates of increase for that and for Cell-Fusion Assimilation?
Silence	For now, they're within controllable ranges. We won't know the rest of the results until Ifrit returns to the landship for a comprehensive examination.
Ifrit	You want me to return to the landship... you guys still don't trust me...
Silence	No, Ifrit. I trust you. But...
Saria	......
Ifrit	There shouldn't be a need for any "buts" here with Saria around!
Silence	Four years ago, it was in this very city, and under the very same signboard. I almost lost you forever. Back then, she was at your side too, no different than right now.
Ifrit	But I lived, and I've been living good! Saria protected me, so this time I can protect you and everyone with her!
Saria	Ifrit, listen to Silence. She's your doctor, and you should trust her the most.
Ifrit	But I trust you too! I trust the Doctor, and Rosmontis too, there's no difference in the amount of trust I have in you guys.
Saria	......
Silence	Saria, I saw you the other day. You were with that mysterious man in a trenchcoat, at Triton Factory in District 13. And on the very same day, something fell from the sky.
Saria	So you were there too.
Silence	Just another Rhine-related secret experiment, right?
Saria	......
Silence	Of course you won't answer. Because... this is you trying to "protect" me and Ifrit.
Saria	Just ten minutes ago, Ifrit stopped an assassination attempt on the Vice President.
Silence	What?
Saria	I'm not trying to conceal information from you, Silence, but what I have on hand is also very limited. There are simply too many different factions involved in this, and all I can do is try my best to prevent the situation from deteriorating even further.
Silence	... "We must put this back on the right track"–I've heard that line from Director Saria too many times. You were always in control of the situation back at Rhine Lab, but those horrifying experiments kept popping up, one after another. There will always be someone hurt by the ambitions of another, and these wounds won't simply be healed by criminal charges and trials... Not to mention, a trial that should never have happened in the first place. I can't help but wonder... when you people finally extinguish this fire, just how many will be left lying in the ruins, breathing their last breaths just like Ifrit was?
Saria	......
Silence	You perceive the situation more thoroughly and clearly than I can. But you still choose out of habit, to help them "control." You hope to minimize any damage, and preferably, shrink it until it becomes unnoticeable, rather than put a stop to the immorality at its source.
Saria	I can't deny that.
Silence	Saria... I've been waiting years to ask you a question. Your inability to make a genuine stand against Rhine, is it because deep in your bones, you've always been the same as them...? The same as Control?
Saria	...... I...
[A shot is heard...]
Saria	Sniper! Silence, get down! Ifrit–
Silence	What–
[...which hits Saria on the head as she shields Ifrit and Silence...]
Saria	–!
[...and she collapses.]
Silence	S... Saria...?
White calcium crystals float before her eyes. They had briefly protected her and Ifrit just moments ago, but now they disintegrate silently as the caster falls.
<Background 2>
Columbian Soldier	Confirmed hit on the target!
Blake	Great. This high-powered energy weapon is capable of blasting a hole open through an armored vehicle, and yet it wasn't able to penetrate her Arts. This damned Vouivre and her Arts are tough as shit, harder than power armor.
Columbian Soldier	You mean to say... There's a possibility she might survive?
Blake	Heh, "possibility." I'm so fed up with that word. All those researchers tossing it around. What I want is results, definite results.
Columbian Soldier	Then what happened with the Vice President...
Blake	Maylander won't give us a second chance.
Columbian Soldier	The op team is still on standby. Should we order them to withdraw?
Blake	No need. Give them something else to do. Just like how we dealt with that eyesore of a Vouivre, don't let anyone causing chaos in Rhine get off scot-free. It's time for these idiots who think they can do whatever they want with just a few companies under their belts to wake up– No one can challenge the Columbian Army's authority on Columbian soil and get away with it.
Ferdinand	Move! Blake, I didn't give you Rhine's contacts for you to drag it into the gutter!
Blake	Which is why you've used your channels within Rhine. The guilty are often the first to complain, Ferdinand. Are you aware of our current situation? Someone disrupted the intel, and the detonator went off too early. And now, reporters have already spun the story that this has nothing to do with Jackson at all.
Ferdinand	What did you say?
Blake	I said, the assassination failed.
Ferdinand	......
Blake	Are you satisfied? Come on, Ferdinand. Put away whatever weapon you're hiding. Do you really think you can even leave a scratch on me?
Ferdinand	......
Blake	Relax, I don't blame you.
Blake pats Ferdinand's cheek twice. Ferdinand expected Blake's eyes to be filled with a murderous intent, but to his surprise, all he sees is a smile.
Blake	Carrying out an assassination within Rhine given our current intel would have been extremely difficult, even without your meddling. And even now, that company's all that's on your mind. Loyalty to your own desires isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. I'm serious, Ferdinand. It's an admirable trait. You're fit to be a soldier.
Ferdinand	But now that we've failed–
Blake	What of it? This is just the beginning. It's a good thing that Maylander has us pinned down. Do you know just how many of my superiors have been waiting ages to strike out against them? Before the situation spirals out of control, our losses will only win me more support.
Ferdinand	And if things really spiral–
Blake	Trust me, you don't want to know how things will end for me. Of course, I can't guarantee how they'll end for you either.
Ferdinand	I'll stick to our agreement, to help you find Kristen. We can still turn the tables once we have her in our grasp. That goes for the both of us... and Rhine too. I'll go meet with Jara.
Blake	Sure... by all means. Let's see if it's luck... or fate, that will catch up to us first.
<Background 3>
[Suspicious R.L. Defense Section employees are searching the area.]
Defense Section Employee?	Squad A, search that side. Squad B, conduct your search over here. Our targets are a hooded figure with no weapon, and a Feline girl able to use highly lethal Arts.
<Background 4>
Rosmontis	Doctor, my terminal lit up. That means... it's time for me and Ifrit to meet up, but I can't sense her presence.
Doctor	She probably found Saria. / Our plan has succeeded. Rhine should be safe for now.
Rosmontis	This place... isn't safe at all. There are too many laboratories here. They all have the same white walls, just like a maze. Ifrit hates this kind of place the most. Whenever she talks about those memories, her breaths become shorter and her hands get cooler than usual. I want to go find her. I don't want to see my friend get hurt. These walls aren't so tough. Just give me the order and I can get you out of here easily.
Doctor	Let's not be hasty... / We can't expose ourselves yet.
[Someone familiar walks in.]
???	Thank you very much for choosing not to smash up our walls. We imported the material from Kazimierz. They're very expensive.
Rosmontis	......
???	There's no need to be so nervous, little girl. As you can clearly see, I'm only a businessman. Nothing but a fountain pen and a wallet in my pocket. [Dialog]
Doctor	It's you... / Hello there. I didn't expect to see you here, Director Fitzroy.
Justin Jr.	Haha, sure enough. My next meeting just happens to be around the corner, so I figured I would greet our guests on my way over.
<Background 5>
Defense Section Employee?	...Areas C and D have been searched. There's a ton of conference rooms in front, prepare to check them one by one.
<Background 4>
[Rosmontis heard people running outside.]
Rosmontis	Enemies in the corridors, and a lot of them too. Give me the order, Doctor.
Doctor	Wait. / ...... / We have company.
Justin Jr.	A hero working behind the scenes to prevent a terrible conspiracy, but soon to become the target of a clandestine arrest. In Columbia, these sorts of stories are common enough, and such a script wouldn't fetch a good price in Wrankwood. At the end of the day, is it a party being obstructed by the establishment and wanting to punish them for it, or the other party dispatching a commission to let this yet-to-be-exposed deal sink into the abyss– What do you think?
Doctor	Seems like there's no need for guesses here. / They all have "reasons" to "investigate" us. You included, Director Fitzroy. Surely you showed up here at this moment for more than a greeting?
Justin Jr.	Oops, would you just look at the time! They're waiting for me to start our meeting. I hope I haven't disrupted your plans too much just by stalling you a bit?
[The running sounds are getting closer.]
Rosmontis	Doctor, please stand back. I'm going to begin attacking.
Doctor	...Director Fitzroy.
Justin Jr.	My friends call me Justin Jr.
Doctor	Justin Jr. The military seeing us together won't be good for you.
Justin Jr.	What if I told them that the young and beautiful Feline lady by your side has something to do with a top-secret military experiment that should rightfully be covered in dust and long unused?
Rosmontis	......
Doctor	Is that a threat from an enemy? / Is that a reminder from a friend?
Justin Jr.	The choice lies with you. Do remind me, just how many of our excellent employees have you already poached from Rhine Lab? Was it eight, or ten? Jara has been thinking about getting acquainted with whoever runs your HR. Since Rhodes Island and Rhine Lab have been cooperating so closely–the next time we meet, I might even have a contract for you with an offer you can't refuse.
Doctor	Looking forward to it. / ...... / Rhodes Island thanks you for your interest.
Justin Jr.	Alright, I won't bother you and Miss Feline here any longer. By the way, Dr. {nickname}, after you get back, please do ask Muelsyse a question for me– When she goes out to eat, what's her preferred cuisine?
[The Doctor and Rosmontis went into hiding.]
<Background 5>
Defense Section Employee?	Only one conference room left. The target is most likely inside. Prepare to breach.
[The suspicious Def. Sec. employees breach into the room, but...]
Defense Section Employee?	...It's empty?
Justin Jr.	Did you hear a sound just now?
Defense Section Employee?	What sound?
Justin Jr.	The sound of water. Ah, how wonderful it is. It's... a lively energy, strong enough to fight even fate itself.
<Background 1>
Ifrit	Saria... Saria! She's not responding... no way...
Silence	Her head's suffered a serious impact, and though her vital signs are there, she's still in critical condition. She needs emergency treatment. Ifrit, help me lift her arms... ugh, so heavy...
[The shooters fire at Ifrit and Silence, but the former incinerates the arrows mid-air with her Arts...]
Ifrit	Don't even think about hurting Saria again!
[...as she fires back at the shooters.]
Ifrit	Silence, I can burn a way out for us, and we can go try and meet up with the Doctor.
Silence	No. The people watching us are definitely also after Rhodes Island.
[Another familiar face shows up.]
???	Yes, the military is already inside Rhine, and your friends might not be able to protect themselves.
Silence	Director Jara...?!
Jara	Come with me, kids. I can't just sit by and watch the other founder of Rhine Lab fall here.
<Background 6>
Vice President's Secretary	Mr. Vice President, Congress called back. It's regarding the bill to dismantle those military bases, they're ready to move the hearing up. In addition, the Justice who reached out to us earlier has hinted that she's willing to cooperate with us to overturn the previous ruling. The military is going to pay for their recklessness. We have an optimistic estimate that Colonel Blake will be out of Trimounts within the next twelve hours. Everything is waiting for your decision, sir.
Jackson	A call should be coming in, Pavard.
[The phone rings, and the secretary picks it up.]
Vice President's Secretary	Yes, this is the Vice President's temporary office... Yes, he's right next to me... Yes... Mr. Vice President, it's...
Jackson	Hand it over, I know who's looking for me.
[The secretary gave the phone to VP Jackson.]
Jackson	...Alright. I understand. I feel the same. I'm not about to let everyone down at this critical juncture.
[VP Jackson hangs up.]
Jackson	......
Vice President's Secretary	Mr. Vice President, about the bill...
Jackson	Shelve it. There's no need to put this matter on the agenda for the next six months.
Vice President's Secretary	Is that... an order from the Maylander Foundation?
Jackson	Pavard, how many casualties were there in that mess from your report?
Vice President's Secretary	We eliminated thirty military operatives.
Jackson	And how much money do we spend on training these soldiers every year?
Vice President's Secretary	Three million to train a combat-ready man to DOD standards, sir.
Jackson	So we basically just lost 90 million in cash and 30 outstanding talents.
Vice President's Secretary	...That's right.
Jackson	So, there's no need to ask whose orders it is. It's a decision that's in the best interests of Columbia. Go get me a meeting with Blake. It's time for us and the DOD to work together.
Vice President's Secretary	Understood.
[The secretary leaves.]
Jackson	...... I'll always remember the day the election results came in, when I thought smugly to myself that I could finally sit behind the desk of my dreams–and I received the biggest shock of my life. Haha. Back then, I almost thought my country was caught up in a huge conspiracy. But I've come to realize that's not what's happening. Columbia isn't wrapped up in any conspiracy, and Maylander isn't the shadow government I thought it was. It's just silly things happening in an orderly way, that's what makes it seem like we've been making real progress. But I'm still just a regular guy. Every now and then, something crazy pops into my head. If I really was caught in that explosion, then... would I be remembered as a martyr for Columbia? Or just tossed in the dustbin of history as some incompetent politician? What... do you think?
The Vice President looks around the empty office, as if waiting for the omnipresent air to answer his question. Then, the man standing so close to the apex of Columbian power sighs.
[Someone enters the room...]
???	The military won't be bothering you any longer, so why the long face?
Jackson	...Ho'olheyak, you are a difficult woman to reach.
[...who is revealed to be Ho'olheyak.]
Ho'olheyak	Sorry about that. My boss, who I've not seen in a long time, has popped on over to Trimounts. I needed some time to compile my reports.
Jackson	I'm afraid the Tin Man has forgot to send me any copies.
Ho'olheyak	And that's why I've come to answer your question personally. As long as it's something I know, I'm happy to tell all.
Jackson	Alright, you're the primary representative for the Maylander Foundation's Rhine Lab desk. So, tell me– Where exactly is the main instigator of all this malarkey? Where is Kristen Wright right now?
Ho'olheyak	She's in a place that not even the finest of Columbia's commandos are able to reach, a place never documented by the Maylander Foundation.
Jackson	There's nowhere in Columbia like that.
Ho'olheyak	It's not on any map of the country, at least for now. Even though the location might overlap with our territory, it is truly out of our line of sight.
Jackson	So you mean...
Ho'olheyak	Mr. Vice President, you are no doubt familiar with "Project Exploration", an archaeological undertaking spanning multiple years led by the Maylander Historical Association... or rather, our Tin Man.
Jackson	Those ancient ruins buried under the vast wasteland.
Ho'olheyak	Exactly. Coincidentally, we also came across this information during a recent raid operation on Rhine-related personnel.
Jackson	...... Exploration records?
Ho'olheyak	These records are currently in the hands of a former executive of Rhine Lab, a close friend of Kristen Wright's... as well as an offshore company with an existing criminal record in Columbia. And it is the most coincidental thing, that this company called Rhodes Island has a working relationship with my dear leader, the Tin Man.
<Background 7>
Kal'tsit	...A water purification and circulation system.
Tin Man	You could also call it a "sewage drain."
Kal'tsit	It used to have another name, "Locus of Sorcery." Once the most primitive weapons of witchcraft from the Teekaz.
Tin Man	So that's its actual full name. To think that it was installed on the Pioneer Team's nomadic temporary housing.
Kal'tsit	Though it's certain that the device's core components have already long been lost. All that is left are the outermost pipes, and you people... had a reasonable idea of how to recycle it.
Tin Man	I will take that as a compliment on behalf of the Columbians, Madame. This country has gone through hard times. During the Great Expansion when supplies were scarce, every object was classified into only one of two qualities: useful or useless. This may be a medium of some magnificent memories in your eyes, but to the ordinary people living in Columbia, they are useful pipes that will not be rusting anytime soon. After all, no matter how old an object is, or how great an era it has seen, those unable to be comprehended by people of the current era will be no different from scrap.
Kal'tsit	Our own levels of understanding are but restricted by our own time and space. You and I are not exempt either... and the same goes for Kristen Wright. She couldn't have drawn her power from a Teekaz-like legacy, and whatever outside force she has borrowed power from is much more powerful than that. There are still thirty-two technologies waiting to be ruled out. Most of these are not on the Maylander Historical Association's exploration records.
Tin Man	I presume you won't be needing my company for whatever is coming next.
Kal'tsit	Sure enough. But this will not affect our partnership with Maylander.
Tin Man	Yes, indeed. This has always been your way of going about things. You're hoping that Kristen will not get hold of that technology... but you also hope that Columbia won't be able to prematurely pocket that fortune for themselves. Still the same as always... selfless and neutral.
Kal'tsit	I have one more thing to ask of you.
Tin Man	We can discuss that first, Madame.
Kal'tsit	Dr. {nickname}... and those two girls. As you've said, there are some roads that only I can take. I'd like to trouble you to take care of them when it's inconvenient for me to do so.
Tin Man	Oh, I've misjudged you. You have changed after all, Madame. You're more humane than you once were.
Kal'tsit	No one, or thing is forever unchangeable, Revenant... Mr. Tin Man. All we can do is to accept these changes.
<Background 2>
???	Hey, Doctor, you good? Hmm, I should rein in the water and not let it enter the respiratory tract... Or could it be... that my skills have gotten rusty after not using them for so long? The Doctor probably bumped that hood on something and passed out. Ahh–so sorry! It's all cause of that Justin Jr., he suddenly dumped a stack of papers on me, said all the directors have to fill them out or we won't get our funding for next year. That was close, I almost didn't make it.
Doctor	*cough* *cough*... / ...... / Didn't make it to what?
???	Oh, you're awake, Doctor.
<Background 8>
Muelsyse	Good morning... no, good evening.
Doctor	This isn't Rhine. / ...... / I remember being in a ventilation duct–
Muelsyse	Yup. I was manipulating my water around when I knew you were in trouble. The two of you were about to be discovered when I found you, so I wrapped you up in water and brought you here. I was in a hurry, so excuse the bumpy ride, 'kay?
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	I owe you one.
Muelsyse	You've saved me once, and now I got you back... Oh, who knows whose turn it'll be next?
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	......
Muelsyse	Doctor, you're not thinking of how you're gonna repay me, are you? Um... how about you go shopping with me next time?
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	I can't repay the kindness you've shown me.
Muelsyse	It's not that great a deal, hehe. But you know, if you insist on returning the favor, just sign this employment contract I got here! I wouldn't mind having an assistant with brains as big as yours.
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Muelsyse	Doctor... I know you just woke up, but, I gotta tell you some bad news. It seems like Saria got attacked at the same time you were.
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	Is she okay? / ......
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	What about Ifrit?
Muelsyse	Iffy should be fine and dandy, but Saria...
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Muelsyse	I'm not sure about the specifics, but that's Saria, you know? Harder than diamonds! She wouldn't be in any serious danger, right?
Doctor	Rosmontis...
Rosmontis	......
Doctor	Rosmontis?
Rosmontis	Outside... The corridor... someone is walking toward us.
Muelsyse	Huh? But I was so cautious on the way here, the army couldn't possibly have tailed us that easily. Or could it be the Maylander guys? Like... Mr. Tin Can and his pets...? Secret agents like to pop up like this, don't they?
Doctor	Rosmontis, is it the Tin Man?
Rosmontis	I don't know. I don't feel anything special... the feeling I'm getting is... um, very normal...
Doctor	Muelsyse, can you take a look around the area?
Muelsyse	Hm? You want me to send a few "eyes" out there? You got it.
[Muelsyse creates a water clone of hers, but stops as someone enters the room.]
???	Huff...*pant*...finally... Sorry, am I late? I wanted to see you as soon as you got to Trimounts. Unfortunately... my work took much longer than expected.
Muelsyse	You're... Wait, I remember that mug from the docs... You're Loken Williams?!
Rosmontis	...... Lo...ken?
Loken	Yes. It is I. You must have received my letter, Narcissa.
Rosmontis	Who is Narcissa? My name is Rosmontis. It's my only name.
Loken	You... no matter. What's important is that you've come. To tell the truth, I've been a bit nervous ever since I sent the letter. To see that you're willing to meet me... makes me a very happy man.