Helmsman Esam: Ms. Vertin, it seems all the passengers are gathered in the lobby.
The group has finally arrived at the cruise ship lobby. The place is a mess.
Sonetto: We've lost too much time. A lot of people have put on masks while we were locked up.
Vertin: We'll need to round up the ones that are still conscious!
Helmsman Charlie: Sure!
The hastily assembled rescue team leaps into action, breaking up rising quarrels and separating the crowd members fighting over masks.
Guest I: Damn, more contenders! Like we don't have enough people wrestling for a mask!
Guest II: Give me that mask, asshole!
Guest II: I'm joining Manus Vindictae! I will take the trial!
Clearly, any semblance of onboard etiquette has been long abandoned.
Crew Member I: Sir, I believe you may be too weak to endure the trial! You should leave this valuable opportunity to someone who will be more useful to Captain Grace!
Sonetto: Please put the masks down, everyone! This isn't the way to survive!
Guest III: Give it to me! That mask belongs to me!
Guest III: Ms. Grace smiled at me once! She must like me! She'll want me to join her!
Crew Member II: I just don't want to be killed by this "Storm" thing.
Crew Member II: sob I don't want to die.
The helmsmen dip and dive through the crowd as they administer sedatogens to the almost delirious passengers.
Helmsman Esam: Get back to your senses, people!
Helmsman Esam: If I were you, I'd have thrown these creepy masks into the sea the moment I saw them!
The Nukutai survivors watch the nearby rescue operation from afar.
Thanks to Grace's kindness, their situation appears far "brighter" than the other guests.
But not all of them share their newfound faith.
Toa: Selone, you must put on the mask, please. For our people. It's not scary, I promise.
Toa: Would you rather be captured by those outsiders?!
Selone: Go to the captain's room, Toa.
Selone: You passed your trial. I'm sure the captain and our people there need you more than I do.
Selone: I must stay here to look after Kitiona, little Pita, and our friends who still seem to be lost.
Toa: What is wrong with you, Selone? All you need to do is put on the mask!
Selone breaks free of Toa's grip, nearly falling to the floor as she does so.
Selone: I'm sorry, Toa. I think Fatutu was right to have second thoughts.
Selone: Look at all the people who have put on the mask. Now, tell me how many of them have survived?
Following Selone's tear-filled gaze, countless failures of the trial lie sprawled on the floor.
Nukutai, Australians, Italians ...
Sailors, merchants, tourists ...
Toa: And what, you're afraid? Is this really more important than bringing our people home?!
The storm outside continues to batter the ship.
The lobby, however, grows increasingly silent.
Selone: You have changed. The Toa I knew would never have dared to ask me such a foolish question.
Selone: Haven't you heard their cries?
Toa: You need to think of the future, Selone, the new, beautiful homeland we're going to recover! We could live peacefully once more. We could—
His tears mix with the viscous black liquid of the mask as they drip onto the floor.
Selone: Please stop, Toa. I'm sorry.
Toa: ...
Selone: When I see how tainted and twisted your Spirit Shell has become, I can't. I won't.
Selone crumples to the floor, her voice barely a whisper.
Sonetto spots them among the crowd.
Sonetto: I recognize her. That's Ms. Selone!
Sonetto: Timekeeper, I think they need assistance!
She rushes toward the Nukutai survivors.
Vertin: Sonetto, watch out!
Nukutai Believer I: roar To ... a new world!
Narrowly dodging the attack, Sonetto looks up in surprise.
Nukutai Believer II: ... roar ... roar
Beneath their cold bronze masks, viscous black fluid seeps from the Nukutai believers' eyes and mouths.
Their limbs have twisted into grotesque shapes, and they mutter to themselves, as though tormented by an unending pain.
Vertin: Sonetto, get ready to use those sedatogens.
COMBAT
Their frenzy subsides as the suffering individuals drift into slumber.
Delirious Believer: roar I ...
Sonetto: Pardon me for this, please.
She sprays a dose of sedatogen over them.
Delirious Believer: Home ... home ...
Sonetto: ...!
Unfortunately, the sedatogen seems to have little effect on those under the control of the masks.
Toa: What're you doing to my people?!
Toa: I won't let you hurt them!
Toa stands vigilantly before Sonetto, shielding the unconscious Manus believers.
Barcarola: Ms. Vertin, Ms. Sonetto, we're back!
Toa: ...?
Fatutu comes rushing over.
Fatutu: Selone, Toa, are you alright?
Toa: Tutu?
Their encounter brings little joy.
Toa, instinctively touching the mask clasped to his face, takes a few steps back.
Selone: I'm so glad to see you unharmed, Fatutu. But our friends ...
Fatutu: I know what happened, Selone. Barcarola told me everything when she got me out.
Fatutu: I've made up my mind now. We can't wear their masks, Selone. We never should have agreed to their so-called revenge plan.
The Manus believers seem to latch onto her words, reacting as though they are a shot of adrenaline.
Delirious Believer: Revenge ...! roar
Fatutu: ...!
Toa leaps forward, the ragged claws tearing through his arm as he shields his childhood friend once again.
Toa: ...
Selone: Toa!
Barcarola: No! No! Why is this happening?
Blood splatters before her eyes, painting the lobby wall crimson.
The believer's appetite for vengeance has only grown stronger.
Delirious Believer: Retribution ...! roar
Sonetto: They seem to be more frantic than ever before! Timekeeper, I suggest increasing the dosage of sedatogens!
Vertin: The mask's influence has wormed its way deep into their brains. I'm afraid sedatogens won't be able to awaken their consciousness any longer.
Vertin: They need something that reaches into their soul.
The Manus believers are determined to destroy everything in their path.
Barcarola: ...!
As they surge forward, the crowd is pushed back. Barcarola is caught in the center of the chaos.
Barcarola: Isn't there something I can do?
The wails, the cries, and the pounding rain outside nearly overwhelm her. Amidst the chaos, her bow slips out of her hand.
*thwack*
She jumps at the sound.
???: Stop playing with that atrocious toy of yours and pay attention to the class, Barcarola!
???: Music is a language that moves us on to a deeper level than any other, transcending both culture, place, and time.
???: Whoever you are, and wherever you go, it will always stir the depths of your soul!
Barcarola: ...
No need to remember. No need to think.
Familiar, simple tones flow from her Crackling Box.
A soft, indescribable melody washes over Fatutu.
This song is both strange yet intimate. Where is it from?
Is it from the Cremona that Barcarola talked about? The helmsmen's spontaneous sing-song? Or from Meli's traditional bonfire festival?
Fatutu: We're not so different deep down, are we?
Surprised Guest: Huh? What's that sound? Violins, piano, cellos, double bass, and flutes!
Confused Guest: But violins? She hates violins!
Dismayed Guest: I-I want to go home! sob
Delirious Believer: roar ... roar
Delirious Believer: roar Nukutaeao ...
Her people raise their hands helplessly, clawing at the air.
Tears blur her vision, but her thoughts only grow clearer.
Though her hands are trembling, she gently lifts the harmonica to her lips.
Her quivering lips blow a gentle rhythm into the harmonica.
A new melody joins the ensemble.
The islander and the musician exchange a glance, and, with no baton nor words, music flows between them like an ancient, joyful river.
The black liquid stills, no longer seeping from the masks of the helpless.
The melody echoes through the lobby, gently closing the eyes of the tormented believers.
Toa: ...
Toa's raised hands finally fall, as though succumbing to a deep sleep.
Fatutu: It's over now, dear friends.
Barcarola nervously wrings her hands.
Barcarola: I'm sorry, Fatutu. I didn't expect my song to put your people in this state. I only wanted to help.
Fatutu: You did. You're the greatest musician I've ever seen.
Barcarola: But, your friends, they've—
Fatutu: They've gone home.
Barcarola: But ...
The lightly trembling shoulders before her suddenly feel unfamiliar.
Had those fragile, tender shoulders always been so brave and resolute?
Fatutu: Look at the shining, pristine Spirit Shells around their necks. That is a sign. It tells us that their souls are at peace.
Fatutu: That our friends lived a full and honest life.
Wiping her tears, Fatutu gets to her feet and starts to gently collect her lost people's Spirit Shells. She can still feel their warmth in her palm.
Kamuta: Fatutu!
Before the warmth of the Spirit Shells can fade, Kamuta strides into the lobby, his demeanor cold.