Fatutu: I've learned so much about the outside world since I boarded this ship, so ...
Fatutu: Why do I feel even more confused?
Fatutu: ...
Fatutu: I trust my people. They're good and kind, and they've never lied to me.
Fatutu: You just have to look at their Spirit Shells to see it. The songs and dances of Meli nourish the Shells, and the purity of my people's souls color their surface in the most beautiful patterns.
Fatutu: And Ms. Grace, she's been good to us, too.
Fatutu: ...
Fatutu: She warned us about the destruction of Meli, saving us from the flood. And she showed us the world as it really is.
Fatutu: She even wants us to be part of her plan.
Fatutu: ...
Fatutu: Our ancestral shells have also told us how terrible the world outside is—that it's a place with sanguma witches, Nakarua serpents, and all kinds of other beasts.
Fatutu: But ...
Those scenes replay again and again in her mind.
The casual conversations, the warm smiles, and the glowing lamps in their hands.
Fatutu: But now I'm here, on this ship full of outsiders, and I feel that they're just like us.
Past and present blur together as Fatutu searches her memories, leaving her dizzy and overwhelmed.
In her daze, she has wandered into another part of the ship. It isn't until a voice snaps her out of her thoughts that she realizes where she is.
Helmsman Esam: Hello, young lady! What are you doing out here all by yourself?
Helmsman Esam: Don't just stand there. Come on in!
Fatutu: Hmm?
Fatutu: Sorry, I didn't even realize where I was going.
One helmsman gives her a hearty pat on the shoulder.
Helmsman Charlie: No need to apologize, my dear.
Helmsman Charlie: You're more than welcome. You've saved us old folks from sitting here in silence till we reach shore.
Helmsman Giovanni: Haha! Charlie's just happy to have someone new to tell his stories to!
Helmsman Charlie: I bet Esam will jump at the chance to show off how he drives off those Serres, too.
Fatutu: Serres? I've heard they're a real headache for passing ships.
Fatutu: But I've never seen one with my own eyes.
Fatutu curiously peers out the window.
A strange yet familiar hum fills the air.
Serres: roar
Helmsman Charlie: Well, well, it seems this young lady knows a thing or two about the sea!
Helmsman Esam: How about you give us a hand, eh?
Fatutu: I ...
He extends a rough hand to her.
Fatutu takes a hasty step back, but the hand remains warmly held out before her.
She has seen many hands like his before. Callused, working hands, like those of Grandma Penu, Uncle Tarek, Grandpa Natano, and many of the other Nukutai. There's something comforting in its familiarity.
Fatutu: Me? I'm not sure I know how to ...
Helmsman Charlie: Don't worry. It's almost too easy!
Helmsman Giovanni: These Serres are afraid of loud noises, and the "Free Breeze" has plenty of speakers on board!
Helmsman Giovanni: The sea is with us today.
Helmsman Esam: Of course it is! For how long we've sailed its waves, why wouldn't it be?
The helmsmen exchange a few winks and shoulder pats. There is a clear camaraderie between them.
They roll up their sleeves as they prepare for their performance.
Helmsman Esam: Get ready, folks! Port the helm!
COMBAT
Helmsman Esam: Course 270, hard starboard!
Helmsman Esam: Slow down to five knots. Watch the bow wave!
Helmsman Esam: Turn on the speakers! Time to chase off some sea monsters.
The seasoned navigator issues a steady flow of instructions.
The cruise ship slowly turns, skillfully avoiding the reach of the sea monster's "tentacles."
Helmsman Giovanni: Little girl!
He gives Fatutu a harmonica and asks if she can play it.
Fatutu: Uh ... No ...
Helmsman Charlie: Don't worry. Anything you play will do. Can't be worse than what Esam has to offer.
Helmsman Esam: I can hear you, you know!
The sailors joke and jostle as they clamor for their respective instruments.
Helmsmen: I grieve to leave my native home.
Helmsmen: I grieve to leave my comrades all.
They burst into song.
Helmsman Esam: Come on, join in!
The harmonica finds its way to her lips.
Melodious music, off-key yet heartfelt, drifts out toward the sea.
This is just like those nights by the bonfire in Meli.
Helmsmen: But a poor simple sailor just like me,
Helmsmen: Must be tossed and turned in the deep dark sea.
Helmsmen: Farewell to Nova Scotia, the sea-bound coast.
Helmsmen: Let your mountains dark and dreary be.
Helmsmen: For when I'm far away on the briny ocean tossed,
Helmsmen: Will you ever heave a sigh or a wish for me?
...
Serres: roar
One nameless sea shanty after another tears through the fog, with lights shimmering on the sea's surface like embers after a festival bonfire.
Fatutu: I ...
Realization strikes her. She finally understands her role.
Fatutu: Ms. Grace!
Ms. Grace: The outside world is indeed full of dangers, but there is less to fear than you think.
Ms. Grace: I'll help you through it.
Advice and reassurances echo in her mind. She suddenly feels weak.
Fatutu: What am I doing?!
Fatutu: Sorry, I have to go.
Helmsman Esam: Hm?
She scurries off.
Fatutu: I don't understand.
Fatutu: Why are they so nice? This is nothing like the stories.
Her questions hang in the air, and so too does a knuckle at a door.
???: Come in.
Sonetto: Timekeeper, I hope you didn't have too much difficulty during the power outage.
Vertin: Not at all, Sonetto. It actually gave me the opportunity to try out X's latest invention—the Bouncing Bulb.
Vertin: It's very interesting, a little draining though.
Sonetto: Would you like to try out one of these, then?
Vertin: Did you make this, Sonetto?
Sonetto: I did. Ms. Selone from Nukutaeao taught me how to make it. It's called a Sea Mother's Eye.
Sonetto: She told me every household in Meli lights them during storms to help guide those at sea safely home.
Sonetto: She said, "With this, no one will ever be lost in the dark."
Vertin: Thank you, Sonetto. And what a lovely saying.
Sonetto breathes a sigh of relief, but her eyes remain fixed on the Sea Mother's Eye.
Vertin: ...
Vertin: After this mission, we should be able to apply for a field investigation in Italy.
Sonetto: Italy?
Sonetto: Thank you, Timekeeper.
Sonetto is unable to hide her delight.
Vertin: But let's focus on this mission first.
Vertin: May I borrow your communicator?
Vertin: There's something I need to verify.
Sonetto: Of course.
Communicator: beep
Communicator: Connecting to Madam Z of the St. Pavlov Foundation.
Communicator: static
Communicator: buzz
Communicator: The person you're trying to reach is currently unavailable due to communication interference. Please leave a message after the beep.
Sonetto: Huh?
Communicator: buzz
Vertin: Just as I suspected. Communications are blocked.
Vertin: Someone's jamming the signal.
Sonetto: Do you think it's Manus Vindictae?
Vertin: It's possible. The flyer proved that this ship has some kind of association with them. We need to stay vigilant.
Sonetto: Regulus should know about this. I'll go find her.
A heart-wrenching scream echoes from afar, reverberating through the halls of the ship.
???: NOOOO!
Vertin: Regulus!
They hurry over to the source of the scream.
Sonetto: Regulus! Are you alright?!
Sonetto stops in her tracks.
The scene before her is all too familiar, for it has played out countless times at the LSCC.
Ulrich: Ahem, beautiful day, isn't it?
Ignoring the fact that Regulus just dropped her sunglasses, Ulrich calmly pours coffee into his energy intake.
Sonetto: Mr. Ulrich? What are you doing here?
The ferrofluid swirls in a distorted arc.
Ulrich: Ahem. Good day, Timekeeper, Researcher Regulus, Ms. Sonetto.
Vertin: Is this really the disguise you went with?
Regulus: Wait a minute!
Regulus: Vertin, did you know he'd be here?
Regulus: Listen, there's no way I'm paying for even half an extra ticket. In fact, he should be paying for me!
Ulrich: Well, this might take a while to explain.