Sonetto: *Ed è sübito sera——！
Sonetto: It's no use. The cabin's wall is heavily reinforced. My arcane skills can barely scratch it.
Regulus: I guess that's why they didn't even bother taking our stuff.
Regulus: Ulrich, you've got to have some miraculous trinkets up your sleeve to bust us out, right?
Regulus: You're the pride of Laplace, after all!
Ulrich: Laplace is not a circus, and I am no magician.
Ulrich: But I may have something that can help.
Ulrich: I have a small amount of TNT and some Papyrpillar Solvents.
Ulrich: The former can blast the door open; however, it will likely blast us to smithereens along with it.
Ulrich: The latter is much safer, of course. All we need to do is apply it to the walls and then wait for a couple of days.
Regulus: We're abso-frigging-lutely screwed, aren't we?
Ulrich: Don't be glum, Ms. Regulus. We aren't beat yet.
Ulrich sets aside the obviously useless tools.
He has made a much more important discovery.
Ulrich: Take a look at this, Timekeeper.
Ulrich: I've been recording the "Free Breeze's" heading since it left Sydney.
Ulrich: Though, unfortunately, something has been jamming our signal.
Ulrich: Yet, we can still extrapolate from my earlier readings that this ship is not heading to its advertised destination.
Vertin: It's heading steadily ...
Vertin: Southward.
Ulrich: It appears so.
Her thoughts churn more violently than the ferrofluid's vibrations.
Vertin: The forecast of the "Storm," the sudden eclipse, the mask trials, and the speed at which the "Free Breeze" is now heading.
Vertin: If all they wanted was to recruit more followers, they would allow for more time to convince the others.
Vertin: However, if the "Storm" is indeed coming, then why would we be racing forward through these reefs?
Vertin: Their actions don't seem to be aimed at recruiting nor at passing through the "Storm." Rather, they seem to be aimed at ...
Ulrich & Vertin: Intimidation.
The air in the cell seems to momentarily stagnate.
Ulrich: This would add weight to the possibility that the "Storm" they're promising is only a trick to inspire more fear.
Ulrich: That said, we must consider the chance of the "Storm" occurring, no matter how slim it may seem.
Ulrich stands tall, unwavering in the face of conjecture.
Ulrich: Until the truth is ultimately revealed, all we can rely on are the instruments in our hands and the readings before our eyes.
Vertin: Then we're agreed, Mr. Ulrich.
Vertin: Whether the "Storm" is coming or not, we need to be well-prepared.
Ulrich: I'm glad we're on the same page.
Vertin: We've brought quite a few Equilibrium Umbrellas with us, and my suitcase can also serve as a temporary shelter.
Vertin: However, that will do nothing for the humans aboard.
Ulrich: Your suitcase? Then the rumors are true!
Ulrich: No wonder the stick-in-the-mud Foundation greenlit you to build your own team.
Ulrich stares intently at the suitcase held in her hands.
Ulrich: Ah, I would give anything to analyze it one day!
Vertin: I'm certain that day will come, eventually.
Vertin: Sonetto, how many Equilibrium Umbrellas have we brought exactly?
Sonetto: Ermm. Exactly 73.
A sufficient number to cover all the comrades in the suitcase.
Unfortunately, it's far from enough to account for the nearly thousand people aboard the "Free Breeze."
Ulrich: Cheer up, ladies.
Ulrich: Our hopes are not dashed just yet.
Vertin: Mr. Ulrich, you're not speaking of your "Artificial Storm" experiment, are you? We have neither the time nor personnel to assist you with it.
Vertin: And I implore you to consider the potential risks, especially in attempting it alone and under these conditions.
Ulrich eagerly continues his explanation, heedless of his companion's concerns.
Ulrich: Irrespective of your concerns, thanks to those oily heads and their quirky masks, I've acquired more than enough asymmetrical nuclide R to perform the immutability experiments.
Vertin: But have you considered the side effects, Mr. Ulrich?
The ferrofluid halts for a moment.
Ulrich: ...
Ulrich: It's true. There is the risk of unavoidable side effects the experiments pose.
Ulrich: And I admit that, if I were in the lab, we would use much more time and caution.
Ulrich: But on this ship, I am the only one capable of withstanding the effects of the Storm Syndrome.
Despite his seemingly calm tone, a new round of protestation is volleyed his way.
Regulus: Hold on, hang about!
Regulus: Have you gone right off the dock? We can't afford to lose you, genius! You're the only gadget guru we've got!
Regulus: We're counting on you to fix the signal!
She grabs Ulrich by the tank and frantically shakes it, sending the ferrofluid swirling inside.
Ulrich: Mind the negativity, Regulus. I may be a scientist, but I'd rather not have the bad omens.
Ulrich: It does take time to recover from the Storm Syndrome. Indeed, it could be as long as three months, or a few weeks. But hey, it may well be just a matter of seconds. "Fortune favors the bold," you know.
Regulus: But if I've learned anything at Laplace, it's that we'll need to do dozens of tests!
Vertin: I agree with Regulus. Your plan is too reckless, Mr. Ulrich.
Vertin: Our priority should be to find a way to escape this ship safely.
She looks through the cell door window. There's no one outside.
Sonetto: What about Ms. Barcarola? Do you think she'll stand with us?
Vertin: She will. I have faith in her.
Barcarola: Mr. Esam, would you lend me a hand, please?
Helmsman Esam: What brought our brightest little star? Oh, look at you, out of breath and all covered in dust. What happened?
Helmsman Charlie: Easy, easy, Barcarola. We're here to help!
The warmth of their greetings causes tears to well up in her eyes.
Helmsman Giovanni: That's right, Miss. Why don't you tell us what happened? The captain told us to stay put, but we'll do whatever we can to help you.
Barcarola: I ... We ...
Barcarola: The "Free Breeze" will never go home again.
Helmsman Giovanni: Uh, what?
Barcarola: Captain Grace said this era is coming to an end, and only those who put on a Manus Vindictae mask and pass its trial can reach the new era with her.
Helmsman Charlie: Sorry, what? You just turned your old friend Charlie's brain into a knot. Where are we going then?
Barcarola: There's no telling where or even when we'll end up. Could be someplace ten years ago, or even a hundred years.
Helmsman Esam: You mean we're traveling through time?
Barcarola: I-I don't know.
Helmsman Giovanni: I've got to admit, Miss. This all sounds a bit too wild to be believed.
Helmsman Giovanni: But as sure as a compass points north—
He gently pats her on the shoulder with a large, rough hand.
Helmsman Giovanni: I will trust you mean every word you say.
Barcarola: Thank you, Giovanni.
Helmsman Esam: So, you're saying if we don't do something, then none of us will ever see home again?
Her silence is answer enough.
The sailors exchange a glance, needing no words to make their decision.
Helmsman IV: It's decided then. We'll fight by your side, Ms. Barcarola!
Helmsman IV: Because none of us wants to find ourselves in a random land back when the dinosaurs roamed!
Helmsman Charlie: You've got that right! I won't let them ruin my retirement!
Helmsman Giovanni: We'll sail ourselves home if we've got to!
Helmsman Giovanni: One thing's for certain: I don't want to be stuck here for the rest of my life!
Helmsman Esam: Alright, gentlemen, enough with the words. It's time to take action. Ms. Barcarola, is there anything we can do?
Barcarola: Yes, of course!

Open your eyes to see the future that we know?

A Message Delivered