???: You made the right choice.
Admiral Igor: We simply followed THEIR guidance, Preacher.
Admiral Igor: Unfortunately, we failed to bring the succubus.
Admiral Igor: But I did bring you this, and Ms. Urd, as well.
Sophia the Preacher: ...
Sophia the Preacher: No, Admiral. Not you ...
Sophia the Preacher: Us.
Sophia the Preacher: We all need the miracle THEY bestow.
Admiral Igor: My men will not wear the masks. Nor will they take the trials.
Admiral Igor: We need no trials to test the loyalty of my children, Preacher.
Admiral Igor: And for now, Ms. Urd will stay under my protection.
Sophia the Preacher: As you wish.
The Preacher agrees to all of the admiral's requests.
It doesn't matter. None of it matters.
She looks southward across the sea.
Sophia the Preacher: Until next time, Admiral.
The Preacher takes the relic left by the Mother of Resurrection and bids farewell to the admiral.
Moldir: Father.
Moldir: I shot at Lopera.
Shooting is one thing. Whether the bullet hits the heart or the ground is another. To the admiral, however, it is unimportant.
Moldir: I have to be honest, Father. I don't fully agree with your decision, at least not on a personal level.
Admiral Igor: You're entitled to your opinion, Lieutenant. But I don't need your approval.
Moldir: I understand. You only need my obedience.
Admiral Igor: Precisely.
Moldir: Had you anticipated that Lopera wouldn't come with us?
Admiral Igor: She is inconsequential. She helped us retrieve Urd from that Brotherhood farce. That's all I needed from her.
Moldir: But the Brotherhood ... With all due respect, admiral ...
Moldir: I've heard they have connections with our "friends" at Manus Vindictae.
She finds it hard to call those they once fought against "friends."
Treason is a stain not easily washed clean.
Admiral Igor: I thought you'd make the same choice she did.
Moldir: No, I will always follow you, Father.
Admiral Igor: Just let her be.
A lone seagull glides across the sky, calling out as it flies to the warm north.
Igor pats his daughter on the shoulder.
Admiral Igor: Now, bring me Dr. Dores.
Moldir: Father.
She dutifully leads the doctor to her father and leaves the two alone.
Doctor Dores: I don't know you, sir. You must have mistaken me for someone else.
Admiral Igor: No, I couldn't possibly mistake you.
Admiral Igor: Old friend.
Admiral Igor: In the last days before the millennium, we fought side by side.
Memories flood the weathered halls of the old admiral's mind.
Admiral Igor: In hindsight, that battle may have been a mistake.
Admiral Igor: The "Storm" swept across the world, leaving behind an era of chaos.
Admiral Igor: And we lost our future.
The admiral has never been fearful of sacrifice, especially when it has served the grander goal.
Admiral Igor: But now, another path lies before us, one that we once fought desperately against.
Admiral Igor: A path paved by Arcana.
Admiral Igor: A path leading to a world free of conflict.
Admiral Igor: My old friend.
Sadly, she cannot comprehend even a fragment of these words.
She's simply Doctor Dores. Nothing more.
Admiral Igor: That marble chair the Foundation gave you ... What's the secret behind it?
Admiral Igor: What happened to you after you pressed that button?
Doctor Dores: Nothing.
Admiral Igor: Do you remember what happened after you walked into that white house?
Doctor Dores: I'm sorry. I don't know anything about that.
She's stubborn but answers honestly.
The old admiral sighs and pulls a stack of UTTU magazines from his coat. They were not for his own reading.
Admiral Igor: My dear Ms. Urd.
Admiral Igor: Your name continues to show up between the occurrences of the "Storm."
Admiral Igor: I don't know what you've encountered, what you've experienced, in all this time.
Admiral Igor: But your very existence is about to change the fate of us all.
