Veritus Aquae Hits Like A b***h
“Nnnhng…”
“Oi, Rein. She’s comin’ to.”
“Mmm? Let’s see… Oh, my, isn’t she a fair maiden?”
“Wh-where…?”
“Don’t overstretch yourself, dear. You’re… safe… here.”
“Ahn… Who… Who are you?”
“We’re who you would call naturals of this place. We’re the Machina.”
“Mach…ina? What do you want with me?... Nngh.”
“Boss, tha’ serum’s takin’ a toll on ‘er.”
“S-Serum?”
“Don’t fret, darling. It’s just a mild truth serum – it’ll wear off soon. We just need to ask you a few questions.”
“Truth serum?... What do you people want with me?! Ah-“
“Don’t struggle against those bonds too hard, love. You’ll only hurt your pretty little wrists.”
“Why am I blindfolded?! What questions?! What’ve I done?!”
“Oi, b***h! ‘E said quiet down!”
“Traed, that’s enough. Don’t raise your hand against a woman.”
“But, Rei-“
“Don’t make me repeat myself, boy.”
“Y-Yessir.”
“Madam, if I may ask your name?”
“Wh- Nnhgn! It- It’s Amelia… God, what did you give me?”
“Truth serum, Amelia. Now, your last name?”
“D-Don’t… Ahn… I don’t have one.”
“Really? And why might that be – bad parentage?”
“F-for one part, yes… Nnng! Why, why am I-?”
“Don’t fight it.”
“I… I’m just a b*****d child – a mistake…”
“So I take it you’re not the cleanest member of society.”
“Ha! Clean! Ahn… Mnng… Clean… That’s just for people actually in society…”
“Oh?”
“I… Ahh… I’m an outcast. Rebel. Rogue. Fringe-dweller.”
“Is that so? You seem more like a noble than a thief to me.”
“Hmph, thank my parentage, as you call it. It’s nothing more than looks – things that can help me find the truth beneath all the lies my country is talented at producing.”
“So you’re not a loyal one, I take it.”
“I am… Nnngg! What have you done to me?! Aaaah…. I am… loyal…”
“Really? A loyal rogue? Well there’s a first.”
“I’m loyal to no country… Only my Queen, my sister… My Victoria- Nnngh!”
“So if you’re a loyal rogue with your noble face, you certainly can’t be all that bad. You must have had some success at least.”
“Su-success?”
“Exactly, something you’re proud of! You seem like a smart girl. Smart enough to have something good done tucked under her belt.”
“Hah… Proud of? Like I can have anything like that! I… Nngh! I…”
“Go on, Amelia.”
“Ahn… The only thing… I… I’ve felt proud of is the Eboreus… I… Its propulsion system. It never would have flown… Otherwise… AAAAGH!”
“Boss, she’s fightin’ it hard!”
“Amelia, listen to me – no, don’t fight it. Listen. That’s a strong drug you’ve taken, if you fight it I can’t guarantee your safety.”
“You’ve no right to know! You’ve no right to hear!”
“Amelia, listen. Clearly I can tell you guard these secrets well, but there’s nothing you can do about Serendipity’s Veritas Aquae. I assure you, your secrets will not leave this room. Boys! Swear to the woman.”
“PFT, I ain’t doin’ no such thing!”
“Shaddup, Traed. I swear. Nothing past these walls.”
“Hrmph. Fine. Swear.”
“I swear, on my name as a Machina.”
“Swear to Cerxes and the Princes.”
“Good, that’s everyone. Amelia, please. You can trust us to know. What is it that’s keeping you from sharing with us? This Victoria – she’s important to you. Why?”
“She… She’s the reason I can live… That I can keep moving forwards… Nghn… I… All I want… It’s to see her safe, see her out of Conroy’s filthy hands, see her smile… Share that with her. That smile.”
“Good, Amelia, good. But there’s something else. What else do you want? There’s something deeper, something more.”
“…Ahn! I… No, I can’t… I… I- Ah! Guh, fine. I can’t choose, I can’t-!… can’t choose. Between seeing her safe… Or flying in the skies… Just… nngh!”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. What’s stopping you, then? Why not just fly? What could go wrong that could bar that freedom from you?”
“It’s him… That b*****d Conroy… Nngh! He’s a bloody a**! I could never forgive… GAH! Nnng, I could never forgive myself if he won… If he killed her or if he controlled her… Used her as his puppet… Discard her like he did me, torture her like he did me… She can’t go through that, I… Ahn! I can’t have it!”
“Shh, shh, soft now, softly… It’s okay. He’s not here, you’re safe.”
“Boss, she’s slippin’. It’s almost time.”
“Got it, Braice, thank you. Amelia? Just one more… Is that what’s holding you back? That you can’t be there for Victoria, that Conroy might get to her? Or is there something else – something more that weighs on your heart and eats at your mind?”
“Ngh… L-like wha…what?”
“Aw, s**t, Rein, she’s fading fast.”
“Quiet, Traed. Amelia, focus – just a little more. Regrets, darling. Do you have any you just need to get off your chest? Let me help you with that burden, that pain.”
“Regrets… A captain has more of those than he can manage… Nnngh… I don’t know… I can’t say… If it’s that I’ve none or several more too many… Victoria… Not slaying Conroy years ago… Not murdering every vile male in the brothels… Losing good men to corrupt army dogs… Skirting around dishonestly… ahn! AAAH!”
“Amelia, relax. The serum’s wearing off, it takes a bite, but it’s not fatal. Just relax – fall into that sleep. You’ll be fine, we’ll take you to an inn and you’ll be safe. I swear on Cerxes, you’ll be safe.”
* * *
“’Rite, Rein. She’s all tucked up in bed n’ safe – got them two new guys on post as watch until she wakes.”
“Good, Traed, thank you.”
“Boss, wha’d’you think a’ her?”
“Walk with me, boys… I don’t know… She’s steadfast, strong of heart and will. Reckless, sure, but not altogether that bad… She’s honest, loyal, but stands for what’s right.”
“D'ya think she could hold 'er own in the Senate?”
“…Maybe… Just maybe.”
- Dramatis Personae -
Amelia - Captain of the Eboreus and Outsider in Serendipity
Rein - Leader of a right-ist Machina group
Traed - Lacky of said Machina group
Braice - Right-hand man of Rein and the most responsible Machina of the group
Unnamed Machina #1 - Random lacky for one more line of dialogue
Unnamed Machina #2 - Another random lacky for one more line of dialogue
