Part 140: I'm willing to bury the hatchet. And the whip. (Please, bury the whip.)

-Liber Ark-



Faye: The idea is, we'll place it like this wherever it's needed. We'll probably set up one more for getting down below, though.



Helmsman Lux: So you're the girl from the bandit group. Have to admit, I never thought we'd be working together. You'll forgive me if I'm a little cautious, but at the same time we could sure use the help! Frankly, we're so busy, I'd put Antoine to work if I could.
Clive: The bit on the hull here was called an outrigger...It had a supplementary flight engine and a few other systems in it. Undor normal circumstances, there's one on each side of the ship to ensure stability...Unfortunately, our landing sheared our left outrigger clean off. We're doing everything we can to prepare to fly with just one outrigger. For now, I'm going to tune the surviving engine in the right outrigger. It'll be a hard job, but on the other hand, it's a chance to show off my skills as an engineer!
Helmsman Lux: Repairing the outrigger is going to be a real job...We need to get our heads together and figure something out.



Royal Guardsman Bottoms: Once we've got the scrap removed, we'll be asking Faye for help. Man, am I glad Faye is with us. She can everything from welding to fine-tuning an orbal engine!



Good to see you meant what you said. You keep it up, all right?
Heheh! Just leave it to me.



Yeah! Actually kinda nice to meet you again.
Haha. It's not where either of us expected to see each other again, I'd bet.
Ha, She Above does seem to enjoy twists of fate! Still! At this point, we're all in the same boat. For now, let's help each other as best we can.
You bet!



The WHAT?! And what does THAT mean?!
I don't see the problem with calling a little girl a little girl. Let me make one thing clear: you should take care not to be disruptive, for your own sake. Remember that you are only being allowed to stay here because this is an emergency.
Yeah, I know, all right?!
Good, then. I hope you work hard.
Someone's a sore loser.
Royal Guardsman Day: *phew* We're getting the scrap moved, but only thanks to the help of the bracers. Man, though, the bracer dudes have some serious muscle on their arms! We train pretty hard, but they're just on a whole different level.



Royal Guardsman Nederlander: I mean, look at it, it's a solid chunk of metal. Guess I need to ask the bracers for help again!



I'm Kevin Graham, priest of the Septian Church.
I've always got time for cute girls, so nice to meetcha!
Uh...yeah, nice to meet you, too...
...but are you really a priest?
You bet I am! One hundred percent pure holy man, right here.
...Hey, what's with the blatant look of disbelief?
...
I'm SERIOUS! I'm really a priest! Look, medallion, Testaments, everything!
Oh, man, bein' doubted by a cutie! It's heartbreaking!
(It's just...This guy? A priest? No way.)



Mechanic Payton: I think I've got some armor that'd be just right for you. Be sure and check your equipment before you head back to your ship.
Haha! Thanks! That's nice of you! All right, then, man, make with the selling! Come at me!
Mechanic Payton: I'm sure I've got something that'd suit her perfectly. Please, take a look!
Payton doesn't actually have anything special for Josette. This is just a reminder that she starts with weak armor and you should switch it out.



Ever since we met beneath Leiston Fortress, I believe.
B-Bandit lass?! Enough with the weird nicknames, you old coot!
Oh, let me indulge a little. More to the point, I understand your vessel's crashed here as well? I'm not completely familiar with Reinford's orbal engines, but I believe I can offer you some advice on repairs, if you'd like. Don't be shy about asking if you or your brothers hit any trouble.
Um, thanks. We'll do that.



Um, I'm, um, Tita! N-Nice to meet you!
Uh, 'scuse me, kid. I've got a name and it's Josette. Could you please not be like your granddad in calling me weird nicknames?
Oh! Um, I'm sorry, band--
Er, I mean, Josette! Haha...
(Is she...doing that on purpose now?!)
Not shown: the huge pile of Liber Ark machinery scrap, with which Estelle bribed Tita into saying this.
Um, nice to meet you, Josette. I hope we can all get along!



Royal Guardsman: Well, I'll be manning the deck shift in a little while, but still. Right, then, chow time!



Hmmhmm, I never had imagined we'd meet again in a place like this.
That is totally MY line! Sheesh, what is it with you and that whip?
Oh, I was just playing with you back then.
If you like, I could be a bit...rougher next time.
Ngaaah, why does it sound like you aren't actually joking?...
A-Anyway, given where we are, I'm willing to bury the hatchet. And the whip. (Please, bury the whip.)
I agree. Given where we are, the past is water under the bridge. As much as a little part of me would enjoy it, whipping each other only serves Ouroboros' interests, yes? I'm perfectly willing to consider the hatchet six arge under. Let's stand together against the society. I'll be looking forward to seeing what you can do.
Heh. Just you wait!



Heheh, darn right! I'm Josette of the Capua family.
Yeah, I thought so! Hey, if you got a minute, I'd love to ask you a few things.
Sorry, but I'm about as interested in helping the Liberl News as I am about sticking my head in a toilet. I'm amazed you can even ask that with a straight face after the things you've written about us!
Heeeeey, it's all water under the bridge, right? C'mon, I can give you a chance to tell your side of the story. Whaddya say?
I say: bleeeeeeeah!
Aww, c'mon, give us a shot. We won't do bad by you this time. Reporter's honor!



Um, excuse me! Could you pose for a second?
Whaaaaa??? Pose?!
Aww, come on, hurry! Or I'll take the photo anyway!
Uhhh...



...L-Like...THIS, right? All ROUGH and TOUGH?
Ooooh! Nice!



Okay, one more! Give me something cute this time!
Ummm...How about this...?



Ooooooooo! Very nice!



Okaaaay, all done! Thanks for helping!
...
...What the heck did I just experience?
Ah, call it a photographer's way of saying hello.
She's, uh, kinda gotten better at shoving people into it as time's gone on, though.
Heehee, I got some great photos out of that! Thanks for helping!



Frankly, normally I would not deign to operate with a base criminal...Given the circumstances, however, I have no choice. You are granted special dispensation to be aboard the ship. I do, of course, expect you to work to earn your place aboard this vessel. Join the rest of the crew and help with whatever you can.
Uh...y-yeah, understood.
Sensor Operator Echo: The bandits seem to be in the same situation we are. We'll do what we can to assist them...Those are...orders, after all.
Comm. Officer Leon: If the bandits are here, then their ship should be here, too. Hmm, I might be able to raise them on the radio. I'll give it a shot if I can find the time.



I fear we can't welcome you as well as we should, as we're busy with repair work. Please, treat our ship as though it were your own.
Uh, s-sure...Thanks, uh, Your Highness.
Not pictured: the slight eye-twitch on Julia's otherwise perfectly stoic face.
Heh, makes me feel kinda...itchy, gettin' welcomed like this.
Oh, GROSS. Do you, like, not shower or something, you flea-bitten tomboy? And in front of a princess!
Meanwhile, Estelle has taken said princess into the sewers on at least three separate occasions.
Y-You idiot! That's not what I meant!
Haha, um, sorry. I know, I just kinda...I mean, when you say 'bandits' you just think dirty guys with beards and stuff, you know?
Hmph. Well, if it was JUST Don and Kyle and the rest of that lot, maybe.
I make sure everything stays clean on the Bobcat, though, including smacking the boys into doing their laundry. To be honest, the Bobcat's no worse than this ship.
It's true. The Bobcat was surprisingly clean for an 'outlaw' vessel.
Haha! I know, right?
Huh, okay...
...So, Joshua? Why are you taking Josette's side?
Er...? I, uh, wasn't taking sides, just stating fa--
*ahem*!
A-Anyway, let's do our best to be friends. Everyone, please try to keep the peace inside the ship. Helping one another must come first in our situation.

If Josette's not in the party, most of the team will have completely different dialogue here.



It's only natural for us to cooperate with the Capuas.
I will speak to Julia personally about this. You should focus on the exploration of the city.



Frankly, normally I would not deign to operate with a base criminal...Given the circumstances, however, I have no choice. I have granted her special dispensation to be aboard the ship.
We cannot...simply throw her back in the snake pit, after all.



Mm-hmm. Professor Russell asked me to inspect the light fixtures. We'll be switching back to normal lighting soon, so...
Oh, so we'll be able to SEE again. That's great!
Sounds like repairs are going well.
Everyone's working hard, that's for certain.
I need to keep the pace up myself, to make sure I can keep acting cool and older-sisterly in front of you.
You're doing fine, Schera.
We'll proceed with our investigations with haste.



They're practically like weeds, just can't get rid of 'em.
I would love to snag a photo of that ship of theirs...But my finely-honed reporter instincts are tellin' me to not be an idiot and wander too far. Well, guess I'll wait and see if an opportunity comes up.



I kinda feel like it's gonna suck me up and carry me away!
...PLEASE don't fall off the edge, Dorothy. I don't think my heart can take any more random tragedy, thank you.



I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty with that Reinford-built Imperial airship.
Hm, I'll have to make time to talk to her in person.
We'll be turning the lights back on soon. Right now we're inspecting the power transmission systems involved. Once that's done, all we need to do is connect the quartz.
We'll be able to see again! I can't wait!
Mechanic Payton: Be sure to look over that bandit lady's gear if you're going to take her along. Gun users have a bad habit of not wearing much in the way of defensive gear.



They ain't much more than scratches, thankfully. Still, you guys be careful out there too, yeah? I dunno how long we'll be here, so I need to make our supplies last a while.



I have to say, I was rather hoping you'd be here to help with it. For once.
I am never one to shy from the strain and sweat of labor, but, alas, my talents are required elsewhere. I shall have to learn of work's sweetest fruits some other time.
Funny you should praise the value of hard work only after you've wormed your way out of it yourself. Miss Bright, if you change your mind, remember that you can take him out of your party at any time. I'll take responsibility for him and keep a close eye on him instead.
I think he needs to experience the value of hard work in person for once.



I think it's a good idea, since having a way to get to all parts of the ship easily will help repairs. I'd better put my back into it and get to work!



A whole bunch of the parts around here look like they'll be a pain to collect.
Some of 'em look important, though. Maybe I should talk to Gramps about what to do with them.



Thanks to the Bobcat, I've got a lot of experience working on ships. I'll be a lot more helpful than a certain someone would be.
Faye: Gotta say, that new girl's good. She's familiar with the tools and has a pretty good understanding of airship maintenance. You brought us someone useful at just the right time!



I'm not sure why, but even my presence has been requested.
And this is apropos of nothing, but do you need my help with your explorations? If you do, then Olivier Lenheim is yours! You need merely say the word.
Please, say the word! Take me away from here! Pleeeeeaase!
Feel free to ignore Olivier, by the way. After all, I doubt there will ever be as good an opportunity to teach him the value of hard work. Go and continue your investigations.







Yeah, I am, sorta. There's something we'd like for you to look at.
It's this, specifically.

Ah, a data crystal! Hmmmmm. I don't actually see any damage to it...
Give me a moment. Analyzing this shouldn't take long!



I see! Incredible!
Uh, what does it say?
It contains schematics for advanced personal weaponry for the Ark residents. They seem to require a specific 'Zemurian Ore' in their construction...
Zemurian Ore...We might actually have some of that.
Is it this weirdo hunk of metal we found?

How fortuitous! Yes, indeed, I believe this is what we need!
Well! This makes things easy, then!
I should be able to make something right away with our equipment, now that I have the plans. You do have a choice to make first, however.
A choice? On what?
We have schematics for nine separate weapons here, you see...But the designs require so much metal that i think we can build only one weapon per piece of ore you find.
Really?
Oooooh, that's a hard choice, then...
I'll leave the choice in your hands.
Now! What would you like to make first?

Back in FC, giving all the Carnelia books to Baral the cafe owner earned you either Estelle or Joshua's strongest weapon. Here in SC, giving Baral the entire Gambler Jack collection earns an ultimate weapon for any party member--although first you have to find the Data Crystal Z in the Cradle District's restaurant and bring it back to Professor Russell.



And if you take Baral's Zemurian Ore and the Data Crystal Z to that house with a crystal reader on its computer before going to the professor, you get a second Ore piece.

Um...This is kind of a hard choice. Do you mind waiting a bit?
Not at all. You should think hard about this. Think it over and come back to me.