Part 142: ...Blorf.

-Liber Ark-



Where there's a whip, there's a way.











(Are you sure we're ready to break into the Glorious?)



(Okay! Let's go!)
(Capua, make sure you keep up, 'kay?)
(That's my line, airhead!)





-Challenger Invited-



Enhanced Jaeger 176761: Wasn't your ship down for repairs?! How did you get HERE?!
They're called legs. You mighta heard of 'em!
GIMME BACK MY BROTHERS!



















Alright, we'll break into the ship here. Josette, stay close.
Um, right!



-Glorious-



As spacious inside as it is large outside.
Today's battlecruiser, for today's family.



And Ouroboros probably has combat archaisms all over the place.
...
You guys escaped from this ship before, right? Any idea where Kyle and Don might be?
Actually, maybe!
There is that room I was kept locked up in. Sort of a weird prison, though.
That's because it was technically a guest room.
I'll bet the Capuas are being kept in the brig.
The BRIG?!
So they do have an actual prison. I don't remember seeing it when we escaped before.
They had the electromagnetic barriers raised to try and stop our escape, remember. It prevented us from going everywhere on the ship.
The barriers aren't up at the moment. This is probably the best chance we have at saving Don and the others.
So do you know where the cells are?



The brig should be down there.





There's nothing new up the side passages Estelle used during her escape. This time we have to go through the big halls that were sealed off back then.







-The Fate of the Fairies-













I don't know what this is supposed to do.







-Glorious-

















What in...?!
Josette! And...!
Sky Bandit Lonnie: Miss Josette!
Sky Bandit Aaron: How did you get IN here?!
These faceless mooks actually have names.
Oh, thank Aidios...Thank Aidios, everyone's safe...Okay, just stay still! We're here to rescue you! We'll get you out!
RESCUE us?
Astray, what in the hell is this?! And what are you even DOING here?! How'd you get up to this city?
Well, briefly...

Ah, I get it. You came here chasin' the society again.
Of all the...Hey, Josette?
You realize we put ourselves on the line so you could get away, right? So why are you--
Are you COMPLETELY dense?! Maybe I was 'safe,' but I was all alone! I thought you all were...I THOUGHT it would've been better if we all met Aidios together!
Yeah, but what if I don't WANT my little sister to meet the Goddess just yet?! Worry about yourself for ONCE in your life, damn it!
But I AM worrying about myself!
Why do you think you have nothing to do with ME? What do you think would happen to me if you...
(Haha...Wow, I never realized how close they are.)
(Hmmhmm. They're the image of loving siblings, locking horns constantly.)
Come on, you two. This might be the single worst place to have a fight right now.
Still acting like kids after all this time, I swear.
Don...
But--
Look, Kyle, she's here and we can't change that. Let's make the most of it and try to escape.
So, lad, you have an idea on that front, I hope.
Sort of...
The main issue is this energy barrier. Its controls are, as near as I can tell, completely locked. There's no way we'll have time to work our way around the security program.
I thought so.
But, but...!
Hmmm. Is there any way to force it? Like maybe use a bomb to blow off the energy...border...thingies or something?
No, the barrier itself would be unaffected by conventional explosives. And anything powerful enough to damage the bulkhead would put the prisoners in danger.
The only option I can see at this point is to find an up-to-date security card.
A what now?
We can use that to get rid of the barrier, right?!
Yes, it's a small card we put in the terminal here. If we can find one, we should be able to deactivate the barrier.
They've all but certainly changed the cards since the last security breach, so the one I took before is no good. We'll need a new one.
Okay, then...
Any idea where they'd keep these cards?
Second floor, in the forecastle.
The security dispensary is in the same area where you were being held.
I get it, the really high security block.
I think we should move quickly before the hornets swarm us, then.
Kyle, Don, guys! We'll go find a card thing! Just hold on! We'll be right back once we get it!
*sigh* Fine. It's not like you'd listen if I said no, anyway.
Lad...and the rest of you.
Make sure our little sister doesn't fly too far off the handle, all right?
You can count on us.
Don't worry, I've got a tight grip on her leash.
On my...? Pfft. Big words from someone who's waaaay more reckless than I'll EVER be.
I CAN tie an actual leash around you, y'know.
Please, truce, remember?
Come on, we need to return to the entrance. We'll need to use the elevator on the opposite side to reach the second floor of the forecastle.
O-Okay!
Come on!
Some jaegers just came by here on patrol.
Watch out. Make sure they don't see you.
This place is too damn big, if you ask me. I don't have a clue where the second floor of the forecastle area would be.
Right, go on. But be careful.































-Heartless Surprise Attack-



Surprise attack.













Take that! How's THAT?!



...Maybe I should have taken off the Duende Slippers for this one.







































-Glorious-













No thanks.





Yes, this is the second floor of the forecastle.
Among other things, the jaeger barracks and briefing rooms are in this section. A copy of the current security card should be around here somewhere.
Then what are we waiting for?! Let's look!
Yes, we know, calm down.
Probably best to check each room, one by one. C'mon!





They did a good job here. You can hardly tell it's a replacement.



This is the elevator used to access the sancuary and engine room. This one checks voice patterns. I think you saw Renne do it, right? Only Enforcers and above can use it.
Given that I'm currently AWOL from the society, I'm afraid we can't make use of it.
Right...
Er...What's a 'voice pattern'?
No two people have exactly the same voice. This machine can read a person's voice and use it to identify them. That's how I understand it, at least.
It's a work in progress. Joshua was able to sabotage the engines because it identified him as Luciola.
I see...I guess.
I feel like I get it and don't get it at the same time...
Such incredible technology...
...Joshua, if I may? Where DOES the society get such technology? Who creates it?
Who indeed.
One of the Anguis is a man called Doctor Novartis. He leads the 'Thirteen Factories' of Ouroboros in their development of radical orbal technology. At least, that's what I was told, back when.
The Thirteen Factories? Huh...
Novartis...Never heard of him.
If he makes stuff like this, though, I can only picture someone who's an even bigger mad scientist than Professor Russell.
Less 'mad'...and more completely incomprehensible, from what I remember.
Of course, to some extent, that's true of all the Anguis. Including Weissmann.



Hey, that must be...!
So that's the security card you were talking about? Huh, neat.
Yes, no doubt. If we insert this into the terminal next to the cell, the computer will think we're a guard and we can lower the barrier.
Awesome!
Thank you, Goddess! We can, we can...
Hmhm...Yes, we can. Let's head back to the Capuas.











Young Man's Voice: Heh heh. Finally caught you.



So they DID bring you along.
Well, well, well. I'd wondered what manner of fools would dare to attempt storming the Glorious.
I had an inkling it might be you...
Huh? Hey...Do you guys know this dude?
You could sorta say that, maybe.
We first met--and arrested--his dumb butt when he was a flunky of Ruan's corrupt mayor.
He escaped during the coup and apparently joined Ouroboros.
Hahaha, right! I thought so!
You were that guy locked up with us in Leiston, right? I remember him because he kept bawling and going on and on saying 'I'm innocent!' and stuff. 'Wah wah wah' all the time.
WHAT?!
Always pathetic.
Um, riiight...
Anyway, nothing to let bother you, y'know? It's part of, uh, life! Having to grow from pathetic moments like that, I mean.
Though, uh, given the uniform, I dunno how much he actually grew...
...Estelle, that's not exactly a comforting follow-up.
D-Damn you...How much of a fool do you intend to play me for?
But...no matter. It just confirms I have no reasons to show you mercy.
You face now the power of the NEW Gilbert! TREEEMBLE!









Mechanical...lions?!
You can tell it's a lion, on account of the clawed mandibles and scything blade tail.
It's not something I recognize...I take it this must be a new model.
Indeed! Lion-model attack archaism, the Riot Arms! Cower! Beg for life! It ends here!

-Heartless Surprise Attack-













New Gilbert will drop red Vogels around the field, as well as mines.





Both he and the lion are obnoxiously fast, and immune to stat drops. I should have been using Clock Up EX.











Gilbert can also heal. Drop him first.









-Glorious-



Even as a new man, I can't win...
Er...Can I point something out? That lion thingy WAS actually pretty tough. But, uh.
That doesn't mean you've gotten any stronger at all, does it?
No...
Yes, calling yourself a 'new man' was a bit excessive.
For future reference, most women don't go for men who put on airs, all right?
...Blorf.



Ah.
Oh.
Eh.
Goodness...
Welllllll...better get to those cells, huh?
A good idea!
Yeah, c'mon! We need to save my brothers!
(I can't help but feel sorry for the guy...)





That simplifies things! Let's make good our escape.
Good to see you made it back safe.
There's no time. Let's get out of here.




















Okay, I guess it's safe.





Sky Bandit Ryan: We're saaaaved!



Josette...
Heheh...I suppose we owe you, kids.
No, Don. Consider us even, if anything.
Yeah, you guys saved our bacon. We're just settling the balance!

*WEEEEOOOO WEEEEOOOO*

Aw, crud!
Looks like we finally kicked the hornet's nest too hard...
Everyone, we're leaving. Now.
R-Right!
Time to work those legs!
Boys, don't you dare fall behind!
Bandits: Aye, aye, sir!











At the rate they're going, they'll be in the Axis Pillar within the day.
And with things going this solidly according to plan, there's almost no point to me observing.
It looks like I have a little time before the curtains rise for the real final act...
Maybe I can mess with Gilbert a little until then.