Let's play Star Ocean 3! Part 17

[paranoodle]

The trip back to Aquios is uneventful, but we do get a cutscene as soon as we walk into the city.



Fayt: Mirage!?
Mirage: Cliff, Fayt.
Mirage: Reunited at last.
Cliff: What have ya been up to?
Mirage: I've been tracking you down. It was easy enough, with all the stories you left in your wake. I just arrived here - only to see this girl collapse in front of my eyes.
Mirage: We need to get her to a doctor, quick.
Cliff: Is it that bad?
Mirage: I'm afraid so.
Fayt: Flowers...?


Nel: What is she doing here?
Fayt: How should I know!? We gotta get her help!
Nel: Take her to the inn and I'll go summon the doctor.
Fayt: Please hurry!


Doctor: For now, just make sure she gets plenty of rest.

Fayt bows to the doctor, who leaves.

Fayt: Damn, why'd she have to go and pull a thing like this!?
Cliff: Hey, keep it cool. You'll wake her up.
Fayt: But...!
Cliff: I said relax.
Cliff: Do you think you beating up the walls will somehow help her get better?
Fayt: Grrr...
Mirage: The disease is in her lungs. If the Eagle were operational, I think we could heal her.
Fayt: Are you sure, Mirage?
Cliff: It may be a small ship, but its medical facilities are better than anything on this rock.
Mirage: Unfortunately, the impact destroyed most of the equipment. And, the Eagle's been heavily guarded ever since you two were taken away. The door's locked, so the soldiers can't get in, but unless we deal with them - neither can we.
Cliff: That's the thing, isn't it. If we started raising a ruckus in the middle of their royal city, you can bet the Dragon Brigade'll be on us in no time. And I don't think that Albel guy'll take too kindly to us, either.
Fayt: But Ameena... She's running out of time!
Cliff: I know. But what can we do?
Nel: I'm sorry.


Cliff: Is something wrong?
Nel: You'll hear all the details inside the castle. It looks like Airyglyph's invasion has begun. Their troops are already approaching Arias. Not only that, we have information that indicates this time all three of Airyglyph's brigades are taking part in the battle...
Cliff: Oh man.
Nel: I think they are going to try and wipe us out before we can complete the Thunder Arrow. Duke Vox is commanding them.
Fayt: So they're trying to end it all in a single blow?
Nel: It looks like that. At any rate, Dion will head to Arias with every completed weapon at our disposal. I don't know how much he'll be able to accomplish.


Ameena: Fayt...?
Fayt: Don't worry about that. Why did you push yourself so hard!?
Ameena: Because... my friend - an old man I know told me I could find him here, in Aquios.
Fayt: He's here?
Ameena: Yes... The man said he works in the royal research facility...
Fayt: You did say that your friend is an engineer... but are you really sure he's in the lab?
Ameena: I don't know... But when I heard... I just had to come...
Cliff: And so you came all this way by yourself.
Fayt: The royal research facility... Does that ring a bell?
Nel: There's only one research lab in Aquios - Lady Elena's Runological Weapon Research Facility.
Fayt: Really? If that's the case, I may have already met him! Ameena, what's your friend's name?
Ameena: His name... is Dion.
Fayt: What!? Dion's your long-lost friend!?
Ameena: Do you know him? That means Dion... He's... He's really here... I'm going to see him.
Mirage: No, wait, you're sick. You have to stay here.
Ameena: But...
Fayt: Ameena, you can't move in the state you're in. Look, I'll bring Dion here to see you.
Ameena: Fayt...
Fayt: Ameena, listen to me. I don't want you running around and collapsing again!
Ameena: Okay.
Fayt: Mirage, can you please stay by her side?
Mirage: Yes. Leave her to me.
Fayt: Dion is still in the research lab?
Nel: Yes, he is... He's still preparing the runological weapons they're going to take to Arias.
Fayt: I'll be right back.

We run all the way up to castle to go get Dion.


Dion: I want you to take the completed runological weapons to Arias by wagon.
Dion: Good luck.
Male Soldier: Yes sir!


Fayt: Dion, it's...
Dion: I've heard about what Airyglyph is doing. It's unfortunate that we won't have time to use the copper that you worked so hard to get for us. But there's no time for regrets. I have to take all of the usable runological weapons to Arias...
Fayt: No, who cares about that now! It's not that!
Dion: Huh? What do you mean, 'who cares about that'...?
Fayt: Dion... Do you remember someone named Ameena?
Dion: Ameena? How do you know that name? Did someone tell you...? How embarrassing...
Fayt: So you do know her?
Dion: Ameena was the name of a childhood friend of mine. I haven't seen her in years. My, that brings back the memories. I wonder how she's doing...
Fayt: So it is you! Come with me a minute!
Dion: Wait a second, what's going on? I can't leave my work now! How do you know about her, anyway?
Fayt: Your childhood friend Ameena is here in Aquios! She came to see you.
Dion: What... No... She lost her folks in the war and went to live with relatives in Airyglyph... How could... She can't be in Aquios...
Fayt: I'm telling the truth! Please! I know you're really busy, but please come!
Dion: Okay... Okay, where is she?
Fayt: She's at the inn... Will you see her?
Dion: Of course I will! I've missed her!
Fayt: Let's go.

And now we run all the way back down to the inn.


Fayt: I have to tell you something first.
Dion: What?
Fayt: She's suffering from a serious disease. That's why she couldn't go see you.
Dion: What? Ameena, sick? She was never the most energetic girl, but...
Fayt: You are her only strength now. The thought of seeing you again is all that keeps her going.
Fayt: I don't know if it's my place to say this, but... Please... take care of her...
Dion: I understand. She means a lot to me, too.



Ameena: I'm so happy... Dion, my Dion! I missed you so much... I've been working on my Wishing Charm every day! Every single day!
Dion: Don't cry... It's all right now. I'm here.

Everyone except Dion and Ameena clear out of the room.


Nel: I'll be honest with you. It's pretty bad. The enemy forces have already swept past Kirlsa and they have established a front by the national border, close to Arias. I also have reports that indicate that this is the largest force they've ever fielded...
Cliff: That's not good... The enemy's serious this time. Vox is spearheading the attack, right? And all three Airyglyph brigades are participating?
Nel: Yes, but apparently Albel the Wicked is not participating in this operation.
Cliff: Is that so?
Nel: The reports indicate as much. There is a possibility that the events at the Bequerel Mines are somehow related.
Cliff: Ah, makes sense.
Cliff: Well, whatever. We'll take on whoever they throw at us.
Nel: I'm sorry... I didn't bring you two all this way to help fight our war.
Cliff: Hah, now you tell me! Don't worry - being here was our decision.
Nel: I appreciate you saying that. And I know our leadership is counting - whether they come out and say it or not. Have no doubt; you will be a vital part of our defense.
Cliff: Well, it's not like I can just let things go their merry way now. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?
Fayt: Uh, yeah, that's right.
Cliff: You weren't listening, were you? What's on your mind?
Fayt: It's just... Watching Dion and Ameena... I couldn't help be remember Sophia. ... I wonder what she's doing right now. And then there's my dad... I just hope everyone's safe.
Nel: It's not really my place to say this, but...
Nel: I'm truly sorry. Sorry for keeping you here so long. I know you want to go help your father.
Fayt: Don't worry about that. It's not like I have a way to get to him now, anyway. It was just bothering me.
Cliff: I said this before, but worrying won't help. You have to focus - do what you can now.

Mirage nods.

Fayt: You're right. All I can do is help this country... And figure out how we're going to survive this.
Cliff: That's right.
Mirage: So, what do you want me to do? I can fight, if you want me to.
Cliff: Ah yes... What DO you want her to do? She's a great fighter, like I told you before.
Fayt: I think I'd like her to stay with Ameena.
Cliff: Hm... I guess you're right. No sense getting her involved now.
Cliff: Mirage, you okay with that?
Mirage: Fine.


Nel: Are you ready?
Dion: Yes... And we've no time to spare.
Dion: I'm looking forward to having time to chat with Ameena once the war's done.
Fayt: That's right... Another good reason to win this war.
Dion: Yes, we'll win this one. I promised Ameena we would.
Cliff: Okay, let's do it!
Nel: All right, Dion, hurry up and finish your preparations.
Nel: We'll go on ahead to Arias.
Fayt: Okay.

We leave Dion and Ameena, and head back to Arias like Nel asked. The trip back is thankfully pretty uneventful again.



There's nothing else to do in town at the moment so we just beeline for the conference room as usual.



Clair: If we fought them head on, we'd be playing right into Airyglyph's hands. We must maintain our distance and avoid close combat at all costs.
Clair: The operation begins at the break of dawn tomorrow. I want all units ready.
Commanding Officers: Yes, ma'am!
Clair: Dismissed.


Clair: I want you to break through enemy lines and destroy Airyglyph's command center.
Nel: Vox?
Clair: That's right.
Clair: Fayt, Cliff, I'd also like to request your assistance if I may.
Cliff: Of course. That's why we're here.
Fayt: Sure.
Clair: I never meant for you to become so involved in this, but...
Nel: We have to involve them. They're a bigger asset in combat than anyone else in my outfit.
Fayt: Please don't worry about it. I have my own reasons for wanting to fight. I want to end this war as soon as possible...
Cliff: Right.
Clair: Okay. Thank you, both of you.
Clair: Fayt, Cliff. Please assist Nel in her operation.
Cliff: Yes, ma'am!
Fayt: All right.
Clair: There's still some time before you need to leave. Please make preparations. Check your equipment, and rest if you must.
Clair: It's all up to you, Nel.
Nel: Leave it to me.
Clair: I'm counting on you.

There isn't a lot to do in town so we head up to our room, where Cliff is already staying.

Cliff: Well? You gonna go to bed now?
Fayt: I think I'll go to bed early in preparation for tomorrow. I suppose there's nothing else I can do now, anyway.
Cliff: That's probably a good idea. The last thing I wanna see is us losing because you didn't get enough sleep.

We're taking a break here for this update. The next story segment is... pretty long, unsurprisingly, so we'll be having a longer update for part 18 instead of drawing things out now.

Next time: uh, all-out war, apparently.