2022-09-01: My Answer
- Cutscene: My Answer
- Cast: Josephine Lovelace, Antenora
- Where: Diablo Tower: Antenora
- Date: September 1st 2022
- Summary: Antenora summons Josie for an operation of import.
BGM: (Vagrant Story ~ Hitoshi Sakamoto - Another Riskbreaker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1ZTnVNVSd0
The tower is strange, however Josephine chooses to regard it. She's long since heard the tale about what it's meant to empower -- the story had circulated quickly amidst the upper ranks during their construction. As for who would control such valuable resources for Odessa, why, was it any surprise?
Her own focus had been elsewhere, as it had been since Antenora's own remove to the spire she would manage. With little in the way for Akasha to be deployed against in the wake of that operational failure in Sylvaland, that asset had been focused nearly entirely towards reconstruction of its ground-based targeting apparatus.
Well, aside from wide-area changes in the weather to delay and distract -- nothing so focused as the storms in Sylvaland.
It had granted Josephine time to apply herself as she saw fit on Lunar.
Then the call came in. She was to return, as Antenora had needed her. They must have restored the targeting function, or else, come across something which needed further excavation. But what in the world would that be?
Antenora always had her thumb on the pulse of Filgaia. Whether through her wires, or through her more flesh-and-blood network, little seemed to escape her notice.
Worse, for all her youth relative to Josephine, she's long since mastered the art of the poker face. Though they've had a direct working relationship for a few years now -- for all their past relationship, Vinsfeld seems well-prepared to delegate in this day and age -- she can't recall a single time she's looked at Antenora and thought she completely understood what was going on in that head of hers.
This is a woman with a wall between herself and the world.
Though of course, Josephine would be the last to say that the same couldn't be said about herself... if in a quite different sense of the 'mask' so deployed. But be that as it may...
...she still has absolutely no sense of what she might expect as the woman turns to face her here in the heart of this Diablo tower.
So Josie does what comes naturally.
"Long time no see, Antenora."
There are those who absolutely escape even her prodigious ability to nickname.
"Indeed, Josephine. It appears you've been busy on Lunar."
Josie curls her mouth in a crooked half-smile. "Somewhat, somewhat," she says with a shrug. "Never entirely know what the next site might bear, eh? That machine we dug up for Vinnie-- Vinsfeld," Josie corrects, under that gaze from Antenora, "well, that's the proof in the pudding and all, yeah?"
"Indeed..." Antenora replies cooly. "About the reason I've called you here, then..."
Josie gives one more game attempt at a smile before giving up the ghost entirely. "Heard tell something of that sort, right," she says. "Something to do with Akasha, I'm wagering? I'm guessing we're back in business." And what with Josie's own connections with the system and Antenora's confinement here, then there's only one conclusion to draw from there.
"Correct. But there is more you should know before I explain the nature of this operation."
"...Go on."
"Then I will be brief."
Antenora barely hesitates before continuing.
"Ptolomea and Caina have been killed, and their towers disabled." If she takes any note of the surprise that crosses Josie's expression, Antenora does not linger upon it long and instead continues: "They will aim for the remaining towers. It is certain they are coming. ...I have devised a stratagem that may at least buy us time. The power of the Heimdall Gazzo depends on us."
Antenora gestures, bringing up a pane of light as a screen before her, and an image of the Aquvy region map appears there. She touches one section of the map, which alights with a particular marker.
"There are many who provide our enemies with aid and support, but according to my reconnaissance, there is none they rely upon more than the Thames. It is regrettable, but it must be destroyed."
Antenora does not so much as bat an eye.
For someone who so often claims to prefer bloodless methods... Odessa must be desperate. She must be desperate.
Josie realizes after a moment more that she has yet to have taken a breath, that she is staring at Antenora.
"Is something the matter, Josephine?"
Josie shakes her head. "No," she says, feeling surprisingly light-headed. "Go ahead."
The weight of Antenora's hooded gaze falls upon her for a moment long -- too long -- before she continues. "Yes, of course. I have deemed it best to utilize the Akasha System in this endeavor. A surprise weather event should be sufficient. Hurricanes are not unknown to the region. If a powerful enough one were used, even the Thames would not be able to stay afloat in the storm."
"...So it'll be secret. That's your game?" Josie asks of her.
Antenora nods. "Yes. In this operation... it is not necessary to call attention to our hand. If we were to use our own soldiers, it is likely they would meet with resistance and possibly even fail. I will not throw our own at a doomed mission." Her gaze flickers over at the map. "But... it is not possible even for the mightiest of heroes to fight a storm."
Josie's response is to slowly suck in a breath. "So that's the shape of it and all, huh... gonna throw a goddamn storm at them." Her gaze flits up at Antenora. "And I'm your lady running the show?"
Antenora nods, professional to the last even here and now.
"I cannot participate in this mission. I must oversee operations from here." The Akasha system is as complex as the phenomena it seeks to control: without a team on the ground, directed strikes are nearly impossible. What is meant to target a specific installation could go entirely awry, missing the objective, perhaps even hitting their friendlies or resources.
Pouring rain across Zoara enough to stall a train is one thing. Flinging a massive storm across the seas is another.
And Antenora doesn't say it, but it's as plain as day nevertheless: with things as they are, this operation can only be managed by someone in whom Odessa has the utmost faith.
In other words, Josephine Lovelace. Their old ally, in the days from before they were even Odessa. The one who'd been lost and then found.
The one who had delivered just as promised, even after all those years.
"Guess I'm your gal," Josie says, lopsided smile and all.
She looks up to the heavens as she exits the tower, as if she could see Akasha itself there in the blue sky.
Nothing awaits her eyes but the cold illusory light of the moon. Slipping out a fresh cigarette, she lights it with a snap of her fingers.
"Well," she says, exhaling smoke. "Ain't this a right beautiful mess, eh? Almost wonder what you'd've done, were you in these shoes..."
Her gaze is still turned heavensward as if she could find an answer there.
"But me... I've got my own answer."