Going Beyond Power/Script

The following is the script of dialogue used in the hero quest Going Beyond Power.

Head North of Gura Flava Lowlands

Noah

Look...!

Sena

Oh! Mimi!
That's Kyrie from Colony Gamma!

Mio

What?!

Eunie

Friend of yours?

Mio

Yes... But the story will have to wait.

Noah

OK! Let's give her a hand!

Defeat the Keves Army Patrol

Mio

You OK? You're not hurt?

Kyrie

Mi-

Mio

Kyrie?

Kyrie

Mioooooo!!!
You're in one piece?! Thank you so much for saving me! I'm so glad you're alive!

Taion

Yes, yes, no need to get so excited.

Kyrie

Ahhhhh, I'm so sorry! I'll calm down! Deep breaths...

Mio

What are you doing here, Kyrie? Colony Gamma is-

Kyrie

Oh! Well...actually...

Mio

...You got separated from your unit again?

Kyrie

I'm so sorry! I just have no sense of direction at all!

Sena

Never change, Kyrie!

Noah

She's...interesting, isn't she?

Lanz

Interesting, a pain in the neck... Same difference, I s'pose.

Kyrie

Sooo, Mio, those other people...?

Mio

Don't worry about them. They're my friends. And they helped save you.

Kyrie

Ah, so they did! Thanks again, Mio.

Eunie

Why "thanks Mio"?! What are the rest of us, Armu steak?!

Sena

Leave it, that's just Kyrie.

Kyrie

Mio, let's hurry back to the colony! I bet the commander will be pleased to see you too!

Mio

Yeah, about that... Can I have a quick word?

Kyrie

Of course! What about?!

Mio

This is an odd question, but... Well. How do we look to you?

Taion

Ah...!

Kyrie

How do you...look? Well, let me see...

Mio

...

Kyrie

Ah-HA!

Mio

Hm?

Kyrie

Yep, no good at all! You can't just change your clothes as you please! That's against regulations!
Hmm, but they suit you so perfectly! I mean, your off-seer outfit suited you to a T as well, but I mean...

Mio

Thanks, Kyrie, that's all I needed.

Kyrie

Happy to help!

Mio

I just need to discuss something with everyone. Mind waiting?

Kyrie

No problem!

Mio turns away to discuss with the rest of the party.

Mio

...She seems in her right mind, anyway. No glowing Iris.

Sena

Just classic Kyrie.

Taion

But does this mean we don't look like hostiles to everyone...?

Noah

Let's not worry about that for now. What should we do with her?

Mio

That's the question.
I want to take her back to the colony if we can... But can we?

Sena

We can't send her out on her own. It's dangerous, and she'd definitely get lost again...

Lanz

Fine with me, but would she be OK hanging out with us Kevesi?

Mio

...It's possible that the commander of Colony Gamma would hear us out.
At least, he isn't the type to turn around and capture people without warning.

Eunie

Can we trust him?

Taion

Better than the Consul. Trust me on that.

Noah

If both of you are willing to go that far, then he seems worth meeting.

Mio

...Thank you.
If anything happens, I'll do everything I can to keep you all safe. I promise.

Mio turns back to Kyrie.

Mio

Thanks for waiting. Let's go, Kyrie.

Kyrie

Ready, Mio!

Teach

Kyrie

Wait here! I'll go ahead and tell everyone!

Mio

No, Kyrie! Just wait-!

Kyrie

Hey, guys! Mio's come back! Taion and Sena, too!

Colony Gamma Soldier

Welcome back!

Colony Gamma Soldier

We were so worried about you guys!

Foots

Good job sticking it out, Sena.
We were pretty sure you were dead.

Ysorra

Foots... Why do you have to be so snarky about everything?

Zakir

All of you... I'm so glad you're OK.

Schoon

Mio... It's been so long.

Eunie starts tearing out and sniffs a little at the sight of their reunion.

Lanz

Hm? Wait, are those actual tears? Eunie?

Eunie

Snuff it, you big dummy.

Kyrie

Oh, there you are, Teach!

The soldiers of Colony Gamma form a guard of honour as Teach walks towards the party. Mio, Sena and Taion salute him. Teach salute them back.

Teach

Mio, Sena, Taion.
You're...
It's wonderful to see you again.

Mio

I'm truly sorry, Commander Teach. We never meant to-

Teach

The details can wait till later.
I'm sure you'd appreciate a rest, no?
I imagine getting here was... by no means a simple task.
Am I right?

Mio

...Yes. We appreciate your concern.

Teach

And as for our visitors here...

Teach looks at Noah, Eunie and Lanz.

Teach

We can make our introductions later.
Well then...

Teach walks away. His smile disappears as he turns his back to Mio and the others.

In Colony Gamma

Noah

He was kind of strange. Quiet, but I could feel something threatening in him...

Eunie

Yeah, are you sure about this? He didn't even question us.

Taion

Perhaps he's already worked it out. Decided we're not hostile.

Lanz

Well, no one's attacked us. Which is more than we can say for... pretty much every other time.

Sena

Mimi, once we're rested up, how about we tour the colony?

Mio

Good idea. I wanna see how everyone's doing.

Sena

And we can show the Kevesi folks around while we're at it.

Eunie

Much obliged. We are just visitors, after all.

Taion

I want to have a chat with the soldiers too. There are a couple of things I'm curious to know.

Noah

So this is your old colony, Mio. Let's see what kind of place it is.

Talk with Teach

Teach

Would you chat with the soldiers while you're resting?
Everyone was worried sick about you.

Gather info from Kyrie

Kyrie

Hi, Mio! Do you need something?

Mio

Kyrie, while we were away, nothing...strange happened, did it?

Kyrie

Ummm, not that I can think of? Just training as normal, and-
Oh! Actually!

Mio

Something happened?

Kyrie

A monster showed up!

Mio

...Monster? What?

Kyrie

So apparently, this monster showed up at the site where you vanished.
The frontliners sent word, but we lost contact right after that...
And because you vanished as well, everyone just kind of assumed whatever it was had got you.
Ugh... Even just remembering it freaks me out all over again.

Mio

...

Kyrie

Oh, but you're back safe and sound, so I guess there was no monster at all!

Mio

...Right, yes. At least, not that we saw.

Kyrie

Right! I'm so glad!

Mio

(A monster... Surely it couldn't be...)

Talk with Kyrie again

Kyrie

...You know what's even more scary than that monster business? The commander's teaching methods.
Uh... Just don't tell him I said that!

Gather info from Zakir

Zakir

Ha, naturally, as soon as you get back you want to see what's been going on.

Taion

Then let's cut to the chase. ...Has anyone else come back besides us?

Zakir

...I'm afraid not. Just you. The soldiers who were on the front line are still MIA.

Taion

(shudder) ...I see.

Zakir

That whole operation was riddled with weird stuff, though.
I asked the commander for the particulars but it's all classified. He couldn't say.
Don't suppose you know anything about it, Taion.

Taion

...Sorry. No.
(The allied soldiers who attacked us, all missing, fates unknown...)
(What if it's like Hackt...? If they... Ugh!)

Talk with Zakir again

Zakir

I'm sure the commander has an idea...

Gather info from Foots

Foots

Whoa! If it isn't Mio, Taion and little Sena!

Sena

Wow, watch your tone! Why am I the only one you're rude to?!

Foots

Forget about that. How about facing me in a little mock combat?
Recently all we're doing is standing by, so I'm getting soft.

Sena

Standby is an important duty! Don't complain.

Foots

Don't patronize me. I want to go to the front for once.
Wanna rack up some points in combat, maybe become commander one day!
Like, why the snuff are they still treating us like reserves? As if this were the time for it.
Now that we lost most of our experienced personnel, there's only us left to do what needs doing.

Sena

Huh...? You lost them?

Foots

That's right. Vanished without a trace.

Sena

...

Talk with Foots again

Foots

So, will you be my opponent?
It's your job to make sure we rookies are trained right, you know.

Colony Gamma Lately

Sena

Looks like our friends are doing just fine, Mimi!

Mio

Seems so...

Eunie

Still, there's a lot fewer soldiers here than I expected.

Mio

...

Taion

A lot of the soldiers employed on that mission haven't come back yet. No one knows what became of them.

Lanz

The mission where we became Ouroboros, yeah?

Taion

I daresay that's the one...

Eunie

...Sorry. Should've kept my mouth shut.

Mio

No, you didn't do anything wrong, Eunie.

Taion

All the soldiers left in the colony are newbies with no combat experience.
Right now they've been ordered to stand by as a reserve force. Far from the front lines.

Mio

A good thing, too. That's what saved Kyrie and others' lives. Plus, they didn't get to learn the truth about us, and the world...
But...

Lanz

Ugh... It doesn't sit well with me to pretend like everything's fine, though...

Noah

...Mio, would you mind talking to this commander of yours, Teach?

Mio

About what?

Noah

Everything. Tell him thanks for taking us in no questions asked.

Taion

Now, look. I know I said he was trustworthy but-

Mio

No, Noah's right.
I was planning on telling him everything anyway, and if we're gonna talk, we may as well lay it all out sooner than later.
We can't just expect people to trust us while we hide the truth like this.

Lanz

Yeah. Makes more sense than staying and hiding.

Mio

Right.

Sena

The commander will understand, I know it. He's crazy harsh, but crazy fair too.

Eunie

Harsh? He didn't look it.

Taion

...Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Eunie

Pfft...

Head for the Commander's Office

Teach

Ah, how is everything? If you still need to rest, then-

Mio

Commander, there's something else I'd like to discuss with you.

Teach

Of course. You don't look like you've come to just deliver a report.
Then, shall we relocate? That should be more convenient for you.

Mio

Yes, that would be helpful, thank you.

Teach

Ah, yes.
I know a good place nearby. Let's talk there.

Mio

What?!

Taion

C-Commander, please! We don't need to go th-

Teach

It has a beautiful view, and a particular peacefulness about it.

Sena

How lovely! I'd love to see it!

Taion

...This is bad. This is all going south.

Noah

It's just a change of place. I don't get what the problem is.

Mio

...We'll regret this.

Teach

I'd rather not delay, but unfortunately I have some work left to do here.
Wait for me next to the training ground. I'll meet you as soon as I can.

Mio

Very well. We'll see you there.

Mio and the others leave the Commander's Office.

Teach

They were outstanding soldiers. I'd go so far as to say they were the pride of Agnus.
So, now they're traitors. People are mysteries. You can never really understand them.
Don't you agree?

Teach glances at the Consul.

Teach

But I'm the commander. I can't let my personal feelings get in the way of my duty.
I will deal with them. You can leave the matter with me.
We can't afford to ignore anything that might do our very world harm.

Talk with Teach again

Teach

Wait for me next to the training ground. I'll meet you as soon as I can.

Head for Gamma, Back Way

Teach

Sorry to have kept you waiting. So, shall we head out?

Lanz

Yeah, so is this "good place" of yours far?

Teach

Hmm, I'd say reasonably near.
But the road is poorly maintained and slopes a lot. It might not be an easy journey.

Eunie

Oh great, now I'm totally sold.

Teach

It all depends on how you walk it. Once you get the hang of it, it's just like strolling through a field of flowers.
If you don't mind, I can explain on the way.

Noah

Well, in that case...

Sena

Sounds great!

Mio

...If it's reasonably close by.

Taion

We'd better get ready.

Teach has temporarily joined the party.

Noah

Hey, so what's this "good place" you were talking about?

Teach

I can hardly spoil the surprise now, can I? Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.

Head for the "good place"

Teach

Right. This is where it gets real.
First, imagine a stake.
The stake is hammered into the ground. So deep that it becomes one with the earth.
Now take that feeling, and that's how you're going to take each step.
Your feet are the stakes, in this case.

Noah

Ummmm, I...guess I...? No, I don't get it.

Teach

That's all you need to know for now. You'll pick the rest up as you go.

Scree Walking traversal skill inherited

Teach

Keep that up, everyone. You've all good heads on your shoulders.

Eunie

Ahh, this is strictly first-termer level stuff for us!

Reach Coolley Pool Camp

Lanz

Are we... Are we there yet...?

Teach

About halfway now. Not long to go.

Eunie

We have...very different ideas... of what "not long" means...

Sena

Come on, people! This is why you need to lift more weights!

Teach

Sena, you know you can't hone your endurance just by lifting weights.

Sena

Oh... Are you sure?

Teach

The key to training is working the whole body, rather than focusing too much on any one exercise.
I'm sure it's not a problem now, but keep it up and you'll wear yourself out.

Sena

Oh wow, I see!

Teach

Hmm, not good though. I believe I already taught you this in the past.

Sena

Gah! I'm sorry...

Lanz

Look at you, all calm and cool...

Teach

Indeed. Because I train properly.

Noah

This is harder than I expected...

Mio

I said we'd regret this.

Taion

The commander is also the colony's instructor, after all.
He seems mild-mannered enough at first glance.
But new recruits are terrified of him. They'd rather face a battle than his wrath.

Noah

Huh... Hm? Taion, are you OK?

Teach

You shouldn't slack off on your training just because you've seen real battle.
Whether you live or die on the battlefield is determined by how you face it. That's where it ends.
...Excuse me. I didn't mean to lecture.

Mio

You never change, Commander.

Teach

Ah, don't embarrass me.

Noah

You really do come across as an instructor.

Teach

Hahaha, I'll take that as a compliment.

Noah

It's pretty unusual for a commander to be an instructor as well, though.

Teach

Probably. In my case... Well, there's a lot going on.

Mio

What do you mean by that?

Teach

Just what I said.
Anyway, break time's over. Let's crack on.

Lanz

Don't say thaaat...

Climb up another sand slope

Teach

Not far now. Perseverance, people!

Lanz

Peh. I'll show you perseverance...

Reach the Transcendent Retreat

Mio

This is...

Teach

What do you think? A good place, isn't it?
It's peaceful, invigorating. A place to quiet your mind.
Even the war between Agnus and Keves feels a world away from here, doesn't it?

Mio

Yes...it does.

Teach

I assume you know about the state of Colony Gamma.

Mio

Y-yes. That's actually what I wanted to-

Teach

Then I can tell you that you don't have to, Mio.

Mio

What do you-?

Teach

Don't you get it yet?
I mean that I'm going to deal with you here and now.

Noah

Wha...? But you...!

Teach

Purging the traitor Ouroboros from our ranks is a matter of the highest priority.
I am the commander of Colony Gamma. I cannot shirk this duty.
Do you understand?

Eunie

What, that you lured us out here to do us in? Yeah, I'm up to speed, thanks.

Teach

No one in the colony will learn what you are.
Understand that the fact I'm not doing this in public is a sign of my respect for you.

Mio

But, Commander, wait! Please, just listen-!

Teach

What would be the point? Words blur truth and lies so easily.

Taion

Commander...!

Noah

Ugh, we've got no choice...!

Teach

Are you prepared? Face your deaths with honor.

Teach summons his Blade.

Teach

The time has come.

Fight Inscrutable Teach

Lanz

Spark's sake! We can't take him down and he's just one guy?

Taion

I knew he had stamina, but this is...!

Teach

You too display impressive power.
But it's that power which is the cause of everything that's gone wrong, threatening the lives of others as well as yourselves.

Mio

N-no, you've got it wrong! We-!

Mio, then Teach sheathe their Blades.

Teach

No. This isn't something that only concerns you.
This power is a maelstrom that surrounds the world.
A maelstrom eventually becomes a raging torrent that swallows lives without mercy.
If you really know what's going on in Colony Gamma, then you must understand this.

Mio

That's...

Teach

So, tell me, Mio.
Was it the power of becoming an Ouroboros that drove you to the other side?
Were you reduced to merely one part of a maelstrom?

Mio

No, you're wrong!

Teach

And what precisely am I wrong about?

Mio

We became Ouroboros by pure chance.
But we thought that with such power we'd be able to do more.

Teach

Hah. Do what?

Mio

Keep the world alive. Find new ways to use our lives for-
I don't know, I can't put it into words. But that's what we want to use it for.
That's all I'm sure of.

Teach

Very pretty words.

Mio

We can only... We can only go forward.
We want to find a way that doesn't involve sacrificing lives.

The others sheathe their Blades.

Teach

...

Mio

...

Teach

...Hmph. Looks like I've misjudged.

Mio

What?

Teach

Well, you've heard for yourself.
I don't believe they are traitors.
In my capacity as commander, I judge them not deserving of death.
Are you in agreement, Consul?

Noah

The Consul's here?!

Consul G appears.

Sena

Ah!

Lanz

So this is where you were hiding!

Consul G

...What a lovely fiction. Bravo. The fact remains, Ouroboros will destroy the world.

Teach

But that's just one possibility.
Still, people can change. I choose to believe them.

Consul G

Like the old you...?

Teach

Yes. I had no will, no resolution. Only shame.
But they aren't me. They will walk a different path.

Consul G

...You shall persist no matter what?

Teach

You gave me a chance to fix it. I have an obligation.
So let's stop doing things your way. Let's end that here.

Consul G

...Very well.
Then I shall make you and the traitors recant your folly...

Consul G transforms into Moebius G

Moebius G

...with the power of Moebius!

Mio

Commander...!

Teach

Right, you lot. Time to walk the walk.
Prove that this power leads to light!

Mio

We will!

Defeat Moebius G

Teach

...

Mio

Commander, we-

Teach

...Not yet, Mio.

Mio

What?

Teach

It's not over yet.
There's one thing you still have to do. Isn't there?

Mio

...There is.

Teach

Let's go back to the colony and decide our next steps from there.

Teach has temporarily joined the party.

Teach

Let's head back to Colony Gamma. You...know what you have to do, yes?

Mio

...Of course. I'd planned on it.

Colony Gamma Liberated

Teach, Mio and Noah look at the Flame Clock. Teach nods to Mio. Mio nods back, then look at Noah. Noah nods.

Noah

Here we go!

Noah and Mio break the Flame Clock.

Gamma, Assembly Yard

Mio

Commander... You knew from the start.

Teach

Not at all. I was serious, Mio. I was ready to die to take you down.

Noah

So what you mean is, you were testing us?

Teach

Such power can drive people mad.
I needed to be sure about you.
I needed to know you hadn't fallen into the trap of being enthralled by power, that you had retained your own will.

Lanz

So that's why you had to try to kill us for real?

Teach

Determining the true nature of power is a kind of power in itself. That's how I do things.

Lanz

You're...surprisingly violent.

Mio

But just one slip and you'd be...

Teach

I...once got to see how power can destroy a person up close. I knew a soldier who was lost in it, and lost to it.
I don't want to see that happen to you. Nor does anyone in the colony.
It was no choice at all to put my life on the line to prevent it.

Mio

...

Taion

You're right that being an Ouroboros comes with huge power, but it's full of danger too.

Sena

Yeah, but, we're fine? We use it right, so...

Teach

...The reason I became an instructor was to teach people how to confront power.
But...there was always a niggling doubt at the back of my mind.
That people are, at heart, stupid creatures that power makes a mockery of.

Mio

That's...

Teach

But if you were to ask me whether I still thought that way, I'd say no.

Taion

So you have hope?

Teach

I do. Now that I've crossed Blades with you, I understand.
So...the maelstrom hasn't become a raging torrent, but a clear, strong current.

Mio

Commander, if that's what you think, then I'd like you to come with us.

Teach

Oh? And may I ask why?

Mio

I want you to see with your own eyes... that your faith in us isn't misplaced.
You want something from us. More than just words, right?

Teach

Yes.
The stream becomes the flow of life itself, bringing change and upheaval to the world.
And you want me to be the one to watch over your futures. That's it, isn't it?

Mio

Yes. Well, something like that.

Teach

Hm.
OK then. I'll do it. I accept the job.
But...what have those of you from Keves to say on this matter?

Noah

Yes, of course.

Lanz

The more the merrier, especially if they're as strong as you.

Eunie

Fine by me. Assuming we never have to fight it out like this again.

Teach

Well, that all depends on how well you train, doesn't it?

Taion

Ugh, why?

Teach

Hahaha, I was only joking.
Ah, before I forget. Mio.
I'd like to ask you a favor in return for this.

Mio

Anything.

Teach

Thank you. I'll run through the particulars later.
...Oh, wait. I actually know a very good place for talking. It's just-

Mio

Yea- Yeah, I think I'll pass on that part...