Skyward Episode 2: Collision

Previously on Skyward

 

"Use the Casters."

Norman could still see the Saint’s Bro and he smirked. "Let's get this over with."

 "We really don't have time for this. As long as he pays for what he's done." Nolan's gaze returned to the Normandie, hands ready on the wheel.

"Show me your true nature, Norman!"

A shadowed figure closes her magenta eyes and whispers "Who am I?"

 

[Opening]

 

> Ｎｏｒｍａｎｄｉｅ

 

Brad walks back to the cockpit, muttering to himself. "That noise just now..." He quickens his pace, bursting through the door. "Norman!"

The young man in question reels around and glares at Brad. "WHAT?!"

He looks livid, a vein is pulsing in his forehead.

"First off calm down, if we are to fight, the Ｎｏｒｍａｎｄｉｅ needs to have a captain with a clear head. Second..." he stomps over to Norman and decks him in the face. "That's for loading the Casters." Then he karate chops Norman's head, "And that's for forgetting our guest's safety."

Norman drops to his knees, holding his head. "You bast-" Brad clamps a hand over Norman's mouth, and shakes his head.

"Do me a favor and stay put, Norm."

He walks over to Twilight, "Twily, cancel the load. We're retreating."

"Re...huh?" Twilight gives him a dumbfounded look and blinks. "Y-yes!" She turns back around and switches her controls out. "Casters retrieved."

" What the fuck do you think you're doing, Brad?!" Norman can't believe what he's hearing, he stares in disbelief as his first mate begins to commandeer his ship.

"What a good captain ought to do." Brad takes the wheel and begins flipping dials. "Retreat."

 

 

> Ｓａｉｎｔ＇ｓ　Ｂｒｏ

 

"Scan complete." Amy pulls rips the paper coming out of the printer with haste. "...Nolan, look at this."

Nolan arches an eyebrow and walks close to the ledge, swiping the paper out of Amy's outstretched hand.

His eyes scan the paper and a smile forms at his lips. "Casters huh? Didn't know he would stoop so low." He licks his lips and crumples the paper. He pulls on a lock of his hair, twirling it around his finger. "But all's fair in war. I suppose I should return the favor if he does use them."

"Nols!" Soren calls, pointing out the window. "They're up to something."

"Hm?" Nolan narrows his eyes watching the Ｎｏｒｍａｎｄｉｅ as it begins moving in an irregular pattern, almost as if someone was fighting to gain control of the steering wheel. "Now that's interesting." He leans forward, watching the spectacle. A screen crackles in front of him, and the face of a blue-haired man appears.

"I don't fucking care who you are, SainoBro. I'll be taking our leave," the man looks furious and from behind him, Nolan can just barely make out Norman looking dejected.

"Eh?"

The man's tone suddenly changes from anger to a more mocking one, " 'Ciao', SainoBro!" The channel dies and the Ｎｏｒｍａｎｄｉｅ speeds off.

All Nolan can do is stare blankly at the now empty sky. "What the fuck?"

 

[Break]

 

> Ｓａｉｎｔ＇ｓ　Ｂｒｏ

> Ｓｏｍｅｗｈｅｒｅ　ｎｅａｒ　ｔｈｅ　Ｉｒｉｓｈ　Ｃｏａｓｔ

 

 A glass thunks heavily on the counter top, "I fucking had him and..." Nolan cups his eyes, frustrated.

Amy is next to him, looking down at her own drink and trying to soothe her captain by stroking his hair. "We'll get them, Nolan. Don't worry." She takes the tiniest sip of her drink, pursing her lips. "Say...what will you do when you do catch him anyway?"

Nolan turns to face her, and she can feel the waves of sadness and mourning pouring off of him, "That will come after I am through with that bastard." He sighs and picks up his glass, drinking it's contents in one gulp. "It's just...I spent a year searching and...blast it all." He slams his hands on the table and gets up to leave, startling Amy.

The door opens and Soren walks in, carrying a crate. "Settle down, Nols. It's just a minor setback." He sets the crate down near the door and walks towards his comrades.

"Mino-...ack! Are you even hearing yourself?" Nolan snaps. He sits back down and rests his head on the table, waving a dismissive hand. "Fuck it."

 "Aw don't be like that," Soren takes the seat on Nolan's other side, "Heard something interesting over by the market."

 Amy carefully swishes her drink around with a spoon, "Hm? Get on with it."

Soren holds his hands up, "A moment, if you please. I have a thirst you could photograph." [spoiler]shameless Alice: Madness Returns reference[/spoiler]

He signals the barkeeper, a young woman in her 20's with a name tag branding her as 'Berry Paunch'. "If you'd please, madam?" He flashes her a smile and the lady blushes, fumbling over her hands as she pours him some rum. "Danke."

He takes a swig and sets the glass down, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "Now then. I heard that there's an old fortress about 2 miles out in the forest. Rumor has it that it was occupied by Norman's group for a while."

 Nolan's posture goes rigid, and he stares at Soren with wide eyes. "R-really?"

"Yeah, I've already arranged everything, shouldn't be long before that farmer gets here to give us a ride."

 

> Ｎｏｒｍａｎｄｉｅ

> Ｓｏｍｅｗｈｅｒｅ　ｏｖｅｒ　Ｂｒｉｔｉｓｈ　Ａｉｒｓｐａｃｅ

 

"Stop scowling at me, Norman. It was in our interest to retreat." Brad adjusts his goggles on his head, placing the ship on autopilot. He leans against the wheel, and sighs. "What did you even do that would cause the Ｓａｉｎｔ＇ｓ　Ｂｒｏ crew to come after you?"

 Norman tilts his head and leans back on his chair, crossing his legs. "Hell if I know." He lazily stretches and stands up. He scratches his cheek and looks pensive. "It's not like I mean to run into pirates who want to take me down for no reason."

"Didn't he say that ya did somethin' to 'im?" Applejack calls out, tapping her monitor. She pauses and looks over at Twilight, who just shrugs.

"What could I have possibly done? I've never met the guy before today!" He stands up and begins pacing around. "Argh. I need a drink..." he begins heading out through the door, but is stopped by Brad. "What?"

 "Mind getting something for our guest too? You should talk to her a little, Norm. She's nice." Brad smiles and then pushes Norman through the door. "Go!" He then shuts the door and Norman hears the mechanical locks slide in place.

 Shaking his head, he heads to his ship's kitchen, muttering why the cockpit even has locks.

"Drinks...drinks..." he opens the mini fridge and settles for some apple juice. Taking the two juice packs, he makes his way towards the ship's sleeping quarters.

 

> Ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｙｅａｒｓ　ａｇｏ

Ｓｏｍｅｗｈｅｒｅ　ｉｎ　Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ　Ｆｒａｎｃｅ

 

"Looks like a ship crashed," Twilight said, wrapping her coat tightly around her. The entire Ｎｏｒｍａｎｄｉｅ　crew watched the wreckage of the ship smoldering in the field below.

"Do you think anyone is alive?" Brad asked, shifting his attention to Norman. Except he's not there. "Norman?!"

The sound of sliding rocks alerted him and he looked down to see Norman already making his way to the wreckage. "Nor-"

"There's someone there!" Norman skid to a stop near a prone figure lying in the snow. He knelt down and checked her pulse. "Shit." He picked the unconscious girl up, looking around to see if there were any others. "..."

"Norman!" Brad, Twilight and Applejack slid down the slippery slope and rushed to his side.

"Oh...is...is she all right?" Applejack immediately removed her jacket and draped it around the poor girl.

"We need to get her somewhere safe," Brad said, as he stood up and turned around. "Come on, I'll carry her back to our ship."

 

> Ｐｒｅｓｅｎｔ

 

Norman knocks only once on the door before stepping inside the room.

The girl inside shifts and turns towards him, locks of blue and teal falling over her face. "Another visit in such a short time? I'm honored."

Norman snickers, "I brought you a little something to drink. You like apple juice?" He walks over to her and helps her sit up.

"T-thanks...I suppose I like it." She reaches out and takes one of the boxes. She fumbles with the straw then holds it out for Norman to open. "Can you...?"

He says nothing as he opens her juice and hands it back to her. opting to open his own. He takes a long sip, watching the girl intensely. "Still can't remember?"

 She pauses, straw halfway to her mouth. "I'm sorry...the more I try to remember, the further my memory seems to slip away." She takes a sip, and her eyes widen.

She then downs the entire thing. "So good!"

They both laugh. Norman clears his throat. "I hear that Brad is calling you DJ now."

"I mentioned I liked music..."

Norman raises an eyebrow as he drinks his juice, but says nothing. "Heh..."

 

Ｓａｉｎｔ＇ｓ　Ｂｒｏ

１　ｍｉｌｅ　ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ　ｔｏｗｎ

 

"So you're sure the rumor is true?" Nolan asks Soren, shielding his eyes from the sun.

The three friends huddle close as the hay cart they are riding in bumps along the rocky road.

Soren yawns and leans back. "As far as I'm concerned, it can be. Rumors have a 50/50 chance of being true."

"Yeah, thought so too."

"Just lean back and enjoy the ride, guys," Amy says.

"...Fine, if only for a little while." Nolan replies, slipping his hands behind his head as a makeshift pillow. He stares up at the sky. "A little while." He closes his eyes.

 

[Credits]