[ree’s bros walking down tunnel towards her where she’s been waiting]
R: So? What’s the consensus?
philo: Your leaders are thankful for the extra support we’ve brought.
R: but?
P: but, they still do not think it enough to counter Kooup’s forces.
R: Great. Well, at least the odds are slightly better now maybe?
P: I meant what I said, you will do better fighting -
R: I’m not letting you turn this into some weird family glory grab where you’re hoping to win back some honor for our flock name or something. This is serious. I care about the people here.
P: We are aware. That is why we campaigned for the Council to allow us to come. The council does not think kooup will stop there and will eventually come for Avarie, too.
R: And they listened?
P: No. We fled in the night.
R: Great.
p: But it was done for you, sister. We did not want you running off into danger once more -
r: if you think you can stop me then -
P: We have not come to stop you. We have come to fight alongside you. You attended a fancy military school here, right? Show us what you have learned.
R: I - well that’s - …Fine. I’ll allow it. But I’m not wearing the ancestral armor, you all look ridiculous.
[Adol holds up her armor, sad] A: but we brought it and everything
R: No.
[ree enters her room to find farrah packing her back with all her gadgets.]
R: Are you expecting to have to jam some missiles in the middle of a fight or something?
F: you never know.
R: I guess you don’t. Listen…I’m sorry this all had to happen now -
F: (walks past her) We’ll talk after. I’m…glad your brothers have come to fight with you. My family would never. And that’s why I have to fight for my new family now - you understand that right?
R: (smiles) D’you know, I knew it was over because you didn't jump at the chance to get the Queen. The Farrah I knew would’ve stopped at nothing until the search was complete, or the mystery solved. But it’s not really about that anymore, is it?
F: no, it’s about so much more than ourselves, now.
[Tiraa drying her hair in her room, the dye washed out, looking at the drawings keelee left on her wall, sad. Neekia leans on the entrance]
N: Are you sad? That Cyras will never see you in black. You shouldn’t be - I wasn’t gonna say anything but it totally washed you out.
T: Thanks for sparing my feelings, as always.
N: Just looking out for you girl.
T: I’ll tell myself that’s a good thing. How are the troops doing?
N: They’re gearing up. Kitchen Duty’s put on a last meal so they’re all carb loading.
T: Cici mentioned there was only rations left for a few days, I guess tonight’s really the be-all, end-all.
N: But we knew that already, didn’t we.
T: I’ll get him back for you, Neekia.
N: Get him back for us.
T: We’ve planned it down to the wire, but there’s still too many unknowns. We’re gonna need some serious luck to pull this off.
N: Luck? That’s what this is for. (pulls out necklace with the ring Tiraa bargained with her on). Hasn’t let me down yet.
T: You kept it?
N: Course I did, it’s my ticket out of poverty when all this is over. Kept it through the prison sentence, through the raids, everything. Weirdly, Reamer found it on me when he interrogated me but ended up giving it back. Probably tipped him off to you working with us though. Sorry if that messed up any plans back then for you.
T: (frowning) Weirdly it didn’t, actually.
N: Come on, let’s get in on this party before all the food’s gone. You’ll rescue Cyras, we’ll find your chick if her brother hasn’t already, then our lives in the new world will finally start.
Ky and Lars flying, approaching Aquila House from the air. Land on the roof
K: And this definitely isn’t a set up? Feels like a set up.
L: Oh, it very well could be. But it would be very boring of Reamer if it was.
K: Comforting. Are we sure he’s coming? I’m giving this 5 seconds before I -
[Reamer flies down to roof]
R: Always rushing off somewhere aren’t you. As I was the one to propose this meeting, it would be impudent if I didn’t show up to it, don’t you think?
K: I’m not really sure what you think anymore, Reamer.
R: Well, know that I never stand for tardiness, for one. I must say, I’m surprised you came.
K: Lars showed me the photo of Keelee getting out of your car. Where is she?
R[looks at lars, hard]: I thought we could have a little chat before all that, cousin. Or is it step-brother?
K: You know about that mess, then.
R: Mess is accurate. I’ve had to piece it all together, with little help from the rest of you.
K: Our family’s not particularly forthcoming with anything, I’m afraid. You’ll get used to it.
R: Did you know? At The Roost, and when you lived with me here, did you know we were kin?
K: …Yeah. I assumed you didn’t, and probably wouldn’t welcome it, so I didn’t mention it. The Director also threatened me not to, so that contributed to the decision too.
R: All this time, we could have been allies.
K: Allies? We’re both on pretty definitively separate sides at this point, don’t you think?
R: …I didn’t know all the facts. Didn’t know anything, it seems.
K: And now that you do?
R: [turns to Lars] And you? What side are you on?
K: He’s with the Resistance.
R: Don’t be so sure. You said he showed you a photograph of Keelee and I? The Altimeter just blackmailed me with the very same picture.
K: The Doves?! You -
R: All the cryptic phone calls, the surveillance, you left me a newspaper clipping to pick up from the Doves. Are you playing both sides? Playing all the sides, if you’re helping me as well?
K: Scra mentioned those fliers falling at the Corvid rally, telling everyone he’s the Crow King. Was that you, too? And…the messages to him, at The Roost? “The eyes are blind”? All you?
L: [shrugs] Sometimes things need a little push.
K: I’m gonna push you off this roof if one of you doesn’t explain what’s going on.
R: I’ve brought you here to warn you - you cannot win this fight. Do what’s best for you and got back to Avarie. Leave this all behind.
K:...You don’t get it, do you? If nothing changes now, it’ll impact Avarie later. I can’t sit idly by hoping someone else will sort it all out, or pretending it’s got nothing to do with me.
R: …The both of you are too similar for your own good, despite half her blood being mine.
K: Where’s Keelee? Why do you have her?
R: I caught a glimpse of her running from my car. I followed her to the warehouse district and brought her here, out of harm’s way.
K: You rescued her? Or…kidnapped? Why didn’t you just take her back to the Resistance?
R: I couldn’t just march into the Resistance hq and drop her off Cedoc, come on. She was safer with me.
K: Then why are you giving her back now?
R: [doesnt reply]
K: I’ve had enough. Take me to her. I need to see her.
R: Very well.
[leads them downstairs. get to living room, no sign of her. Reamer frowns]
R: Kid? Where are you?
K: Keelee? It’s me - Ky - I’ve come to take you back - where are you? [rounds on Reamer] Where is she? Is this a trick? If it is I’ll -
R: She was here, I swear. I don’t know where - she couldn’t have - no one knew she was -.
[Reamer stands frozen, calculating. Ky looks at the table where she’s left her drawings. the one on top is of him, her, cyras, tiraa, cici and a grumpy looking reamer. Lars standing in the shadows, smiling]
L: I didn’t give the photograph to the Doves. I gave it to someone else.
[reamer’s gma is at the breakfast table in the director’s house, drinking tea. Keelee sits next to her, sad.]
gma: As I said dear, it really is much better for you to be with your family. When I was tipped off that my grandson was keeping you locked away from everyone, I knew right away that you needed to be rescued.
KL: I was having fun with him. He has lots of books that he keeps reading and rereading.
gma: Oh? Why do you think he does that?
KL: [shrugs]
gma: shrugging isnt ladylike. Neither is that attire - Charlee, find her something more appropriate to wear.
KL: No.
gma: No?
KL: It’s my brother’s favorite band. I can’t. [stroked scarf] I can’t.
gma: [sneers] Those boys have been too much of an influence over you. It’s high time for some time spent with your grandmother. Why my grandson wanted you hidden from us all, I don't understand. Come, let us get you ready for tonight.
KL: [whispers] Because he’s scared. He’s scared.
fucking lars man