Gate of Memoirs/Renegade

The young demigod Avyn works with the Armorer in the shadows against the oppressive machines.
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
Athensphere: Liberation Episode 2—Hearts of Steel—
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Dark Pursuit"	Music: "Dark Pursuit"
 	
*A resounding alarm blares throughout the streets of Athensphere.
*The presence of the notorious Tinkerer within an old facility put every other sector on high alert.
*With even the Sentinel of the Underworld dispatched, every effort was directed toward hunt him down.
*Amid the brewing chaos, the young demigod Avyn is assigned alongside the Armorer to act as auxiliary forces...
 	
*The newest wave of scouts fan out across the city, forming a rippling silver wave in the setting sun.
*Avyn: They're sending more, likely to do a second sweep of the area.
 	
*Avyn: These things just get worse and worse with every wave.
 	
*Armorer: There could be worse methods.
*The Armorer—a massive mountain of a man—places one large hand on her shoulder in solidarity.
*Armorer: All we can do is ensure we stay out of their sight. This would prevent at least a direct confrontation.
 	
*Avyn: We've been fortunate so far...
 	
*Avyn: (But... How much longer can this go on?)
 	
*Every day, more and more find themselves in breach of ever-tightening restrictions.
*Anyone found resisting mandatory augmentation or mobilization orders was at first flagged for insubordination, and later branded a traitor.
*Worse still, in the Underworld where the undesirables were held, their paltry lives were worth even less.
*Breaching their direct orders, Avyn and the Armorer have been sheltering unaugmenteds from their would-be jailers.
*A coded series of clicks and whirs, followed by a shrill sound, cuts through the alarms.
 	
*Avyn furrows her brow at the familiar sound—not out of nostalgia, but from disappointment.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Snowy Winds"	Music: "Snowy Winds"
 	
*—A summer afternoon from memories of better days.
*The birds were silent; not even the wind whispered between the leaves.
*And then, a beat—
*The arrow struck true between the stag's shoulder blades, and its great body slumped into eternal sleep.
 	
*Andaria: Clean shot. You've improved.
 	
*Avyn: Only because I had an excellent teacher.
*Avyn: It has been a while since we've gone hunting, hasn't it?
 	
*Andaria: Mm.
*Andaria: Nothing makes me happier, to be honest.
 	
*Andaria carefully makes her way to the stag, running her fingers over its sleek coat.
 	
*Andaria: The temple will be surely pleased with this offering.
 	
*Andaria: ...Probably the last for a while.
 	
*Avyn: You've decided?
 	
*Andaria: I was merely informed *of* the decision to make me Strategos.
*Andaria: At the very least, such an onerous task would not fall to someone else.
 	
*Avyn: No one should have to. Why are we even resorting to such measures?
*Avyn: As if conscription wasn't enough, we're hauling them off if they refuse?
 	
*Andaria turns away, unspeaking.
 	
*Avyn: Sister...
 	
*Andaria: I know, Avyn.
*Andaria: You are wise in your naivete, for some of us see only one path forward.
*Andaria: But there are some things that resist all change, and for good reason.
 	
*Andaria: Someday you will come to see that.
 	
*Avyn: Do you, Sister?
 	
*Andaria: ... ...
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Dark Pursuit"	Music: "Dark Pursuit"
 	
*The swivelling sensors from the scouts form ominous pinpricks in the falling dusk as they draw closer.
 	
*Armorer: It's time, little one. We must go.
 	
*Avyn: All right.
*Avyn draws her blade and keeps to the shadows, waiting for her opportunity to strike.
 	
*Avyn: There's no turning back now.