Original subtitles

For the slain King!

For the slain King!

Cassius.

Where's the administrator of this world? We should have a word with him.

He's near the Citadel, sir.

He still fights.

- Take me to him. - Very well.

How many got away?

We destroyed most of their ships and men.

In the chaos, Devra Bloodaxe and her brother

were able to evade us with a handful of ships.

We need to drop back!

You heard your father. We have to move.

Girls, go now! Just go!

Mommy!

Go!

Cal. Cal, look at me. Look at me!

We need to go. Now!

Go! Get your sister!

Move up! Move up!

Son, get your mother and your sisters to the throne room.

Go!

Come on!

Halt!

You belong

to the Motherworld now, pagan witch!

Bring me another of these so-called priestesses.

Remove her robes.

The King's eye sees you for all time.

They... want to hurt her.

To hurt her.

I wish it were me.

The administrator.

This saddens me, you know.

All of this.

Just a waste, isn't it?

Thousands of years of culture wasted for... for what?

It's just so unnecessary.

Don't torture us.

If you've come to kill me, do it.

It was my decision to let them stay here, and mine to help them flee.

But for God's sake, please, I beg you, let my wife and children live.

They're innocent in all this.

I haven't come to kill you.

As a matter of fact, I've come to assure you your bloodline will survive.

Thrive even.

And you fought with such dignity.

How could I possibly kill you?

There is, of course, a price to pay for your...

defiance.

Price indeed.

Stand up, boy. Let's take a look at you.

I said stand up!

There we go.

Now...

There comes a time in every young man's life

when he finds himself on the threshold of manhood.

It's a moment he... always remembers.

A moment that he can look back on and know that from that moment on...

he was a man.

For some, it comes in the moist lips and warm breast of a woman.

For others, myself,

it could be leaving home for the first time.

Striking out on your own.

Yeah but, for you, it'll be a choice you made. A decision.

You see, boy...

I was charged by the Regent himself.

He looked me in the eyes and bid me bring to justice Devra and Darrian Bloodaxe

for their crimes of insurrection and treason.

My search brought me here,

where I learned that your father had given them sanctuary.

A safe haven and a base of operations

from which they attacked and destroyed several assets belonging to the Realm.

Why are you doing this?

It's important your boy understands, isn't it?

Hmm?

What's his name, your boy?

- What's your name, boy? - Aris.

- Speak up. I can't hear you. What's your... - Aris!

Good.

Aris.

Let's see if your father can't teach you one final lesson.

I want you to take this holy staff.

It's the femur of a sacred lochna.

Now...

I want you to bash your father's skull in.

Mm-hmm.

I mean really... bash it in.

Till his brains spill out on...

what was a couple of days ago, at least, an absolutely beautiful floor.

Now if you say yes,

I'll let your mother and your sisters live.

However, if you say no, as your father did,

then you all shall die.

Herein lies your decision, young man.

Aris. Aris.

Listen to me.

You need to do as he says.

Save your mother and your sisters.

Aris, no!

- Let us all go! - Listen to... Don't look at her!

I can't live with this and you can't either.

You won't come back from this!

- None of us will! Please don't do this! - Stay with me! I said don't look at her!

Now you do this!

Be a man and do it!

Save them!

Do it!

You are strong.

Now...

save them.

Listen to your father, Aris.

- He's a wise man. - That's right, son.

You need to listen to me.

Now.

Do it.

Do it.

No, no, no! No!

No!

No!

I love you, son.

I forgive you.

I forgive you.

No!

Come on.

Finish it.

Finish it up, boy.

Heron.

I'm so sorry.

No! No, no!

Rest assured your son is in good hands.

It'll be hard for him at first,

but the anger and sadness, that...

dead soul that's inside of him now,

we can use all that.

He can let his rage out. And he will.

'Cause as we hunt down the fugitives your husband sacrificed everything for, and we...

we will track them down,

there will be so many more proud rulers standing in my way.

Won't have long to wait.

What a tragic loss.

Your husband.

Here was the beauty of his experience.

These are his memories.

There was the time you and he made love

in the shadow of the banyan tree in the warm summer grass.

And this...

This was when he cried at the birth of your first-born daughter.

And this...

A moment nobody saw but him.

You sleeping.

He wiped the hair from your eyes.

Kissed your forehead gently.

These games don't become you.

Oh?

How so?

You're a man of action. You're not going to let us live.

There is no honor in you.

No, there is not.

Whoa.

Kora.

I thought you were finished.

Everyone's up in the Longhouse.

- These are my last rows and I'll be done. - All right.

Okay.

Oh. Uh...

Den was asking where you were.

He and his brother got a big snow-elk, male.

He wanted you to see it before he dressed it.

Why was he asking for me?

Well, you know, because he's...

I just thought... I just thought...

You thought.

Move up.

It's been a while since we've had fresh meat. Forgot how good it is.

Den said they saw the summer herds returning.

Maybe three days' ride away.

- He was asking for you. - I heard.

And, yes, it's quite impressive.

Which one? The animal?

Or...

Or the hunter?

Hey!

My people,

it is my duty as the head of this community

to remind you that the gods of the harvest demand a tribute.

Yeah.

An offering.

But we all know it is the thrusting of hips...

...and the loud sounds of pleasure that summon the seedlings to sprout.

Yeah!

So fuck hard tonight!

- Fuck for the harvest! - Yeah!

Fuck for the very food we eat!

Yeah!

Fuck for the gods!

Easy, woman!

Let me finish my civic duty, then I'll finish my duty as a husband.

Hey, did I say to fuck?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

I guess I did.

Let's have some music.

Some music to get us in the mood.

Den is a good man.

You should be asleep.

The best hunter among us.

And a loyal friend.

What of it?

Have you thought of a more permanent relationship?

He's amenable to the idea.

He's asked me himself.

That would be your last step to becoming a full member of this community.

It's easy between us.

Does it have to be more than that?

It's just, uh...

no one would consider you an outsider once you marry and have a child.

But I'll always be an outsider.

Grateful to this community for taking me in,

and you of course for saving my life.

But still an outsider.

It's changing. I know that.

These people are starting to trust you.

And you've earned that.

I'm telling you, this is home now.

I want that to be true.

You know,

the two seasons I've spent here have given me happiness

that I don't deserve.

But understand, I am a child of war.

To truly love and be loved, I...

I don't know if I'm capable of either.

The very idea of love, of family was beaten out of me.

I was taught that love is weakness.

And I don't know how that will ever change.

You should get some rest.

Hey!

One.

- Two. - Thank you.

Sam. One.

- Two. - Thank you.

Good morning.

I noticed you left early last night.

Were you tired?

That's right. I thought I'd make it an early night.

I thought you were doing your part for the harvest.

Because as I walked home, I passed Den's house.

That's what it sounded like.

Sam, I don't know what you're talking about.

I think you do.

What do you think they want?

Everything.

I don't care what the potential upside might be,

a warship hanging over our land cannot be good.

That's your problem. Your first reaction is always fear.

Assuming they come down to talk.

We could hear them out to see what their intentions are.

Exactly. Hear them out. That's all.

Look how many bushels from the harvest we took to Providence last season.

The Motherworld has deep pockets.

I'm simply saying maybe we can get a better price

from our friends in low orbit there,

rather than having to deal with the cutthroats in Providence,

selling our grain to God only knows.

Don't act like we don't know you've been selling our surplus grain

to the enemies of that ship up there.

I wonder what they would say if they found out where our excess went last year.

Well, I'm no revolutionary.

They offered the best price. I don't care about their cause.

Obviously.

Sindri, I don't have a side, only this community.

That's my only loyalty.

And I say we start by showing them goodwill, not fear.

That we are their partners, not their adversaries, right?

Did you say "partner," Gunnar?

I did. Is that a problem?

That ship does not represent prosperity.

Its purpose is to destroy, to subjugate, to enslave.

Partnership is not in its vocabulary.

Give them what they ask for.

But volunteer nothing about how fertile this land is.

And hope they leave before digging too deep

into who Gunnar sold last year's grain to.

- Right. - I've heard enough.

We will volunteer nothing.

Is that clear?

They're here!

They're coming! They're coming! They're coming!

Hello. I am Sindri, father of this village.

Welcome.

I'm Admiral Atticus Noble.

Loyal representative of the slain King.

I welcome you to his warm embrace.

Please, Father, tell me about this beautiful village.

Walk with me up to our Longhouse.

We can have a cup of ale and I will tell you about life here.

Oh. Sounds perfect. Lead the way.

Private Aris. Move! Fucker!

We've carved out a simple life here.

And we take pride in the love of our community,

and the hard work it takes to survive here.

Your people seem healthy and well-fed.

As their leader, much of that prosperity must be credited to you.

No, we are a community. The credit is no one person's.

Oh, in the best of times, the credit's shared,

but when the stores are empty, you know where the responsibility falls.

The weight of the leader, I suppose.

So you... you understand the feeling of, like, a father,

the need to feed your children, yes?

I was hoping that your land and the people of Veldt

might help as we search for a small band of revolutionaries hiding in this system.

Who my commander, the Regent Balisarius,

bid me find and bring to justice.

We are humble farmers,

far removed from the politics of the Motherworld.

And still you can serve. Hmm.

The rebels we seek have been attacking our supply ports.

Led by a woman named Devra Bloodaxe, and her brother Darrian.

Their capture's inevitable.

However, it's taken longer than anticipated,

and we found ourselves admittedly low on stores.

And as you know or may have heard, an army runs on its stomach.

I was thinking of a partnership, where you supply us with food.

Whatever you have to spare, of course.

In exchange, you're compensated at...

Let's call it triple the market value?

With that windfall, you'll be able to buy plenty of harvesters, robots,

and won't have to do this difficult work by hand.

We believe that doing the work by hand connects us to the land

and honors these sacred fields that give us life.

There's peace of mind knowing you play an invaluable role

in the important mission of rooting out enemies of the Motherworld.

- It's quite a proposal. - Yes.

If only we had some surplus to offer.

You see, the land is rocky

and yields barely enough to feed ourselves.

So, it is with sincere apologies that we must decline the offer.

However, we are grateful for the presence of such a benevolent

and powerful protector.

Huh.

No surplus?

None at all?

Huh.

But your land looks so fertile.

Your fields seem larger than what your population might need.

Of course, I understand how it might seem.

Yet the scale of the planting is evidence of the poor soil.

And our harsh winters only add to the short season.

Now, what do you say we share that cup of ale, eh?

Sorry.

It's just...

I mean, look at these beautiful people.

I can't imagine these glowing complexions are nourished by a barren field.

Now... who's the man or woman among you who oversees the harvest?

There must be one of you whose thumb is greener.

Someone?

Hmm?

Yes, sir.

- Ah. - That is me.

Good.

Yes, I oversee the harvest.

Well, if these people trust you, then so do I.

Just trying to understand how I could be so wrong about this land. That's all.

Well, sir.

Sindri, our beloved father, is always looking out for the welfare of our village

and so insists on keeping reserves in case of famine or drought,

which, as you know, is the responsibility of a leader.

But we have been lucky these last few seasons.

Our surplus has been more than we can store.

So, there might be

a chance that we can spare a small amount.

Depending on the scale of your needs.

Mmm. Good. Good.

Yeah, I mean, it's always wise to hold some in reserve, isn't it, Father?

Yep. Yep.

I am confused though.

Curious why you'd say this land could barely yield enough

to feed your people.

- Seems that wasn't entirely true. - No, wait.

Admiral, no one is trying to mislead you.

Sindri simply has a slightly more conservative view on reserves than I do.

But we're both excited about a possible partnership.

Just bear in mind the reality of what we can supply.

Father, who is this exactly?

- Uh... My... - He's of no consequence.

I have been empowered by my people to speak for them.

This man has no authority here.

You would be wise to ignore him.

Well... a rift.

It's not quite the idyllic community I'd first seen.

Father, if I may

offer you some advice when dealing with subordinates who need to be kept in place.

I find people can lose sight of the stakes and sometimes need a gentle reminder

of just how those with power deal with those without.

Admiral.

Sindri...

Please.

- No, I... I would never... - It's fine.

I...

Let me show you what I mean.

Uh...

Please.

Admiral.

No, stop!

No!

Sindri!

What did you do?

When can I expect my harvest?

Oh...

I don't...

I said, tell me, partner, when I can expect my harvest.

Uh... Um...

- Nine... nine weeks. - Very well.

In ten weeks, I shall return.

You shall have 10,000 bushels prepared for my ship.

Twelve... We barely produce 12,000 bushels.

We'll starve to death.

I don't understand what you want.

Well, it's simple.

I want everything.

Platoon! Follow me!

Wait!

Just shut up!

What is... What are you doing?!

No.

All right, listen up.

I need all of this gear moved to this big stone building.

That should suit us for now.

Marcus, you're gonna help me evict the current residents from our new home.

Copy?

Copy you, boss.

Copy you.

Hello, everyone.

I am JC-1435 of the Mechanicas Militarium,

defender of the King.

Correction, of the slain King.

It is my honor to serve.

I'm Private Aris.

We're moving supplies to that building, if you wouldn't mind lending a hand.

Thank you, Private Aris.

That falls perfectly into my protocols.

It is my honor to serve.

I'm talking to you, you dirty drain turtle. Come here.

The hell you waiting for? Get out, man!

Mmm.

Thank you.

Now, what in the name of the old gods are you looking at?

I'm sorry, I was just waiting to see if you needed some more water.

Some more water?

That's how I like 'em.

Young, strong enough to put up a fight.

And the taste of blood in my mouth when I'm fucking. I like that.

- Boss. - Hmm?

Look, they left us a Jimmy.

It's a Jimmy, man.

I didn't know we had any of those left.

Careful. The ground's uneven till you get to the bridge.

Thank you, Private Aris, but I believe I can manage.

They won't fight anymore.

What do you mean they won't fight anymore?

It's something in their programming.

Once the King was killed,

they just laid down their weapons and refused to fight.

Just watch, no matter what I do,

he doesn't fight back.

Hey!

Careful with that stuff, you stupid machine.

I'll turn you into scrap, you dumbshit. You hear me?

You're not hearing me.

Hey! Stop.

What if I shoot you instead?

I could kill you right now and no one would care.

- Would they? - That's enough.

What do you say? Wanna die?

What's it, huh?

Come on, boy.

Do it.

I said, enough.

Get these crates into that house now, Private.

Yes, boss.

Are you malfunctioning?

No, sir.

Get up. Go to the river. Clean yourself.

The rest of you, stop staring.

Get back to work.

Get back to work, assholes.

That includes you, Marcus.

You got it?

Excuse me.

Thank you. That is kind.

- You're a soldier? - Long ago.

Do you mind? I'm Sam.

Please.

Tell me, Sam. Do you know the story of our slain King

and his beautiful daughter, the Princess Issa?

I don't.

Well, you remind me of her.

In myth, she was called the Chalice or the Redeemer.

She was pueri salvatoris.

And even before she was born,

I and my brothers pledged everything we were,

everything that dwells inside this metal skin,

to fight in her name.

So when word reached us on some distant battlefield

that she, as prophesied, had been born of flesh and blood into our world,

I felt a great warmth for the universe

and trusted that she was to usher in a new age of peace and compassion.

And bring us home.

She was magic.

Ah, yes.

She was more than magic.

You see, a king is a man.

And a man can fail or betray.

But a myth is indestructible.

Or so they thought.

Because on the day of her coronation,

she, along with our honored King and Queen,

were assassinated in cold blood by those they trusted most.

I fear we lost some measure of our honor since that betrayal.

I'm afraid our compassion, our kindness,

our very joy,

died with that young girl.

I think it lives in you.

This is your fault, Gunnar!

I didn't know that he would kill them.

Doesn't matter. He's dead now.

What about the soldiers? They're not gonna stop there.

- I don't know. - Stop, please.

What are we to do now?

- We could stand and fight. - Yes.

- My scythe is sharp. - I have a rifle.

What?

- Our ancestors! It's our home! - No. You cannot fight.

With what?

And not them.

If you have any sense, you'll take what you can carry and run.

- Run? No. - Wait.

- We can't run. - What? Give up?

Give them everything?

- Kora. - Everything but your lives.

And if I'm being honest, some will give that as well.

No matter what you do.

- I won't leave here. - They'll shoot us in the back.

Nor I. I'm staying.

We will stay!

- Yes. - They're right.

This place is... is all we know. It's everything. Our history.

We can't leave it for them to destroy. They're animals!

How about we bring in the crop and we fall on their mercy?

- Yeah. - We make ourselves invaluable to them.

They wouldn't be able to kill us.

- They would need us. - He's right.

Farming, that is our skill that we can do, that they cannot.

If we show them how good we are, they will be forced to spare us.

- Yes. - Yes. Yeah.

- Do we agree? Our work fights for us. - Yes!

- Yes. - Agreed.

- Our work fights for us. Yes? - Yeah!

- Yeah. - Yes.

It's settled then.

- We show them how valuable we are. - Okay.

And when we have fulfilled our side of the deal,

they will be forced to rethink how much food they leave us.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

We can appeal to those gentlemen in the granary, appeal to their humanity.

- Yeah, they must. - Good.

So... it's running.

Would've thought you'd have had enough of that.

You heard them. They're delusional.

They think those soldiers will show mercy even after what they did to Sindri,

right in front of them.

When I found you in the wreckage of that ship,

I considered leaving you.

I was afraid you could bring trouble to us.

But do I for a moment regret bringing you into our lives?

I do not.

You've become a part of us.

And yet, now you leave when we need you most.

When your people need you.

I can't.

You mean, you won't?

This place is already lost.

But what if that could change?

What if we did fight, not only us, but others?

- Who else would come here and fight? - Others!

Others that have reason to hate all that the Motherworld represents.

Kora, you know this universe better than I.

What if you could find the warriors that Noble seeks?

The outlaws to fight alongside us?

If I find warriors to fight for Veldt, I give the village hope.

If I give them hope, they fight and surely lose.

I won't have that blood on my hands.

Nor will I throw my life away the same as the rest of you.

How long do you think we have to stay in this fucking shithole?

Watch this.

Hey, water girl!

- Come here. - What is it?

Did you need some more water?

Just a... a little water.

Stop it!

Or what? Huh?

Help! Help!

Please, help!

- Grab her! - Help!

- Shut up! - Get off me!

- Help me! - Shut up!

No. Please!

- Shut up. - Someone help me, please! Please, help!

- Help me! Get off of me! - Shut up!

Get off me!

Don't!

Attaboy. What do you have in mind?

I'm gonna tie you to a post and make you watch every day

as she turns from a farm girl to a whore.

Marcus, my good man...

This all sounds nice,

but you're not gonna do anything.

Not until I split this sapling myself.

Then you may have her.

Then you can all have her.

Get off her!

Stop!

Stop.

Dessert. Perfect.

Definitely get her.

Please.

I will fucking kill her.

Is that what you want?

Huh?

Look who decided to join us.

You guys are fucked now.

Pick up that gun, you iron cunt, and kill these fuckers!

That's right. You were made to kill, you fucker.

What are you waiting for? I gave you a fucking order.

Kill this b...

We're gonna have to fight.

Kora, you may need this.

I found it at the site of the crash.

I thought it was lost.

Our culture is not for such weapons.

I feared it could be dangerous.

You were right.

Thank you.

Where will you go?

There is someone, a general named Titus.

Once a hero of the Realm

who turned his own forces against those of the Motherworld.

Last I heard, he was still out there somewhere.

If I could find him and men for him to lead...

Gunnar.

Last year, in Providence, you sold grain to the resistance.

Yes. I met a man there who introduced me to the insurgents.

The Bloodaxes.

- Would he still know how to find them? - It's possible.

Then you'll take me to him?

Of course I will.

Hey! Bring down one more uraki!

A general and an army?

We might stand a chance.

Be careful.

A safe journey... to the both of you.

So you were a soldier for the Motherworld?

Fighting for the Realm?

You could say that.

Of high rank, I suppose?

I mean, are you wanted for desertion?

That and more.

Okay.

Anything else you wanna ask me?

They won't just kill us, will they?

I mean, I understand making an example of Sindri

to keep us in line,

but we're just farmers, we're not a threat.

How can you know they will destroy us?

When they first came to my world, I was nine years old.

They never asked for anything.

There were no terms.

Only the lust for destruction.

The Motherworld's forces were commanded

by a young general named Balisarius,

who relished the ecstasy of combat.

The people of my world had mounted a brave defense,

but it had served only to enrage the young general

and gave him provocation to take out that anger on the innocent.

Let's go!

I found myself face-to-face with Balisarius,

who loved commanding his troops,

not from the conning tower of his ships,

but on the battlefield itself.

Set me free, child.

I know you can do it. Yeah.

I know you can.

Please.

Balisarius killed my entire family and took me with him.

I don't know why he spared me.

Why, of the hundreds of thousands that died at his hands,

he chose me to live.

Saw something in me, I suppose.

Someone to share in his pain.

They gave me the name Arthelais,

began my training and education in the histories of the Motherworld.

And for five years, I lived on that ship with its soldiers,

who were my only family.

No softness.

Only the hard lessons of war.

Sometimes, I would steal away to the core of the ship's power.

And there, I found a being that understood my pain.

In the engine room,

organic material was force-fed into the power source

of this war machine I called home.

Was it the processed bodies of those who had stood against us?

I don't know for sure. I was afraid to ask.

On rare occasions, she would look at me.

And in her tortured eyes, I still saw pity.

I learned the history of the Motherworld

under the watchful eyes of the High Scribes.

But through all its glory, one myth captured my imagination.

That of the Chalice.

The Redeemer. The first Princess Issa.

And though I knew it was only a fable,

the stories of that righteous child slaying her enemies with such grace

gave me comfort.

He took me often on missions of diplomacy,

where I would look into the faces

of the proud and noble leaders of countless worlds.

Where they pleaded for mercy.

And I was his child.

I was his protégé. I was his student.

And always, he taught me by example.

I was one of them.

Daughter of a decorated commander.

Friend to the King and the royal family,

living a life of privilege.

But regardless of my social standing,

I was expected to do my duty.

To fight for the Motherworld.

At the Academy Militarium, they encouraged us to find a lover.

Someone we would defend with our lives

when the politics of expansion became too abstract...

No!

...and the why of the conquest was lost in sheer savagery of combat.

What are you doing? Let's go! Come on!

So, at the age of 18, I was made an officer and given a command.

I fought for the King on distant worlds

under the banner of a people who murdered my entire family

and destroyed my world.

They had trained me,

broken me, and rebuilt me in their image.

You asked how I know that they'll destroy you.

It's what I would do.

I have cast the dead of a thousand worlds,

like rotting dolls into mass graves.

And I stood, bathed in firelight

as entire civilizations turned to ash before my eyes.

All in the name of a child who had not yet been born.

Now, drifting here, as if in a dream, fate blessed me with a choice.

And for the first time, I felt her hand guiding me,

choosing me as a vessel of righteousness.

Thank you. We'll be back in a couple of hours.

Just want to prepare you. The establishment we're going,

it's, uh... it's a brothel.

That's fine.

It's where the man we're coming to see introduced me to Devra.

Devra. Your contact is a prostitute?

No, it's nothing like that. Devra is the leader of the Bloodaxes.

You know, the outlaws?

- That I sold the grain to? - I understand.

Hawkshaws.

Bounty hunters. They work for the Imperium.

The Motherworld uses them to do their dirty work.

Wait.

Oh, no.

That's our guy. The man we came to see.

The one that introduced me to the Bloodaxes.

Fuck you!

Did the Bloodaxes give you any other way to contact them?

No. They said they were sheltered on a planet called Sharaan,

- protected by a king named Levitica. - Levitica.

Come.

Hey, you!

Pay attention to the customers! Your job is to fuck the clients.

He's disgusting.

Who do you think you are?

Queen Meeru?

Carbost.

Anyway, I think our best chance to find the Bloodaxes

is to contact the Leviticans.

It might expose us.

First we find General Titus, then we'll see about your rebels.

Is this your owner?

Uh...

I'm prepared to pay.

I've been watching you.

You're special.

Soft and pale, just how I like them.

Move on. He's not for sale.

Everything's for sale in this place, so... how much?

- You know, I have a room upstairs... - No.

...with relatively clean sheets.

That's a very generous offer. But I don't think so...

I guarantee you, by morning...

...you're gonna be begging me for more.

I said, move on.

Come on, Mama.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. - Let him come and play.

You need to leave.

Listen close, you jealous little bitch.

I'm gonna fuck that pretty pink hole in his face,

and there's nothing you can do to stop me.

Now, you listen close, you little bitch.

The only one who's about to get fucked in here is you.

I'm looking for information.

Has anyone here heard of General Titus or know where he might be?

Of course, General Titus.

Crazy bastard. Turned his own men on the Motherworld's forces

at the Battle of Sarawu.

Do you know of his location?

Last I heard, he was fighting in the coliseum at Pollux.

I'd be careful if I were you, little miss.

Last hunter who went looking for him ended up with his head on a pike

outside the coliseum entrance

as a warning not to bother him.

So, he's on Pollux.

- That's your plan? - That's my plan.

What?

Guess we need to find a ship to take us to Pollux.

You're catching on.

Hey! Bitch!

Oh.

You should have killed me.

Now you're gonna die.

I'm gonna give you one chance to just turn and walk away.

Uh-oh.

Are you gonna give all of us one chance?

Kill her.

Impressive.

Were those Hawkshaws that paid you working for the Motherworld?

- I don't like bounty hunters. - I didn't ask.

And to be clear, I don't like bounty hunters either.

So you're a gun for hire?

No. That's not my thing.

I'm just not willing to die for someone else's problems.

I'm more of an opportunist, you might say.

A real hero, huh?

Wait.

Look. I heard you in there,

trying to get to Pollux.

I could help you.

For a small fee, obviously.

Oh, understand, we're just simple farmers.

We're searching for soldiers for a fight against the Motherworld.

We have some money, but this is not the one you get rich on.

Aye, I understand.

Still, pay me what it's worth to you.

Soldiers for a fight against the Motherworld?

My name's Kai.

Come on, my ship's down at port.

Right. Setting course for Pollux.

I need to stop on Neu-Wodi first.

You know, there's a rancher there.

He has a man that might just work out for you.

Is he worth our time?

Because we can't afford to waste any.

I think you'll like him.

You ever been off-planet?

No.

What did you do on the farm?

I oversee the harvest, and planting, cataloguing seeds, and making sure that...

That sounds great. You might want to hold on.

Whoo!

Whoa.

You've been sending messages to the Dreadnought.

I have.

Status reports to ensure everything's going according to plan.

So you're with us now?

I suppose I am.

If that's all right with you.

It's here. We found it. Come on.

- Bring the animals with ropes. - Yup.

Let's see if we can't pull this out.

- How long did you say it's been here? - Two seasons.

Let's go.

Everyone take hold of the rope.

Take hold!

Ready?

Heave!

Come on!

Come on!

Damn it!

You okay?

I can't fix it.

Not with these tools anyways.

Well, leave it.

You need some rest. You've been at it for hours.

You don't understand.

If I can't fix it, we won't have the guns. And I know we'll need them.

Everyone sees you've tried your best.

Kora will bring us men to fight.

- Maybe we won't need the ship's guns. - No, we'll need everything.

I've seen what that ship and the men aboard it are capable of.

They...

They, uh...

It's all right.

You fixed it.

Wasn't me.

Jimmy.

Well, if it isn't the bastard from Saaldorun.

- What brings you all the way out here? - I missed your smiling face.

You still got that man chained in the back?

Tarak? Yeah, he's working off his debt to me.

Another couple dozen seasons, we should be square.

What's it to you?

You mind if we talk to him?

Could be a deal in it for ya.

Well, if there's money to be made...

But I don't want no trouble.

We're not here to bring any.

All right then.

Follow me.

Hey!

Hey! Tarak!

These people want to talk to you.

- What got that chain on your leg? - A long road of mistakes.

You ever worn a uniform?

Are you asking what side I fought on?

Because if you're here to accuse me of crimes against the Motherworld...

Guilty as charged. Take it up with him.

No. That's not why we're here.

We're here from a small village, and we're looking to hire some fighters

to train and protect us against a force from the Motherworld.

- I'm no friend of the Realm. - Okay.

That's well-known.

And I'd gladly fight with you,

but... I have a debt on my name,

and I honor my debts.

What's he owe you?

Uh...

300,000 Darams ought to cover any inconvenience I've suffered.

Oh, ya bollocks.

We don't have that kind of money.

No money.

Well, I do love to gamble.

Here we go.

What's the bet?

If Tarak can break that creature out there, his debts are squared with me.

But if he don't ride him,

you all get a chain and a shackle.

That's the deal.

Grab it tighter!

I won the creature in a game of chance on Samandrai.

Watch its tail!

Can you ride him?

Yeah... I can ride him.

Yank it hard! Don't let him fight you like that!

Drop your leads.

She'll tear you apart.

Drop your leads and clear out. Now.

Suit yourself. Drop them.

I'm not going to hurt you.

You're far from home and so am I.

See, you and I...

...we are alike.

We've been hurt. Betrayed.

Our trust has been broken.

We both know fear.

Yet, the biggest fear we both face...

...is the fear of ourselves.

That's it.

Let's show them we're not afraid.

Let's show them we're more than the shackles that bind us.

Easy. Easy. Easy. Let's go. Let's go.

Whoo!

There.

Yeah.

It's okay.

Hickman, I've done as you asked.

Your debt is square with me.

Be good to her.

Go! Get out!

Hey!

No.

Hey.

No. No.

Attagirl.

Tarak! Let's go.

This was good. Anyone else you know of along the way?

I might have a couple ideas.

Ah!

Come in.

Oh.

Oh, Cassius, it's you. Good.

Do you want to join us?

Thank you, sir. That is... tempting.

But I have other pressing matters.

We received a communique from the Hawkshaws.

They're requesting to rendezvous with us.

Apparently they've captured a creature

that has important information about the insurgents,

Devra Bloodaxe and her brother.

Bloodaxe? Huh.

Well, that...

That's excellent, Cassius.

Inform me when they arrive.

- Yes, sir. - Hey.

Hey, thank you kindly.

Gonna finish that?

- No, go ahead. Yeah, please. - You sure?

How much longer are we gonna wait?

Would you relax? I just put the word out.

Give her a chance. She'll come.

We're wasting our time just sitting here.

Every moment that passes is a moment we're not mounting a defense.

You're looking for me?

Well, that depends.

Are you the one they call Nemesis?

I am.

See? Told you I'd find her.

Might be time for you lot to start trusting me.

Nemesis!

Nemesis, please, a child's been taken.

It's Harmada. She's acting insane. She killed a security guard.

We have her cornered, but she's threatening the child and we just...

Show me.

Hey, handsome.

So, what's the job?

We represent a village on a small moon called Veldt.

This village faces the threat of annihilation

by the armies of the Motherworld.

We are looking for warriors

to join the fight to protect them.

You're taking this handful against officers and soldiers of the Realm?

We are.

Nemesis.

Then you know it's suicide.

- What? What'd she say? - It's this way.

No, no, no, no, I mean, listen,

we think that if we can, you know, right?

Find the right people, then maybe we have a chance...

I'll join you,

if I have a chance to spill the blood of officers of the Realm.

You will have that chance.

Good.

She's in there.

- Nemesis, please, please. - Hold her.

Help her. Please, please.

Stay back.

I just want to talk. That's all.

I'm clearly distressed, that's true.

But I'm not stupid.

I know why you're here. You want the child.

Yes, I do.

You can't have this one.

This one is mine.

She has a mother who's waiting for her.

Who's missing her.

Is that so?

And why should I care about that mother's pain

when no one is here for my pain?

Have you seen this place?

This was my home before they came.

For a thousand generations.

Taste the air.

It poisons my body,

weakens my eggs, and makes my children too fragile to emerge.

So what about my pain?

I deserve justice.

I understand.

But this is not the way.

There is a difference between justice and revenge.

Is there?

I'm not so sure.

I know a mother's pain.

I know the loneliness of that pain.

But you can't hurt that child.

I won't let you.

I believe you know this pain.

But understand.

I will kill this child.

And I will keep killing until every mother weeps tears of regret

for ever having come to the mines of Daggus.

Shit!

Come on.

Let's go.

Come. Back up! Back up!

Come here.

Wow. That was...

That was amazing.

Do not celebrate this.

There's no honor in this.

This could easily be any of you lying here

in the gutter of some forgotten world,

in the name of revenge.

You would do well to remember that.

In the dream, she made me seneschal

and gave me a place in her royal house.

And all regard me with reverence.

For I did drink from the chalice of true belief.

And it set me free.

This is the man who knows where the insurgents are?

It is, sir.

Well, I'm listening.

You'll let me go if I tell you what I know?

I'll set you free, you have my word.

I haven't seen Devra Bloodaxe for a full season,

but at the time they were on Sharaan, under the protection of a king called...

Levitica.

Go on.

This was some time ago, but they were definitely there.

Talk to him, to Levitica.

I certainly will. Thank you.

Thought we had a deal!

Yes, we did.

You're free.

Dissect his brain and see if we can find out any more information.

Then we'll go pay our respects to King Levitica.

Yes, Admiral. I'll set a course for Sharaan.

Let's go.

That was good of you earlier. With the child.

- I was just trying to help. - Yes, but it's not natural for some.

It is for you.

Back home, you saved Sam without hesitation.

Kindness is a virtue worth dying for.

I believe that.

I didn't always.

I told you how I fought on countless worlds.

Well, word of my victories reached my adopted father.

And the King.

For my loyalty and service,

I was promoted to the Elite Guard of the Royal Family.

The appointment was engineered by my father.

I couldn't have known it was something more.

I was given the honor

of being the bodyguard to Princess Issa.

The princess was named after an ancient Queen Issa,

the Lifegiver.

In the old stories of the queen,

it was said that she had the power to give life.

It seemed a myth or a metaphor

created in response to the generations of war and conquest.

Yet, the story still captured the imagination of the people.

And it was believed that the princess, my princess, might have that same power.

I saw on more than one occasion things that I... couldn't explain.

Things that made me think that she was different.

Special.

The King once said to me...

Bartholomew would never admit it,

but the Order of 12 were in desperate need of a nurturing touch.

And I'm glad it's you that's been charged with protecting her.

She likes you. She told me.

Oh.

Yes, she said you...

you weren't like these grumpy bodyguards she had in the past.

That you smile from time to time.

My apologies if I've become too familiar, my Lord.

- But Issa is a special girl. - Mmm.

It is hard to keep proper professional distance

when she shows me such kindness.

Arthelais, please.

Please. There's no need to apologize.

I'm glad you're friends.

When she becomes queen,

I believe she'll bring a compassion that I've lost

after all these hard years of war.

"It will be the dawn of something better."

- I think your friendship makes her safer. - That our friendship made her safer.

I believed in her.

In her kindness.

I believed in her ability to save us.

The twin moons of Castor and Pollux.

Known throughout the galaxy for producing great spectacles of combat.

Only the fiercest warriors come here.

What about that man there? He looks like he's got the bearing of a general.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, it must be Titus.

General!

General!

The general is not here. He doesn't fight anymore.

He's been defeated?

Not in the coliseum. He has only one war.

It's with himself.

You'll find him by the Southern Gate.

You. Take them.

Follow me.

Thank you.

The great General Titus.

Thank you.

Okay.

Oof.

Are you sure this is a good idea?

Let's clean him up and get him sober.

- Yeah, that'll do it. - Come on.

- Come on. - You got him, lads?

- Come on. - Get off me!

Bastards!

You bastards! You cowards!

You're all cowards!

No courage!

I'll kill you.

You're all cowards!

No courage.

What do you think you're doing?

What does it look like?

Go to hell.

That's enough. Thank you.

Did you command the Eastern ranks for the Old King?

Are you not General Titus?

Defender of the innocent and oppressed.

A legend.

I don't know what you're running your mouth about.

I'm just a beggar.

Never heard of this... general.

Sounds like a prick.

I think you are that prick.

Long ago, maybe.

Why can't you just please leave me alone?

Because my best hope is that long-ago general is still in front of me.

What do you want from me?

My men are dead!

I've grown tired of reliving that every day.

In the coliseum, my rage made me a god.

But it's all used up.

This bottle is my only true comfort from that hell.

Now, please, leave me and let me die in peace.

I don't think you're meant to die here...

General.

Stop calling me that.

I have no rank, no privilege.

I'm here to make you an offer.

To give you a chance at redemption.

- I am beyond redemption. - I have no time for pity!

What about all the dead men you once commanded?

What about them?

If not redemption...

what about revenge?

Your patience is appreciated and I can assure you...

...Devra is aware of your presence.

A decision when to receive you is imminent.

Thank you, Levitica, honored king.

We await their arrival.

Well?

What did he say?

Did they tell him it was me?

Be patient. They'll come.

You see that?

Up there?

The Samandrai system.

- You know the night sky? - Some of it.

Have you seen Samandrai?

It is... beautiful.

It's the origin planet of my ancestors.

It's where I was born.

Why have you not returned?

Nothing there to return to.

Those who weren't killed fighting are now slaves for the Motherworld.

How did you survive?

He said those who fought were killed or enslaved.

You didn't fight, did you? You fled.

Instead of daring to face them.

Oh, great.

I invited a coward to the army. That'll help.

Is that true, big man?

Are all them muscles hiding a coward inside?

At least he dares to stand and fight with us now.

Pilot.

You're lucky if you can stand, you drunk bastard.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Guys, guys, guys! Please! No. Please.

Look.

Darrian, Devra, greetings.

They've been waiting.

And I believe they are sincere.

Farmer, why would you contact us from this unknown and flagless vessel?

I was assuming we had a level of trust after our last meeting.

We bought your grain to feed our fighters.

Do not confuse your business of commerce with our business of revolution.

I understand.

Your coming here is a great risk to us all and to our benefactor.

But we are no longer in need of your grain.

King Levitica's kindness has been more than enough to sustain us,

so I suggest you leave immediately.

We're not here to sell grain.

Gunnar's village was visited by a Dreadnought

that threatens its very existence.

I have recruited these warriors

and given my word to bring them back and defend the farmers.

- But we're running out of time. - What?

This handful? Against a Dreadnought?

That's why we have come. You have men and ships.

With you we could mount a real defense.

And, of course, we can pay you with the surplus from our harvest.

It's all we've got.

My forces against the King's Gaze?

That's suicide.

That ship cannot be destroyed by a few dozen fighters.

That ship and the men aboard it are world destroyers.

I'm sorry, it's impossible.

I do not know what hardship you have faced.

I do know the pain of revolution from your eyes.

Yes.

This man is not a revolutionary.

He's a simple farmer.

But commerce or not,

his people toiled with their bare hands to grow the grain that fed you.

All of you!

And because of that transaction,

their village is now threatened by Admiral Noble,

in pursuit of your revolution.

You have the chance to run, but you choose to stand and fight.

I see.

I will go.

Thank you.

Brother, a word.

Our victories, what few there have been, have been tactical ones.

We cannot fight in the open against the King's Gaze.

If the farmer found us, it won't be long before Noble does.

And I will not allow another world to fall in our name.

And what of those you command?

Their lives are theirs.

Hmm.

These people, they've come to us with

nowhere else to turn.

They come...

seeking our help

to stand against a Dreadnought of the Motherworld.

Is that not what we stand for?

Are they not who we once were?

If we will not stand with these defiant farmers to protect their home,

then the revolution is meaningless.

Under free will,

who among you is willing to die for what we believe

rather than hide behind it?

Milius.

Why am I not surprised?

Who is going to make sure you'll return in one piece, if not me?

Thank Levitica and leave this planet.

Sister, you are this revolution's heart.

Beat loudly.

Maybe this isn't suicide after all.

Why would he agree to help you?

Bloodaxe? You think they shouldn't?

It just seems short-sighted.

I mean, he weakens what little of

whatever word you wanna use for it there is...

Resistance, insurgency.

For what, Kora?

The chance to get obliterated by a Dreadnought?

Guilt, it's a powerful thing.

Aye, guilt. The underbelly of honor.

I think I might've had that once.

Honor.

Would you believe that?

It's true.

I mean, what do you figure?

I got ten, fifteen more seasons at most, before I steal from the wrong man.

Get stabbed to death by some dog-headed son of a bitch in a bar fight.

It's really your fault, anyway.

Makin' me wanna be an honorable man.

If you had more resisting power to speak of,

you wouldn't need me to join you so badly.

You're willing to fight with us?

Since you're beggin'.

Kai, we're not.

Well, since you're asking, then.

If you'll allow me.

Wow.

There is one complication.

The shite in the cargo hold.

I got buyers waiting in Gondival.

Aren't the kinds known for their patience.

Might be wise to sever my ties to life as a thief

before we go picking a fight with a Dreadnought.

Besides, a deal's a deal.

Even amongst scum.

I'll set the course and let 'em know we're on our way.

Oh, shit, does that make me one of the good guys?

I beg you...

Please!

I've told you the truth.

I have nothing more.

Right,

the truth,

that you took them in, known enemies of the Motherworld,

mended their wounds, repaired their broken ships,

all out of your moral code of honor and charity.

Our civilization has lived and thrived for 10,000 years

with honor and charity as its most valued tenets.

Yes. Yes, honor and charity.

Do you see that?

That ship is named the King's Gaze.

It was named to honor our slain father.

So...

honor I understand.

Charity, I do not.

Our King showed charity to an off-worlder like yourself

and was slaughtered for his charity.

So, we named the ship to remind us of the power in that benevolent gaze

that was lost to charity.

And to remember that, if by God's will, that gaze should fall upon us and be held,

for even the briefest of moments,

it could change your life forever.

Today, it falls upon you.

We are cleared to engage.

Charged.

Target acquired.

Confirmed.

Fire at will.

- Charged. - Fire.

- Charged. - Fire.

Sir, we received a message from one of our Hawkshaws.

They're closing in on the Bloodaxes.

Ah.

Finally, some good news.

Well, prepare the hyperlaunch.

I'll go ahead and personally retrieve the treasonous dogs myself.

And what orders for the King's Gaze, sir?

Well, once you've razed the planet,

we'll rendezvous, extract the exact location of the rest of the insurgents,

and destroy them once and for all.

Yes, sir.

Admiral Noble's gunship, you're clear to uncouple.

Affirm, Commander. We're ship uncoupling.

Good hunting.

Thank you, Cassius.

In that other life, out of time, now free,

I knelt before the child goddess.

The soft light of kindness shone upon my face,

and she did place upon my troubled brow a crown,

so that I might know my own nobility.

And in that knowing, I felt safe

and let her see my pain.

I watched as tears welled in her eyes for me.

And for the first time...

I was seen.

Her tears falling upon my face were a baptism.

And I felt the blessed rapture

of peace.

I'm pretty sure Kai said these boxes.

- We've got one. - Okay.

Aye, just take the gray ones.

- They're all marked. - All right.

For God's sake, don't look inside. I'd hate you to think less of me.

Ho!

Where do you want them?

- There's space behind the bridge. - Done.

Put them the other side of the bridge.

Aye, let's unload and get off this godforsaken rock.

I'll be happy to leave this life behind.

Good.

Just wanna make sure that one's on the manifest.

Pilots!

Once you tie off those ships, see if you can get some fuel.

And you two, keep eyes from above!

How we lookin'?

Everything is done.

- All right, let's move. - Yes.

On your mark.

This isn't right.

On your knees.

Now is not the time to be a hero.

When?

On Veldt, in Providence, the first time I heard your story.

Thought with your ideals of resistance I could round up a couple of heads.

Tarak for instance.

His world enslaved.

Then there was Nemesis.

Her whole family slaughtered.

But General Titus?

Have you any idea how much he alone is worth?

They would've all jumped at the chance

to exact any small vengeance against the Realm,

even if the payment was only a sack of fucking grain.

And then there was you. Kora.

Or should I call you Arthelais?

The biggest prize of them all.

Do you know what your Motherworld did to my planet?

They didn't just destroy it.

They tortured every man, woman, and child.

Left them clingin' to life as they turned them to ash from low orbit.

You know what that taught me?

Never set foot on the wrong side of history.

Is that what you think we're doing?

No.

You've chosen the side that doesn't even make it to the history books.

What happened to honor?

What did happen to it?

Piece of shit.

Well, who all have we got here?

Who indeed?

Commander Bloodaxe.

Leader of the very insurgency

the King's Gaze was sent to this backwater of the galaxy to capture.

He alone will secure my seat in the Senate.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention we are in the presence of royalty.

Tarak Decimus.

Or should I say Prince Tarak?

General Titus.

Needs no introduction, does he?

His actions at the Battle of Sarawu precede him.

The farmer.

The ambitious farmer.

I pride myself on never being surprised.

And yet, here I am.

I understand why all of them are here... but you.

What could you have possibly hoped to gain by mounting such a... feeble stand?

Tell me.

Oh, yes.

The legendary swordswoman known only by the name of Nemesis.

Assassinated 16 high-ranking Imperial officers

and their security detail.

All in a hunt to avenge her slaughtered children.

Oh...

Blades of oracle steel.

I've been searching for one of these for ages.

Tell me. How do you get them to glow?

I will rip them from your hands

and use them to cleave your head from your body.

Then they will glow orange with the fires of the forge of Byeol.

Of course.

I thought I recognized something in you,

down in that filthy village.

Out there, amongst all these simple people,

the most wanted fugitive in the known universe.

Scargiver. Arthelais.

Do you know what you've done for me, Arthelais, truly,

assembling yourself as such?

When I lay your bodies at the foot of the Regent,

I'll be a hero of the Realm.

They'll write songs of my feats of courage.

It's not like I didn't do all the work.

Let's move this along, shall we?

Let's transport them paralyzed, in case anyone's feeling frisky.

On your feet. I've got a job for you.

Look... Okay, okay.

You play your cards right, you at least might make it out of this alive.

All you have to do is pull the trigger.

This is what it means to survive.

No.

- I won't do it. - Yes, you will.

This is insane.

He's not going to be a problem, is he?

Nah, first time I met him was a gunfight. You know what he does?

Scampers under her legs.

Cowers behind her while she does the dirty work.

You're sick.

And you're a coward.

You can do it. Just pull the trigger.

I know you're in love with her.

Kora.

Gunnar.

I'm so sorry.

You can do it.

Pilots! To your ships!

Cut me loose! We gotta go!

No!

This is perfect.

They gave their lives for us.

They believed in their cause.

What better thing to die for?

And I should have died with them.

I know a thing or two about

the guilt of carrying on when those you've sworn to fight with are gone.

Honor them.

With everything that you can from now.

Carry them.

This was a blow to the Motherworld, what we did this day.

Criminals, nobodies, standing against a machine of war.

This small act of defiance gives voice to the voiceless.

This is more than just a fallen prick officer and some of his men.

It's the beginning of something.

What will they do now?

The crews of the Imperium are not known for their bravery.

After the death of an admiral, protocol will demand the ship's return.

That's good.

We still get paid, I presume?

A deal is a deal.

Payment awaits us on Veldt.

I owe you thanks, Gunnar. You know, I never did trust that pilot.

We all owe him thanks.

He saved us.

1,530...

Right.

Come on.

I've been wondering.

Is what that dead bounty hunter said true?

That you're Arthelais?

Kai was a liar and a thief who nearly sold you all for a profit.

Anything more you want, General?

Don't call me General.

Hey, you see it?

There.

That's our village.

Home.

Home.

I never had a place to put to the word.

It's almost a shame you killed that son-of-a-bitch Noble

and we don't have to fight.

This would've been a beautiful place to die.

Yes, it would.

Let's go.

Ready him for transmission.

Balisarius is standing by.

Sir, should we stabilize him first?

No, we will not keep the Regent waiting.

Neurolink.

Link is established.

Connection complete.

Signal is strong.

Send him.

How does that cold air feel in your lungs, hmm?

Master, I'm humbled and honored by this gracious audience.

Yes.

Now tell me what you've done.

I have found her.

The hated Arthe,

who murdered in cold blood that which we held most dear.

To say her name brings a feeling of poison to my throat.

I have found Arthelais.

- You're certain it's her? - I am, my Lord.

She was in the company of the disgraced General Titus and Darrian Bloodaxe.

We are close to capturing them.

Our worlds will unite in celebration,

not only at the destruction of this pitiful insurgency,

but for the bringing of justice.

Of the ethnic impurity, the monster,

the Scargiver, the hateful one, the enemy of us all.

Tell me, Commander,

what should I be doing right about now, hmm?

Should I be showering praise upon you?

The promise of glory?

- Sir, I thought that you... - Thought what?

She who killed the King and Queen,

as well as her charge, the Princess Issa in cold blood,

one of the most dangerous and decorated warriors

in the history of armed conflict, is now part of a blossoming insurgency?

I'm supposed to be happy, am I?

Happy that she's joined forces

with the genius battlefield commander, General Titus?

Did you think that this would be good news?

Sir, she is within our grasp.

Let me bring you her head.

Ah.

In truth, I fear the head most endangered here is yours.

But I'm glad that I brought you here.

So that I can tell you to your face what you will do next.

You will crush this insurgency to the last man.

And then you will capture my daughter alive

and bring back my precious child to me.

So that I might crucify her in the shadow of the Senate itself,

ending this myth before it even begins.

If you cannot bring her to me,

then the one whose public execution

will send shivers down the spines of the senators,

and whose screams will echo down its marbled halls

will be yours.

- Did he make it back? - I don't know.

I have no heartbeat or brain function.

Hit him harder.

Hit him with everything.