Jessie
[coming in the front door]
"... HIC...!! I'm back. Where's Billy?"

[Billy walks in from the door that leads to the children's room, quickly. He rounds on Jessie.]

Billy
"Keep it down! What time do you think it is? Be quiet when you come back, or you will wake the children."

Jessie
"If you'd come you'd have heard a ton of good stories. Sigurd's stories were hilarious."

[Billy walks over to the family altar (which looks like a sideboard with a tablecloth on it).]

Billy
"You know Siggy doesn't drink and you made him? Even though you're a holy man's father..."

Jessie
"Hey hey, why don't you open up your eyes. You need to quit bein' a priest."

Billy
[swiveling to face Jessie]
"I don't want to hear that from someone without a shred of faith. Stay out of my life."

Jessie
[moving a few steps towards his son]
"Stay out? Do you have any idea how much trouble your little butt is in?"

Billy
[turning away]
"What? How would you know?"

Jessie
[stepping up onto the large dining table]
"!? You...!!"

Billy
"I still don't believe you're even my father. You're not the person mother loved."

Jessie
"Whaddya mean... You think I'm a fake?"

Billy
"Ask yourself."

Jessie
[stepping down, and walking away slowly]
...
[turning around, finally]
"You're right. I guess there's no way to prove it... Fine, you still don't understand the truth. What those guys really are, where you are going..."

[Billy, who has been facing the altar, spins around again.]

Billy
"Father, what are you saying...?"

Jessie
"I'm saying Racquel died in vain."

Billy
"!! You have no right to say mother's name!"

Jessie
"... I see. That's the way it is. Fine. Anyhow, quit your job. Consider it a piece of advice from a man who is but a stranger to you."

[Jessie walks to the door.]

Jessie
Later!!!

[Jessie leaves.]

Billy
...

[The scene fades.]

Billy
"Good morning. They said you were still sleeping, so I went ahead and came in."

Bart
"You're dressed lightly. Is that enough?"

Billy
[turning to Bart]
"We Etones have some rather unique equipment. Let me explain about the equipment since we're going to be working together. [snipped basic explanation of handguns, ether-guns and big-guns.] (I made the other two kinds of guns myself, so there are no others to replace them with.) Well that's about it... Did you understand?"

Bart
"I understood it roughly. But it's a bit complicated, isn't it?"

Billy
[examining a large gun, hanging on the wall (hence the name, GUN ROOM ;)]
"... This is a fine gun indeed. I'm sure it has a significant history."

Bart
"Of course! It's the famous rifle 'Machiganater', handed down in the Fatima family."

Billy
"What a waste... It's too good for you who just brandishes a whip..."

Bart
[jumping, taken aback]
"Hey! Why are you getting sharp with me!?"

Billy
[turning away, a little coy]
"Oh, sorry... It's just... I didn't think you would have an interest in guns."

Elly
[perhaps seeking to diffuse the tension]
"Well anyway... Billy... I'd like to know why you became an Etone..."

[Billy snaps out of it, turns to her.]

Bart
(I'm not interested...)

Billy
"... Hmm, I see... Etones help out strangers, so I suppose that would make you curious..."

Elly
[shaking her head]
"No, I don't mean that. I'm curious about your own intentions, personally. I don't know... I just didn't expect you to be an Etone at all..."

Billy
[turning to Elly]
"I see... Well, since our job is rather unusual, I'll tell you about that too as I explain..."

[Flashback, the orphanage.]

Billy
[voiceover]
How old was I...? I don't remember. Maybe 8 or 9. About then, dad taught me how to use a gun. One day Dad disappeared. He just ran out on us. He never came back. Even so, I stayed in his room alone often. Dad's gun, Dad's smell. Those things were all I had left to remind me of him. But that happiness didn't last long... When I was 12, my house was attacked by Reapers and Mom was killed. They were looking for Dad but Mom wouldn't talk. I can still hear it... The sound of the bullets slowly firing three times... I even remember the sound of the empty shells hitting the floor. After that, the Reapers screamed and I heard someone fall. Bishop Stone was the one who helped us then. Meeting him changed my life from then on.

Bart
"Hey, hey, wait a sec. Do Reapers talk?"

Billy
"Yes. They're not just monsters. Some of them are more intelligent than humans. ...Primera and I hid in the shadows escaping death, but she hasn't spoken a word since. Like a godsend, kind, strong Bishop Stone gave me an example to follow. I wanted to help save someone in need like he saved us. I didn't want there to be any more children like Primera... So I began training at the 'Ethos' to become just like Bishop Stone. I left Prim in the care of the 'Ethos' and entered the monastery. Many years passed... I finished training at the monastery and became an Etone. I returned home to open the orphanage... And he... had unexpectedly come back. But he was different. Some terrible accident changed him. Not only his looks, but his character and manner had entirely changed too. I remembered him as a quiet man... But... more than that, I thought maybe I didn't really remember him... That's why... I can never think of him as a father... But Prim needed a father, and she'd become attached to him. Deep in my heart, I too thought I wanted a father. But... even now I just can't believe he is my real father. ...Hah! This is going to sound pathetic, but... I almost went so far as to sell my body to support Prim, since we only had each other for so long... Despite that, Prim still prefers the father that she never knew... The one who suddenly appeared out of nowhere..."

Bart
"'Almost sold your body'!? Don't you know, kid...!? There're things you can get back once sold, and there are things you just can't! Couldn't you see that!?"

Billy
[turning to Bart]
"Of course I refrained. But they said they'd give me 3000G for one night..."

Bart
[startled]
"You fool! Listen... Next time you and your sister need help, come to my ship. We're self-sufficient, so at least you don't need to worry about food and a place to sleep! Now, don't you ever say 'sell your body' in front of me ever again...! You understand!?"

Billy
"Could this be...? Maybe you are a 'nice guy' after all...?"

Bart
"Why don't you just come out and say 'thank you'? Geez!"

Billy
"Uh... errh... well... you haven't taken care of us yet, so I won't say it!"

Bart
Cute, kid, REAL cute!

[The scene fades.]

(that's me in the corner
that's me in the spotlight
losing my religion)

[In the Ethos HQ.]

Billy
The 'Ethos'... My 'Ethos'...My faith...

Bart
Hey Billy! How long you plannin on being like that? Get a hold of yourself!

Billy
....I....still can't believe it. The 'Ethos' was that dubious an organization. What was it that I believed in... all this time?

Voice
Isn't that the very reason why I told you back then... that you belong with us?

Billy
Verlaine?

Verlaine
You're defiled, Billy. You left the 'Ethos' and kept company with dregs who have no faith at all. And you lost sight of what it means to be defiled. I didn't expect it out of you... You who used to live only for your faith. You should have remained like us. But fear not, Billy. I shall cleanse you. You'll live within me. You will become one with me in death...

[Two shots are fired. Verlaine's companion falls.]

Verlaine
What!?

[Jessie steps out with a smoking gun in his hand.]

Billy
Father! How could you do that!?

Jessie
What are you getting flustered about boy? It was a stun bullet. He's just taking a nap. You should've been able to tell by the sound it made! Besides, these murderers are not from the 'Ethos'. Look!

Billy
That symbol...

Jessie
Yes, that's right. They're agents of Solaris. Probably an assassination unit under Stone's command! I got word that they were exterminating all 'Ethos' members, and hurried here. But I was too late. All 'Ethos' affiliates have already been killed, except for those on some sort of salvage mission.

Billy
You claim Verlaine and his men are an assassination unit for the Bishop!? How could you even say such blasphemy!?

Verlaine
That's right... We are servents of the Bishop. Our mission is to hand out judgement on fallen priests and sinners in order to make them repent.

Billy
Is that true Verlaine? But why people from the 'Ethos'?

Verlaine
The Pontiff and his brethen deserve to die! They allowed greed to tempt them into abandoning their duties as the 'Ethos' to pursue world domination. They passed their own death sentences when they allowed such desires to overtake them. And that's not all. Saving orphans and refugees... that may seem like the works of mercy. But the little boys and girls kept here were actually used as a means to satisfy the desires of the Pontiff and Bishops. Indulging in selfish desires... This is not conduct befitting priests! Such defiled leaven have no right to speak for god. That is why we set out on this purification work. They must atone for their sins. These are the Bishop's orders!

Billy
Even if that were true, we have no right to punish others! Judgement belongs to god. That is what we were taught, wasn't it!?

Verlaine
God? Where does such a being exist? You should know by now how the 'Ethos' came about... It was an organization created by Solaris aeons ago solely for the purpose of managing ignorant humans. Its doctrines are just deceptions to control the masses. The 'Ethos' used the two sweet fruits of 'faith' and 'technology' well to skill fully manipulate global affairs and people's zeal. Thus, they manipulated the ignorant masses to repeatedly continue their pointless wars. Eventually battle data on 'man' and 'weapons' gleaned from these wars were sent to Solaris itself... And analyzed to aid in ruling the entire earth. These intentionally perpetuated wars caused so much phychological discord. But faith in 'god' ....salvation... was used as a cushion to soften the blow. It was a well thought out system. But the choice of managers was extremely poor. Or did you think that acting out the part of a faithful servent of god would someday yield an answer from a great god somewhere? Can't you see that such a divine being just never existed from the beginning? And you don't seem to realize this, but you yourself were passing judgment on sinners as much as we were!

Billy
I... I have been passing judgment?

Verlaine
That's right. Daily you have been dirtying your hands as an acomplice...

Voice
Are you trying to take away my ultimate pleasure, Verlaine?

[A shot rings out. Verlaine falls. Billy kneels down towards him.]

Verlaine
Gha-ha!

Billy
Verlaine! Hang in there!

Verlaine
Bi...lly....

[Another shot. Verlaine is dead.]

Billy
Verlaine! Verlaine!

Stone
A good-for-nothing chatterbox such as you has no right to live.

Billy
Bishop! Why Verlaine!? What in heavens are you trying to accomplish!?

Stone
I am the inquisitor sent to earth from Solaris.

Citan
Inquisitor?

Stone
The status of Bishop is merely a convenience for my activities on earth. The 'Ethos' was created as a Solaris sub-organization and given the task of managing earth dwellers. But over the years the 'Ethos' started to set up convenient doctrines for itself... It then went on to gather the ignorant masses, and created a god for them to believe in. Then, the 'Ethos' even went so far as to plot a seperation from its creator, Solaris. Solaris had no choice but to eliminate all those who defy our rule and raise the flag of rebellion. The ones prepared as 'eliminators' were... the Etones. Etones, 'the Atoners', the organization I established within the 'Ethos' had 2 purposes... On the surface their aim was to eliminate the 'Reapers' or -Wels- that run rampant on the earth. But thats not their only purpose. Behind the scenes, we also had selected men like Verlaine... They were responsible for observing and eliminating any corrupt people who appeared in the 'Ethos'. You didn't have the chance to learn of this, since you left the 'Ethos' so early... Or actually, I just never told you. There was 'another' role I wanted you to perform.

Billy
Another...role?

Stone
Billy, there are certain things in this world that you're happier not knowing. Even lies and deceptions can become the truth for some people of the earth... Particularly those not knowing the true nature of things, or how these systems of things works. In fact, the -god- and -faith- systems set up by the 'Ethos' were the truth in itself, were they not?

Billy
Tell me! What other 'role' were you talking about? What did Verlaine mean when he said judgement!?

Stone
So you want to know? But can you bear the full weight of the truth? Billy, if you can bear that weight, then I'm willing to tell you.

Billy
...

Stone
You believed that you were saving wandering souls weren't you? Thats why you carried out your cleansing of the 'Reapers', -Wels- from the earth, right? In fact it was all just another control system put in place by Solaris. But what's more, your 'saving' work... that very activity you believed in so much, was in reality...

Jessie
[stepping between them]
You're talking to much nonsense!

Billy
Father!

Jessie
You haven't changed at all since then... have you, Stein?

Billy
Stein?

Stone
That's a name I haven't been called for a long time... Hearing that name vividly brings back a pleasent twinge of pain to the 'scars on this body'. You know what I mean, Jesiah?

Jessie
Heh, your brain still isn't working right. Answer me!

Stone
Thats not worth wasting my breath answering. Just consider it 'my reward in life'... Of course that includes watching your agonizing death. I could succumb to the desire to slice up your body here and now, and drag out your innards... But I can't do that now. I have a matter to attend to elsewhere. That 'duty' comes before any pleasure I could have with you here. I haven't the time to waste anymore.

Jessie
I won't let you go that easily Stein!

Stone
I can't be bothered by insignificant wretches like you. Until next time! And, as a parting gift, I'll have these men entertain you!

Billy
Bishop Stone!

Stone
Well then, excuse me... Oh and Billy! If you something you wish to discuss, come see me later. I'll be waiting for you.

[On the deck of the Yggdrasil, boss fight with Alkanshel/Stone.]

Billy
Father...

Jessie
Alright, now! Let's go, Billy go!

[Jessie's gear transforms into a giant gun. Billy shoots it at Alkanshel, destroying the barrier.]

Citan
Too late...! Billy! That is a weapon that uses its pilot as the warhead!

Billy
What!? Th, then, father is... ...Oh my god!!

[Boss fight ensues. Billy fires the final shot, destroying Alkanshel-- and killing Stone. After the fight, Standing on the deck, looking out over the ocean.]

Billy
Dad...

Citan
Billy... I should not have made such a thing...

Billy
No, it's not your fault...

[Billy shoots three bullets out over the ocean.]

Billy
This's the best way to see father off.

[Jessie walks up, from behind.]

Jessie
You're right... Thanks, son.

Billy
[hops in surprise]
D, dad!

Citan
Old friend! Are you alright?

Jessie
You'd better believe it! I ain't gonna leave that stupid junk alone! I improved it! Ouchy-wow-wow!! But I never wanna do that again though...

Primera
Pa...pa...

Billy
P, Prim!? Prim, what did you just say? Huh, Prim?

Primera
Pa...pa...

Jessie
Ha, ha, did you hear that? Primera's problem seems to have been solved!

Billy
Hah...! Prim talked! Hey, Prim... Now say my name. Say 'Billy'!

[the scene fades.]