More Questions than Answers was a virtual representation of one of Kassandra's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
Kassandra met with Natakas to learn more about his life.
Dialogue[]
Kassandra walked through the hideout after Darius and Natakas left. She still had questions and decided Natakas was the one most likely to provide answers.
- Kassandra: I should find Natakas...
She left the hideout and passed by Darius at the campfire overlooking the forest.
- Darius: Natakas has gone out hunting, if you're looking for him.
Kassandra finding Natakas near the edge of a hill
Kassandra made her way to a hill where Natakas overlooked the hunting grounds.
- Natakas: Kassandra. What are you doing here?
- Kassandra: I was going to ask you the same.
- Natakas: I find doing something practical helps me get my thoughts together.
- Kassandra: You like hunting.
- Natakas: I do. There's deer here usually.
- Kassandra: Everytime I've seen you, you're trying to save lives, not end them.
- Natakas: I don't see an issue if it's done with balance in mind and respect for the animal.
- Kassandra: That's a nice idea.
(Accept – "I'll hunt with you.")
- Kassandra: I'd like that. It'd be nice.
- Natakas: Let's see how good you really are. How many deer do you think you can get?
- Kassandra: Let's find out...
Kassandra and Natakas made their way down the hill.
- Natakas: The deer are usually around here...
Kassandra drew her bow and felled a deer.
- Natakas: Nice shot.
She felled another.
- Kassandra: Darius is good in a fight. He must train a lot.
- Natakas: Never misses a day. He doesn't know his age...
Kassandra felled a third deer.
- Kassandra: Your father is a man of few words.
- Natakas: And you caught him on a more talkative day.
She hunted another one.
- Natakas: Another one!
Upon felling the fifth deer, Natakas heard a noise.
- Natakas: Shh! Did you hear that?
- Kassandra: What?
- Natakas: Follow me. Stay quiet. There!
Kassandra followed him until he pointed out the source of the noise. Natakas commented on their new quarry.
- Natakas: He's tricky...
Natakas crouched on a small cliff under a tree. Kassandra crouched down beside him.
- Natakas: Shh...
Kassandra and Natakas observing a wild boar
He looked directly at her.
- Natakas: Trust me.
He turned her attention to the animal below them.
- Natakas: Look...
The animal was not a deer, but a boar, a rare sight in Makedonia.
- Kassandra: A boar? In Makedonia?
- Natakas: Almost unheard of. Delicious.
- Kassandra: It is...
Kassandra grimaced.
- Kassandra: They taste... Filthy animals.
They stood carefully and Kassandra drew her bow once more.
- Natakas: I can almost taste it...
The boar was tougher than the deer, but Kassandra slew it all the same and harvested its meat.
- Kassandra: What's this?
Kassandra and Natakas at the campsite
Kassandra and Natakas returned to camp, where night had fallen. Natakas prepared the meal from the boar meat Kassandra hunted.
- Natakas: That makes everything better.
- Kassandra: You're an amazing cook, Natakas. Good enough for the gods.
- Kassandra: Speak for yourself. I'm already a god.
Natakas stood and smiled at her boast.
- Natakas: There is something special about you. Everyone can see it, obviously. But no one, not even you, can fully tell what it is.
Kassandra and Natakas looking over the hill
Kassandra turned to the edge of the cliff, looking out at the nighttime scenery.
- Kassandra: With all that's happened in Makedonia... I guess you can't stay here.
- Natakas: I don't know. We always run. Ever since I was a child. My mother would find a way—no matter if it were by the side of a road or in a cave somewhere—she'd find a way to keep us warm. Safe. Like we had a home. I don't know if I'll ever feel that again.
- Kassandra: She's gone now?
- Natakas: Years ago. Same with my siblings. The Order. The last time we saw them was the last time I saw my sister Neema alive. What about you? What about your past?
- Kassandra: I never knew a true home, either. I grew up fending for myself, hoping there'd be a place out there where I'd feel, as you said, warm. I haven't found it.
Natakas looked sad to hear this.
- Kassandra: And anyway, I don't think it exists.
The two continued to stand watch overlooking the cliff well into the night. The next morning, Kassandra discussed the situation with Barnabas.
- Barnabas: They're Persians, you say?
- Kassandra: Darius claims to have killed King Xerxes himself.
- Barnabas: Ha! You don't believe that, do you?
Kassandra smiled.
- Kassandra: I do believe it. Of all the lies he could tell, that's one of the most unbelievable.
Barnabas smiled as well.
- Barnabas: A lie worthy of Dolos himself.
Kassandra and Barnabas discuss Darius
Kassandra exhaled with exasperation.
- Kassandra: I don't know what to believe anymore. Darius says the Order of the Ancients are here to find me. The note he found mentioned others—
- Barnabas: There are others like you?
- Kassandra: If I believe him, there are. But how do I know that Darius isn't working for the Cult, or in the Order himself?
- Barnabas: You say he's heard you're a great warrior. Maybe he wants to use you to help him fight against this Order.
- Kassandra: If he's not one of them.
- Barnabas: The simple question is, do you trust him?
- Kassandra: I trust Darius. He's mysterious, but not a liar.
Barnabas smiled at her unintentional deprecation.
- Kassandra: Except you, Barnabas.
She tapped Barnabas on the shoulder.
- Barnabas: That's what I'm afraid of.
Barnabas took his leave of Kassandra.
Outcome[]
Kassandra spent a day of hunting and bonding with Natakas.