act16mini

Lanns is Lanns. She made a bet with her friends, and I'm their chip...

So... we can't be family, right? We just live together, we've always been living together on this truck.

The exit is right before her eyes, but the gates lie shut, blocking the vehicle.

A few security officers walk to the cab and knock on the window.

Alanna hesitates for a moment, but gets out of the truck anyway.

What's up, mate?

Routine inspection.

Do you have to inspect public transport vehicles too?

Look, here's my operating license.

Special circumstances. Please cooperate.

Nah, that can't be right. There were so many trucks in front just now, but you let them all go through. Now you stop us when it's my turn?

Crikey. Bloody luck's off the charts today, what with all these 'nice things' happening to me!

(Whispering) Sir, don't bother with her... I just checked the vehicle's identification number, and they came from Big Pillar!

(Whispering) You know, they've got tons of messily managed mines over there, and they don't standardize safety procedures either. Lots of Infected!

Your vehicle ID isn't from Green Meadow, and we inspect all vehicles from out of town.

And what if I refuse?

Then our well-equipped security will 'politely' ask you out of your truck for a more in-depth investigation at our office.

We might lock you up for a few days, or months, confiscate your vehicle, revoke your license, and hit you with a nasty fine.

The specific steps we'll take will depend on how long you decide to keep messing with me.

Mate, ain't this a bit much? I've been driving for years and passed a lot of checkpoints, but this is a first...

The security officers raise their crossbows at Alanna.

...Fine.

Only the driver has to cooperate with the inspection, yeah? Everybody else here is passengers...

Passengers?

Yeah, they're all...

At this point, Alanna turns back, looking toward the passenger cabin's open door and the situation within.

(Potlid's hiding good.)

(But... what about that Zalak?)

(And the jacker... wait, why is she loading her crossbow?!)

She... she's a passenger, bought a ticket.

But the equipment you've got on hand looks like it's out of regs? All the checkpoints I've been through, this is the first time I've seen anyone checking infection status.

If the passenger isn't willing to get checked, you'll put me in a spot of trouble. If she complains to the operating company—

'Nuff with your guff.

We're coming aboard.

The party of passengers sit next to one another with an Oripathy screening device each on their hands.

Alanna is more worried about the others than herself—

Potlid dips her head down, staring blankly at the device's progress bar.

The truckjacker looks at the security officer sitting across from her, through the open door, and at every corner of the checkpoint.

The Zalak who was unwilling to get off the truck earlier is seated a short distance away from her... his legs shaking.

Now what's with these two in a hidden compartment? Did you know they were on board?

...Of course I did.

And you deliberately hid them from us?

That's... you lot gave me such a fright with your fierce mugs, I forgot to mention them.

Haha, I'm sure we can talk this out...

—Whose device was that?!

(I... What should I do? What... what will Lanns do?)

A single bead of sweat trickles down Alanna's cheek.

The security officers do not look the least bit accommodating as they surround them. Looks like things are about to get tougher.

She needs to figure out a solution to this predicament, and quick, or else...

Well... Sir, dear sir...

This passenger here, she's just a little kid. She's come here to Green Meadow... to your prefecture to look for her dad.

I hear her father works in a smelting plant and it's been about a year since he's been home... The walls and gates at this checkpoint, and even the materials used in these testing devices might be the fruits of his labor.

This tiny Cautus... She only gets one ride every two, maybe three months, just to see her hardworking father.

She's a regular rider on our truck, and this has never happened before, everyone usually just breezes right through here.

With all due respect, sir, would you make things difficult for such a poor little girl who misses her daddy so very much?

There's been a flood of evacuees here from the Double Helmet Mine disaster.

Our superiors expect us to tamp down the influx of Infected here, so this is not about making things difficult. We're just doing our job.

(Waves hand) Get moving.

I saw it last night, Alanna. Clear as day.

That kid you've kept hiding in your truck for the last two years... she's Infected. No wonder you never bring her to see us!

You bloody clown. Going all the way just for a dumb bet.

Your damned stubborn competitiveness and bottomless pride...

I always said you'd drag yourself into trouble like that, taking some others down with you.

Wait!

Uh... Mister Inspector, Sir, we'll head right out of here, straight back where we came from! Right away!

What d'ya say?

The checkpoint's our jurisdiction too, so you still have to comply with us, even if you don't intend to cross.

Sir... I'll pay the toll here, or even an additional fine, or...

Or just impound the ute and even drag me away, I'll cooperate with your investigation...

I'm begging you, just... let the kid go... please?

Potlid has never seen Alanna with such an expression.

In their time together, Alanna has always been brave, fearless, and one might even say anarchic.

She makes funny faces, blows up her past experiences, and explodes into laughter without a care for her own image—

But now she's pleading with the officers in such an unbecoming way... for Potlid's sake.

Take her away.

Lanns...

...It's okay.

Don't...

You don't have to see me off, I'm just stepping out for a second. I'll come find you in a bit, Lanns.

Any other Infected?

This one too!

Then she goes too.

...Where is she?

A crossbow bolt flies out, interrupting the security officers preparing to board and inspect the vehicle.

A flurry of additional bolts follows up, forcing them to retreat.

Wh—

The purple-haired woman! Get her!

Yes sir!

A punch, a kick, a crossbow slam. A few officers knocked down with grimaces on their faces.

Another volley of bolts rips through their clothes and pins them to the ground.

The truckjacker steps over the messy pile of limbs until she reaches Potlid.

Let's go.

Wha?

...Alrighty!

W—Wait! You haven't—

Haven't—

No, nothing...

Get the ute started.

What's the matter...?

...*cough* Back in the truck! Let's go!