act16mini

Just ignore him. I'll start the water pump slowly so there's no risk of falling off the tree.

But, accidents always happen...

Alright, I'm starting 'er up! Hold on tight, Potlid!

Every year–– Every year, there are a thousand more people–– who die to tree trunks bending during sudden strong wind––

I did it, Lanns!

The pump's starting to hum as it drains the water out of the tree trunk! Heehee, I love when this happens!

Hah, why else would I say I trust you?

Umm, actually, there's a chance the water pump might explode as well...

What's your deal? Is that a death note you're holding or what?

Every year, I hear about an old friend or two who ends up contracting Oripathy or gets caught up in a Catastrophe, regardless of what field they work in. No avoiding it. If we go by what you say, we're all better off not working in the first place.

S-Sorry... I just wanted to give you some... points of reference from my limited knowledge and experience. Just trying to help.

I, I... do marketing for an insurance company...

'Insurance'?

It's the best thing I've seen advertised in years! I've already bought a bunch of policies, and hope to get this Columbian company's name out there.

But I... I'm a bit skittish, afraid of everything.

But there's insurance for everything I'm scared of, including dangers I had no idea even existed.

Look, these are my notes... Data collected from several of our company's advertisements, telling you about all the dangers you wouldn't ever think of!

Also, they promised to compensate me in the event that something actually does happen.

Cool. So, how do you plan to spend that money if you're dead? It'd be pretty cool if they invented a way to continue living after you die though.

Uh, I'm afraid... there's not much we can do about that.

Then, what's the point?

Listen up. You help dress the vehicle up, and we'll take it on over to the nearby nomadic platform. Need to check if a buddy of mine is home.

How many vehicles run into Catastrophes each year, and where? Doesn't mean shit to me. I'll just ask her straight up for a safe route to the Grinning Valley safely, and that'll be the end of things.

Ugh... How'd we even get to this point?

I thought the little girl would just hide quietly in the vehicle, so all I had to do was squeeze into a tool room with her. Felt like the safest thing at the time...

...But then she wanted to go visit friends and relatives with Alanna, leaving me alone in the vehicle.

Here I am... alone in a hijacked transport harboring Infected people, forced to work, getting shot at with rocket launchers more than once!

I-I-I-I can't handle these people chasing me!

So, I don't care who it is, who I have to follow. Just don't make me deal with this whole mess alone...

Th-Th-Th-This is all the m-m-money in my wallet. Here, take the whole thing! Please!

I, I never said I wasn't willing to follow you! I mean, it's only natural to not want to be a hostage, right...?

Hostage?

I, I get it. You're the jacker, so if I go with you, I'll end up a hostage. But, you were so cool when you saved those people, like a real highwayman...

...Th-That's not what I meant! I'm just trying to say you're really impressive!

...Me? Impressive?

Wh-Why yes, that's right...

Umm... You're not mad, are you? Thank goodness.

Um, there is one thing I wanted to ask you. Alanna let you leave to buy the supplies we need to make the long-distance trip... So, can we just do it like that and not resort to robbing people?

See, I've even given you my wallet now. There might not be much money in there, but it should be enough to cover food and fuel...

Alright.

Phew... That's a relief.

Oh, right. Something was rubbing me the wrong way. You know how the men at the checkpoint were looking at us funny?

I'm a professional. Do you think... that we're already under suspicion?

It's just – I never said I wanted to take a hostage. I said anyone who wanted to get off was free to go.

Why don't you go?

Umm... Huh? I thought I told you before...

I want to go to the Grinning Valley. That has nothing to do with you.

It's a long and dangerous journey, and I knew that going in. Which is why I gave you the chance to hop off.

You're scared of danger, so why are you still here?

Well, since you're such a nice person, would you mind coming with me to have a look at the newsstand?

I can explain...

No... Normally, this wouldn't be...

Ray, my face is hidden by the newspaper, isn't it?

Yes.

Okay, now let's take a good look here...

...Phew. Great, I haven't made it onto the list of missing persons yet.

Though, uh, even if they did realize someone was missing, it wouldn't make it into the papers within a single day...

What about wanted persons?

Not seeing anything––

It, it isn't what you think!

I just...

...skipped out on my marriage.

Well, it's not that I got cold feet. I was taking this transport, on my way to attend my engagement ceremony in another city, when you hijacked it...

But then... I realized I was pretty happy about that.

Heh. Though, I guess that isn't some big deal either. And because it's not a big deal, I'm kind of embarrassed to talk about it...

I dunno how it is with your family, but in my case, I've got thirty-six brothers and sisters, and lots of other relatives... So you find plenty of stuff ends up not worth talking about...

Alright, so maybe you don't get it. I also know there are lots of people with huge families that don't deal with this sort of thing.

Sorry, can't help you with that one...

...Hold on, Ray. There are uniformed men coming this way. The same as the last checkpoint...

I didn't grow up in a big family.

Those houses, all joined together neatly, looked so beautiful. But, I didn't know where I ought to settle myself down.

The Zalak's gone.

Hm, he probably decided to leave on his own. Should've hopped off to begin with.

Good day, ma'am. We'd like to have a little chat with you.

Don't be scared, Potlid. The pictures on the wall might be a bit spooky, but the lady here isn't into anything too weird.

She takes pictures of giant beast carcasses in the primordial forest, plus the bones of explorers in the morass, but she's never hurt anybody.

Haha, well, at least, she probably wouldn't hurt anyone.

Huh. You're not even talking back when I call you Potlid. Where'd your spirit go? You hungry or something?

Dunno if we can count on the jacker at all, but hopefully she manages to bring the stuff back without any issues. I'll show you a neat hack later – you can use solar panels to fry up some instant noodle cakes and fowlbeast eggs!

...Put the past behind you.

Anyways, I have a solution now. Doesn't the jacker seem odd to you? Maybe even... a bit crazy? That's why I decided to meet this friend and ask her about the situation.

A shadow as tall as a mountain? And it can talk? If a thing like that really exists in Rim Billiton, my friend surely would've heard of it.

But, if the jacker simply had too much to drink, or went into the mines without a helmet and hit her head, well... I'll have to figure something else out.

Don't worry. They don't call me 'Alanna of the Barrenlands' for nothing. I'll always figure something out.

Get lost, and be quick about it. I'm busy with my travel notes. Didn't you see the sign on the door?

––Wait, not many know about my temporary studio in the first place. Which rag do you work for? And how'd you manage to track me down?

Lanns... Didn't you say you were old friends? She doesn't seem to... recognize you.

Haha, well... the 'old' part means we haven't seen each other in a long time.

Hey, remember that time we went down to Big Hammer Mine? There was that one manglerbeast trying to tear us apart. Reckon that was the biggest manglerbeast known to man?

Right, right, it's the one on the wall there! I was behind the wheel when you took this photo.

Huh?

Alright... I don't care who you are or what you want, but I'll give you ten minutes. Don't test my patience.

Sorry to occupy your precious time, but I have to vent a bit – this is the single darkest day I've ever suffered.

Of course, I know that 'you' don't actually exist; I've just gotten used to having someone to talk to ever since I was little. After all, there were always so many people talking at once back home, and I... had the faintest voice.

Anyways, all I wanted to say was... it's way too dark under this truck.

(Patience, now. Just five more seconds. Wait for the shoes to go out of sight...)

(Four... three... two... one...)

*cough*, *cough* *cough*! ...Blurgh!

Ugh... At least two mouthfuls of dirt won't send me to the hospital, even if this is the dried sand on the chassis we're talking about...

Alright, I can feel it. This should be the access door leading to the power room on the bottom level.