act16mini

Life itself is a sort of profound horror.

You don't know where it's going to take you. Even worse, even when there aren't thirty-some-odd siblings and hundreds of other relatives clamoring to make your decisions for you––

You still sometimes find yourself under attack, out of nowhere. Such as, uh... right now.

There are no think tanks, no 'there's no way this could be wrong because everyone believes it,' only a bandit pulling up with a crossbow and the sand kicking up as hard as he drives.

––I've made peace with my fate.

Um, I... don't think we can pass through Windy Beach. That place is Catastrophe central. Each year, up to seventy thousand trucks are damaged or destroyed when passing through...

But, that's not the point. Our transport's already pretty beat up...

A-Also, you should take a look at this. In addition to Catastrophes, there are other factors that can worsen the damage to a vehicle...

Originium fuel leakage, transmission failure leading to secondary incidents, explosions in close proximity to mining sites... So we'll want to steer clear of the mines

Hey, are you listening?

That's right, Potlid. Climb up from here, saw off the branch, then connect the hose to the top of the tree!

The saw... is so heavy...

But it's okay... the ankle braces Lanns gave me are very secure. Just imagine that you're a big tree musbeast, use the braces to hold onto the tree, and jump up with a 'whoosh'...

...I know I can do this, and make everyone happy.

Huh...? My back feels lighter all of a sudden?

Oi, jacker. I didn't tell you to do that.

Sure. You didn't tell me to do anything. But, I have experience collecting water from bottletrees.

Okay, so you have a heart after all. But I still need you to return Potlid's tools.

After all, I certainly trust my old partner a whole lot more than I trust the random jacker.

Heehee...

Besides, it's not like we're really trying to become a bottletree water delivery truck.

We just need to put on enough of a disguise before entering the city that nobody can tell it's an intercity transport that's gone off route.

Slap some decoration on as well –– don't let anyone see that the ol' girl's been punched full of holes before being patched over with sheet metal.

Potlid, let's go over our cover story with the jacker here.

Okay.

If anyone asks, tell them we're transporting this bottletree, and the water in the trunk's gotta be bucketed up for transport into the factory. As for the tree branch decorations on the vehicle, it's just a little something the boss enjoys.

That's right. Bulletproof cover story, if I do say so myself.

Haha, never would've imagined that these bottletrees would be saving our hides when we're running from Catastrophes on our long 'detour'.

Whoever decided to plant these bottletrees in the middle of nowhere, thank you.

And of course, that includes me as well.

All righty, time to hop back into the driver's cabin!

Uhh... are you listening to me? Umm, I just want to remind everyone that...

...Every year, three hundred thousand people suffer fractures aboard transport vehicles for various reasons, fifteen thousand of which are attributed to bottletrees tipping over in transit.

*sigh*...

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...