act16mini

Normally, we don't get closure right when something happens.

Just like when Mum and Aunt Jemma had that argument in the middle of the night. Such a noisy one it woke the neighbors––

They were arguing about the same old: 'How should the factory go about starting up the wheat grinder and the rice miller without disturbing the workers' rest.'

Just like those young Billy businessmen who helped the farmers and factory workers build a coalition during the 'Cage Incident'––

Even though they made an effort to break free of the grasp of the counts and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce, how many of them were just in it for the business? How many of them actually cared about the future of the Rim Billitonians?

Also, just like that one trip, with the Doctor and Amiya...

Maybe some questions will always have some sort of closure.

Eh? Dunno where you're gonna go yet?

Wasn't heading back to the nomadic platform to search for traces of your childhood just the first stop along the journey? Like, what happened to the second stop, and third stop, and so on...?

I filled a tank of gas and even prepped a portable stove and a tent...

Besides, the Rim Billiton Miners' Cup is in the group stage right now... If we head straight south, we might make it in time for the cross-country burdenbeast race across Big Hammer Mine...

Or maybe we could go for some of Rim Billiton's local specialties? I've committed a lotta fantastic eateries to memory over the last few years, especially the ones that've opened up inside hollowed-out mining tunnels.

In any case, Kal'tsit said that you guys don't have any work coming up for the next little while. So, why not put that whole Victoria thing on the backburner for now?

Th-There's no need to be pushy, Savage... It's not that I'm too worried about what's over the horizon to enjoy the trip or anything!

What I mean is, I think I might prefer how we used to do things before, like just wandering around without any particular goal in mind.

Well, umm, that might not be entirely accurate either. I'm sure the Doctor had some idea of where we were going.

...I did?

Because as far as I can remember, it seems like new things are happening every day, and there are always different sights to see.

If we were here to casually tour through Rim Billiton's barrenlands, we'd probably just be seeing a whole lot of sand, mines, and Originium clusters.

Well, about that... I think that's moreso you're having a streak of bad luck, and getting yourselves into trouble the whole way here...

At least Amiya's more than capable of holding her own now, and I'm not the same empty-headed, hot-blooded newbie I was before. Even if we run into a scrap, I'm sure we can resolve it without too much hassle...

Ouch!;......

S-Sorry about that, Doctor!

Doctor! Are you alright? Did you bump your head?

What was that sound just now?

Doctor... If you've hurt your head, please speak up...

It's fine... My head's still intact.

Savage... What happened? Why'd you suddenly slam on the brakes?

Take a look over there––

See that transport vehicle over there coughin' up smoke?

Jacker, go get some bottletree water. The more the better!

Alright.

Bring a tarp over and help me hold her up.

Alright.

Then, grab some tape and tie her to the condensate pipe, then dip her feet in cold water and give her a good soak.

Okay. But, why?

Call it a trade secret. Doesn't matter if it's a fever or a burn, this is the fastest way to cool down!

Medicine's fine and all, but you sometimes need to tackle the external problem head on, and this is the way you do it!

Lanns...

Don't worry. There's nothing to be scared of. I've got meds. I figured something like this would happen sooner or later... Hurry up and drink, Warmy.

She's burning up.

She has the strength to swallow the meds, so it's not as bad as it could be. The fever should be going down soon.

Yeah. I know it can't be that serious. Trust me.

Alright, I believe you.

But, I don't think what she has is a fever.

...I know.

It's her Arts. She used them to fiddle with the temperature of the power plant again. Without my permission.

Shoulda dawned on me a lot earlier when I realized how smooth the ride was and how much power we had driving on these roads.

I don't know how many times I've told her not to go around casting with her bare hands, but she just can't get it drilled into her head. She's always eager to prove her own worth.

Silly girl. What a darned fool. I knew from the moment she got in the truck that she was dumb and stubborn...

...Damned dipstick.

We can always find a doctor. We're not that far from a platform.

You're not getting anything from those docs that I can't already do.

Trust me, we'll be fine. I'll get us through this.

If you say so...

Alanna, the power cabin's getting hotter and hotter.

Yeah? Can't tell, since my back's still dripping cold sweat...

Agh. She's burning up. How.. is she this hot?

I've got another folk remedy. Can you go catch some Originium slugs...?

Alanna, there's the bell. Someone wants to board.

Gah. Go chase them off, jacker.

No, you should go.

It'll be bad if her Arts go out of control. She'll hurt herself, and others too.

What are you trying to say––

No way. No way it would come to that. Not a chance. She's my own adopted daughter.

You just wait, Ray. I'll take care of this whole mess.

I'll be right back.

If an Infected gets sick, or if their Arts start going out of control, it should be another Infected to deal with it.

That way, even if they disintegrate, it at least won't create new victims.

That's standard protocol on the job.

Get out.

Wait a sec! I'm the driver for that vehicle over there. I've got tools. Do you need any help?

Help? Hah. With what? I'm doing just fine over here.

We're just taking a little break over here. So, if you wanna help, buggering off would do us just fine.

Huh? But your ute over there is giving off white smoke. Doesn't look to be in great shape...

That's just how it is. I'm the one driving it. Think you know her better than me?

Sorry. I'd still like to get in and have a look around.

I don't have time to give you a ride.

Last warning. Go away, or I'll make you go away.

...You're shaking.

Who, me? Don't kid yourself.

Though, that gear you're wearing...

––You're a troublemaker who's done something bad, aren't you?

––And you're a merc out on the hunt for Infected people, yeah?

An explosion–– from inside the bus?!

Strewth, I told you to bugger off! I don't have time for you!

Hey, wait!

What's going on with that truck? Its body is damaged in several areas, and the front's rather deformed...

The smoke should be coming from the condensate pipe not properly dispersing the heat...

And then, there's that driver...

She seems to be worse for wear than the bus itself...

Poor gray-ears.

The engine has long since stalled, but the sound of water flowing through the condensate pipe can still be heard from the power cabin.

The temperature inside the cabin is unusually high, but the drenched Potlid continues to shiver.

Alanna said this was supposed to help.

Just... a bit longer... then...

As her words trail off, Potlid's lips quiver slightly, as if sleep-talking.

Ray thinks for a moment, then holds the girl's scorching-hot hand. Though the hand subconsciously tries to shrink away, it has no strength to do so.

...Burning hot.

It's alright. Now, I'll be able to see how badly your Arts are going out of control.