act16mini

Doctor, I'm not afraid anymore.

They asked me a lot of questions, and I told them everything... Our long journey, the places we've been, and whether we had fun or not...

But there were a few questions that I found no answers to.

Is the Doctor looking for something? Why did they all say behind our backs that the things that the Doctor wants to see can't ever be seen again?

Why did the Doctor save me and travel with me?

All drivers, ears—both long and short—up, this is guidance for our departure in six hours.

Watch the Catastrophe forecasts and drive safe. Don't chase wildlife. Let's get the trucks in and get home early...

Well, you don't look so bad, old bones.

You should be thankful your last trip is with me. Others probably wouldn't have what it takes to get you fixed.

You'd have to sit out there in the boonies in tatters with that hole the anti-armor blew open, and wait for the engineering team to come to take you apart and haul any usable modules back to the factory for reassembly.

And me? I wouldn't be able to hand in the truck. The whole thing would've been a bust. Everyone would be making fun of me for that the rest of my life.

I should've been made fun of the rest of my life. If someone found I was hiding underneath the truck when she was killed...

Ugh, that kinda thing's not ever gonna happen again.

Alright, just one more problem, then. I don't have too many mates in Iron Carrot City. I need to find someone to teach me how to write the accident report...

Oi, stop ringing the bell. This truck's not going anywhere. You got the wrong—

—Coward?

Uh... Hehe. Looks like I got the right one.

The gaudy decorations are all gone, and it doesn't look like a war broke out in here anymore. Feels a bit strange, actually...

Anyway, it's good seeing this thing in one piece! This has to mean that Ray and Warmy are both fine, right?

Hah, suppose so.

Th-Then, let me ask one other thing...

Did Ray find the thing she said she was looking for?

Of course not.

I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to bring up painful memories like that!

Don't worry about it. It's not really painful for me at all.

That said, the hijacker doesn't think it's all that painful for her, either.

Come to think of it, this really doesn't make any bloody sense... She disappeared halfway through the trip for no reason, then she showed up where we pulled over to wait for a small Catastrophe to pass.

She's just like a dumb fowlbeast who finds herself disoriented after getting carried a thousand miles away by a Catastrophe wind.

Uh, then... she didn't possibly forget what she's looking for, right? I know there are folks who would run in circles as a kind of contest, and there was this lad who got so dizzy that he fell and knocked his brains out...

We might have a worse case on our hands. She told me she met a Feranmut.

Uhh...

And she said it's not the one she's looking for.

Huh?

Finally, she even said the Feranmut has already told her the thing she's looking for doesn't exist.

I... I feel kinda sorry for her.

Really now? I call that finally seeing things clearly.

But after that, we did keep heading to the Grinning Valley. We went through all the trouble to make our way there. No way I was going to turn back on our hijacking.

Then? How was it?

So cool...! Too bad it's pretty dangerous there. A coward like you? You won't be seeing it in your lifetime, haha!

Really, I don't suggest you go. If it wasn't for my technique and quick reflexes, the ute would still be stuck in that valley.

On our journey back, we had to stop every two hours for the old bones to cool down... The union says it's about time it gets 'standardized.' And well, they have a point.

*sigh*, it's been twenty years.

You... You've been driving for twenty years? I never would've guessed...

Well, thanks for the vote of confidence in my skills.

But I was going to say... I've known this old girl for twenty years.

Right, Coward—Where's my invitation to your wedding?

Huh? Uh...

Um... You might've missed the wedding...

*cough*... Actually, I'm on my honeymoon.

And... well, that's over now. As of ten minutes ago.

Iron Carrot City was going to be our final stop, but I saw your transport when we got to the gates, and all of a sudden, I started to think... I wanted the trip to last a little longer.

Oh... Are you two driving that truckie parked not too far up ahead? Here I thought the driver got on the wrong level instead of the logistics channel for their delivery.

Something's off, though...

Haha, we're driving a delivery truck alright...

Actually, we found her truck when we left the gateway that day. We were thinking of turning back to our engagement ceremony... then somehow, we drove to the registration center instead...

Then, we drove to the open plaza, had our ceremony, and went on our honeymoon...

Bugger me dead, now I remember!

Wh-Wh-What is it...?!

The girl that followed you everywhere. Now I remember where I saw her face! It's the logo on this truck! This face!

I knew there was a hardware store that sold old safety valves!

Oh, right, she was trying to make herself disappear...

Do you even know why we had to stop every now and then?

I-I-I'm really sorry! Let me apologize sincerely on her behalf...

Uh, I'm just kidding. I can't really blame you for this one. This truck should've been upgraded a long time ago.

That being said, if we get this last part installed right now, I can get away with a dozen fewer sentences on the report.

Quick, do you have any of the valves in stock on your transport?

Warmy, is it ready yet?

It... It's still sparking...

...I'll learn how to use it in a bit. Give me a little more time! Once I learn how to use this staff, I'll come out of the room!

If you really can't figure out how to use it, you're free to ask that old Caster there again.

But I learned so fast both when Lanns taught me how to fix cars and when Daddy taught me how to cook...!

Alright.

I thought you'd follow Alanna to get the truck returned.

I couldn't. Didn't you say you had to finish some other work by noon today to get on that big mining ship of yours?

Aww, I could've taken my bike, and I could've given you two a ride to the next stop, too.

Thanks, Savage.

But I have to leave at some point.

Whoa—

Whoa, why did you lean on the door?

Well, simply put, as a security officer, you sometimes gotta block the door and scare people. I got used to doing it...

Why is the breeze so warm...?

Hehe, I'm starting to get a handle on how to use the staff!

You really figured it out? That's incredible!

But let's put an end to your little show here. If you keep heating the air, I'm going to catch fire.

Let's sit here and wait for Alanna. Once she's back, I'll take you two to the Rhodes Island landship and see what they can do about your Oripathy.

Alright.

It feels so familiar sitting on the seat, waiting for somebody.

The benches in the waiting area are made of steel. They're so cold, and I couldn't get them warm, no matter what.

If only I knew how to use Arts before, I could've warmed the benches without anyone knowing, and Daddy's bones wouldn't have hurt so much.

You'll get the chance, Warmy... You still have lots of time to learn how to use your staff before you find your daddy.

By then, you'll be able to control your power how you want it.

Really...?

But Ray didn't find the Feranmut in the end, and we didn't really make it to the Grinning Valley.

But I've been waiting for Daddy for so long... After everything, I should...

...This trip was so, so long.

Phew, finally made it. I really gotta hand it to that coward. He's really got a knack for writing reports.

—My, that staff is so pretty. Really gotta hand it to me!

How is it, Potlid? You all ready?

Lanns! Take a look at this! Here!

Okay—