act19side

No wonder the staff so fear the accolades of the Director of Energy.

Come to boast about your people skills, Parvis?

Just passing through.

Back to your lab now, poor little fellow, I'll keep your director company for a bit.

Er, alright, ok!

Thank you...

Ahah! So quick on his feet. Such is youth, eh? Gone in a flash.

I don't see you outside your lab often, except for directors' meetings.

What brings you here, exactly?

Where do I even start? The brain doesn't spin so fast at my age.

You were born with white hair, Caprinae.

Haha.

Oh, now I remember. Do you know where Muelsyse is?

We made a bet. She wagered ten boxes of black bean tea from hydroponics in Ecological.

A bet?

Two days ago, she told me that you were planning to rid Ferdinand Clooney's name of the 'Director' title.

Sonny...?

Why did you stop?

We can't do this.

Do what?

We can't follow that voice.

The voice... you mean Director Franks?

Sonny, Director Franks knows this lab better than anyone, better than Elena or myself. She knows where we'll be safe.

That's why I don't trust her!

Don't you see? She's pulling our strings, guiding every step, drilling into our minds...

She's walking us right into her cage, and we're going along with it!

Please calm down, Sonny. Getting excited could exacerbate your condition.

Lemme go! Get away from me!

Oof...

Olivia! Are you okay?

I'm fine.

That's enough, Pioneer.

I would have left you outside, if Olivia didn't insist we help you.

Ha, like we wanted to be here with you in the first place.

I don't understand. At all.

Dorothy was so kind to you.

How's your son, Dirk?

Not so good, Director Franks. The doctor says he needs an operation.

But...

Is it the cost?

Nothing gets past you. I joined the Pioneer Team to try to help my boy. This is my first project.

We don't have much money. I shouldn't've spent any on Oripathy medicine. If only I knew my son had heart trouble.

There's no hope for me, but him... he's still so little...

Don't worry, Dirk. I know a way.

Here's the best heart surgeon I know. Take your son and find her.

The best surgeon? In Trimounts?

Must be awful pricey...

She's an old classmate of mine. Tell her Dorothy Franks sent you, and she'll give you a discount.

R-Really?

Don't tell anybody. It'd be bad for her reputation if word got out that she gives discounts.

Won't tell a soul! Cross my heart!

I... I gotta go! Thank your friend for me!

Why are you standing there? The coffee's getting cold.

So much the better.

It'll hurt less when I spill it on you.

Are you worried about me, or the coffee?

You can smile and plead all you want, but I'm not lending you lunch money.

Looks like it's plain rice for the rest of the month then.

A director of Rhine Lab, begging for food from a low-level researcher... can you imagine the scandal?

Originium Art Section is the poorest of the five, after all.

I'm not Ferdinand, I don't have sponsors lined up waiting to dress me in gold from head to tail.

At least the boss has good taste.

Back on topic, it's not like I don't know the classmate you're talking about. She probably couldn't wait to double her fee when she heard your name.

You're willing to pay anything for your Pioneer friends. No wonder people take advantage of you.

Hahah...

Laugh all you want. Not like I can do anything about it.

I'm going back to my lab.

Maybe finishing this experiment will help stuff your wallet a little.

She did so much for you, and pushed me into keeping it secret.

How could you do this to her?

Dr. Urbica, you're Dorothy Franks's friend.

You see only what she wants you to see.

You don't know what terrible things she's hiding under the surface.

Director Franks! My boy's surgery went great. The doctor says he'll be out of the hospital by next week!

Fantastic. Would you like to go home and see him?

G-Go home? Back to the city?

B-But I'm Infected. I can't enter a nomadic city on my own...

Unless you have a new contract that pays for the insurance.

You're looking at a chance, Dirk. One that can change your destiny.

Sign this consent form, and you'll be able to go home.

Of course I...

No rush. You have twenty-four hours to think about it.

This isn't a trick, nothing in the fine print.

I've circled the important points. Make sure you understand the risks.

Come find me if you have any questions.

Dirk!

S-Sir? What're you doing here? Did you sign up for...

Give me the consent form.

W-Why? No!

Don't you get it? She's stuffing you into a cage, to experiment on!

S-So what?

Director Franks says she's giving me a chance.

When was the last time we heard the word 'chance'?

I don't need twenty-four hours.

I won't wait another minute for a chance to see my boy!

That's how she got Dirk.

Not just Dirk. Alan, Gale, Sophia...

She knew everyone's weaknesses. No one could say no to her.

That's Dorothy Franks!

Those silver creatures were her...