act19side

Negative. Scenario inconsistent with typical behavior of Dorothy Franks.

Uh, is that supposed to reassure me?

Thanks... but even if she lets it fly, there's still Director Clooney, and I don't wanna go back to him...

You're overdue for a good night's sleep, Helen.

Elena... you know we have evaluations next week. How am I supposed to sleep with an eval weighing on me?

I can't lose this job. I'm still paying off my student loans...

Sorry, I know I keep bringing that up.

Hm... how's this sound? I'll raise your situation with the Director once the experiment's over.

S-Seriously? Elena... you're the only one in all of Energy who isn't terrified of Director Clooney. What's your secret?

You've just gotta be like me...

Spending every single day in the lab, making the Director happy with every last thing you do? Th—That's not realistic for me...

Oh, right! I needed to check in with Director Franks! Gotta go!

See you.

I made coffee. You want some?

Excessive caffeine intake may aggravate Oripathy, Elena.

I hear you, but I'm still not about to give up my life for the word 'may.'

If the docs had the final word, I'd be best off staying at Rhodes Island with my sister.

Same for you, right, Joyce? Medical wants you aboard long-term.

Regulations state I must report back to Rhine Lab at regular intervals.

Provision of medical services at this site is only a temporary assignment.

Sure... just a few days, and then you'll meet back up with Dr. Silence in the city, right?

Me and Dorothy'll miss you.

Joyce needs rest. Work gets too intense here at the site.

And you, Elena. If it wasn't for Ferdinand talking you up as his most outstanding researcher, I'd be on the case to kick you back to the city too.

So you're here at last, Dorothy.

Helen just went looking for you. You didn't run into her?

Sorry, I wasn't paying attention...

Seriously, you're gonna work until you faint, huh?

Forget me and Joyce, how many days have you gone without sleep? I've seen the wrappers filling up your lab's trash can over the past week. Agrypnotics, huh?

The experiment's already in its final phase. I promised the participants I'd accelerate the pace, so they can get back to their families sooner.

Got me there. Who doesn't want this done sooner?

Plus, as your assistant, I have to listen to you anyway.

Alright—can I ask my beloved assistant to do me another little favor, then?

I can't be out of the lab for too long. I want you to courier these heat-emitter modules to some friends outside.

Heat-emitters? We've been in the barrens for over a month. Where'd you buy these?

I...

Warning. Rhine Lab technological components detected.

See? It took me and Joyce one look to know you made these with lab materials.

The living fossils up in Business won't like that. You might be Originium Art's Director, but that's not gonna change their tune any.

I know how their minds work.

And I know even better that you won't report something this minor to Ferdinand, or any of the Directors for that matter.

They need these things. It's been getting cold lately, and their huts weren't built to last. They won't keep the chills out.

Dorothy.

I've been wanting to say... Don't you think you worry too much about them?

They're... Pioneers. A team of them in Rhine Lab's employ.

No Pioneer's gonna hang around anywhere for long, let alone make friends.

They're just a bunch of kids.

Besides, I know what you're trying to say. You're worried about me. You're worried I'll feel empty once they're gone.

That's my little assistant, always so considerate...

Don't grin at me like that. You're not my teacher, Director Franks.

Elena...

Fine, I'll do you this one last favor. The very last one.

Seeing as... the experiment's nearly over.

Sir, we're all set.

Sonny... Sir?

Huh?

Got the heebie-jeebies?

What? Nah, that's never been my style.

You've been pacing laps about the cabin. Seven, coming up eight.

I'm just, uh... I'm getting my mind in order. Lotta variables, what's coming up next.

Sonny, I've been thinking, but, uh, are we really on the right track here?

Them scientists, and the doc, they've been plenty good to us, I say.

I told y'all already, one or two acts of kindness don't make a saint.

Back in law school, my classmates loved to do all that charitable business—

You know, donate a thing or three to treatment zones for Infected, maybe join a campus debate for justice, for what they went through.

But once I came to be an unlucky, ill-ridden son-of-a-gun too, well, guess how many times they visited me?

Yeah?

Not a single goddamned time.

A year back, I went to borrow some money from an old college roommate. He worked at the biggest law firm in Max D.C.

Picked up the phone, get this. He asked me who I was.

'Sorry, you were out deferred for treatment, so that's why the grad yearbook didn't have your contact.' —Ha!

Most touching joke I ever heard, I tell you.

Real band of bastards, huh? We've seen plenty of 'em ourselves, all of us.

Once they're at a safe enough distance, it stokes their egos good to throw out a little benevolence, like they're feeding fowl, and it makes a topic for their get-togethers too.

You go on and guess... if right this moment, in that laboratory, those respectable scientists are cradling their coffee cups talking about us, huh?

Nobody minds doling out good intent, not until it costs them anything for real.

Alright, boss, whatever you say.

You seen the most of us, paid it most mind. Your word is gold.

This is the only way we've got.

Nobody in the whole damned test site's gonna look out for us, 'cept ourselves.

C'mon, Joyce, once I finish my coffee, we've got to get to work.

Medic... we need a medic!

You're one of the Pioneers?

You can't really just come in... uh, you haven't gone through decontam yet...

Don't you have a medic or a doctor? Something came over Sam all of a sudden, he's sick!

Sick...? Is it Oripathy?!

Are you? Are you a doctor? You gotta save him, you gotta save ol' Sam, save us all!

He's been running like a kettle since late last night, and he's just started throwing up blood!

Please input the patient's location.

He's in the nearest hut... We did like you told us last time, gave him some painkillers, laid him down.

Understood. Initiating emergency treatment routine.

Joyce...!

Apologies. Other tasks have reduced priority.

I... I know.

I'm not trying to stop you, even if we're shattering safety regulations...

Joyce, I'm gonna go with you.

You are not a medical worker, Elena.

Who gives two cares? Remember, I took basic medical training too. An extra pair of helping hands can't hurt in a situation like this, right?

Plus I've gotta make the trip anyway, with my errand from Dorothy. Might as well be now.

Here!