act19side

Hello. You've reached the office of Rhine Lab Control, Kristen Wright.

Ms. Wright is currently unable to take your call. Please leave your message after the tone. Thank you.

This is bad, Kristen. I think I screwed up...

I'll admit the Colonel's smart. He caught onto my 'little tricks' last time I made a delivery.

He's been all eyes on me along with Ferdinand's people. It took a whole bunch of clones just to get away here.

Ferdinand's gonna make his move at Rhine soon enough, I just know it... and the other Directors have to fall in line. The only other option is to play dumb.

Ugh, jeez. I might have nowhere to run anymore, seriously.

I'm a little scared. Just a tiny, tiny bit, but... you get where I'm coming from, right?

Not to worry, though. I'm still going to uphold our agreement, 100%.

—Kristen... I can't help but wonder...

If she was still here, maybe we wouldn't...

Ms. Muelsyse, I suggest you stop struggling.

Your marathon from Rhine HQ to the commercial district's wasted our entire evening.

...*Sigh*.

Lemme guessie, dead end for me?

You'll always catch me as long as I'm somewhere in Trimounts.

No. Forget Trimounts. It'd be the same in any city.

This is Columbia. The charges stick to lawbreakers, rain or shine.

This is about me breaking confidentiality with the military, right?

In which case, you should give me some time to call my lawyer—and not sic a kajillion armed mercs on me in the middle of the street.

I'll say again. We're in Columbia.

We don't operate by the books unless 'by the books' is what we need. In other scenarios, we like efficiency.

Alright. Do I still get a little chat with Ferdinand? Maybe me and him can still straighten out this whole mix-up before it's too late.

Nuh-uh. That's not in my orders here.

D... Didn't Ferdinand hire you?

Ferdinand Clooney might be your coworker, but he's just a partner of convenience to me.

I've got no personal stake in the Rhine infighting. Ecological? Energy? I don't give a damn and my employer doesn't care who exactly we're cooperating with.

What we want is results. Rhine Lab provides the goods, my employer puts thought into their use.

And your tiny little 'oops moment' lost you the last ounces of our trust.

If I said... I didn't mean to, would you believe me?

I'm a researcher, ya know? I've got this habit of hanging onto test data here and there.

Habit? You had all this time to think of an excuse, and that's it?

I'm so, so sorry to tell you, your fancy brand of charisma doesn't work on me.

I'm given to understand Ferdinand warned you not to let a whisper of any of the testing leak before the government passed every bill tied to it.

Your Elven blood's stretched the expiration date on your good looks. That likewise ensures you don't form any forgetful habits, right?

You—!

You know I'm...

An Elf?

I read the files. I know who I'm working with. Part of my job, y'see.

So, come, let's cooperate some. Whatever illusion you were going to concoct next, it'd be as useless as the last.

Sheesh, I guess I really am cornered.

I guess that's why you were stalling so long... You think you can dupe me?

I'm not the brute forcing type, I don't go off half-cocked, and I'm not one of your colleagues married to the lab.

Got you.

*cough* *cough*...

At this temperature... water molecules... don't hear my call...

Is this your Arts... or some kind of special technology?

I...

Are you really free enough to discuss issues of science with me, 'Director' Muelsyse?

Sorry, but I'm tired of playing hide-and-seek, and I don't want any sudden 'acts' of iced water getting my plumage or hair wet.

Hahah... you're... no ordinary merc...

Flattered.

Now, you still have one last chance—answer my question.

Kristen Wright, Rhine Lab Control, has spent the past several years buying up a massive amount of high-purity hard material from companies high and low. What kind of experiment is she running?

Hfff... hkaah... why are you helping Ferdinand if you and your employer—care so much about Control's tests?

That's not the right answer. That's not AN answer. That's another question, in fact.

Nngh...

I don't have... any of... the answers you're looking for.

Your file says you love using your blood-given abilities to toy with people. I'm a little surprised you turned out to be so loyal to the Control.

Loyal...?

I'm just... looking out for... myself...

Aww... you're telling me you don't want this chance at all.

In which case, Ms. Muelsyse—

Our partnership is hereby terminated.

Terminated...?

Terminate her.

Saria...

You've gotta make it in time... for Kristen...

2:43 A.M. \ Overcast

Main District of Trimounts

Still waiting for your appointment, ma'am?

She should've been here ten minutes ago.

I've never counted on her to be punctual, but if our last comms were anything to go by, she was the one desperate for this meeting.

Maybe she backed out again...

We all know the Director of Rhine Lab Ecological prefers to hide the truth behind all those smiles of hers.

I don't trust Muelsyse.

I wouldn't easily trust anyone choosing to remain at Rhine Lab at this point.

But partnerships are built on more than just trust. Did you trust me the moment I first met you?

*cough*... The truth, ma'am?

When I saw you standing outside my door, I almost went straight to the kitchen to grab a knife or something, and call the cops along the way.

Good head on your shoulders.

Still, Rhine Lab wouldn't use force to threaten a retired employee who signed an NDA.

At least, not while I was still in Defense.

A new message?

Something wrong, ma'am? You look serious... serious enough to give me shivers.

Change of plans.

Muelsyse isn't coming.

S... Something happened to her? Right when she was about to meet you?

Erikson, I need a favor.

W-What is it?

Send the info I received to the local branch of this pharmaceutical company.

Ask their operators to immediately inform Dr. Kal'tsit and Dr. {@nickname}—I know they've been in Columbian territory recently.

I need their help.

5:11 A.M. \ Overcast

Test Site 359, Trimounts Outskirts

Morning, Doctor. You're up as early as ever.

Well-regulated circadian rhythm promotes stability of core data.

D... Data? You mean physiologically, right?

Haha, you always pack that special sense of humor.

*sigh*... I pulled an all-nighter just to get these figures. Director Franks is gonna rag on me for this.