act25side

The last question is mine.

An ancient one like you must have seen the fall of many Kazdels, and surely you must have thought of and searched for a place—

(Speaks in Sarkaz) Where is the Sarkaz promised land?

Promised... land, hm...

*sigh*...

Time's up.

A silvery green tail shatters the Tin Man's sigh with a strong burst of wind.

The last spark fizzles out at the same time the cigarette hits the ground.

A bone whistle sounds.

Trimounts has never heard such a sound. Neither the residents in their deep sleep or the office workers working overtime will be aware of what has just happened.

Other than those who've made an appointment.

Rosmontis, did you hear that?

Huh?

Logos was too busy to come to Trimounts, right?

My terminal says Logos has a lot to do. He hasn't trained with me for a long time, so I haven't been using my full strength in my sessions.

Don't make things hard for Mechanist.;It's been hard for Blaze and Sharp.

I know.

My devices are like the Rhodes Island cabins, if they break down, it takes a long time for Mechanist and Closure to fix them.

Mm.

Blaze and Sharp always complain that training with me is more tiring than going out on missions.

Before we left the landship, Raidian told me that Logos would come back with Amiya soon.

I miss Amiya too. I miss her so much.

Doctor, will we be able to see them, after we finish this, and return to Rhodes Island?

I miss them too.;I hope we can see them soon too.

Doctor, did you make it there?

Yes, the message says we're meeting in this alley.;I think the Tin Man should be already waiting for me?

We'll go home soon, I promise.

The alley is dark and silent, like an abyss.

Something rolls out from the murky shadows.

Perhaps it's due to its material hardness, but as it rubs against the ground, it eerily resembles a cog out of its wheel, a frightful rattle echoing through the darkness of the night.

It rolls straight to the alley entrance, where light and darkness meet.

It turns out to be a metal head.

The upper half is usually obscured by a hat's brim, and the mouth on its lower half often has a cigarette exhaling rings of smoke while spouting words that are at times perceptive, and other times incongruous.

But now there is no cigarette, no hat, no trench coat, or even the part that should be present past the neck.

There is only a head.

The Tin Man...;...is dead?

I would take it easy, if I were you.

After all, if you <i>do</i> make any moves, I can't guarantee that your head won't end up rolling along with my old employer's there.

Let's get to the point.;You didn't come here just to banter with me.

Sure.

Two things—It's time for Rhodes Island to end your excursion in Trimounts, and the other, as you've just seen, the leader of the Maylander agents, the 'Tin Man' has been murdered. We need a culprit.

And you've picked me.;Should I feel honored?

Your frailty certainly affects the credibility of the idea.

But the mundanity and perfectly enigmatic vibes of Rhodes Island makes you an excellent target for Maylander investigations, even if just for a bit.

You want to buy Kristen some time.;You want to buy yourself some time.

It won't do you any good to look for other secrets, okay?

It's not like I can run.;It never hurts to get a better understanding of each other.

Are you going to try and call for help?

You might want to lower your gaze, my tail won't exactly agree.

Or do you want to employ your expert negotiation techniques, to list a number of reasons why I can't do anything to you?

What a pity that Trimounts is not Tkaronto, and your opponent is not some black-hearted pharma.

I've had my eyes on you ever since you stepped into Trimounts.

At first, none of this had anything to do with you... or Rhodes Island at all.

Even if you and Saria are moving in the same direction, roleplaying as heroic firefighters, why haven't you dispatched a few more men like that good old mechanic to mop things up quick?

If you're not going to talk, then why don't I... tear your chest open and take a look at the secrets hiding inside?

The silvery green Liberi approaches.

Her plumage scrapes the fabric of your hood, emanating a soft but piercing sound.

At first, I thought you were the same as those other eccentric scientists, trying to find some sort of revelation about the future in Kristen's research.

After all, we're such a silly species, aren't we? Limited lifespan and unlimited ambition.

The moment we realize the limits of what we can accomplish in our short lives, we become willing to surrender our arrogance for just a moment, and beg for a shortcut.

But on you...*sniff*...I smell no trace of that desire.

What do you dream of, and what of your past?

I'm becoming very interested in you now, 'Doctor.'

But unfortunately, my colleagues are about to show.

Hold your friend's head in your hands, and enjoy a captivating session with Columbia's top agents. You might find yourself astonished.

Think through some answers to my questions during your interrogation.

I hope I don't give you the chance to run.

Wait...

Why... are <i>you</i> here?

Heehee... did this hood ever come with a guarantee of who would be under it?

...A water clone.

Grrr. Any more tricks up your sleeve, pathetic Elf?

Doesn't matter. Dr. {@nickname} of Rhodes Island... we <i>will</i> see each other very soon.

Doctor, there are a lot of people rushing towards that alley.

They're Maylander agents.;Rhodes Island has been set up.

It's a good thing you used your brains and 'borrowed' my clone for that meeting, otherwise you'd have fallen into that horrible woman's trap for real.

She's definitely left evidence implicating Rhodes Island.

You heard everything she said over the comms, right? Did we make enemies of both Maylander and the military?

I'm afraid so.

Ah... hahaha... you're not joking, are you?

Doctor, if you and the Tin Man had any plans, now would a good time to share them, you know?

Your silence implies... Wait, Doctor, you can't mean that he...

Something really happened to that mega mysterious super agent in the trench coat with a tin can for a head?!

I heard a banshee's bone whistle.;The knell has tolled for him.

That was a bone whistle?

Wait, banshee, you say? Of the Sarkaz variety?

Was it for Kristen? Did she...?

Muelsyse suddenly falls silent. She looks up at the sky above Trimounts.

There is nothing up there besides thousands of stars.

You cannot help but recall Ho'olheyak's question from earlier.

Why did you come to Trimounts?

Kristen... What sort of person is she exactly?;What exactly is the dream that she's chasing?

Quick, Silence! Over here!

Mmm...

This alarm... did something happen to Director Jara...?

Silence, are you okay?!

I'm fine. Saria...

I'll help you carry her.

Your face is all sweaty, if Saria doesn't wake up now, they're gonna catch us!

Don't push the blame onto Saria.