act28side

But... that's the only thing I can do for you...

Take it.

...When do you plan to leave, Helena?

Not too soon, I reckon. Still have to say my proper goodbyes, after all.

Jessica shuts the restaurant door behind her and stands in a daze on the doorstep, the check balled up in her fist.

She suddenly lets loose a kick on a pile of snow by the road, sprinkling flakes of white down onto her head and wetting her hair. Some land on her forehead, cooling her burning heat.

She retrieves a tape recorder from her bag and begins rewinding it, playing back the recording she has heard so many times.

'...But you're just a naive little heiress. What can you even do?'

This thought fills her mind as she walks slowly back towards the giant black landship.

...Anyone hear that?

Save us... Those, those Sarkaz suddenly climbed up the plate...

Many people are dead, and the rest of us are hiding in the basement of City Hall... *bzzt*... *bzzt*...

We tried to contact Londinium's garrisons...

But no one's replied... no one at all...

I don't care who it is, but if you can hear this message, please, help us...

You're our only hope...

*bzzt*... *bzzt*...

Why did I even want to be a mercenary?

I can't save other people's lives, or even their livelihoods.

Where have you been all day, Jessica? We couldn't get in touch.

I went... It's nothing, I just went for a walk.

What happened?

Captain, I... I... really have no idea why we're doing this mission.

Did... you see something?

...I saw our colleagues evicting debt-saddled residents from their homes, and putting them on convoys bound for the frontier.

Huh?

Hey, Teacher's Pet, now's not the time to be staring at your communicator!

Did you even hear what she said?!

I did... and I have news even more absurd than that.

Orders from above: we'll be in charge of security at the bank. We have to stand watch 24/7, and it's up to us to figure out our shift rotation.

What...? Working security for the bank?!

Correct.

Hah...

... This is so... goddamn... ridiculous...

Jessica, you...

Did we really need to be here so early? There's nobody outside the bank right now.

I have some mint candy, if that'll perk you up.

Appreciate it, but I don't think that's going to do the trick. C'mere, Teacher's Pet. Gimme a good pinch.

Tch...

Ow!

Now, let's get to work. Rise and shine, my friends! Hey, I'm talking to you!

*yaaaawn*... Oh, sorry about that, Franka.

Alright, listen up.

The bank has a total of four exits. Beanie, take your four people with you and guard the rear door.

Roger!

Copperplate, you and Coins will head to the garage door.

Roger!

Everyone else, come with the three of us and stay at the front door.

*cough* *cough*... Excuse me, ma'am. I'd like to ask you something...

Will you people be out here all day?

Er, yes, we will. But we're simply handling some business and don't intend to interfere your daily affairs.

Handling business? A few days ago, I signed my pioneering agreement right here. That's the last bit of business <i>I'll</i> be handling.

Who are you...?

Hmm... I should at least fill out their customer service review.

(Checks the thumbs up)

Phew...

This bullet... Were you the one who asked Jessica to bring it?

Mm. Found it in an antiques shop in Victoria, a few years back.

No wonder you searched all over the camp but couldn't find it back then. By the looks of it, seems like one of the officers secretly brought the gun into Victoria.

And now that the gun's missing, that bullet is the last artifact he left behind.

I warned the fella not to engrave all that flowery nonsense on it... In any case, why didn't you hold onto the bullet yourself?

Because you're the one who should have it, not me.

What, your ghosts finally catching up to you?

We were friends once, at least. I can't say I'm happy things ended up like this.

And do those feelings of guilt and sorrow do you any good?

What are you after, Woody?

Call your men back, and stop driving out the residents.

Even if Blacksteel pulls out, the government's just going to hire some other mercenaries. It won't change the outcome.

I heard you initially had the option to turn down the commission. Am I wrong?

Despite its name, at the end of the day Blacksteel Worldwide is still based in Columbia. We don't have the right to refuse a job from the government.

I see, so even you have to tuck your tail between your legs like a normal person from time to time.

Times have changed. As far as the Columbian government is concerned, soldiers like us mean nothing compared to the geniuses in Trimounts.

Tell me, bossman, what does Blacksteel stand to gain in this contract between the bank and the government?

This isn't a long-term arrangement, Woody.

The government has a job for us, so we follow orders and get paid. Beyond that... I don't particularly care, nor am I allowed to care.

I remember back in Laterano. You'd always tell me about all sorts of things, from minor tensions between different groups to massive conflicts between countries... And you'd always put it in the context of how much the people would suffer.

That was a long time ago. I can hardly remember at this point.

But I do, clear as day. You told me this on our way from the library to the student dorms: the strong protect themselves, but the truly great protect others.

So why is it that now, after you've seen these people with your own eyes, you can say you don't care because you're not allowed to?

We've both gotten old, Woody. There's a limit to how many things you can care about.

True enough. But even so, there ain't that many things <i>worth</i> caring about... Everything that's left, that's what's important.

Maybe I can't protect everyone on the plate anymore, with these rickety old bones. But, the people around me... I'd give my life for them.

I swear—if any of them get hurt because you got involved, then so help me God I <i>will</i> return this bullet to you. In one piece.

...I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that.

Captain, more and more people are showing up... Do we need to set up a blockade?

We're not at that point yet. We don't know what the crowd's intentions are, and acting rashly will only make it harder to keep things under control. If dialogue is an option, I'd like to negotiate with the organizer first.

But... from what I can tell, people have been trickling in since morning. I don't think they're organized.

Nobody's armed, so I'm not too worried about it coming to violence. But, you know, not <i>not</i> worried...

After all, the pressure isn't coming from the crowd in front of us, but rather from what's behind us.

The three of them turn their heads and look back at the bank's bright and pristine glass doors and windows.

The sturdiness of the windows blocks out the darkness from the outside, as well as the cold and melting snow.

But no matter how transparent the glass panels are, the warmth and brightness inside will never spill out past the door.

Captain, take a look at her...

Helena...

Most of them have already signed the pioneering agreement, so what are they all doing, gathering out there?

What are you worried about? Those aren't toys the Blacksteel people are holding, you know.

*sigh* Good grief... And I already turned the TV on to watch the special New Year's interview. I can't imagine what the Governor's going to talk about this year.

Isn't it the same old song and dance, no matter how they try to spin it?

Hello, everyone. First, I'd like to wish everyone a happy New Year on behalf of everyone on the broadcasting team.

During this program, we will be interviewing the Governor and asking him a variety of questions on the issues our citizens are most concerned about. I'm glad you could join us today, Governor.