act28side

What do <i>you</i> want?

Hah, what, you're here to chase me out too?

Unlike what Leone is used to seeing, Sylvia does not apologize, bow her head, and run off.

She stands there for a moment, tightly clutching something to her chest, then stiffly puts one foot forward and walks into the diner.

She keeps walking until she reaches the seat closest to the counter, sits down with her back to the door, and stares straight at the empty chair in front of her.

Mr. Theremin... Are Woodrow and Helena... going to come back?

Woodrow? And Helena? How's that any of your business? They went to see Miles off—

The cold wind blowing in from the crack in the door Sylvia left behind whispers as it circles past the mouth of the empty beer bottle.

It sends a shiver down Leone's spine.

They went to see Miles off and will be back in a bit. But nobody wants to see you, got it? If you do, then scram. Just... leave me alone.

Sylvia's fingers are tightly clasped together on top of the table.

She gulps down a mouthful of water and forces herself to turn and look at Leone's face. It is then that he finally sees what she had been clutching.

A ring, silver in color, with a few diamonds inlaid across it.

Mr. Theremin, I can't—

Who gave you that ring hanging around your neck?

The ring?

Couldn't have been me or Benny... So that leaves...

...Him?

Their eyes meet.

Sylvia nods slightly and clutches the ring once again, her eyes burning with an almost crazed determination.

The look in her eyes reminds Leone of someone. Carl's eyes.

The night before he departed, he disappeared for a few hours. And when he returned, his eyes looked exactly like those of the person now in front of him.

You know, Jessica... our team also has to pull out of Davistown the moment we receive the order. Whatever else happens here, we have to return to the ship.

I know. I know that...

We're leaving. Miles has already left. Woodrow and Helena said they're leaving too. Leone probably won't stay either... Everyone will be gone.

But I... What have I done for them?

Well, if you ask me... You cleaned up the bandits terrorizing the place, helped Leone save his house, and told Cliff that the bank had overstepped its authority. Even if you don't want to acknowledge it.

But in the end... it was all in vain. I... I let everyone down.

Or maybe even worse, it's just as Miles said... Nobody expected anything from me in the first place. It's all because I went and stuck my nose where it didn't belong...

Jessica!

No, even so, I still...

Laura, I need to go out for a walk.

Now's not the time for that. We're about to return to the landship... I'll help you pack your stuff, so just take a nice nap. I'll wake you up when it's time to go, okay?

...I have to do this.

Where are you going?

I don't know.

You sure about this?

Mhm.

Don't take too long, okay?

I... I'll try my best.

Stop drinking already, Leone.

—Wait, you're sober?

As sober as I ever am.

Wait... and Sylvia? What's she doing here?

She insisted on waiting for you two to get back, so she could have a chat with all of us.

Sylvia stands up from her seat, still gripping the ring tightly. Blue veins are visible across her white knuckles.

Helena, Woodrow, Mr. Theremin...

I...

I know of... some money in the bank.

Of course there's money in the bank. What's the point of telling us that?

I mean... Blacksteel delivered a large sum of cash to serve as reserve funds. And it's all... sitting in a vault right now.

Why?

The bank wants to prepare for Davistown's new residents.

They're going to clear out the entire plate to welcome the precision technicians, R&D personnel, and managers that form the cornerstones of the new industries...

To meet the demand for their deposits and loans, there's... a lot more cash in the bank than usual.

Maybe... enough to let a large group of people start a new life in the frontier.

...So, that's the situation.

That's it? What are you getting at, Sylvia?

...Someone actually sober wouldn't be asking that, Leone.

But here's my question.

If you're saying what I think you are, I need to know.

Sylvia, do you expect us to return the money to its rightful owners?

Or do you want us to take it...?

By force.

Sylvia nods slightly in an almost unrecognizable manner, then continues fidgeting with the ring on her chest while waiting for the final judgment.

The diner is deathly quiet.

...At least we're all on the same page.

Leone, you in or not?

Say something.

No, I... I know this money should've been ours, but... I don't wanna be criminal scum. Like those bandits.

You really think the bandits were the biggest crooks in Davistown?

So, you're with her, Woodrow?

...No.

No?!

I admire her courage, but this is too much of a long shot.

For example... Sylvia, you got a map of the bank?

...Yes.

Give it here.

I don't have anything on paper, but I do know that it's a hundred paces from the bank's front entrance to the master control switch. Based on my stride, that'd make it about two hundred feet...

Before that, there are three turns, at steps forty-four, seventy-four, and ninety-three. The landmarks are a potted plant, a floor lamp, and a counter.

From the master control switch to the entrance of the vault, you have to pass through the reception room, go through a hidden doorway, and then down a thirty-six-step stairwell. Afterward, there will be a straight path, which will take—

You... You actually memorized all that?

Doubtful.

Sylvia, how far is it from your seat to the entrance of the diner?

I just walked eighteen paces, and after the sixth step, I made a right-angle turn for a total distance of about thirty-six feet.

She didn't memorize it... She's just been there countless times. As you just heard.

Woodrow, what do you reckon our odds are if you joined us? And what about with Leone?

How're we supposed to get all this cash out to the frontier without leaving any traces?

I can take care of that.

I don't doubt you can survive out there, but what about the money...?

Helena lets out a sigh. She nimbly hops over the bar counter, picks up the knife on the table, and bends down to pry up the floorboards.

Creak, creak...

Pop.

A cloud of dust, ancient and full of history, rises from her feet.

Don't act like you got me all figured out just 'cause you found that box when the water leaked.

The man who left me this place as well as his passbook... Any idea when I met him?

Surprise me.

When I was eighteen.

At the time, my old man was trying to sell me to his boss's son, so he could climb up the ranks.

When I heard the news, I ran to the bar and hid there all night, which is where I met him... In the end, we hopped on his burdenbeast in the dead of night and rode until that stifling old place was nothing but a distant memory.