act28side

Wait, you eloped with him when you were eighteen, but by the time you got here...

We'd broken up. Hadn't seen him for over two decades.

I lived by my lonesome in the frontier for over twenty years.

You think after all that time, I wouldn't have learned how to line my petticoats with goldbacks?

Helena flashes a sweet smile, removes the weapon from her shoulder, and places it on the table in front of Sylvia.

If you boys ain't in, I'll do it myself.

You and Sylvia... are going to rob a bank? Just the two of you?

Maybe I'll be caught outside the vault, maybe I'll get trapped inside and end up a pile of bones buried in cash. Maybe I'll die trying to escape... Either way, as long as I draw breath, I <i>will</i> see this done.

That's how I'm approaching this, anyhow.

Now, I need to know where you two stand.

Leone takes out a wrench from his toolbelt and places it next to Helena's weapon.

Your move, Woody.

Who's there?!

Jessica? What are you— Why now of all times?

I... I don't know.

You don't know?

But... I need to do something. I need to make a difference.

If what Miles said is still bothering you, you'd best just forget about it.

You still got the time, the energy, to do so many great things. No need to tie yourself down to Davistown and a bunch of old fogeys past their prime.

No, Woodrow...

Too many times now, I've had the drive, but kept falling short for any number of reasons... I didn't have the ability, or the time. The situation changed on me. Orders, or requests.

Even now, I'm not sure what it is I can do.

I'm stuck watching helplessly as you're all driven away one by one, to an uncertain future in the frontier.

If I don't make a difference this time, I feel like... I might get used to it. To never making a difference.

And if that happens, I can see myself believing—to protect my own mental health—that I've always been incompetent. That I could never protect anyone.

I can see myself thinking there was never any special meaning to picking up a gun. That I'd just made a wrong turn somewhere in life and was stuck with it.

I... I don't want that to happen.

So much so that I'd die to make sure it doesn't.

Um...

Sylvia?

If you truly see this as your last chance... Well, this is also our last chance to take back what's rightfully ours from the bank. Will you help us, Jessica?

As soon as Sylvia stands up, Jessica sees the look on her face.

Her complexion is frighteningly pale, but her cheeks are unusually sanguine in a way that only serves to make the former more shocking.

Enough.

Woodrow? Why are you pointing your gun at me?!

Forget everything you just heard, and scram.

Why? What's the meaning of this?

We have to get to the bank...

Sylvia...

...and take back what belongs to Davistown.

...Take back?

Go, Jessica. Go back to your friends.

Woodrow!

You came here for a shoulder to cry on, and we offered you a hot drink and a pat on the shoulder. No more, no less.

You're still young. Every day of your life is a new beginning. I'm serious.

As if her tears had frozen over and evaporated, Jessica's vision suddenly becomes clear.

She sees the unusual blush across Sylvia's cheeks. She sees the wrench and the unfamiliar weapon sitting on the table. She sees the dark hole in the muzzle of Woodrow's gun.

For the first time in her life, she makes up her mind in a split second.

She walks towards Woodrow's pistol, approaches Sylvia, and draws her own gun from her waist before placing it in on the table front of her.

I'm in.

All squads are fully prepared and ready to return to the landship at a moment's notice.

Where's Jessica? Still can't reach her?

Her communicator... is broken again.

Twice in one operation? That's too much of a coincidence. What <i>is</i> that girl up to?

Jessica, you're finally back!

...Sorry.

Don't worry about it. Laura's already packed your bags.

It's not that... I...

I'm... here to say goodbye.

Goodbye?

Are you applying for temporary leave?

...I guess?

And your reason for doing so?

Personal reasons. There's some personal stuff I have to do, no matter what.

And how long will you be gone?

I don't know. Maybe a week, maybe a year...

Did you hit your head? Do you really expect us to grant temporary leave for up to a year?

If that isn't an option, then... can I hand in my resignation?

You're quitting?!

Ah, right. You said from the start that you're here to say goodbye. And goodbyes don't need an application.

I don't know what brought this on all of a sudden, but I need to remind you: If you leave the team, everything you've worked so hard for in Blacksteel will likely go up in smoke.

Whatever it is you need to do, are you willing to trade all of your efforts until now for it?

These are the last explosives left in the mine. Let's go grab 'em.

Okay.

I'll do the inspection. You go ahead and rest for now.

Um, Leone...

What is it?

Are you sure about this...? About blowing up the furnace?

I know I shouldn't be saying this, but you were so reluctant when we talked about blowing up the energy tower...

If we don't blow it up, how else are we gonna seal the secret passage and hide Helena's whereabouts?

As for what I personally think... It ain't important. Don't matter no more.

Ain't a single thing left in Davistown that can be fixed up.

But if we get that money, there's still hope for us, someday down the road. Out on the frontier. Right?

...There will be. For sure.

Heh. Hope. Hope... Who knew one last glimmer of hope would be so damn expensive?

But for this last bit of hope, for this ticket not to reach the end of the line today... I have to accept that, even if it costs me my life.

I have no idea what you're trying to accomplish, Jessica, but can you guarantee you won't regret it?

When using the welding gun, pay attention to the angle between it and the weld. Holding it too high causes spattering, and makes it easy to get hurt.

For a woman who runs a diner, you sure know way too many things.

Heh. I spent more than two decades traveling across grand ol' Columbia. I had a lot of choices.

...When you got dumped, did you ever think about going home?

Dumped?

Oh, I get it. Leone must've gotten the wrong idea.

Nah, I'm the one who dumped <i>him</i>. He ended up being a real by-the-books sorta fella... Didn't suit that gruff face of his one bit.

Back then, I was dead set on travelling across Columbia with him, but he thought I was too wild... Still, we supported each other across the barrens, and I ain't saying it was a bad life.

But one night, he suddenly proposed to me. Said he couldn't stand all that wandering no more, and he wanted to settle down on some plate.

Going through the same motions in the same place, over and over again? I couldn't imagine a worse punishment.

So I turned him down, left him all my money and possessions, and told him I'd make a terrible wife. Then I mounted my burdenbeast and rode off into the sunset.

But... you still ended up in Davistown.

In his letter, he said he'd finally fulfilled his old dream, and wanted me to drop by to visit.