act28side

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.

So I came here, thinking the whole trip about how to turn him down in a way that'd let him keep his middle-aged dignity.

But... you know the rest. I was too late. He'd already passed away.

And then you inherited his diner and stayed...

I didn't inherit it, I recaptured it. It'd been ransacked by a gang of thugs. Must've fought off at least fifteen of 'em.

Huh?

That's how life is. Romantic stories ain't always have romantic reasons. More often than not, the journey is just the punchline.

All these years... Have you ever had any regrets?

Regrets?

Like, for eloping, for breaking up, for not being able to see him one last time. Or for staying behind in Davistown... Stuff like that.

Nope.

I feel bad about a lot of things, but I wouldn't say I regret 'em.

I've enjoyed the results of my choices, and accepted the costs. All with complete peace of mind.

...I don't know.

You made such a huge decision without even thinking it through?!

That's not what I mean. I've given a lot of thought to your questions, and I've heard other people's answers too. In a sense, I even agree with them.

But I can't just regurgitate what they said and let them make my choices for me... Because in the end, their answers aren't mine.

I don't know if throwing away my past life is too steep a cost. I don't know if I'll regret this later, nor do I know what'll happen to me in the future.

But despite all that, I have to do this.

I understand.

Nevertheless, I have to reject Jessica Brynley's request to be temporarily discharged from the team.

I see... Then I'll have to resign.

Jessica...

Liskarm... Captain?

Even the slickest, most experienced veterans who don't give two shits about their job wouldn't throw around the word 'resign' as casually as you do.

But I also have to imagine that maybe what I'm seeing here is... a Jessica who's finally cast aside her fears and self-doubt. A Jessica who's truly found herself.

I still object to your decision, vehemently, but if you've made up your mind...

I'm sorry. I really am...

Give it a break already.

...And stay safe out there.

Jessica...

I'm sorry, Laura.

To tell you the truth, I had an inkling this would happen when I couldn't contact you. But if you've already made up your mind, can I get one last hug? Think of it as a parting gift.

Before Jessica can answer, Laura has already taken a few steps forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her.

With her back to Liskarm and Franka, she also stuffs a tiny slip of paper into Jessica's pocket.

(*whispers*) Wait until we're gone to read it.

(*whispers*) Take care... Stay safe.

Anything else we need to do, Captain?

No.

Then... let's get going.

Woodrow, are you and Leone really going to be safe out there in the woods? After the heist, there will definitely be a bunch of people after you.

You really need to start thinking about your own future, instead of fretting over us geezers.

...I haven't given it much thought. Maybe I'll have plenty of time to figure it out from a jail cell.

Not planning on staying a mercenary?

I just don't want to spend the rest of my life on a battlefield.

Jessica... Whether you decide to keep fighting or to put the battlefield behind you, I just hope you won't blame yourself for not finding an answer.

What did you end up choosing?

After the Revolutionary War, I stumbled around blindly for a long, long time. Until I finally decided to live a boring life, day by day.

Does that really count as an answer?

Why not?

Just 'cause you're the only one who thinks so, doesn't mean it's wrong.