act47side

I sense... her presence.

You came to look for someone.

I want... I want to see her.

No need to crouch so low, Oakley. The Arts unit on your back is slipping.

This is Rhine Lab's underground passage. The walls could have nano-monitors listening to us!

Besides, we have to worry about Propeller Paradise's warning system too... why do we have to avoid the police, if we're doing this for Tannen?

Do you think he trusts many of his subordinates?

Hm...

Even the elevator guard could be a pair of eyes for some big shot. If anything goes wrong, the trouble could go way further than just a few boxes of contraband.

So the two of us, being outsiders with no such interests in this, ended up being the best choice to 'dispose of' his stuff?

Yes.

But there is something I haven't been able to figure out.

What is it?

You got someone to do your job, and you got someone to meet them on the other side. Why not just lie down in your office, pet your finbeast, and put on some jazz?

Aren't you worried about getting yourself in trouble if you're on the scene—sir?

I came to see my little darlings off!

What is it?

Quit fidgeting! You almost hit the wall with the Arts recreation unit! I told you to treat it nicely, like your life depends on it!

Yeah, I remember.

You'd better remember what you said too, if we deliver your darlings safely and keep our mouths shut—

Then we're square.

Great!

Don't let your guard down. Nasti has refused to leave the Vivarium. She's continuing her research in the middle of a roomful of failures, pulling all-nighters.

So she's right above us? I think I hear her footsteps...

Don't worry, Mercia will take care of her.

Merry? Merry!

...Yes, Mr. Tannen, I hear you.

What's going on there? If something goes wrong, you've GOT to keep Nasti distracted, whatever it takes.

Don't worry, sir.

It was my negligence that allowed the accidents to happen...

I'll keep a close eye on Director Lunorey and ensure she leaves the Rhine Vivarium, buying as much time for you as possible.

Very good.

See? Even Merry steps up her game when it matters most.

You two had better do the same. We're almost at the exit.

Yessir.

Ferne has a keen sense of hearing.

There is a risk that you will be exposed. Do you need the Emergency Management Council to intervene?

There are better ways to use the Maylander name. No need to worry about me; being Mr. Tannen's secretary makes an excellent cover.

Report.

Bravo's intel is that the Rhine technical staff have evacuated the experiment zone. Director Lunorey and her aide are the only ones who currently access this site. However...

She spends an inexplicable amount of time here.

...Yes.

Apologies are in order. As members of your squad, we should have trusted your judgment. It does seem that Rhine Lab might be hiding something under the exhibition hall.

No need to apologize. My mission was to monitor the tech firms.

What about Director Lunorey, if we need to perform further investigation?

I have a plan. We'll have at least twenty minutes if everything goes well.

I prepared a gift that she can't refuse.

Whoa!

Again.

Is this the system that the Vivarium and floating botanical units run on?

I knew the Banshees were good at manipulating objects from a distance, but to abandon sound as the medium, sealing incantations inside the module and repairing flaws through self-cycling... this is a revolutionary innovation!

If it's all incantation-driven...

You should stop reading purely speculative papers.

Most people don't know much about the Banshees. I understand they rarely leave the valley of Convallis...

Did you live there before coming to Columbia?

My first memories are of Kazdel. I was later adopted by one of my kin and taken to the Convallis.

What kind of place is it?

A peaceful, beautiful place.

The riverbanks are covered in grass and shrubs. The flowers never wilt and the fruit never falls. Not even rain disturbs its tranquility, much less Catastrophe.

Why did you leave, then?

Who could it be, at this hour?

D-Director! Over here!

Is this your bone pen?

...Part of it.

The conical tip, severed from the rest of the pen, rolls across the floor.

Who could have done this...?

What happened in the Vivarium wasn't an accident, and it wasn't a practical joke. Everything was planned, and they were targeting someone... maybe the target was you, or maybe Rhine Lab itself.

There is a way to find out.

(In Sarkaz) Guide.

The fragment in Nasti's hand floats up into the air at her command, a white halo enveloping it. The pen tip spins a few times, then slowly flies off in a certain direction.

Looks like the other half of the pen isn't far away.

Director...

It could be a trap, yes. But I must go.

I sense traces of a familiar incantation from the bone pen.

What the freak is with that tree up in the air?

There are only a few days until the exhibition! How many stands does that thing take up? Rhine Lab didn't apply for upper-level exhibition rights!

Rhine and the ATAO must be colluding! I saw Gordon Tannen on that tree that night!

Gustave, former ATAO Director, promised in a broadcast that he'd have an explanation the next morning. And what actually happened?

Not one word from the committee! I bet they're stalling for time!

Please remain patient.

The credibility of the Propeller Paradise administration and engineering departments is at stake here. We need to deal with this carefully and come up with a plan that can satisfy the hundreds of corporations that have an interest in the project.

Who's asking you to deal with it carefully?

Yes?

Who gives a crap? It's not like this is another Ring Lab.

The engineering department's inspections have stopped, and the administration's vetting is over. Who cares if Propeller Paradise officials are doing their jobs or not?

But the hearing is a necessary part of the oversight process...

Investigations and trials, those are your problem. We just want to know the result of the hearing—

The Air Expo Columbia we expected to make a splash in Columbia and even all of Terra—is it gonna happen or not?

Out of the way.

I said, out of the way.

You really think that sitting here puts your illegal equipment out of our reach?

It remains Rhine Lab property until the hearing is underway. Besides, what are you calling 'illegal equipment'?

Don't you recognize a floating botanical unit when you see it? The saplings floating around you are no different from the one behind us.

You insolent little... I need more men over here!

Sky, we don't have the numbers. We can only hold out for so long, if they decide to use force.

Besides, we don't know whether this tree-like device behind us is legal, or whether it's safe. After all, it's only been two years since Control Wright...

I'll ask you one question. As a scientist, are you willing to just hand over the product of Director Lunorey's sweat and blood?

No, but...

Then take action. Leave no regrets.

If only we had more people. But Rhine only has so many people on Propeller Paradise...