almond

Laura? Fort Barron's nothing new to you, is it?

Oh... Sorry, I was just thinking about something...

I saw you staring at the model on the desk. You almost had me thinking maybe there was something wrong with it.

I heard from the senior operators that the engineering team made this model as a memento, after Fort Barron's retrofit was completed and delivered.

So, there's nothing wrong with it, right?

It's fine. It looks... just like the base does now.

Good to hear. Shall we continue, then?

Okay.

I'm ready. Let me take a look at your report... Ahem...

Laura, what did you do after you received the order to catch the bank robbers?

At the time, I was leading the engineering team to double-check the structural integrity of the plate connection, and after we got the news...

I chose to continue the work we were already doing.

Could you go into the reasoning behind your decision?

The orders I received were that, aside from those participating directly in the plate's connection work, all other teams were to start pursuing the bank robbers.

And I made the determination that the connection work still needed the manpower of our engineering team.

So I chose to follow orders and not divert anyone from our work.

But according to the report, one of the bank robbers was your partner at Davistown. Were you aware of that?

I... I knew about that, yeah.

Regarding that, what was your determination at the time?

Determination... My determination?

'Don't make me repeat myself.'

My determination... I didn't make any...

I'm an employee of Blacksteel, and following my orders...

...is my responsibility.

(Frowns) ......

'Following orders. Laura, you made the right decision.'

How's that? I do a pretty good impression, right?

And that 'Don't make me repeat myself' was, like, exactly the same, wasn't it?

*sigh* What's wrong, Laura? You look so out of it. It can't be because I'm putting too much pressure on you, can it?

It's okay... I'm just...

Please, let's just get back to it.

Um... That was the last question.

I need to tell you this, Laura. Ever since we got back from Davistown, you've looked kind of uneasy.

We all know that it was a very special operation, and you happened to be at the heart of the vortex.

I really can't imagine what you went through, but even then, you can't let yourself be tied up by something like that.

What you need now is rest.

Rest...

And some very good rest. So stop thinking about the mission report. You should apply for leave instead.

You're right... I can't stay so depressed.

So Aliza, can we do this again, please?

You haven't been listening at all, have you...?

If you ask me, you'd best forget about the report.

It's been two weeks. No one's ever going to bring it up again.

In the long history of the company, this was only a tiny interlude. You can be as serious about this as you want, but the supervisor's only going to pretend to be interested.

She's right. You should be asking them for a long vacation.

No... I have to finish this report.

I was in Davistown from the start. I saw most of what happened with my own eyes. I experienced most of it personally.

It's a Blacksteel employee's responsibility to execute their orders during a mission, and to compile a report on it afterwards. Besides...

You saw what I wrote, didn't you? Don't you think the higher-ups should be informed of everything that happened in an organized report?

Laura, I...

Frankly, there's no need to report anything. What happened in Davistown couldn't be any clearer.

While completing a government-sanctioned mission, a Blacksteel employee participated in criminal activities and greatly damaged our company's image and reputation.

Everyone here already knows all that. It isn't something worth bringing up over and over again. Especially not... two weeks after the fact.

We need paychecks to put food on the table. We need to follow orders and not get fired.

So there's no reason for you to work yourself up over this.

I... I still think I want to talk to somebody.

It hurts...

Where does it hurt?

My... butt.

Nothing wrong with that. That's how you learn discipline.

Are you going to do it again?

I won't do it again, Mamá. I shouldn't have made a mess under the bed...

But... Mamá, I really love those machine parts. I know you don't like me playing with them, so I had to...

Sounds like you still don't realize what I'm punishing you for.

Follow me once you're done eating.

What's the matter, Laura? You asked to talk to me all of a sudden.

Um, Franka, there's something I want your opinion on.

Is it about Davistown?

Is it that obvious?

Our little pistachio who's always cheering everyone up is suddenly acting all sulky. It'd be harder <i>not</i> to figure it out, don't you think?

I put together a report on Davistown.

Liskarm already submitted one.

Like, a good while ago?

I know, but—

Alright, I can more or less guess what you wrote in there.

And I can tell you what's going to happen if you submit it.

It'll be ignored, your issues won't be addressed, and if whoever has to read it is in a bad mood that day, you may even be disciplined.

It's that simple.

It's been two weeks, but sometimes I still think about what happened back there.

All of us saw what was going on in Davistown. Jessica did so much for them, but even that wasn't enough for her.

Hasn't she always been like that though?

Franka... Do you think I did poorly in Davistown?

Wow, who knew pistachios were so rich in vitamin justice?

This isn't about justice—

At least you two got to see her in the end. What was I doing while all that was going on...?

She was in such a dangerous situation, but I was just hanging out on the ship.

Even though... Even though I really wanted to be with her...

'We're wearing Blacksteel uniforms and following the orders of the higher-ups. It's not your fault if you weren't able to do something.'

If our good captain Liskarm were here, I'm sure she'd say that in the sincerest, most heartfelt way you ever heard.

Then, she'd probably give you a warm hug and make sure you knew you had someone to lean on aboard the landship.

Franka, are you—

All I'm saying is that if you turn around and go run into Liskarm's arms right about now, you'll get all the well-meaning advice and comfort you could ever want.

But me? All you're gonna get from me is my sharp tongue and some finely aged sarcasm.

...I think that's what I want.

Alright then. Do you feel bad because you weren't able to help Jessica, or are you just jealous that she made a choice when you couldn't?

Did you write that report because you believe it's the truth, or are you just trying to convince yourself that you're not a coward?

I was born to a normal family. My mother is an ordinary doctor, but I didn't have a lot of freedom.

My family moved from Bolívar to Columbia when I was younger. I managed to get into college, but then I caught Oripathy right before I graduated.

None of the tech companies I was aiming for would give me a second glance. Blacksteel was the only place I could go.

And when I got here, the first thing I learned was to follow orders and do whatever the rest of the team does.