kafka

June 10th, 1095, 6:12 P.M.

*huff*... C'mooon, even though it has to across the river, you're STILL on me?

That's the lockdown perimeter dead ahead! No more runnin' for Kafka!

Freaking dang heavy-as-butt box. Knocks a Kafka's lungs out...

I told you before. This has bearing upon far more than you alone, Kafka.

You're running straight into the search for you. If you do want to escape, then this is the wrong direction.

Okay, you WANT li'l Kafka to bounce?

Are you just keepin' me at arm's length all the time 'cause you don't wanna get involved with me?

Siiii-lennnnce.

I just don't want to put too much pressure on you. I'm with Rhine Lab, after all.

My colleagues maintain far too much prejudice, owing to your... background.

'It fits just fine that a street hustler like Kafka would run this sort of illegal business'...

But Miss Silence doesn't think a Kafka'd do bad?

My hope is it wasn't you... and more than me, your mentor, Mr. Laurens, specifically sought me out to stand in your corner.

Mr. Laurens relates admittedly that when he first took you in, you retained a number of 'bad habits' from the streets.

But they were only minor tricks learned for your own survival, and meant nothing inherent.

Mr. Laurens sure knows his Kafkaology.

He's been swell to me, sure, I can tell you that.

I'm here in the picture because I do not want to see my friend wronged by Rhine Lab's negligence.

The instinct imposed on you by your living conditions should not be any reason for others to question you.

But if you absolutely cannot absolve yourself of culpability for theft of the test subject, I can only fulfill my obligations.

Which is why, right now, I need you to cooperate with me and clear up the facts. Things can still be turned around.

This box... this box shackled to you, is the test subject inside it?

Whoa, whoa, that's my secret to keep!

Yannow the mad—freaking—effort it took for li'l ol' Kafka to lug this box all the way here? Heck, no one else would even—

What, don't ignore me here!

Kafka. Your hands. They're bleeding.

Wha? Sheesh, I didn't even notice! Naww, it's okay, that's just a fact of Kafka life. No need to worry at all!

Hey, I'm not a kid here! Put me the sweet heck down!

My medical drone can help your recovery.

Buh.

(C'mon, Silence, you're pintsize as I am. Where d'you even hide that strength...)

Kafka, you don't have to assume this air of resistance.

Hold still!

This customary approach of yours is uncalled for here.

Where's the key? I'll put the specimen back for you.

Mmrf. Put the Kafka on the floor.

Stop struggling! My drone is still treating you!

Silence. Put me down.

You hear the sirens thataway?

You think your Rhine Lab researcherhood lets you wrangle cops too?

Lesson, Silence: never ever let anyone else hear your true mind that easy!

You have secrets you're attempting to hide.

You have a mentor who cares for you now. A new life of calm and stability.

Why would you risk all of this to do something that benefits you in no way?

I don't make promises I can't keep, Kafka.

But I cannot look on while innocent people are implicated through Rhine Lab's negligence.

So why am I seeing you now? Silence, is this about helping the innocent, or saving face for Rhine Lab?

All I know—is that my friend needs help.

Huh. Friend...

Yannow, I just tried to find any proof you were lyin' there. Guess my polygraph says no today.

Might be you really can do the things I can't, Silence.

Alrighty. Ya got any major evidence to help a Kafka's case out?

Given all other surveillance data was destroyed by interference, this was the one and only means I could rescue.

Twelve hours ago...

(Oof, I can't be this beat...)

(Objection! Kafka isn't even trying to drag this out, the dumb box just weighs a ton!)

(I did NOT want to draw attention by bein' all loud!)

(Still too early for 'em to be clockin' in! Alright, Kafka, shut up aaand...)

Inside a markedly spacious room, a small little figure pushes at a huge box completely out of proportion to her height.

She stumbles in her step, she proceeds slow and steady, but she never halts for a moment.

As she passes a half-ajar laboratory door, she suddenly freezes.

She can hear her own heart beating.

(Why's there people?)

Alright, we'll input all the data, then simulate a reproduction one more time.

If the output results are a good fit, then we've saved your industry reputation.

Researcher Silence, you've been up all night rescuing this paper. Please, take a break.

I'll handle the remaining work myself. I promise you there'll be no more problems.

I'm accustomed to working at night. You should be celebrating that our efforts last evening at least avoided Rhine Lab becoming the laughing stock of our profession.

I'm sorry...

I know you're defiant about this. Shifting numbers around is a common practice in the industry, and we are by and large tacitly aware of it.

But everything has to have a line. Cross it, and pulling back becomes very difficult.

I'm not criticizing you at all. I just hope we can always keep in mind where the boundaries of research lie.

After all, ingenuity is what shot Rhine Lab to recognition within Colum—

Who's there?

I didn't see anyone.

(Figures Silence would.)

(Probably saw me and all?)

(Hope you're not trying to excuse yourself. C'mon, Kafka, you knew the lab was right there.)

(And we're here. Is this seriously the job?)

(Real shame...)

Flowers're so pretty in full bloom.

These are records of the first ten minutes after the test subject was stolen.

A researcher working overtime noticed the peculiarity, and reported it to Defense.

But before Defense could launch an internal investigation, someone had sounded the alarm.

Not only do all leads at the scene point to you, but you happened to perfectly establish that you were present.

You saw me, didn'tcha?

Yes. And I submitted my testimony.

Likewise, I raised objections too. Due to all concurrent surveillance records suffering interference, they were classed as inadmissible evidence.

But I tried to get a colleague who specializes in data recovery to restore a portion.

Kafka, who was it directing you from outside the frame?

Kafka sez: I don't think this evidence is gonna be enough to help me.

But if you can just return the test specimen, that will be my foothold to wield said evidence, and apply to restart the investigation.

Even still, that's one heck of an uphill climb.

Think back for me, Silence. When you were there in the lab, did ya see anyone else apart from me?

Hear anyone else's voice?

No... but being engaged in conversation with my colleague likely caused me to overlook any other sounds.

Uh-huh, but'cha see, if they shoot back and ask, how can you prove this wasn't the person on tape just acting?

How d'ya respond then, Silence?

I have no way to prove that...