weedy

Come to think of it, she's had a hand in half of Rhodes Island's automation projects...

She's one of our oldest employees, but never gets the attention she deserves. Can't blame her for keeping her resume up-to-date.

Heck, the only reason she came here in the first place is that we were the first to make an offer.

I've failed her as both a supervisor and a colleague...

What are you talking about, Closure?

Do you know where Weedy is meeting her friend?

A bar, I think.

Oops, I almost forgot we had business to attend to.

I've looked through the documents you sent me.

Specifically, I made some corrections to the section on beachfront engineering based on Ægir technology, referencing the models and theories from Abuelo's manuscripts.

Thanks, Weedy. You're the only one I could think of when it comes to this stuff.

Rhine Lab has experts on all sorts of things, but not on the ocean or the Ægir.

No problem, it was nothing.

I've been away from Iberia for a while, though, so there might be new variables I haven't taken into account. I can't guarantee 100% accuracy.

That's fine, I'll cross-check them in the field. I just wanted to gather all the materials I could pertaining to the current state of research, before I go back to Iberia.

You're going back to Iberia?!

Why so suddenly?

I was visited by a Messenger from the Inquisition last month.

The Inquisition...

They brought a research proposal on maritime engineering, a handwritten letter from an Inquisitor, and an entrance permit into Iberia issued by the Inquisition.

The documents you went over were part of that research.

So they're opening up research into the ocean to outsiders...

Yes. Iberia is seeking change.

Have you made up your mind?

Yes, that one.

But you've spent so much time at Rhine Lab.

I'll be turning in my resignation. There's a lot of red tape involved, though. Project handovers, non-compete clauses, etc. Exactly what you'd expect from a big company.

But Iberia is in my blood. No matter how far away I go, I'll always smell the scent of brine in the air, and follow it back to Iberia.

There were two reasons I came here. The first was to hand over the responsibilities of the Rhine Lab liaison. The second was to seek you out.

You want me to come back to Iberia with you.

Yes.

I'm sorry, Luli, but I can't.

Because of Rhodes Island?

Forgive me for being frank, but Rhodes Island is hardly the ideal employer.

Due to their focus on clinical application, and involvement in crises across Terra, the resources they can offer for your research are limited.

And not only did they make you pull out of the Trimounts Bioengineering Frontier Conference, apparently you have to fill in for armed personnel?

Well, as I've already explained—

Your contract with them is about to expire, too.

Rhodes Island isn't what you think it is, Luli.

You still have chip on your shoulder about Iberia, don't you? Because of what happened to your grandfather?

Didn't you use to say that 'limitations on science are always set by <i>people</i>'?

Those were Abuelo's words. I tried very hard to convince him to leave Iberia, but he never did.

Science is the exploration of the unknown, but those who passionately throw themselves into it will find many locked drawers in front of them. The ocean, the Ægir, the Profound Silence...

No researcher could possibly enjoy an Iberia like that.

But Weedy, the tide has come ashore, reaching up to Iberia's ankles, and threatens to drown all of it.

So I've heard from our newer Iberian operators.

We can demand that the Inquisition release your grandfather's research. After all, it's closely linked to the maritime engineering project they sent over.

Iberia needs to seek change. The locks on those drawers are opening up, one by one.

I know.

But I can't go back with you right now.

Why not?

For the reason you brought up before tossing it aside: I need to stay at Rhodes Island.

Abuelo hated Iberia, and he hated the Inquisition, for laying waste to his life's work in an instant.

But he wouldn't leave the country, even after his research license was revoked.

I thought it was because he was old and didn't feel like going through the effort of starting over.

But there's no such thing as a utopia for scientific freedom. Far too many scientists have died in exile.

Later, I began to understand that he simply wanted to keep defending what he loved doing. He was waiting for the locks to open, to pick his research back up.

Science is the exploration of the unknown, Weedy.

There will always be blanks, and places that are off-limits.

One blank gets filled in, and another appears. The frontiers are endless.

And no matter where you go, there will always be somewhere off-limits.

Limitations on science are always set by people, but it's also people who break those restraints. Passionate people.

Congratulations. You passed our tests. Welcome to the team.

You say tests... It was one interview.

Eh, we're a start-up. We need all the talent we can get.

It took a lot of convincing to get Amiya to set up a bioengineering lab. You're the only member right now, so we're counting on you to make something of it! No pressure.

Of course, we'll give you all the support we can, in terms of funding, equipment, experiments... Anything you need, just say the word.

Just one thing... do you think we could negotiate on your requirement to wash our hands an average of 10 times every 3 hours?

Hey, what's with that look on your face?

The operation went well.

Great.

It's all thanks to your help fixing the sickbay's automation equipment.

I'm really sorry we had to call you back like this. That was an important conference, wasn't it? You spent so much time on that thesis.

It's okay. All five Infected are out of danger, right?

Yes.

Good.

By the way, there's a child who wants to chat with your bionic seadragon. She says you promised her before the operation.

Right. I'll head in now.

Are you sure? You must be tired.

Sorry, I should've been more careful. You hurt anywhere?

I'm fine.

You could just focus on your experiments, you know.

Weren't you the one who said I needed to build up my constitution?

What I mean is you don't have to fight.

Surgery and experiments can solve only a small part of the Oripathy problem, as—

Enough lectures, sheesh. Just stay behind me, alright? The battlefield can be chaotic, but I'll take out all the enemies before you're in any danger.

Don't underestimate an industrial water cannon.

I'm staying at Rhodes Island for the same reason that Abuelo wouldn't leave his lab, and the same reason you've chosen to return to Iberia.

It's not because I'm afraid of restrictions in a far-away land, but because there's something here that I'm passionate about, which I feel is important to carry on.

Excuse me, miss...

Closure?!

Please Weedy, won't you reconsider?

Reconsider... what?

You know how excited Blaze gets in battle. She didn't mean it.

And you know I get a little hare-brained when things get busy.

I didn't reject those funding applications you sent last week, I just misplaced them!

Heck, I still remember the titles! 'Connecting Heterogenous Arts Units,' 'Reengineering Ægir Maritime Technology Through Lighthouse Components'... they have a lot of potential.

(Maritime technology...)

Misplaced?

You signed them on the spot and handed them back to me. Did you forget?