Collaborating businesses have received notice. As per the agreement clauses, they can either seek an office in another city nearby, or terminate the contract.
Operator Oliver
*Sigh*. Looking at it, these aren't losses for us to sneeze at.
Outcast
Rhodes Island isn't the only company taking a hit in the chaos of war.
Operator Oliver
True, no way around that. I just look at the chairs and tables in here and there's a twinge in my heart. This place of ours was still empty, back when I first came to County Hillock.
Outcast
A little early for separation anxiety, Oliver. How do you know we won't be right back, huh?
Operator Oliver
You're right. *Sigh*. I hope this city can return to the old peaceful everydays soon enough.
Operator Shredder
Storehouse medications, inventory finished.
Outcast
I need you to ration out these meds. Each one of you needs to bring enough emergency medication, make sure everyone makes it smoothly to the closest branch office.
Operator Shredder
There's still a lot left over, sharing like that.
Operator Oliver
There'll be some pressure if we take it all. We don't have that many hands, after all.
Outcast
Shredder's quiet as ever, but I can tell, you have your own ideas.
Operator Shredder
The people in the city... They need medicines.
Outcast
Turns out I think so too. If this war scales up, everything's gonna be in short supply, especially Oripathy painkillers and suppressants that need to be taken long-term.
Outcast
You must have a list of hospitals in the area?
Operator Shredder
Already sorted.
Outcast
Think of a way to get it to them. No matter who these organizations serve, get as much as you can to all of them.
Outcast
And don't forget the little alley clinics. Plenty of them out there without signs, but a lot of our friends around here rely on them.
Operator Oliver
Lass, is this really proper? We never bypass local healthcare, directly providing medical organizations and individuals with pharmaceuticals.
Outcast
Desperate times call for desperate measures. And it's not like a hospital's gonna refuse an 'anonymous donation' from concerned citizens, right?
Operator Oliver
True! So you got it all figured out, eh. But then, who'll take charge of sending it? The people around all know we're Rhodes Islanders.
Janie
I will... I can help Shredder parcel the medicine, and then I'll deliver it.
Outcast
Jane, you all better?
Janie
My wounds aren't bleeding anymore.
Outcast
You know I'm not asking about the wounds.
Janie
I didn't want to be tucked alone in a corner crying while you were all bustling about.
Outcast
I'm glad you can help, but we've got a lot of meds here.
Janie
Please, trust a Vouivre's stamina.
Outcast
I just don't want Rhodes Island work getting in the way of your own plans.
Janie
It's alright. From here to the zone of battle, there just so happens to be plenty of hospitals and clinics along the way.
Janie
Once I'm done delivering, I'll rejoin you.
Janie
Just a little left. We'll be done with wrapping in no time.
Outcast
Then it's about time we got on our way.
As Outcast speaks, she draws a revolver from the holster at her side.
Operator Oliver
Whoa. That's your gun?
Outcast
That it is.
Outcast
For a Sankta, pre-op prep's only complete once your gun's loaded.
Operator Oliver
It doesn't look like your chamber's full.
Outcast
Under normal circumstances, five rounds is enough to do the trick.
Operator Oliver
When I was back at the landship and ate with Barty's group, I heard a lot of stories from the field about you.
Operator Oliver
You once took down three Columbian bandits with a single bullet, and used three to scatter a whole mercenary team.
Operator Oliver
If I had to guess, there wouldn't be an enemy out there worth six straight shots?
Outcast
Can't say for sure. After all, there's always a bigger beast.
Outcast
But I made a promise to someone that I'd never fire a sixth round lightly—because we made a bet.
Janie
I can't help but be curious. What kind of bet would make someone like you change up how you work?
Outcast
That's a long story.
Outcast
The short version is that friend of mine tried every way under the sun to show me an easy retirement.
Outcast
And I always had a feeling that even if I retired for real, someone like me just couldn't live peaceful.
Janie
Like right now?
Janie
I never imagined County Hillock could turn so restless. It was just a day or two ago, we were all huddled together playing cards and drinking tea...
Outcast
A lot of times, a situation's like the color of the sky, shifting on and on.
Outcast
If it's up to me, I'd sure like this retreat operation to go nice and quiet-like. Best case scenario, I don't even need to fire one round.
Operator Shredder
...Lass, it's all ready.
Janie
Friends, it's time to say goodbye.
Operator Oliver
Janie...
Janie
You don't need to be so sad, Uncle Oliver. I trust in what Outcast says—we can surely see each other again!
Operator Shredder
Jane, be careful.
Janie
I will, Shredder. All of you too, be sure to take care of yourselves.
Janie
Oh... did I hear thunder?
Operator Shredder
...It'll be raining soon enough.
Outcast
No. Something's not right about that sound. Jane, stay inside for now!
Agh! Yes, I'm here, I'm here! Stop it with the banging! There's too much lampblack on our office door. Can't stand up to knocks.
Bagpipe
Okay, good, you're still here... here's the thing, I need a Messenger, we've got important information that needs sendin' out!
Chef MacMartin
Yeah, I understand. Fancy that, I've got something to give to you too.
Bagpipe
Eh? What's this? A piece of... paper?
Chef MacMartin
It's a list of stationed officers—the one named Louis Kelly, he just handed it to me.
Bagpipe
Captain Kelly? How'd he get in touch with you?
Chef MacMartin
Relax, he's got no clue who I am. It was only 'cause I was the last person he ran into.
Chef MacMartin
I was going to go poking around for the latest. Still remember my actual job, after all... Didn't imagine I'd run into the troops arresting him!
Bagpipe
Arrestin'... him? You mean, Captain Kelly's been arrested by his own?!
Chef MacMartin
They said he was harboring Oripathics! But that can't be right. His son passed from Oripathy a few months ago, the whole city knows that. The first thing he did was report the news his son'd gotten ill!
Bagpipe
These people... usin' such a tragic illness as an excuse? That's beyond shameless!
Chef MacMartin
Not just once or twice, either. For people wanting to use any form of discrimination as a front, it's true, Oripathy is an especially good pretense.
Chef MacMartin
Just take this time. The troops are weeding out any inside people born Taran.
Chef MacMartin
Officers or soldiers, so long as they were kindred with Tarans in some way, were stripped overnight of any right to act freely.
Bagpipe
Clearin' out the barracks' Tarans? In wartime, pressed for people? I've got an awful feelin' about this already.
Chef MacMartin
So, Captain Kelly slipped me this like his life depended on it, wanted me to give it to 'the soldier not from this barracks who's constantly been hanging around here as of late'—
Bagpipe
—!
Bagpipe
Mr. Chef, this is proof the barracks are makin' illegal Originium weapons!
Chef MacMartin
What?! Hamilton's lost his mind!
Bagpipe
I want you to find a trustworthy Messenger, give 'em this paper and our report about the spectre force both, to be treated as vital intelligence, and taken out of County Hillock straight away!
Bagpipe
This is the Captain's endeavor in his final moment! We cannot waste it!
Chef MacMartin
Can't do that. This information's too important, and we can't rely on a civilian Messenger. How about this instead, Miss—I'll make this trip myself.
Bagpipe
Mr. Chef, you were a Messenger too?
Messenger MacMartin
Don't forget, passing on information's part of us lamplighters' profession too. Ah, finally, I can take on a decent assignment at long last. Excitement's got my hands and legs shaking.
Bagpipe
Wait, hold on, there's some sound outside...
Messenger MacMartin
It's lightning, isn't it?
Bagpipe
I'm feelin' doubtful about that.
Messenger MacMartin
It's fine, I've been here in County Hillock how many years now. The weather changes when it wants to. Used to it at this point.
Messenger MacMartin
A little lightning and rain can't hold me back! I'm off!
Countless shells come down with the rain, exploding the moment they contact the ground and walls.
The blast waves tear effortlessly through the gel material, blisteringly and ferociously melting the metal makeup, but the more fearsome thing takes advantage of the illness that bores beneath the city's muscle and bone—
Incomplete combustion sees immense formations of Originium crystal, solidifying dense within the open wounds of streets and buildings, as if in the dirty rain, identically and rapidly, bloom pure black flowers.
