And also, the last record of the Wrights' final flight.
Kristen
No one has questioned this limit.
Kristen
Nobody is angry, confused, or curious about it.
Kristen
People live on this pea wrapped so softly in a its pod, and couldn't care any less.
Nasti
And thus, came the shabby poem from an Ursine poet centuries ago.
Kristen
'Starpod'.
Nasti
Hmph. A romantic name for the barrier.
Nasti
I've read through every paper related to the subject of barriers, those sloppy theories formulated by Victorian and Leithanian scholars...
Nasti
'Analysis on Pressure in Space,' 'Theory on Density Differentials between the Barrier and Outside Matter' ...Old, outdated, and full of holes.
Nasti
Those Columbian academics announcing their 'pioneer's spirit' merely tinker with that garbage. Then you get the occasional novel theory put out by younger scholars in academic journals.
Nasti
But they spend way more energy getting tenure and research grants than looking at the sky.
Nasti
Oh, by the way. The test platform we launched the other day has already fallen back to the ground, due to the same old problems with the barrier.
Nasti
The sudden change in basic aerodynamics, massive disruption to the Originium Zone, and the extremely rapid decay of any exogenous power.
Kristen
What about the results of the data analysis from the Transmitter?
Nasti
The batch from the re-adjusted ones are solid.
Nasti
I've also already laid out all the energy cables, and connected them to the port you mentioned previously.
Nasti
But, Kristen. You're well aware of just how much energy you'll need for this.
Nasti
The theory is sound, however...
Kristen
That won't be a problem.
Nasti
Alright.
Nasti
The test platform's crash landing has caused us some trouble, and the military is burning with anxiety over your disappearance.
Nasti
Kristen, whatever their next step may be, death might be the most merciful outcome.
Kristen
I wouldn't even consider that a price to pay at all.
Kristen
Nasti, do you like stargazing?
Nasti
No.
Nasti
Staring at something out reach just makes me feel empty.
Kristen
And yet, sometimes the unreachable can become a signboard for you.
Kristen
You are indeed right on one thing.
Kristen
Death is only the most merciful outcome.
Nasti
Then I hope you don't die before giving me what you promised, Control.
Let me guess... the agent you sent to watch Kristen has gone MIA, and you've suppressed the news.
Ferdinand
Your superiors aren't worried about your agents being silenced by Kristen, but rather, they might have signed on with her and betrayed the country.
Ferdinand
And they're probably even wondering, have you betrayed the country too?
Ferdinand
It's no wonder you've been racing to find Kristen.
Blake
......
Blake
My last tour was in Bolívar.
Blake
In the late forties, the coalition government backed by the DOD was bumbling around like toddlers in its own jurisdiction, and our intervention policy for the Bolívarian Civil War was deemed a failure.
Blake
The DOD's rep has fallen so low in the eyes of our people, the General even handed over control of the armed forces....
Ferdinand
......
Blake
The DOD needs 'Arc-01' to restore its image and regain the trust of the people. And I also need it to prove myself worthy of plucking the General's medals out of the dust.
Blake
So yeah, it is my last chance.
Blake
But you can lay off the clownery for now, Ferdinand.
Ferdinand
Come on, Colonel. Who are you even trying to fool with all that?
Ferdinand
This isn't enough of a reason for the DOD to go so far. And definitely not enough to stake your life on it.
Blake
Hey, don't you always brag about being as smart as Kristen? Why not use that clever scientist brain of yours and figure it out?
Ferdinand
......
Ferdinand
It's not like you don't know a thing about Kristen. Surely you ran a thorough check on her before handing the project over.
Ferdinand
The situation is pretty bad, but there's definitely a contingency plan at work, your reactions have been abnormal anyway.
Ferdinand
If your people haven't gone crazy, then it only comes down to this...
Ferdinand
Kristen isn't the actual reason.
Ferdinand
No, she's just a fuse.
Ferdinand suddenly looks up at Blake, his eyes full of astonishment.
He has come to a conclusion he can barely believe himself.
Ferdinand
You didn't meet the Vice President to talk about Kristen... what you wanted was a mood.
Blake
......
Blake
The Wrights were a pair of lunatics, squandering the nation's tax money on ridiculous notions like challenging the sky.
Blake
And all they gave back to the country was a little lunatic by the name of Kristen Wright.
Ferdinand
......
Blake
Ferdinand, I respect men of your caliber.
Blake
Usually, it's your type disrespecting the nation.
Blake
Am I wrong? I can't imagine the 'meteor' that fell from the sky having any motive beyond an attempt to provoke us.
Blake
The most generous motive I can imagine is her selling the data to another country. She holds a weapon capable of seriously damaging a nomadic city. And the military handed it right to her.
Blake
Or the worst, she actually wants to avenge her parents.
Blake
She wants to point 'Arc-01' right at D.C., she plans to destroy the Columbia that, in her eyes, treated her parents so unfairly...
Blake
We've already seen enough to make people wonder if they were born in the wrong era.
Ferdinand
......
Blake
Hell, the scarier thing is, doesn't Jackson know about all this? Don't those Maylander agents know too?
Blake
Guess how much he already knew about Kristen, me, and you before I even walked into his room?
Blake
But he still chose to put it off.
Blake
I won't sugarcoat it.
Blake
From the moment we lost Bolívar, the coalition government has spared no effort in suppressing the military.
Blake
Our current state of affairs is, to them, an excellent weapon.
Blake
It doesn't matter if Kristen is exacting revenge or betrayal, what's important is that this is a scandal for the DOD.
Blake
And the losses brought on by it seems to be an acceptable cost to them.
Blake
Do you want to be part of that cost, Ferdinand?
Ferdinand
Do I even get to choose?
Blake
If you didn't figure it out just now, you might have.
Blake
So you can one, use your connection with me, and just wait till we've recovered 'Arc-01,' when the military will coincidentally be hiring a new scientific advisor...
Blake
Or two, die here with me, and be swept into the trashcan of history together.
Ferdinand stares at the soldier before him, confirming he's seen something in the man's eyes.
Whether pure banter or a real crisis... silence has connected the two.
Ferdinand
...I get it, Colonel.
Blake
The Vice President has already broadcast live to every citizen that Columbia is about to enter a new era.
Blake
But accidents are inevitable on the way to said era.
Blake
I believe he'll dedicate everything he has to realize this for Columbia.
So that's the situation over there near the Triton factory. The parts regarding Kristen are just my own guesswork.
Kal'tsit
Judging by the military's response, that seems to hold enough water.
Kal'tsit
A superweapon that the government hopes to use to re-assert power, or Kristen herself having other plans...
Kal'tsit
Trimounts is indeed working on a secret mega project using energy at its core, with unimaginable destructive power, yet to be scientifically tested... and it's nearing completion.
Saria
That's what I'm worried about as well.
Kal'tsit
Saria, has there ever been a mass blackout in Trimounts?
Saria
Hmm? Never.
Saria
Trimounts has separate power grids for residential and commercial use, and each of their power reserves alone is enough allow all the facilities in the entire city to operate normally for several months.
Saria
Moreover, Trimounts has a booming technology industry, with dozens of companies dedicated to developing new forms of energy, and nearby mobile industrial platforms regularly borrow energy from the city.
Saria
......
Kal'tsit looks out the window.
The skyscraper in the distance with its gigantic glass facade frames a billow of clouds, its surface crystal clear, like a leaf full of dewdrops.
Indeed, it is just a leaf.
Her gaze expands, and the building quickly disappears into a nest of countless skyscrapers: exhibitions on science and technology interspersed with expo halls, and other specialized buildings scattered around at random, like a bacterial colony in a forest.
But, as she raises her head, the vast sky dwarfs the city, and Trimounts is only a leaf.
Kal'tsit
No matter if it's a superweapon ordered by the military, or an unknown object that Kristen has other plans for...
Kal'tsit
The amount of energy and precision required for the 'Horizon Arc Project' is beyond the scope of our imaginations.
Kal'tsit
Energy consumption and navigation accuracy are issues they must solve.
Saria
So you're implying...
Kal'tsit
I don't know how the Columbian military has assessed the situation, or how Kristen has pulled the wool over their eyes.
Kal'tsit
Even if she were able to solve the issue of precision, my judgement is that it cannot support energy concentration on such a scale, even if you use all of Trimounts's energy reserves.
Kal'tsit
Once you start such a huge project, it should drain Trimounts's energy in an extremely short span of time, like stuffing a giant sponge into a glass of water.
Kal'tsit
Even if Kristen's talents and vision are far beyond the present, the current state of science and technology should not be able to realize such a concept.
Saria
But she is by no means a simple mad scientist indulging her delusions.
Stop eavesdropping. The door's soundproofed.Stop eavesdropping. They're going to find out.
Ifrit
It's gotta be about the factory that went kaboom, right? Saria looked kinda serious. Does this have something to do with Rhine?
Ifrit
Doctor, is Silence in Trimounts, too? Can we bring her here?
......
Ifrit
Doctor, why are you frowning like that?
Ifrit
Oh, I get it. You still blame Kal'tsit for bringing Rosmontis and me here.
Ifrit
We decided to come on our own. I've been here before. I can even be your tour guide!
......
Rosmontis, you're looking at the letter again. Are you okay?
Rosmontis
He invited me to come back here...
The Feline girl is still holding that thin envelope in her hands. Five minutes ago, she opened it and quietly read the letter again, before stuffing it back inside a minute ago.
She lifts her head up to look at you. There doesn't seem to be any particular emotion in her eyes, but you notice something unmistakable nonetheless...
She is trying to comfort herself, almost like she is trying to smooth out a small, wrinkled piece of paper under the school desk without attracting anyone's attention.
You can feel that she is confused, maybe even in pain.
Rosmontis
I forgot again, Doctor.
Rosmontis
Can coming back here help me remember what I forgot? What did I forget...?
Rosmontis
I should have it written down... I'm sure I know.
Rosmontis, relax...Rosmontis, slow down.Rosmontis, why don't we take a little nap?
Rosmontis
......
If it hurts, we can go back to Rhodes Island, right now.Sometimes, you can turn down invitations.
Rosmontis
I think I should stay.
Control your power. Don't force yourself to think. Okay?
We have little time to spare, but these should help.
Kal'tsit
The Energy Section's project and construction plans and reports from the past ten years, Energy and Originium Art Sections' experiment records...
Kal'tsit
The Scientific Investigation Section's expedition reports and data archives.
Kal'tsit
It's a lot thicker than I imagined.
Saria
Their position within Rhine Lab is rather unique.
Saria
From the corporative perspectives of cost performance and efficiency, their contributions to the company are negligible. They shouldn't even be one of Rhine's ten sections.
Saria
And even though it doesn't rival what the core laboratories like Energy and Structural get, the budget that Rhine Lab allocates to polar field research and surveying technologies every year is no small amount...
Saria
In fact, you could say they're throwing huge amounts of money at them.
Kal'tsit
They collect and analyze seismic data from the Kazimierzian highlands surrounded by mountains in regular intervals, and have built close to ten scientific research stations in the endless icefields of Sami.
Kal'tsit
They frequently travel to Columbia's great lakes, as well as the lowland deserts in the south, for their investigations, and even seek to thoroughly explore the ruins of the abandoned cities in the Bleached Wasteland...
Kal'tsit
Only a few know that the dust kicked up by pioneering young Columbia is much older than the sands of Sargon.
Kal'tsit
These scientists have not been measuring the boundaries of this world in the spirit of exploration. Rather, they are looking for something.
Kal'tsit
These last few pages are all about Trimounts.
Saria
Trimounts? Why would Scientific Investigation need to factor in the location of Headquarters...?
Kal'tsit
Every project I've checked so far has an immediate sign-off from Rhine Control.
Saria
Kristen...
Kal'tsit
And so, did this farce just happen to take place in Trimounts? Or maybe... it could only happen here...?
Saria
I would prefer to see some evidence rather than hear more of your roundabout explanations.
Kal'tsit
I have some rough conjectures, but the clues are all a mess, and our present information is inadequate to serve as actual evidence.
It's a new suit the Originium Art Section developed. I made a few adjustments, and it should fit you okay now.
Jara
And I'm sure you know how to test out the new drone equipment.
Silence
Yes.
Jara
Come here. Let me help you put the contacts in.
Silence
Okay.
Jara
That'll do it. Stand up and take a look around.
Jara
Great. You're like a completely different person.
Jara
How are the contacts?
Silence
I'm not quite used to them yet.
Silence
But it's nice to go without weight on my nose.
Jara
I have to say, you look sharper without your glasses.
Jara
I'm sure your friends will be shocked as soon as they see you.
Silence
I'd rather surprise them another way.
Jara
Such as...?
Silence
Say... my personality.
Jara
You seize the day and work toward that. Don't underestimate what a little makeover can accomplish.
Silence
I'll try my best.
Jara
Besides, the lockdown isn't going to end anytime soon. The soldiers stopped you once, and it won't be easy to get around now that they've seen you.
Jara
Get a makeover, and upgrade your equipment while you are at it. Two fowls with one stone.
Silence
Thank you.
Silence
It doesn't look like anyone's been here the last couple days... You came to District 13 for a reason today.
Jara
I actually bought this as a vacation home, but with how busy my workers have been lately, I haven't had much time for rest. HR Director and all.
Silence
I just located a Transmitter from Site 359 near the scene. Are you here to recover it? What does Transmitter have to do with the Triton Factory explosion?
Silence
No, Dorothy wouldn't need a low-level researcher like me if you were already on the case.
Silence
Ferdinand is out of the picture, but maybe there are other Sections who want Transmitter for their experiments?
Silence
I also saw Saria there... Just how many Rhine Lab personnel are involved in this?
Jara
You're asking too many questions in one go, Silence.
Jara
And unfortunately, I can't answer them.
Jara
You should be well aware of Rhine Lab's organizational structure. The departments under General Affairs are only responsible for providing support to the Scientific Research Sections.
Jara
Originium Art, Energy, or whatever, Human Resource Investigation has never interfered in any of their research projects... I've never been a researcher myself, after all.
Silence
...
Silence
My mentor told me some stories about you and Control.
Silence
Before joining Rhine Lab, you were the most eccentric and yet, the most successful investor in Trimounts.
Silence
You've never attended a single meeting, read a proposal, or listened to a project briefing, but the projects you endorse always miraculously succeed.
Silence
There's no need for you to be attached to a company. On the contrary, he said you might even become a tech pioneer to steer the course of the nation.
Silence
But after Control had one meeting with you, you announced you were joining Rhine Lab the very next day.
Jara
The business world is always brimming with delicately packaged myths and legends.
Jara
The outside world is full of speculation, but at my age, I don't Kristen to promise me anything. I only wanted to stay and watch her patch up a few regrets.
Jara
Some her own, and some mine.
Jara
And well, that girl... I'm not sure where exactly she is now.
Silence
......
Jara
You performed very well at Site 359. You cleaned up after Dorothy, and followed the trail all the way here to recover the Transmitter. Honestly, that's remarkable.
Jara
But the Site 359 Incident ends here, and whatever follows is already beyond the scope of both your responsibilities and abilities. You're done here.
Silence
What if I disagree, Director Jara?
Jara
Oh, let's not be rash now, I have no intention of getting in your way.
Silence
I don't understand... You won't tell me the truth, so why are you still helping me?
Jara
Do you remember your first day at work?
Jara
You're so reserved, but you still managed to talk non-stop for half an hour.
Jara
I was only responsible for checking your background and qualifications, you know. While I handled that, Parvis had already scored your employment exam. With high numbers.
Silence
Then why didn't you interrupt me...?
Jara
Because you're such an earnest woman, Silence.
Jara
I have a lot of respect for serious scientists, same as Rhine Lab.
Jara
No matter how far Kristen and the go, no matter what Rhine Lab may become... we'll always need young people like you to take over the reins someday. You are Rhine's future.
Jara
As HR Director, my job is to protect our employees as best I can, so I advise you to leave now.
Jara
But if you have to see it all happen with your own eyes to make your preparations and choices, then I won't hold you back either.
Jara
That's all.
Silence
Then, I'll earnestly inform you... that I'm going to continue my investigation.
The very moment the impact force reaches you, you instinctively take the Feline girl's hand.
Evidently, she mistakes it for you being agitated about something. She relaxes her tightly clenched fists, carries you in her arms, and starts running away.
At the same time, the fiery Savra girl dashes in the other direction, her flames howling.
Ifrit
Leave this to me!
Ifrit
Rosmontis, you protect the Doctor.
Ifrit
I'll melt all these big metal things with my flames.
???
Out of the way, Ifrit.
A shadow steps in front of Ifrit.
A thick wall of calcium crystals unfolds before her in an instant, blocking the power armor's onslaught. A burst of intense clashing fills the room, leaving a low, lingering hum in the air.
