Shadow of a Doubt

No need. You can listen in.

Apologies for calling this late, Mr. Cliff. We've put the reserve funds in storage, and I'd like to thank everyone for escorting them all this way.

No need to thank us for fulfilling our contract. Also, I'd rather discuss what comes next—the towing—in person.

When will you be free? Tomorrow at noon?

Sure, I'll have my secretary arrange it.

I'd also like to ask another question, if you don't mind.

Go ahead.

I'm wondering... how do you plan to handle the townsfolk who participated in last night's unrest?

We've detained the ones we caught on the landship for the time being, and we're currently tracking down the rest.

Tsk... Those thugs were already giving us a headache. They're in dire straits financially, and now they've turned to robbing others.

You sound pretty familiar with them.

Yes, they're all old acquaintances on the bank's debtor list.

Mind if we take a look at that?

Of course not. If you're going to look into the matter, you should start with these people.

Thanks for bringing him over last night, Jessica.

Is Leone alright? Benny's gone, and then his house, the only thing he had left, burned down in that fire. He...

He didn't say anything... Fell asleep as soon as I treated his wounds.

He's lucky he spends his nights getting wasted on the streets instead of sleeping in bed.

That's enough out of you, Woody.

...

Fine, I'll go check on him.

Jessica... weren't you outside welcoming the landship yesterday? Why'd you come back all of a sudden?

Actually, Woodrow... I was looking for you, but I saw smoke coming from Leone's house, so I went there first.

For me? What for?

Ever since I got here... I've been worrying nonstop about the landship's arrival.

But that's your company. Ain't it a good thing? Now you've got an entire fortress of your buddies to take over any problems y'all have been facing.

But... that doesn't mean Blacksteel being here will be good for the people of the plate.

Nomadic platforms are expensive to build and an extremely scarce resource, so the government won't just discard them. They'll probably refurbish the plate, upgrading it and integrating it into a larger settlement.

Still not seeing the downside.

But they don't want the residents to stay, so they're doing everything they can to make them leave on their own...

...

That's why the bank's here.

They've recovered a lot of the fallen platform's assets through loan contracts and risky ventures, and they've sent a lot of people to the frontier too.

Methods like these are perfectly legal... there's nothing for us to object to.

Are the people really gonna take it though?

Maybe they don't have a choice...? You've been here a lot longer than I have, so I'm sure you know better than I do.

Heh, we still have a few tough nuts to crack.

...Which is why they've engaged a mercenary group like Blacksteel.

And what about after your undoubtedly thorough investigation? Do you plan to keep the detainees at Fort Barron?

I may as well ask how you've dealt with them in the past.

We used to ship guys like them off to the frontier, when we still had police.

Then we'll do the same.

Thank you for doing all this for us.

It's no big deal. Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow.

Hold on. Could I make a small request? Could we have additional security deployed at the bank?

No problem. I'll have my subordinates make any further arrangements.

Right. See you tomorrow then.

...

What do you think, Tila?

That we're getting our hands dirty again.

What else can they do? They're all respectable people who can't sully their reputations. So it's up to us mercs to be the bad guys.

So how should we handle that last request from the bank?

Did they suffer any damage last night?

Just some obscene graffiti scrawled all over the building.

Whatever... Emotional damage counts as damage too. Just dispatch some people familiar with the situation.

The important thing for now is to figure out how to clear all these irrelevants off the board before the plate starts moving.

So... your landship ain't here just to tow the plate away, is it?

Helping the bank evict debtors and recover non-performing assets are both on the to-do list.

As for the methods... I don't think they'll leave any room for concessions.

...And what do you want me to do about it?

Before I came here, someone asked me to bring a bullet to you.

A bullet?

...Who?

My boss, 'Clip' Cliff.

And who's that?

When I was looking for you that day, there was an open drawer with a photo inside. Cliff is the man who had his arm around your shoulder.

...So he changed his name. Huh. And now he's your boss.

I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to look.

But if you have a history with each other, then maybe you could have a word with him? I don't know...

If there's anyone he'd listen to, it's you, right? I really don't have any other ideas...

Jessica, I appreciate you helping out Leone, Helena, and who knows who else. But I just can't wrap my head around why you're being so stubborn about this.

You're a merc. You've got no duty to us. You don't have to stick your nose into every little thing you see.

Back in Victoria, I... sat back and just let things happen. And it ended horribly...

It was all my fault.

...

Thanks for bringing me the bullet. I've been looking for it for a long, long time now.

You should get back to your friends first. Some things, all I can do is give it my best shot.

But...

Woody—!

The bed's empty, Woody! Did Leone go out?

I ran into him this morning. He's off looking for Miles.

Then why didn't you tell me earlier—

Let's just say... I forgot.

Come again?

My apologies, sir, but this place has been sealed off and no one's allowed in or out.

What do you mean no one's allowed in or out? I spent half my life here! Let me through!

I'm sorry, sir.

Hey, wait—what are you doing to me?

This...

Please forgive me, sir. But this is my job.

Get your ass back here—

Leone?

Miles? I was just about to go in there looking for you! You alright after that huge mess last night?

I'm good, but... what's with the huge wound on your head?

I ran into that gang of troublemakers yesterday, and... we exchanged a few blows. Why aren't you in the tower?

Those people barged in here after things quieted down. Said Blacksteel would be taking over the maintenance work and 'kindly escorted' me out.

They do anything to you?

(Glances at the mercenary standing guard) No...

Let's get out of here first. Not exactly the best place to talk.

Leave the door open, Leone. We have to get back to the plant later.

How can anyone get in there with their eyes all over the place?

I know an abandoned path into the tower, hasn't been used in years.

Then let's get going.

What's the rush? I need to fetch some tools to clear the road, among other things...

Need any help?

Don't bother, I got everything here. Let's go.

*cough* *cough*

There's so much dust here. Just how long has this path been here?

Has to be at least thirty years since anyone last came through here... *cough* *cough*

Shh. Keep it down, Laura. We just wanna take a look around. Won't be long.

Fine... I'll let you know if the patrol comes around, but keep it quick.

...Lucky we ran into her, and not anyone else.

*sigh*

What are you doing? There's already fuel in there, so why throw in more stuff to burn?

Remember what happened in July? So many people finally caved in and signed agreements to go to the frontier.

...How could I forget?

Well, the bank's been putting on the pressure again, and this time there's even more people talking about it.

I asked a few families and some of 'em are already waiting for the frontier convoys. Others still want to hold out here, but... how long can they keep it up?

Just get to the point, Miles.

...I'm planning to leave too. No one needs the Davistown mine no more. Even if they fix up the plate, no one's gonna care about us miners. Without jobs, we'll all end up leaving in disgrace anyhow.

So, y'know... Come with me, Leone.

Maybe you're right, but I still ain't leaving.

...Yup, that's the Leone I know.

So is that why you wanted to come here? Just to tell me that?

No, I came because I wanted to... burn what needs burning, I guess. Before I leave.

Wait, but there's so many photos of people in that album. You plan on burning all those too?

I ain't like you, Leone. I don't wanna spend the rest of my life here.

I figured you were just dead-drunk when you said that last time...

I had a notion of leaving this town even when I was young, but no way my parents could take care of all my younger siblings on their own. That's how I ended up stumbling into the mines in a stupor when I was fifteen.

My eyes were scorched by the heat and sweat of the boiler room, while the older guys bossed me around. I hated every goddamn minute of it, but could only press on through clenched teeth while thinking about my family.

And by the time I realized it, all I knew was taking care of the furnace. Didn't know any other way to live.

You never told me all this...

Leone. It hurt when Benny said he was leaving, but even then I felt he made the right choice.

So this has been a long time coming?

Yeah. Let him go before this plate ties him down. Maybe he can go to college. Ironforge City, Trimounts... anywhere's fine as long as it ain't here.

So you're saying I should be glad he got out in time?

This land here's been squeezed dry, Leone. And those guys from the government are just gonna abandon it entirely, or scoop in new soil from elsewhere...

To them, we're just old straw refusing to rot away. Nothing but trouble.

...Wait, what's that?

Why's there a photo of your family in there—

Benny must've left that one in. I wasn't too careful when packing it all up, sorry.

It's fine. Don't know why I wanted to grab it in the first place. Wonder how long it'll take these blisters to heal without treatment or medicine.

Sir, this must be a misunderstanding. I stayed home all night yesterday!

Please cooperate with us, ma'am.

Sir, please! Can't you talk your superiors into being a little flexible? How can I leave for the frontier mid-winter with a child in tow?!

It seems you do know where we're taking you. So please, just cooperate. We don't want to have to resort to force.

Nooo—!

Hey! What are you doing?!

And which squad are you from?

Jessica, Department of Equipment and Applied Technologies. Temporarily transferred to B.P.R.S's Liskarm Squad.

Oh, so you're that little princess I've heard so much about. An honor to meet you.

We're under orders to trace the source of last night's unrest. Locals with heavy debt are our prime suspects, so that's where we're starting our investigation.

Does your list include a single mom with a child too?

Just following orders. Besides, even if she's innocent we still have to repossess her mortgaged property.

Repossess mortgaged property... So this is why the boss had that word with me?

Listen, I don't see what the boss has to do with this, but I do know you're hindering my work here.

Don't you realize that you're doing the exact same thing as those gangsters you arrested?!

Orders, princess. Just following orders. Don't make me repeat myself.

Reporting. I've found the woman.

Sir... Please, I'm begging you...

Let that lady go!

What?

I—I said, let her go.

We're not the same as you, princess. We need these paychecks to eat.

Paychecks... paychecks!

Is your paycheck—No, no! I mean, I'm saying...

I... I can pay you!

What's this now? Bribery? Raythean's little lady is actually trying to bribe me?

Yes, I'm just a stupid little rich girl who throws money at all her problems, okay?!

Guess there's no need for professional integrity when you've got a family like that at your back. But me? I can only trade my conscience for cash at Blacksteel.

I'm glad you're so self aware, but it really doesn't matter. Just stop making things difficult for us lowly peasants.

If you've got money to burn, why not head on over to the bank and pay off all their debts?

You—

Easy there, princess. Take your finger off the trigger, yeah? I know you lost your head for a bit there, but we still have to act according to our stations.

Wh-What?