Week 20.1 - Doggedness
You put away your knife and vacuum without hesitation, but then your body stiffens as you walk to you mother with open arms.
"Ji-Min!" shouts Kwame. "What are you doing!?"
Katherine makes no moves and continues to observe close by, still armed and ready.
You hug your mother. If someone told you earlier that you'd hug her after she killed your teammate a moment ago in a District embroiled in war, you might've laughed.
"Ji-Min," mutters your mother. She hugs you tight.
If your mother wants to literally blow your head off or yank away your gas mask, this is her chance. All you can do is wait a few more seconds.
...
Your mother releases you, then raises her hands. You take her wrists and cuff them. Kwame places a gas mask over her head, then makes a call for prisoner transport. Before the transportation arrives, he goes into Blue Watt Workshop. Someone screams, which is cut short, and Kwame returns while holding a bloody U-Box with what you assume to be the collaborator's head.
W Corp. cars arrive, and the agents take your mother.
"I'll accompany her," you say.
"No," says Kwame. He hands his vacuum to an agent and instructs them to use it if your mother attempts to turn into smoke. "We need to report back to the Director. And I need to inform him of how you ignored my order to kill."
"What? That's my mother! And we're allowed to bring her back dead or alive!"
"She also surrendered," says Katherine. "We had the situation under control at that point. Or does W Corp. not accept surrenders?"
Kwame closes his eyes for a moment as the team gets into another car. "I don't doubt your sincerity, and W Corp. will benefit from her surrender. However, I don't want precedents for dumb behavior."
Katherine smiles. "Ji-Min isn't as dumb as Imamu."
The cars return without incident. While the agents escort your mother to Engineering, your team waits in the conference room.
The Director arrives and frowns. "Imamu."
Kwame nods.
"Report. I see that we captured the buyer."
He summarizes the mission up to the kill order, and then how you instead hugged your mother.
"Ji-Min." The Director snorts. "Unsurprising that you disegarded instructions. Defense?"
"Director," you say, "When I hugged her, the only person at risk was me. It was impossible for my mother, uh, the buyer, to escape. And I'm sure that, being alive, my mother... ugh, buyer, can provide more than just her memories; we can listen to her analysis and opinions on the inner workings of L Corp."
"Cohesion. If we allow every agent to come up with their own ideas and execute them, then the group falls apart. I'm not asking if you thought it was a good idea; I'm asking for your rationale to ignore an order."
"Uh..." you take a few seconds to think. You cannot afford for the Director to be angry with you, especially after losing Imamu. "My side project. I don't know if Kwame was aware or not, but I put a lot of effort into getting my mother to trust me."
Kwame shakes his head. "I know that you were asked to do something, but I lacked the details."
"Then I wouldn't expect him to know that specific detail for this specific mission. I can't confirm why my mother took the risk of acting as buyer, but the fact that it's her gave us an additional option. If the Captain lacks crucial knowledge about a situation, and it's completely not his fault, isn't it my duty to step up and act in our team's best interest?"
The Director sighs. "Accepted. Quick thinking isn't something to be discouraged, and I recognize that it was a rapidly-changing situation. However, do take care to balance your thoughts against your orders in the future. Does anyone have any comments?"
"My mother. Can I see her before Engineering does something... drastic?"
"Questioning will take a while, and I expect Engineering to keep her secured." The Director studies you for a moment. "I'll see what I can do. However, be prepared to accept her eventual brain surgery; once she runs out of information, her usefulness becomes limited. I expect that she'll make a fine supporting robot for your missions."
You swallow. Protesting will only offend the Director. "I understand. Thank you."
The next day, a train full of healing supplies is due to arrive.
"That's weird," asks Blaine. "Why does that make it a Schedule I? Is K Corp.'s healing Singularity of keeping the passengers healthy a problem?"
You and Chelsey look at each other and nod.
"When I talked about it with the night shift Captain, I got this schadenfreude smirk."
"And when I chatted with the night shift's last surviving Udjat agent, I was 'jokingly' asked if I wanted to relay any last words to Lady Dias."
Blaine forces a chuckle.
In the cab, you take one look at the situation through the midair panel. "Yeah, uh, this is an easy Rabbit Protocol."
You receive unanimous consent, excluding Rama's "no" vote spite. With no objections from Inspections, the crew takes a seat as a panel appears in the air.
During your mopping inspection, you notice that Lorine's car is clean and less green than the rest, something to be proud of.
"Lorine, what's wrong?"
Lorine's vacant stare reminds you of a student from Academy L who suffered a bullying incident too many.
"Lorine?"
He stares at a passenger pile of goop. "We're friends. You and me, not the passenger."
"Yeah. And as your friend, I'm worried that something is bothering you."
"The slimes killed all the Rabbits. What if that was us instead? It's like watching that game where the King Coals blow their lead at the top of the ninth inning during the playoffs. You can hear all the booing from the crowd and nobody cares that the Coals are stressed and-"
"Lorine?"
"-They all just yell, and you're wondering that if the Coals are struggling already, then how will they win the next-"
"Lorine!"
"What?"
"I get your point; you're worried about what might happen to us with all these tough passengers during a possibly long war. But we're friends, and we'll keep fighting together."
"I don't want to be benched. I don't want my life to be like Shula's when the other team nailed all his pitches and he never got to stand on the mound ever again. I-"
"I'm not benching you."
"Then let me ask a question. If you need to sacrifice someone else like Girish, who's chosen?"
Your glow dims.
"Because I think you'll get in trouble for sacrificing the players on someone else's team, and you and Blaine are best friends. What does that mean for me?"
"You're... my ally."
"So what? Before I came here, they all told me the same thing: to sit on the bench, that it's not because of a low evaluation. And since the Udjat won't replenish any fallen agents, it honestly doesn't matter to you whether I live or die."
"No, that's not true; I'd rather have you over a newcomer." You think of Naveed and how she was such a thorn. "I've been on this crew for a long time. I've seen a handful of coworkers who I'd rather leave to fend for themselves. Just as bad as Rama, and maybe even worse. If a passenger attacks you on that train, I promise that I'll protect you."
"That means I'm only better than a random agent."
"I mean, if you want to look for extreme situations where someone has to get sacrificed, I can't stop you." You hesitate. "Girish was an extreme situation. We're talking about last resorts."
Neither of you say anything for several seconds until Lorine speaks. "Was I supposed to add a response?"
You shake your head, then something else comes to your mind. "If it helps, I had a similar experience. We're friends, so I'll let you in on a secret about the team dynamics of my asset work. Not even Blaine knows."
That gets Lorine's attention.
"To be honest, we had an extreme situation yesterday where the Director himself nearly selected me to bear a major risk. It took Katherine and I some serious effort for me to be evaluated slightly higher than the other asset."
"The Director himself thinks you're useless? That's strange, because you're the most valuable agent on the crew."
"It all depends on the context, and I won't allow any context that calls for your sacrifice."
"Thank you. I do feel better after hearing about your asset work."
Back at your hotel room later that week in the evening, you check through your wPhone. You read a message from Kimber asking that you and Chelsey cover for him later next week.
Chelsey groans. "Kimberrrr..."
You check the recipients and notice that Kimber CC'ed the crew. "Any idea what he's up to?"
"He's worried about his dogs. Obviously, it's hard to find a dogsitter in the middle of a war, plus he insists on feeding them some sort of special meat." She sighs. "Well, I owe him for saving my life, so I better give it my all. At least there's nothing worse than a Schedule II."
Someone knocks on the door. "Going for dinner," says Irmtraud.
"I'm back too!" says Blaine.
Chelsey opens the door. "Hey!"
"Blaine," says Irmtraud, "sure that you don't want to join us?"
"Aah, you guys go on ahead." Blaine steps inside while Chelsey steps out. "I'll catch up in a few minutes."
Irmtraud waves. "See you in a few, then." She closes the door, leaving you and Blaine alone.
Blaine takes a seat on the chair and sighs.
"Can you share why the Branch Manager held up you two and Kimber?"
"Nope. But do you mind if we step outside? It's stifling in here." Blaine grins and mouths cameras.
You nod, then put on your gas mask and walk with Blaine to the hotel parking lot, currently with little smoke, where you both speak in hushed voices.
"We met individually," says Blaine. "Our dear Branch Manager offered me money to spy on you. I totally pissed him off already once before, and I do need the cash, so I agreed. You understand, right?"
"I do, but is this not a dangerous game that you're playing?"
"Thanks for worrying, but aren't you the one who set up the board?"
"Uh..."
"I'm not accusing!" says Blaine. "And I mean, this whole thing started because you saved my life. But if I play my cards right, I might be able to solve my household financial situation. I'll also be in a better position to help my friend and ally: you."
"Thanks," you say. "Uh, need help? Like, coming up with trivia to placate him, such as how 'paranoid' I'm becoming because my crew keeps meeting with him?"
"I'd appreciate it. Just so you know, if I start making excuses to stay late like today, it's to meet with the Branch Manager."
"Was he asking the same thing from Irmtraud and Kimber?"
"Actually, he's pressuring our Udjat friends to help Chelsey take your role."
"But aren't they already doing that?"
Blaine shakes her head. "Not in the way that the Branch Manager envisions: sabotage."
"What!?"
"The Branch Manager also wanted me to look into working with Udjat to help make Chelsey the Captain via your death, but I got out of it by saying that there's too much risk in asking."
You stare at Kimber's request on your wPhone again. If he or Irmtraud were to mess with your knives and you were to charge them... the knives might rip space through you instead of the passengers. Is Kimber's request part of a plot to drag you into a lethal accident?
"That's all I have for now."
"Blaine, thank you."
She pats you back, and you both walk back into the hotel. Blaine hands you her gas mask and joins Chelsey and Irmtraud for dinner, and you return to your room as you think about how to deal with Blaine's information.
Back in your room, you get a new message on your wPhone from the Director. Your mother accepted the brain surgery on the same day as your upcoming day off, but Engineering agreed to let you meet briefly with her one last time (with supervision).
You stomach twists as you think about your parting words.
INSTRUCTIONS: PART I. Select one of the following topics to focus on for the conversation with your mother. This decision will not be included in the plan for Instructions: Part II. You may vote in either or both Part I and Part II.
This is your last chance to talk with your mother before the brain surgery, where she will lose all traces of her past self. No mechanical effects, if any, will be described for these decisions. Write in is subject to QM veto (e.g., "I'll bust you out").
[] (Part I) Keep the conversation to a few words with your mother.
[] (Part I) Ask your mother to protest against brain surgery.
[] (Part I) Reminisce some past memories with you mother.
[] (Part I) Probe about what went through your mother's mind during the fight.
[] (Part I) Write in:
INSTRUCTIONS: PART II. Submit a plan for the following. This plan will not include the decision from Instructions: Part I. You may vote in either or both Part I and Part II.
-[] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[] Rest. Sleepills cause sluggishness, but after dealing with your mother, you need rest. Each AP restores 20HP. If spent AP is more than 3, [???].Rest for how many AP:
Note: Director is at Rapport +7.
-[] Workweek. Contribute W with the crew to suppress disorderly passengers. If 2W or more is contributed, increase Favors +1 with Kimber and [???]; otherwise, decrease Rapport -1 with the crew except for Blaine.
--[] Make requests:
--[] Contribute W to the quota:
--[] Investigate weapons for tampering. Learn if any tampering is being performed. Remove [???] from Workweek. Decrease Rapport -4 for all agents except Blaine.
Note #1: Rabbit Protocol is on cooldown for the current week and next two weeks.
Note #2: You may prefix one request with "(Authority)" this week (force one agent to follow that request, regardless of Rapport or Favor).
Note #3: You may request any agent not in meltdown to overcharge (clear the quota). After the Meltdown calculation step, the agent's HP is set to 0HP, and if the agent is from Udjat, decrease Rapport -4 with Director.
Passenger Advisory Report:
Week 21 (Work) / Schedule II / If W<5, all agents take -30HP and decrease Rapport -8 with Director; otherwise, increase Rapport +1 with Director
No action is currently asked of the following, but is published as a notice:
Passenger Advisory Report's roll (Week 22): (5)
Week 22 (Work) / Schedule II / If W<3, all agents take -20HP and decrease Rapport -8 with Director; otherwise, increase Rapport +1 with Director
Note #1: When Chelsey has Favors -3, it resets to +0 and she takes over as Captain. Rapport with the Director no longer fluctuates for Ji-Min during work with passengers. In addition, agents from Udjat cannot be selected for overcharge.
Note #2: Due to a large increase in combat-oriented passengers, the PAR receives a -1 modifier.
-[] Relationships. Spend time with another agent. Increase Rapport +1.
--[] Kimber
--[] Lorine
--[] Blaine
--[] Chelsey. Additionally, decrease Rapport -1 with Rama.
--[] Rama. Additionally, decrease Rapport -1 for all other agents.
--[] Irmtraud. Additionally, decrease Rapport -1 with Rama.
--[] Nobody. Regain 10HP.
PREPLANS. See spoilers for specific details. You may submit a custom plan. Please remember to submit a decision for Part I, if desired.
[] (Part II) Plan: Rest
[] (Part II) Plan: Favor + Trust
[] (Part II) Plan: Favor + Investigate
It hurts to lose a loved one. It hurts even more to lose a loved one from preventable bad health.
At K Corp., that's why we sweat, bleed, and cry at work; our efforts could save your life and those you love. We'll make sure that everyone can live the joyous lives that you all deserve.
No more tears.
"Ji-Min!" shouts Kwame. "What are you doing!?"
Katherine makes no moves and continues to observe close by, still armed and ready.
You hug your mother. If someone told you earlier that you'd hug her after she killed your teammate a moment ago in a District embroiled in war, you might've laughed.
"Ji-Min," mutters your mother. She hugs you tight.
If your mother wants to literally blow your head off or yank away your gas mask, this is her chance. All you can do is wait a few more seconds.
...
Your mother releases you, then raises her hands. You take her wrists and cuff them. Kwame places a gas mask over her head, then makes a call for prisoner transport. Before the transportation arrives, he goes into Blue Watt Workshop. Someone screams, which is cut short, and Kwame returns while holding a bloody U-Box with what you assume to be the collaborator's head.
W Corp. cars arrive, and the agents take your mother.
"I'll accompany her," you say.
"No," says Kwame. He hands his vacuum to an agent and instructs them to use it if your mother attempts to turn into smoke. "We need to report back to the Director. And I need to inform him of how you ignored my order to kill."
"What? That's my mother! And we're allowed to bring her back dead or alive!"
"She also surrendered," says Katherine. "We had the situation under control at that point. Or does W Corp. not accept surrenders?"
Kwame closes his eyes for a moment as the team gets into another car. "I don't doubt your sincerity, and W Corp. will benefit from her surrender. However, I don't want precedents for dumb behavior."
Katherine smiles. "Ji-Min isn't as dumb as Imamu."
The cars return without incident. While the agents escort your mother to Engineering, your team waits in the conference room.
The Director arrives and frowns. "Imamu."
Kwame nods.
"Report. I see that we captured the buyer."
He summarizes the mission up to the kill order, and then how you instead hugged your mother.
"Ji-Min." The Director snorts. "Unsurprising that you disegarded instructions. Defense?"
"Director," you say, "When I hugged her, the only person at risk was me. It was impossible for my mother, uh, the buyer, to escape. And I'm sure that, being alive, my mother... ugh, buyer, can provide more than just her memories; we can listen to her analysis and opinions on the inner workings of L Corp."
"Cohesion. If we allow every agent to come up with their own ideas and execute them, then the group falls apart. I'm not asking if you thought it was a good idea; I'm asking for your rationale to ignore an order."
"Uh..." you take a few seconds to think. You cannot afford for the Director to be angry with you, especially after losing Imamu. "My side project. I don't know if Kwame was aware or not, but I put a lot of effort into getting my mother to trust me."
Kwame shakes his head. "I know that you were asked to do something, but I lacked the details."
"Then I wouldn't expect him to know that specific detail for this specific mission. I can't confirm why my mother took the risk of acting as buyer, but the fact that it's her gave us an additional option. If the Captain lacks crucial knowledge about a situation, and it's completely not his fault, isn't it my duty to step up and act in our team's best interest?"
The Director sighs. "Accepted. Quick thinking isn't something to be discouraged, and I recognize that it was a rapidly-changing situation. However, do take care to balance your thoughts against your orders in the future. Does anyone have any comments?"
"My mother. Can I see her before Engineering does something... drastic?"
"Questioning will take a while, and I expect Engineering to keep her secured." The Director studies you for a moment. "I'll see what I can do. However, be prepared to accept her eventual brain surgery; once she runs out of information, her usefulness becomes limited. I expect that she'll make a fine supporting robot for your missions."
You swallow. Protesting will only offend the Director. "I understand. Thank you."
The next day, a train full of healing supplies is due to arrive.
"That's weird," asks Blaine. "Why does that make it a Schedule I? Is K Corp.'s healing Singularity of keeping the passengers healthy a problem?"
You and Chelsey look at each other and nod.
"When I talked about it with the night shift Captain, I got this schadenfreude smirk."
"And when I chatted with the night shift's last surviving Udjat agent, I was 'jokingly' asked if I wanted to relay any last words to Lady Dias."
Blaine forces a chuckle.
In the cab, you take one look at the situation through the midair panel. "Yeah, uh, this is an easy Rabbit Protocol."
You receive unanimous consent, excluding Rama's "no" vote spite. With no objections from Inspections, the crew takes a seat as a panel appears in the air.
The Rabbits warp into the first car as usual... and a huge green skin-slime thing glomps over one before they get into formation or receive an order.
"Headdamn!" The Rabbits open fire. "We're on speed dial for W Corp. trains? The fuck are they doing with this shit!?"
"Shut up and shoot!"
Bullet-sized holes pierce the slime and limbs, but the slime regenerates bit-by-bit, then leaves behind a slime trail while jiggling into another car. As for the glomped Rabbit, all that remains is a melted helmet covered in hissing slime.
"Today's grass field is a W Corp. train. As you can all see, our food will be tough to chew... but the more effort exerted, the more satisfying the meal. Hop on!"
The Rabbits charge into the next slime-covered car. Off-key carols echo from subsequent cars, and the Rabbits open fire as they run through and encounter two slimes.
One slime jumps onto a crowd of four Rabbits and smothers them.
"Fuck! Spread out!"
The off-key carols intensify as the Rabbits spread out and open a wave of bullets. One Rabbit draws their knife and slashes. Slime splatters everywhere as an orange trail of light follows their blade.
"Dig in!"
As the slime shudders, more Rabbits slash the slime while other Rabbits shoot. The second slime jiggles forward, and another group of Rabbits shoot that one. However, the slime tackles the Rabbits, but another wave of Rabbits advance on the first slime with brandished knives and continue to hack before any significant regeneration can occur.
The first slime shrinks, and the off-key carols fall to a mumble. The second slime retreats deeper into the train. Meanwhile, more hacking spills out the slime's innards: a pile of brains, which the Rabbits squish.
"Yuck." The Captain scrapes a brain chunk off their boot. "Groom yourselves; W Corp. has a strict request to leave all the gore on their train."
"Weird-ass transportation company."
As for the Rabbits that the first slime jumped, most of their bodies have since melted. One victim gurgles.
"Can you speak?"
More gurgles.
"Damn. Collect'em later."
The Rabbits follow the trail of slime again. As they go deeper, the off-key carols intensify ("What the hell are they singing about?" "Fuck if I care, but they sing better than you.").
Near the end of the train, the Rabbits encounter and open fire on three slimes ("Slime o'clock!"). The caroling absorbs the noise of gunshots as a wave of Rabbits charge forward with their knives under a spray of bullets.
Like before, the knife Rabbits, a dozen in number, close the distance with the slimes. However, the slimes jiggle into each other, and the Rabbits' screams are barely audible over the caroling as the slimes merge. When the Rabbits vanish into the slime, one Rabbit's arm reaches out, grasps for help, twitches, goes limp, and gets swallowed.
The last half of the Rabbits open fire on the new huge slime. It's a tight fit for the train, a wall of green skin oozing bubbly liquid.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"Fuck you and graze! It can't do that merge trick again!"
Half of the surviving Rabbits jump at the slime wall and plunge their knives. The other half continue firing into the slime, the gunfire more audible than the caroling.
As a few Rabbits slash, their arms stick on the slime wall. A Rabbit yanks to no avail. "Head-fucking-dammit!" The slime wall sucks in the Rabbit, whose scream drowns all other sounds.
"It's shutting up! One last push; all or nothing!"
The gun Rabbits toss their guns aside, draw their knives, sprint to the slime wall. As they slash, chunks of the slime wall splatter off and spray the Rabbits with hissing ooze. Brain chunks spill, then the whole wall of slime collapses over the Rabbits.
No more screams. No more carols.
"Headdamn!" The Rabbits open fire. "We're on speed dial for W Corp. trains? The fuck are they doing with this shit!?"
"Shut up and shoot!"
Bullet-sized holes pierce the slime and limbs, but the slime regenerates bit-by-bit, then leaves behind a slime trail while jiggling into another car. As for the glomped Rabbit, all that remains is a melted helmet covered in hissing slime.
"Today's grass field is a W Corp. train. As you can all see, our food will be tough to chew... but the more effort exerted, the more satisfying the meal. Hop on!"
The Rabbits charge into the next slime-covered car. Off-key carols echo from subsequent cars, and the Rabbits open fire as they run through and encounter two slimes.
One slime jumps onto a crowd of four Rabbits and smothers them.
"Fuck! Spread out!"
The off-key carols intensify as the Rabbits spread out and open a wave of bullets. One Rabbit draws their knife and slashes. Slime splatters everywhere as an orange trail of light follows their blade.
"Dig in!"
As the slime shudders, more Rabbits slash the slime while other Rabbits shoot. The second slime jiggles forward, and another group of Rabbits shoot that one. However, the slime tackles the Rabbits, but another wave of Rabbits advance on the first slime with brandished knives and continue to hack before any significant regeneration can occur.
The first slime shrinks, and the off-key carols fall to a mumble. The second slime retreats deeper into the train. Meanwhile, more hacking spills out the slime's innards: a pile of brains, which the Rabbits squish.
"Yuck." The Captain scrapes a brain chunk off their boot. "Groom yourselves; W Corp. has a strict request to leave all the gore on their train."
"Weird-ass transportation company."
As for the Rabbits that the first slime jumped, most of their bodies have since melted. One victim gurgles.
"Can you speak?"
More gurgles.
"Damn. Collect'em later."
The Rabbits follow the trail of slime again. As they go deeper, the off-key carols intensify ("What the hell are they singing about?" "Fuck if I care, but they sing better than you.").
Near the end of the train, the Rabbits encounter and open fire on three slimes ("Slime o'clock!"). The caroling absorbs the noise of gunshots as a wave of Rabbits charge forward with their knives under a spray of bullets.
Like before, the knife Rabbits, a dozen in number, close the distance with the slimes. However, the slimes jiggle into each other, and the Rabbits' screams are barely audible over the caroling as the slimes merge. When the Rabbits vanish into the slime, one Rabbit's arm reaches out, grasps for help, twitches, goes limp, and gets swallowed.
The last half of the Rabbits open fire on the new huge slime. It's a tight fit for the train, a wall of green skin oozing bubbly liquid.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"Fuck you and graze! It can't do that merge trick again!"
Half of the surviving Rabbits jump at the slime wall and plunge their knives. The other half continue firing into the slime, the gunfire more audible than the caroling.
As a few Rabbits slash, their arms stick on the slime wall. A Rabbit yanks to no avail. "Head-fucking-dammit!" The slime wall sucks in the Rabbit, whose scream drowns all other sounds.
"It's shutting up! One last push; all or nothing!"
The gun Rabbits toss their guns aside, draw their knives, sprint to the slime wall. As they slash, chunks of the slime wall splatter off and spray the Rabbits with hissing ooze. Brain chunks spill, then the whole wall of slime collapses over the Rabbits.
No more screams. No more carols.
During your mopping inspection, you notice that Lorine's car is clean and less green than the rest, something to be proud of.
"Lorine, what's wrong?"
Lorine's vacant stare reminds you of a student from Academy L who suffered a bullying incident too many.
"Lorine?"
He stares at a passenger pile of goop. "We're friends. You and me, not the passenger."
"Yeah. And as your friend, I'm worried that something is bothering you."
"The slimes killed all the Rabbits. What if that was us instead? It's like watching that game where the King Coals blow their lead at the top of the ninth inning during the playoffs. You can hear all the booing from the crowd and nobody cares that the Coals are stressed and-"
"Lorine?"
"-They all just yell, and you're wondering that if the Coals are struggling already, then how will they win the next-"
"Lorine!"
"What?"
"I get your point; you're worried about what might happen to us with all these tough passengers during a possibly long war. But we're friends, and we'll keep fighting together."
"I don't want to be benched. I don't want my life to be like Shula's when the other team nailed all his pitches and he never got to stand on the mound ever again. I-"
"I'm not benching you."
"Then let me ask a question. If you need to sacrifice someone else like Girish, who's chosen?"
Your glow dims.
"Because I think you'll get in trouble for sacrificing the players on someone else's team, and you and Blaine are best friends. What does that mean for me?"
"You're... my ally."
"So what? Before I came here, they all told me the same thing: to sit on the bench, that it's not because of a low evaluation. And since the Udjat won't replenish any fallen agents, it honestly doesn't matter to you whether I live or die."
"No, that's not true; I'd rather have you over a newcomer." You think of Naveed and how she was such a thorn. "I've been on this crew for a long time. I've seen a handful of coworkers who I'd rather leave to fend for themselves. Just as bad as Rama, and maybe even worse. If a passenger attacks you on that train, I promise that I'll protect you."
"That means I'm only better than a random agent."
"I mean, if you want to look for extreme situations where someone has to get sacrificed, I can't stop you." You hesitate. "Girish was an extreme situation. We're talking about last resorts."
Neither of you say anything for several seconds until Lorine speaks. "Was I supposed to add a response?"
You shake your head, then something else comes to your mind. "If it helps, I had a similar experience. We're friends, so I'll let you in on a secret about the team dynamics of my asset work. Not even Blaine knows."
That gets Lorine's attention.
"To be honest, we had an extreme situation yesterday where the Director himself nearly selected me to bear a major risk. It took Katherine and I some serious effort for me to be evaluated slightly higher than the other asset."
"The Director himself thinks you're useless? That's strange, because you're the most valuable agent on the crew."
"It all depends on the context, and I won't allow any context that calls for your sacrifice."
"Thank you. I do feel better after hearing about your asset work."
Back at your hotel room later that week in the evening, you check through your wPhone. You read a message from Kimber asking that you and Chelsey cover for him later next week.
Chelsey groans. "Kimberrrr..."
You check the recipients and notice that Kimber CC'ed the crew. "Any idea what he's up to?"
"He's worried about his dogs. Obviously, it's hard to find a dogsitter in the middle of a war, plus he insists on feeding them some sort of special meat." She sighs. "Well, I owe him for saving my life, so I better give it my all. At least there's nothing worse than a Schedule II."
Someone knocks on the door. "Going for dinner," says Irmtraud.
"I'm back too!" says Blaine.
Chelsey opens the door. "Hey!"
"Blaine," says Irmtraud, "sure that you don't want to join us?"
"Aah, you guys go on ahead." Blaine steps inside while Chelsey steps out. "I'll catch up in a few minutes."
Irmtraud waves. "See you in a few, then." She closes the door, leaving you and Blaine alone.
Blaine takes a seat on the chair and sighs.
"Can you share why the Branch Manager held up you two and Kimber?"
"Nope. But do you mind if we step outside? It's stifling in here." Blaine grins and mouths cameras.
You nod, then put on your gas mask and walk with Blaine to the hotel parking lot, currently with little smoke, where you both speak in hushed voices.
"We met individually," says Blaine. "Our dear Branch Manager offered me money to spy on you. I totally pissed him off already once before, and I do need the cash, so I agreed. You understand, right?"
"I do, but is this not a dangerous game that you're playing?"
"Thanks for worrying, but aren't you the one who set up the board?"
"Uh..."
"I'm not accusing!" says Blaine. "And I mean, this whole thing started because you saved my life. But if I play my cards right, I might be able to solve my household financial situation. I'll also be in a better position to help my friend and ally: you."
"Thanks," you say. "Uh, need help? Like, coming up with trivia to placate him, such as how 'paranoid' I'm becoming because my crew keeps meeting with him?"
"I'd appreciate it. Just so you know, if I start making excuses to stay late like today, it's to meet with the Branch Manager."
"Was he asking the same thing from Irmtraud and Kimber?"
"Actually, he's pressuring our Udjat friends to help Chelsey take your role."
"But aren't they already doing that?"
Blaine shakes her head. "Not in the way that the Branch Manager envisions: sabotage."
"What!?"
"The Branch Manager also wanted me to look into working with Udjat to help make Chelsey the Captain via your death, but I got out of it by saying that there's too much risk in asking."
You stare at Kimber's request on your wPhone again. If he or Irmtraud were to mess with your knives and you were to charge them... the knives might rip space through you instead of the passengers. Is Kimber's request part of a plot to drag you into a lethal accident?
"That's all I have for now."
"Blaine, thank you."
She pats you back, and you both walk back into the hotel. Blaine hands you her gas mask and joins Chelsey and Irmtraud for dinner, and you return to your room as you think about how to deal with Blaine's information.
Back in your room, you get a new message on your wPhone from the Director. Your mother accepted the brain surgery on the same day as your upcoming day off, but Engineering agreed to let you meet briefly with her one last time (with supervision).
You stomach twists as you think about your parting words.
Spared your mother. Learned that her true intentions were friendly. Gain [your mother as an asset, starting in Week 21. Removed trait "Estranged". Modified trait "Parental Bonds" to "For every former +4 Rapport with your mother, contribute +1AP in addition to the effort roll (total: +4AP) during missions and skip availability rolls."]
Week 20 (Work) / Schedule I / If W<17, all agents take -60HP and decrease Rapport -8 with Director; otherwise, increase Rapport +1 with Director / Conduct Emergency check
The Crew, except Rama, votes to activate Rabbit Protocol.
...R. Victory! Clock out for Week 20. Increased Rapport +1 with Director.
You chatted with nobody. Regained +10HP
Lorine chatted with you. Increased Rapport +2 with Lorine.
Blaine chatted with you. Increased Rapport +2 with Blaine.
Azure Squad stat changes
Ji-Min: 20HP
Katherine: Ready
Amita: (3) ST; Stuck in District 11
At the end of each week, Amita attempts to extract from District 11 (success if d6 = 6).
The Crew's stat changes
Ji-Min: 10/85 ~ 20/90HP
Kimber: (30HP, Rapport +2, Favors -1, 4M, Calm) ~ (90HP, Rapport +2, Favors -1, 4M, Calm)
Lorine: (40HP, Rapport +8, Favors +0, 14M, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport +10, Favors +0, 14M, Calm)
Blaine: (40HP, Rapport +16, Favors +1, 32M, Strike +1, Morale +1, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport +18, Favors +1, 32M, Strike +1, Morale +1, Calm)
Chelsey: (40HP, Rapport +10, Favors -1, 0M, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport +10, Favors -1, 0M, Calm)
Rama: (50HP, Rapport -4, Favors +0, 23M, Strike +1, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport -4, Favors +0, 23M, Strike +1, Calm)
Irmtraud: (20HP, Rapport -2, Favors +0, 26M, Strike +2, Calm) ~ (80HP, Rapport -2, Favors +0, 26M, Strike +2, Calm)
Director's rapport change: +6 ~ +7
Week 20 (Work) / Schedule I / If W<17, all agents take -60HP and decrease Rapport -8 with Director; otherwise, increase Rapport +1 with Director / Conduct Emergency check
The Crew, except Rama, votes to activate Rabbit Protocol.
...R. Victory! Clock out for Week 20. Increased Rapport +1 with Director.
You chatted with nobody. Regained +10HP
Lorine chatted with you. Increased Rapport +2 with Lorine.
Blaine chatted with you. Increased Rapport +2 with Blaine.
Azure Squad stat changes
Ji-Min: 20HP
Katherine: Ready
Amita: (3) ST; Stuck in District 11
At the end of each week, Amita attempts to extract from District 11 (success if d6 = 6).
The Crew's stat changes
Ji-Min: 10/85 ~ 20/90HP
Kimber: (30HP, Rapport +2, Favors -1, 4M, Calm) ~ (90HP, Rapport +2, Favors -1, 4M, Calm)
Lorine: (40HP, Rapport +8, Favors +0, 14M, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport +10, Favors +0, 14M, Calm)
Blaine: (40HP, Rapport +16, Favors +1, 32M, Strike +1, Morale +1, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport +18, Favors +1, 32M, Strike +1, Morale +1, Calm)
Chelsey: (40HP, Rapport +10, Favors -1, 0M, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport +10, Favors -1, 0M, Calm)
Rama: (50HP, Rapport -4, Favors +0, 23M, Strike +1, Calm) ~ (100HP, Rapport -4, Favors +0, 23M, Strike +1, Calm)
Irmtraud: (20HP, Rapport -2, Favors +0, 26M, Strike +2, Calm) ~ (80HP, Rapport -2, Favors +0, 26M, Strike +2, Calm)
Director's rapport change: +6 ~ +7
INSTRUCTIONS: PART I. Select one of the following topics to focus on for the conversation with your mother. This decision will not be included in the plan for Instructions: Part II. You may vote in either or both Part I and Part II.
This is your last chance to talk with your mother before the brain surgery, where she will lose all traces of her past self. No mechanical effects, if any, will be described for these decisions. Write in is subject to QM veto (e.g., "I'll bust you out").
[] (Part I) Keep the conversation to a few words with your mother.
[] (Part I) Ask your mother to protest against brain surgery.
[] (Part I) Reminisce some past memories with you mother.
[] (Part I) Probe about what went through your mother's mind during the fight.
[] (Part I) Write in:
INSTRUCTIONS: PART II. Submit a plan for the following. This plan will not include the decision from Instructions: Part I. You may vote in either or both Part I and Part II.
-[] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[] Rest. Sleepills cause sluggishness, but after dealing with your mother, you need rest. Each AP restores 20HP. If spent AP is more than 3, [???].Rest for how many AP:
Note: Director is at Rapport +7.
-[] Workweek. Contribute W with the crew to suppress disorderly passengers. If 2W or more is contributed, increase Favors +1 with Kimber and [???]; otherwise, decrease Rapport -1 with the crew except for Blaine.
--[] Make requests:
--[] Contribute W to the quota:
--[] Investigate weapons for tampering. Learn if any tampering is being performed. Remove [???] from Workweek. Decrease Rapport -4 for all agents except Blaine.
Note #1: Rabbit Protocol is on cooldown for the current week and next two weeks.
Note #2: You may prefix one request with "(Authority)" this week (force one agent to follow that request, regardless of Rapport or Favor).
Note #3: You may request any agent not in meltdown to overcharge (clear the quota). After the Meltdown calculation step, the agent's HP is set to 0HP, and if the agent is from Udjat, decrease Rapport -4 with Director.
Passenger Advisory Report:
Week 21 (Work) / Schedule II / If W<5, all agents take -30HP and decrease Rapport -8 with Director; otherwise, increase Rapport +1 with Director
Ji-Min: 20HP
Kimber: 90HP (Rapport +2, Favors -1, 4M, Calm)
Lorine: 100HP (Rapport +10, Favors +0, 14M, Calm)
Blaine: 100HP (Rapport +18, Favors +1, 32M, Strike +2, Morale +1, Calm)
Chelsey: 100HP (Rapport +10, Favors -1, 0M, Calm)
Rama: 100HP (Rapport -4, Favors +0, 23M, Strike +1, Calm)
Irmtraud: 80HP (Rapport -2, Favors +0, 26M, Strike +2, Calm)
Calm: Agent does not gain M for strikes or dead / fired agents.
Morale: Modify the agent's Effort Roll based on the count.
Kimber: 90HP (Rapport +2, Favors -1, 4M, Calm)
Lorine: 100HP (Rapport +10, Favors +0, 14M, Calm)
Blaine: 100HP (Rapport +18, Favors +1, 32M, Strike +2, Morale +1, Calm)
Chelsey: 100HP (Rapport +10, Favors -1, 0M, Calm)
Rama: 100HP (Rapport -4, Favors +0, 23M, Strike +1, Calm)
Irmtraud: 80HP (Rapport -2, Favors +0, 26M, Strike +2, Calm)
Calm: Agent does not gain M for strikes or dead / fired agents.
Morale: Modify the agent's Effort Roll based on the count.
No action is currently asked of the following, but is published as a notice:
Passenger Advisory Report's roll (Week 22): (5)
Week 22 (Work) / Schedule II / If W<3, all agents take -20HP and decrease Rapport -8 with Director; otherwise, increase Rapport +1 with Director
Note #1: When Chelsey has Favors -3, it resets to +0 and she takes over as Captain. Rapport with the Director no longer fluctuates for Ji-Min during work with passengers. In addition, agents from Udjat cannot be selected for overcharge.
Note #2: Due to a large increase in combat-oriented passengers, the PAR receives a -1 modifier.
-[] Relationships. Spend time with another agent. Increase Rapport +1.
--[] Kimber
--[] Lorine
--[] Blaine
--[] Chelsey. Additionally, decrease Rapport -1 with Rama.
--[] Rama. Additionally, decrease Rapport -1 for all other agents.
--[] Irmtraud. Additionally, decrease Rapport -1 with Rama.
--[] Nobody. Regain 10HP.
PREPLANS. See spoilers for specific details. You may submit a custom plan. Please remember to submit a decision for Part I, if desired.
[] (Part II) Plan: Rest
[] (Part II) Plan: Favor + Trust
[] (Part II) Plan: Favor + Investigate
-[] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[] Rest. Rest for how many AP:
-[] Workweek
--[] Make requests:
--[] Contribute W to the quota:
--[] Investigate weapons for tampering
-[] Relationships
--[] Kimber
--[] Lorine
--[] Blaine
--[] Chelsey
--[] Rama
--[] Irmtraud
--[] Nobody
--[] Rest. Rest for how many AP:
-[] Workweek
--[] Make requests:
--[] Contribute W to the quota:
--[] Investigate weapons for tampering
-[] Relationships
--[] Kimber
--[] Lorine
--[] Blaine
--[] Chelsey
--[] Rama
--[] Irmtraud
--[] Nobody
[x] (Part II) Plan: Rest
-[x] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[x] Rest. Rest for how many AP: 3AP
-[x] Relationships
--[x] Kimber
-[x] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[x] Rest. Rest for how many AP: 3AP
-[x] Relationships
--[x] Kimber
[x] (Part II) Plan: Favor + Trust
-[x] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[x] Rest. Rest for how many AP: 3AP
-[x] Workweek
--[x] Contribute W to the quota: 2W
-[x] Relationships
--[x] Kimber
-[x] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[x] Rest. Rest for how many AP: 3AP
-[x] Workweek
--[x] Contribute W to the quota: 2W
-[x] Relationships
--[x] Kimber
[x] (Part II) Plan: Favor + Investigate
-[x] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[x] Rest. Rest for how many AP: 3AP
-[x] Workweek
--[x] Contribute W to the quota: 2W
--[x] Investigate weapons for tampering
-[x] Relationships
--[x] Kimber
-[x] Day Off. Distribute AP into one of the following.
--[x] Rest. Rest for how many AP: 3AP
-[x] Workweek
--[x] Contribute W to the quota: 2W
--[x] Investigate weapons for tampering
-[x] Relationships
--[x] Kimber
It hurts to lose a loved one. It hurts even more to lose a loved one from preventable bad health.
At K Corp., that's why we sweat, bleed, and cry at work; our efforts could save your life and those you love. We'll make sure that everyone can live the joyous lives that you all deserve.
No more tears.
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