The First Mate 2 (after battle)

W-wait! You better stay away! Lay a finger on me, and you'll regret it!

You have no idea who's looking out for me.

What?

It's... don't freak out now... a Big Brother. From 'the Middle'.

... Oho. a B.B?

And this Queequeg? The Middle put a pretty hefty bounty on her pretty head, in case you didn't know.

She not only dared to quit the Middle, but also decided to fall off the face off the earth. Now that's what you call prime stupidity.

Given that the Middle... never forgets.

... Okay. Are you finished?

Wait, really...? You're still going to kill me?

It's our mess. I'm not about to leave any loose threads behind.

It's the Middle we're talking about! The Middle! Don't you know who they are?!

......

Wait! Fine, fine! I'll tell you where your friend is!

The shipping container you're looking for... We keep our living hostages in shipping containers marked with a green triangle. And since he's a recent catch, you can go find him on the East side, probably...

Green triangle, huh? What if there's more than one of those? What if it's in a different shade of green? What if you're just lying to get out of a pinch?

You should be able to tell! You should be able to tell right away! I'm serious... Please!

... There you have it. I'd say that's more than enough confirmation. Happy now, Sinclair?

......

Sinclair was frowning, but Ishmael didn't seem to care.

She stood there, rubbing the wrist of her weapon arm. It almost appeared as though she was measuring the amount of strength needed to turn Smee's head into pulp in one fell swoop.

<... Wait. Killing her could cause us a lot of trouble.>

<We know where the hostage is, and I think that's good enough. Let's head back.>

... I don't feel the need to convince you, manager. Kindly get out of my way.

I don't want to waste any more time on this.

Y-you know what else is a waste of time? Killing me. How 'bout we just go on our merry ways, huh?

I disagree.

<Ishmael!>

I can be pretty fast.

Ishmael's eyes were still lost and wandering. She swung back her harpoon arm, ready to strike, and...

Before I even realized what I was doing... I was leaping in the way.

...!

Executive Manager!

Dante... are you insane?

You, you're the one who's insane!!! You dare lay your hands on our Executive Manager? Was insubordination not enough?!

S... Smart choice.

If you killed me... a Big Brother or even a Big Sister would've gone after you.

I recalled the time when... the exact opposite happened.

When Ishmael leaped in front of me, taking the malfunctioning machine's bullets in my place...

And called my name as her body liquefied.

As though she had faith that my name alone could make everything right again.

Did you just... Did you just take a harpoon for that bitch?

If I aimed a bit to the side, I would've hit you in the face! Your stupid clock face!! Do you understand?!

<Yeah, I do... Boy, you really did whet the heck outta that harpoon... This really hurts.>

Wha... Can you please stop it! With your stupid goddamn quips!

Executive Manager.

Her words and actions just now are more than enough to constitute a full-on mutiny. She made an attempt on the life of her direct superior!

I can no longer sit idly by and watch. Though you may not have the punitive authority...

We must make a detailed report of these incidents and relay it to the higher-ups of the company to discuss our future actions.

<It's okay, Outis. I chose to get in her way.>

This is NOT okay!!

That individual has consistently and repeatedly caused serious setbacks to our mission!

And that, Executive Manager, is crossing the line!

<Outis. I said it's okay.>

<I didn't take the harpoon for that woman. I took it for Ishmael.>

Haah?

What, did you flip a switch and decide to become a humanitarian all of a sudden?

You never had to dirty your hands with a drop of blood. Not even once...

You just sat back and ordered us to bloody ours in your stead.

And now you're telling us to, what, 'ease up on the murders'? What are you even trying to say? That you don't want us to get traumatized anymore? Some touchy-feely shit like that?

<No, it's just my intuition.>

<... That probably wasn't very convincing, was it?>

No. Of course not... Intuition comes from experience. From memories.

You remember jack all before the clock, Dante. How can I trust your intuition?

<That woman... I think she's in a pretty important position of power, at least in this District. Killing her before thinking things through could complicate things.>

Did it not occur to you that NOT killing her could also complicate things?

<... I just think killing everyone in our way left and right like this...>

<... Won't help us in the future.>

... In the future, huh.

<Sorry... I can't... I don't have any better explanation for what I just did.>

I don't know how far in the future you're talking about, but...

... I'm sure we have different things in store for us there, Dante.

<Ah...>

Dante...

Do not ever put yourself at risk in such a manner again.

<Come on... That advice coming from one of you guys? Not very convincing.>

Responsibility of twelve lives weigh upon your shoulders, Dante. Thus you must watch yourself twelvefold.

Doubly so, in that... should you perish... we do not possess the means to bring you back.

And...

Ones that cannot be brought back... leave behind an unbearably painful void.

Yi Sang was right. My shoulder was in an unbearable amount of pain.

Oi... You uh, all right, clockhead?

<Yeah, I'm good. The clock still works.>

What? That's not what I... Hah, Looney bugger. You're not all there either. Or maybe it just took you a while to lose it, eh?

And here I thought we at least had one sane person on the bus. But you're no different.

Heathcliff shook his head and walked away.