Bagpipe: Dangerous Road

Operator Record Dangerous Road	Bagpipe
It's her way, and she will go.

Unlock conditions

• Raise Bagpipe to Elite 2 Level 1.
• Have at least 50% Trust with Bagpipe.

Characters

Bagpipe Hoshiguma Swire L.G.D. Officer

Backgrounds

1 2 3

“

Bagpipe, having gone through an arduous ordeal and left Victoria, realizes she needs to try and find some help. The one who immediately comes to her mind is Ch'en, currently in Lungmen.

”

<Background 1>
11:41 P.M. \ Overcast Lungmen District 7, City Gateway
[A police car stops in front of the checkpoint, and an L.G.D. officer approaches it...]
L.G.D. Officer	Inspector Hoshiguma, you're finally here!
[...as Hoshiguma exits the car and rushes to the officer.]
Hoshiguma	Hey, you sent me a message to get out here right when I was taking my shoes off, kid. Had to scramble across half of Lungmen in the dead of night. –So, what's with your perp?
L.G.D. Officer	Ahem, we, we apprehended her! She's in a holding cell for now.
Hoshiguma	So you got her? How many did it take?
L.G.D. Officer	Er, it was just me and another guy on duty...
Hoshiguma	You said she's a Victorian soldier... packing a pretty intimidating weapon too.
L.G.D. Officer	I don't get it either... Before me and Ping even got close, she just dropped her weapon, stuck her hands way up and started yelling "right here," like she was worried we couldn't even see her. Inspector, I've been on this gateway for a couple years now. I've never seen someone try to cross in like this.
Hoshiguma	No worries, I'll go see what her deal is. Oh, right, you said in the message she was yelling something too?
L.G.D. Officer	She's out there trying to speak mandarin Yanese, and not too well at that... but it sounded like she was saying, uh, Ch'en... Ch'en? I might've just heard it wrong.
Hoshiguma	Ah... ha. Alright, I'm up to speed.
<Background 2>
[The cell's light turns on, revealing Bagpipe who went all the way from Victoria to Lungmen following the incident at County Hillock...]
Bagpipe	Uwagh, that's bright–oh, did someone finally come?
[...as Hoshiguma enters the cell.]
Hoshiguma	Yeah, I've got a few questions to ask.
Bagpipe	Is this... an interrogation?
Hoshiguma	Counts as one, I guess.
Bagpipe	*sigh* It was always me doin' the interrogatin' before. Suddenly the tables are all turned. Honestly, it's a new feelin' to me.
Hoshiguma	So you handed in your weapon all nicely... Didn't want to run?
Bagpipe	Ought to be a fair deal simple gettin' out of here, really... even without the Fortcracker... *cough* *cough* No, not that I mean to! Clean forgot you're interrogatin' me... um, I've got no thoughts of runnin' at all! I kept here voluntarily!
Hoshiguma	Why? Hard to meet anyone who likes squatting in prisons.
Bagpipe	I mean, I don't really want to be shut up. Just, I heard if I barged my way in the gate, police'd come arrest me... they're called the L.G.D. in Lungmen, right? I was lookin' for someone, so, quickest method possible.
Hoshiguma	Find who, exactly?
Bagpipe	Chenchen... I mean, right, Ch'en. She's in the L.G.D., right? I think she's already a... superintendent? Ugh, what a shame. I thought she'd come over herself once she got the news, see.
Hoshiguma	What relationship do you and this supposed Superintendent Ch'en have?
Bagpipe	We're best friends. We were classmates, back when she was at school in Victoria.
Hoshiguma	Which school?
Bagpipe	Er, the Royal Guard Academy.
Hoshiguma	In that case, you're an officer?
Bagpipe	...I was before I left.
Hoshiguma	A retired Victorian officer, in uniform, gatecrashing a border city of another nation, with a standard weapon to boot–
Bagpipe	Minus the bit where it fires shells! That part's removed!
Hoshiguma	But with the chambering system retained, it still has massive blast force. Am I right?
Bagpipe	(Quietly) Goin' by the rulebook, I really should've handed it in to the brass...
Hoshiguma	Which is to say, you didn't have an ordinary retirement?
Bagpipe	............ Well, that question came fast. Ugh, if I knew this day was comin', I would've tried a little harder back in interrogation theory.
Hoshiguma	Are you that keen on covering up the details of your retirement? Miss, if you're a deserter, then I should be on the phone already.
Bagpipe	No, please don't call anyone– I–I really am out of the force, I can promise you that! I'll try and explain, but–there's some info I just... am not at liberty to reveal here.
Hoshiguma	Go for it, then.
Bagpipe	Alright, here's the thing. Three months ago, I was still in the army, and our team was trackin' this case. Durin' our investigation... um... I can't say anythin' but, because of this case, out of our team, the only one presently still alive... no, still able to freely operate is me, now.
Hoshiguma	I'm sorry. It must be rough to remember.
Bagpipe	Thank you for understandin'.
Hoshiguma	That said, I'm not clear on something. You almost gave your life, so shouldn't the old Victorian Army fogies have been covering you in medals?
Bagpipe	You mean, gettin' decorated? Forget it, the investigation's not complete. That never even crossed my mind. But at the very least... I thought they could send a few more hands to help me stay on the trail.
Hoshiguma	And they didn't?
Bagpipe	Really floors you, doesn't it? Officer, I make less sense of it than you do. I started out searchin' for all kinds. Started from County Peninsula's barracks, and all of them were trippin' to placate me, havin' me wait for orders from above, pledgin' I'd have more hands ASAP. And I heeded that. In the end, I realized I was just wastin' more and more time, and the investigation was dead in its tracks for it. So, I decided to circumvent the place's barracks, and get straight in touch with Londinium. Wasn't too easy doin' it, but luckily I'd already built up a little experience on how to deal with barracks, and you'll always run into good people on the way forward. Finally, I made it in one piece to the closest camp to Londinium– And there, I made my decision to retire.
Hoshiguma	Because they still didn't help you?
Bagpipe	Commanders, counts, the grand dukes... they probably had other concerns. They told me so, at least, and there I was swallowin' it all, right until the day... I accidentally overheard. A lieutenant colonel with some other officer I didn't recognize, discussin' what to do with me. Aye. I never thought– Thirty-seven whole days past the event, and I wasn't sittin' waitin' for any reinforcements. Only an order to transfer.
Hoshiguma	... This can't have been easy for you.
Bagpipe	Mm... I feel a right mess inside. Is it hurt? Or disappointment, or anger... I can't even say. When I learned, my brain just went pure white. Only thought I could keep was I was glad I left my spear in the trainin' room, and didn't have it to hand.
Hoshiguma	Otherwise, you would've done something?
Bagpipe	Wouldn't have, really... probably. After all, I've always remembered my own duty. And just the same, as a Victorian serviceman, I had to obey orders. But... in that moment, I realized I couldn't do it.
Hoshiguma	Armies don't much care for insubordination.
Bagpipe	Aye. And with that, I settled on it pretty quickly. I'd leave the army myself before they decided where I ought to go.
Hoshiguma	Did they agree to let you go?
Bagpipe	Retirement procedures went smooth enough. Leader and Chenchen used to complain how stubborn I was. Of course a lieutenant colonel and his lot couldn't do a thing to stop it. But, when I was at the camp to hand my weapons back in, I got ambushed.
Hoshiguma	A surprise attack? From who? The one you were after?
Bagpipe	It's very likely. I've gone over it in my head. Why would they choose to act at the barracks, when they clearly didn't care for a whole month about me... Maybe the enemy sneaked their way into army admin, in the end? Or maybe just from the start... Ugh, none of it matters anymore. I fought a few off, but they had masses of people. Couldn't help but pick up my spear and hurry on my way out.
Hoshiguma	And then? That's how you fled Victoria?
Bagpipe	Fled's... not wrong. Haha. It's been real rough and tumble comin' all this way. I know how tall an order it is to deal with those bunch. Didn't dare go home, naturally. Didn't want the ghosts gettin' my mum and them caught up too. Goin' back to the army's even more out of the question, and I'd just be hasslin' the police if I went to them. Kept waverin', thinkin' for an answer...
Hoshiguma	You could only turn to classmates?
Bagpipe	Mm, that's right. Chenchen promised, if anythin' happened to me, I could go find her!
Hoshiguma	Ha ha.
Bagpipe	Er, officer, what are you laughin' at?
Hoshiguma	It's nothing. So, you came to Lungmen.
Bagpipe	That's where she is for certain. I haven't got it wrong, have I? Her New Year message last year came from this place and all.
Hoshiguma	Let's keep talking about why you broke past our gateway. No matter if you've got people hunting you down, you're a Victorian citizen anyway. You're not telling me you can't even buy a ticket somewhere?
Bagpipe	...I honestly can't.
Hoshiguma	Huh? Professional Victorian servicemen take home less than Lungmen street stalls?
Bagpipe	Err, that's not it. I, um... lost my wallet and passport both in Leithanien.
Hoshiguma	You might be my kinda girl, huh...?
Bagpipe	–They got blown to nothin'. Not even cinders left.
Hoshiguma	You're definitely my kinda girl.
Bagpipe	Not just the wallet, I was a hair from bein' sent flyin' too. I'd only just left Victoria at that point. Rubbed shoulders with a caravan car crossin' Leithanien. Hadn't been in the country for two days when the car passed this wee city. The local viscount was a fair deal happy to welcome us, and even set us up in the nicest inn and all. When it came evenin', the others went to this meal, and I stayed by myself in this whole luxury suite they gave me. Waiter gave me a supper meal, totally complimentary. I had a few bites. Always felt Leithanian food was too refined for me, never much suited my palate. Just wanted to go outside and find a farmer's market to saunter about for a while. Didn't think as soon I was downstairs, there'd be a boom, and the window frame for my room'd go crunch right in front of me. Completely mangled up, too.
Hoshiguma	That's an intense explosion for sure.
Bagpipe	It was! Even I might've lost my life if I got blown out a window ten floors up, y'know?
Hoshiguma	...Only might've?
Bagpipe	It's serious, look, I swear! Honestly didn't expect to be so in for it even in Leithanien.
Hoshiguma	Hm. Your mind and body both seem much sturdier than that poor window frame.
Bagpipe	Eh? Thanks... for the praise?
Hoshiguma	Come to mention it, do you know who tried to blow you up?
Bagpipe	No idea. I'd only been with the caravan for a few days, pitchin' in my strength. Shouldn't have made any enemies, right?
Bagpipe	Actually... I'm not that worried about gettin' an answer to that question. Ever since I started investigatin' this case, the riddles have piled on up, and there's been no moment of clarity at any point. Gotten used to it already.
Hoshiguma	So, by coming to Lungmen, you were hoping to lean on your friend?
Bagpipe	Oh, I'm not lookin' for others to protect me, no. I just wanted to ask Chenchen if she'd be willin' to help me.
Hoshiguma	Oh? You still want to go back to Victoria to finish the job? Even with so many people out for you?
Bagpipe	Right you are.
Hoshiguma	Not a single hint of hesitation, either.
Bagpipe	(Exhale–) It's been a few months for me, goin' from Victoria to Lungmen. Suppose I had even the slightest hesitation, I couldn't have gone this way. I promised, I'd get the truth of it all out for all to see. If I don't know where that truth is, I'll go lookin'– If the enemy don't want me talkin', then I swear I'll talk. I left Victoria without lookin' back. But if I'm all readied to return one day, then I will not waver one step.
Hoshiguma	You're not scared?
Bagpipe	I am.
Hoshiguma	Right. I believe you.
Bagpipe	Eh?
Hoshiguma	Warriors who keep saying they're not scared of dying are either bluffing, or they haven't gotten it yet. I think you've made the preparations you need to, and I believe you aren't lying.
Bagpipe	So, in that case, can you help me get in touch with Che... Superintendent Ch'en?
Hoshiguma	Here, there's a few cha siu baau in this bag. They're pretty much cooled. If you can put up with that, they're edible. I'm guessing you're starved after running all this way through the wasteland? Even a Vouivre as intrepid as you's gotta have her mealtimes.
Bagpipe	Mmffm... ...so tasty... Er, wait, is this part of the interrogation too?
Hoshiguma	Part of it? It ended a while ago.
Bagpipe	I was thinkin' you'd ask me some about me and Chenchen's past, check if I was lyin' or not...
Hoshiguma	No need. What I needed to know, I long since knew.
Bagpipe	You mean... Um, wait, wait. It just came to me. I know you too. You're the L.G.D.'s Hoshi... Hoshi...
Hoshiguma	Hoshi... hoshi? Ha ha, you'd be better off not calling me that. Especially not in front of them. How about this, Bagpipe. We'll stick to code, and you stay in this room just a little longer. I'll step out for a moment to see someone.
[Hoshiguma leaves.]
<Background 3>
Swire	Finished grilling?
[Hoshiguma sees Swire.]
Hoshiguma	Why not go in yourself, curious as you are?
Swire	Is there anything worth the curiosity? Rhodes Island's people are all on their way. She can't stay here for long.
Hoshiguma	If I've kept track of the time right, they should be here now.
Swire	Hmph, that puk gaai Lung. Who knows where she's frolicking about right now while we're left working overtime.
Hoshiguma	If Ch'en heard her old classmate walked a million miles looking for her, she'd be at least a little ruffled. She won't say it, but she's always been loyal to her friends, Missy, and you know that.
Swire	What do her friends matter to me? And you, you absolutely sent a message to Rhodes Island the moment you got the tip-off. Why the effort to interrogate her too? Do you love it, playing the bad cop?
Hoshiguma	Best to go through proper procedures, what with all the kids on the force watching. Besides, don't you wanna do a little finding out, see what new dangers old Ch'en might get into?
Swire	...No thank you. Ugh, I'm so done with this! Once Rhodes Island picks her up from in there, you're giving me a clear, thorough report... No slacking!
Hoshiguma	Ha ha, alright. Look, here's the Rhodes Island operator to lead her away–
Bagpipe	Ehhhhh, what?! So Chenchen's actually left the L.G.D. already? You're telling me I need to go somewhere else now? Er, what was that company called... –Rhooodes–Island?