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Die-Hardman: I take it not even APAS was aware that I’ve been posing as Charlie this whole time. It’s funny, don’t you think? The fact is, APAS has never had complete access to Drawbridge’s data. Our new Q-pid design allows us to restrict connection and limit the flow of information. I oversaw the creation of the Drawbridge prototype during my time as director of Bridges. And that’s when I contacted my old friend, Tarman…and together, we worked to convert this Deep-tar Hunting Vessel into a mobile base of operations. And I daresay there are some among you who already deduced the name’s double meaning. That’s right, the DHV Magellan… or to spell it out—”Die-Hardman’s Vessel.”
The President: You can’t possibly be serious.
Die-Hardman: It came to my attention that APAS 4000 was seeking to commission Lockne to design a new type of Q-pid. Specifically, it wanted her to deliver a model which could one day be used to control all of mankind. Since the technology makes use of human Beaches…the human element was essential to the process. Lockne refused at first, so I contacted her and convinced her to take on the job. At least, that’s how it looked to everyone else. The purpose of this Q-pid was not just to facilitate connections, but to sever them. Namely, the ones between our systems and the dead. And without their influence, APAS will go back to being a tool.
The President: Do this, and you will never escape the Death Stranding.
Die-Hardman: To forsake our flesh and our freedom is out of the question. So, we’ll seek out others who value them as we do. Build communities. Raise children. Live, and love. We would rather strive to achieve the impossible while remaining true to ourselves. To struggle on, against the odds in search of… new lands—and new worlds!
The President: You can’t.
Die-Hardman: Can’t we? The chiral network enables us to travel like never before. So, humanity will continue to make use of APAS, and embrace the true potential of the chiral network. No one wants to go back to the dark days that followed the Death Stranding.
Sam: It’s true, what you said about travel. There are people with DOOMS who can use the Beach to jump just about anywhere.
Die-Hardman: The physician sensation of movement is something we all crave. That unity of body and soul. DOOMS may still wind up being an evolutionary dead end. But even in that possibility, I see hope. Now, I’m going to activate the Q-pid we used to connect the continents. To build a bridge to the future we want to see—to choose our own path forward. Until moments ago, each of you was trapped in an elaborate illusion created by the President.
Tarman: Yeah, we were. What took you so long? Our former president has been hiding on board from the start, in what I call the “shadow cabinet.”
Fragile: You knew about this?
Die-Hardman: APAS has been monitoring us for some time. I believed the deception was necessary to avoid… discovery. But I’m sorry for keeping you all in the dark. I needed to make sure Drawbridge successfully connected the continent without raising suspicion or attracting APAS’s attention. This was the best idea I could come up with. To put away my body for a while, stop being Die-Hardman, and become a ghost named Charlie instead.
Dollman: What’re you doing?
Sam: Deadman, stop!
Deadman: Get back, you fools! That’s not me!
Fragile: What the fuck?
Sam: Higgs.
Higgs: Broadcasting live from the Beach—same as it ever was. I’ve been puppeteering this whole thing the whole time. Yeah. All to pay back dear old Amelie, for what she did to me.
Sam: This is about Amelie?
Higgs: Yeah. See, I’m gonna crack open that Beach she sealed away and kick off the Last Stranding. The perfect ending humanity deserves. And the sweetest revenge I could hope for to take out on that ol’ bitch… and all of y’all. Good to see you again by the way.
Sam: What makes you think you can pull it off?
Higgs: Well I am so glad that you asked. You see, during my lengthy imprisonment, I had time to figure it out. All I needed was a catalyst with a connection to Amelie—and I could break through to her Beach!
Sam: That connection is long gone.
Higgs: Oh Sam, sweetheart, I’m not talking about you. This…this is the catalyst that I’ve been searching for. Brand-new extinction entity. Still in the dark, huh. Your genes lined up beautifully. God damn man, she’s your daughter!
Sam: What?
Higgs: If y’all wanna come after us, be my guest! We’ll be waiting on the Beach!
Die-Hardman: Are we sure that Tomorrow is okay?
Deadman: Heartman is searching for her.
Tarman: That chrysalis that formed around her should be enough to keep her safe in even the harshest conditions. Pure cryptobiosis. She’ll be right, Rainy.
Fragile: Sam. There’s no mistake. Your genetic profiles are a match. Tomorrow really is your daughter.
Dollman: I’m sorry, but what in the world is going on?
Sam: Nothing that makes any sense.
Die-Hardman: Actually, it’s not impossible. As a member of Bridges with DOOMS, you were obligated to provide sperm samples.
Dollman: Which means Tomorrow could be Sam’s child, conceived via artificial insemination.
Die-Hardman: If what you say is true, Higgs may well be able to trigger the Last Stranding.
Fragile: We have to get Tomorrow back. Which means we need to go to the Beach where Higgs went.
Dollman: And how are we supposed to do that?
Rainy: She can’t. She was diagnosed with Jumpshock. I know you haven’t forgotten.
Tarman: Nevertheless, what other choice do we have?
Fragile: I’ve got to at least try.
Rainy: Fragile!
Fragile: We’re taking the ship to the Beach.
Die-Hardman: With the combined support of every single DOOMS sufferer here, it’s possible Fragile might be able to jump us where we need to go.
AED: Administering shock. Stand clear.
Heartman: I’m sorry. Wherever Higgs went, I can’t follow.
Deadman: He must’ve been operating out of his own Beach. Using his Ka to assume control of vessels in our world—in the same manner that I have.
Heartman: But I know exactly where his Beach is. I mapped it already. And there was nobody there. I checked. So how do we find the right Beach?
Fragile: No, it doesn’t matter where Higgs is… All we have to do is connect to the dreamcatcher and the quipu. Amelie! Higgs was wearing her quipu, wasn’t he? If we had something connected to her, we could follow the quipu—and Higgs. Tarman, can you take us to Sam’s shelter?
Tarman: I’ll prepare the ship. Sit tight in your quarters.
Dollman: So, this is a story I heard long ago. In a little port town, there’s a custom that’s been passed down for generations. Before a new ship makes its maiden voyage, the locals prepare a small paper boat. And upon this boat, they place paper sailors. Paper sailors who bear the names of real men—the names of the crew on the new ship preparing to depart. So the paper boat is sent out to sea. And being paper, it sinks quickly, with all hands lost. But—this is for the best. You see, the paper boat and sailors take the place of their namesakes, sparing the real crew misfortune, and ensuring that the ship returns to shore safe and sound. I should mention, by the way, that we observed this custom before launching the DHV Magellan. Better safe than sorry, right? In any case, this is what they had always done for every new ship in the little port town—and what they would do for the next. The first ship to be built there in quite some time, in fact. So, on this joyous occasion, everyone gathered to watch as the paper boat and its paper sailors sank into the sea. And the next morning, the real ship set sail. A few days passed. And then, the ship returned. To a man, the crew’s faces were all portraits of grief. “Why so forlorn?” the people asked. The sailor answered by simply pointing at a black mass upon the desk. The armless, legless, blood-soaked corpse of the ship’s captain. He had been swept overboard by a massive wave and torn apart by a ravenous shark. And after they pulled what remained of him onto the deck they found, hidden in his jacket pocket, an armless, legless, paper sailor. Someone has hated the captain with a passion. Now that I think about it, I recall seeing something on your door just now… Something made of paper. Ah yes… a little paper figure…with Sam written on it.
Sam: (wakes up)