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Rainy: Fragile! Hi.
Fragile: Hi. Nice to meet the old-fashioned way. Chiralgrams are great, but nothing beats a hug. While I’m sure you already know… This is Rainy. She’s a good friend of the cause.
Rainy: It really is a pleasure to meet you, Sam.
Sam: Nice to meet you too.
Tarman: Glad to see you in good health.
Rainy: And it’s so good to see you all again.
Charlie: Sam – Charlie here. You may now undertake your next assignment. You can find the relevant main order by accessing the delivery terminal in Rainbow Valley.
Dollman: I was glad to see Rainy in such high spirits. She’s grown so bright and energetic—almost unrecognizable from our first meeting. A pity that her child shows no similar signs of development… Rainy used to be much more quiet and withdrawn. She seemed averse to spending time with people. Dolls, too. It was singing and dancing that got her to open up. I’m something of a performer myself—though I’ve never showed anyone. The Rainbow Valley greenhouses are the product of our researchers’ hard work. And thanks to you—and me—those invaluable structures will endure for a good while yet.
Charlie: Sam, your next order requires you to recover an escaped kangaroo – the subject of an important experiment. Seems the bushland area it hopped off to is one where the chiral density is extremely high, meaning you’ll need to get it back to the animal shelter ASAP to ensure its safety. This is a ticking clock situation, Sam. I’ll brief you on the details while you review your map. Accept the main order from this delivery terminal when you’re ready to get underway.
Charlie: Hey Sam, Charlie here. Since this is your first order involving the capture and preservation of animals, allow me to provide additional information. The kangaroo you’re looking for… is somewhere in this area. Once you’ve arrived, use your odradek to begin searching for the creature. You can transport the kangaroo in your standard-issue animal carrier – no need to fabricate anything unique. Get close enough to the kangaroo and deploy the carrier to capture it. It will be a bulky piece of cargo, but you should be able to carry it on your back like any other container. However, you will need to traverse some heavily wooded mountains, as well as rivers and uneven terrain. Bear this in mind when considering what equipment to take with you. Alright. Time to proceed with route planning and final preparations.
Sam: What in the world!?
Tarman: We have a situation, Sam. I’m tracking a fresh bushfire near the injured kangaroo’s location. Clock’s ticking – secure the poor little bugger ASAP and bring the shelter onto the chiral network. Once the DHV Magellan can join you on site, we’ll see what we can do about that fire.
Dollman: Look out, Sam! Fire! We need to get away from here as quickly as possible! Sam, over there! I see the kangaroo! Get close enough to put it in an animal carrier for transport. Alright. Time to make our getaway. This was marked as a dangerous location on your map, Sam. We could get trapped here by the bushfire – let’s keep moving to ensure that doesn’t happen. I’m still not sure how we survived that. Anyway – we have a Q-pid to connect, right?
Lauren: Ah, you must be Sam. We’ve heard all about you from your friends at Drawbridge. Go ahead and connect us to the chiral network.
Fragile: Thank you, Sam. Don’t worry about the fire, Rainy will put it out for us.
Sam: Tell me though. Who is she, exactly?
Fragile: It must be about six months now. Since I heard about the girl who brought the rain…
Rainy (memory): Whenever I stepped outside, the timefall came. There was nothing that I could do to make it stop. And they hated me for it. Including my parents, who told me to leave. I was the “witch” who brought the timefall. A monster to be locked up in a cage. A few even tried to burn me alive. The most dedicated witch hunters. So I struck out on my own. I was alone for so long. In desperation, I enrolled in a special UCA program, hoping to find purpose as a mother. Hi there. You’re safe. But even after I got pregnant, I still couldn’t find anyone willing to take me in.
Resident A (memory): There she is!
Resident C (memory): Go away!
Rainy (memory): Stop it!
Resident C (memory): Oh God… I’m – I’m sorry… No, no, no, no…!
Bridges Security (memory): Hey! You need to leave right now! Go on! Get outta here!
Rainy (memory): No one wanted anything to do with me. All they saw was a witch, to be hated and feared. Until that day… I’m so sorry.
Fragile (memory): Hey there. You’re Rainy, aren’t you?
Rainy (memory): Who’s asking?
Fragile (memory): Someone who’s been looking for you. For you and your power.
Rainy (memory): You want my power? Why?
Fragile (memory): You’re a pharmakon. A medicine that can harm. A poison that can heal. It’s all in how you use it. Wanna come work for me? I believe you can save the world.
Rainy (memory): You do?
Fragile (memory): There are things only you can accomplish.
Rainy (memory): Only me? Really?
Fragile (memory): Really. My name’s Fragile, and I’m happy we could finally meet. I’m here for you. For both of you. I’ll be your umbrella. And together, we’ll show the world the hope in your rain. Come on. We wouldn’t want the baby to catch a cold. Come on.
Lauren: Thank you – that was quite the display. Drawbridge is even more amazing than we’d heard. Thanks to everything you’ve done for us, the animals are unharmed, and the facilities are holding up just fine. It’s a wonderful relief. Anyway, I’ll check your orders now. The kangaroo seems to be in fine spirits. You took good care of it, I can tell. I can’t believe you found this. We’d all but given up hope. I hope you’ll continue to work with us. The kangaroo you rescued seems to be alright, thank goodness. She’s so very special to us, and we’re relieved to have her back in one piece. Once she’s had a bit of time to recuperate, we’ll move her to the reserve next door where you can visit any time you like. By the way, we’ve uploaded our decoy hologrenade data to the network. You can trigger it remotely once thrown, creating a distraction that’ll lure enemies away. It might just save your life if you run afoul of any troublemakers.
Sam: What’s so special about this kangaroo?
Lauren: Well, we first found her in an area with high concentrations of chiralium. How wild animals are affected by prolonged exposure is something we still don’t understand completely. But it’s thought this may be a key factor in how chiral creatures come into existence. So you can see why our wee girl would be an invaluable research subject.
Sam: You mentioned a reserve?
Lauren: It’s where we look after the animals in our care. The vegetation around here didn’t die out like elsewhere, and we still have a reliable water supply. After we screen each animal in our underground facilities, we release them into the reserve and monitor their health over time. When that kangaroo you rescued is strong enough, we’ll move her up top where she’ll be able to stretch her legs. That being said, changes in the environment can have a profound impact on many species, causing never-before-seen creatures to appear, throwing the ecosystem into chaos. Which is why we strive to preserve native animals here for future generations.
Sam: Alright, I’m heading out.
Lauren: Cheers, Sam. You really helped us out. At this rate, we’re poised to lose so many native species that predate the Death Stranding. And once they’re gone, there’s no getting them back. Between the bushfires caused by chiral cinders and animals behaving strangely and getting hurt, it’s been pretty bad. But I’ve heard that these environmental anomalies might be resolved once and for all when Australia is fully linked up. So I’ve got high expectations for you and your friends. Speaking of which – how would you feel about assisting us with our preservation efforts? It’d be a simple matter of capturing any wild animals you see out on their own, and bringing them to us. Even a few would make a real difference. Give it some thought, eh?
Fragile: Well done, Sam. Return to the DHV Magellan and report to the bridge. I’d like to tell you a little bit more about Rainy and her talents.
Fragile: When she’s outside, Rainy’s constantly surrounded by timefall. But within a one point five meter radius of her body, a different kind of precipitation is observed. We call it corefall. Anything it touches is restored to an earlier state. In other words, it has the power to heal and repair – to counteract timefall’s effects. Sadly, people only see the timefall – and not the remarkable woman standing in the eye of the storm. Still no signs of growth?
Rainy: I should be due any day now… If things were normal, that is… But the baby’s still stuck at seven months.
Fragile: She has stillbaby syndrome. Have you ever heard of it?
Sam: I met a few preppers in Mexico that had something like that.
Fragile: They’re not isolated cases. It seems to be happening everywhere. Though who knows if it’s a syndrome, or a symptom of something else.
Tarman: Simply put, the fetus stops growing at about seven months. To be clear, it doesn’t die, but it no longer moves, as if it’s frozen in time. Several treatments, including c-sections, have been attempted… Unfortunately, removal from the womb invariably results in death. And while not all pregnancies are affected, it’s yet another contribution factor to the already low birth rate. The Genetic Diversity Conservation Initiative just isn’t enough to compensate.
Sam: You got any idea what’s causing it?
Tarman: There’s speculation that it’s due to an imbalance in the Beach itself. I’m sure it’s been explained to you before, that countless individual Beaches exist – a multiverse of Beaches, so to speak. And that they are all governed by an “Upper Beach” on a higher plane. Expansion of the chiral network to cover the whole UCA may have inadvertently disrupted the link to that Beach. Or so they think.
Dollman: BB units were also seven-month-old fetuses. So it’s not hard to believe that the Beach might very well influence the unborn.
Charlie: While I can offer you no concrete answer… I can state that the plan to extend the chiral network into the Australian continent – to take it worldwide… is also intended to help restore balance to the aforementioned Upper Beach. And in doing so, it is possible that we may resolve the issue of stillbaby syndrome.
Charlie: Sam, it’s Charlie. You’ll be happy to hear that a request has come in which will take you to your next destination. Unfortunately, no nearby facilities have the capacity to prepare the cargo. So it’s going to be a long-distance delivery from West Fort Knot instead. Moreover, this request requires you to transport a large quantity of cargo. Careful consideration will need to be given to your route and your means of traversing it. You’ll also need to think about what equipment you might need. Only then should you commit to a plan of action. Access the delivery terminal at West Fort Knot to pick up this main order. Oh, and the DHV Magellan can take you there, if need be. Just open your ring terminal and select “Chart Course” to request transport.
Dollman: I was looking into the conditions that led to the bushfire we escaped. It seemed to have been caused by a phenomenon known as chiral cinders. Unlike other items washed up by the currents, cinders violently erupt from the tar, and soar through the sky before crashing to the ground. This phenomenon has been observed across the continent, and has led to an increase in bushfires. It’s one more potential threat to keep an eye out for. Ever wanted to learn more about the various creatures housed at the animal shelter, Sam? Well, there’s a speaker outside the facility that they use to broadcast updates. Might be good to check in on some of the animals we’ve taken there once in a while. I’m so glad that we were able to save that kangaroo’s life. It’s easy to forget that humans aren’t the only creatures affected by the Death Stranding. Protecting our remaining wildlife isn’t just the right thing to do. It can also help us to better understand how the environment has changed. Rainy was a vision to behold. To put out that fire so effortlessly—her powers are incredible, don’t you think? The kangaroo you rescued is currently being cared for and studied at the animal shelter. You know, if you ever want to stop by and see how it’s doing, I wouldn’t object. Are you curious how I maintain my youthful appearance? It’s because Rainy lets me shower in her corefall from time to time.
Child (vision): Daaad! Mooom!
Dollman: That seemed like a child…
Charlie: Sam, it’s Charlie. I’m pleased to inform you that you can now use the map on your ring terminal to check the weather forecast. We utilize information provided by Rainy as well as local historical data to make predictions. Take them into consideration when plotting your routes.
Tarman: Sam, Tarman here. A short while ago, the tar currents became incredibly unstable. It’s gotten so bad that the DHV Magellan can’t travel safely. We’re still looking into what might’ve caused this, and we’ll be in touch the second we know more.
APAS Announcer: The animal shelter provides care for vulnerable and isolated creatures. Should you encounter such a specimen, please secure and deliver them to the shelter facility or any other nearby facility. Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.
Dollman: Sam, there’s an animal that appears to be on its own. This could be a good opportunity to assist the shelter with their preservation initiative.
Mike Northcote: Wait, are you Sam? Then does that mean you carried this hefty delivery all the way from West Fort Knot? Way to make an entrance. We welcome you with open arms. Now let’s get this cargo of yours processed. Whoa, this cargo looks great! Thanks so much for taking care of it. Where did you dig up this cargo? I can’t believe it – what a gift! I hope you’ll continue to support us in the days ahead. Alright, can you connect your Q-tip to our facility?
Mike Northcote: Introducing… the blood boomerang! Throw it properly and it’ll come right back to your hand. It’s a reusable weapon in that regard. Folds up nicely, too, so it’s quite easy to carry. You’ll find it’s especially effective against BTs, so give it a try against the next one you meet. With the aid of your network, we should also be able to develop stronger measures to defend against belligerents. Which we need since the Brigands out west have rapidly improved their arsenal in recent days. Honestly, you couldn’t have gotten here at a better time. Thanks be to you, we’ll finally be able to focus on our research. As the chiral network has expanded, we’re seeing more and more anomalies outside of the bounds of its coverage. This has led the Brigands to conclude that the network itself is responsible for the worsening state of the world. Which is why they’re opposed to its expansion. But it’s not like we can sit back and do nothing. If we don’t try to improve things, humanity’s doomed to go extinct.
Sam: Tell me about this blood boomerang.
Mike Northcote: After I moved to Australia, the locals learned me all the ins and outs of the boomerang. I then designed a new type that’s effective against BTs as well. You infuse it with DOOMS blood before throwing it. The bigger the charge, the greater the potency. Naturally, most people would have to rely on blood bags sourced from donors, but since you have DOOMS, you can use your own blood on the spot. Unlike traditional firearms, it hardly makes noise. If your enemies don’t actually see you throw it, they’ll have a hard time finding you. That said, don’t expect it to do too much damage to humans. Not unless you managed to hit them in just the right spot, at least.
Sam: What sort of things are you monitoring here?
Mike Northcote: At this observatory, we focus on monitoring the behavior of tar currents. There’s a patch of BT territory due north of here, and just beyond it is land that’s currently being subsumed by tar. There’s no telling when this facility will be lost to the tar as well… so it’s important that we contribute to the research and development of countermeasures while we can. Incidents of tar current instability have grown more frequent, but we haven’t been able to determine much more than that thus far. Thanks to the chiral network, though, we expect we’ll be able to improve our instrument accuracy.
Sam: You said the Brigands have improved their arsenal?
Mike Northcote: One day, they started sporting a whole lot more weaponry. Including grenade launchers with custom tranquilizing gas rounds. Thing is, the Brigands don’t have a chiral printer at their base as far as we know. So where’d they get all the new hardware all of a sudden? Kinda worrying, don’t you think?
Sam: Alright, I’m gonna head out.
Mike Northcote: We appreciate the help. Best of luck to you, Sam. Ah, the tar currents are acting up again. Guess it’s back to work for me. Let’s both keep on keeping on.
The President: That was excellent work, Sam. Thanks to you, the better part of the western continent has access to our services. Now it’s time for you to head north and continue to expand network coverage. It is imperative that you connect all of Australia, stabilizing the environment and eliminating the remaining anomalies. There will be challenges, of course, but I know you have what it takes to overcome them. I expect more great things from you in short.
Tarman: Sam, this is Tarman. We believe that we’ve finally determined the location of whatever’s thrown the tar currents into chaos. The chiralium levels there are pretty high, though. And BTs are almost certain to be present as well. I hate to ask, but would you mind taking a look for us? It’s close to your current position. I’ve sent you the coordinates. We’re counting on you, Sam.
Dollman: Easy does it, Sam. Look out!