Chapter Text
«It was your life, Higgs. Your fairy tale, told by an idiot, full of pathos and righteous anger... A meaningless fairy tale... How long ago it was»
A cloudy sky stretched over a modest shelter, hidden from prying eyes. In this peaceful corner, cut off from the rest of the world, a deceptive silence reigned, and only the soft whisper of the wind created a sense of calm. But here, where the light barely penetrated the leaden clouds, something invisible always lurked. Beyond the concrete walls, timefall poured down day after day, concealing forces capable of shattering the fragile balance.
Crossing through the obstacles of chiralgrams set in her way, the woman swung her umbrella, folding it and slipping it behind her back. It didn’t take her long to unlock the shelter, though once, she could have gained entry by other means. Descending the staircase lined with plants, she already felt the homelike atmosphere reaching out to something deep within her.
A man came out to meet her, comically holding a frying pan in his hand, using it as an improvised weapon. As funny as he looked, she stifled a laugh as she took off her helmet.
"Who are you?" he asked, not realizing he was looking at a familiar smile. Recognizing Fragile, Sam lowered his «weapon».
"Were you cooking?" she asked casually.
"What’re you doing here?" he asked, as if he hadn't heard her question.
"I’ve been looking for you."
Fragile followed after him, taking in the room. She couldn’t quite hide how strange it felt to be here… after everything that had happened eleven months ago, seeing the Great Deliverer in the role of a father. An ordinary man with an ordinary life, raising a child. It didn’t fully make sense in her mind, yet it didn’t stop her from feeling glad for her friend’s happiness. Sam had earned this rest, but ahead still lay work that only he could do.
"I have a job for you."
"Oh, really? I thought maybe you wanted to catch up," Sam replied, putting Lou down on the floor.
If he agrees, Fragile guarantees that the pursuit for his escape from Bridges will end. But with the child it’s more complicated, she’s their property. Sam gives his friend a skeptical look, not believing for a second that, after everything, he could still be of any use. The world hadn’t changed for the better because of his help, if anything, it had only gotten worse. But she thought otherwise.
"Sam, you brought America together. Helped it be reborn as the UCA. But I'm afraid the Death Stranding is far from over. Still on the brink of extinction – don't act like you don't see it."
The man sat down to listen, looking at the chiraligram that Fragile projected with her ring. He wanted a better life for the child he now considered his own, just like any father. Lou shouldn't have to live in a world spiraling into the void. And if there was even the slightest chance to delay the inevitable, to give her a period of peace, he was ready to take it.
APAS 4000 has revolutionized the whole process, within network coverage, there's no need to rely on human porters anymore. No need «Bridges» or «Fragile Express» anymore. But there were some things that couldn't be done without a human being.
"I went and started a new group. One that handles work in regions outside the UCA. We decided to call ourselves «Drawbridge»."
Fragile gathered special people with DOOMS to cover the remaining regions that managed to survive. To give access to chiral capabilities to everyone who needs them.
"And we secured support from APAC... A private corporation that supplied us with tech. But you’re not gonna like what I say next, Sam. Even I’m still against this idea."
The man tensed, locking eyes with Fragile. In that moment, they understood each other’s unease without a single word.
"There aren’t many people with DOOMS… And everyone who can help is needed by Drawbridge."
She paused, gathering her thoughts. What came next wasn’t easy to say.
"There’s one person whose DOOMS suffer go far beyond… Someone we both know all too well. I left him stranded on the Beach, like a damaged goods I wanted to forget… But the further we go, the more it becomes clear that he could make things a lot easier"
"Higgs?!" the man blurted out.
"I know how it sounds, Sam… But we found a way to reach him. And after spending tens of thousands of years on the Beach, he’s ready to do anything just to taste reality again."
Fragile shows an image of Higgs as they saw him when they first made contact with his Beach. Long hair and a face full of despair.
"With APAC’s support, we created a mech-body for him, one he could operate remotely, move his Ka into a soulless shell. In this form, his DOOMS abilities remain accessible, though not in full. To protect ourselves, we built in limiters within the body."
The image shifted and now Fragile was showing Sam Mecha-Higgs. The man studied closely what he would soon have to face. His eyes caught on the face painted white. And that unnatural gold makeup… Why the hell had Higgs chosen that look for himself? He was already irritating and they hadn't even met yet.
"He can still teleport like before, but only across short distances. He’s also able to create objects from chiralium, but only of limited size. And he can’t control BTs or the weather."
Closing the projection, she let out a sigh.
"Higgs… is now a member of Drawbridge. He made no demands, only agreed in order to stop wandering the Beach. But we both know what he wants, that, in the end, I bring him back. And I can't do that. Not even if we were to reunite the entire world."
"You’re feeding him false hope?" Sam's voice carried his anger.
"We had no other choice if we wanted him to see this through… to work with you as part of a team. Sam, when you reach the end, we’ll cut Higgs off. He'll be left on the Beach forever."
Sam recalls what he had to go through because of this terrorist. He believed that he deserved oblivion and eternal wandering. However, Higgs is still alive, so that would be wrong. Deceiving him meant stooping to his level. And this conflicting feeling settled in the heart of a man who saw no point in building this partnership on lies.
"So… What do you say?" she asked, looking hopefully at Sam.
"Something's not right..." he answered uncertainly, looking somewhere at the floor in front of him. Then he thought again about Lou, who was playing in front of him. It's all for her. The point of no return has been passed.
Then he looked at Fragile. It was all for her, too. For everyone who deserved a quiet and peaceful life.
"I'll do it," Sam replied, not meaning "I agree to lie to Higgs for the greater good" at all. Another option was needed, but this one would work for now. No matter how much he hated him, torturing a living person was something Sam would not agree to do. Fragile smiled, trying to ease the tension from the story, and then turned her attention to the child.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of her."
The woman gently picked up Lou, her movements sincere, smooth, and confident. And Sam knew he could trust her. But before he went to get ready, Fragile said:
"Come on, I'll introduce you to someone..."
After those words, they headed to the surface, with Sam ready for anything. As they stepped out of the shelter, he saw for the first time the Magellan ship rising from beneath the tar. The clouds parted, and the sun blazed in his eyes.
"It's time to you to hit the road and start a new journey," Fragile said with restrained solemnity, still holding Lou in her arms. As the ramp descended, a silhouette came down to meet them. Let’s be honest, Fragile hadn’t intended for Sam to meet this person first. But this man always jumps the gun. And when Sam recognized the familiar face, for a moment, his blood ran cold. Before him stood someone he had long believed dead.
"Hey brother. Did you miss me?"