Mission 29 (
Summary[]
Henry Henderson instructs the children to investigate an occupation that interests them for their next social studies project. He suggests various methods, such as interviewing their parents about their jobs, making inquiries at a local business, getting their parents to arrange an interview with a prominent figure in their field, or even asking himself about educators. He adds that they will each prepare a report about their chosen profession and present it to the class on Friday. Becky decides to choose her father's company and asks Anya about her choice. In the back, Emile asks Damian if he's going to interview his dad, to which Damian replies that he will if he can get hold of him.
Yor and Anya's assassin outfits
After returning home, Yor asks what a "job investigation" is, and Anya explains that she has to ask how someone got their job and why they chose it, as well as watch them at work. As Yor is briefly confused about what to do and which job to do, the scene moves to Yor's imagination of bringing Anya to her secret job as an assassin, with Anya dressed in a similar outfit as Yor's assassin outfit. Yor explains that she initially took the job to provide for Yuri but now does it with pride, as the Shopkeeper says the job is a noble calling, and she should be proud as any soldier who devoted their lives to their homeland.
The phone rings as the Shopkeeper has a new mission for Yor. Yor looks at a document with a photo and details of her latest "customer," calling him a traitorous scum, but refrains from telling Anya about a list of his deeds. Yor runs to handle her newest customer, telling Anya to keep up with her. Yor explains that "The Shop" analyzes the target's capabilities and defenses, so all she needs to do is finish the job. She adds that she should kill on sight, but killing the wrong person would be out of the question, so she studies the photos carefully. Yor states that she does not skulk, as she should not be the one ashamed, and Anya tells her she is so cool.
Anya gets splattered with blood
As Yor expertly disables several guards, Yor clarifies that she feels that the job is rewarding, as she gets the feeling that she is digging in and doing her part to clean up the country, and it invigorates her to think of all the lives saved by her work. Yor explains that properly honing your body and skills is important in this line of work, along with a good understanding of human anatomy. She reminds Anya to always remember that the target is a human being who deserves a painless death, as she politely asks the target for the honor of taking his life. She demonstrates while explaining several methods of quickly killing the target, liberally splashing Anya with blood. Seeing the blood-covered Anya, Yor says that they will tell Loid they were at a tomato festival.
Back to reality, Anya stares at Yor and decides to report on Loid's job instead, having read Yor's imagination. Yor agrees, as her work at city hall can be a bit dull. Loid soon returns home, and Anya explains her assignment.
Two days later, Loid brings Anya, who is dressed as a detective, to Berlint General Hospital, where he works in the Psychiatry Department. Anya is amazed at the huge size of the hospital and Loid comments that it is the capital's most prominent hospital. Anya overhears Loid's thoughts that while a private-practice clinician might have made for an easier cover story, he decided to work there as it provides opportunities to steal intel and forge connections, as there are many major figures in politics, industry, and the military using the hospital. Anya quickly notes his thoughts in her notebook, much to Loid's confusion. Loid asks why Anya is dressed like a detective, to which Anya answers that it is how investigators dress.
Loid puts his lab coat
Loid changes into a lab coat, explaining that he finds it looks more professional, although psychiatrists do not generally wear lab coats. As they walk down the hallway, Loid asks Anya what she wants to know about his work, and she asks why he chose this occupation. Loid answers that everyone catches colds sometimes, but many people catch colds in their minds as well. Anya comments that Damian said she was too dumb to even catch a cold in P.E. class, and Loid tells her to try to get along with Damian. Loid continues that he thought it would be good to try to help those people and that many people, especially veterans, are still suffering long after the war has ended. Anya reads Loid's mind, and his true intentions were that he hoped that working as a doctor would give him an opportunity to approach Donovan Desmond if he ever got sick. Anya also writes this down in her notebook.
Anya gets showered with affection
Next, as Anya asks what Loid's workplace is like, some hospital staff recognize Loid and greet him, then ask if Anya is his daughter. Loid introduces the staff to Anya and tells Anya to introduce herself. The staff quickly dote on Anya, patting her head and offering her candy. Anya happily notes that Loid's workplace is paradise in her notebook. Anya asks the staff what Loid is like when he is at work. They praise Loid, saying he is always polite and kind to the patients and that everyone at the hospital adores him. One of the staff tells Loid that the director wants to play golf with him. Anya overhears Loid's thoughts that maintaining a diverse collection of contacts is important to make it easier to gather information and forge new contacts, as well as reduce suspicion of him being a spy.
Anya asks Loid what the hardest part of his job is. Loid explains that the wounds he treats are not visible, thus treating them is difficult as doctors are not wizards and cannot see inside someone's mind, causing Anya to smirk. Loid tries to continue explaining the importance of building a relationship of trust with patients, but Anya gets distracted by eating the candy given to her by the staff, causing Loid to end the interview.
Anya schemes to search the consultation room
As the staff leave, Anya tells Loid she wants to see him work. Loid says he cannot let her see him work with a patient as it would be a violation of medical ethics, nor can he show his research to the public. Loid instead shows Anya one of the empty consultation rooms. Anya begins to fiddle with the bookshelf in boredom, Loid quickly stops her, revealing an emergency escape route for when he goes on missions in the bookshelf through his thoughts. Someone knocks on the door of the consultation room; Loid recognizes it as one of his WISE colleagues and asks Anya if she wants to get picked up by Yor. Anya says she will wait for him to be done with work, so Loid provides her with a sand table to play with. Loid warns her not to touch anything else and leaves. Anya quickly gets a scheming look after he leaves.
Outside the consultation room, Fiona Frost gives Loid some documents, disguising another mission for Loid. Loid explains that WISE has placed a number of assets in the hospital to support his cover story. Fiona asks if the little girl is Anya Forger and comments that they seem close. Loid sighs, saying Anya's unpredictability annoys him, and Fiona is surprised that someone can get the better of him.
Men are terrified of Anya's sounds
In the consultation room, Anya pulls a lever hidden in the bookshelf, revealing a ladder leading below the room. Anya investigates the escape route, squeezing past a tight passage before she hears a voice from a vent. In the room below, several men are having a serious meeting about the neuroscience behind paranormal perception. Anya is excited about ghosts and lies down to listen, accidentally hitting a metal pipe in the process. The men are confused about the sudden noise but nervously dismiss it. Anya remembers that she needs to return before Loid does. However, she realizes her leg is stuck under a pipe. Her struggling sounds while freeing herself are mistaken by the men for those of a ghost. She manages to escape and hurries back. The men decide to keep an open mind when patients speak of ghosts.
Anya's mixed up toys
Anya returns just in time when she hears Loid's thoughts as he returns. She quickly makes something on the sand table before he comes in. Loid analyzes her sand table to observe her subconscious mind but is shocked that it is utter chaos. Loid believes Anya is subconsciously stressed by her recent adoption, blaming himself for failing as a parent and a spy, and decides she needs immediate care. Anya tries to explain that she just mixed it all up, but she flushes in embarrassment at Loid's thoughts. Loid suggests they buy the new Spy Wars comic on their way home and offers to work on the report together. He picks up her notebook to read, causing Anya to panic as she had written about his spy work. However, Anya's writing is unintelligible, even for Loid, so Anya decides to work on the report herself.
When they return home, Yor asks if Anya managed to see Loid perform his concussive therapy, describing the way he punches and kicks and leg sweeps his patients. Loid tries to explain to Yor that it is only for extreme circumstances.
Henry shocked by Anya's presentation of Loid
On Friday, Anya reads out her report to the class. While she initially presents Loid's normal activities as a psychiatrist, Anya mentions his determination to make connections, how he plays golf at his job, and having a secret escape route. Anya even says that Loid sometimes punches and kicks his patients, shocking Henry. Elsewhere, Loid is out on a meeting with Sylvia and gets an ominous chill. Later, Loid is summoned to the school, where he manages to talk his way out of trouble with his equivocation skill.
Characters[]
Trivia[]
Fiona's original design
- The original digital release of this chapter featured Fiona Frost with a different (non-final) design. Her final design was added in for the release of Volume 5.
- When Anya enters the consultation room, she notes that "it's not like an O.R. (operating room) at all" and asks where the brain-fixing machine is. Both of these comments could be interpreted as references to her time in the lab.
- When Loid asks why some dolls are buried in the sand, Anya mentions the "rolling sweep attack" Damian did in the previous chapter.
References[]