Page · 4 panels
Page 7/ 19
Layout — 4 panels
[art pending]
The Operative, talking. Dev, beside Jesse, very slowly moving his right hand into his jacket pocket. The Operative does not notice. They are mid-monologue.
- OPERATIVEBecause I am a fan, Jesse.
- OPERATIVEI have heard every recording in our vault.
- OPERATIVEI have heard the Velvet Underground at The Dom in 1966.
- OPERATIVEI have heard the Cruz brothers play "Wasting Time" in May 2026.
- OPERATIVEI have heard music my entire life because my position grants me clearance to the only library of it in existence.
- OPERATIVEAnd I have loved it.
[art pending]
The Operative pauses. Allred — for the first time in the issue, the Operative looks small. Just slightly. The vulnerability is real. The vulnerability is also dangerous.
- OPERATIVEDo you know what it is like, Jesse, to love music alone?
- OPERATIVETo be the only person in your city who knows what a power chord is, and to have to keep it a secret because if anyone else also knew, your job would no longer exist?
- OPERATIVEI am the most cultured person in New Vegas. I am also the loneliest one.
- OPERATIVEI came here personally because I wanted to meet you.
- OPERATIVEI wanted to meet someone who also knew.
[art pending]
Long beat. Jesse, on the crate, watching this. He genuinely cannot tell if the Operative is lying. Allred — slow the panel. Behind Jesse — Dev, very slowly, pulls the USB out of his pocket. Cups it in his palm. The Operative still does not notice.
No copy.
[art pending]
The Operative, recovering composure.
- OPERATIVEBut I am also a professional, Jesse.
- OPERATIVEAnd my job is to prevent music from ever again becoming a thing that competes with DeciCorp's licensing revenue.
- OPERATIVESo I will sit here with you, and I will share with you a single sincere thing, and then I will take the USB from you, and we will all go to our respective futures.
- OPERATIVEI am sorry it has to be this way.
- OPERATIVEI would much rather sit in a room with you and listen to records.
- OPERATIVEI cannot have that.
- OPERATIVEI have made my peace with it.
- OPERATIVEHave you made yours?