 |
During Pax's journey across the Divided States of America, there are optional "reflection" events where she can contemplate various topics concerning her life. Viewing all of these events is necessary in order to get the Reflective achievement.
Issue 1: Opening Act[]
La Torre[]
At the railing in the center of La Torre's basement, Pax provides a recap of the crew's encounter with the Pacificop, with dialogue to account for all the possible outcomes. If the cop pulled the crew over and got hit by the truck, Pax states that the cop brought the situation on himself for pulling a gun on the crew and that the cop now cannot identify the crew, but she also wonders if she could have handled the situation better and not have blood on her hands. If Pax used Block to non-lethally resolve the situation, she wonders if she made the right choice and notes that while the crew may have avoided killing this time, a future situation might require them to do so in order to complete the mission. If Pax used Push to make Sai try to escape the cop car, Pax hopes that Sai will stop blaming herself for the cop car getting hit by a truck, since Pax feels responsible for the accident, but she also wonders if the situation could have turned out worse if the crew did pull over.
Bus after border crossing[]
While staring out the tour bus window, Pax reflects on her life in Pacifica and feels bittersweet about leaving the country. She thinks about how she could not find opportunities in Pacifica and dropped out of school, resulting in her relying on gig jobs and short cons to survive. However, she also notes that it will be harder to stay below the authorities' radar in the American Republic compared to Pacifica. She also thinks about the mission itself, the mishaps that occured, and how Theo's leadership allowed the crew to succeed in stealing the Puritans' data from Purity, though the crew still needs to deliver the data to Nova Scotia. Pax states that she never expected to return to the American Republic in these circumstances, since she expected to be exiled. She mentions that the American Republic is in decline due to the abandoned businesses, Horned Riders activity, and Justice's martial law. Finally, Pax mentions her plan to pick up Ziggy from Liberty, along with the ME-EM.
Rock Rabbit Campground[]
While sitting on a bench in Rock Rabbit Campground and reflecting on the idea of solitude, Pax states that she needs some alone time because too much togetherness can bring out the worst in her. She feels like she accomplished a lot during the day of the heist and wonders if she was really living in a meaningful way before that day. Pax also takes the time to appreciate nature now that she is out of Pacifica's city life, though she also states that she tried to suppress her memories of her pre-Pacifica life because of how much she misses home. When thinking about the idea of peace and silence, Pax states that she used to be afraid of too much silence because it would leave room for intrusive thoughts, but now she has learned to embrace it.
Issue 2: Ghosts[]
Liberty campfire benches[]
This event can be seen before talking to Annie at Rosa's grave. Pax describes Liberty's community as being like a giant family, with over a hundred members. Many of them were kids who were orphaned by the chaos caused by the Broadcast. Pax laments that she was exiled during the commune's glory days. On the Librarian Coda, she wonders if she could have found a better way to use her Vox if she had stayed. On the Expat Coda, she states that the exile inadvertently gave her the opportunity to leave both the Republic and Pacifica permanently in hopes of refuge. On the Ronin Coda, she states that her experiences in Liberty made her a fighter.
Rosa's grave[]
Pax apologizes to Rosa for never making it back in time for the latter's funeral and for almost getting the commune in trouble with her Vox. She states that she hopes she can do right by the commune this time and that she misses Rosa.
Ziggy's cabin[]
On the couch, Pax states that eight people once lived in the cabin, with other cabins housing up to a dozen. This taught the kids how to collaborate and compromise with each other.
Poppy field benches[]
Pax states that she cannot let go of the image she had of the commune from the past and is surprised by how much Liberty has changed. She mourns for those lost years and the girl she once was.
Schoolhouse swing set[]
On the swings, Pax states that nothing lasts forever, and that she hoped Liberty would forever live up to her perfect image of what she thinks the commune should be. Coming back to the wreckage of her childhood taught her this harsh lesson about reality.
Bus after Liberty[]
Pax briefly talks about the ME-EM, which she might be able to sell to the Weave, though she is still uncertain about this plan. She also regrets how her request to stop in Liberty almost exposed the crew to Justice and wonders if Theo will reprimand her. When thinking about Liberty, Pax blames herself for bringing trouble to the commune and causing everyone to evacuate, but takes solace in being able to find closure with Rosa, Annie, and Ziggy.
Issue 3: Caretakers[]
Bus to service station[]
Pax is frustrated with how her relationship with Ziggy is still strained and comments on Ziggy's current Coda. If Ziggy is on the Idealist Coda, Pax expresses her cynicism by disagreeing with Ziggy's desire to fix everything, since she does not think the country is fixable or worth fixing. If Ziggy is on the Defeatist Coda, Pax will state that Ziggy has given up on everyone and everything. If Ziggy is on the Pragmatist Coda, Pax remarks that the two of them are similar in their pragmatism, but wonder if that trait is causing friction between them.
Signal Hill Campground[]
At a dock in Signal Hill Campground, Pax thinks about Caretaker and how the robot was hiding important secrets, while also wondering what pronouns to use for CT. She admits that she finds the robot more tolerable now that she knows Vox works on them, but also realizes that this is a reflection of her controlling tendencies. On the Librarian Coda, Pax notes that the Weave will be interested in Caretaker for their susceptibility to Vox, but wonders if telling the Weave is really the correct choice. On the Ronin Coda, Pax finds Caretaker's newfound sapience intriguing, but states that a robot revolution is unlikely to happen and there is still no hope of defeating Justice, though she also states she could be wrong. On the Expat coda, Pax entertains on the same thought as on the Ronin coda, but concludes that, while their options might have been expanded, their plans for now remain unchanged.
When pondering her encounter with Eli, Pax muses that the conspiracy theorists were correct about Justice breeding Anomals and wonders if this information is relevant to the mission. On the Librarian Coda, she notes that the information could still be relevant because of the Weave's mission to help Anomals, in contrast to Justice seeking to persecute them. On the Ronin Coda, she states that if Justice is building an Anomal army, then someone needs to stop them and that doing so could be more important than the crew's mission. On the Expat Coda, Pax expands on her thought from the Ronin coda, concluding that someone else needs to figure this out, and she and her child will be long gone by the time this confrontation plays out.
When pondering Ziggy, Pax will mention whether or not the two of them managed to reconnect in the underground school. If Pax was successful in having a heart-to-heart with Ziggy on the stairwell and swings, she will be optimistic about their relationship going forward. She states that being able to talk together and not just worry about life-and-death situations, the two of them might be able to reconcile.
Issue 4: Promised Lands[]
Betty's Diner bathroom[]
Pax clarifies that rather than talking to herself in prior dialogue, she is actually talking to her unborn kid. She states that the kid's father is a good man who will support the two of them. However, Pax is still unsure of what she wants to do at the end of the journey.
Abandoned mall stairs[]
In the abandoned mall, Pax will discuss the choices she made during the encounter with the two Justice officers in the diner. While she believes someone needs to stand up to Justice's tyranny, she wonders who could do it. On the Librarian Coda, she states that the crew would not be able to fight Justice alone and contemplates if the Weave could be a viable faction for opposing Justice. On the Ronin Coda, she states that Justice's misdeeds make her want to cause trouble for the group and wonders if it would be better to stay in the Republic to fight back, even if it means abandoning her original plan to escape. On the Expat Coda, Pax's thoughts unfold similarly to those on the Ronin Coda, but she eventually takes her unborn child into the equation and concludes that they can ultimately leave behind all of these issues by going fast enough. Pax will also talk about Sai and Theo's religious faith and prayers, and then wonder if the Weave is worthy of the crew's faith in regards to saving Anomals.
Issue 5: Yellow Brick Road[]
In the Boulder service station bathroom, Pax acknowledges that by taking Girl from Justice, the crew is technically kidnapping her. On the Librarian Coda, Pax notes that the Girl needs help from the Weave and that the crew can either drop her off at the Yellow Brick Road Motel library or bring her to Nova Scotia. On the Expat Coda, Pax considers Girl a liability and states that the crew should leave her with the local librarian so that the Weave can figure out what to do with her. On the Ronin Coda, Pax condemns Justice for attacking a child and states that the crew is morally obligated to act, whether it means fighting to save Girl or preventing such incidents from happening again.
Pax thinks about her choice at Alpine Visitor Center, where she either stayed behind to save the old couple from Justice or abandoned them. She notes that either choice has consequences, but tries to justify the choice to herself. As for her baby, Pax states that they have Vocals due to their heritage, and she suspects Girl may also have Anomal parents. Pax worries about her kid's safety, since she knows the father would be heartbroken if anything happened to them. She tells her kid to state if the constant fighting makes them scared.
Issue 6: The Bad Lands[]
At Camp Oakwood, Pax thinks about the Broadcast originating in the Great Plains Exclusion Zone, as well as the woman she sees in her vision when touching the crystalline tree. Pax briefly wonders if that woman knows her, but then thinks it might be the Echoes playing tricks on her. On the Librarian Coda, she ponders if some sort of destiny is responsible for her having these chance encounters, but decides that regardless of fate, her goal of going to Nova Scotia has not changed, though she states that she is not just motivated by money anymore. On the Expat Coda, Pax likens the mission to a river that is pulling her and her child along, and states that regardless of fate, free will, or randomness, her goal of escape is unchanged and she should prepare for future tribulations so that she can gain freedom. On the Ronin Coda, she thinks about the fight against Justice being forced on her and states that there is a dilemma; if she flees the fight, her loved ones will be hurt, but if she continues, she risks her own life. Pax still thinks about what path she should take afterwards and states that her kid might have to teach her how to listen.
Issue 7: Let There Be Light[]
After Ophelia loses control of her powers, Pax can go to the fence behind the abandoned house to reflect. If Pax is on the Librarian Coda, she will talk about how helping the Weave could help all Anomals and will consider joining them, but note that doing so would mean giving up on her original plan to go to Europe. On the Expat Coda, Pax will express weariness towards mediating social situations and dealing with the increasing complexity of the mission, which is why she is eager to get the mission over with and start a new life elsewhere. On the Ronin Coda, Pax laments the tension among the crew and wishes everyone would use their energy to fight Justice instead of each other, stating that everyone is taking their anger and frustration out on the wrong people.
Pax also talks about Sai's mental state and how the latter is more distressed than usual, but hopes that Sai can find solace after reaching Nova Scotia. Pax acknowledges that her kid is trying to communicate, but she cannot understand them and the father may have better luck in communicating with the kid using linguistic knowledge.
Issue 8: Battle of the Bands[]
In the Bad Lands Bar green room, Pax thinks about how much the situation has escalated and how many new crew members joined. She states that winning the music contest is optional and that the crew needs to focus on the mission. Pax states that it feels wrong to be in the Battle of the Bands without Sai performing alongside everyone and that the crew would not have made it this far without her. On the Librarian Coda, Pax laments that Sai could not see that this mission is not just about her or their rocky relationship, as there is a bigger picture to consider. On the Expat Coda, Pax states Sai would have hated going on stage in the Battle of the Bands and that the two of them would eventually have a bitter parting regardless. On the Ronin Coda, Pax states that she is not sure she wants to see this mission through without Sai and is worried about leaving Sai behind in the Republic.
Issue 9: Rotown[]
At the entrance of Rotown, Pax describes the American Republic as a brick-and-concrete corpse or a skeleton of rusted steel in reference to the decaying infrastructure and economy. On the Librarian Coda, Pax wonders if the Weave can bring back life to the long dead country. On the Expat Coda, Pax states that the Republic is hopeless and that there is no reason to stay, making her eager to leave the country. On the Ronin Coda, Pax wonders if it is justifiable to risk one's life to fight something that is already dead.
Pax notes that many robots were built in Rotown, but due to the factories being shut down, the robots will eventually stop functioning with no new ones to replace them. On the Librarian Coda, she states that it is possible to build coalitions to make use of the remains of Rotown. On the Expat Coda, Pax states that she and her kid need to get out while they can, like rats from a drowning ship, in the hopes of finding a better place than the Republic. On the Ronin Coda, Pax considers Caretaker an example of how change is possible, since they are proof that anyone can fight against their dictated circumstances.
Pax states that Rotown was once the symbol of the Republic's technological might and industrial dominance. On the Librarian Coda, she believes that the right people might be able to restore Rotown to its former glory, indicating that her opinion of machines is more positive than when she started the journey. On the Expat Coda, she states that it is delusional to think there is any hope for Rotown or the Republic. On the Ronin Coda, Pax states that every giant eventually stumbles and falls, and that there is reason to keep fighting even when doing so appears meaningless.