Editing Jim (section)

===== Aftermath and Dissolution of Trust =====
In the immediate aftermath of the Observatory Incident, Jim confronted Edward privately and demanded an explanation for the arrangement with Hans Naumann. Edward admitted that the decision had been driven by desperation. He required substantial funds and access to weapons in order to finance and supply a second revolutionary effort abroad, and viewed the deal with Hans as a necessary compromise. The explanation did little to ease the damage. Jim made it clear that Edward’s actions had irreparably undermined his trust and friendship, not only by protecting Hans, but by involving Jim—unwittingly—in the consequences of the deal.

Following the confrontation, Jim withdrew entirely. He returned alone to his home on Sustancia Road, where he spent the night drinking heavily. The incident forced him into prolonged introspection. For the first time, he fully accepted that he would never be able to avenge his wife’s death. Hans’s survival had closed that path permanently. As the night wore on, Jim questioned not only Edward’s motives, but his own decisions. He repeatedly revisited the moment at the Observatory, wondering whether Edward’s actions had been calculated from the beginning and what the outcome might have been had he chosen to pull the trigger.

In the early hours of the morning, Alexa arrived at Jim’s home unannounced. Jim, visibly exhausted and in poor condition, allowed her inside. She immediately pressed for answers, asking whether Hans was dead. Jim confirmed that Hans was still alive, that Marty Marcano remained in captivity under Hans’s employer, and that Edward had effectively sided with Hans in exchange for an arms deal. The revelation stunned Alexa, though it did not entirely surprise her. Her concern remained focused on Marty’s safety and the uncertainty of what would follow.

As the conversation continued, Jim reached again for a bottle of whiskey, prompting Alexa to confront him directly. She criticized his withdrawal and warned him against allowing loss and regret to consume him. With no further discussion, she left for her office, leaving Jim alone with the consequences of the night.