act28side

If you insist. Feast your eyes on them.

Who'll take all this over once you're dead?

Someone.

...They shouldn't.

There shouldn't be nobody else like you.

He throws the communicator to the ground and shoots it full of holes.

I can't kill you.

This sin is yours to bear.

Woodrow sets his gun down on the floor and raises his hands.

Behind him, attracted by the sound of gunfire, a crowd of mercenaries surges into the area with frantic footsteps and moves to surround him.

In the sky, the last few snowflakes of the night are fluttering down.

Okay guys, take me away. I'm ready.

The girl holsters her firearm, and lifts her hands above her head.

Put your hands behind your back.

...Handcuffs don't feel as cold as I thought they would.

Because I've been keeping them warm this whole time.

Thank you...

Can I have a word with you before we go?

I should thank you too, sir. Thanks for listening to all that.

It's fine... Before you, there was another guy who jabbered away just as much, if not more.

I'm sure... he'd be happy that you remembered what he said.

Oh... You knew him, too.

He was a good kid. Hard to forget once you've met him... Goodbye, Jessica.

The mercenary taps the girl's shoulder, raising a cloud of dust as the sun rises, and turns around to leave.

As Jessica gazes at the floating dust under the sunlight, she suddenly realizes that the night has already passed.

Likewise, the snowstorm had subsided at some point.

♪She spread her arms, spread her heart, showed me that pretty face♪

♪And from that moment on, I found my dreams in her embrace♪

They say there's gonna be another attack in about half an hour. You want some water?

Never mind. Look how tense you are. You'd just throw it up anyway... Breathe, breathe... Relax... Where are you from, girl?

Columbia, huh...? Ever heard of Davistown?

No? That's a shame. It's a pretty neat place. Its route takes it around the eastern forests, and the winters are long and cold, but its plate is home to a mine. Keeps its core's energy tower burning the whole time.

Just the heat generated from that keeps everyone warm all winter.

It can get pretty hot indoors, but it's also cold outside, so no matter where you go, as soon as you open the door you get puffs of white steam gushing out toward you. Which condenses on your eyelashes like teardrops.

You have to wipe them off quick, or the kids inside will laugh at you. But that's okay. That's when you fight back. Lift 'em by the armpits and toss them into the thick snowdrifts outside.

Now you get to laugh at all the snow on their faces.

Oh... Piqued your interest?

Yeah, it's a great place. Everyone wants to go see it for themselves. And I...

I really want to go back and have a look, too.

Hfff—How is it so damn cold here? I don't get it!

How the hell does this even happen? So goddamned cold!

Get your ass inside then! If you know it's cold, why're you complaining about it with the door open?

I don't want to get the floor dirty.

You say that like you can wipe your feet on the snow... Here, hot tea.

Pff... That's hot!

...The floor's pretty dirty in the diner today, huh? If I'd known, I would've just walked in.

We got some heavy snow. Every time someone steps inside, it just gets dirty again. I'll clean it up after closing.

So what're you having? Beans? Bread?

What kinda choice is that?

It's all we have. If you'd rather have nothing, suit yourself.

Can I get a little of both?

Fine, seeing how you're my first customer without a few screws loose. I'll even throw in a scoop of butter, on the house.

Helena...

Now what?

Why do you have mud on your chairs—

Hey you two, this ain't your home. Put your feet down!

You talking to us, old man?

*sigh*... Settle down, you two.

You stay out of this.

Don't be like that. Everyone's here for a hot meal. No need to get physical.

Hey, why're you taking his side?

Because I'd rather not see every little quarrel in this joint end in a knife fight.

Shut up, or I'll knife you too.

For the love of—

Stay out of this, Helena. I'll teach these hoodlums a lesson.

Heh, your funeral!

The ruffian takes his knife and steps forward, only for a dinner knife to fly at him from the opposite side and embed itself in the ground near his feet.

You?!

Not another inch, boy. It's late. Go home to your mommy.

Right back at you, woman—

Before he can take another step, a second knife brushes past his cheek and lodges itself in the wall behind him.

A few drops of fresh blood drip to the ground.

My ear?!

Stop whining. It's still attached.

But I can't promise it'll stay that way unless you scram. Now.

The restaurant's proprietor turns around and takes a cloth off the rack to start wiping the bar.

There is another knife wedged between her fingers.

Shit...

Forget it, let's go. We can get them back for this later.

Here, your meal.

Thanks...

Yowch! It's hot!

You're about the only person who can burn his tongue twice in one visit.

Hey, I was starving. Haven't had a good meal all day. Anyhow, don't you think we've been getting more and more of these thugs in town?

Probably because Woodrow's out searching for Miles... So they think nobody's gonna stop them.

Hmph... Miles sure knows how to be a pain in the neck. He left the plate without a word to look for fuel, only to disappear without a trace. And now Woodrow's gotta go look for him.

What choice did he have? We don't have enough fuel to go around. Besides, it don't matter what he ran into. He can deal with anything, man or beast, in three seconds flat.

But what if Woodrow's too late—

Alright, enough yapping. Finish your bean stew.

*sigh* I'm just worried...

Here, it's my last bit of butter. Now shut your trap, will you?

Kids, you awake?

There may be ambushers in the forest. The recon team has gone ahead to scout the area, and if they need any fire support, we can't just be napping in the transport.

So get off your butts, pick up your gear, and cover yourselves. On the count of three.

Ugh, my eyes...

What's wrong?

It's the glare from the snow.

I'm pretty sure I gave you a reminder of what to look out for when fighting in a snowfield. Where are your sunglasses?

Guess I didn't think it through. Whatever, I'll have to make do with what I have on hand.

How are things looking up ahead?