act28side

...What's the situation?

We've already tracked down Miss Brynley, but... the mercenaries are understandably not giving this their best. However, going by how long it's been, she should be almost out of ammunition.

Any news on Tila's end?

Helena and the miner took the money into the energy tower, and... neither of them came out.

So they disappeared without a trace, right in front of everyone? There must be another exit. Tell Tila to keep looking.

Yes, sir.

What about Woody? Has he left yet?

Mr. Bianchi... hasn't left the plate. It seems he's effectively given up on their initial escape plan.

After all, according to Tila's report, he was planning to hide in the mountains with the miner once everything was over.

Where did you go, Woody...

He... He's heading toward us.

Should we send someone to intercept him?

Forget it. Let him come. If he insists on coming, no one can stop him.

Liskarm, there's a burning roadblock up ahead. I can't drive past it. We'll have to walk.

Are those... Blacksteel transports?

Was it Woodrow... or Jessica...?

At the very least, that tells us that not everyone was inside when the energy tower exploded.

Wait, Liskarm... There's news from command.

Warning, all fireteams. The current situation is that, after the recent explosion, the target engineer's status is unknown and Target Helena is missing.

God...

HQ's orders are to give up on Target Woodrow and focus on capturing Target Jessica. The target is currently in an abandoned alley on the eastern side of the mine.

Liskarm... What do we do...?

There has to be <i>something</i> we can do... Our team knows the mine better than anybody else. Let's just try to make it to her side ASAP.

You got here much sooner than I expected... Woody.

Every last building on the way was empty. Wasn't much to do but come find you.

Are you blaming me for it?

Anyone else more deserving? Sometimes, a man bears sin not 'cause of something he's done, but 'cause of something he didn't.

Then you should've shot that bullet of yours decades ago.

But you chose to flee. Why?

Because after a long silence, my godforsaken empathy finally realized that another Sankta had showed up by my side again. It was you.

I was a mess, Woody. Empathizing with me must've felt terrible.

What was I supposed to do? It's the nature of all Sankta. We share everything, always.

And compared to what I read from your brain? What I had to go through at that POW camp might've been a walk in the park.

What a cruel fate. You despise me so much, yet not even my pain can bring you joy.

Reporting. Jessica spotted. Sharing coordinates.

The target is heading outside the mines. She has a heavy energy cannon, a semi-auto assault rifle... and a handgun of unknown make.

She's carrying all that by herself?

Oh, right. She also has a heavy shield on her back. The kind that can be used as carriage if necessary.

Well, that's something. Looks like after all these years, our princess has gotten pretty... remarkable.

How's she doing? Does she look like she could put up a huge fight? It's easy to spook a cornered thief. They get jumpy if you pull anything.

Hm... She seems kinda calm. She's just walking straight ahead, not doing anything.

In the alley, the girl carries her weapons and advances arduously through the blizzard. The dilapidated walls on the sides of the streets slowly pass her by.

That is, until she reaches a fork. She freezes there for a brief moment, then tugs her collar and turns onto the path where she must walk against the wind to proceed.

Time was frozen in that POW camp. But outside, the war kept raging.

That's right. After you two were taken prisoner, I took even more men to even vaster battlefields.

In January, we had to cross the river against heavy cannon fire. In August, we had to defend our position in a scorching hot desert, ceding not even an inch to the enemy.

Sometimes, we proved victorious, and we stepped forward over the bodies of our enemies. Other times, we found ourselves on the back foot, and we retreated past the bodies of our friends.

And sometimes, things got even worse. Sometimes, I had to sacrifice some to save the others.

Just like what you did to me and him.

Right, I've done it plenty of times. Not just to you two, but to who-knows-how-many.

That's the dilemma war always puts in front of me. It may seem like a choice, but it's not. It's an inviolable rule.

But you still made the call.

I had no choice. If I didn't, all our efforts would've gone to waste. We would've faced defeat. That's why I chose to accept the rules.

It's a sad thing, seeing a man you used to admire get reshaped by the rules and logic of war.

You even remember what you used to be like? Before you had any part in the Revolutionary War?

Do you remember the man who was always carrying the scriptures as he travelled everywhere, promising to use the gun in his hand to end all conflict and injustice?

Of course I do, Woody. I remember what I was like, and I remember what you were like, too.

You always had a brush with you. You wanted to have one of your paintings decorate a chapel dome one day.

Have you so much as touched a brush these past years?

No... Not since I had to get four fingers reattached.

The target is turning left. She's walking pretty slow. Nearby members, prepare to take her in.

These coordinates... They're just up ahead. Hurry, Liskarm.

Phew... W-Wait.

The two turn into an alley and stop in their tracks. The girl's lonely back suddenly appears before them.

Jessica...

Hearing her name, the girl turns around.

When she notices who they are, a hint of joy appears on her face, only to be quickly replaced by a sense of helplessness and panic.

C-Captain... You two came?

Yeah, we got your coordinates, so we rushed over here.

I'm sorry, Captain... I'm not sure there's any cleaning up this mess I made.

I approved your application to withdraw from the team, so strictly speaking, I'm not your captain anymore.

Right... I guess that's true. You two must be here to capture me, then.

No... We're here as your friends.

I got a transmission on our way here. Supposedly, during the explosion, Leone... Well, I'm not sure if you knew, but regardless, I thought you'd probably want someone at your side.

Yeah... I knew. I was on a call with him right until the moment it blew up... Thanks. Thanks for coming. It's just...

Are you okay, Jessica?

I...

I'm not okay. I'm awful.

Do you want us to come over and give you a hug?

No... don't. If you have anything to say, you can say it from there... I can hear you clearly from this distance.

Jessica...

Stay there and don't move, Franka.

Flustered, Jessica pulls her gun from her waist to stop Franka from advancing.

Are... Are you going to point your gun at me?

S-Sorry... I... I just... Franka, don't... Just leave me alone.

Jessica...

Let me talk to her.

Is there anywhere you want to go, Jessica? After this is all over?

Where <i>could</i> I go...? Those drones have been following me this whole time. You two shouldn't have come... Once you get back, you'll have to explain all these things you won't be able to answer. I'm scared. I'm terrified.

Don't worry about that. If I can't explain it, then so be it. As long as we're all together, there's nothing to worry about. Don't be afraid.

But I am... I'm so, so afraid.

What are you afraid of?

That the pristine pool of water could be too warm, too wonderful.

Uh... I'm not sure I'm following you there...

Suddenly, the headlights of a transport point straight at Jessica, and she is enveloped and imprisoned by a number of giant halos.

The girl's eyes are unable to bear such intense light. All she can do is hold her gun with one arm, and shield her eyes with the other.

After a short while, she seems to have adjusted to the brightness. She puts her arm down, and stares into the distance at the convoy of cars driving toward her.

How's life treated you all these years?

In my decades on the frontier, I kept my distance from crowds and wandered around alone a herd of burdenbeasts.

Why didn't you go back to the Holy City?