act32side

I think this should be enough.

Since the loss of the doctor in charge of this neighborhood, there's been a shortage of medical help here. Everyone's glad that you've been lending a hand.

Ah, that's his notebook on Oripathy over there. He was Infected many years before he eventually... *sigh*

I can tell from just his handwriting that he was patient and meticulous in his work.

All of us do miss him very much.

Oh, also, about the people you were looking for... I sent a Messenger to get your request out quick.

I only met them a few times before, so I'm not too sure if those operators are the same ones you've been looking for, but... having hope is better than having nothing, right?

Certainly. I can't thank you enough.

But... a Messenger?

That's right.

Do you not have international calling here?

International...?

Señor Ernesto, I have an appointment today, and it's now.

Oh, it's you, Ellie. This is Señor Gustave, our new doctor.

Hello, Señor Gustave. Mama made some bread for the new doctor, so this is yours.

Oh, please thank her for me. What kind of bread is it?

A ker-sont.

Non, my little friend. It's croissant. You say it like this, 'cwuh-son'.

Weird... no one says it like that...

Trust me, that's the proper way.

Eh? Don't most people usually pronounce it like 'ker-sont?'

Non, non... I can't believe this is happening.

Are you okay, doctor? You don't look so good.

*ahem* No, I'm fine... have you been feeling unwell at all lately?

Hey, you two! That arm needs to be a bit higher, so it can connect to the shoulder later.

You got it!

Making two puppets dance together... ambitious.

It took us half a year from concept to making the actual thing, but it looks like our efforts haven't been in vain.

Did you plan all this?

Me? No, the original idea came from Papá.

M-Mr. Diaz? I can't believe he'd actually...

The year that fire happened was particularly dry. When the dance hall went up in flames, the blaze was so intense that people couldn't escape.

It was Papá then who insisted on fighting the fire and saving us despite the orders he had. He tried his best, but couldn't save everyone...

The fire scarred us all, and nobody wants to talk about it. We can't dance the night away like before. Not with all that pain still inside us.

But within the last few years, people have slowly regained the desire to dance.

Except for Papá... he still feels guilty over the people he couldn't save.

And yet he still went and proposed this...

Papá says he can't dance with everyone, but he can at least be the one that gets everyone together.

You know what, Tecno?

I was shocked when I first got here. Chaotic city planning has the place crammed with illegally built structures and jam-packed with people. I thought the whole place was a giant fire hazard.

But there are lots of fire-fighting facilities in your streets and alleys. You've got quick evacuation routes and plans in every building.

And then I thought, whoever runs this place is actually pretty capable.

And I'm doubly sure of that now.

That goes without saying...

Hey, what's going on over there?

What happened? I think that arm stopped moving.

What's going on?

This is bad, the arm got tangled with the puppet's body cables when it moved.

Can we detach and reposition it?

No, it's jammed pretty tight.

Where, exactly? I'll get someone to untangle it.

It's an awkward spot... between the third and fourth floors, far away from the windows.

Use a safety harness?

Maybe... we'll give it a try.

Isn't it kind of dangerous to send someone down from the eighth floor like that? That's much higher than the puppet's head.

They don't have other options... They can't find a spot to anchor their ropes on lower floors.

Can you not move it with a remote control...? Oh, that building's outer walls don't have any good spots for easy climbing.

We handcrafted these puppets and their internal structure is real complicated... only someone super familiar with them could handle this.

Be careful...

Almost... just a little bit more to the left—

Oh no! The technician fell!

Phew... he's fine, he has a safety harness on.

Can he try again?

I'm afraid not... that drop has his legs shaking uncontrollably.

No, hermano... I really can't do it, I'm afraid of heights... I, I...

But you're the one who's the most familiar with the puppets' internals... anyone else would just find it near impossible to fix...

No... it was so scary, when I fell... I really thought I was a goner...

Wh-Why not call Tecno? She... designed it, after all...

Tecno! Tecno!

Is he alright?

He's fine, but he's scared out of his wits. So the boss was hoping you could try your hand at it...

I don't know a thing about the insides, though.

Huh? Didn't you design them?

I mean, I only designed what they look like, I wasn't involved in the actual production.

Then... wh-what should we do?

Tecno, mind letting me and Fuze have a try? We both have experience with heavy machinery.

Huh? Miss Ela, you're already done talking with Papá?

Give us a chance, Tecno.

But didn't Papá say...?

I can help out too, Tecno. We all have some engineering experience, so I'm sure we can do something.

I... I...

You're not afraid of heights, Señorita? That's the eighth floor... Knowing theory isn't exactly enough.

I once dropped out of a twenty-story building, mister. This'll be a piece of cake.

No, you can't do that... You stay here, I'll go up myself.

Tecno?

I'm sorry, Ela. It's not that I doubt you, but I promised Papá I wouldn't let you participate, no matter what.

But will you be able to fix it, Tecno?

I'll try my best.

*sigh*...

Can you do me a favor, Meijer?

Of course. What is it?

Those guys over there with their eyes on me? Get them off my tail if they follow me, I need to find Fuze.

Oh, so Papá Diaz sent some backup.

I can do it, but where are you going?

Up there. There's no way Tecno can handle the big guy.

Ela! Hey!

Damn it, where did that lady go?

*sigh*

Sorry, Mister, but I need your help with something!

Huh?