act32side

(I need to hide.)

Excuse me?

The watchman has been knocked out. There are signs of sabotage in the security and lighting systems.

Someone has infiltrated the warehouse.

They spilled coffee and pressed the wrong button... not a professional, from the looks of it.

(Ugh...)

I'll try to get the lights back up.

(Looks like Ernesto isn't in yet. Got to put you to sleep too then, big guy.)

Hm?

(Oh, he's fast!)

A kid?

Fuze is shocked by the figure leaping out of the darkness, not just because of her small size, but also because her punch was so fast that it was all he could do to block it.

He grabs the girl's wrist after a few exchanges and attempts to restrain her, but quickly realizes that things will not be so easy.

Not so fast!

What?! This kid's stronger than a grown man!

I'm not a kid!

The girl struggles free of Fuze's grasp and stomps on his toes.

Before he has a chance to feel the pain, the girl launches a spinning kick to his face.

Oof—

Walking on the streets, we let each other's hands go♪

Far away you go, never seen again♪

I'm left alone, searching in the dark♪

Oh, the silent, unfinished tango♪

(Whisper) Stay close.

(Whisper) Alright.

The pair sneak forward silently along the wall, not realizing that another group is doing the same a short distance away.

(Whisper) Fuze?! He's not answering.

(Whisper) Should we look for him?

(Whisper) No, I'll go. You wait here for the truck. There must be more than one infiltrator.

(Whisper) Be aware that we can't use lights if someone is lying in wait. We'd be sitting ducks.

(Whisper) Do you want to use my night vision goggles?

(Whisper) You hold on to it. I'll be careful.

Ela crouches down, clutching her gun, feeling her way in the darkness.

(Damn... where did Arleta go? I told her to stay close.)

(It's just so hard to do anything in the dark.)

(Was it this way? I might have taken a wrong turn. There shouldn't be another corner.)

So many times, brushing past each other♪

(There shouldn't have been a corner here! Not this way!)

So much searching, so much lost♪

Maybe we'll see each other again, at the next corner♪

(I hope not.)

(Whisper) Ernesto?

(Uh oh, I lost him.)

Who's there?!

(Whisper) Did the girl not realize she was walking in circles around the same wall?

(Whisper) Not everyone has night vision. Say, I think I've seen her before.

(Whisper) She was in that art community yesterday... should we leave her here?

(Whisper) I think her friends will come for her. I'll wait.

(Whisper) Alright, I'll look elsewhere.

(Mm... he's heavy.)

(I should have stuffed you in the cupboard with the other poor bastard.)

(Why would people from that neighborhood be here? This doesn't make sense.)

(*sigh*...)

(What's that noise?)

(Hm?)

Doc holds his breath and reaches for his weapon. Auditory senses are sharpened in darkness. The dragging sound grows ever closer.

So many times, brushing past each other♪

So much searching, so much lost♪

Maybe we'll see each other again, at the next corner♪

Freeze!

Their surprised exclamations send the warehouse into a frenzy.

Doc?!

Gustave?!

Tecno?!

Well, you can blame your bad luck!

What is that?

Arts flash! Get to cover, Ela!

Wait, Tecno, don't do it here—

No wrong moves, girl! I've got your friend here!

Oh no, they've got Arleta!

Hmph, we have a hostage too.

Shuhrat!

The only light in the darkness is from Tecno's Arts, not bright enough to illuminate the whole warehouse, but just enough for everyone to see each other's faces.

Gazes cross and scan around, reading the same thing on the assembled faces—

(Whisper) Well, this is awkward... how did we end up here?

Maybe we can exchange hostages and each go our own way?

Wait!

What are you doing here?

We have to find out who's been using this warehouse for smuggling. What about you, girl?

Looking for the meds we lost.

We've already said we didn't steal the meds.

Really? Then what are you doing here?

I told you, we're trying to find out who's smuggling stuff into this warehouse. What about you?

I said, this is where our meds are!

You people are just impossible!

Hey, anybody home? Your stuff's here!

Man, all the way out in the middle of nowhere...

So... if we all want to know what's up with that shipment of meds, why don't we ask the guy who's delivering it?