act32side

Guys, listen to me! We're about to rescue everyone in the Galería!

This is entirely voluntary! Everyone who's in, step forward and listen to Ela!

If you don't want to go, no pressure! Head back to the neighborhood, in case Mateo makes a move on our community and screws us before he's down for good!

What do you think? You going?

Don't wanna die, I'll be real. I'm not going. Think of all the pictures still waiting for me to take them.

(Shrug) I kinda want to see those art investors piss their pants in fear.

That's tasteless.

Tasteless?

Pant-pissing's no good show. What <i>I</i> wanna see is the art Reynell bought.

I thought you'd have to cough up for tickets from Reynell to see the goods, but it changes things if we're going in to save them anyway—

I—I—I mean, if you're gonna...

What are you pulling out Reynell's pamphlet for?

...This.

Galería Krysztauowa Exhibition Hall 2, Exhibit 14. An anonymous Minoan bard's manuscript from the night before Sargon annexed Minos.

How could such a beautiful poem, such a precious manuscript, end up bought by Reynell...

I learned Minoan just for this one poem! I'll recite it for you right now—

Don't bother. It's all Minoan to me.

Ugh...

*sigh* What the heck are you crying for?

When I just think about that bard's bitter fate, and then I think about that manuscript, and then I think about me, I just—I just...

I'm going, is what I am! Even if the bombs blow me up when I see it, it'll be worth it! I have to go!!

Considering the number of hostages, we can have the majority of our people evac the ones we rescue. Best leave HVT suppression and explosive disposal work to us.

Catapult, is Tequila on comms right now?

I got him.

Mr. Tequila?

Miss Ela? Don't tell me you're crashing the Galería with Arleta. It's dangerous in here—

We're the ones you hire to deal with this sort of thing, sir.

Catapult says you're trapped in a darkroom on the east wing third floor of the gallery, and the room is filled with explosives. Seeing how lively it is downstairs, there should be plenty of people shut in there, correct?

Yes.

Are the Captain's men in there? Have they noticed the bombs?

They should be there, but it's too noisy. I can't quite make anything out... hold on—

Tequila?!

(Whisper) Two soldiers passed by the darkroom entrance just now. They were discussing how to load the art onto their trucks.

Good. That's what we'll build our plans around.

(Whisper) Say, is something this small really gonna blow up whoever's in there?

(Whisper) Blowing up the galería's glass walls is one thing, but we're talking about the warehouse that Mateo used as his command node. Who knows if he has patched up the walls here...

(Whisper) Of course it will.

(Whisper) But... okay, you're rappelled outside the second floor, but you're still standing against a wall... Shouldn't you bust a window, and throw these things in?

Did you hear something just now?

It was like... donk, donk, donk?

Well, except it was five donks.

Three.

Who gives a damn if it was three or five? Doesn't matter, we can die of old age holding this bunker if we want. All those idiots in the plaza can do is stand around drooling—

Deployed! Time to pull back!

A string of explosions rings out of the building.

Catapult's jaw hangs slack as she stares at Fuze. About to offer a word of admiration, Fuze shakes his head at her.

And then from inside the room, an even more violent explosion. The Cluster Charge has ignited the explosives cache within.

Ela, this is Fuze. We should have hostiles from perimeter defense coming out now. Get ready to engage.

And Catapult, it's about time we move.

Don't you think... the explosions already woulda knocked them out?

Never assume your enemy's an idiot, even if he really is.

Incoming, incoming!

Are you... some kinda genius?

Not in a million years. What I have is training, intel, synergy with my teammates, and just a little pinch of technology.

It's that simple.

Fuze, sitrep?

Clear.

Defenders are pretty lazy. Zero guard against us storming them, and we didn't give them any time to notify their superiors.

Good work.

Time to begin the siege.

Everyone, we have to act quickly. Don't get sloppy, and don't give the defenders any time to react.

Let's go.

Did you hear something out there just now? An explosion?

Think so.

No way those lunatics actually came crashing in...

For what? To rescue Reynell?

No more hallucinating. Catch. This one's some sorta Yanese porcelain. Might smash with a single bump. Careful.

You almost smashed it along with the entire display case just now. You turn around and tell me...

By the way, didn't our leader break that vase thing, and say he was going upstairs to report to El Capitán? How come he's still not back?

Probably still climbing the stairs, just like the first time we came.

Or he's talking with El Capitán about giving these things a home. Maybe they've even figured out how much each of them are pocketing—

Grenade out!

No hostages in the room! Take out the defenders!

The hell? <i>You</i> guys?

Don't wimp out! Their rapid-fire doesn't pack enough punch!

I... I'm not scared, I just want to find somewhere safe to call for reinforcements—

Don't even think about it.

Grr. Decent shot.

Shame your charges just now were too weak. Took less from that than a slug bite—

And how about now?

Wait, you're the attackers? You must be crazy to seriously—

Of course we're serious.

Ela, what's that thing you say... Clear?

Nice work, but give us a heads up next time.

Doc, Iana, keep moving per Tequila's directions to the bulk of the hostages. Hostage safety is priority one.

No rash action in a bad situation. I'll lead the others to sweep the first floor of defenders, then we'll rendezvous with you.

Copy.

Diaz, Tecno, let's go.

Diaz?

Look at all this art. Palladulis Throwing a Javelin—a Minoan statue. This one's a pure gold, gilded enamel revolving vase from Yan...

And a manuscript from the great Ursine author Sergei Katayev... let me see which one of his it is...

...'A Receiver Electrifying, or, In the Mire of the Heart.'

Damn it all. This is the one. Reynell has it in his collection.

He and Mateo are two kinds of scoundrels. One's blowing it up, one's selling it all... nothing but...

Whatever. We'll leave it to the next guys to sort out. Let's move.

A pulse.

A pressing pulse.

In a deathly silent room, there is but a rapidly, incessantly pounding heart, and naught else. Save for—

S—Stay back! I'm not letting you in! You come in and we'll take you with us—

(Scratching noises about the door can be heard.)