act32side

You can't think you're going to ship those art pieces for a quick buck, can you?

Listen, of all the trucks you brought, only a single one is loaded, and we've already got the driver and guard. Your get-rich-quick scheme is ruined.

What?!

If you don't believe me, just ask the men you sent downstairs. We already knew about the bombs, so let's wrap things up here before they blow.

The bombs... Reynell, when are your bombs supposed to go off? Give me the time.

Tell me when the bombs go off, Reynell.

Talk! Are you a deaf-mute now?!

If you're that desperate to get blasted to pieces, I can fulfill your wish right here and now–

Ten o'clock.

Give it up, Mateo. You'd better figure out what you're going to do, because there's not much time left.

If you have a shred of sanity left, let me out of these cuffs.

There are four bomb caches in the building, three of which we have under control. They'll be defused in no time. We're short the one in the ventilation shaft of Reynell's office.

Miserable old man, if I find out you're lying to me, you're dead meat!

The Capitán swears viciously and grabs the terminal before striding over into the shadow by the wall of the office.

The old firefighter looks up at the sky; Reynell finds his usual posture, leaning comfortably beside a huge painting.

An awkward silence lingers over the balcony.

Diaz.

So you can still speak after all.

How do you know when the bombs are supposed to go off? Who told you?

Why? Are you upset you can't use explosives to turn your investors' money into scrap paper?

It doesn't make a difference. There's another node in the ventilation shaft.

It might not be enough to destroy the artwork downstairs, but it is enough to turn this whole gallery into rubble and send that money up in smoke.

It's also enough to end the lives of the men up here on the balcony.

In the face of what I'm about to accomplish, does that really matter?

Diaz!

Though she has already steeled herself, Ela can't help but feel a chill grip her heart the moment she sees what's in front of her.

A large hole has been dug out on the side of the stairwell, and the multitude of metallic appendages protruding from it sprawl over the ground, a number of them crushed by people who had fallen to the ground.

But even more conspicuous is the blood spilled on the floor of the stairwell.

A trail of blood that has already begun turning black around the hole it emerges from extends all the way upstairs.

Before Ela can pick up her terminal to report the situation, the ground beneath her suddenly starts shaking.

...Oh no!

*Cough,* *cough*...

Ela, what's going on up there?

It's as you feared. The explosives in a half-connected state went out of control and started detonating, causing a small-scale collapse.

Are you hurt?

I'm fine, but the site of the explosion doesn't look good. It might get in the way of–

Ela walks down a few steps. Before she can finish her sentence, the gravel and rubble tightly choking the stairwell come squarely into view.

What happened just now? What exactly is the situation up there?

(*deep breath*) The collapse caused by the explosion has completely sealed off the stairwell between the fifth and sixth floors.

Considering that Reynell bastard designed only one stairwell to the upper levels of Galería Krysztauowa, and his elevator is out of commission, I'm cut off from the rest of you.

Doc and I are here at the explosion too–– My god, what is this...?

Solutions first. Can the stairwell be cleared with the tools you have?

Ela tries to push the large slab of concrete in front of her.

...Not easily.

Wait for me, I'll be there in a second. Tecno and Miłosz are also on the way. We're going to find a way to clear the rubble.

But... It's 9:35 right now. We're running out of time.

I'll break through and make my way up. You guys follow after me as soon as you clear the rubble. If you can't do that in time, I'll at least find a way to get Diaz out safely.

Wait, Ela! That's way too dangerous!

Think this through carefully, Ela.

I'll give it to you straight – clearing through the debris might take longer than expected.

My point exactly. We can't sit around waiting for Diaz to get blown to pieces, can we?

Are you sure you can do this?

Of course. I trust all of you, and I also trust in myself.

Sounds good to me.

Iana? Doc?

(*smiles wryly*) Looks like nobody can stop you.

Please be careful.

Thanks.

Hm, static?

My communicator seems like it's about to die. Fuze, after we get out of this mess, make sure to charge it up for me.

I've about had it with this stupid place. Climbing stairs on my first day, and now I'm still climbing stairs on my last.

If you want out, then pick up the pace.

Also, what was that loud noise with the tremors just now? Seemed like the whole building was shaking.

Quit wasting time. Hurry up and head down–

The soldiers, eager to head downstairs, suddenly run into Ela in the not-so-wide corridor.

Both sides immediately raise their weapons.

Ela aims her muzzle at the leader, but her target is the only one among the soldiers who does not respond.

Out of the way, Reynell's bodyguard. We're short on time.

What a coincidence. I'm in the same boat.

Wait, didn't el Capitán tell us to–

Shut up.

Bodyguard, you saw the hole in the wall and those wires on the sixth floor, didn't you? What is that?

Explosives. Reynell planted enough explosives in the building to flatten the whole place. Now, out of my way.

Coño, I knew it!

The irate soldier heads down the stairs with increased urgency, while the others stand there in a daze, not having grasped the link between the art gallery and the bombs.

Ela also pays them no heed. She tries to push past the group of soldiers with her shoulders.

Hold on! This isn't right!

Stop that woman right now! Hurry!

Despite their bewilderment, the soldiers still subconsciously spring to carry out the order, grouping up to surround Ela.

What are you getting at now?

Coño! The path right under us is blocked!

You know how to get out of this place, right? Take me with you! Hurry! Otherwise, we're both going to die here!

Ela swears under her breath.

The men in front of her clearly can't be reasoned with, yet she is the one caught in the most disadvantageous position.

I finally got through! Hurry up and report! Now!

Conchetumare! Did everyone go deaf today?!

Sir... Have you known about the explosives in the art gallery... this entire time?

It was news to me too! Just give me your report, now! We have ways of dealing with the explosives!

There's nothing to report.

WHAT?!

If I had to say something... it'd be that the only staircase going down is completely sealed off. Over.

The soldier slams the communicator into the ground in a fit of rage.

No one is taking orders from el Capitán anymore, so you'll get us out of here, right? You must know the way out?

You've got it wrong. I'm going upstairs to save a life, not running for my own.

Drop the act already! There's no way you're fooling all of us. You must know the way out!

The leader's words become more and more jumbled, but the routed soldiers start to understand, one after another.

Laying the GRZMOT mines, getting out of the blast zone, then swiftly coursing her way out before the soldiers can act. Ela has planned it all out in her head.

Her actions might invite another group of pursuers, but there is no other option. With each second she wastes here, Diaz's peril continues to grow–

Grenade out! Brace for impact!

At almost the same instant the order leaves her lips, Ela leaps and vaults over the stair handrails.