act32side

That's one way, but Grzmot works better here.

Iana, Doc, get those non-combatants to cover! Fuze and I will cover!

Firing!

Stay back!

Don't resist! I'm taking you to cover!

Why do we have to—

Look out!

A sneak attack?!

Looks like you're more than just a secretary!

You talk too much.

Get back, sir! You're in the line of fi—

Trying to fight real weapons with a wine bottle? Dumbass—

Very immature.

He's out cold. I'll carry him. You get that guy in white.

They're trying to take Reynell away! Stop them!

We can't get close! Their guns fire too quickly!

Dammit, what the hell are you doing when they're not firing!

They keep finding dead zones! And their coordination—

There are only four of them! How many guys do <i>we</i> have?!

We're in cover! We can hold out for a while!

Reloading!

That guy's out! Get him!

Iana, smoke!

Smoke grenade out!

*cough* *cough* Another smoke grenade? Is that the best you can—

Flying out.

...Sticking it.

Here's a memento.

Get out of the way, Fuze!

The other two are trying to hide!

Surround them and—

They swarmed without any caution for possible explosives. No tactical awareness whatsoever.

Let's disarm them first. Tend to the wounded, Doc.

Clear.

Clear.

Clear.

All clear. No casualties. That's good news.

Even though we were shooting to incapacitate rather than kill, these guys were still unusually tough. That one there survived a full shotgun blast at point-blank range.

Good news indeed.

One more thing. Not sure what it means, but look at the animal ears... you can see blood vessels, if you look closely.

What?!

Is that part of Levi's research too?

My compass isn't working. What about yours, Doc?

If we're really near Magnethill No. 2 in the Southern Urals...

Doc looks behind him, where the wind is blowing the curtains open.

The squad walks out to the balcony and takes in the sight outside.

The setting sun shines down between towering skyscrapers, painting the waters red.

Tourists in swimsuits lie on the beach, enjoying a lazy holiday afternoon set to ice cream truck music.

The only man in the room who can still stand slowly walks towards them.

If this is the Urals, then I'm George Clooney.

It's clear we're no longer in the mission area.

Did we teleport?

Where to? The Maldives?

It looks like a vacation spot alright... but I don't think it's the Maldives.

Maybe we can ask the unfortunate victims—Oh, speak of the devil.

Could you answer a few questions, sir? Who are you? What is this place? And who were those armed men?

I'm happy to explain a few things, out of 'gratitude' for the surprising ending that you created for my work.

Before formal introductions, however, I must correct one premise... I was never an unfortunate victim.

Not before, not now, not ever.

Can we get back on topic?

Very well. Welcome to the dark heart of Bolívar...

Welcome to Dossoles.

My name is Reynell Kowalski.

Call me Ela, Mr. Reynell.

But, given that we need to quickly grasp our situation, I think we can cut the introductions. I'll ask, and you'll answer. Alright?

Doesn't look like I have a choice.

Which country does Dossoles belong to?

Bolívar. In name, at least.

Bolívar... You mean Bolivia? I don't know a city called Dossoles in Bolivia. What about you, Iana?

...No.

Let's try another way. Which continent are we on? South America?

Continent? I'm not sure what you mean. If you mean the name of our 'landmass,' that's Terra, obviously?

Gówno......

(Kazimierzian) Oh? It's not every day I hear my mother tongue spoken.

Your mother tongue?

Nothing. Keep going.

I never thought I would be asking this, but...

Mr. Reynell, are we on Planet Earth?

Planet...? Earth...? I thought all I had to do was answer questions, but now I'm beginning to have a few of my own.

Iana, maybe you can do better with the questions...

Iana?

Iana does not answer.

Her eyes are wide, staring at the horizon in the opposite direction of the setting sun.

The others follow her gaze.

Two moons are rising slowly in the distance, one brighter than the other.

Damn, only had time for one doodle before they found out.

That was close... gave me a fright when all those people showed up.

Hold it right there, girl! You won't get away with vandalizing the Galería!

Shoot. I'd better go.

You got lucky today... Reynell.

(Yawns)

Reynell really knows how to grind gears. A perfectly good art gallery opening and he has to hold it late in the night. Now I'm stuck here, waiting it to finish in the morning.

I bet Reynell's gonna show us something totally out there, don't you? Why the all-nighter otherwise?

Whatever. I was looking forward to the street art community festival anyway, and that got cancelled for no reason. I've got nowhere else to be.

Reynell's taken the joke too far. Keeping the concrete details of this opening ceremony secret even from high-level partners like us...

Hrmph. I suppose playing to the gallery is his literal job.

<i>You</i> think of a joke that manages to drive over half of Terra's art investors scrambling to our Bunkerhill City HQ the way they have for the Galería Krysztauowa, and <i>then</i> I'll hear you whine.

Yessir...

This Kazimierzian on the brochure... I wonder if his salon really will get a painting or two of mine sold...

This isn't Leithanien. It's all about your story, whether or not it's enough to excite the investors.