act32side

Tecno, Papá, there are soldiers putting up barbed wire downstairs.

Soldiers? What are they doing here?

They showed us warrants. They say they're here to investigate fire hazards.

What?!

Uh... Is that something the military handles? Isn't this a job for those dumb civil servants?

Tecno, take the elderly and children away from here. Go to the Rhodes Island office and get Ernesto.

Everyone else, come with me, and bring weapons. Don't count on getting a good night's sleep.

I-I'm staying!

You have the best Arts of us all. You're the only one I can trust to get them out of here.

But...

Tecno, I'm giving you an important mission. Protect them, at all costs.

Okay... Papá.

May I ask your purpose here?

Diaz González, I remember you. You came to Dossoles and became a firefighter after you left the Singas army.

You fought fires for five years, putting yourself in danger countless times, and earning just as many commendations.

How did you fall so far as to end up in this stinking place?

I'm a firefighter. It doesn't matter where I am. I'm always fighting fires. A fire in a luxury hotel is still a fire, and so is a fire in a back alley.

If there's a fire, I can and will fight it.

Hah... The way I see it, you're one of us, Diaz. I'm sure you'll cooperate, right?

Enough. I know what it is you're scheming. You call this a fire safety inspection, but you're just trying to chase us away.

This is all in the interest of safety. You don't want a repeat of that disaster a couple years ago, do you?

Get out of here. I have things under control. You don't get to tell us what to do.

Oh, that simply won't do, Diaz. This puppet show has drawn the eyes of the entire city. What happens here is about more than just you now.

We'll make sure that your show doesn't have an adverse effect on the public at large.

I told you to get lost!

Oh, you don't get it, do you? We're here to conduct an inspection. We came prepared.

Alright boys, make sure you check every last one of them. Don't let any potential danger slip through your fingers.

Anyone who gets in the way of our inspection is endangering public safety. Show them no mercy.

Yes, sir!

Coño... These thugs.

Tecno, I'm scared... Where are we going?

Some bad guys forced their way into our neighborhood. It's not safe here. I'm taking you to Ernesto.

What about the others...? Are we just going to leave them here?

Papá told me to look after you... He said... he'd stay and take care of the rest.

They're coming this way. We need to hurry.

What's this about?!

Inspect all of the puppets' power lines. If you find anything risky, tear them all out.

Hey, it took me forever to put all this together. Leave those alone!

Out of the way, public nuisance.

Come on, man. Don't do this. Be reasonable. You're looking at half a year's worth of blood, sweat, and tears... Don't ruin it. Please, don't...

Like I give a shit how many months you put into this. I should lock you up right now for this flagrant violation of electrical safety.

Stop—!

No...

Conchetumare, enough with the wailing.

*whimper*... Don't!

What the hell is this place? Some kind of hideout? Didn't expect it to be this clean.

Sir, the puppets are right outside the window. Open them up and you'll see.

Take a look, see how much foam and wood they stuffed in them? What if they were to catch fire?

Tear them apart!

Thugs, all of you! You should rot in hell!

Ugh... What a bunch of beasts... So thoughtless...

Ugh...

Boss!

What are you people doing?! Didn't I tell you to round them up and bring them to the field? Get the lead out!

His people are putting up a struggle. It's been difficult to get them under control.

Then follow my lead and start cracking skulls, you idiot!

See? Look how calm he is now.

Bastards... You bastards...

Now get them out of here. Those puppets are huge, it's gonna be plenty of work taking them apart.

We're almost out. They probably wouldn't expect us to come this way...

Abuela, watch your step, the ground is slippery. Let me help you.

*sigh*...

Tecno, will we ever come back?

Of course. This is our home.

But those men tore everything down... If we come back, we'll have to spend so much time to get everything back to how it was.

They'll pay for that. I swear...

When we get back, I'll help you put everything right. I promise...

Quickly now. It's still a long walk to the office.

Abuelita, I'll help you.

Stay close, everyone.

Alright.

Tecno? Ellie? Come in, hurry! What are you guys doing here?

Where's Ernesto? I need his help.

He said he had something personal to take care of and went off on his own. He's still not back.

Ela and I are the only ones here now. What's going on?

Coalition forces have surrounded the neighborhood. They're tearing down our puppet show under the guise of a fire inspection... Papá told me to bring everyone here to lay low.

Tecno... What's the situation over there now?

I... I don't know. On the way here, all I could hear was the sounds of them breaking everything... A lot of people were crying, and I don't know if they were hurt or not...

Those thugs...!

I... I need to go back. I'm worried about Papá. He was acting brave, telling me to leave and let him deal with the soldiers...

But... he's not nearly as strong as he used to be... He's old now, even if his tongue is as sharp as ever.

I have to go, Ela.

Don't cry, Tecno. We'll go with you.

We will help you.

Doc here will stay and take care of the elderly and the children. Don't worry about them.

Ela, Tecno's people here are all fine. They don't need me.

It's the ones in that neighborhood who need my help. I'll go with you.

These vents are way too long.

I'm covered in dust. *cough*.

How is it, Doc? Can you get down?

I have pretty broad hips... I think I'm stuck.

Give me your hand. I'll pull you out.

Oof—!

The vents may be great for you guys to crawl around, but I have a hard time just squeezing myself into them.

They have the place completely surrounded, and they're covering the way we came out, too. The vents are our only path.

Fuze, give me a sitrep.

It's more complicated than we thought. They have a large number of troops standing guard outside the neighborhood. I had to break off, but the explosives are in place.

Ready to detonate.

(Deep breath)

How is it looking outside the window?