act32side

Sir, all ceremony attendees are under our control now, and Reynell has been secured on his balcony.

Good. Are our reinforcements in position?

Fifteen trucks are parked outside the gallery perimeter.

You don't need me to tell you what to do next.

Sir!

Remember, tell those huasos not to wreck the art as they load it on the trucks.

If anyone damages a single piece, I'll take a finger off them.

Roger.

Oh, also, don't forget to confiscate the terminals off those pampered shits.

And any belongings they have on them, I'm assuming we also...

Hmph. You get it, I like that.

I don't care how you handle the people, but the art, you use a feather touch on that.

Go. I still need to see Señor Reynell about something.

Good morning. Nice view of the sunrise?

Sorry, you're far too cultured for that. I should be asking you if it's 'beautiful,' no?

The silent treatment? If you think you're any safer for it, you're gravely mistaken.

But let's get on topic, which is that I have no topic for you. All you need to do is sit here, behave, and act like you're a victim of a terror attack.

—That's what you're casting me as?

Oh, look at that. You do have a mouth.

Sorry, my fault. I thought you'd seen through something or other, but then I thought a little more, and no, this is just the coincidental idiotic concoction of a man blinded by greed.

How about that? Upstanding airs a moment ago, and now you're starting to lose your temper.

No, I have no complaints at all regarding this coincidence. Because I've come to see it for what it is, simply the finishing touch on my final creation—

And of course, because it was coincidence and not your intention, I thank Lady Luck before you, Captain.

Excellent. Now shut up.

Sir, Sir!

What? Intruders?

No, actually, it's...

We'd better talk inside.

Papá, did we get the date wrong or what?

Impossible. Look at the scene—a crowd was here just moments ago. Something happened.

So someone saw us, reported to Reynell, and he ran back inside the gallery?

This isn't Reynell's MO. Supposing he did know we were coming, he might be outraged, or excited, but he'd never turn tail and run.

So what is this...?

Huh? A terminal? Is that mine?

Hello? Ernesto?

Speaking.

How's it going? Getting somewhere with your personal business?

Arleta, notify the street art people not to go near the Galería, at least for today.

What? Why?

They've planted a huge amount of Originium explosives in there, ready to blow at any time.

Originium what?

Eheh... ahaha...

Arleta, I don't like the sound of that laugh. Where <i>are</i> you?

Me, Ela's gang, Tecno, Diaz, the artists... everyone's in the plaza in front of the gallery right now.

So why don't you get out of there, fast?

Sorry, bro, but I've got a few questions for you too.

Ernesto, why are you this clued in? Where are <i>you?</i>

Cool, got it. Tell me every last piece of information you have, Ernesto.

Arleta!

Or else I'm going in to save you like I don't know a damned thing.

Pelotudo!

I tell you to make sure your men don't wreck the artwork, and you proceed to ruin one personally!

Sir, just hear me out! Inside that pitcher I broke, there was a... a...

...An Originium bomb.

A what?

And it's—it's not even the only one!

I spotted a suspicious wall in the stairwell, like it was freshly plastered over, which didn't seem right...

So you broke the wall down? And there were bombs there too?

Not bombs, they were... detonation controller nodes... which means there's more than one detonator, and there could be more explosives than we know.

—That's what you're casting me as?

I thought you'd seen through something or other, but then I thought a little more, and no, this is just the coincidental idiotic concoction of a man blinded by greed.

(Deep breath)

Sir, these things could level the whole gallery! And we don't even know how they detonate! It could be manual or timed!

Let's load everything as fast as we can, take the cash of the rich guys, and call it here!

You're ready to just walk away?

The bombs are inside the Galería! Ready or not isn't the question here, sir!

If we don't pull this off, we'll be public enemies of the Coalition government and Dossoles!

All we have to do is run! They won't catch us!

Run where? Into the wilds? Hand a couple hundred gold certificates to each man and disband? What have we been risking our lives for?

No—Sir, I'm serious, if worst comes to worst we can ditch the country as mercenaries—or bandits!

Bandits?

I... I'm just supposing, my point is we don't have to play along with Reynell's insanity.

Fine, I get it. Who else knows of this?

Only me—I haven't dared tell anyone else. I was worried the news would panic the men, so I came straight to you.

Very well done.

Go. Tell them they can stop hauling. Clean the cuicos downstairs of every last drop of their grease, then we evac immediately.

Thank you!

Oh, also, stop losing your head. Speak calm, walk slow, and don't let them see a single crack. You hear me?

The soldier about-faces, then breaks into a run for the stairs. Suddenly comes the sound of a bowstring.

He has no time to look back before a heavy bolt pieces straight through his back and protrudes from his chest.

My boy, after so much loyalty, so much preparation, so many decisions, so many points of no return... you go off to be a bandit?

I lost my chance to turn back.

So did you.

A terrorist attack 'collage?'

Reynell set up the bombs, the Captain took the crowd hostage, and neither seemed to know what the other was up to. That's what Ernesto tells me, anyway.

...They're both insane.

Yeah, both of them are crazy. We need to prep for the worst-case scenario, with the hostages prioritized above all else on all counts.

Let's hash out a concrete plan of action. We've got five names to our side. Iana, Doc, Fuze, me, and Rhodes Island's Catapult...

Count me in too.

You sure?

Don't forget my past life.

Besides, it's not just that Reynell bastard trapped in there, and not just the investors either—many are ordinary folk. I have to go.

Papá...

Don't try talking me out of it, I'm going.

Who's talking out? I'm going too!

You?

You and the others can forget it. It's dangerous in there—

Come on, Papá, think about it. Sure we've never been firefighters, but otherwise, we're thinking everything you're thinking, no?

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!