act8mini

5:20 P.M. \ Clear

Columbia City, Tkaronto

The name's Dylan, Rhodes Island low-altitude aircraft pilot, and I'm currently running pell-mell around the city.

I should be sitting in the cockpit of my aircraft, joystick in hand. The only things I should be facing down are turbulence and terrain.

Instead, I'm clutching one half of an automatic assault crossbow in my hands, and hell, the first time I heard of this model was earlier this morning. Even just half of it is damned heavy.

My palms are all sweaty. If I have to end up in a warzone, I sure as hell shouldn't be on the ground, let alone in some dark alley in Columbia.

I just hope to God that my enemy isn't... Ugh.

Dylan, I got my hands full over here. Can you help a gal out and tell me what it says?

It says Police. The 'police' of Tkaronto.

He started it.

But it seems... probably not the real deal. A real botch-job if I've ever seen one.

At least he looked the part, pretty much the same as the guys up on the roof earlier this morning. Better than the ones that didn't have a uniform ready.

So let me ask this question again: what kind of cops wind their automatic assault crossbows during questioning?

Columbian cops?

Very funny. You know he's not a cop, at least not the kind we're used to dealing with.

I lift my eyes to cast a glance at the black-clad man collapsed in the alley, and then lower my gaze again to the half-a-weapon in my hands.

It was pointed straight at my chest just a moment ago, but now it's smashed into two pieces.

This 'policeman' is unconscious. If Blaze remembered the Doctor's instructions when she struck, then he should still be able to cling to life.

The Rhodes Island team arrived in Tkaronto yesterday.

No matter how many times I experience it, this kind of speed always surprises me as a pilot—

Rhodes Island is in the process of steaming to the Grand Knight Territory, and we've crossed over the entire western wastelands by air. The entire western wastelands, I say.

According to the plan, after Amiya and the Doctor finish their business, we'll take the same route back to Rhodes Island. The Grand Knight Territory might not have finished its urban subdivision assembly at this time.

All I know is Rhodes Island was invited to visit during the Kazimierz Major, but I'm in the dark about when and why. But anyway, the sooner we can head back, the better.

If I wasn't in such a hurry, I wouldn't mind taking a few days off to chill in the metropolis... but after this, I'm not in the mood for that anymore.

Are we... safe?

No, not until we leave Tkaronto— Maybe not even until we leave Columbia.

Check for me if he's still breathing. It'd be nice if you made sure he kept on breathing.

I... Um, alright.

This is my first time seeing such a powerful automatic crossbow. Are these weapons common in Columbia?

Automatic weapons like that are a Columbian specialty.

I wonder how the Doctor's doing...

As soon as the raid started, the Doctor and Amiya left in a car. No clue if the autopilot system that Closure was fiddling with will work though...

What a disaster... Even those two got caught off guard.

They're only human after all... Sometimes shit happens.

They took over the hotel and seized all the drug samples we kept behind...

Whatever, we can worry about that later.

We've gotta think of a way to get out of this city safely first.

We've lost everything, but you are still not standing by my side.

Then what has it all been for?

Just to leave the faintest sliver of hope?

But, hope?

Hope?

Don't you know, that hope is a cruel thing indeed?

When you realize it can't be undone, when you realize you are powerless, when you find yourself nothing but desperate...

Hope is enough to drive a perfectly good person mad.

But...

You want to say something, but you can't move your body.

You seem to be drifting in the void, everything before your eyes so familiar and yet so distant. These are a part of your memories, floating alongside you like fragments.

Like this, you continue to drift with your ceaseless thoughts, watching the familiar woman before you gradually fade away.

You open your eyes, and before you stretches an endless rocky desert. You see a strange, ugly iron bucket helm.

A peculiar man seems to be looking your way, but you cannot see his expression through that rough bucket helm.

10:43 A.M. \ Clear

Gaspar Wildland

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, friend.

Can you talk?

You? Who are you? Where am I?

The friend awakens, little rabbit.

Doctor!

You feel someone tightly embrace your waist.

But before experiencing this warm embrace, the cold, hard touch of the rocks behind you and the throbbing pain in your head remind you that all is not well.

I'm so glad! You're awake... I don't know what I would've done if you didn't wake up...

How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?

I'm fine... Just my head hurts a little.;...Nothing serious.;I'm not that frail.

Your head hurts? Did you hit it? Let me have a look.

Are you sure you're fine, Doctor? Do you need me to help you up?

Doctor... you should still be careful. You're not in the best shape.

Worry not, little rabbit. There is nothing wrong with this 'Doctor,' at least not physically.

On a spiritual level, however, one cannot say. You were mumbling a great deal in your slumber, but before you complain, I did not listen closely.

Who are you...?

Ah, pardon me for not introducing myself.

As you can see, I am a merchant.

You can call me Cannot, or Mr. Goodenough should you prefer that instead.

To be honest, friend, that display you put on earlier was simply too exhilarating. It is not every day one sees someone performing Originium Arts while flying off a cliff. A most excellent show indeed.

Off a cliff? What were we...;There might've been a problem with Closure's autopilot system...

This should be Columbia's... eastern wastelands.

That is correct, little rabbit. This is the Gaspar Wildland, and you two are quite fortunate.

Fortunate?

Yes, yes. Quite fortunate indeed. Two kilometers further south is a poisonous swamp, and had your car gotten stuck in that, good luck getting it out.

I wonder how the others are doing.;......;Where are the others?

The other operators split off on their own. I'm sure Blaze is taking good care of them...

But we can't get a hold of them, or any other branch offices.

Wait, what about the communicator?;Wait, what about the provisions?

We left it all on the 'Bad Guy.'

Not just the communicator. We didn't even have time to pack food or water.

Sounds like a desperate situation indeed, friends?

But there is always a way, if you don't mind...

Might as well.

I am quite familiar with this area. I can show you to the nearest Messenger Outpost where, should all go well, you will be able to contact your friends.

Who attacked us?

An excellent question indeed, but the only ones who could answer it are no longer able to speak.

The bucket-headed man points to the nearby cliff, where a unique-looking armed vehicle is emitting a thick, black smoke. By the looks of things, it's been wrecked for quite some time now.

Mercenaries. They've been chasing us even after we left the city.

Dedicated to their job. Dedicated to the point of giving up their own lives.

To be frank, Columbian mercenaries range from peerless to useless, and the ones with the resources to hire such dedicated mercenaries can be counted on one hand.

They seem to have taken quite an interest in you, friends. How exactly did you offend these great moguls?

So it was them...

So, Miss Amiya, are you really unwilling to consider the offer?

In Columbia, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more suitable partner than Mama John's. We can provide fairly favorable terms for Rhodes Island's drug sales.

Thank you for your generosity, but...

We're only here for technical exchange. Rhodes Island has no plans for any deeper-level commercial cooperation.