coldst

Woo—

Been a while since I've had a ride like that!

That's one damn fine car you've got, Jessica. Why don't you take it out more often?

Guess I picked the right ride, though we'll have to split up once we're at the frontier office. How about you let me drive back to the camp, before you go off on your solo mission?

Hey, what's this red indicator light? And why are you so pale?

Three...

Third gear? No, that's too slow.

Two... One...

Helena...

I see it. Over there. The drivechain is broken.

Bridge the connection. A few turns of the spanner. Shouldn't take more than a minute or two.

Okay...

C'mon, no need for the long face. I know your mission's urgent, but it ain't like I've been slowing you down.

We wouldn't even be halfway there if we followed the speed limit from that manual of yours.

The recommended speed was derived from various factors such as road conditions and weather... It's there for a reason.

You gonna let a machine like this run slower than a metal crab? You could fix this beaut a dozen times over in the time that I saved you.

Fix it? Me?

You know what they say out in the barrens: Don't ask what's in someone else's pocket, and don't reach under someone else's car hood.

Anyway, I've taught you all my tricks. Our new sheriff can't very well have someone else fix her car for her every last time, can she?

But you're the one who—

Alright, less yapping and more fixing. You're in a hurry, right? This ain't no place to dawdle. I'll buy you a pint from that saloon next to the office.

N-No, I can't drink. I still have a mission to do.

Now, I know what you're thinking, but their stuff ain't like the swill we brew back at camp. It won’t knock you out with just a sip, like last time.

I-I have no idea what you're talking about.

Oh dear, all these parts are loose now. We were really going too fast...

What's that? You think <i>that</i> was fast? Let's see if we can't go faster.

Oh! Helena, er, go and get some rest. I'm just fetching some parts from the trunk.

That's more like it. A sheriff's got to know how to fix her own car.

What's with all those spare parts in the trunk? No wonder the center of gravity felt off.

But these are only the bare minimum required by the safety manual. I don't even have a set of tire repair tools. I hope we don't pop one on the way...

Man, you've gotten so damn stiff ever since Woody gave you that badge.

Fine, you do you. I'm gonna find some shade and enjoy the view. Gimme a holler when you're done.

♪She rides into the wilds, sunsets taken in tow♪

♪Too sneaky for the wind, the shadows are too slow♪

♪Never, never stopping, never setting foot at home♪

Turn off the engines.

Is it really her? She dares show her face here, after all these years?

Shut up! I'm listening.

Yeah, it's her all right.

Stay still! Did you forget?

Wipe the lenses on those binoculars. Take a good long look and see where she's hiding.

I see her. The next corner. She's not alone. There's someone under... Did their car break down or something?

If we're doing this, we take out the one under the car first.

So what now? Do we just wait?

Wait. But keep your knife and crossbow out.

♪Never, never stopping, never setting foot at home♪

Ah, my throat's getting dry.

You done yet? It's getting late.

Almost, almost.

Sure you don't need any help?

Almost there. Just need to reinforce the welding...

Say, Helena... mind if I took the wheel? Don't worry, I don't have any violations on my license.

No way. I get carsick if we go too slow.

Plus, I'm just hitching a ride, not going on your mission with you. You can drive however you want after we make it to the office.

Alright, give me another minute. I've got to check this again...

Can't you hurry it up a little? What happened to all that energy you had back at the camp?

Well, I guess I'll just keep enjoying the sunset. I think I'd get a better view from on top of this rock.

Cliff faces in the wilderness, changing color every second with the afterglow. Never get bored of it.

Hm? What's that?

Alright, done. We can go now.

Helena?

What's going on?!

I smell something dirty in the wind.

Won't take the hint from the warning shot, but not brave enough to come down from the cliffs?

A-A fight? I'll get my gun from under the seat...

One sec, Jessica... no need.

Helena narrows her eyes and sweeps her gaze across the setting sun, the faintly purple shadows beneath the cliffs, and finally onto the girl whose sleeves are blackened with oil and grime.

There is a hint of nervousness in the girl's eyes, but underneath it her gaze is as firm as the badge on her chest.

Your mission's more important. No need to waste your time on these blood bags.

You fixed the car yet?

Yeah, we can go now.

Then let's go.

Alright.

Not in the passenger seat, egghead. How am I supposed to turn the wheel while aiming? You take the key.

Me? But...

But drive fast this time, seriously.

There are people coming down from the cliffs behind us! Looks like their cars have been modified too.

Not half as good-looking as yours, though.

And they ain't half as good drivers, either, if they gotta slow down on such a gentle slope. Just keep the pedal to the metal and leave them to me.

Do you know them?

Nah, made too many enemies to remember who's who. Not much of difference, though. It's usually the other side that picked the fight.

Keep your head down!

Why's this thing going so slow?!

I added a speed limiter!

What?

I-I was afraid you'd be speeding again, so I added a speed limiter! It can't exceed the recommended speed limit now.

Helena pokes her upper body out of the window and points her nail gun at the dust cloud in the rear. The spiked vehicles that emerge from the dust cloud are promptly met by loud bangs from her hand.

Deadly metal streaks through the wind and sand until her magazine runs empty. The pursuers' numbers are greatly thinned by the time the sound of explosions is scattered by the wind.

You just...

Scum like these don't let go once they think they've got their mark. Keep your foot on the pedal and go as fast as you can! Don't give me that speed limit crap!

O-Okay!

But this isn't safe at all!

You're still changing gears? What do you think this is, some kinda parade?

They're catching up! The speed... what do I do? What do I do?

Open the trunk!

Wh-What?

Toss out all that junk you're carrying!

All of it, now!

Hurry! Trust me!

The car trunk flies wide open, and several massive metal toolboxes spill onto the ground, bouncing and rolling into the dust cloud.