story_coldst_1_1

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.

The warped and battered locks can no longer contain their contents, so screws, rods and spanners, shiny and chrome, burst out from the boxes, forming a rain of iron.

This is followed by the joyous sounds of metal on metal, tires screeching to a halt on the gravel, and panicked cries and cursing.

Sounds like it worked!

Still not enough! Toss out everything you can and smash their cars! I'll do it!

What's this?

A safety manual that I printed out at HQ to bring back to—

You printed it? And it takes up a whole box? Out it goes!

And this shield...

NOT THAT!

I know, I know! We've still got a few seats...

Dammit, the backseats are screwed to the floor! Toss a wrench!

You threw them all out!

Let's try this!

With one hand on the wheel, Jessica draws her pistol, turns around, and fires at the thick and heavy screw.

Bang! A hole appears on the chassis, sending both the screw and backseats into the wilderness yonder.

Say something first next time, okay? I nearly went deaf.

Sorry, I was in a hurry...

Shooting a gun in the car ain't exactly following the safety regulations, is it? But hey, nice shot...

...You <i>did</i> avoid hitting any important parts of the frame, right?

Jessica says nothing and casts a resigned look at Helena. It does not take long for her to understand why.

The whole vehicle begins to shake. Scrap begins to fly out from every gap and corner, all to the screeching sound of metal grinding against metal.

You should reload while you can... I don't know how long this thing's gonna last.

Hey, is it just me, or are we going faster?

We shouldn't be speeding up this much, even if we've shed quite a bit of weight... What about the limiter? Did you toss that, too?

No.

Jessica nods her head, then shakes it.

Helena turns around. The first thing she sees is Jessica's brow. The drops of sweat on it appeared out of nowhere in an instant.

The next thing she sees is the pointer needle on the instrument board, stuck and trembling at the rightmost side of the gauge. Also trembling are Jessica's hands on the wheel.

...Jessica?

...The accelerator pedal's stuck. And the brakes aren't working.

I think that shot might have, you know, grazed the brake wires... or maybe cut them in half...

Whoa!

For an instant, Helena's expression is frozen on her face. Then she starts to feel like she has never seen anything so funny in her life.

Haha... hahaha! This is FUN!

Enjoy the ride, kiddo! Forget safe driving! Forget navigation!

Huh? Forget...

Show some spirit, girlie! Let's lose these blood bags and forget they ever existed!

Alright!

They can't catch us anymore!

They can't even see our taillights!

We don't HAVE any taillights left! But the point stands!

Good job! Now remember this feeling! The thrill! The excitement!

Woody could never teach you this. This moment belongs to you! Like the wind, like the setting sun!

I... I feel it!

No one can tell you where to go! You're the one with the wheel in your hands!

The future is the road in front of your eyes!

Huh?

...My future is a cliff?

What?

No time! Jump!

Hey, wake up! Do you want my business or not?

Ugh... who's making all that noise?

Oh, Helena! You're early today. Why are you covered in dirt?

We got chased by a bunch of thugs and almost went out in a blaze of glory. How about you break out some 20-year vintage to celebrate my survival?

You know what I have. You can help yourself to last month's vintage at the bar.

Haven't seen YOU before, girl. Let's have a little chat.

Hello... just a glass of water, please.

WATER? This here is an establishment for adults! If you're not with Helena...

S-Sorry!

C'mon, don't tease her. It's thanks to her that I'm still alive right now.

Hey, where's the ice? How am I supposed to drink this without any ice?

The ice machine's been broken for a week. You'd know if you stopped by more often.

I've been all over the place this week. My legs are so tired I can hardly move. Cut me some slack here.

How about this? You give me the burdenbeast you have tied up at your door, and I'll fix your ice machine.

No thank you, you're not taking Nux.

Oh no! Look at the time... We need to go to the office now, Helena!

Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Let me have a drink first.

Now isn't the time!

It's always the time to drink. Ain't that right, barkeep?

Always the time for those who want to drink, and never the time for those who don't.

This one's on me, Jessica. Drink it, or not. I did say I'd buy you a pint.

The frontier office is twenty minutes to the north on foot. You'll even have time to wash your face.

What about you, Helena? Aren't you coming? Those bandits...

Don't worry about it. This saloon's safe. Those bandits can't get in.

That's right. Wind gets in, rain gets in, but not bandit scum.

I was just hitching a ride anyway. Well, your car's in a better place now. You go your way, do your mission, and I'll head back to camp once I've had a drink.

Plus, those bandits won't give up so easily. You'll really be late if you stay with me and get caught up in this again.

Ha, Helena can take care of those idiots herself. Probably easier on her own anyway.

I see...

But... but I won't be a burden. I'm the sheriff of the camp. It's my job to deal with bandits.

Who said you were a burden? It's just, I've been going solo in the wilderness for longer than you've been alive. I haven't felt so young in a long time...

And I'd feel guilty if I made you late. Go do what you gotta do. This is my problem; I'll deal with it.

Don't tell me you think I can't handle those thugs?

I get what you're saying, really.

But <i>I'd</i> feel guilty if I didn't do anything.

Why? Being the sheriff doesn't mean that's all you do, every day.

Duty, trust, protect... Do you think Woody only ever talks about that stuff all day?

Helena, I...

Well, I guess he doesn't talk much to begin with. Back to the point. How did you feel when you threw everything to the wind and put your foot on the pedal all the way down?

You can and should make choices that lie outside the rules.

You're young. Whatever you do, do it because you want to, not because someone else made you. Myself included.

Oh, how good it must be to be young... Hey, barkeep! You sure you don't want me to fix your ice machine? This swill's undrinkable without ice.

Absolutely not. I'm not the one who has to drink it.

Why do I have to beg you to let me help you? Since when were you so cold and distant?

I could try fixing the machine. I think I have enough time. As... a token of gratitude for letting us stay.

You're in luck. She's nearly as good as I am.

Sure. Come with me.

Time to clean up.

...There. Don't hit it too hard, and it should last quite a while.

Where'd you learn to do that? And with old newspapers and broken glass? Helena, guess what... Helena?

She put the money under the cup... didn't touch the contents at all. Is it really that bad?

*Cough* Argh! My throat! It burns!

She doesn't ever slow down, does she? Wait, this is way more than the price for two glasses...

She's never tipped so much before. Wait a second...

Oh no! Nux!

Helena! I'm charging you double from now on if Nux gets so much as a scratch on him, you hear me? DOUBLE!

Jessica and the barkeep run outside to see a figure riding into the sunset on the burdenbeast.

Their mixed expressions gradually grow mellow in the afterglow. The wind carries whistling and song, fading away in the distance.

♪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♪

♪Only lead and spirits keep her warm♪

♪Only lead and spirits keep her warm♪

You found her yet?

No, the tire tracks disappeared just before the cliff. Any footprints have been wiped away.

Dagnabbit! She better not show her face ever again.

We just gonna let her go?

We got a choice? You think you could catch her? Has anyone, ever?

Wait! That way! I see her through the binoculars!

How many with her?

Just her, on a burdenbeast. But...

Huh?

...She just gestured towards me.

...I think it's her who found us, boss.

Run. And good luck... you'll need it.