Hold on for ten more minutes. Blacksteel's convoy will be here soon.
Leone
That's not going to take us to the energy tower.
Woodrow
I'll stay behind... Y'all go on ahead.
Helena
How much time can you buy us?
Woodrow
How much time do you need?
Jessica
At least... half an hour?
Woodrow draws his revolver from its holster and counts the bullets.
Woodrow
...An hour, maybe? You need time to set the explosives, too.
Helena
More than enough.
Jessica
Woodrow...
Leone
Goodbye, Woodrow.
Woodrow
Hurry. Right, Jessica...
Jessica
What is it, sir?
Woodrow
Thanks... Thanks for bringing it all the way here.
Woodrow fixes his hat and turns around to walk down the long street. Soon, his silhouette has disappeared into the night, leaving only a farewell ringing in the air.
Sir, we've finished testing the propulsion equipment. The Engineering team is double checking the connection's structural integrity now.
'Clip' Cliff
......
Blacksteel Mercenary
Sir?
'Clip' Cliff
What's the ETA for our departure?
Blacksteel Mercenary
Everything should be ready by Wednesday.
'Clip' Cliff
Good... Very good.
Secretary
P-Pardon me, but I have something to report.
Blacksteel Mercenary
I'll take my leave, then.
'Clip' Cliff
Alright...
'Clip' Cliff
What is it?
Secretary
The team stationed on the plate has requested backup. They say a gang of robbers have blown open the bank's vault door and stolen all the reserve funds inside.
Secretary
There are four of them... and they've all been identified. It's Mr. Bianchi and his friends, as well as...
'Clip' Cliff
As well as who?
Secretary
As well as Miss Brynley.
'Clip' Cliff
...Huh.
Secretary
Should we send anyone, considering that you just sent away all the security personnel stationed at the bank the other day...?
'Clip' Cliff
Let's prioritize preparing to tow the plate. No need to stop the work we have on hand. But... send out anyone we have to spare.
Secretary
One more thing. Considering Miss Brynley's unique status, should we...?
'Clip' Cliff
Don't hurt her. We have to save face for the Brynleys, after all. As for Woody... I don't see us subduing him uninjured.
'Clip' Cliff
Forget it... Just make sure he stays alive. As for the rest, let the troops do as they see fit.
Secretary
Alright, understood.
'Clip' Cliff
Right, which one's carrying the cash?
Secretary
Still unclear.
'Clip' Cliff
No matter who it is, send Tila and have her keep a close eye.
We have to do something. The order from above is that, aside from Jessica and Woodrow, the teams can deal with everyone else as they see fit. That's all it says.
Liskarm
...Franka.
Liskarm
Tell everyone to prepare to deploy. We got the order to hunt them down, too.
Franka
And you're going to follow it?
Liskarm
...We can help them, or we could take them in. But either way it's a race against time.
Looks like Blacksteel will be dragging the plate off to the city in the next couple days. They have only a few guys guarding the door. Bet they have everyone else working on the connection.
Helena
Perfect... Won't be too hard to deal with, then.
Leone
How are those soldiers doing...?
Helena
Sleeping like babies. Might wake up with a sore neck though.
Leone
We need to hurry. If we want to blow up the power plant and seal off that passage completely, we need to set up the explosives there.
Helena
Look at those car lights... the Blacksteel people must be getting close to the mine.
Leone
Helena... you should go. I can take care of this by myself.
Going by the bullet marks... That's Blacksteel etched ammo. Good news, we found our princess.
Calm Blacksteel Mercenary
...Give me the amplifier.
Calm Blacksteel Mercenary
Ahem... Miss Brynley. Whatever your reasons are for participating in this robbery, we won't make this hard on you as long as you cooperate and turn yourself in.
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
(Whispers) Draw her attention. I'll send out a drone to track her.
Jessica
Stay back. I'm not surrendering.
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
(Whispers) The bullet came from that diner over there.
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
(Whispers) Let's get in position. We'll attack as soon as we're ready.
Calm Blacksteel Mercenary
Miss Brynley, you may not understand what's going to happen to you after this. You will be sent to prison, be abandoned by your friends and family, and society will look at you with disdain... Can you really bear all that?
Jessica
Sir... With all due respect, I've worked with everyone at Blacksteel for a long time now. I'm not the naive rich girl I used to be.
Jessica
I know better than anyone what the price of this is.
Jessica
But I still have to do it...
Jessica
There are some things you just do, no matter the price.
Sure, he looks like a normal old man, but you see those transports flipped upside down? He did that.
Like a wandering lost soul, the figure stands still in the middle of the road, under the flickering streetlights.
Woodrow
Kid... Is there something you can't say to my face?
Helpless Blacksteel Mercenary
He can hear us from this far away?
Woodrow
I've lived in far noisier places than this. I only survived this long thanks to my sharp ears.
Helpless Blacksteel Mercenary
A legendary mercenary like you must have a lot of awe-inspiring stories to tell.
Woodrow
A legendary mercenary... Now that's the first time anyone's described me like that.
Helpless Blacksteel Mercenary
There's a long corridor in Blacksteel where pictures of our founder and his war buddies are hung. I saw one with you and our boss in it. It's inconspicuous, but I noticed it.
Woodrow
What a shame... My stories ain't as legendary as you think. All I've been through is war.
Twitchy Blacksteel Mercenary
That doesn't matter... Actually, I've wanted to fight the boss for quite a well, too. Still, he's the boss. I can't exactly pull a gun on him.
Twitchy Blacksteel Mercenary
But if you and him are in the same picture, old man, I wonder what that says about your skills.
Woodrow
Rotten.
Helpless Blacksteel Mercenary
You mean so rotten you could throw a dozen of our teams for a loop and single-handedly keep us pinned down on this street?
Woodrow
I mean so rotten that everyone I ever wanted to save died a miserable death right in front of me. Everything I ever wanted to protect fell before my eyes.
Woodrow
Those I loved chose to leave me. Those I despised, I couldn't kill with my own hands.
Woodrow
I ain't no legend... I'm just an old failure of a beckbeast.
Woodrow
An old beckbeast guarding the only bones that he has left.
When he sees the old man's fingertip twitch, the mercenary keenly realizes that something terrible is about to go down.
He aims his weapon at the target as fast as he can, but a bullet pierces his shoulder first.
Twitchy Blacksteel Mercenary
Ugh—!
Helpless Blacksteel Mercenary
Dammit, I can't even see what he's doing.
Twitchy Blacksteel Mercenary
So how come I'm starting to think this is getting fun?
Miss Brynley, bullets can ricochet indoors. I don't want to hurt you.
Jessica
I don't want to hurt you, either. Please take everyone with you and leave.
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
I'm sorry, but this is the mission handed down to us. Not everyone's a princess like you, who can do whatever she pleases.
Jessica
I'm so sorry about all this...
The girl's voice is coming from behind the booth seats. It is soft and with a hint of doubt. Just like the mercenary's first impression of her—sensitive and cowardly.
He carefully inches forward with his handgun drawn and held up next to his face.
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
This...
There is no one sitting in the booth. Just a sniper rifle on the table. The device on the trigger ensures it can be remotely controlled.
A communication device sits beside it. The girl's voice can be heard through its speakers.
Jessica
...I really am sorry.
Calm Blacksteel Mercenary
The target is not in the rear kitchen.
Blacksteel Mercenary
Second floor is clear.
Blacksteel Mercenary
Not outside, either.
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
She's not here...
Rational Blacksteel Mercenary
Hurry and withdraw immediately. This is a feint—
Jessica
If you know I do whatever I please... why did you expect me to act exactly how you anticipated?
Calm Blacksteel Mercenary
No, don't withdraw yet!
A fiery beam of light crashes into the ground outside the window.
Calm Blacksteel Mercenary
All units! Get down—
Before he can finish, there is a loud explosion.
A tire crashes through the window and, still smoking and on fire, makes a few loops on the ground before falling to the glass-strewn floor.
According to the plan, you'll leave through this secret passage, and I'll set off the power plant. Once this place explodes, no one will find the passage.
Helena
Leone...
Leone
Do you have a map of the route?
Helena
Yeah.
Leone
This path is connected to the underground sewer system. The passages there are complicated and twisty. Only one will lead you outside the plate.
Leone
Jessica hid some transports and supplies near the exit. Avoid military stations on the way to the frontier... There's bound to be plenty of thugs and bandits, too.
Helena
Leone, how many times have we been over this already? As for the dangers of the road, Woodrow's talked my ear off about them already. Yes, it's dangerous, we all know that.
Leone
I'm just worried...
Helena
I don't like making promises, you know.
Helena
But I can promise you this: No matter what happens, I'll do everything to reach my destination. Even if I fall—
Leone
You won't.
Leone
You won't, Helena. Because I'll be right behind you. I'll take down every obstacle that slows you down.
Leone
That's my promise to you.
Leone
You just need to keep running straight ahead. Remember, keep going straight. Don't look back.
Helena
I will, Leone... Goodbye...
Leone
Now go. Hurry.
He looks on as the dark, narrow tunnel engulfs Helena's silhouette. Finally, he can't help but turn around to take a look at the plant's generator in the center of the room.
There is barely anyone left on the plate, but the fire in the furnace burns as strong as ever.
The flames are reflected in his eyes. Dancing, stirring, leaping.
Yet even that is unable to melt the frigid ice lying in their depths.
Leone sets the explosives on the wall and lifts his hand to wipe all the sweat that's gathered on his brow, but the heat immediately causes his skin to sweat even more.
Leone
Hurry...
His lips start chapping. His saliva no longer serves to moisten his throat and mouth.
Leone
Faster...
He sticks another one onto the wall, then another, and another...
The light of the intense fire sweeps into the bottom of his eyes, seemingly tearing his soul in two. One half supports his body's movements so that he can keep working.
While the other half has left his body entirely and stands firm in front of the furnace, staring into the raging fire.
As he attaches another stick of dynamite to the wall, he notices someone walking toward him from the light of the fire.
Miles
Come with me, Leone. We'll head to the frontier. That's where our new home is.
Leone
Miles... Don't go. Where are you going?
Another stick of dynamite is set on the wall. Miles turns toward the furnace, and a small shadow emerges.
Benny
I'm planning to leave Davistown. I don't want to stay here anymore. I'm leaving, Dad.
Leone
Benny...
Leone
Don't leave me... You're the only child I have left... Don't leave me like Carl did!
Another stick of dynamite on the wall. The fire engulfs Benny, and twists into a tall, young man.
Carl
Good news, Dad. There's a mercenary company that thinks I'm pretty good. They say I'm a good fit for the gig... I'll be leaving in a few days.
Leone
No... Don't go. I won't let you.
Leone
You'll die on the battlefield, Carl!
Another stick of dynamite. The young man turns into a fireball and explodes in all directions.
Leone
No... Carl, come back!
The final stick of dynamite is set up on the wall.
A woman emerges from the fireball. He no longer remembers what she looked like, but he never once forgot her voice.
Leone
Mom...
Gentle Female Voice
Leone...
Gentle Female Voice
I have to go now. I'm sorry... I can't support you anymore...
Leone
Mom... Don't apologize. I'm doing well here.
Gentle Female Voice
Leone, sorry for leaving you all alone.
Leone
No, Mom. I have a family here... Everyone here is my family.
The explosives are all in the place... Once they're set off, the plant will explode in no time. Then, after the energy tower comes crashing down, no one will ever find that passage again.
Jessica
When are you leaving? I've lured the nearby mercenaries away, so I'm on my way there to pick you up.
Leone
No... Don't come.
Jessica
Have you already left?
Leone
No, it's just... I don't want to go.
Jessica
But...
Leone
Jessica, tell this to Sylvia for me.
Jessica
No... I won't. If you have something to tell her, tell her yourself.
Leone
She's... She's a clever girl, and still so young. A nice girl. If she finds a good man in the frontier, she should let herself fall in love again.
Leone
I want her to be happy... God... why'd I have to treat her like that? If I'd known Carl was going to...
Jessica
Carl...?
Leone
No... Forget what I said. Tell her... Tell her I'm glad she still remembers and loves Carl...
Leone
But he's gone... He's not here anymore...
Leone
The living... deserve a choice...
Leone
The living... shouldn't be bogged down by the dead...
Jessica
You deserve a choice, too. You need to live, and leave this place. You'll get to start fresh in the future.
Jessica
Don't do anything stupid, I'm begging you! Think about Woodrow and Helena. They'll be heartbroken!
Jessica
And Benny! He just started school. He's got a bright future ahead of him. Don't you want to see what kind of man he'll become? Don't you want to see your son again?!
Jessica
And Miles... He's still waiting for you...
Leone
But... she wants me to stay...
Jessica
Who?
Leone
♪She spread her arms, spread her heart, showed me that pretty face♪
Leone
♪And from that moment on, I found my dreams in her embrace♪
Leone
Listen to me, Jessica. I can't leave this place. Because... Because that woman left me here on a rainy spring day.
Leone
It was the perfect day for a seedling to take root and sprout. My... My roots have grown too deep. No one can pluck me out anymore.
Jessica
Leone...
Leone
It's gonna be a big bang. Cover your ears. Don't be afraid, and don't be sad.
Leone
My life didn't begin the day I was born. It began the day I got here.
Leone
In the same way, my death won't be on the day my life comes to an end. It'll be the day I leave this place.
Jessica
Leone, please...
Leone
Don't worry, Jessica. I won't die. Because I'll be here forever...
She tries her hardest to get up and move her legs, to run forward, but she finds herself unable to budge. Her body has never felt so heavy before.
She lifts her head up to look into the distance. A thick cloud of smoke is gushing out of a giant fissure in the tower's body.
The rubble mercilessly pummels the ground alongside a shower of sparks, turning the nearby buildings into wreckage beyond recognition.
Jessica
No...
A frigid wind blows toward her from afar, turning everything before her into nothing but a hazy blur, and leaving the corners of her eyes feeling awfully cold.
She reaches her fingers up toward the sky, as though she is trying to grasp something in the haze.
She blinks, and her vision starts to clear up. She sees a snowflake.
Helena stops in her tracks, and considers turning back to look.
The underground passage's structure, fragile to begin with, is unable to withstand the explosion on the surface. The fissures on the walls are rapidly spreading as far out as she can see.
Almost as if underlining the fact that she is walking a path of no return.
And so, in the end, she doesn't turn around. Instead, she keeps running.
She simply throws herself into the hidden tunnel, and towards the unknown up ahead.
