IC-5 Finish Line

Without further ado, let's begin the first joint Zeruertza-Acahualla-Rhodes Island swimming competition!

I'm Croque Diamondface, Zeruertza's business representative. This broadcast is brought to you by Deculture Silvermint's newest high-definition camera.

First, let's take a look at the course.

The race will take place on an underground lake that stretches from here, all the way to the tunnel.

Here are the rules: Anything goes, and whoever gets to the other side of the lake first is the winner!

The winner will get an unlimited supply of my special craft ale for one month!

The Rhodes Island representative is—

The Wind of Iberia, Rhodes Island's sexiest man, Elysium!

What's up, Durins?

Was that introduction why he pulled Croque to the side to talk to her?

The Acahualla representative is—

Gavial!

Go for it, Gavial!

Hey everybody!

And we have a surprise for the Zeruertza representative—

Master Edge, our environment and climate representative!

......

How did a tunnel survey turn into a swimming competition?

It's a rare opportunity, isn't it?

We're still waiting on the equipment, after all.

Plus, it's not easy to go back and forth with the railway out of operation. If we're going over anyway, we might as well do something fun with it.

Sigh... have it your way.

Aren't you coming?

Not interested. I would rather check up on Tomimi and Deculture's progress.

What a boring Ursus woman.

I'm not Ursus!

And how did you convince Master Edge?

I volunteered, Avdotya.

But...

I just wanted you to help me out while you're having fun.

Now that you've helped me, I certainly won't object to this little event.

We have plenty who like to play in the water, but not a single one who's actually a good swimmer.

This is about the pride of Zeruertza, after all, so I've got to put this sack of old bones on the line.

......

Don't sweat it, Master. It's all friendly competition.

You say that, but I can't have people talking about how Zeruertza lost to a bunch of surface-dwellers!

Avdotya said she's not interested. She didn't say she wouldn't do it.

Durins aren't a pushy people. If she doesn't want to join, I won't force her.

......

Plus, Avdotya isn't a native of Zeruertza. Makes sense she wouldn't want to represent us.

Looks like it's up to me then.

...Alright, alright, I'll compete on behalf of the Durins!

Happy now?

Really?

How can I not, after what you said?

That's more like it!

Croque!

Are you really going to participate, Avdotya?

Is there a problem?

(Whisper) Unlimited supply of craft ale for one month. It will be a real hit for me if she wins this.

Well, it's just friendly competition. No need to be too serious about it.

I'll win this! For Zeruertza, and for the ale!

Er, alright, good luck.

Excuse the interruption. We have an announcement to make.

Avdotya will be subbing in for Master Edge as the representative of Zeruertza.

Let's give her a round of applause!

You still have to come with us across the river, though, Master Edge.

How about you ride on my back during the competition? I'll take you across.

Oh?

Was that intended to be an insult, Gavial?

Hm? No.

I just don't think I'll lose.

......

Speaking of which, you should probably get changed if you're gonna race.

Since you're carrying extra weight, these clothes will do just fine.

Oh?

Just because I don't exercise often doesn't mean I'm out of shape.

I'm not so weak that I'll lose to a Sargon.

Ha. There it is, that's the face. Haven't seen you make a better one yet.

Dúra.

Contestants, please take your positions.

They're calling us.

I have ears.

Maybe this isn't the best time to interrupt, but did they forget that I'm competing as well?

Whatever. They'll find out who has the real skills when the action starts.

On your marks.

Ready.

Hang on tight, Master Edge. Things could get a little rough once the race starts.

Don't underestimate the wisdom of age.

Get—

Damn it, I got provoked into letting my Ursine slip.

I'll beat you, Gavial.

Set—

Oh, come to think of it, I should have asked Croque to add the title 'Lone Ranger' to my name.

I'll remember for next time.

It just occurred to me... don't I have to follow them if I want to get a good angle with the camera?

But I don't have a boat, and I can't exactly hold a camera while swimming. What do I do?

Ah well, never mind.

Go!

Gavial has taken the lead.

Ever since she came to Zeruertza, Gavial has wowed us with her superb athleticism.

She's gotten ahead of the pack, even with Master Edge on her back!

They're having a little too much fun.

Why don't you join them, Stitch Canvas?

Deculture?! Why are you here? Aren't you working on repairing the railway?

No problem, I've put the bots to work there.

Keep your distance. I have Oripathy.

Oripathy doesn't spread so easily, does it?

Plus, I like the peace and quiet of your place.

......

Well, there's a surprise. Gavial is still in the lead, as expected.

But how many of us would have expected Avdotya to be hot on her tail?

Who could have guessed that the elegant lady of Zeruertza has such power within her?

She's keeping pace with Gavial, who hasn't been able to shake her.

Oops, I can't see. Can someone give me a shoulder to stand on?

There we go. Thanks.

I've read in 'Stranger Things' that the people of Ursus are a hardy folk, able to live on nothing but ice for three months. I still didn't expect Avdotya to really keep pace with Gavial...

You sure are interested in what's going on there. Why don't you go over and have a look?

Not interested. It's a waste of time.

Really? You've hardly touched your sketch since the race started.

......

What do you want, Deculture?

I'm just curious, Stitch. What's troubling you?

Because you felt like you deceived Gavial and her friends?

Things don't have to be so complicated. Everything will fall into place if you agree to fix the dome.

You don't want to fix the dome, so you're using the vote results as an excuse not to do it. Instead, you made the proposal to demolish the slide and repair the railway.

And I'm not wrong! Blowing up the slide and fixing the railway will allow us to detect the spread of active Originium!

I didn't say you were wrong. While machine surveying of Originium has fallen out of fashion, the equipment we have is still usable.

Master Edge's problems will be solved once we build a boat and set things up.

He won't be pestering you about the dome anymore. You can continue your design work in this hut of yours, competing with Catch, and everybody lives happily ever after.

Why are you anxious?

What are you anxious about?

I...

We're at the halfway point, 300m point.

What's that? It's 400m already? Alright.

Anyway, the order hasn't changed since the start of the race, with Gavial in the lead, Avdotya in second place, and Elysium in third.

Al-though Elysium has not overtaken the others, his form is a thing of beauty!

Is he staying in third place on purpose?

I just feel uneasy.

Like I've dumped everything on them.

I agreed to compete with Catch on a design for a new Zeruertzan landmark... but how can I convince the people? I have no confidence there.

You'll get along so much better with Catch if you're being honest about your feelings with him.

...It won't happen.

I'll never like him, and he'll never like me.

Hm... well, I'm just looking for a place to take a break. It's none of my business if you want to keep staring at a blank piece of paper.

But if you want to check things out—

Deculture, Deculture. The first boat for the railway project is complete and ready by the lakeside.

The excavation and survey equipment that Master Edge asked for. You can help me deliver it.

......

Thanks.

Deculture, Deculture, taking care of Stitch.

I'm not the only one taking care of him.

Well, I can take a nap now that he's gone.

I'll leave the rest to you and the surface-dwellers.

Do not worry. Zumama, our friend, will help. Do not worry.

You like her that much?

Zumama cares for us. We like Zumama.

What a strange surface-dweller.

We're here by the lake to get a better view!

Hey, is that Stitch the architect over there?

Wait, stop fidgeting! I'll lose my footing!

Whoa!!!

Ouch, my butt...

The robot said the boat is parked around here.

This is the equipment that Master Edge asked for?

I'll load Gavial's equipment onto it as well, and ask someone to bring the boat across.

Hff... phew...

This is the boat?

Stitch? I think so.

Off I go then.

Huh?

Oh, he just got onto the boat that the robots brought to the lakeside, and he's sailing across the lake!

Did he come to join the competition?

Come to think of it, the rules don't say you can't use vehicles!

Zumama, boat assembly: correct?

It looks structurally sound, but there are a few things we can tweak. For example—

There, that should make it more solid.

Zumama, Zumama: amazing.

Just the product of experience.

There you are, Zumama.

Inam? What are you doing here?

This survey equipment has to get across, right? I came to help since I didn't have anything else to do.

Thanks.

Why are you thanking me? Looks like you're actually becoming one of these robots.

Yes, I'm glad to make so many new friends.

Zumama, Zumama: friend!

And I've been trying to find a date for Lancet-2.

Lancet-2 is the robot that came with Rhodes Island, right?

Yes, she's my big sister now.

I'm not skilled enough to make a robot as smart as Lancet-2, so I'm trying to find one in this group.

And...?

They're very nice, but not really her type.

She likes intellectuals, like the Doctor. It's a bit of a headache.

......

Never mind, you're not the only weirdo in Tiacauh.

Hey everybody, this is Croque, and I've found a safer vantage point to continue the broadcast from.

How far until goal? 300m? Ah, forget it.

What's really important is that the architect Stitch Canvas, the only student of Master Finch, has found a boat and jumped into the race!

Oh? Looks like he's talking to us. Let's zoom in and see what he's saying...

'I'm gonna win,' I think. Yup, I'm sure that's it.

And he just raised his middle finger to show his motivation. Looks like there's a fiery heart beneath this architect's cold surface!

He may have gotten a late start, but that vehicle is definitely a huge advantage.

He's closing the distance as we speak!

Things are pretty lively over there.

I wanted to say that this is what happens with Gavial around, but she's not the only one who's let her hair down.

You're not used to it?

You have to get used to it, living in Acahualla.

You get so used to it I feel weird if there's no one arguing and making noise around me.

You're a proper Tiacauh now.

Of course I am.

Speaking of which, Zumama, if Gavial didn't come back the year before last, you were planning to become the Great Chief of Acahualla, weren't you?

Becoming Great Chief wasn't the real goal; it was a way for me to prove myself.

I wanted to build the most powerful machine ever.

I knew I shouldn't have placed any expectations on you.

Are you thinking about being lord ameer?

Good to see that you and Tomimi have learned something about politics, unlike Gavial.

I don't know how she's survived on the outside all these years.

Some things we deal with as a matter of course just don't factor in for Gavial. Like adapting to your environment.

Haha, that's true.

So you want her to become lord ameer? Are you sure she's suitable?

Pretty sure you could pick somebody off any street in Sargon and get a better lord ameer than her.

Agreed.

But if we're choosing a Tiacauh to lead Acahualla, there's no one more suitable than her.

Are you speaking as a Tiacauh, or as a Sargon Messenger?

......

We're entering the final stretch of the race!

Gavial remains in first place, but her lead continues to shrink.

It's not Avdotya who's closing the distance, though!

Despite her valiant effort, her choice of clothing has become dead weight.

Literally, as the weight of her clothes is slowing her down!

Meanwhile, Elysium is rapidly closing in!

Conserving his strength in the first half, Elysium now shows off his true ability.

He has passed Avdotya and is almost neck-and-neck with Gavial!

However—

Neither of them are aware of the true threat approaching!

I'm impressed with Elysium. I never thought he could catch up to Gavial.

His attitude is a mask. You can't get complacent.

Yes, I noticed. He doesn't want people to know how good he is.

Don't change the subject.

Alright, looks like you've learned a thing or two at Rhodes Island.

Not on purpose, but Master Closure makes me go to meetings about stuff besides technology, so I've heard a bunch of things.

Looks like she has high hopes for you.

As for your question...

I've lived in Acahualla for a long time.

Compared to city life, I prefer to stay in the jungles, watching you people fight over stupid things.

Maybe it's hard to believe, but for me, I'm a Tiacauh a Sargon Messenger at the same time. I don't have to pick.

Or I guess I could say, my Sargon perspective tells me that Acahualla won't stay unexplored forever. That's why I hope you'll seize the opportunity.

I believe you.

We're headed towards a climax.

Exercising his explosive potential, Elysium has almost caught up to Gavial.

Avdotya's not out of this race yet, though, and she's still keeping pace with the two in front of her.

No need to push it, Avdotya!

But now all three of them have noticed the threat approaching from behind—Stitch, riding in his boat!

The wonders of machinery! He has caught up to the three in front of him in a very short period of time!

Only a hundred meters to the goal!

It's like we're at the starting line again. Three swimmers and a boat, racing their way into the final stretch!

But, Inam.

I won't help you convince her.

Gavial should not sit in that chair.

You'll get the same answer if you ask Tomimi.

Why?

Figure it out for yourself. I'm busy.

...Fine.

If you have too much free time, you can help me build this boat while you think about it.

You really count every last coin, don't you?

Eighty meters!

Avdotya got caught in the boat's wake. She's coughing and she has to stop! Yes!

Er, I mean, what a shame.

Fifty meters!

Elysium tries to board the boat, but took an accidental hit from Master Edge, who is angry at Stitch, and falls back into the water!

There are bubbles coming to the surface. Is he okay?

Thirty meters!

Master Edge leaps from Gavial's back onto the Ale Keg, and hits Stitch on the head!

Ouch! That must have hurt!

By the way, Ale Keg is the name that I just gave to this boat, following in the footsteps of my other masterpiece, 'The Great Aquapit'!

Looks like the winner will be Ga—

Wait, not quite!

The fight between Master Edge and Stitch has destroyed the boat's instruments!

There's an ominous rumble coming from the Ale Keg!

She dashes ahead like an arrow!

Not even Gavial can catch the out-of-control boat!

The boat is the first to arrive at the goal!

The winner of this swimming contest is—

The Ale Keg!

...What?

Wait, it's not over yet!

The Ale Keg isn't satisfied with simply crossing the finish line!

She rushes ashore and charges toward the cave-in!

Master Edge and Stitch are thrown from the boat!

The Ale Keg has put a huge hole in the rock blocking the tunnel exit!

Poor Ale Keg, never to taste the breakfast of champions!

A moment of silence for her!

What on earth are these people doing?