6-15 Nostalgia

What the hell?

Yeti Squad, why have you stopped firing? What are you waiting for?

...Dig out those ruins, huh?

Didn't you plant the Originium? Why not collapse the whole plate and wipe out Rhodes Island all at once?

Are you kidding? FrostNova is still down there!

Then we'll deal with Rhodes Island. You guys keep digging. We'll be right there.

Not on this block! The superstructure in this sector is completely shredded. An untrained team fighting here could induce a total collapse!

Wiping out Rhodes Island is a top priority. You take care of it.

I'm not gonna argue with you. We'll fight what we gotta fight. Who decided on this priority anyway?

It's obviously our most important strategic goal.

Were you thinking about strategic goals when you vented your anger on the Ursus?

We'll do what we can. Give us some space.

Did you... communicate with Rhodes Island?

You're betraying the Movement!

......

(What's going on over there?)

(I think we have to fight.)

If you think communication is tantamount to betrayal then that's your prerogative.

With that kind of tactical thinking, it's no wonder you're getting led around by the nose.

...Yetis! What are you up to?!

We outnumber you a hundred times over, don't be stupid!

...Come on, we fought the Ursus Standing Army like a million times, who's getting excited over a big angry mob?

Just you wait!

(Static)

Hey, Rhodes Island. We might have to teach those unruly bastards a lesson.

You should probably stay out of it. We don't want to be accused of collaborating with the enemy.

Huh? Collaborating? What are you talking about?

Amiya, what happened in the ruins, and what's the official party line on it?

......Nothing happened. We were fighting Yeti Squad and no other Reunion units joined the battle.

Acting? I'm a phenomenal actress.

What do you say we put on a show and then take care of these guys in the ensuing chaos?

Sounds good to me. What does your captain think?

......

Excuse me, sir. How should I call you?

...Um, well, you're a really cute girl, but I'm not sure I'm ready for anything like that...

Ready for what? What are you thinking?!

Oh, sorry. I'm just playing around. You can call me Yeti #1, I guess.

All right, Mr. Yeti #1... We've got lives to save, don't we?

So let's subdue the Reunion units that could interfere with our rescue mission.

Yeah. I'm plenty motivated now.

...And where exactly did you get that motivation?

......

(Blaze. I need you to lead the team to seize the advantage.)

(You want to organize a raid?)

(I'm very worried about our current situation.)

(Both we and the Yetis have used our respective skills to locate the Doctor and FrostNova. Thanks to your Arts, they are now safe.)

(And... The two are very close. If you can save one, you can save the other.)

(There are two things we can't be sure of right now.)

(First, who will reach them first...?)

(Second, FrostNova's attitude.)

(Exactly.)

(If we get the initiative, we'll have to subdue FrostNova immediately. But we also have to trade her for Yeti Squad's cooperation.)

(That way, we avoid fighting, and also deepen the opportunity for communication.)

(But if they get there first...)

Um, Amiya, the heartbeat detector found something. We have a position, but we don't know the depth...

Right!

Hey... Wait!

Where's the fire? Aww.

As soon as the Doctor comes up, she gets all panicky and forgets herself.

I'm not sure if this is a bug in Amiya or a feature...

You know, the stuff she just said, that's not like her at all. She came up with it too fast.

At least she didn't come around to a sneak attack. This one's on us.

Not quite. If we ambushed them, the Yetis would just fight to the death.

I'm here to rescue you all, not cause more casualties. She didn't give up on her winning outcome.

...I guess I should apologize. It's the mercenary in me.

You didn't do it, did you?

Keeping a level head after her victories and keeping to her tactical goals are what makes me trust Amiya as field commander.

I'm gonna go check on the Yetis.

Huh?

This structure... It's so complicated. It makes my head hurt.

Describe it to me and I'll draw it up.

Huh? I didn't even finish my eighth grade textbook in middle school. Give me a break.

What did you do instead of class again?

I went to train.

Why not let Nesti try? He's got some Arts, doesn't he?

He's all about reciting poetry and writing essays. That's not your structural probing business.

Well, why not try to express it through numbers?

Good idea. I'm okay at math. Let's try it.

Does it feel hot to you?

No. I'm wearing this thick heavy thing and even so I still feel Sister's Originium freezing my skin off...

Oh.

Hi, Rhodes Island cat.

Sorry, but when I sweat, the air around me heats up, and then I just keep sweating.

Thanks to you guys, I'm feeling a lot cooler than usual.

Are you nervous?

A little. I never thought I'd be working with the enemy.

For now, at least, we aren't enemies. After digging out our Sister, we'll do what she says. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

...You guys really aren't anything like the other Reunion folks.

You think the rest of Reunion is all the same? Are you and the bunny the same?

Hey, yeah. Good point. We've got all kinds on our side.

Everyone's got all kinds.

At least you're willing to listen to us. The Ursus soldiers all just shoot us on sight.

The arrows start flying and they don't stop until one side is dead.

Good thing we're a pharmaceutical company and not a bunch of Ursus soldiers.

Do pharmaceutical companies all have equipment like yours?

The world is a dangerous place and we have to protect ourselves, right?

It would be nice if you spent your time farming instead of battling.

If you can grow a harvest of red wheat, you'll feed half a town's starving Infected.

If they weren't starving, they wouldn't have gone into that little town. Then they wouldn't have been shot.

If only.

Enough of that.

He's pretty sentimental. You know, I think all Ursus are pretty sentimental.

No slacking off!

Oops, sorry. Time to get back to work.

No big deal. Go back to your work.

But that thing you're carrying, it's got a powerful smell.

Oh? This...? I...

What's she talking about?

Nothing. Don't worry.

Hey, a mite peckish.

Oh...?

What are you looking at me for?

Amiya, stop!

Your fingers are bleeding! Stop digging with your hands!

But... I can feel something down there... Right down here!

I can't feel it if I'm using a tool... I have to use my fingers to pick up on that tiny whisper of a feeling...

Amiya!

It's close!

(Meteorite...)

(But...)

(Leave her be.)

If we let them get there first...

It's okay, you can do it!

Use Arts! I- I can't. I really can't!

We can do this even without our Sister, right? Hurry up and make the temperatures nice and different. The bigger the difference, the better!

I'll try... But don't blame me if it doesn't work!

Who else can we blame besides you...?

Don't tease him. He has to concentrate.

Here! Right here!

...A wall? Did I get it wrong?

Just smash it! Break through...!

But if it collapses, I...

I... got it wrong.

It's open!

......!

Blaze! Meteorite!

On it.

Get ready.

Said I won't lose.

Sister!

.....This one......

This is the one they call the Doctor.

The leader of Rhodes Island.

That's me. You can call me Amiya.

(Her rings... are turning red?)

......!

(Aren't you going to stop her?)

(Why would I stop our only chance at winning?)

Blaze!

I respect Amiya's decision.

Doctor!

Nesti, is Rhodes Island not fighting you?

They're not.

Then here on this battlefield, we are not enemies.

FrostNova...

There is no reason to fight if we are not enemies.

Go back, Doctor, to your people.

...Our Sister is so magnanimous.

Like she needs your approval.

Quiet down.

Little rabbit.

Uh, my name is Amiya...

You're going to Lungmen too, aren't you?

...That's right.

Then we will be enemies before long, little rabbit. Just, not yet.

FrostNova, you and your team aren't as destructive as the other Reunion units.

Don't blame my people. You don't know what they've been through.

But you don't want them to go on like this!

...Oh?

It seems you can read my mind?

I can't. But I do sense your unease and your consternation.

All of this will be swept away after the fall of Lungmen.

Rhodes Island, we can honestly understand you and your squad.

You may think I'm wrong, and that we don't understand you at all...

But FrostNova, ma'am, I know exactly what you've been through.

......Childish.

......

They're not. This was once the cloak of the 'Patriot.' I wove it into a coat.

......Oh......

How can you tell?

Never mind...

......

Everyone has some things they can't say, I suppose.

FrostNova, Rhodes Island does not seek out conflict. We want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

And which bloodshed was necessary?

At the very least, we don't want to fight your squad!

They are all good, decent people. We absolutely cannot hurt them, or let them hurt innocent people!

...Then you must pray we do not meet again.

FrostNova!

I think I don't much want to hurt you either. But if I have to, I will kill you all.

Then you can try to beat me.

Defeat me in battle, and I will consider it.

But of course, once we meet on the battlefield, we are enemies. And as enemies, we will fight to the death.

......

Oh yes. This one, for the fox.

...What?

A special remedy for frostbite. One-of-a-kind recipe. It relieves the burning and pain.

I've studied these things for a long time. And you fought very well back there.

Warriors willing to sacrifice themselves are the strongest, in my eyes.

......

Thank you.

FrostNova...

Hey, wait. I have something to say too.

Yeti #1!

Oh... huh?

......?

What's happening?

Let's get a drink next time! Your vodka smells great!

Don't say that out loud!

......

Hm.

Haha...

Goodbye, Rhodes Island.

I hope we never meet again.

......

Here you are, after all.

......

Hello, Rhodes Island.