6-8 It Fell From the Sky!

This is your stop. Amiya and her people are nearby!

Was it really okay to drop the team outside the city? You're gonna go down there by yourself?!

Come on, it's a lot better for them to be out there clearing a path and pushing back Reunion's pursuit forces than to fight here.

Okay. The terrain down there is pretty rough. This is as far as I can take you.

It's fine.

...At least let me put down a rope for you?

When have you ever seen me use a rope?

You're just gonna go for it again, huh?

Go for what? What are you talking about?

Every time we have a mission together, you go off and do crazy stuff while I sit in the cockpit on pins and needles and watch.

I'm kind of used to it, but that doesn't change the fact that you're way too reckless out there.

That just goes to show you what a good rapport you, me, and my team have!

Rapport my ass! Last time you demolished a town, bombed out a reservoir, and collapsed a mine!

Keep the chaos on the ground please, don't bring it onto my baby!

Fine, fine. I got it. But, 'Bad Guy,' really? Maybe think a little harder next time you pick a name.

Just jump already.

I think the welcoming committee's spotted us. This is where we say goodbye, Blaze.

No problem.

I'll wait for you by the entrance to the ruins. Be quick!

Huh? The comms.

HELLO?!

I can hear you! You don't have to yell!

Oh. Hi, Rhodes Islanders. I'm with the L. G. D. I've met up with your team by the ruins!

Didn't the L. G. D. withdraw already? What are you trying to pull?

I'm not like that Ch'en lady! Trust me, I can help you.

And how should we call you?

Use my codename. Call me Officer Swire!

......

Isn't Swire just your name?

Blaze, can you take care of this? I'm not good with bureaucrats...

......Blaze?

Don't look at me.

Get back here! Don't jump!

Didn't you tell me to jump a second ago? You can handle this. I believe in you! *Mwah*

Mwah my ass!

*Pant* *pant*...

...Is she okay?

Yes, it's nothing serious. Just her body temperature's a little low.

It's always... low. I'm fine. I just...

Frostleaf, slow down. Your temperature is even lower than usual.

Doctor, pass me a bandage.

I told you, I'm fine. Meteorite got hit a lot harder.

It's okay. I'm a Sarkaz. I'm more worried about you.

Jessica, what is Yeti Squad doing?

Th- they're approaching our position! About 500 meters out!

And the debris clearing?

We need about fifteen more minutes. The collapsed building has a pretty complicated superstructure and we can't risk blasting here.

Meteorite, get ready to fight. We have to hold this line.

Roger. Do we have a stock of bolts?

Yes. Logistics can get them for you...

Amiya, are you there?

......

......

...guh.

Did somebody leave their comms open?

This is the elite operators' channel, I can open it from my end.

That voice...?

Oh no. They sent her.

Um... who is it?

They call her Blaze. She can certainly level the whole area and leave everyone pissing themselves.

Damn right it's me! But that last part is a little off.

Please... let's be serious here.

Where are you, Blaze? We need your support.

I'm right above you.

What?

Just about 200 meters to go and I'll be there!

I can't hit the machine, it's out of range!

Flying machines... they have such equipment?

Make sure they do not come down.

Wipe out the Rhodes Island squad before their reinforcements arrive. They cannot be allowed to join forces.

Wait.

———Stand back!

She jumped again?

She jumped again.

......

We can jump together sometime, Amiya! If you want.

I think I'll take a rain check. Where's your team?

I left them outside the city. They'll be here in a bit.

I can't hear anything over the wind. Turn off your comms!

Everyone... move to support Blaze.

Dr. Doctor, no matter what she says...

...just nod.

It dropped something...

...a person?

There's only one. But keep your guard up.

I sense a heat. She's using some kind of temperature Arts.

Hello, Reunion friends.

I don't like fighting other Infected. But I heard you hurt some of my Rhodes Island co-workers...

And you're still after my buddies. So I'm going to have to put a stop to that.

Aren't you mouthy...

Hi. How you doing, Miss Frosty?

I wanna see what happens when my hot meets your cold.

*Pant* *pant*...

Blaze!

I'm fine! They... have some moves.

You're not freezing, are you?

Thanks to you, we're okay. You're keeping the air warm enough to stop her chills.

Don't mention it.

Hey Frosty, why aren't you using lethal Arts?

*Hack* *cough*...

......

So that's why.

...FrostNova, she...

FrostNova's the name?

*Hack*... Help me... cover...

Sister...

Get out of here, Amiya. There could be more Reunion on the way. Do we have any injured? I can help.

So you're retreating?

I'm going to politely suggest that you don't fight anymore, snow bunny.

If you keep using your Arts like that, you're going to die. You're just burning your life into power.

Or, you could always come to Rhodes Island. We've got ways to extend your life.

......

Don't look at me like that... I don't need your pity.

Do I look like I pity you? You're strong. I respect you.

......

Why are you running away?

*Cough*... *Hack* *hack*...

Dr. Doctor, run. Don't look at her!

Reunion forces closing on our position!

You're not leaving.

Sister, don't use that now, not where you're standing!

We can't let them escape!

Who knows what Rhodes Island might do to our people in Lungmen!

The temperature difference... it's causing the structure... to weaken!

*Cough* *cough*... freeze!

......♪......

*Hack*...!

It's working...

The Originium we buried has changed the structure of the lower levels, the plates are tilting!

Sister, it's too dangerous! Hold onto me!

......

Sister?!

...Blaze. Do you hear that?

Hm?

Is that the sound of the structure shattering?

Oh...

Buried Originium... heat absorption... temperature difference...

It's collapsing... FrostNova's Arts can actually do that...?

No!

The plate is warping!

Reunion is capable of something like this?

All I know is... the whole district is sinking!

Run! Get to a stable area! The ground here is caving in!

...Doctor?

Doctor, the ground under you... it's... splitting?

Uh oh.

Dr. Doctor, move!

Doctor!

Amiya, stay where you are! Dr. Doctor, grab onto that lamppost!

Save the Doctor!

The ground is splitting too fast! I can't reach!

Then I'll do it!

No!

What did——

Doctor!!

The buildings can't support their own weight anymore, they're all collapsing!

Meteorite, take her!

Okay, I've got Amiya!

Put me down!

Amiya, go. I'll get the Doctor! I'm an elite operator, I can do it!

......

Welp, looks like we're not quite done.

Doctor, I'm going to use airflow and pressure to slow your fall and push away the building beside you. Don't worry, it won't crush you!

Just don't panic! I've got you!

...See you soon!

......

......

Sup? Where's FrostNova?

Your commander fell down there too, huh?

...Yes.

Could we not fight?

Rabbit of Rhodes Island, could we forge a temporary armistice? Honestly, we never much wanted to fight you.

But...

Mephisto told our sister you'd killed Alex, and she was very concerned about what you would do next.

...Who's Alex?

Skullshatterer.

I'm sorry. I did kill Skullshatterer.

...Oh.

Infected really should not fight one another. I'm sorry.

What's to apologize for? It was a battle, wasn't it?

It was.

So let's have a ceasefire. Nesti, what do you say?

Huh? *Ursine profanity*!

Nesti says he's fine with it.

I don't think that's what he said.

As long as we're not in battle, there's no reason to kill anyone, right?

Why is it... you want a ceasefire?

Did you ever notice that both our sides are led by rabbits?

...Huh?

I think something in my brain just broke.

Hm?

These are the yetis of the ice field?

Wh- what do you mean?

Shouldn't they be cold, merciless killers?

This isn't right.

That's prejudiced.

Listen here, bunny.

Who wins the battle, or where you go, none of that matters to us. All we care about is our sister's life.

And you're worried about your friend too, right?

...Right. We didn't come here to hurt anyone.

You're definitely not here to hunt Reunion for sport, are you?

Of course not!

You know... it's funny...

If it weren't for Patriot insisting on unity in the Reunion Movement, we'd have dealt with Mephisto and his people a long time ago.

And that'd be kinda like hunting Reunion for sport, huh?

Huh...

Let's get digging, shall we?