Operation story: CR-1

Operation

Story

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Characters
Ela Iana Doc Fuze Catapult Tequila Reynell Miłosz Tecno Diaz Mateo Commanding Officer Community Resident Community Hawker Excited Leithanian Tourist Happy Leithanian Tourist Sneaky Siracusan Tourist Suspicious Siracusan Tourist Sankta Passerby Sarkaz Mercenary Street Artist Guard Defender A Voice on TV Staff Ad Host Casino Bouncer Security Guards Talkative Guard Guard Attacker A/B/C/D Guard Defender B/C/D
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Before operation

“

Reyenll houses Team Rainbow in gratitude for their help. Meanwhile, members of the street art community are furious at Reynell's televised speech.

”

<Background 1>
Community Resident	I'll take a pack of dried cactus. Auntie Marco's, por favor.
Community Hawker	Auntie Marco doesn't put as much additives! It's not as good as Uncle Marco's!
Community Resident	One pack of dried cactus. I'm starving.
Community Hawker	You look like you've been up all night. Developing photos?
Community Resident	I can't help that inspiration likes to strike in the middle of the night.
Community Hawker	So when are you gonna have my photo ready?
Community Resident	Oh, I remember now... the one you said was a gift? For the girl who's into metal music?
Community Hawker	She dumped me last month...
Community Resident	Memories like to disappear in the middle of the night, too.
Community Hawker	Of all the photographers here, I had to pick the one who could never make a deadline.
[A female Durin girl approaches the two residents.]
Community Hawker	Back from the Galería, Tecno? How was it?
Tecno	Get lost.
Community Hawker	What's the matter, things didn't go well? Didn't you say last night that you were going to spraypaint the whole place?
Community Resident	What does that palace of his look like on the inside? I heard it's a large collection of works from famous artists. I should have gone with you.
Tecno	I hardly got a doodle in before I had to run for my life.
Community Hawker	Tsk, tsk.
Community Resident	Well, you'll get another chance. And bring me along next time.
Community Hawker	Me too, hehe.
Tecno	Enough of that, you two... where's the old man?
Community Resident	He's in a bad mood. Holed himself up in his room all day. I guess he's waiting for your "good news".
<Background 2>
Ela	So, just to confirm, you don't know Levi?
Reynell	Correct. And I should confirm that you don't know my uncle, right? Tall, wears glasses, smiles in the creepiest way you can imagine.
Ela	Say any more and I'll start to wonder if your uncle is the one we're looking for.
Reynell	Er, I think it's just another unpleasant coincidence.
[Reynell pours a glass.]
Reynell	Now that we've resolved our misunderstandings, would you like a drink?
Ela	No, thank you, Mr. Reynell. We have to go. Why are you shaking, Iana?
Iana	If we're not dreaming or hallucinating... We've been "shot out" by some unknown power through time or space and landed in this place... A far-away planet... or Earth in some unimaginable dimension of time... I'm just excited, Ela.
Ela	I get it, but we're not just facing a strange world, we have strange problems too. So... stay calm, no matter how excited you feel.
Iana	...Sorry.
Doc	Let's go, friends. Hopefully, we can a place to stay before nightfall.
Reynell	Well, there's no need for doom and gloom. I'm not ungrateful for you saving my life. I could at least offer a room with four walls and a roof.
Ela	...
Reynell	Unless you really wanted to sleep on cardboard beneath the sky.
[Thunder rumbles as clouds gather in the sky.]
Ela	...
Iana	It's going to rain.
Ela	We won't take it for free, Mr. Reynell. For as long as we accept your hospitality, we will protect you and ensure there won't be any other armed men charging into your room.
[Reynell's secretary walks to his side.]
Miłosz	Or falling through the roof—
Reynell	That will do, Miłosz. She knows what she's doing.
Miłosz	(Whisper) But we don't know anything about them, Reynell.
Reynell	(Whisper) This is our chance to learn.
Miłosz	(Whisper) You're always so willful.
Reynell	(Whisper) You know me.
Ela	If you're going to turn us down, it would be nice to do it quickly.
Miłosz	No, I have no objections. Let's get your employment contract drafted before HR leaves for the day.
<Background 3>
[A door opens.]
Tecno	Ahem. Diaz... I'm back.
Diaz	...
Tecno	Er, I heard you were waiting for me. I... I couldn't do it. But I didn't get hurt either.
Diaz	Sit.
[Tecno obeys.]
Tecno	What are you watching?
Diaz	That.
Tecno	Reynell? What is he blabbering about this time?
Voice on TV	Mr. Reynell, as Galería Krysztauowa prepares for its grand opening, a local community is also planning an arts festival. What are your thought about it?
Voice on TV	I have a lot of respect for art. The people who live there have good ideas and interesting creations, but an arts festival is not something that can be organized by just anybody. They don't have any professional buy-in. It is silly to compare the two. The Galería has far more significance than their arts festival. We have gathered artwork from across the world in Dossoles, demonstrating the diversity of culture and art, while providing a platform for art lovers everywhere. The importance it poses to the development of art in Dossoles is not something that some amateur arts festival can hope to match.
Tecno	That peddler called us amateurs?!
Diaz	Not the first time we've been at odds. All those organizations and critics have used our community as a tool to suck up to him on his first day in Dossoles. He talks crap about us, using our works as comparison to promote his own garbage. He's blocking us at every turn, from exhibitions, disc releases, even small performances. Remember his so-called community development project? It was a hot mess and we eventually brought it down.
Tecno	Yeah, the hate is mutual—
Diaz	Like you. You went to tag up his Galería, didn't you?
Tecno	He was the one who hired a writer to blast my friend's work in the papers...
Diaz	Well, since when has he ever said anything good about us? Let him—
Voice on TV	I have a couple of words that I want to say on behalf of all Dossoles artists.
Diaz	...?
Voice on TV	Why has Galería Krysztauowa drawn so much attention and achieved so much? It's because we represent what is truly of value in the Dossoles art scene. Absorbing the cultural nutrients of Dossoles, and representing her true spirit... that is the reason why I built Galería Krysztauowa.
Diaz	Who did he say he's representing?! All Dossoles artists?! Where was he when we put on a concert for the musicians who escaped the Singas Garden? Where was he when we were translating new Ursus novels? What has he ever done for art on Dossoles? How dare he claim to represent Dossoles?!
Tecno	Alright, old man, calm down, calm down...
Diaz	Calm down?! Do you know he's opening his glass house on the same day as our arts festival?
Tecno	What?
Diaz	I didn't believe it when I heard about it this morning, but then he said it on air! It's the same day!
Tecno	What do we do, then?
Diaz	(Deep breath) ... We do what we want. Who cares about him? It's more important to stay focused on taking care of our own. Don't waste your time on him.
<Background 4>
[A soldier steps through the door.]
Commanding Officer	...Capitán Mateo.
Mateo	Is this everyone who made it back?
Commanding Officer	I...
Mateo	Go on. What happened?
Commanding Officer	Reynell's guards dropped down from the sky and stopped us. We lost a lot of men. I escaped with the survivors.
Mateo	How many of them were there?
Commanding Officer	Four.
Mateo	Just four?
Commanding Officer	Armed with guns. Very well-trained. The way they fought was unusual. We couldn't get through...
Mateo	(Guns... Sankta? No mention of that in the report on Reynell... could it be Blacksteel?)
Commanding Officer	S-Sir, I will take full responsibility for the failure. Please don't punish anyone else.
Mateo	Hmph, you're loyal to your men.
Commanding Officer	I...
Mateo	No need to be so jittery. That's not a bad thing. Our intel was insufficient, that's all. Now we know more. Take that box on your way out. There's money and casino chips in it. Share it with your men and have some fun at the casino on me.
Commanding Officer	C-Capitán? Are you sure?
Mateo	Keep your ears open. Tongues are loose in a place like that.
Commanding Officer	Yes, sir. I'll report if I hear anything. What about that community? The brass are pushing... It's the last piece of the puzzle for the entertainment district project.
Mateo	We've just got to find a way. If Reynell won't budge, we could start with the community directly.
Commanding Officer	Yes, sir. I'll pay particular attention to anything about that place.
Mateo	You're my first choice to manage the entertainment district once it's built. Don't disappoint me.
Commanding Officer	I won't!
<Background 5>
[Miłosz approaches Ela at the Galería.]
Miłosz	You're here earlier than I expected. Again.
Ela	I don't like to make people wait.
Miłosz	Sorry about that. There was a bit of traffic.
Ela	It's nine o'clock on the dot. You're not too late.
Miłosz	I used to be punctual, but then I realized that people here like to be fashionably late.
Ela	No problem. I got time to check out the exhibits. The Galeria's use of light is unique. Natural light during the day, and then bright as day again at night.
Miłosz	Do you like art?
Ela	No, just a little curious.
Miłosz	Feel free to take a look around during your free time. You probably won't get a chance once the Galería is officially open.
Ela	What? No employee tickets?
Miłosz	Of course there are. What I mean is you'll be able to take the time to appreciate a work you like, before the place is with crowds.
Ela	Sometimes it's not the crowd that affects your mood. It's a particularly creepy painting.
Miłosz	You mean the one at the end of the hallway? That's not a famous piece. It's a portrait of Reynell's father. He was the one who left behind the legacy that allowed us to build this Galeria, far from home, and collect masterpieces from all across Terra. That's why Reynell always felt it was important to do something to commemorate his father.
Ela	Like putting up a huge portrait here?
Miłosz	Reynell wants everyone to see his father clearly. Anyway, it's just a portrait. Both Reynell and I believe Mr. Kowalski's merit goes far beyond that.
Ela	A faithful son, I see.
Miłosz	It's almost time. I'll take you to him.
<Background 6>
[The two climb up the stairs.]
Ela	I've been meaning to ask, why do all visitors have to climb the stairs to get to the penthouse?
Miłosz	He prefers people expend some kind of effort to come and find him. Everyone has to take at least one flight of stairs.
Ela	I've never seen him do it himself.
Miłosz	He has his personal elevator. It's the only one in the Galería's office area, and these are the only stairs.
Ela	Sounds like what a genius would do, alright. The silver lining is that it makes security simpler. Anything else I need to know?
Miłosz	No. You have one job: Keep him alive.
Ela	What about at night? Do you need us to rotate shifts?
Miłosz	No, I'll be there at night.

After operation

“

The members of Team Rainbow see their share of drama as they get to know Dossoles. Miłosz quietly shows up before the Capitán who planned the failed kidnapping.

”

<Background 7>
Reynell	Miss Ela. Are your friends not with you?
Ela	Your guards are very interested in Fuze and wouldn't stop asking questions. I left him there since you said you wanted to get them trained up.
Reynell	You said there were four of you.
Ela	Going by what we agreed on, two of us will protect you while the others continue our search here. They'll be on hand if we need them. You're not going out in public today anyway.
Reynell	Just curious. In fact, it's easier on me with fewer people around.
Ela	I saw you have two top-secret meetings on your schedule.
Reynell	I do? What meetings?
Ela	Bungee jumping? That's a meeting?
Reynell	Of course. Miłosz wouldn't let me do this, but he's not here today. Why not seize the opportunity?
Ela	As your bodyguard... I advise you to rethink this.
Reynell	As your employer, I advise you to advise less. Is my safety harness ready?
Staff	Yes, sir. You're good to jump anytime.
Reynell	See you later.
[Reynell jumps.]
Reynell	Yahooo—!
Ela	What an asshole.
Staff	Nothing to worry about. Our equipment is first-rate. There's no danger at all.
Ela	You wouldn't have had him sign that waiver if there was no danger.
Staff	Would you like to come back and remove your safety harness, then?
Ela	On the other hand, my boss did pay for it.
Ela backs up to the edge and feels nothing but air on her heels, a tingling feeling that goes straight up her spine along the harness. She smiles at the worker and falls backwards, allowing the feeling of weightlessness to seize her heart.
She waits for the rope to become fully stretched, then bounce back, pulling her back up. Then she hears the sound of a splash in the roaring wind.
Staff	Oh no, that Vulpo unlocked his own harness?!
Ela	Gówno!
[Ela unlocks her harness to dive after him.]
<Background 8>
Ad	Don't get sunburned when you enjoy the beach! Buy Sombrero Dude sunscreen now and get a free set of tail care oil...
[Meanwhile, Iana and Doc are strolling through Dossoles.]
Doc	What is that?
Iana	That girl with cat ears was handing them out. I took one.
Doc	It's true that UV rays are strong around here.
Iana	Not that, this.
Doc	Polishing stone for horns? What are they babbl—
[Just then, an Elafian and Caprinae tourist with horns pass by.]
Excited Leithanian Tourist	Who would have thought there would be such a wonderful vacation spot in war-torn Bolívar? I was dreading this business trip at first.
Happy Leithanian Tourist	It's been great, except the salt water makes your horns rough. I need to polish mine when we get back to the hotel.
[The two continue chattering as Doc stares dumbfoundedly.]
Doc	... And conditioner tailored to Vulpo, Lupo and Feline.
Iana	Ten-liter set?! I mean, I know they have ears and tails and all...
[Two shady tourists with ears and tails pass by each other.]
Sneaky Siracusan Tourist.	This batch is a good one. Let's talk details on the beach tomorrow.
Suspicious Siracusan Tourist	They'd better be worth the price.
[The two quickly move away.]
Iana	Okay, they need it.
Doc	Nothing could surprise me now.
[Just then, an "angel" and "devil" pass by each other.]
Sankta Passerby	(Frowns disapprovingly)
Sarkaz Mercenary	(Goes around scornfully)
[The two avoid each other.]
Doc	Sacré dieu...
Iana	...
Host	Let's welcome our guest today, Mr. Reynell Kowalski, the new star of Dossoles's art scene!
Reynell's Voice	Thank you, Dossoles TV, for giving me the chance to be scorned by thousands sitting in front of their television screens, and a way for them to let off some steam.
Iana	Hey, isn't that the owner of Galería Krysztauowa?
Doc	I didn't expect to hear his voice on the street. I wonder if Ela and Fuze are getting along with him. I have a hunch he's one to get on your nerves.
Casino Bouncer	If you're not playing, get lost! You're scaring away customers with that shabby outfit.
Iana	Hm?
Street Artist	I'm just advertising our community festival. I'm not bothering your guests.
Casino Bouncer	You'd better not be.
[The bouncer kicks out the artist (literally).]
Street Artist	Hey, folks! Wanna check out our festival? Take a flyer! It's a real special event in the street art community!
Doc	Thanks, but I don't think we'll have the time...
Street Artist	You're not going to that glass house opening, are you? Don't let that guy fool you with his fancy talk! He doesn't know anything about art!
Doc	Er...
Street Artist	Come on, take a flyer.
[Doc reluctantly takes one and the artist leaves.]
Iana	What does it say?
Doc	Hmm, I would be interested in checking it out, if they manage to pull it off.
Reynell's Voice	...This ceremony will stimulate Dossoles's artistic and cultural fields. My staff and I have prepared extensive plans for acquisitions, business development, sector growth... The opening of Galería Krysztauowa will be a turning point in Dossoles's economic history.
Iana	Now I'm more interested in what's on the flyer.
<Background black>
[Ela breaks through the surface of the water.]
Ela	*Cough* Are you out of your mind, you son of a vixen?!
[She drags Reynell out of the water.]
Ela	Wake up, you bastard! Stop playing dead! I can feel your pulse!
<Background 10>
Reynell	*Cough* Haha... *cough*
[Reynell stands up.]
Reynell	Just a moment of capriciousness. Releasing the shackles that bind me at the closest point to the surface, and falling freely into the water... Isn't that so much more fun than just bouncing up and down on a rope?
Ela	...I'm sorry, Mr. Reynell, but I don't think I can continue to serve as your bodyguard. Thank you for giving us a place to stay. My squad and I will move out tomorrow.
Reynell	Come on, I've fallen into water from even greater heights. See, I'm completely fine, am I not? No need to get angry.
Ela	I can't protect a man who plays jokes with his life.
Reynell	You're mistaken, Miss Ela. I have a goal that I've been working toward for many years. Until it's complete, no one values his life more than I do. Remember to wipe yourself dry. I can tell your constitution is not as strong as "ours."
<Background 4>
[Miłosz steps into Capitan Mateo's office.]
Mateo	Don't you know? Once you step through this door, it's not up to you whether you get to step back through it again.
Miłosz	I come in good faith, Capitán Mateo.
Mateo	Good faith? After the reception my men got from your boss?
Miłosz	Why can't you and Reynell stop bickering with one another?
Mateo	Interesting question. Is he going to hand over the plot of land where that street art community is squatting? Get in my way, and you get in the way of Bolívar's Coalition government. A Kazimierzian with nothing but money thinks he can negotiate with a government representative just because he hired a few mercenaries?
Miłosz	Reynell doesn't want to fight you over that piece of land. If we can reach an agreement, he is happy to cede control of the land to you... or to the Coalition government. It makes no difference.
Mateo	And you speak for him?
Miłosz	I do. We could have been talking about this under more amicable circumstances, if not for that ill-conceived kidnapping attempt.
Mateo	You blame me for that?
Miłosz	It was an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Mateo	No need to make excuses for me. I don't care. Just tell me, what does Reynell want?
Miłosz	One doesn't do business in Bolívar for long without the support of a powerful patron... someone like you.
Mateo	I spent most of my years in the army, not the classroom. Get to the point.
Miłosz	Well... that neighborhood is not so much a home for artists as a lawless place where gangs roam unchecked. We had plans for its development, but the residents were utterly vicious. Even worse, there are Infected living among them.
Mateo	Hmph. You thought money could solve all your problems in Dossoles.
Miłosz	Yes. Only those who are can solve problems get to enjoy the ultimate fruit.
<Background 9>
[Meanwhile, Fuze is talking with Reynell's bodyguards.]
Fuze	I don't know your style or skills, so I think the quickest way would be a simulated engagement. Two teams, four in each team, best of three. Attacking team tries to locate the hostage and rescue him, defending team tries to stop the attackers from rescuing the hostage. Any questions?
Security Guards	...
Talkative Guard	Who's the hostage?
Fuze	For the sake of fairness, me.
<Background fades out and in>
[The Attacker team are moving through the warehouse.]
Guard Attacker A	I'm in through the window! Room's empty! Moving on to the next one.
[The guard bumps into his teammate.]
Guard Attacker B	Hey, watch where you're going!
Guard Attacker A	You watch where you're going!
[The Defender besides Fuze moves to survey the area.]
Guard Attacker B	Quiet! I've already searched the direction you're going in. There's nobody there. Didn't you hear it on the radio?
Guard Attacker A	Radio? Oh, I dropped my earpiece out the window. I was looking for you to get a new one.
[The two Attackers get knocked out by the vigilant Defender.]
Guard Defender A	Two enemies down. I could hear them from a mile away.
<Background fades out and in>
Guard Defender B	How about you crouch behind this board? Maybe show an inch or two of your head, so as to draw their attention.
Guard Defender C	The three of us will guard the only door and take them out as they enter.
Fuze	...You're not concerned that I could get hurt?
Guard Defender D	Get hurt? Nah, we got them the moment they step inside.
<Background flashes white>
Guard Defender B	Dammit! The Originium Arts! I can't see!
Guard Defender C	Th-They're coming in through the window! Stay back!
Guard Attacker C	Hostage found. There were three idiots waiting by the door. Looks like they forgot there's more than one way in.
Guard Attacker D	The bright flash looks like it works well... hey, what's that guy doing?
[One of the Defenders is firing their crossbow rapidly.]
Guard Defender C	Get away from me! Dammit! Get away!
Guard Attacker C	H-He's just shooting blindly! Where are my teammates? All down?!
[One of the bolts clinks against Fuze's armor.]
Fuze	...
[And then a second bolt.]
Fuze	*Russian swearing*. Stop, stop! You guys are a real eye-opener.
<Background 5>
Miłosz	You're back early. I thought you would be out enjoying places I don't let you go.
Reynell	There was an accident.
Miłosz	You're hurt?
Reynell	No, Miss Ela quit.
Miłosz	...This is the 32nd bodyguard who's had enough of you. I can't spend all day with you when I've got my own job to do.
Reynell	What about your negotiations with the Capitán?
Miłosz	He took the bait.
Reynell	Good. Now we'll see how our "friends" in that community perform.
Miłosz	He'll have his hands full.
Reynell	I've spent long enough dealing with those artists to know that if there's one thing they do well, it's causing trouble.
[Ela and Fuze return.]
Reynell	Miss Ela! Have you handed in your resignation papers yet?
Ela	No one told me HR is closed today.
Reynell	Ah, my staff have always been capricious. It's such a headache.
Ela	... Before I go, you should know that the sculpture at the center of the special exhibit is a counterfeit. It's a tiny bit different from the other works by the same sculptor. You should look into it.
Reynell	Oh?
Ela	Maybe your dealer ripped you off. I guess that's a fact of life for a businessman like you.
Reynell	Hahaha! I'm starting to regret letting you go, Miss Ela.
Ela	Oh yeah?
Reynell	You have a good eye. I was the one who made the counterfeit. I kind of liked it, so I just left it out. It's been there for a while. You're the first one to realize it's a fake.
Ela	Maybe others just don't dare point it out. Since that doesn't bother you, my friends and I will be going now.
Reynell	Just a moment, Miss Ela.
Ela	What is it?
Reynell	Would you keep working for me if I promised to behave?
Miłosz	(Mumble) Well, that's something you don't see every day...
Ela	You're trying to persuade me to stay?
Reynell	Yes. Don't you want to see the authentic piece? You must have spent a lot of time with that sculptor's work to notice such tiny details.
Ela	... I hope you can keep your promise.
<Background 11>
[Tequila and Catapult are driving a transport vehicle.]
Catapult	How far to Dossoles, Ernesto?
Tequila	We're almost there.
Catapult	You've been saying that for days!
Tequila	Yes, we're almost there... once I deliver this batch of medicine, I'll take you to a sunny beach where you can lie down for a whole day. Far away from any casinos or bars.
Catapult	I could live with bars. I understand that some people need to drink their troubles away... hey, how did you know I don't like casinos?
Tequila	It's my first time taking a partner operator home to Dossoles, so I asked Orchid about you before we left.
Catapult	Then you know what happened when I left my homeland...
Tequila	A brave act.
Catapult	And when I went back...
Tequila	An honorable choice.
Catapult	... Well, it's not something I'm ashamed of... it's just a little more fit to be shared over a drink or two, not like this... Well, you can buy me a drink when we get to Dossoles. That's my price for hearing the story. Deal?
Tequila	Deal.