5 5 301 DialogEnable Two shafts of white light tear across the darkness that prevails in this land of snow.
6 6 401 2 885
7 7 301 Waves of snow part to either side to reveal a path as the vehicle is revved through the snow, evoking to mind the Exodus—where the Israelites walked through the Red Sea parted by Moses.
8 8 301 The ice flakes and snow are now coming down at the speed of a shower, making it impossible for you to see the path ahead even with the windshield wiper working away at top speed.
9 9 302 We can't see a single thing... 10
10 10 301 While you let out a defeated sigh from the front passenger seat, Bianca, fully concentrated behind the wheel, is in control of the accelerator and gear shift with astounding dexterity.
11 11 201 1 500533
12 12 301 1 Bianca You seem like you have something to say, Commandant. 1
13 13 302 I'm just a little surprised at how well you drive, Bianca. 14 Are we going to be able to make it to the research station just fine? 16
14 14 204 1 1
15 15 18 301 Bianca It's just something I have to be able to do for missions. You can't find a better driver than a Construct given the conditions. 1
16 16 204 1 1
17 17 301 Bianca So far so good, and we should be able to get there just fine if nothing happens on the way... 1
18 18 301 Bianca I'm pretty used to weather like this from all the snowstorms I've had to brave. 1
19 19 302 As a member of the Purifying Force, I assume? 20
20 20 204 1
21 21 301 She shakes her head.
22 22 204 1 8
23 23 301 Bianca Not exactly... It's way before that... 1
24 24 301 Bianca I was a nun at the church before the Punishing Virus broke out, and... 1
32 32 301 Before Bianca even finishes her sentence, the vehicle takes a sharp fall.
33 33 302 !? 34
34 34 401 1 50
35 35 301 The fall sends your body plunging forward and the airbag from the front passenger seat popping out, blocking out your view entirely.
36 36 301 When the vehicle finally comes to a halt, you look up—and see that half of the vehicle is now in snow sludge.
37 37 201 1 500533 5
38 38 301 1 Bianca Commandant, are you okay?! 1
39 39 302 I-I'm fine... 40
40 40 204 1 8
41 41 301 Bianca I am... very sorry. 1
42 42 301 Bianca I didn't see that big hole just now... 1
43 43 204 1 5
44 44 301 Bianca My visual enhancement module is able to capture and recreate everything in my surroundings, except the hole was almost buried entirely out of sight by the snow... which is why I thought the ground was solid. 1
45 45 401 800 2 885
46 46 402 885
47 47 301 Bianca steps on the accelerator, but the wheels are just slipping in the sludge.
48 48 302 It wasn't your fault. 49
49 49 301 Failing to see hidden holes is a common occurrence when driving in the snow, not to mention that you've been driving through a snowstorm. If anything, you consider yourselves lucky for having come such a long way without anything going wrong.
50 50 302 What are we going to do now? 51
51 51 301 Bianca I... think it's going to be very challenging for us to get the vehicle out now. 1
52 52 301 The standard procedure would first be to manually remove the snow from around the wheels, and then to place something on the ground to increase friction.
53 53 301 Considering the current precipitation and the fact that it's close to minus 50 degrees Celsius, however, you just don't think that's plausible, not to mention that the hole itself is about three-meter wide.
54 54 302 Seems like we'll have to go the rest of the way on foot, then. 55
55 55 301 This isn't your first time going on a mission in a polar region, and this much you know—every second spent out here puts you a step closer to death.
56 56 301 Looking down at the portable terminal on your arm, you see that you're less than two kilometers away from the research station—a distance shorter even than your usual morning jog, but more challenging in more ways than one.
57 57 301 Bianca ...Roger that. We'll just come back later for the vehicle, then. 1
58 58 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She doesn't need further explanation to know that this is the best option now.
63 63 301 AniZhuanchangEnd You and Bianca manage to open the doors with some struggle. Then, after grabbing a case containing an inflatable tent and heater out of the trunk, you make your way out of the hole toward where your terminal is pointing.
64 64 201 1 500533 8
65 65 301 1 Bianca ... 1
66 66 301 With the wind and snow ruffling your hair, you cast a glance at Bianca—who now looks more serious than ever.
67 67 302 Is everything okay? 68
68 68 301 Bianca ...Yes. 1
69 69 301 After what seems like an eternity, she opens her mouth to speak again.
70 70 204 1 5
71 71 301 Bianca Again, Commandant... you have my apologies. 1
72 72 301 Bianca None of these would have happened had I been more careful. 1
73 73 302 Don't be so harsh on yourself, Bianca. 74 It happens. 75
74 74 76 301 Bianca I understand that blaming myself isn't going to help with anything—but we are risking your life out here in the snow, all because I didn't see the hole. 1
75 75 301 Bianca It's something I totally should have seen coming. 1
76 76 204 1 8
77 77 301 Bianca I'll keep it in mind and won't let it happen ever again. 1
78 78 302 Well, if you really are sorry... 79
79 79 302 I think I'd feel a lot better hearing the rest of your story from just now. 80
80 80 204 1 7
81 81 301 Bianca You mean... about my past, right? 1
82 82 302 The body apparently gets warmer when you listen to people talk. 83 I'm just curious. 85
83 83 301 This, of course, is an excuse with no root whatsoever in science.
84 84 85 301 Bianca Is that so? 1
85 85 204 1 1
86 86 301 Bianca Well then, if you insist... 1
87 87 301 Clearing her throat, Bianca picks up the story from where she left off.
88 88 204 1
89 89 301 Bianca When I was still a nun... 1
90 90 301 Bianca The church that raised me would always run short on supplies when winter came. 1
91 91 301 Bianca We received supplies from the towns nearby because our church was a welfare facility built by local government organizations. 1
92 92 301 Bianca Except our church was just way too far from everything else. It was all the way up the mountain, and people would always refuse to deliver supplies to us when there was a snowstorm. 1
93 93 301 Bianca And whenever that happened, someone from the church or I would have to go to the towns alone to bring all the supplies back one batch at a time using the church's horse wagon. 1
94 94 204 1 3
95 95 301 Bianca The horse wagon was made of wood, and it was nothing short of a miracle that it was able to travel on snow. And trying to get the horses to behave themselves was a difficult task, too. 1
96 96 301 Bianca has a wry smile on her face as she recounts her past. You can only imagine how harsh it must have been for her.
97 97 301 Bianca But I slowly grew used to it... and before I knew it, the snow and wind just didn't bother me anymore... 1
98 98 301 Snapping back, Bianca lowers her head in guilt.
99 99 204 1 8
100 100 301 Bianca Well... I suppose my overconfidence is what got us here in the first place. 1
101 101 301 Bianca And looking back now, I guess I probably shouldn't have asked for you to be put on this mission with me in the first place, Commandant... 1
102 102 302 But I wouldn't have been able to hear your story if you hadn't. 103 No, Bianca. You totally made the right choice. 105
103 103 204 1 7
104 104 107 301 Bianca Is that all you really care about? 1
105 105 204 1 8
106 106 301 Bianca ... 1
107 107 204 1
108 108 302 You might have more experience acting on your own. 109
109 109 302 But we're a team now. 110
110 110 301 When one of us messes up, the other can help to right the wrong.
111 111 301 When one of us finds it difficult to move forward, the other can give a helping hand.
112 112 301 And when one of us can't see the path ahead, the other can help show a different path.
115 115 301 Bianca I really should stop thinking about what I'd do if I were on my own. 1
116 116 301 Bianca Because things are different now... than they were before. 1
117 117 204 1 3
118 118 301 Bianca I might have had to deal with a lot of things on my own back then, but having you right here with me now... 1
119 119 204 1 1
120 120 301 Bianca I guess I can just safely let all that go. 1
121 121 302 Glad you've come around, Bianca. 122
122 122 302 Alright, let's keep moving. 123
123 123 202 1 1
124 124 401 2 1514
125 125 301 It's only when you've taken your first step into the knee-deep snow that it finally dawns on you what you're up against.
126 126 301 The polar suit you're in shields you from the wind and snow for the most part, but the icy air still manages to make its way up your torso through the unshielded parts of your body.
127 127 301 Normally, a trip through such a snowstorm would be a one-way trip to hell...
128 128 301 Because the trip—although only a few kilometers at best—is now a few more times as taxing as it would have been.
129 129 301 Fortunately, however, you're not alone.
130 130 301 Whenever you feel like you're about to reach the end of your rope, Bianca would be right next to you to hold your hand...
131 131 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Her hands are not only reassuring, but also come with such determination that they seem to be able to melt the coldest of winters.
133 133 301 AniZhuanchangEnd After trekking for what seems like an eternity, you see Bianca stop in her tracks in front of you.
134 134 201 1 500533
135 135 301 1 Bianca We're here, Commandant. 1
136 136 301 Casting light with the torch that comes with your polar suit, you see what stands before you—a long-abandoned research station.
137 137 301 Bianca How are you feeling? Is everything okay? 1
138 138 302 Doing just fine. 139 Think I'm almost at the end of my rope here... 141
139 139 204 1 1
140 140 143 301 Bianca That's great... Please wait here. I'll quickly go and see if this building is safe. 1
141 141 204 1 5
142 142 301 Bianca You need to rest as soon as possible... Please hang in there. I'll quickly go and see if this building is safe. 1
143 143 401 2 743
144 144 202 1 1
145 145 301 Bianca pushes the door open with her longsword in hand. Moments later, the door is pushed open again.
146 146 201 1 500533 1
147 147 301 1 Bianca All clear, Commandant. I didn't pick up on the Punishing Virus or any life form here. 1
148 148 301 Bianca We can stay here until the snowstorm passes. 1
149 149 302 Sounds like a plan. 150
150 150 202 1 1
151 151 301 Prior to the Golden Age, humans established a number of facilities for scientific exploration in Antarctica and even entertained the idea of building a city here.
152 152 301 But after humans left for Babylonia, most of the research stations previously built were deserted—and even with the deployment of Babylonia's expedition in the region, only a handful of the deserted research stations begin to operate again as bases.
153 153 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Those that remain deserted have since become reminders of a period of time when humans still admired the spirit of discovery and were audacious enough to want to conquer Antarctica—and temporary shelters for those coming here down the road.
159 159 301 AniZhuanchangEnd As soon as you push the door open, all the dust that has been sitting inside over the years drifts up and hits you straight in the face, causing you to cough.
161 161 301 With the electricity cut off, the lights and heaters are no longer operational. Devoid of mattresses and other household items—and made worse by the dark night and snow out there—the room comes across as eerily empty.
162 162 301 The building itself, however, is structurally sound as it was built in accordance with the strictest of standards back then. While whistles of wind can be heard here and there, the place overall makes for a wonderful temporary shelter nonetheless.
163 163 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Ready to spend the night here, you and Bianca set up the tent and beds.
165 165 301 AniZhuanchangEnd You brought the tent because it's inflatable and portable, but you only brought one single heater along to make it easier for you to travel on foot.
166 166 301 To keep both of you warm, you and Bianca nestle as closely as you can and lie down next to each other.
167 167 301 To keep your limbs warm, the two of you turn to face each other.
168 168 201 1 500533
169 169 301 1 Winds whizz away beyond the dark drapes of night. With the light from the heater, you can see Bianca staring back at you with her eyes...
170 170 301 Her eyes—a bluish yellow—are redolent of gems hidden under a sheet of ice, waiting to be discovered by treasure hunters.
171 171 204 1 1
172 172 301 Bianca Ha... 1
173 173 301 She laughs softly.
174 174 302 What's the matter? 175
175 175 204 1 3
176 176 301 Bianca This sure is a first... 1
177 177 301 Bianca This is not the first time I've had to spend the night outside a conservation area for a mission. 1
178 178 301 Bianca But I've never had to do this... with someone else. 1
179 179 301 Bianca I'm actually feeling something funny on the inside. 1
180 180 302 It takes some getting used to. 181
181 181 204 1 8
182 182 301 Bianca Uhm... is that so? 1
183 183 301 She says as she closes her eyes.
184 184 204 1 1
185 185 301 Bianca Please hold your hand out, Commandant. 1
186 186 301 Bianca holds out her own hand as she suddenly asks of you.
187 187 301 Bianca I'll be able to monitor your body temperature and heartbeat when sleeping if we keep our hands together. 1
188 188 302 Do we really have to do this...? 189 Sure. 194
