Stand Up and Walk

Dirty Plans

"Can't focus; my body is still puzzled about what to do. I'm trembling; I can't stop even if I try to control myself. Although neither sun nor moon are on my side, I've got no choice but to try... Those were the words I muttered to myself. The odds aren't on my side, but running away would be weakness. Even if I can't see the future, I'll just have to win it over with courage. I need to keep distance from the targets as I hold myself back. All that's needed for victory is pride to win! Will we celebrate with the wine of victory? Or will we end up kissing their feet in defeat? There are two outcomes to everything... I want to control destiny! I need to seize this golden opportunity with my hands! I'll finish it up with my best poker face, and drag them into a world of illusions. I'll find my way out of this endless pressure game, and leap over the borderline of honor. How many? What will I need to sacrifice to make it happen? What's the one thing I don't want to let go of?"

—Sukima Switch, Golden Time Lover

※※※

As it turns out, "the Briggs way" is to chuck your enemies outside in the snow to freeze to death.

At least, that's what you've gathered so far, standing at the edge of the balcony outside, the wind roaring across your cheeks, staring down at the frozen silhouette of the giant who'd attacked the compound.

It'd been tough to get the creature outside—the full force of three tanks had barely been enough to move him once he dug his feet into the ground—but finally, you'd succeeded, dousing the beast in a special chemical mixture that reacted with the cold air outside. Then, Armstrong launched him off the edge of the balcony with a well-placed cannonball to the stomach, sending him plummeting to the ground below.

He'd only been able to resist the cold for a few moments, the chemical mixture working quickly. It increased the effects of the cold on anything it touched, working quickly to turn the huge beast into a frozen statue in the tundra below. He'd thrashed against the chill, his movements becoming slower and slower, smaller and smaller, until finally, he'd fallen perfectly still, toppling over into a stiff heap of meaty muscle.

You lean out over the edge of the bent railing, squinting your eye against the blinding snow. After making sure the beast is good and truly frozen, you turn over your shoulder with a triumphant grin.

"Nice job, guys!" you cheer, smiling up at the boys, as well as Captain Buccaneer and General Armstrong. "We did it!"

But the woman does not look happy. You blink, and the next thing you know, you're being slung over Buccaneer's shoulder, the huge man dragging Ed and Al along behind him down the hallway.

You push yourself up, staring up at the woman in disbelief. "Wait, what?!" you shout, trying to squeeze your way out of his arms. You thrash in the man's vice grip, beating your fists across his back, fighting to free yourself. "You put me down! What's going on?! You—!"

"Buccaneer," the woman calls out, not bothering to look back over her shoulder as she strides away, her heels clicking on the tile; "Lock them up!"

Lock us up...? you think to yourself, stunned.

...For what?!

※※※

Cold.

It's so cold.

You shiver, curling up your toes and rolling over, sleep not yet fully relinquishing its hold on you. Your eye is still shut tight as you begin to ball yourself up to conserve some heat.