Mercy's feet hit the ground with a crash.





She releases Jiro and Polyta. They are in a dark place, in the bowels of the facility.

  Major Mercy
We need to keep moving. The Aveans will be down here any minute now.

—Polyta—
First. You tell us who you are, and why we should follow you.

  Major Mercy
You're wasting time.

—Polyta—
It's not a complex question.

  Major Mercy
...
My name is Major Nao Mercy. Last of the United Human Military.
You're going to follow me because I'm the only one left who can protect you.
Satisfied?

—Jiro—
Satisfied!? You just tried to murder our friend!

  Major Mercy
Your friend!?

—Polyta—
The scientist! She was our... contact on the inside.
She was planning our escape.

  Major Mercy
The Avean? You must be joking.
It was only a matter of time before she put the knife in your back.
Now MOVE!

They hurry along behind her, whispering to each other as they do. Mercy leads them through piles of rubble and scrap.

—Polyta—
...Be ready to run if I give the signal.

—Jiro—
...
You don't like her either, huh?
I forgot you were actually smart
→Why not run right now?

—Polyta—
Bad position. And she's not wrong that the guards are going to be on our tail. I don't want to take them on alone.
We'll play along for now.







They walk onward.

—Polyta—
Where are you taking us, Major?

  Major Mercy
There's a disused maintenance tunnel deep inside this facility. Leads us out of the research complex.
The Aveans forgot it's even there.
We go through that, we can get you into a Civilian Sector. The military presence there is weak. Plenty of places to hide out.

—Jiro—
...
When you say "disused" do you mean "at risk of collapse"
Bring back Sunny I'm okay with the crate plan now
→How will we get home from there?
Are we just going to live here from now on???
Maybe that's not so bad...

  Major Mercy
You don't get it, do you?

Mercy leads them down a hall that is beginning to glitch out.

  Major Mercy
You don't have a home anymore. The Aveans took that from us. They--
...
What.

She discovers, to her shock, that the door she was leading them to now goes to a totally different location!! It now leads to Hellfuck instead of the tunnel she expected. She sees now a collection of sawblades and spikes and very small platforms suspended over a pool of lava. It is blatantly and totally untraversible.

  Major Mercy
WHAT!!??

—Polyta—
Oh. This looks like the place we came out of.

—Jiro—
...
Looks like a lategame challenge. One of the optional ones.
Maybe the Lake of Searing Flame? I was saving that for a rainy day.
→I don't think we're going to be getting through that
Hm... can either of you walljump?

  Major Mercy
Wh-- there-- there used to be a TUNNEL here!!

—Polyta—
Maybe there's a way around? Or another portal nearby? It could be a valid path home...

  Major Mercy
It was just-- what the HELL is this!?
WHAT!!??

—Jiro—
...
Literally one thing has gone wrong
You're sooooo good in a crisis. I feel very protected right now.
→Tell me you had a backup plan

  Major Mercy
Shit. SHIT!

—Polyta—
Major...

  Major Mercy
Back the way we came!
GO!!