Jiro dashes down a hallway on the Avean base!





He skids to a halt-- there's a small squad down the hall!

  Avean Captain
There he is! Get him!!


Jiro breaks away through a door on his left.

  Avean Captain
Don't let him get away!!




Through the door is the xenobiology labs with the angels in holo-cages. Jiro sneaks behind the cages as the squad searches the room.

  Avean Captain
He's in here somewhere... keep looking.

  Avean Grunt
On it, Cap.

  Avean Grunt
We won't let you down.


A voice emerges from a holo-cage Jiro's hiding behind. It's the harpy angel, writing runes with their claw on the forcefield walls surrounding them.

Ahhh, the boy. You've returned!
Where the roads converge.



What a sight I see, a familiar face.
Can you the say the same?

—Jiro—
...
→Would you keep it down
Hey I do remember you actually

Of course. Quiet.
The salvation of fools.

Nestle silent in the glass as the sand falls around us.

—Jiro—
........

Ahh, a withering glare!

You've not forgotten your voice, have you?

  Avean Grunt
This side's clear, Captain!


—Jiro—
...
→Please stop talking
You're going to get me caught, you idiot

You still have it with you.

You can still cry out.

—Jiro—
...
I think crying out right now would be a great way to get utterly busted
If you're going to prattle on at least have something useful to add
→Hold on... are you talking about...?


He takes out something from his pocket -- the communicator Mercy gave him.

A prayer for our lady!
A hymn to her vindication.

—Jiro—
...
"Our lady" being Mercy, huh?
I do need help
Calling in Mercy might cause more trouble than it's worth...
→I guess I don't have a choice
I'm getting the hang of how you talk, angel

You don't?

I must have been mistaken.

I could have sworn
you made a choice
every time you opened your mouth.



Jiro looks back at the communicator screen. There's two options in the contacts list. One is 'Major Nao Mercy'. The other is 'do nto call'.




The pathway must not diverge, then.




He considers his options.




That shaded wood... just a trickery?




He selects 'do nto call'.














  ???
Mercy!?
What is it now.
What more could you possibly want from me?

—Jiro—
...
Didn't mean to bother you, I'll hang up
→Sorry, who are you?
I'm not Mercy

  ???
What??

The communicator crackles and peaks, as though the machinery itself is surprised.

  Cliff Mason
This is Cliff Mason speaking, who is this!?