Cliff Mason
Coral is missing!!?

Polyta wearily explains the situation to a shocked Cliff. She's leaning on at her wooden table, poring over a map in her war tent.

—Polyta—
I'm sorry to say so, but yes.

  Cliff Mason
No, no, how could that happen!?

—Polyta—
We were engaged in a negotiation in enemy territory. She insisted on it.
Unfortunately, the talks took a turn for the worse.
Rest assured she is accompanied by one of our most accomplished warriors, and we--

  Cliff Mason
I've heard enough.
I'm going in.

—Polyta—
You're-- right now?
I'm afraid I can't allow that.

  Cliff Mason
I'm not about to stand by while someone I've sworn to protect needs my help.
Where is she?

—Polyta—
Cliff, I respect your commitment to your duty, but I can't jeopardize our operations already underway!

  Cliff Mason
Damn it, Polyta, Coral is in danger and I can do something about it!

—Polyta—
The best thing you can do is to stand down and--

Nix bursts in and immediately starts yelling.

CLIFF MASON!!!

  Cliff Mason
Oh-- do I know you??

—Polyta—
Nix, could you please give us a moment?

This is exactly what we need!!!

We can send in Cliff Mason and undo everything that went wrong!!

—Polyta—
This is not so simple!

  Cliff Mason
Isn't it!?
Whatever is happening here, I-- I have it in me to help. You have to let me help!

We can bring back Coral and Helen!
This solves everything!!

  Cliff Mason
You just gotta give me a chance!
I can do this! I need to do this!

—Polyta—
Goddess help me--!!

Polyta grits her teeth and lets her face fall into her hand.


—Polyta—
...it's like dealing with another Mercy...



Cliff hears this like a church bell three feet from his head.



  Cliff Mason
M-- Mercy?




Cliff reflexively turns away. Polyta lays her hands against the table and tries to talk honestly and plainly.

—Polyta—
Cliff... I'm sorry. It's been a stressful time, and I don't mean to snap.
It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, because I do. We just need... some time, to figure out how to fit your assistance in with what we already have underway.
This is a delicate situation, but I can promise you, we will find an opportunity to accept your help...

  Cliff Mason
No, yeah, I. Sure. I fully understand. You need a minute.
I'm. I can be reasonable.

What!?
No, no, we need to strike now!

—Polyta—
Nix, please...

You don't get it!!!
Cliff Mason is an unstoppable killing machine, he can go toe to toe with Proteus' entire army and live, he could get Helen and Coral back easily all on his own and it wouldn't even be hard for him, we need to send him in as soon as we can so he can defeat the enemy so thoroughly that they



  Cliff Mason
Hey, hey! Girl, I'm not--
I'm not just a killing machine.












Nix looks up at Cliff with a little giddy grin.



Yes you are.








Rilly throws open the tent entrance and strikes a cutesy pose to announce her presence!

—Rilly—
Hello, girlies!!!
Oh, hi again, Cliff!

—Polyta—
Rilly! Is everything okay?

—Rilly—
Juuuust peachy!
I just got a feeling in my skin like things were getting a little gloomy in here.
Sounds like we could all use a break, huh?

—Polyta—
Ah... tempted as I may be by the offer...

—Rilly—
I knowww, you're a busy lady...
But hey, Cliff! You're from that other world, right?

  Cliff Mason
Uh... sort of?

—Rilly—
Great! Why don't you go show me around a little? I'd love a tour from a local.
And we can bring Nix~! She's been giving it her all these days, I think she's overdue for some R&R.


I don't want it.

—Rilly—
Tooooo bad!!! Hehe!
C'mon, let's give Miss Polyta some peace. She's got a lot of work to do!

  Cliff Mason
Yeah, alright.
Let's go... Nix, was it?

...................
cliff mason is talking to me



As Cliff and Nix leave the war tent, Rilly lingers for a moment. She brushes two fingers against Polyta's hand. Polyta can't help but smile, a little bit.

—Polyta—
Thank you, Rilly.

—Rilly—
Don't mention it!
I'll be back for you later, okay? Even our fearless leader needs to take her breaks~!

—Polyta—
Ahah... I suppose I don't have a choice.
It's a date, then.

—Rilly—
Seeya soon!