Moldir: Eliminate all hostiles.
Moldir: Find Lopera and Dr. Dores!
Following the admiral's orders, Moldir has followed the tracker button's signal to the manor.
But she has arrived too late. What remains of the Brotherhood have no desire to fight. They scatter, putting a swift end to the gunfire.
The blood-splattered sugarcane field burns, and amidst the smoke and blood, Moldir searches for the doctor and her sister.
Just as the chapel collapses, Lopera makes it through the front door.
Lopera: Huh? Where have the Brotherhood guards gone?
Neither Duncan nor the Brotherhood guards greet her.
Lopera: Oh, Molly!
Moldir: Pera! Thank goodness this tracker button still works. What happened in the chapel?
Lopera: I had a fight with Santos, but he got away. Weren't you supposed to go to the Veterans' Residence?
She flashes a brief, bittersweet smile. This is still a victory, albeit an imperfect one.
Moldir: Rescuing the doctor is our top priority now.
Doctor Dores sits on the muddy ground, cradling her typewriter.
Moldir: I'm so glad to see you safe, Doctor.
Moldir: Great job, Pera. Let's head back to the base with Dr. Dores.
Lopera: What about the Timekeeper?
Moldir: She's on a new mission assigned by the Foundation. It's got nothing to do with us.
Moldir: Father wants me to bring you and the doctor back to the base as soon as possible.
Lopera: What do you mean? Why the sudden change of plan? What's going on here?
No one told her about this.
Moldir: Just come already. We're evacuating São Paulo.
Evacuating? Since when was this the plan?
Lopera: Evacuating? To where?
Moldir: Just follow your orders, Lopera.
Lopera: ...
Moldir: The admiral sent me to pick you up.
Lopera: Then why didn't he tell me any of this?
Moldir: I-I don't know! I'm sure he has his reasons!
In her hurry, she presents a reason her sister cannot argue with.
Recognizing her hastiness, Moldir sighs.
Moldir: sigh Fine. We're heading south.
Moldir: To Tierra del Fuego. They've made preparations for us. Come on, Pera, come with us.
Moldir: You, me, Father, Ptolemy, everyone. We'll all be there.
Lopera: Everyone? Why didn't anyone tell me about this?
Moldir: Because ... sigh Pera, you can ask questions later. We don't have much time.
Lopera knocks away her sister's extended hand, taking two steps back.
Lopera: No. Why are we going to Tierra del Fuego?
Lopera: And why are we running out of time?
Lopera: What are you planning to do?
Lopera: Who's waiting for you in Tierra del Fuego?
She grips the revolver on her side.
She hesitates, fear and confusion flashing across her face.
Her gun is safe. Her gun is reliable. As long as she holds it, she won't be hurt.
She pulls it from its holster and slowly raises the barrel to her sister. With a final crash of thunder, rain starts to pour.
Lopera: Who's behind all this? That jerk, Ptolemy?
Moldir: No. Father gave these orders.
Moldir unbuckles her holster, reaching for her own gun.
Lopera: Don't move!
Moldir: Come on, Lopera. Lower your gun.
The handgun slips from its holster and falls to the ground. Moldir spreads her hands in a show of friendship—of sisterhood.
Moldir: Father needs the doctor. We need her.
Moldir: Bring her back to the base and come with us to Tierra del Fuego.
Lopera: Why? What're you going to do in Tierra del Fuego?
Moldir: Seize the future, a future for all arcanists.
Moldir: Father has embraced the Preacher's promise.
Lopera: ...
Lopera: Manus Vindictae.
A betrayal she had never imagined.
Lopera: No. My family are not traitors.
Not in the past, not now, not ever.
A hunter never willingly becomes the prey she once pursued.
Moldir: Look, you don't have to do anything for them if you don't want to.
She tries to explain, but she can't even look her sister in the eye.
Moldir: Just come with us. Come home.
Home.
That single word makes Lopera waver.
Moldir: Forgive me, Pera.
COMBAT
Taking advantage of Lopera's moment of hesitation, Moldir launches an attack.
As they wrestle, Lopera pulls the trigger, the bullet shooting into the sky and startling a flock of birds.
Finally, Moldir wrestles the gun from Lopera's hand and knocks her to the ground. She lies there, winded and in pain.
Lopera: Pa ... Why is he doing this?
The pain is the least of her problems. She simply can't understand how things have ended up this way.
Moldir: For the good of us all, Pera.
Moldir: Consider your mission complete, I'll take over from here.
Moldir: Thank you for your service, Comrade Lopera.
Several Zeno soldiers, returning from their sweep of the manor, arrive at the lieutenant's side.
Zeno Soldier: What's going on?
Moldir: I'll handle this.
Moldir: Take the blind lady and retreat. Make sure she's safe.
The doctor offers no resistance, weakly surrendering to fate as she's taken once again.
Moldir looks down at her fallen sister, her gaze cold.
Moldir: I am sorry it has to end this way.
She raises her gun, aiming at her cherished sister.
Moldir: Farewell, Pera.
The rain grows heavier. Lopera's soaked body lies in the mud.
Mr. Duncan: Crap! Has something gone wrong?
Mr. Duncan: Wait a minute. What's going on here?!
He pauses at the echoing of the gunshot and scans his surroundings.
Mr. Duncan: Zeno soldiers?
Mr. Duncan: What are they doing here?
As an experienced soldier, he knows not to act rashly.
In the distance, a young female officer leads the soldiers and Doctor Dores away, but there's no sign of Lopera.
Mr. Duncan: That's the doctor, isn't it?
Mr. Duncan: Why isn't Lopera with them?
Duncan cautiously makes his way to the chapel to search for her.
The rain comes and goes.
Lopera: Tranquilizer bullet.
Lopera: Urgh, I see.
As the effects of the tranquilizer wear off, Lopera can feel her soaked clothes sticking to her.
She sees the tracker button. It's been destroyed. Moldir's bullet must have smashed it.
Lopera: It's shattered.
Moldir's aim is as sharp as hers. They truly are sisters.
She grips the fragments in her palm, trying in vain to piece them back together.
But the rain washes them away.
Lopera: Pa ...
First her biological father, now her adoptive one.
Betrayal. Rejection.
Lopera: How long have you been planning this?
There is no answer save for a crash of thunder.
She has no one but herself.
Lopera: Am I really the only one who knew nothing about it?
Did her siblings know?
Did everyone else in her family know?
Lopera: Was I ever actually accepted into this "family"?
The bitter thought burns in her chest like fire.
Lopera: ...
She forces herself up, her arms shaking as she heaves her body upright.
Tears, rain—they both become one.
Lopera: I have to tell the Timekeeper.
Lopera: Crap!
She pounds the ground, splattering her fist with mud.
...
From the shadows of the trees, a familiar figure emerges.
It's Duncan. He's running over to her.
Mr. Duncan: Lopera!
Finally, some good news.
Lopera: Duncan! You're okay! We have to hur—
She tries to stand, but her legs give way, and she collapses again.
Mr. Duncan: What happened? Why did your men leave you here all alone?
He supports the weakened Lopera. She gives him a sad smile.
Lopera: Hurry back to the Residence. It's Igor ... He...
She can't bring herself to finish the sentence.
The sky clears, and the heat of the blazing sun washes over them once more.