Part 6: "A Betrayal"

34 hours after Andrea's team went missing.
There is now 1 hour and 17 minutes left until the lost team reaches the 36-hour threshold of dangerous exposure.
Moldir: Keep low, Mr. Fairchild.
The squirrel has no choice but to bury his colorful tail in a snowbank.
Buddy Fairchild: Sure wish I was like one o' them color-changin' octopuses ... then I could just show up in Antarctica and poof—blend right in like sugar in a salt shaker!
Buddy Fairchild: You know, Lieutenant, Brother Jake freezes fish like this—catches 'em and sticks 'em straight into the snow. Just like that.
Moldir: ... Frozen fish?
Buddy Fairchild: If we make it outta this, I'll be sure to have ya try it.
Moldir: Watch out!
A snowbank explodes under the shockwave of an arcane skill. Luckily, Moldir scoops up the squirrel just in time.
Buddy Fairchild: Oh my stars ...
Manus Believer: ㄕˊ　ㄇㄜ˙　ㄖㄣˊ　ㄗㄞˋ　ㄋㄚˋ　ㄌㄧˇ
Moldir: ...
Moldir: Andrea?!
Andrea: Lieutenant. Thank goodness.
Moldir: Andrea ... your face ...
Buddy Fairchild: He's wearin' one o' them masks!
Moldir: I see it ... I see.
Andrea: You've awoken too, haven't you, Lieutenant?
Andrea: The Mother of Resurrection's call grows stronger here. I've already passed the trial.
Andrea: Join us, Lieutenant.
Moldir: Andrea ...!
Buddy Fairchild: Now wait just a second ... you two know each other?!
Andrea: All of it was a lie. A mistake. Twisted truths—!
Andrea: You've all been deceived. All things are lies and falsehoods ... except for THEM. Only the Mother of Resurrection holds the truth!
Moldir: Where are the others? Where's David?
Andrea: David?
Andrea: He has not yet passed the trial. But I'll soon help him.
Andrea: I'll help everyone. The Mother will save us all! Don't you want the truth, Lieutenant? The truth for arcanists like us?
Moldir: You betrayed us, Andrea.
Andrea: Come with me! David will be safe once he joins the Mother. THEY will heal him!
Andrea: They're all blind to the lies. They don't understand! We arcanists have no future unless we embrace the Mother of Resurrection!
Andrea: THEY are the true power in this world! Even Admiral Igor realized that. That's why we left Zeno in the first place—
A wisp of smoke curls from the barrel of Moldir's gun. Andrea stares at the steaming hole in the snow near his feet, stunned.
Moldir: That was a warning. I won't miss next time.
The lieutenant's chest heaves with rapid breaths.
Moldir: You betrayed your honor and everything you believed in.
Buddy Fairchild: You left Zeno?!
Moldir: ...
Buddy Fairchild: Now you wait just a hot minute, Lieutenant! I believe you owe me an explanation! How come yer best buds with this "mask man," huh?
Moldir: Things have not gone as intended.
She looks straight at the mask on Andrea's face. Thick, black fluid oozes from his eye sockets, like the tears of a true believer kneeling before their god.
She closes her eyes for a moment.
Moldir: Mr. Fairchild, listen to me. I will explain all of this. Just ... not now.
More Manus believers start to close in.
Moldir: We need to fall back. There's a weak spot in the encirclement to the rear left. You lead the way.
Buddy Fairchild: Whoa, whoa, whoa—just hold yer horses for a dang minute! I don't know my bee-hind from a biscuit right now! Are you two on the same team or not?!
Moldir: On the count of three. I need you to guide us out.
Moldir: One.
Andrea: Even after witnessing a miracle with your own eyes, you still won't believe?
Moldir: What I believe in is those I care for. Not some supposed god. I've already found someone I trust with my life.
Andrea: Even if he's already bowed before the divine?
The lieutenant shakes her head firmly. There is not a hint of doubt behind it.
Moldir: Three.
She scoops up the squirrel and darts through the gap in the circle. A blast of arcane energy erupts at her heels, staining the white of the ice field.
Thanks to her "Antarctic survival expert," they give the Manus believers the slip and make it back to the rendezvous point.
Sergeant White Gloves: Lieutenant, any updates?
Moldir: Bad news first. We haven't found David yet, but we know where he might be.
Sergeant White Gloves: I thought you said it was bad news.
Moldir: It gets worse. I found the rest of Andrea's team.
Sergeant White Gloves: And that's bad news ...? He was a good soldier, loyal and courageous. What happened?
She takes a deep breath, searching for the right words. But the squirrel, thumping the ground with his back foot in frustration, doesn't hold back.
Buddy Fairchild: Nuttin' "happened," pal! Turns out yer loyal soldier's livelier 'n ever—'cept for the creepy mask, oil leakin' from his face, and the small matter that he's gone plumb crazy!
Sergeant White Gloves: A mask? No. That's impossible.
Despite his denial, his pale face betrays him.
Moldir can't find the words to reassure him. All she has to offer is a long and heavy sigh.
Moldir: That's the thing ...
Sergeant White Gloves: Was it just Andrea? Or are there ... others?
Moldir: It seems they were all with him except for David. I don't know whether he's safe ... but apparently, he hasn't passed their so-called "trial."
Sergeant White Gloves: Then there's still time to save him. We need to take action, Lieutenant.
Moldir takes a steadying breath, bracing against the sergeant's growing intensity.
Moldir: Calm yourself, Sergeant. We need a solid plan first—this is about doing right by David. We won't get a second chance.
Sergeant White Gloves: ...
Sergeant White Gloves: You're right, Lieutenant.
Moldir: Don't give in to frustration, Sergeant ... we still have plenty of moves to make; we just need to know the lay of the land.
Sergeant White Gloves: Understood.
The sergeant collects himself, offers a salute, and then departs.
Now, only the lieutenant and her still furious fuzzball of a companion remain.
Buddy Fairchild: I been near tearin' my tail off for waitin'! Now it's my turn to get some answers.
Buddy Fairchild: That was terrifyin'! And plain sneaky to boot, Lieutenant. I still can't barely wrap my noggin 'round it.
Buddy Fairchild: So what is it? Ya with them oil spewers or not?
Moldir's breath catches. Her first response is pure reflex.
Moldir: We're not with them.
Buddy Fairchild: I sure do hope that's true, Lieutenant. I ain't so certain I could look at ya the same way otherwise.
Buddy Fairchild: I figured we were on the same side. That we were pals.
Buddy Fairchild: And I wanna believe it still. But the way I see it, you two were havin' one heck of a chat back there.
It's rare to see Moldir look this shaken, perhaps not since the downpour in São Paulo.
She tries, in vain, to offer an explanation.
Moldir: It was just ... a temporary cooperation. To save lives.
Buddy Fairchild: Dagnabbit.
Buddy Fairchild: I knew you two were too chummy!
Moldir: I'm sorry.
Moldir: I never meant to deceive you. I just ... never found the right time.
Buddy Fairchild: Well, you said it, Lieutenant—deception, clear and simple! But Buddy Fairchild ain't no fool. I knew ya were pullin' the wool over my eyes—weren't no doubt about it.
Buddy Fairchild: We fought side by side, and you done a good turn for me and mine. Didn't ya even have one moment where ya thought you oughta tell me the truth?
Moldir blinks. Her lashes flutter against the stinging wind.
Buddy Fairchild: Like, how 'bout right from the get-go?!
Buddy Fairchild: Coulda shot me a quick "Hey Buddy, sorry, but we gotta work with these creepy oil-leakin' mask guys for a bit to save some folks!"
Buddy Fairchild: Then maybe—just maybe—I woulda understood!
Moldir: I think ... it wasn't because I didn't trust you. It's just ...
She tries to purse her lips, but the cold air has left them stiff and chapped.
Moldir: I still haven't accepted it myself.
The treasured photo presses against her chest. She closes her eyes and sees a flicker of orange flame in the dark.
Moldir: I didn't tell you because I couldn't accept it. I was ashamed. Even if that shame went against the orders I was given ...
Moldir: I ... I'm sorry.
Buddy has seen many an apology over the years, most of them good for nothing. This one, though—it touches somewhere deep.
Buddy Fairchild: ...
Buddy Fairchild: I accept your apology, Lieutenant—but this is the end of our arrangement.