Whoever Gave His Life Had a Cross in Exchange

Dango and I fought side by side against a red suit. Compared to the first battle, I was able to keep up better. But they were landing an entire army, and if we were barely holding our own against just this one, how could we possibly face reinforcements?

«Go with Bea!» Dango yelled, parrying a blow with his shield arm, «I won't leave you here!»I replied, attempting a lunge, «Don't fuck with me! Run! Protect her!»

I was torn between my duties. I couldn't abandon him. If I left him here, he'd die. And yet... He was smiling, how could he do that at a time like this?

I turned, ran as fast as I could, and grabbed Beatrice by the wrist. She struggled, screamed, hit me with her new hand, «Stop! Dango's still there! We have to help him!» her voice was desperate, broken, I gripped her tighter, I couldn't let go now, «DANGOOOOOO!!!»

«We can't!» I scream back, my throat tight, but I didn't slow down, I couldn't.

I dragged her with me to the 0 Liwan, enemy vehicles were landing and troops were pouring out like a flood, I lifted Beatrice, ignoring her screams, Punch opened the door for me, I threw Beatrice inside, he got in and closed the door behind him, I quickly got in myself and started the vehicle, Beatrice turned to me abruptly, «We have to go back! Dango needs us!»

«I know what you're thinking, “we'll pick him up on the fly and escape”. But if we get closer, they'll capture us.»

«But…» the 0 Liwan jerked forward...

In the rear-view mirror, I saw Dango's figure getting smaller and smaller...

His last words echoed in my head...

The last thing I saw, before the trees hid him from view, was his body collapsing under the enemy blows...

«NOOOOO!!!» Beatrice screamed, pressing her hands and face against the window. Her cheeks were wet with tears...

…

Silence fell inside the vehicle. Only Beatrice's sobs filled the air. I felt a tightness in my chest that paralyzed my hands on the steering wheel...

Had I made the right choice? If we had stayed... would he still be alive? Maybe we should have gone back to help him. He asked me to go, but I should have refused and stayed. I should have sacrificed myself...

I watched Beatrice cry and her face contort in pain... she clutched her arms to her chest and buried her face in her palms. «It's not fair… it's not fair…» she whispered. Her pain turned my regrets into knives stabbing me.

I wanted to cry like that for him too...

…

I had to be strong. I had to stay focused. I had to do this not just for her, but also for myself. He wanted me to take care of Beatrice... What a fool I was...

«Dango told us, remember? If we have to die, we have to do it proudly in battle, like Vikings and Spartans.»

Beatrice tried to respond, sobbing. She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen. «He shouldn't have done it alone! We should have done it together!»

«I know... But he chose to give us a chance. To save us. And to pass on his will to save the future.»

«You two will never make it.»

We both looked at Punch. I felt something burning in my chest. «What do you mean?!»

Punch tilted his head slightly. «Don't take it personally, but the master was the only one who showed he had the temperament.»

«... So... is it all over?» Beatrice asked, whispering, resigned.

I didn't know what to say to her to cheer her up. It's my fault. It's my fault Dango is dead and Beatrice is suffering...

Maybe... I should take Beatrice back to Vincent, let her live a long and happy life and give myself up...

«Are you done making those miserable faces?»

«What do you want, Punch? You said yourself we have no hope.»

«Yeah, and that's why you're giving up so easily? You need a leader and I know just the one.»

Beatrice lunged at him, grabbing him by the shoulders. «No one can ever replace Dango!»

«I didn't say replace him.» Punch gently pushed her away. «I said we need a leader. Someone who can carry on his will.»

We were silent. The idea was taking shape in our minds.

«... Who would that be?» I finally asked.

«Pierrot?! We can't...»

«... I'm sorry, but we need someone to help us create a better world. For you, for everyone.»

Beatrice looked away. I understood her, I wanted to stop and cry too, but Punch was right. We two couldn't do anything concrete. If I wanted to live in peace with her, together until the end, we needed to find someone to guide us.

«Tell us, Punch, where should we go?»

Punch lit up, almost pleased. «Zanni!»

The answer left me speechless. «But you said he was dead 200 years ago?»

Punch just smiled. «I said we lost him, not that he was dead. They just cut off his head and put it in a container so he couldn't regenerate his body.»

«So, if we freed his head, he would come back to help us?»

«That's right!»

Beatrice looked at him, incredulous. «Do you know where he is?»

«Yes, I followed his captors and kept an eye on them for many years. I even tried to free him a couple of times, but in vain. Today, he's in the industrial city, Muràn.»

«Mu-Muràn?!» exclaims Beatrice. «But it's one of the most important places in the Republic of Venetia. H-How are we going to get in?»

«I…» Punch raised his finger, ready to answer, but stopped. «I don't know. But somehow we'll manage.»

An idea formed in my mind. «Maybe there's a way... The city is built partly on stilts. We could go under, through the water..»

«How are we going to go underwater? This 0 Liwan model can't do that.»

«It can now.»

«Even if it can now become a submarine, the capital is nearby, they won't see us approaching?»

«We'll move under the cover of night and keep the lights off.»

Punch started jumping up and down, clapping. «Yes! Yes! It's a great plan, let's do it! Let's save Zanni!»

I looked at Beatrice. «Are you up for it?»

Without hesitation, she nodded. «Mh, let's do it!» She looked straight at me in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were steady and gave me energy.

I gripped the steering wheel, my heart heavy, but determined. For Beatrice. For Dango.