Counter Attack

Counter Attack is the sixth act in Chapter 002 of the Zenless Zone Zero storyline.
==Dialogue==
===Cunning Hares' Cunning Plans===
:: The Vision Corporation is planning something so awful...
:: So you want us to go back with you and save Nicole and the others?
:: I know it's not very nice of me to say this about the Cunning Hares, but as a professional Proxy, I have to warn you of the danger in getting involved.
:: Going against the Vision Corporation is no joke. You can still choose to look out for yourself.
:Nekomata: There's nothing to discuss. I'm going back.
:: Ha, I'm not being serious, luckily.
:: But enough talk. Let's leave right now.
After making up her mind, Nekomata enters the Dead End Hollow again under the watchful guidance of Phaethon. The goal is to reach the construction area in the shortest time and meet up with the Cunning Hares.
Meanwhile, the citizens over in the construction area slowly gathered together as they heard rumors of their impending rescue...
:Anby, I collected all the authorization forms!
:Anby: Thanks.
:We should be saying thank you to the Cunning Hares for staying behind...
:At least now we have some hope... Even if this is the end.
:Anby: Don't worry... I won't let anything like that happen again.
:Again...? I don't know what happened, but I think you're cool Anby!
:If I didn't plan on joining the Red Fang Gang, I'd stick with you!
:Anby: You want to join the Red Fang Gang... Why?
:No real reason. We've been abandoned by the rest of the world, haven't we? But the Red Fang Gang never gave up on us.
:They may have collected more and more money over the years... But it's not because they want to, they have their superiors to answer to.
:If we don't give enough money the Red Fang Gang will send someone else. If the new guy asks for even more, we'd have been better off with the first guy.
:And they do a lot of good too, like take in orphans and teach them to be gang officers.
:My brother-in-law beats me and my sister every day. When he dies, I'll be an orphan... When that happens, I'll join the Red Fang Gang to protect my sister!
Not long after.
:Nicole: Anby, you're back? Did you get the authorization forms?
:Anby: They're all here.
:Nicole: Why do you look so worried? You don't believe Nekomata will come back?
:Anby: No, I believe her... She'll definitely come back.
:Nicole: Interesting. When did you guys start trusting each other? Billy is so moved he's crying~
:Billy: I'm not!
:Nekomata: If Nicole says you're crying then you are~
:Billy: Client lady! That Bangboo you're holding is... ! You're here!
:Nicole: Billy's gonna cry again.
:Anby: He already is.
:Billy: I'm not crying!
: Enough messing around.
: Nekomata, what's the situation?
Once the joy of catching up subsided, Nekomata filled everyone in on the details.
:Nekomata: ...So that's it. Nicole, what should we do?
:Nicole: It's tricky. What does think?
: We'll just have to take it step by step.
: We have to get the explosives and mercenaries out of here first.
:Billy: Wait, so if I understood correctly, we're going to—
:Nicole: That's right! Enter the Hollow, hijack the train, and use it to get everyone out of the Hollow! Or at least get them out of the blast zone!
:Billy: ...Just us few, against all those mercenaries?
:Anby Don't be scared, the adrenaline will get you through it.
:Billy: I'm not scared! ...And where do you expect me to produce adrenaline from...
:;(New Commission Added - Earlybird Ticket to Safety)
----
The Cunning Hares explain their plan to the trapped citizens in as much detail as possible.
At first, some were too afraid to join, but after a scolding from the brave little girl, all the casualties assembled together near the tracks. Now they just needed the Cunning Hares to fetch a train to get out of there.
:Nicole: Listen up, everyone! Our new goal is to capture a train. Try to avoid enemies as much as possible! Especially that "Dead End Butcher"!
:Nicole: If things drag on too long and Vision sorts out their explosives first, it's game over! Everybody got that?
:Billy: Roger that!
:Anby: Dum, dumdumdum, dum, dumdumdum
:Nekomata: Me-ow? Anby, have you been scared stupid?
:Billy: Nope, I guess she's just humming her own backing track to match the atmosphere. She must have learned it from all those movies...
:Nicole: Alright Anby, could you cut it out. Hey? , are you still there?
:A familiar voice followed the bleeps and bloops of the Bangboo.
:: We're here. The link is working and the signal is stable.
: Leave Anby to her tune!
: Need some help?
:Anby: Ahem. Dum, dum-dumdum —mpffh?
:Nekomata: Quit fooling around! This is serious!
:Nicole: , can you locate the train?
:: Hang on. Let me see...
:Three possible locations have been chosen based on the onboard GPS codes.
:Location coordinates have been updated to your Bangboo database.
:You're welcome.
:Nicole: ? Did you say something?
: We have three possible locations.
:Billy: That was quick! You're awesome, Manager!
:: ...Dammit. Something feels off.
:Nicole: Alright! Let's go!
===Earlybird Ticket to Safety I===
==="...Found it."===
In the Dead End Hollow, on the Vision Corporation's transport train...
:Investigator: Come in, Commander Perlman. The intruders, led by a long pink-haired girl, have caused us some losses.
:Investigator: The good news is we still hold the advantage in terms of numbers and supplies.
:Investigator: They've retreated into a train carriage. Requesting orders. Should we storm the carriage?
:Perlman: ...
:Investigator: Commander Perlman, requesting orders!
:Perlman: Don't storm it! I'm inside! These damned... Ugh, I mean the Cunning Hares have me trapped in here! 
:Perlman: Stand down? Do you hear me? But if I'm harmed, the corporation will hold you all responsible!
:Investigator: Ummm... Ahh...
:Billy: This dude has his uses~
:Anby: They won't make any sudden moves, but we can't go anywhere either.
:Billy: Yeah, this meat shield is only big enough for two or three people...
:Nekomata: ...Hehe...
:Billy: Was it that funny? Felt a little below average to me...
:Nekomata: I happened to find it just now in the fighting.
:Nekomata: —My family's relic.
:Nicole: This is you and the Red Fang Gang...?
:Nicole: I'm not the Red Fang Gang's enemy. I'm here to get revenge on their enemy. That used to be my home.
:Nicole: Or I should say... No matter how disappointed I am with the current Red Fang Gang, it's still the closest thing to a home I've ever had.
:Nicole: After learning the boss died, I vowed to get revenge.
:Nicole: I used my remaining influence with the gang to have you attacked, and used it as a chance to get information.
:Nicole: My original plan was to use you guys to get the residents out...
:Nicole: But I didn't even have a chance to put my plan in place when you guys decided to stay.
:Nicole: You guys can't be bad people. There's no way I can convince myself you deserve to die.
:Nicole: I'm the bad one. I'm ready.
:Nicole: I'll go negotiate with Vision and find a solution.
:Nicole: Don't worry, I have this as leverage, nothing will happen to me.
:Billy: —Miss client! Nekomata! ...Hey, come back!
===Redemption===
:Nicole: ...
:Nicole: ...
:Anby: Nicole, I remember what you said.
:Nicole: What?
:Anby: Frowning gives you wrinkles.
:Nicole: That's it? I've said things more meaningful than that before!
:Anby: You also said— Trust Nekomata.
:Nicole: I do trust her. But I can't help but be angry at her.
:Nicole: We can totally think of a way to deal with this together, but she has to do it all alone...
:Billy: Umm... So what do we do?
:Nicole: ...This time we need to use everyone's strength! We have the legendary Proxy "Phaethon" after all!
: Uhh... Even Proxies have their limits.
: Call a locksmith if you wanna open the door.
:'s voice came through the Bangboo's vocalizer with a beep.
:: Exactly. When the only exit to the Hollow is blocked, how can we get these residents with no aptitude for Ether out...
:: If only there were a way to give all these people Ether aptitude at once! Well then, if the mountain won't come to us, we'll have to go to the mountain—
:Nicole: You mean...?
:Billy: You want to destroy the Dead End Hollow? That's Phaethon for you! Awesome!
:Anby: A fully formed Hollow can't be directly eliminated, at least not by just us, but it can be made smaller. But to collapse the Hollow, Ether-affected individuals inside would have to be drastically reduced.
:Billy: Then there's a chance! We're good at dealing with Ethereals!
:Anby: We can easily take on 3000 of the kind of Ethereals we've met so far.
:Billy: Tchhh—
:Nicole: Whether we can beat them or not is one thing, but who has time to find 3000 of them...
:Under certain conditions, the Ether activity of some larger Ether-affected individuals can reach, or even exceed that of thousands of smaller Ethereals.
:Nicole: Huh? Who's talking?
: —An enthusiastic listener.
: A friend of humanity.
:: Hey, don't talk without permission! ...What do you mean larger individual?
:Billy: You don't mean the "Dead End Butcher" do you? That h-h-huge dude? He's too big, there's no way...
:Billy: Besides, this train we're on is full of explosives! If something goes wrong, I won't get to see Monica tomorrow night!
:Anby: I don't get it. You couldn't see her anyway?
:Billy: ...You really know how to hurt me Anby...
:Nicole: ...I've got it... OK, I've decided! That's what we're gonna do!
:Billy: Seriously?!?
:: So we're agreed? Good, But there's one last problem... How do you wanna get off this train?
:Anby: Get back.
:Nicole: Anby? —Anby! Swinging a blade in such a small space is dangerous!
:The quiet girl drew her weapon, and after making sure her companions were far enough back, she swung her blade at the closed train door.
:The ear-piercing sound of metal on metal rang out, and the indicator light of the train door turned from red to green.
:Anby: Nekomata can open locks. So can I.
:Nicole: I don't think that's quite the same...
:;(Nicole has joined the squad.)
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