<p=1>First District Apartments, Zelgrad</>First District Apartments, Zelgrad
<p=2> Jan 20, 1102, 17:40</> Jan 20, 1102, 17:40
Tonya
......
Tonya
Doing it by day doesn't work. I'll have to...
Enthusiastic Resident
Are you alright, Tonya?
Tonya
Mark? Were you waiting for me?
Concerned Resident
We all saw the way the soldier grabbed you downstairs. Did they throw you in jail again?
Concerned Resident
You shouldn't do this... think of your family.
Concerned Resident
All those things you keep talking about every day, there's no proof at all.
Enthusiastic Resident
Yeah. More importantly, are you hurt? I just came back from the clinic. We'll have to go back if you're injured.
Tonya
I'm fine. Were you at the clinic, Mark? What did Nadezhda say? Is my sister getting better?
Enthusiastic Resident
Her condition's holding stable right now. No need to be too worried.
Tonya
It was my fault for bringing back the work jacket to wash at home. How could I—
Concerned Resident
Let the government folks worry about any strange illnesses. We just take care of ourselves.
Concerned Resident
We'll have a barbecue and celebrate once your sister gets better!
Enthusiastic Resident
Great! I just made sausages!
Concerned Resident
Finally! I haven't had them in ages. I started to miss them my second day here—
Tonya
But I haven't found Kirill yet...
Enthusiastic Resident
See? This is all good stuff. I just cut a couple, and my hands are already all greasy.
Concerned Resident
They'll taste so good cooked in soup. My mouth's already watering...
Tonya
Guys! I haven't seen Kirill for days, and no one answers when I knock on his door. None of you have seen him either, have you?
Tonya
This is no joke! This is no time to relax.
Enthusiastic Resident
...Didn't we already tell you, Tonya?
Enthusiastic Resident
You're pushing yourself too hard.
Tonya
I—
Concerned Resident
Did you forget that Kirill just lost his wife and kid? I guess staying in this place brings back bad memories.
Concerned Resident
Maybe he left Zelgrad and went home.
Concerned Resident
It's unusual that he didn't say goodbye to us, but you can't just assume he's missing, or that it has anything to do with your sister's illness...
Concerned Resident
Surely the police will come if something's not right.
Tonya
Are we just going to pretend that nothing's happening? You saw the strange spots and bruises on Nina—
Enthusiastic Resident
And that's all there is, a little bit of rash. Happens all the time in this environment and weather. A little bit of rest is all it takes.
Enthusiastic Resident
You said it's the clothes of those white coats, but I've been washing the same clothes, and there's nothing wrong with me.
With a smile, he puts a hand on Tonya's shoulder. Faint green spots are visible underneath the tiny hairs.
Tonya jumps, causing the others to look at each other in confusion as she struggles to explain her actions.
Enthusiastic Resident
...Tonya?
Concerned Resident
Well, she's under a lot of stress.
Concerned Resident
Look, Tonya, I know you have our best interests in your hearts, but it's best if you don't talk about those strange things anymore.
Concerned Resident
We're so happy here. Living in Zelgrad is like springtime compared to life elsewhere in Ursus. We should cherish it.
Concerned Resident
We'll go and see Nina tomorrow, then pick up the other kids from school. Have a good meal, drink to your heart's content, and forget all those things, alright?
Night falls, and a stiff silence comes upon the city.
A dark shadow vaults over the wall, arriving at an abandoned warehouse, avoiding the things scattered on the ground on tiptoes.
Tonya
...Good, the stuff's all here.
Tonya
I can't wait. Tomorrow has to be the day—
???
The day for what?
Tonya
—Who's there?!
Tonya
...Who are you... ugh—
Crownslayer
Quiet, unless you want your arm broken.
Tonya
W-Who are you? What do you know?
Tonya
Y-You're interfering with the Reunion! My comrades will have your head!
Crownslayer
......
Crownslayer
Enough bluffing. I've been following you, and I can tell that you and your 'comrades' have nothing to do with the Reunion.
Crownslayer
Five bottles of flammable liquid, a bundle of Originium explosives... the Reunion isn't dumb enough to attack a gate guarded by the First Army with just this.
Tonya
...I didn't think it would defeat them. But what they're doing behind those walls must have something to do with the strange events that have been happening lately.
Crownslayer
So you want to blow a hole in the wall, set a fire, get people's attention.
Crownslayer
You think the things the Army's hiding in the labs will come to light if you make enough of a commotion.
Crownslayer
But these cans and bottles are all the preparation you've made...
Crownslayer
You haven't even investigated what that wall's made of.
Tonya
A wall is a wall! Stone or steel, what else could it be? If it could be made, it could be destroyed.
Crownslayer
You think you can set the explosives under the patrols' noses, when I managed to pin you to the ground by myself?
Tonya
I practiced! I'm prepared!
Crownslayer
Did you practice on location? You think you can deploy and detonate it at a range that they won't find out?
Tonya
You don't understand! You never saw—you don't know that all of Zelgrad is now in danger from some unknown source. I need to get people's attention, even if—
Crownslayer
You still don't understand?
Crownslayer
You're facing the First Army. Fighting them by yourself is futile.
Crownslayer
Your 'comrades' are just ordinary people whose eyes aren't open yet. No one is truly on your side.
Crownslayer
Besides, how can you be sure that the incidents have something to do with the experiments behind the wall? You know the experiments exist, but you have no inkling about the details...
Crownslayer
How do you intend to explain to the people once you've gotten their attention?
Tonya
...At least, I have to make them look up...
Crownslayer
You want them to look. How about we look at the present? Forget your neighbors. Do your closest family fully believe what you're saying?
Excuse me, I have a question... if there are other people on the second floor, while the first floor is the security room and public spaces, where do the rest of us stay?
Anxious Miner
There are three of us who are not yet housed.
Serious Soldier
Can't you squeeze in? Or I could take them to another building.
Serious Soldier
But maybe there'll be room here in a few days...
Calm Youth
(In a few days...?)
Serious Soldier
What's your plan?
The youth exchanges a glance with the miner and shakes head at the soldier.
Sorry, those guys were a pain! Team A should be all present now.
Tardy Worker
Captain Pavel!
The man gives the miner at the front a crooked salute.
Pavel
(Nods)
Calm Youth
Good work, lads.
Pavel
We had been operating according to the original plan, but we realized we had lost contact with your group after we found a good gathering spot. If you didn't find a way to reestablish communication...
Calm Youth
Good thing we had the contingency. What's the current situation here?
Pavel
This location is temporary. The residential layer is connected to the apartments and some districts. Land is at a premium in the satellite city, and this place isn't likely to remain abandoned for long based on the frequency of patrols.
Pavel
We can't stay too long. I have an idea what you're trying to do and I support you, but you should explain it to the others. We'll get this done quickly.
Calm Youth
Alright.
Calm Youth
Everybody, listen up.
Calm Youth
Our primary objective is to ascertain what's going on here, then try to find the Infected who came before us but seem to have gone off the grid.
Calm Youth
Something's clearly off about this place. There is surveillance everywhere. Things are even harder than the last time we entered a nomadic city.
Calm Youth
We still need a few more days to plot the patrol routes, but we already understand that the Infected in the satellite city are separately housed.
Calm Youth
That's the question that I want to discuss—we've passed through many towns and villages, but never before have we seen soldiers patrolling the streets and residences with such frequency.
Perplexed Miner
There were more guards around our apartments than there were on the streets along the way. That alone is suspicious enough.
Calm Youth
Right, that's why I decided to test them while there was still daylight.
we just did a head count, and some people were missing. We were concerned that they might get into trouble wandering around the city.
Nervous Guard
You can't go through here! Give me their names and descriptions, and the Army will find them.
Calm Youth
Wait... I think that's—
Calm Youth
Karl! Is that you, Karl?
The soldier instinctively looks in the direction in which the youth is calling. The seemingly frail figure quickly slips underneath his arm and gets through.
Nervous Guard
Blyat! I need backup! Get that one!
More shouting and the rattling of boots, and the youth is quickly surrounded by a circle of black military uniforms.
Several hands reach out to grab those thin arms, but none of the soldiers pull their weapons, despite their fierce expressions.
That's dangerous! You should tell us before taking such risks.
Calm Youth
Thank you, but the reason I dared to try was that I noticed that the soldiers weren't equipped with lethal weapons.
Calm Youth
And I was right. They seem unwilling to harm me for some reason.
Perplexed Miner
You mean they want to keep an eye on us, but not hurt us?
Perplexed Miner
Sounds like a glorified prison.
Calm Youth
Worse. We have soldiers instead of prison guards, and we know nothing about what the Army's intentions are.
Calm Youth
Perhaps this intention is the reason why they've suddenly opened their doors to the Infected.
Perplexed Miner
Uh—
Hesitant Miner
...I've been talking to the local Infected all afternoon.
Hesitant Miner
They said most of the Infected are under the care of the Army and housed in designated apartments.
Hesitant Miner
Prior to that, however, they were sent to a local clinic, where the doctors don't care whether you're Infected, and accept the factory scrips that only circulate in the industrial districts.
Calm Youth
You mean those paper-thin metal plates that are only seen in this place?
Hesitant Miner
Yes, some of us who came in earlier got it yesterday. Strangely enough, wages here are issued daily...
Hesitant Miner
Anyway, after Zelgrad's recent Infected policies were introduced, everyone assumes that clinic is working with the Army.
Hesitant Miner
Maybe collecting data for them for Oripathy research? If the Army's really holding us like prisoners, then this so-called clinic...
Calm Youth
...I see. Good work.
Calm Youth
The clinic sounds suspicious. We should investigate.
Calm Youth
Go back and prepare, wait for my word. Be discreet when moving weapons.
Have you finished your checks?We'll talk once the room is secure.
Closure
No problems. The room's clean, no surveillance or recording equipment.
Closure
I put jammers by the wall, just in case. It's one-time, but it'll be useful until they find out.
Amiya
The soldiers said the Marshal of the First Army is treating Rhodes Island like VIPs, arranging the best accommodations and heavy security...
Closure
In other words, we're being watched.
Mon3tr
So the soldiers outside the hotel...
Probably here to keep an eye on us.They must be hiding something.
Closure
Yeah, everything feels so eerie here.
Closure
Like that woman who stopped us at the transfer area earlier today!
She was talking about 'dust never seen before that infects people'.
But there are already a lot of Infected living here.
Amiya
Unless... she wasn't talking about Originium dust or Oripathy.
Amiya
If there's another illness that we're not aware of...
Closure
Could it be a new symptom of Oripathy? I remember that Raidian raised a hypothesis in her report about why news of Infected mutation first spread from the Far North.
Closure
Even though we know now that it was likely a ruse by the Grand Duchess, wouldn't those involved have come to the conclusion of Oripathy mutations too?
Amiya
As was the case the last time, we can't jump to a conclusion until we learn more.
Mon3tr
I tried asking questions during the day, but the locals don't want to talk.
Mon3tr
Or rather, they're quite happy to talk, but as soon as you ask whether there has been anything unusual going on, they either ignore the question, or fall silent altogether.
Amiya
The officer who led the way was the same. He reminded me not to have too much contact with the locals.
Amiya
Was it for our own safety, or something else?
Remember the buildings hidden behind the wall?What the Army is trying to hide is probably in the buildings behind the wall.
Mon3tr
The locals don't know what's behind the wall either. It's like an entirely different city to them.
Mon3tr
It's strange. It seems like the First Army's research doesn't rely on the Infected here for labor—why do they do this, then?
Amiya
The open areas of Zelgrad are no different from the average nomadic city. The First Army's research institute must lie behind the wall.
Amiya
Based on the officer's reaction, the letter of safe passage from Chairman Witte isn't enough to get us through that wall.
Amiya
And we've heard nothing from the Marshal who was supposed to welcome us.
Grypherburg has no reason to deceive us.Grypherburg doesn't control the First Army.
Did you notice?
Zelgrad is particularly warm.It's like spring.
Mon3tr
Is that so? I didn't quite feel it.
Amiya
I noticed too... this sort of weather is not normal.
Amiya
Doctor, do you remember about the mysterious new bomb that Hellagur mentioned?
Amiya
It might have something to do with the Sarcophagus... we need more information, and quickly.
Closure
We've got just the right woman for the job—you up for it, Raidian?
Raidian
Yes, I should be able to intercept some of the communications.
Raidian
The code the USSG obtained which Dur-nar sent us is used by large military installations. These facilities often send electrical signals at a specific frequency.
Raidian
What do you think, Doctor?
Try it, Raidian.Be careful.
Raidian
Here we go—
The crack of static electricity echoes through the empty room.
Everyone present has seen Raidian's Arts many times, but they cannot help but hold their breath, watching her furrowed brows and twitching lips.
Mon3tr
(Whisper) Raidian, are you really gonna be okay?
Closure
(Whisper) Trust her, she's master—
Raidian
Ugh—argh!
Raidian barely took a step before stumbling and falling.
Everyone
Raidian—
Amiya
Overload! I brought emergency meds. Hang in there, Raidian!
The night is deathly silent, except for the echoing of orderly footsteps in the distance, magnified by the emptiness.
There was food and clean water in the break room by the sentry post prior to the shift change in the patrols in this district, a perk that other units do not enjoy.
Ever since the Generalik returned to Zelgrad, they occasionally got off an hour or two early, and extra supplies began appearing in the break room, which they were even allowed to bring home to their families.
No one knew why. No one asked, because why would they mess with a good thing while it lasts?
Nor did anyone suspect that the foodstuff had been tampered with. Tonight, someone has made sure that they would not leave the break room for a while after their usual little feast.
Sirka
(Their replacements should appear in four minutes, based on the patrol routes.)
Sirka
(Even if Anatoliy doesn't show up personally, his bodyguards should be here to 'act in his capacity'.)
Have you thought it over? You can talk if you have, or you can join your comrades on the floor.
Panicked Soldier
(Nods frantically)
Sirka
Panicked Soldier
Hff... ha—
Sirka
Was it the Generalik's unit who replaced you today?
Panicked Soldier
I-I've never seen them, I don't know—
Sirka
(Raises hand)
Panicked Soldier
We don't know who takes over the shifts! We get notified to stop at the sentry post, and that someone will take over the next shift, but no one tells us who's taking over.
Panicked Soldier
Although, it will certainly make sense if it was the Generalik...
Sirka
What if it isn't?
Panicked Soldier
Then there should be another unit on patrol, but everyone's schedule is packed, and no one can be in two places at the same time.
Panicked Soldier
Unless there's a unit that's not on the shift schedule—the Generalik's bodyguards.
Sirka
What do you mean?
Panicked Soldier
It could only be his bodyguards. If he doesn't show up personally, his bodyguards would be patrolling on his behalf.
Keep an eye on them. Our people need to be involved in every step. There must be no mistake...
Young Voice
You should understand.
The source of the young voice appears in Sirka's field of vision.
She has never seen the Generalik before, but she is certain that she has found him.
The tyrant of Zelgrad, the only son of the First Army's marshal...
Sirka
(Softly) Anatoliy Svetlanov Buterin.
Gazing upon the malicious visage illuminated by the flickering searchlight, so reminiscent of the Marshal's younger days, Sirka clutches her dagger and hides herself in the darkness.
The guards around her mark do not matter. The unfamiliar girl next to him does not matter. All that matters is the spot that her blade needs to find, the neck, the heart, or one of the arteries, where a single well-placed stab will kill—
She is ready, as she has been so many times before. But she did not expect the prey to detect her.
The bodyguards have detected the intruder, even without hearing her sound.
But the weapon has already pierced the target's neck, and withdrawn as slickly as it went in.
Sirka is not in a hurry to escape. Without a pause, she proceeds to make her next stab, only to realize that there is no blood flowing from the first wound.
Sirka
What—
It seems she has simply cut a gap in some kind of hard, golden substance.
It does not even look human.
Anatoliy
Ugh...
Sirka
What... is this?
Sirka
How could this be? I had—
Excited Soldier
There's the assassin! Get her!
Sirka
......
Anatoliy
After her... hurry—
Anatoliy
After her!!
Excited Soldier
After her! Don't let her get away!
Excited Soldier
You two, stay here and protect the Generalik and Hierda! The rest of you, with me!
Composed Soldier
Generalik, your injury—
Hierda
...Let me.
Hierda
Let me see his wound...
The girl lays her hands on the young man's neck.
There was a piece of Originium crystal hidden underneath the collar, which should have been ripped open along with the flesh around it to reveal the bone beneath.
Underneath her palms, however, the injury is less serious than first imagined.
Hierda
...It seems the Originium has already begun to repair the wound. There's no need to worry.
Anatoliy
What did you say?
Hierda
I said, it seems the Originium is repairing your wound. Are you in pain?
Anatoliy
I don't feel anything. But that suka pierced my neck—
Anatoliy
I felt it!
Anatoliy
I couldn't speak, couldn't make a sound... I felt like I had died.
Hierda
Maybe she only cut the Originium crystal on the surface of your body. I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop the assassin...
Anatoliy
Hah, what can you do? A sword would go right through you without even slowing down.
Anatoliy
Maybe she did kill me. Maybe I would be a corpse, if not for you—your miracle.
Anatoliy
I can tell the difference between having my skin cut and having the artery in my neck cut.
Hierda
It's not a miracle... *sigh*.
Anatoliy
What I want to know is, what does this mean? Does it mean I can't die? Not even after a thousand assassination attempts?
Anatoliy
And it's all because of you, even though you claim you can't save me, that you only remove my pain...
Anatoliy
You're the real deal, my friend. You've saved me twice now...
Anatoliy
Argh...
The young man's voice grows weaker after his initial excitement. The repairing of his wound has drained him.
Hierda
You need to rest.
Anatoliy
Tell me, how can I repay...?
Anatoliy
...you...?
He soon falls unconscious.
Hierda
...I don't need repayment, Anatoliy.
Hierda
I never have...
Hierda looks up in the direction where the assassin escaped, soldiers in hot pursuit.
She recalls those eyes that she saw in the darkness, bright and calm.
Desperate and dangerous.
Hierda
She was Infected too...
Hierda
How did it come to this? Is there anything I can do?
