Elotta, you should know that the red on an Imperial Guardsman's uniform represents the red of blood.
Eloysius
......
Eloysius
A soldier who slew countless enemies on the battlefield used his torn uniform to hold his spilling intestines inside his body as he crawled back to camp, all so he could celebrate a momentary victory for his comrades who would not return.
Eloysius
When he died, his blood had soaked through the makeshift bandages, clinging tightly to his stiffening body and sticking to his abdomen.
Witte
Correct. Which is why you do not need to worry yourself too much about this matter. You were decisive in your judgment. There is nothing more to it.
Eloysius
But I executed him without a trial, without permission—
Witte
Is it not normal for an officer to act first and report later under extraordinary circumstances?
Witte
We need not even carry out a court martial. Anyone with eyes would approve of your difficult decision.
Eloysius
Then will Platon's family be implicated?
Witte
I can only say that I did not hear anything about his family inciting him to act this way in your report just now.
Witte
But this does not mean any guarantees as to their fate.
Eloysius
What do you mean?
Witte
Once more, you look only at the 'truth', without making an effort to piece together the cause behind it, correct?
Witte
When Count Lunin first began dealing with your father several years ago, he was an honorary citizen who could only support a small workshop, but he has now become a new noble, with textile factories spanning several districts of Grypherburg.
Witte
I fear nobody would see this rate of progress and think he did it by his own effort. And when the partner he relied on lost his glory, and could not render more aid—
Witte
No matter if he managed to devour the hand that once fed him, or if they fall together, the shift in resources resulting from this commotion will not flow down to those who never had anything to begin with.
Witte
This is the greatest problem our modern nation faces. No matter how much bread we may produce in aggregate, we cannot ensure it reaches everyone.
Witte
We cannot fill the bellies... of all our people.
Eloysius
......
Witte
Which is why you should not be worrying about whether people will suddenly fall from grace due to your actions.
Witte
If you still wish to do something worthwhile, then consider my words carefully.
He's... r-reading books... with some of th-the little kids.
Eloysius
Little kids? Littler than you?
Vetochki
I-I'm... not... little!
Vetochki
In j-just a f-few months... I'll be sixteen!
Eloysius
Sixteen. If you were the daughter of a noble, you'd have the formal right to inherit. A woman grown.
Vetochki
B-But I'm not... and I d-don't want to be one.
Eloysius
Then do you want to go somewhere where you can tell your story, where you can fight for fair treatment for all your friends?
Vetochki
We can... go and... t-testify?
Vetochki
D-Dur-nar said... the courthouse... is that sort of p-p-place.
Eloysius
No, Vetochki. Not this time. I won't lie to you. You will not be going to testify.
Eloysius
There is a bill called The Winter Emergency Resource Allocation Act, to be voted on in Grypherburg's first citizen's forum.
Eloysius
If it passes, it will save the lives of countless people unable to keep themselves warm this winter, countless workers who lost their jobs due to lack of resources.
Eloysius
Before all that, you can go and give suggestions, tell them your story, raise support among the people. You will help the proposal pass. You will help your comrades.
Vetochki
Th-Then... I'll go.
Eloysius
However, it means you will need to get up in front of everyone. There will be no lack of unsightly faces there, ones just like the 'lords' you saw during your time in the mines.
Eloysius
This may also be very dangerous. The Infected are still not allowed to walk the streets unchaperoned, and you will make yourself stand out. Although Hellagur and I will protect you—
Vetochki
I-I'll still go!
Vetochki
I want to go. E-Even if it's d-dangerous, I'll go.
Eloysius
Alright then.
Eloysius
Then let me find a way to make them give you back the identity that should have been yours in the first place.
Judging by the look on your face, did you get confirmation about something?
Witte
I have... received a whistleblower report.
Witte
From Vasily's daughter.
Fyodor
Eloysius?
Witte
You remember her.
Fyodor
Because her mother gave her such a rare name.
Fyodor
Why would she report on her own father?
Witte
In her own words... 'This all has crossed my bottom line. I had to make a choice to prevent even more people from falling victim to my father's absurd schemes.'
Witte
This report—perhaps testimony—exposes his attempts to pull Duchess Volkina and the pro-war faction into an alliance. It is able to force him to be suspended pending inquiry, perhaps even be temporarily detained.
Witte
But even if we exploit the fact that he has exposed an entry point into the interior of the pro-wars through his treachery, this will not touch on the root of the issue at hand...
Witte
I suggest sealing this report and all other results of related investigations, to be used at a later date.
Fyodor
If we use that evidence to control him, then the vice-chairman's current behavior is no longer important.
Witte
Precisely.
Fyodor
How interesting... First the students in Katorga, now the new generation of the Imperial Guard. The vast majority of our youth are awake now.
Fyodor
But what about those stubborn, sundowning old men? Why do they still turn a blind eye to all the contradictions and challenges exposed by our lack of minerals? Why are they so devoted to making trouble for people outside their circle?
Fyodor
Are they not like a chronic illness plaguing Ursus...? When did our nation lose the strength to fight disease within?
Witte
Your Imperial Majesty... Though you may see them as disease, they are also the flesh the empire demands.
Witte
Fortunately, we are witnessing a new power be born within this nation, even though they are still young sprouts unable to break through the permafrost... We wish them to have more time.
Fyodor
You're right... 'Disease' and 'flesh', who should be the one differentiating them?
Fyodor
How do I ensure that, when this power emerges from the soil, I will not be seen by them as 'the chronic illness plaguing Ursus' myself?
The signal-blocking mechanism here is very strange...
Raidian
I can't guarantee that I've found the right place, but there shouldn't be any guards popping out to intercept us when we get out.
Amiya
Let's focus on getting out first, then. At least we haven't heard any alarms.
Mon3tr
We've been walking in the dark for ages now, Raidian. Where's this exit you were talking about?
Do you have night vision, Mon3tr?
Mon3tr
I mean, yes, but I might as well not have here. It's all just walls and stairs. No sight of even an emergency exit sign.
Raidian
Can you tell what materials they're made of? Walls and doors have their differences. Even if they appear the same visually, their materials will let us tell them apart.
Raidian
Look, but don't touch without proper caution. The doors may be electrified.
It's so strange... We can't find any doors leading out.
Amiya
It's like a maze in here.
Amiya
I don't think we can keep avoiding places with other people, Raidian.
Raidian
People may have their own unique body signal frequencies, but I can't rely on just that to determine if they're friendly on first contact.
Amiya
Then we'll—
Amiya
Gah!
Mon3tr
Amiya!
Let go of her!
Vigilant Guard
I've been watching you people for half an hour. A group suddenly appearing in the second floor halls, with some sort of goal in mind, but never actually leaving.
Vigilant Guard
How did you get in here, and what're you trying to do?
Amiya
Sir... Please, calm down, we're—
Vigilant Guard
I want someone else talking.
We were sent here by the State Council!We're here to help with Project Zero!
Vigilant Guard
Don't be stupid. The scholars the State Council sent over were already assigned to their labs. You really think you can fool us?
Vigilant Guard
I see. You must be spies who slipped in during that explosion outside!
Raidian
Mind how you speak. We are from Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, and have been dispatched by the State Council of the Ursine Empire. We are here to help with research into Project Zero's pharmaceutical applications.
Raidian
Here is our warrant of appointment with the tsar's seal, as well as our documentation from the legislature. You'll find our Zelgrad immigration stamps there too.
Raidian
As for why we have been pacing about the halls, it is naturally because—
???
Because we forgot how to get back.
Vigilant Guard
Which lab are you from?
???
I'm the director of Lab Six.
Vigilant Guard
Hah, Lab Six has already been dissolved. Even their director got banished. Who do you think you're trying to fool—
???
Here's my ID.
Vigilant Guard
Alita Valueva...
Alita
If I were you, I'd ask others before I pick a theory to believe in.
Alita
Someone like your boss, Zina, for example. I believe she's in charge of security for the entire institute. She'd know who all the new staff in Lab Six are, surely?
Vigilant Guard
......
Guard to the Back
What do we do, boss?
Vigilant Guard
Hail Zina on her channel and ask her!
Guard to the Back
Y-Y-Yes, sir!
The blonde researcher turns away from the guards, sweeping her eyes across the Rhode Islanders. Her eyes stop on you for a moment, before finally settling on Raidian.
Alita
I can't believe I forgot to get someone to show you the way out. Lab Four's not on this floor. I've been so busy these past few days, I'd forget my own head next.
Alita
Once this misunderstanding is all sorted out, I'll lead you there personally.
Raidian
...We are grateful to you, really. And after you took the time to bring us up to speed on your project, too.
Alita
I'll need to bring you around all the labs, then you'll see that New Lab Six's project is the one with the most resources at its disposal here.
Vigilant Guard
......
Soldier
Boss, Zina confirmed this is the name of New Lab Six's director.
Vigilant Guard
Hmph!
Mon3tr
Amiya!
Once we see the Generalik, he'll know of what happened today.Random questionings, seizing guests. I see how you treat others.
Who the hell are these people? How do they have so much firepower?!
Nervous Soldier
It's all one individual's Arts! Saw it with my own eyes!
Anxious Officer
You serious?
Nervous Soldier
We need to get out of here right now, sir! They've smashed through everything in their way, none of our emplacements could hold them back longer than half a minute!
Anxious Officer
Absolutely not! We were ordered to guard this place, and if any of you dare to take even one step back, I'm cutting off your legs—
Before he can finish, a scarlet streak flies past his nose, screeching as it slams into the wall behind him in a burst of flame, illuminating the dark, cramped 'factory'.
The officer locks in place, stiffly turning his neck until ice-cold steel presses up against his sweat-stained skin—
Talulah
Stop.
Talulah
If you have even the slightest bit of a conscience, or a slimmer of remorse...
Crossbow bolts whistle through the sky from all around her. One last volley from the desperate defenders.
Waves of flame flick their way up the bolt shafts, igniting the Originium in the bolt heads in an instant. They explode into amber smoke.
Talulah simply stands there, light and shadow flitting across her face. As the soldiers try to figure out what this expression means, wretched yells come from nearby—
First one, then another... More and more soldiers fall, and the yelling dies out alongside their breaths. Slowly but surely, all that remains is the sound of a sword being sheathed.
Crownslayer
...I nearly forgot how you do things.
Red
Forget the soldiers. More importantly, I don't see any researchers here.
Sirka
Secret facilities like these almost certainly have emergency escape routes installed by the army. They most likely left the moment they heard about our activities.
Talulah
Gather up the materials and all the clues you can find. They couldn't have taken away all the evidence in such a short amount of time.
Talulah
I need your help, everyone.
Tulin
Alright everyone, split up. If you notice anything, report it right away. Time is of the essence.
The miners give her a shout of agreement before they separate into groups.
Closure stands away from them as she surveys the site of the battle just now. Everything has been reduced to piles of charcoal.
Closure
(Quietly) Is this what it was like to face her, Amiya...?
Tonya
Did you say something, Closure?
Closure
...Ah, err, nothing.
Closure
Let's help them out, Tonya. The secrets you want to know are most likely going to be here, and who knows, we might find some meds for that weird disease!
Red walks past the dumbstruck miner, pushing open the door behind him.
The smell of rust strikes him in the face. Part of it smells like blood, another part like iron steeped in water, and yet another part like rust heated to the point of burning, all mingling together—
Red
Hand me a flashlight.
Red
......
Red
What in the—?!
The crowd follows the beam of light with their eyes. The first thing they see is a giant glass vat, shattered in half... and whatever is inside it is leaking out.
Drip, drip... It spills, mixing with the dirt, gravel, and blackened clots of blood strewn across the ground.
There are fingers and toes, mud still staining them. There is a backbone, one that is stooped, hunched and elderly. There is—
An object, gently bumping against their boots before stopping.
Red looks down. It is a swollen, damaged, rubbery body, coated in an ashen gray. Half of a cheek presses against the ground, as two dark, empty sockets stare back at him.
He closes his eyes and stays silent. But even so, he feels something gaze at him from the abyss. It sees him stand there, sees him breathe, sees him live.
(Crying) Red, please, shut that door, I'm begging you...
The voices of his comrade startle Red. With a tremble of his hand, the light shoots into the darkness... There, there are more vats.
Some are empty, spotless, as if they have been polished, washed, and tidied. Even the metal brackets below shine, reflecting back the light.
Some are not so empty.
Within the oily liquid, glistening Originium crystals shine as they jut out of butchered bodies, cluster by cluster, like bushes growing on sand.
Reunion Member
(Weeping) Damn you, Red, you idiot... Damn you!
The man wails as he tries to wrestle the flashlight out of Red's hand, but try as he might, he cannot break Red's vice grip. The swaying light sweeps across the entire room.
Other Reunion members surround him, trying to pull away their comrade after he had lost his wits. But they cannot. More step forward. Everyone helps drag away the one man, his feet leaving two marks on the ground.
More of them sit on the floor in exhaustion, silently watching the scuffle as they let their tears flow freely.
Tonya
These... What... What are...
Stupefied faces turn towards her, as flashlights illuminate another corner of the room.
Closure
Junk?
Crownslayer
Personal effects, more like.
Bedding. Broken bowls. Blackened bread as hard as rock, yet still gnawed in half. Even golden dentures. All tossed into the corner.
As the footsteps approach, the pile is covered by the shadow of a frail woman.
Tonya kneels before the pile, her hands sifting through its ice-cold contents—and then she sees it. She knows this blanket... She would never be mistaken about it.
A blanket that was once wrapped tight around a child, the edges of the red cloth a faded white, now covered in a thin layer of dust—
Her little sister's.
She cradles it as if it were alive, pressing it against her cheek.
A blanket with nothing to wrap around, the smell of detergent and sweat still lingering in the fabric. She buries her face in it, her shoulders heaving up and down as the cloth slowly soaks in her tears.
Tonya
Nina... My poor, poor Nina...
Tonya does not stop calling out her sister's name, as if saying it could bring her back to her. But there is too much spit clogging her throat, too many tears slipping into her mouth, so all she can choke out is a rasp.
Talulah
......
Talulah does not turn away. She clenches her fists tight, so tight her arms begin to shake.
The shoulders of her shadow looming against the wall begin to heave as well, as if pressed down by something extraordinarily heavy.
Suddenly, they drop. She feels a rough, strong hand gently holding them down.
Talulah turns, and is greeted by a pair of mauve eyes. They do not look away, as unwavering as the hand on her shoulder.
Talulah
...Tulin?
Tulin
They need you, Talulah. Need us.
Tulin nods towards the men. The miners cough as they see Tulin approach, trying to reset their emotions.
The youth gently consoles them, holds their hands, hugs them, helps pull up the ones laying on the ground... Though many of their faces are still stained with tears, they no longer tremble.
Then, Tulin heads towards someone else who is also relatively calm. Someone currently looking at the very first vat, lost in thought.
Tulin
Have you found anything, Closure?
Tulin
I noticed all the vats have cables and tubes attached to them... I'm afraid I don't know much about this topic. Do you know what the military might have been doing to the Infected?
Closure
I inspected them just now.
Closure
These machines are strange, but I can see the readings on the meters...
Closure
They were calculating how much Originium these Infected would turn into after they died.
Talulah
They were turning the Infected into 'fuel' to combat the Originium shortage.
Closure
That's... That's my best guess, yeah.
Tulin
But Tonya's sister wasn't Infected, she just caught that strange disease. But her blanket's here all the same...
Closure
I noticed many of the bodies here have the same symptoms.
Closure
Look at these remains from the first vat. Ulcerated pustules, covered in green scars. Clearly the disease Tonya talked about, but no signs of Oripathy.
Talulah
The First Army was obviously researching this new disease, and it just so happened to show up after Zelgrad revised their Infected policy.
Talulah
You said the Sarcophagus might have released some disease that seems infectious. If they're gathering the Infected to sacrifice them for Sarcophagus research, this 'strange disease' must be related to it.
Tulin
We need to tell everyone the truth about this 'Sarcophagus' right away.
Tulin
The First Army let this disease spread freely, which means everyone's lives are in danger. We have to get them out of here.
Talulah
We can't hide our raid from the army for very long. They'll have a response soon enough.
Talulah
But if we just need to stall for time and protect you as you evacuate, then Reunion can do that.
Tulin
Let's not waste time, then. We need to—
Tulin sees Closure give a faint shake of the head. She hesitantly walks to Tonya, still rooted to the floor, before stretching out her hand.
Tonya
...Closure?
Closure
Sorry... I'm really not good at giving pep talks.
Closure
Err... Right, you said you never saw a Sarkaz before, yeah? Well I'm a Sarkaz from Kazdel, real old school.
Closure
Kazdel's a lot worse off compared to Zelgrad. Maybe only half the kids in the city have a roof over their heads... and only half of the kids ever get to grow up.
Closure
But even so, we still call Kazdel home.
Closure
Eventually, we built a lot more houses, and planted a lot more crops. There was also one amazing person who got everyone together to research medicine that could actually treat the pain of Oripathy...
Closure
When everyone worked together, life really did get better... We all treasure our home.
Tonya slowly lifts her head as she looks at the Vampire before her, meeting her teary gaze.
Closure
I'm really sorry that... Zelgrad couldn't be a place like that for you. But there'll definitely be a day you find somewhere you can really call 'home'.
Closure
Nina... couldn't make it to that day.
Closure
But if you work alongside us, Tonya, there'll be lots of other kids who can.
Tonya
......
After a moment of silence, Tonya grabs onto Closure's hand and pulls herself up.
