Liberi Reader

Order! Order!

Answer the question, Young Zoya!

I already have, Your Honor.

I can't describe what I didn't see. I do not know if Sonya had anything to do with the assassination attempt on the Emperor.

The committee has heard that you are regularly seen together.

No, Your Honor.

I have already stated that I did not support them so strongly, and I am no member of the Ursus Student Self-Government Group. As you can see—

I know. They did not even give you a badge.

And, may I ask if the cross-examination proceedings have already begun?

According to the bylaws of the 87th Provisional Inquiry Hearing Committee, cross-examination proceedings can only begin once the relevance of all witnesses and evidence has been properly established.

Prior to this, the witness may decline to answer questions.

I have no further questions.

Arbiter...?

...Young Zoya, I have read your file, and certain things are very plain. For example—

You could choose to be a good girl.

......

Summon the next witness!

Summoning Witness No. 2. Witness No. 1, return to your seat.

Thank you.

You...? Why are you here?

......

Hmph.

What is your name, Witness No. 2?

Ukusik.

A strange name.

(Whisper) Here are the reference files, Councilor Artyom.

(Whisper) Orphaned vagrant who grew up on the streets, owing her survival to the protection of the older homeless. They say her de facto guardian died at the hands of the Ursus Student Self-Government Group.

(Whisper) She is no friend to the students... I instructed her on what she should and should not say.

......

Very well. You may speak, Ukusik. No need to be frightened.

There's nothing to be frightened of... ahem. 'Honored members of the hearing committee.' Did I get that right?

This is what happened—

Skip the extraneous details, child... no one knows what you're talking about.

What am I supposed to say, then? I don't even know how to read, did you think I would talk like a salesman?

How about you just tell me what to say, and I'll say it?

No!

Let's start from the beginning. What kind of organization do you belong to? Who's this boss you were talking about?

Why were you there that night? Tell us everything that you know. Conceal nothing.

Everything?

Yes, everything.

That's gonna take a while. Can I sit down?

No!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, can I go home now? You've kept me locked up for so long, my parents are gonna be worried. They can tell you that I've always been a good girl!

But today is Monday.

What's Monday got to do with it?

Good kids are in school on Mondays, not stealing on the streets.

Let me see... three hours until school's done. Your parents won't be worried. No rush.

Let me out, you svoloch!

Hah, look at 'em.

Who are you laughing at?

Me? I'm not laughing...

Get lost, I'm not talking about you! You over there, kid, what are you laughing at?

I'm laughing at him. Look—

What's so funny about that?

Come closer and I'll tell you—

He won't get to enjoy his pie at all, if he hesitates any longer.

What do you mean?

Wanna bet? You're shaking your head? Don't have the guts? Hah, just you wait...

Antosha! I'm here!

Hurry. They'll be here soon to check the noise.

How was I to know that you would use a micro-Originium bomb? Aren't those supposed to be really expensive? How did you get Matvey to agree?

I don't need him to agree to do anything... besides, nothing is more worth more than human life.

I thought nothing was more valuable than liberty.

Hey—wait for me! Take me with you!

Do you know this kid?

Those men... they're mean to me! I don't have anywhere else to go!

Not buying that one, huh? Well, you can't just leave me here to die!

I can do lots of things. I can help—I can tell you're not honest folk, and neither am I!

You're right... we're not 'honest folk'.

Where's home? Maybe I can take you back—

Home? You mean the sewers of Odoyev? I don't need you to take me there.

......

Here, the keys. Catch—you know how to open a lock, don't you?

We can't afford another failure. There are a hundred invalids here, plus the families taking care of them.

Pavlovich's forces keep growing by the day, and their equipment's getting better too. We blast open a way out, they block it again. And our explosives... we've got maybe two shots left.

Only by taking out Pavlovich as soon as possible do we stand a chance of turning this around.

Uh-huh.

Did you get a good look at him, Yura? How much security does Pavlovich have?

Two bodyguards in close company at all times. Anything else is unclear.

We've been planning based on your idea, and—

I'm done. Gone any more?

Give her the bread basket—look here, remember this face, and find him in Tsarevgrad Raion tomorrow, he'll help you—

You got water? I can't get this down...

Bottle's in the pantry, get it yourself—look at me, not her! The ball's a few weeks away. Do your job and don't get caught. You understand me?

I'll be fine. It's not the first time I've worked as a waiter at a ball.

This is the Winter Ball. You might be the nimblest amongst us, but you need to cut that absent-mindedness out if you want to get things done.

Who are you calling absent-minded? Besides, we pick the pockets of the rich and sell unattended bicycles every day.

Do you write your three or four daily love letters to the same person?

Come on, Antosha, you're no fun. The redistribution of wealth is serious work, but that doesn't mean everyone has to go around as stone-faced as you all the time.

I'm just reminding you that what we're doing is considered a crime by the ruling class, and we're doing it for—

For vengeance.

Yes, vengeance. But far more than that.

The professor was willing to die for us because he believed we can liberate Ursus and usher in a future of freedom... true freedom.

You're back, Matvey. We left some bread for you—

Hey, there's only half a piece left! Who ate the rest?

Ahem. I brought the kid back from the police station. I thought...

What were you talking about?

Something failed because you underestimated the nobles, but you've learned your lesson for next time. Did I get all that right?

...You were talking about killing in front of a little girl?

Killing? Oh, so that's what you were talking about.

We unanimously agreed that we must assassinate the nobles on the list.

A list that keeps getting longer. I'm not sure which version you're talking about.

...I'll stop when Ursus is cleansed of all scum.

Ahem. I don't really mind if you talk about it. People are either alive or dead. Why avoid talking about that?

Oh, for heaven's sake, just shut up!

We don't have any spare beds.

What?

Didn't you think about where she was going to sleep before you brought her back?

I can sleep on the floor.

You heard her. She can sleep on the floor.

......

......

............

............

Alright, I'll think of something! I should have thought about it before I brought her back!

You can sleep in his bed until he figures out something. He can make do with a corner of the workshop.

Fine, whatever you say. Couldn't have built this house without you anyway.

We can get you something to eat, girl, then we'll take you home once you've rested.

Home? Where?

Matvey, she's—

I'm sorry...

Still, you shouldn't be with us.

Why? Because you're all nobles who get to go to school? I never went to school, but there's lots that I can do!

We're not the kind of students you're thinking of...

(Whisper) Antosha, you know these are dangerous times. We shouldn't—

I know! You pick pockets too, don't you? I can help, I'm good at it! Well, I did screw up that last time, but still...

Please, I can help, all I ask is a bit of bread, I don't eat much anyway...

I have nowhere else to go.

......

...You heard her, Matvey. She's another one without a home.

With her size, she is less likely to be noticed. We could use a backup plan for communicating with the topside.

Alright, listen up. We're sharing our bread with you, but this is not charity, just extending a hand to someone in need—you don't need to live off anyone's charity.

Everyone has a right to live with their heads held high. If someone is unable to live decently through honest labor, the fault does not lie with that person.

Now, let me ask you something.

Do you believe that there will come a day when we bring down the privileged class, when all of us share equal rights in everything?

You mean... we'll all get to eat bread? Even cake?

If I get to eat every day, that's great.

Good.

Welcome to the Unbound—

What's your name?

I don't have a name. 'Kid' isn't a name, right? Or 'Girl'? Well, I'll know you're talking to me, if you call me that.

You talk like you're always trying to bite.

Ukusik—'little thing that bites'. That's your name!

What? I don't—

Come, Ukusik, let's get you a clean pillow.

I said I don't wanna be called that!

I will—never—answer to that!

Is Yura ready?

Yes. I gave him the knife and poison. When the ball begins, he will approach the target with a tray of champagne.

Killing is easy. The hard part is getting away afterwards... knife or poison. Which will he choose?

The one that draws more attention.

That's what I would do.

The professor said that simply carrying out justice is not enough...

It must be seen by all.

This is a dangerous mission, but also our best opportunity, given that guests are not permitted to bring their own security into the Winter Ball. Yura... never mind. I trust him.

Have more faith, Antosha. We didn't follow you to watch you hang your head.

You don't follow me. We all chose to be here of our own accord.

I know. You're not our leader, of course.

But ideals must have direction. It was your idea to come to Katorga to continue the struggle.

When Pavlovich is dead, we can leave this place together, and our long struggle will be over.

Antosha.

I see you. My fellow students, my brothers, my comrades.

We want...

Liberty.

We need...

To destroy.

We betray the laws that bind us, for they betrayed the people!

Destroy all the rotten and pointless systems and institutions, for they are beyond repair!

Burn them and hang them, and tear it all down for bread and liberty! Only on the ruins of everything that came before can Ursus finally find—

Rebirth!

We are the Unbound. We shall be bound no more.