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I was angry at Azazel before, and now I was rude to Rosmontis. Hah, what a mess I am.

But you trust Patriot. Tell us about Patriot and his guerrillas, and about Reunion.

I'm pretty sure Dr. Kal'tsit and Dr. {@nickname} here can make sense of it.

The only reason there's anyone still left alive, why so many Ursus were able to make it through Chernobog...

Is because Patriot and his guerrillas. And the people who respect them.

When the guerrilla fighters were around, there was peace. Nobody dared to raise a hand against anybody else.

Not only did they hand out supplies and resources, but they even worked to make the locals' lives a little better.

...Patriot was going to let me leave the city. But I decided to stay... to see how things turned out.

I overheard him talking to the leader of Azazel. I think even if it's all an act, he's at least working hard to keep up the act.

Also... Mr. Scout died there to protect me. Patriot respected Mr. Scout. I...

Scout... was an operator who sacrificed himself in Chernobog.

Scout!

Rosmontis...?

What happened to Scout?

I... why can't I remember? He died? He...

This emptiness... is that him? Scout... I forgot again?

But I just... the terminal... how could I forget again?

January 3rd

An old man with white hair brought a charred, blackened object. Mechanist couldn't stand after seeing it.

The old man nodded and left. Dr. Kal'tsit didn't say anything, only patted my head.

It was Scout's.

Scout.

Scout is gone too.

Scout was the one who didn't even have a shadow, wasn't he? Wouldn't he be the one who came back even when everyone else died? Wasn't he the one with a never-ending story?

Scout......

I searched the logs. Scout made me a bow. But that's a toy for little girls. I don't play with toys anymore.

Why did Scout die?

Why? Why? Why?

Why?

*sobs*...

Rosmontis...

Give me your hand. Close your eyes, Rosmontis...

Turns out elite operators... aren't that different... from my teammates.

Dr. {@nickname}, I've got something to say.

On your rescue operation, Scout led the recon team. He never knew you like you are now... But he said he knew you before, like Ace.

He held back the Sarkaz mercenaries to save my life.

Knowing Scout, he could've easily gotten out if he wanted to.

He told me to tell you something... Right, I remember it.

He said he would never forget fighting by your side.

Huh...

He also wanted you to stop being a commander. But things being what they are, I think you probably can't just sit by and watch.

Boss sacrificed himself to save me too. That means I've got two elite operators' lives on my shoulders.

But Mr. Scout said they didn't die for any one person. They died for an idea.

His team did, and so did mine.

So I decided to look into Reunion. I had to see where things were going, and how I could help Rhodes Island.

—I saw the guerrillas had their own idea. A firm, pure conviction that they were fighting for.

They were a little more savage, of course, but they never found joy in violence. That's what I saw in them.

If Reunion was supposed to be about liberating the Infected, then the guerrillas... they were there to exterminate their oppressors.

They'd exterminate those who enslave the Infected, and those who threaten the common folk. All of them. To a man.

That's because of Patriot. Patriot taught them, led them, and protected them.

Before Patriot set out from Chernobog on a mission, I had a... talk with him.

*Sigh*. Just how old is that warrior? But he still shared some of his booze with me. It was the first time... anybody treated me like that.

He may indeed be much older than you think.

Have you heard the legend? About him leaving Ursus?

I have. He led an entire elite division out of Ursus. The Great Rebellion proved to be fertile ground for all sorts of things that otherwise would've been absurd.

The truth is, there aren't many of those soldiers he led out of Ursus left.

Their clashes with the Ursus regulars must've cost them a lot of men.

Most of his guerrillas are fresh recruits, people who volunteered to join when they fought in the northwest tundra.

Their battles, their prestige, and their ideals all won them recruits.

They used to work well with the leader of Reunion. But for some reason, maybe related to the burning hate the Infected have for the people of Ursus... things turned out like this.

It is what it is. Everyone alive today suffers Catastrophes, madness, and death. All kinds of suffering that this world heaps upon them.

Tatiana... I remember your name is Tatiana.

...That's right.

Does your knee hurt?

What's that?

Three days ago, you tripped trying to run away.

It got better a while ago...! I'm Ursus! I'm not like... whatever your race is. Us Ursus are much sturdier.

I'm glad... it looked pretty nasty.

Hah, here I am, doing a medic operator's job without any training.

I've got a lot on my plate, Dr. Kal'tsit.

I understand.

Hm...

Medic didn't come with you?

Why bring her up?

Don't worry about it. I can tell by the look on Rosmontis's face what happened. We've lost a lot of people, but Rhodes Island fights on.

I'm getting the impression that you don't know the core city is on a collision course with Lungmen.

What?

Oh, are you talking about helping the Reunion forces at the battle of Lungmen? Moving the core city is Reunion's only play. I heard about that.

The core city is broadcasting an Ursus identification code.

Huh?

...What?!

Hold up!

...No way... That doesn't make any sense!

Now you know why we're here.

What's the problem?

(Makes the Rhodes Island hand gesture for 'quiet.')

Nothing...

...You've been talking so long. If Patriot and his men are as good as you say, why is Reunion still running amok here in Ursus?

Because Reunion 'shouldn't' be doing this.

...Huh?

Guard...

I think you would be a great help to our operation, since you're familiar with both the local Infected and Reunion. Would you be willing to rejoin our team?

Oh, but you can't leave yet, can you?

...Right. I'm sure you can tell just by looking at me. Right, Amiya?

Sorry, I know I'm about a decade older than you, but sometimes you make me feel like a kid.

No need to blame yourself. I could even say Rhodes Island will honor your work.

...But you're in a very dangerous position.

Guard, if Reunion falls here, your work to save the Infected and maintain their basic living conditions will become much more difficult.

Are you at all worried that could come to pass?

No, I'm not.