Глава 8

I'm sorry.

This is going to hurt.

I'm sorry... Amiya. This shouldn't have happened to you.

It's not right.

But... Amiya, why do you say that?

Don't you think we should hate them? You can't say they didn't steal our lives from us.

I don't want to forget... I don't want to forget my friends and family!

I could have worn clothes I liked, and gone to the school I wanted. I could have gotten to know my mom and dad and everyone, I could have...

I could have... my brothers... *whimper*...

Rosmontis, calm... calm down!

I can't...

I can't.

I won't let this go, Amiya... I can't!

If I have to get hurt to protect them, if I have to suffer to keep them from suffering...

Then I'll take it all!

If killing the people who ruined our lives would make you all feel even a little better, and if you're not willing to do it, then let me do it for you!

Rosmontis, Amiya, we've got a transmission from the engineer team!

Something weird's happening, the drive system isn't moving!

...Is it the enemy? Captain, if you can hear me, this is...

No! They must be...

Captain! Look out for Ur—

Get back! Jump! Hurry!

What happened? Come in...

...Do you copy?! Lavaca! Bluishsilver!

No, no no no...

The sealing layer is still rising!

(Did the engineer team... get ambushed?)

No, it can't be. Bluishsilver, she... I'll can't reach her, I can't feel her anymore!

...Prepare the explosives. Let's blow the whole joint.

If we destroy the sealing layer, it will take a few blocks with it. And there are still some Infected who didn't want to join Reunion hiding in the area!

There's no time. If we keep waiting only more people will die!

We've lost comms!

If you don't like my plan then give us a better one!

No.

Absolutely not.

No.

I get where you're coming from... I dunno. It's just...

My team... my squad... I...

They did everything right! How could this happen to them?!

If you need strength, if you need to destroy, I can do it! I can do it better!

Rosmontis!

Ah... ahhh!

Rosmontis! Curl your fingers!

I just... tear... destroy...

Wha... the sealing layer's stopping?

I CAN DO IT!!!

An explosion?! No way. The Feline, she... how is she tearing that thing apart?

...What... how...?

It's almost like...

Shh!

(Shakes his head)

It's just like the first time you saw FrostNova and Talulah, isn't it?

Just wait until our infections get worse... maybe you'll see some more.

*Pant*, *pant*... I...

Amiya... I... I'm cold... My head...

Rosmontis! I've got you! Hold on tight, don't let go!

She shredded the sealing layer all by herself?

Not for long, but it should be enough to get us through the sector.

I need a medic!

Hnnngh... Aaugh! It's scratching me, scratching at me!

These are negative emotions and side effects of direct Arts... They all have to do with Bluishsilver's memories.

Rosmontis... Look at me. Look at my eyes!

(The black lines flow from the finger of the Lord of Fiends right into the Feline's eyes...)

(She really is...)

Nnnngh... I know... Amiya... I know...

Don't ever do that again! B-But, even if I tell you, you'll...

Uh huh... S-Sorry... I won't change. Heh.

Well done, Feline! You really did it!

Brothers, let's move out! Through the fire and the hail of bolts, we go!

You should rest here for a while, Rhodes Islanders.

Just give me a minute, guerrilla fighter?

We don't have a way to stay in communication. Even the operator with you there doesn't have the comms we need to carry out this operation.

If the Shieldguards really need our help... Then you have to know what we're going to do, at least.

Good thinking. Couldn't hurt to give you a minute.

Especially with all this little Feline did for us.

(Breathes weakly)

Rosmontis...

I'll be fine. I have to... keep... fighting.

I have to... find... my team.

...Okay. I know.

It's Madame Ch'en again...

So you're really going back?

Definitely.

But you told me you don't know if your friend in Ursus is alive or dead. What's the point in going back to Lungmen? Why not go right to Ursus after graduation, then?

Ursus wouldn't give someone like me an entry permit.

No way... Oh, it's really so sad to see you go right after you finish. You're such a clever girl, Chenchen. You'd make senior lecturer in no time!

Give it two years and can go anywhere in the world you want, eh?

Don't ever call me that again, please.

And what about you?

Me? You know me. I'm not stupid, but compared to you, well... I only eked out passing grades in those joint operations.

You just finished your military strategy course?

Almost failed that one a bunch of times.

You've got a better head on your shoulders than 98% of Victoria. At least on paper.

But I don't see myself becoming a lecturer. I think I'm better off going looking for a fight than setting myself up as a command or logistics officer.

You really don't fear death. A Victorian soldier can end up running into all sorts of things on the battlefield.

But I know our enemies sure as hell don't wanna run into any Victorians soldiers on the battlefield.

What I really worry about is sitting in front of a strategic map messing up my head till I can only see human lives as numbers. That's the scariest thing. A soldier on the front lines needs somebody to tell her what to do, and what not to do.

Only when you're in the thick of it do you see how cruel a war is, and how important it is to stop.

You really want to change Victoria? I thought... that was just a drunken ramble.

Nah, not at all. Is it that weird? I just... want to do some good.