Глава 8

If Rosmontis spent her whole life in the greenhouse, her outburst once reality shatters her beautiful world would be catastrophic.

If you can't do it, I will.

Pith!

You and Amiya have too much faith in the future. One misstep and someone else's future is gone forever.

Before we make a judgment like that, we have to at least try.

I'm worried about a future that's beyond saving.

For now, I'll have her serve as an elite operator. Not in the future, but now.

Right now, we teach her, polish her, forge her strength into shape, hold her to the highest standards, and watch her stand firm in the face of Catastrophe.

Until there is nothing in the world that can shake her.

Only then will she be free of the terrible fate the Columbians set out for her. Only then can she lead her own life.

That is my goal.

I knew you'd say something like that, Kal'tsit.

But who's responsible for her?

I need you to work with me. I need the elite operators on this together.

And I promise you, I stake my life on it. We will see this through.

A war cast in warmth and kindness is a much more dangerous form of war.

I don't want to speak of such horrible cruelties, even if my fears should never come to pass.

Amiya and Rosmontis are in the care of Rhodes Island herself, and more directly the elite operators who take responsibility for them.

Further, they are the core of the squad's strategy, Dr. {@nickname}.

Trust in them, and you trust in yourself.

Hey, Hawk, did you see that?

How could I not?

Shhh. Don't give us away.

(Then why did you ask me? You're the one making noise.)

(I said shhhh. You don't want the Captain to chew you out.)

(She can't talk, how would I know if she's chewing me out, or if it's just you pretending for her?)

(I wouldn't do that.)

(I know.)

(I mean...)

(Enough. I know you want to ask about this stuff.)

(You've got all these weapon and armor cases, all this machinery laid out all nice. If it was just laying around I'd say I came up with a million Victorian pounds or so.)

(I bet you two big ones that's Ursus stuff. I saw goods like this when I was smuggling around Laval. This is brand spanking new.)

(You got the Central Corps, but other units can't have had anything like this more than... Hmm, maybe five years?)

(You think it makes any sense that Reunion could've just looted all this equipment?)

(You mean the guys who go around swinging pipes? I don't think they'd even know how to grease it.)

(What about the guerrillas? They're ex-Ursus Army.)

(How long ago did they desert? Those big, heavy metal guys would sink if you pushed them into a lake.)

(Even if they managed to bring some logistics units with them all those years ago, they'd probably all be dead by now.)

(Think about it. With the stuff they're using now, it's a miracle they can keep their plates wiped clean.)

(Let them get their hands on these weapons? I doubt they'd even know which end to point at the enemy.)

(You're making them sound like a bunch of idiots.)

(Ignorance and idiocy aren't the same thing. Logistics is skill as much as it's knowledge. The guerrillas aren't dumb, but the odds that they'll come across some Infected logistics officers eager to run off with them are pretty slim.)

(Saving an Infected officer from execution... that's a tall order.)

(Look... The serial number's been filed off. Sure, a deserter might do that, but you know who else might...?)

(You might do it if you were trying to trick somebody.)

(It wasn't done very clean. Just looking at it I can tell what kind of file they used. Looks like somebody was short on time.)

But the most important thing for now...

We have to tell them, and quick. Whether or not it's useful info.

I just hope we're not too late. Captain, should we have Raidian tell Amiya's team? Or go report it direct?

We should keep Reunion and the weird looking guys busy back here? Got it.

Wait.

We've got bogeys closing on our position.

Mantra, you on it? Just make them forget what they're doing. No need to fabricate some orders or turn them into gibbering morons or whatever...

Conserve your strength. If we run into Reunion, we'll need you to defuse the situation.

Hm? Hm.

'Good. Be careful.'

Right.

Okay... And it's good to send, Captain. Here.

'The Ursus Army is in the core city.'

Damn it, Amiya!

Ah...! What happened, Amiya?!

What's going on?;How did...?;Kal'tsit, do something!

...Come here, Dr. {@nickname}.

What I'm about to do next, you are not to tell anyone, ever.

Superintendent Ch'en of Lungmen!

No longer.

Then I'll ask you to keep an eye on the dragon over there for me. We'll be taking her into custody when this is all over. Any questions?

Look after Amiya first.

Yes. Doctor, give me your hand.

Okay!;(Stretch out your arm);You'd just grab it anyway if I tried to back away, wouldn't you?

*Sigh*. This isn't going to hurt. But, don't ask.

I'm going to jam this syringe into your arm and take some blood. And that's all I'm telling you.

It's for your own good.

Um...

No questions.

She's right, it doesn't hurt. You don't feel anything.

Kal'tsit places your freshly drawn blood into a device on her waist. Seconds later, she administers a blue solution into Amiya's neck.

Amiya's breathing stabilizes.

What happened?!

....Nng!

It worked. Amiya... wake up.

Huh... Miss... Miss Theresa...?

...No. It's me, Amiya.

Dr. Kal'tsit... I...

You're okay, Amiya. You don't have to talk. Let's get ready to go. It's all okay now.

Hm.

...Hmm...

*whine*...

Wah... Aahh.... Waaahhh...

Why are you crying?;Amiya...;(Silently stay with her)

Waaahhh... Doctor... Waaaaahh...

It's okay, Amiya.

The fight is over.

Um... Mm...

Hm.

...My tears... Doctor, I managed not to cry until the end... I... I promised... I... I...

...Doctor... Doctor...

...Dr. {@nickname}...

Ch'en, the aircraft will reach the control tower momentarily. We'll take Talulah and go.

Are you sure? I haven't... even decided how to handle her.