Глава 9

—It's been a while, 'Leader.'

It's you...!

Don't remember me? Ha, of course you don't! I was just a nameless pawn, someone lucky enough to avoid letting you kill me back in Chernobog!

But you, Talulah, our 'Leader!' I will never forget your damned face!

You joined us when our team passed through the village that was destroyed by the taxmen. Your name is... Valiya.

You remember my name, huh...? So, what about Leontyev, Denis, and Arseny? Do you remember them? Do you know what happened to them?

I'm here because I want to ask you myself: Why did you do what you did?! Who gave you the right?! How could you betray us?!

Let go of her collar.

Now's not the time. We need to leave this place first.

Hmph.

You heard him, Leader of the Infected.

We all want answers. Many of us have suffered waiting for this chance. The chance to get them from you.

Don't forget. Those who most deserve to judge you, to hear out your defense, and to determine your fate, are the Infected who rose and died for you.

Talulah, you need to come with us.

Closure! Are you okay?! What was that just now?

What kind of sick joke is this?

Closure?

You've gotta be kidding me! He's definitely somewhere close by. He paralyzed Rhodes Island's systems!

The surveillance... and observation systems... Hah, not bad...

I got a transmission from Logistics! Some of the operators have been ambushed by... R-Reunion!

No way! Reunion?!

No, no, no—Hurry! Tell Amiya right now. They might be here for Talulah! I'll get these systems back up. We need to act fast!

Y-Yes, ma'am!

Why am I getting a message now, of all times?!

Argh! My control screen's locked?!

Good morning. Good morning?

Hard at work fixing your system, Closure? You're kinda mad right now, aren't you?

Oh, I should probably mention this video's prerecorded. You don't have to waste time tracing me.

Oh, also, I went through the trouble of keeping your Medical Department's system modules separate when I did all the prep work overnight. Spares the innocent, you know? I'm a stand-up guy, aren't I?

Dijkstra—!

Sorry about this, Closure. I know it's pretty unchill to nail you with this hookup you so graciously gave me. But still...

I'd do it again. You know me. No regrets.

When you gave me the prototype back then, you said it was, at the time, the best option for taking down Columbian network programs. You called it your trump card.

And doing my wetwork the past couple days, I realized you weren't lying. Rhodes Island's security system works very similar to the logic you handed me.

So yeah, I abused your trust, no doubt about that. But you've got your position, I got my judgment. That's how it goes.

I still remember how I met you, just a Sarkaz back then, and how we became friends.

I hope we're still friends... Or, like before, war buddies.

—That said, Closure.

First and foremost, I'm a rebel. We've always been rebels. Always will be.

Where do you get off... c'mon, so damned full of yourself!

No... Now's not the time to worry about this. Is the comm system still working?

All stations!

Grr, if Ascalon and Logos were here, you wouldn't be running around like you own the place—

—Hey! Get out here!

I know you're hiding on both sides of the hallway, but this is Rhodes Island, and you aren't fooling me!

Right, Blaze, this is Rhodes Island.

It was this very same corridor where I first saw you and the other elite operators come home after a triumphant victory.

Guard...?

I hesitated. When I first learned about the plan to attack Rhodes Island. Of course I hesitated.

I'm not going to justify it, but I think this is exactly why I have to come back. Both to take responsibility and to bear witness to this plan's execution.

'Responsibility...' huh?

Right. If I'm here, I can't make excuses.

If there's even a single operator who thinks it, then I am indeed a 'traitor.'

So you're with Reunion now... what are you doing back here?

The few survivors who managed to make it out of Ursus drifted out in the borderless barrenlands.

First we got to Columbia, then Leithanien, and then Siracusa, Victoria... All these countries... there were Infected trying to get in touch with us.

Reunion managed to set a fire, and from the tundra all across the world.

But... what are we supposed to tell the Infected who chose to stand up for our cause because of Talulah, and to the Infected who chose to stand up against fate because of the Ursus Reunion Movement—

How do we break it to them that we failed in Chernobog, and that Reunion was yet another pawn, tossed away by the great powers once it exhausted its usefulness?

There are way too many Infected left in the dark, Infected who lost friends and loved ones.

That's why Reunion needs that truth. They need the 'leader' to answer to them.

And then...

Then, we will start all over.

—Sarkaz?

No, you're no ordinary mercenaries—

Damned straight.

I heard that nutjob W started chumming with you guys after that? Well, whatever.

After the Captain died, not all of the guerrilla fighters decided to part ways with Reunion...

Hand Talulah over. If Reunion still exists, then she belongs to us.

...Hah.

You think we're gonna talk this over and come to a nice agreement?

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Talulah's got Lungmenite and Rhodes Islander blood on her hands, but let's not forget there's blood on your hands too. The Captain's, and Yelena's.

Don't you think for a second we'll go easy on you.

Nine, the barriers have been activated. This whole area's sealed off. We just need to deal with the hostiles in here ASAP.

Good. Get the team ready for rendezvous and exfiltration.

Sure thing.

The enemies are fighting back. We don't have enough manpower—

We're not fighting for the sake of fighting here. Prioritize the evacuation!

In your dreams! You aren't getting away that easily!

Don't even think about it!

Ugh, why can't this ever be easy.

Boss, you go on ahead!

Right. Be sure to catch up. I'll see you later.

Confirm the exfiltration route!

Confirmed. No trouble at all! We'll make it out of here without a hitch if we keep to the plan!

Good, contact the team outside. The plan is a go!

Roger!

Hold it!

—Stop. You are not leaving.

I won't let you through.

Talulah, you should not have left that room.

Are these—Reunion? Are they here to rescue you?

The leader of Rhodes Island herself. Well, the word 'rescue' isn't very appropriate here, not that it matters.

Now I do hope you'll understand. She's coming with us, and she doesn't have a choice.

No, she's staying here.

Ursus and Lungmen both have a right to prosecute Talulah, and naturally Rhodes Island has a reason to imprison her.

But Talulah also owes us an explanation. To Reunion... and to the Infected.

—In that case, why not trust Rhodes Island, and wait until Talulah can give you that explanation?

That's the same thing Guard said to us, he wanted us to trust you.