Глава 10

7:17 P.M. \ Overcast

Abandoned Liquor Plant, Sudean Borough, Londinium

Get moving! Don't just stand there! Get a move on!

The general said we gotta be done with these materials tonight and get them sent to the station!

Ungh...

What are you crying for? You slacking off?!

Ahh... P-Please don't hit me... I haven't slept for three or four days now... I'm really tired... Agh!

Stop it.

Who are you, and what gives you the right to stop me?!

Lady Heidi...

Don't worry, just get behind me.

I see. You're the new girl who just got here a couple days ago. You're... a teacher? A journalist?

Whatever, don't remember exactly, but you're one of those good-for-nothing scumbags. A dime a dozen in Victoria.

Save the smooth talk for the rich and noble. It doesn't work on us Sarkaz!

*cough* *cough*... *cough*.

Y-You're bleeding!

If you want to kill me and my friends, then do it, but don't forget that there are some hundred pairs of eyes staring at you right now.

What are you all looking at?!

They want to see how you're going to deal with me.

You think we'd be scared of a bunch of prisoners?

Of course not, but work waits for no one. Isn't that right? You said it yourself. Your general wants these materials done tonight.

Heh, maybe seeing how you two is about to end up will motivate them some.

If they figure out what awaits them tomorrow morning, do you think they'll still willingly spend their last night on Terra forging weapons for their enemies?

You...! How'd you know that tomorrow...

I also happen to know why you must let us live through the night.

Hey, she's taunting you. Don't be a moron and spill all the beans. Let's get going. We have work to do too.

I don't take orders from you!

That change of clothes really helped your temper, huh? Remember who was crying for his mother when he was fighting the Victorian remnants not all that long ago.

Piss off, you loudmouthed merc. Your head's gonna roll one day because of that tongue of yours.

You'll have that jerk who's been yelling about everything in my ears to thank. Trust me, I didn't use to talk like this.

I'm too busy to be wasting time on you morons. Fine, I'll let these people live a couple hours longer.

All of you... and you in particular. No funny moves.

Listen up! The Sarkaz got no tolerance for slackers! Anyone who's not working wins a date with our blades! Got it?!

Now get to work, if you know what's good for you!

We're safe for the time being.

I-I'm sorry, Lady Heidi. You got hurt because of me...

I'm fine. Just got my dress dirty.

You're always so calm and graceful... It puts my mind at ease just knowing you're here with us.

Then trust me once more, alright?

Go back inside and stay with your friends. The Sarkaz still need you to do their work. They won't hurt us, for the time being.

As for these mercenaries...

We'd better stop watching. We got work to do tonight, right?

But...

Come on, no buts. Hoederer told us to come and do whatever the soldiers say.

Okay, stop staring at the wall. This place is the farthest from the entrance. Not even a bug could fly in here. Look here—

—See how sturdy it is? Let's go.

7:27 P.M. \ Overcast

Underground structure, Sudean Borough, Londinium

Forward! Forward!

Report, Commander! The 3rd is all ready! Confirming Exit No. 9 clear—

Confirmed! We can exit safely!

Rockrock, what are you doing here? You're still wounded...

Captain, permission to rejoin the team?

But the commander said...

They have Bill. He covered me... and I can't just lie down here when I don't even know if he's still alive.

I will rescue him, Rockrock. I promise.

You might think I'm not a suitable leader...

If he was here, he would say that you are.

He always believed in you. We all believe in you.

You do...?

But this mission isn't like the covert rescue operations before.

We might run into a bunch of Sarkaz warriors head on and find ourselves in unprecedented danger.

Rockrock, before you joined the Self-Salvation Corps, you were just the daughter of a train stoker who'd only graduated secondary school.

You're just a mechanic yourself.

Haha, that's true.

The Sarkaz call us rebels... Does that really make us an army, though? We're just normal Londiniers.

You're absolutely right. I'm very normal.

I never remember all the righteous talk the commander preaches. The only thing on my mind is how to keep my family alive.

Feist, I'm actually really afraid of the Sarkaz...

But I'm more afraid of you dying somewhere when I'm not looking!

I know, Rockrock... I'm afraid too. I'm afraid of dying, and I'm even more afraid I could get the rest of you killed.

Phew... Haha.

It feels much better getting it off your chest, doesn't it?

Now, let's go.

Doctor.

Indra and I will guard this place with the Self-Salvation Corps. Dagda and Morgan are rendezvousing with Amiya.

It's not often you split up.;Did something happen?

There's no hiding anything from you, is there?

It's nothing important. There are just certain things that we have to deal with sooner or later, and we needed a suitable time for them.

It's hard to push forward with expectations on your shoulders.;Need me to say anything to them?

Are you all ready?

You've just arrived at the exit closest to the objective. From here to the factory, we'll have to cross two underground blocks.

Our squads are in position. They will make sure our trip to the objective goes smoothly.

I will leave you in command for the rest, Dr.{@nickname}.

Clovisia is a capable leader, and everyone has expectations of her and Amiya.

Doctor, There's been a lot on my mind throughout this journey, but there is still one thing that I haven't entirely thought through.

If there is one thing I have to take care of myself, this is it. If I can't even keep my closest friends in check, then what's the point of coming back here?

Doctor, we got a transmission from Feist. They've made it aboveground already. We need to rendezvous with them right away—

It's time for us to leave.;Let's enjoy the Londinium air.

Right, we'll be ready.

Haha... I would like to know, too.

I wish you... a safe journey.

7:55 P.M. \ Overcast

Outside the Eastern Entrance, Abandoned Liquor Plant, Sudean Borough, Londinium

Blake, give me a report of the situation up ahead.

The path is clear, over.

Robben?

Sniper team is in position.

Good. How many hostiles?

I got twelve in sight. All of them Sarkaz.