bibeak

Chase them out, gloompincers!

What the heck are you babbling about? Oripathy doesn't spread through everyday contact!

I'm not Infected, but I've worked with them for years, and I'm completely fine!

You're not Infected? Then you're a nutjob!

Bill got the illness from who knows where, and he couldn't find a job after rocks started growing out of him, not even at the bottom of the mines!

Even after he died, he... our village is like this now because of the Infected!

How dare you stroll in like you own the place! Are you trying to kill us all?

Are you here to help us or kill us?!

Get out! All of you! We don't need your help!

You're the squad leader, Orchid. Your call.

Personally, I don't see a need to stay here and take this abuse <i>and</i> the gloompincers.

Let's finish this one off and leave, Bibeak. They've made their choice, and we have no obligation to stay.

I'll be coming down now. Go around the barricades, and we'll meet by the car!

I...

Why should we have to be chased out like this...?

We did nothing wrong!

We came to—

Another piece of food flies towards Bibeak and lands by her feet. Nearby gloompincers detect the scent and converge upon her.

Orchid repels them with Arts and briefly keeps them away.

It's not the first time something like this has happened, Bibeak. People try to get help from Rhodes Island without even reading the documentation.

But this is not a good situation to be in. We risk angering them further if we stay.

We should retreat before things get worse.

Are you afraid of failing a mission?

I... I don't know.

It's my first field mission, and I don't want to give up like this.

And we didn't do anything wrong!

I don't understand why they're driving us out after we helped them.

I used to hide behind my parents when I saw gloompincers. When someone hurt me, all I could think was 'what should I do?'

But I... I...

I don't want to leave like this, getting chased away like this!

The gloompincers edge forward, becoming less afraid of Orchid's Arts by the second.

Bibeak swings her sword.

She has done so to protect others from angry mobs before, and she has done so countless times in training.

But today, she has only herself in mind when she swings her sword.

Are you doing this because I'm Infected?

Does that make me worse than the gloompincers that are tearing your homes apart? Am I so scary that you have to hide away like that?

Even though we said we don't infect others with Oripathy?

None of the villagers answer.

The swarm of gloompincers breaks through the barricade in front of the village.

Bibeak does not move her feet. She stands there holding her sword, raises it, swings it, and clenches her jaws.

(What a stubborn girl.)

(She's seeing the mission as a testament to her own worth. She didn't need to drive herself into a corner like that.)

(But if that's really how she's thinking of it...)

I'll help you out if you really want to do this, Bibeak.

...Just take it easy. You're hurt.

Damn it, the gloompincers are coming!

Stand your ground! We'll stop them here!

Grab your bows and farm tools!

Shut the windows and doors and make sure they're locked tight!

More and more gloompincers rush towards the village, far more than originally expected.

At the same time, more and more villagers leave their houses and join the line.

The operators who've already begun preparing to evacuate look at Bibeak silently swinging her sword, sigh, and pick up their weapons again.

...Shit. Fine.

Patty and I will go reinforce the barricades. This place is <i>not</i> where I want to die.

I, I... stay away...

—My leg!

If you're hurt, get out of the way.

Stay away...! I, I can stand on my own...

Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't dream of lending you a hand.

The barricades are up! Over here, Orchid, Bibeak!

Coming!

There's got to be an end to this!

Behind you!

Thanks, bro! Er...

Save it.

Er, thanks...

Don't just stand there, move your damn ass!

You got anything better to do than stare? You say this village's so precious to you, but you're gonna leave a couple of Infected to fight for it?

Let me say this again: ordinary contact does not result in infection! Get your ass up here if you really want to chase away these gloompincers!

I... I...

Fine, dammit!

Take this! B-But just stay over there, I, I'll throw it over!

Suit yourself. Couldn't care less one way or another.

I, I'm scared! But I-I do have a conscience!

You saved my life! I've got to do the right thing!

We made this odor bag! Gloompincers don't like the smell! It'll hold them off for a bit!

Catch!

Wright, look out for the other side...

Aaaagh—

A scream draws everyone's attention. A little girl is pointing in Bibeak's direction with terror on her face.

A gloompincer raises its claw behind Bibeak. She tries to raise her sword, but fatigue gets the best of her.

A bolt pierces it just as it was about to bring its claws upon her.

The villager who fired the bolt shields her frightened daughter, and cocks her crossbow without a word as she turns her attention to another gloompincer.

Oh...

Are you okay, Bibeak? Pull back—

I'm fine, Orchid.

T-They're coming!!

Cut the chatter! Get your ass to the barrier!

T-They're coming... I'm not scared!

Anyone who can still stand! Come and help them!

Grab the improvised bombs! They'll at least do some damage!

The sun begins to set, and the gloompincers finally back off, realizing that they are not making any headway.

The villagers continue to stand where they are, in a daze from the furious fighting, feeling only the soreness in their hands.

Bibeak uses her sword as a cane to support her own weight, before turning to head towards the Rhodes Island vehicle parked at a distance.

Bibeak! Get in, and I'll bandage your wounds.

Some of the villagers look as though they want to take a step forward, before stopping in their tracks.

...Hmph.

I think we...

Um, uh...

Sorry... and thank you. It's getting late. We can pack some food for you to eat on the way.