zebra

Because we are. Because we're Sargonian soldiers. Because we swore an oath.

'Never kneel to the enemy in the face of danger. Never abandon your comrades in times of need.'

Personal grudges and desires... don't really matter to me much.

Eh...?

Look at this food they gave us!

You could turn the plate upside down and it wouldn't fall off!

Stop messing with it. If it does fall, you'll have nothing to eat.

Mm-hmm.

If that happened, would you give me yours?

Yes.

Because I'm your comrade?

Because you're my friend.

Friend, comrade... you keep repeating those words.

Is there really a difference?

Yes.

Devotion? Honor? Oaths? Is there a point?

Can you rebels inside hear me?!

Everyone here is an ordinary Sargonian! We fight to put food on the table, to support our families. That's all we want!

Drop your weapons and surrender immediately! Free the hostages!

Yes, ağa! Chorbaji on high!

You don't even care how many of our brothers died in that battle.

This is your final warning!

Fine... we're all dead either way.

This is your final warning!

Heavyrain.

Wake up.

(Hostiles?!)

(No!) What happened?!

Lower your blade...

It's me, no need to panic.

(Dammit... that was too dangerous.) Oh...

(Good thing I didn't hurt Anum.) I'm sorry.

It's fine. But I need your help right now.

Come with me.

Okay.

Here's the situation. Neither of their fevers are breaking, and they've been shaking the whole time.

If we don't cure them ASAP, they're dead for sure.

(Their wounds haven't been treated at all.)

(There's so much rot.) What do you need me to do?

The vets are watching all the supplies, and refuse to help in any way.

I assume you know where they keep them. Can you think of a way to bring anything back?

They're your comrades, after all.

(Comrades...) You don't need to convince me.

(Did she really have to stress it like that?) I'll go and try.

If you didn't stop me just now, I swear I would've taken them on.

Can we trust her?

Have faith. Heavyrain's a good person.

She gave her word, so she'll do it.

A good person?

There's no such thing as a good person in the army, only fools and idiots.

True.

Who's there?!

Shit, we've been noticed!

Deal with them! Don't make too much noise.

Wait! We're in a tough spot too!

So... can we make a deal?

(So dark...)

(I know this is where they put the medicine...)

(These are the bandages, so the disinfectant should be right next to them.)

Who's there?

(Oh, no... I can't let them find me.)

(Just hide this stuff in my clothes...)

What was that noise?! Who is it?!

...Me!

I'm looking for something.

Oh.

Heavyrain, was it meds you took?

All by yourself?

(He's turning off the lights?)

(What is he going to do?!)

Relax, you don't want anyone else finding you here, right?

Okay, so what's going on? Who's hurt?

(Should I tell him?)

(If I just leave, will he stop me?)

If you don't want to say... the door's over here. Be sure not to make any more noise.

Two recruits have... untreated wounds. They have high fevers.

What meds did you take?

These.

Hm... disinfectant and bandages. You know how to treat wounds, then?

Yes. I've learned before.

Good. Remember to remove anything that's rotting.

We're out of anesthetics... They'll just have to grin and bear it.

Take these antibiotics too, they'll be key to saving their lives. That's about all I can give you, though.

Obviously, it'd be best to get them to a hospital. But clearly that's not on the table.

Thank you...

See you, then.

Wait, Heavyrain.

Hm?

Are you hurt? Do you feel bad anywhere?

No.

*sigh*... I remember trying to reason with your mother, when she handed you over to me.

You were barely out of diapers...

Never mind. Hurry. Stay out of sight on your way back.

Can I ask something?

Abi?

Huh? What?

Where's this coming from? You haven't called me that in years.

We swore, before, that we'd root out all of Sargon's enemies.

But now it's Sargonian soldiers surrounding us.

It's Sargonian soldiers we're holding hostage.