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9-9.2 Bagpipe, what I say next, you need to listen well– We have to give up on this block. I'm about to take Cello's group to a comms base in the northeast corner. We're hoping it hasn't been occupied by the spectre force yet. And you, go immediately to the contact station, find a Messenger, and ensure you find them a way out of the city too. If there's already no way left, then make one. Bagpipe, I order you. Shy at no cost. You have to relay out what's happened in County Hillock. Dammit. The others are all with The Leader doing more meaningful things, and I get the rotten luck of sweeping up here... Funny now that I think about it. There's fighting going on all over. Why would The Leader insist I sweep clean around the statue? [As the young man walks awy, Janie grabs him.] Huh? Who is it... What are you grabbing at me for? Is this where... Saoirse died? Saoirse? You mean the traitor The Leader executed? Yeah, it was all her fault. She's dead, and you want me here bloody sweeping up these ashes... You mean, what you're sweeping is... Rubbish, nothing more. ...No. She... She was a good girl. To her family, to her friends... she was so warm. She gave... everything for this city. Why? What... did she even do wrong? She teared up just reading romance novels–she'd never have it in her to harm anyone... Wh... What in the world's wrong with you? Do you sympathize with this traitor? Just who are you?! She's not called "traitor." Her name is Saoirse. She shouldn't be lying here so alone. I'm taking her back home. You've got a screw loose. I'm leaving. [The young man leaves...] [...and reports Janie's presence to a Dublinn soldier.] What's happening over there? Sir! There's someone strange, crouching there, going on and on about taking the traitor home! I think she might be an enemy as well, and a traitor too!! Alright, good on you for reporting. [While Janie is gathering up Saoirse's cremated ashes, a Dublinn soldier approaches her.] Soldier Hey, who are you? (...Saoirse, maybe you were wrong, and so was I.) (You used your life to protect these people, and they didn't even care that you did. And they welcomed the rioters, too. The way this city's turned out now, they're not that innocent at all.) Are you from the other side? The other side? I don't know anymore–which side I'm even stood on. Don't move! Any more, and your skull is– [The Dublinn soldier is shot dead by several Victorian soldiers who have just arrived.] Dealt with yet another few. [Several Dublinn soldiers and sympathizers are killed after a short skirmish.] Rabblesome dregs... hah, I'll take however many I can do in on the retreat. Hey, Vouivre over there, have you seen more of them about? (...Dregs.) (Calling Saoirse rubbish. Of course they're dregs.) They just went running that way. We'll head right over– [The Victorian soldiers pursue the fleeing Dublinn soldiers.] It seemed as if I heard the residents' shrieks, and seemed too as if I'd heard nothing at all. I only thought of bringing Saoirse away, but no matter how I tried to put the strength in my fingers, the ash would still slip and fall through the cracks. Saoirse... A hand reached out to me. Time to get clear out, Jane. <Background 3> Here, lemon tea. Warm up. *Sob*... If you want to cry, just let it out. ...I can't get the tears out. I can feel your anger. Do you hate them? Perhaps... You got those soldiers to grab a Taran who supports the riots. That make you feel any better? ...No. Maybe, I hate myself even more. If... I didn't hand that slip over, Saoirse wouldn't have died, would she? But all I wanted was to stop a bigger conflict... I thought, so long as I stood up, I could change... Outcast We wouldn't call it fate if it always went how we wanted. Jane, can I tell you a story? Go on. I'll try to listen. I'll keep it short. ago, when I was about your age... No, maybe a bit older, back when I worked for the Church– You don't seem a thing like those Laterano clerics. Years and experience are pretty good at changing a person. They had me arbitrating a war. Who the sides were, or why they were fighting, that's not important anymore. The parties responsible for getting the ball rolling are probably all dust anyway. I just remember, there was a city asking for my help. I told them to lay their weapons down, I was ready to be their go-between, and off I went for peace talks with a general from the side sieging the place. The people in the city really weren't up for it, with the whole 'surrendering to tyranny' thing, so I took some drastic measures to get them talking, but we still never came to an agreement, in the end. I gave up hope and left, bringing with me just a few who were willing to quit fighting, but the second day after I left, the city was breached. Pretty much everyone who stayed ended up dead. I believe... a good chunk of them all thought, nearing death's door, I'd still come and protect them in the end. But I didn't. Looking back, I guess I was on the other side. I was the sinister pretender who'd given them hope, gotten them massacred. But you're not! You sure? Who can say? After that, I renounced my appointment as a cardinal, and left Laterano. It sounds like you tried your best... Really? What if I kept at it, tried harder to stop the massacre that was coming? Then you probably couldn't save a single one. Or maybe I shouldn't have gone there with unrealistic hopes in the first place. Maybe I should've walked up and put a bullet in the head of the brute about to butcher an entire city. Wouldn't that... have other consequences? No one can tell you the consequences of opening fire before you do it. But still, are you telling me you'd stand by and watch–just let evil happen over and over, and over again? ...I wouldn't. You're right. No matter how I keep questioning myself... I don't regret it at all. Bagpipe... I hope you can still make it. [Horn receives a call from Triangle...] Triangle? [...and when she anwers, sounds of fighting are heard over the radio.] You came in at the right time. I'm about to dash for a communications center, position not far from here. You don't have to enter the city, we'll rendezvous directly at the outskirts– ...Leader. What happened to you?! You sound in awful shape! Were you wounded? Hah... not a... big issue... ahah... forget it, it's a little big. But no need... to fuss about me. Leader, I don't have much time. We've definitely found what we were looking for. These Originium products were sent to the artillery battalion. Artillery battalion?! The barracks' one? [An explosion over the radio momentarily cuts off the call.] Yes, absolutely. We're in here right now. The barracks have already been breached by the spectre force?! [More explosions and shots over the phone interfere the call.] To be honest, I don't know. Another thing you need to know. The Originium products we found had all gone through modification. What kind of modification? I only came by a part of it. Their structures aren't whole, someone's taken out the parts with active Originium... Do you still remember the serial bombing case at Stockton? The offending group created a huge amount of incompletely combusting bombs, and caused grave Originium dust pollution in the core district, in retaliation against the government. Right... hah... you get what I mean. They have us surrounded... we're out of luck hiding... And Snare? The others?! Snare's... next to me. There's a bolt clean through her heart... she went without too much pain, fortunately. Bass and Mandolin are still in the warehouse. Sorry. I couldn't bring them... You did all you could. You're a fine leader. Am I, then...? Surely not as good as you, Leader. [A heavy shot is heard over the radio.] These hostiles... they're bizarre. They use weapons just like ours. And on top of that, I can hear... familiar call-outs... Just who... is our enemy? That's not important, Triangle. You all come back alive for me, you hear that? This is an order! Hah... got it, Leader. I'll keep it in mind. [An explosion preceded by a grenade shot is heard over the radio, cutting off the call. Now the radio goes static.]