Strike Witches 2012 Episode 8: The First Horseman

[Occupied Deutschland]

"Bomb?" Natalie asked. "Oh. Bomb. Durr. There is no bomb, and please put the gun down." Natalie said with slight laugh. "I was just here investigating little miss wants to murder the princess right here." Natalie said grabbing Bushra and throwing her into a noogie, then tossing her out of arms length.

If I wanted to kill her she’d be dead.

Then why is she still alive? Are you just incompetent at doing anything? Or are you just that scared of her?

Shutup.

Bushra raised her hands slightly, palms-out. “No bomb, Sergeant.” She threw a dark glare at Natalie “Just a bit—bigot.” Bushra added, catching herself at the last moment before swearing. She stared at the barrel of the rifle that was aimed at her, halfway petrified. Threats she had experienced before, but not any quite so immediate in their nature. Usually the Ottoman officers she'd served under preferred veiled suggestions of what would happen instead of outright physical threats.

Even though they seem to hate veils. The thought came out of nowhere and even caused a slight grunt of amusement from Bushra before she could stop it.

Really? Now you're laughing when you get a gun pointed at you?

Princess Hanna, as it turned out, had already been awake. She had been staring at the ceiling, for she, too, was fighting a mental battle.

She tried to kill you! She tried to kill you!

Shut up. You're being paranoid. So she got a little close, she was trying to help.

Stop lying to yourself! You could read her thoughts from Mars she was thinking them so loudly! She was trying to kill you!

She sat up, yawned, and wiped her face with her hand. "Princess mind-reader? I know you have rather low respect for nobility, but isn't that a bit mean?"

Return the favor! MAKE her respect you! You probably still have enough magic left in you for today to do that!

But that'd just prove her right...

She tried to kill you, though! She deserves it!

Should that matter?

She had no answer for this. She turned to the television in the infirmary, flipping through the channels to SNN. She leaned back down, tilting her head to watch the Reichstag discuss what to do about Illyria. Chancellor Bachmeier, a firey, ever-so-slightly sadistic former Witch from the Vietnam era, was trying her best to maintain order without picking sides. However, it was obvious she wouldn't last long, her own party, the Empirist party, was already beating the war drums. Minna, near the back, looked sullen. She, like all of the old 501st, hated witch-on-witch warfare with a passion that equaled her distrust of the Neuroi. Being one of the biggest voices of the Centralist party, Karlsland's largest party by numbers, she could easily turn the tide in favor of diplomacy.

But she wasn't saying anything. Either she didn't care, or she was making an exception for this war. And knowing Minna, it would snow in Hell before she failed to care about a human-on-human war. Barkhorn, further down in the Reichstag, was also saying nothing, however, she seemed to have already sided in favor of the war. Since Minna would abstain from voting, Bachmeier would turn to Barkhorn for advice.

Which meant that there would be war. Ostmark and Karlsland would be at war. For the first time in 146 years, the two Germanic powerhouses of Europe would be at war.

It feels so unreal... like it's just a dream. Will I really have to kill... humans?

Hanna looked at her hands, mulling over the question in her hand. After a few seconds, she remembered Bushra was at the door.

"Well, what is it? What did you want to talk to me about?"

Hanna’s question broke through the paralysis inspired by the rifle however and reminded Bushra why she had bothered coming into the infirmary at all.

“Oh-right…” She said, turning around to face the Princess, Lysta’s assault rifle temporarily forgotten.

I bet that’s exactly what she wanted you to do! Obey your master Bushra! You’ll regret it when you get shot in the baaaccck.

Shutup, when you talk to someone you look at them.

Not when you have a gun pointed at you you don’t! Unless you’ve been ORDERED to. Just wait, when you hear the click of the trigger you’ll know! Wonderful idea going into the room the MIND-CONTROLLER is staying in. Honestly, how stupid are you?

lā ʾilāha ʾillà l-Lāh, Muḥammadur rasūlu l-Lāh Aliyyun waliyyu l-Lāh

“Uh—“ Bushra began the nervous thoughts interfering with her more rational ones. Blinking slowly, Bushra bit down on her tongue, using the physical pain to focus. “It’s Molivino—Milovini—Mi—It’s the mind-reader we think brainwashed one of our squadmates. She’s here and she’s—uh—talking to the Major and the Captain up above.”

“I thought…” Bushra trailed off, she wasn’t completely certain what she had thought. Why had she come in here to begin with?

[Imota]

"What the-!?"

Beatrice froze for a second as Yuri pushed past her, then ran after him. As she ran, she could see that the gap between them was widening; at first she was just a few feet behind him, but about halfway down the stairs she had lost sight of him and just kept going down, figuring that he'd have to slow down if he intended to change direction and that she'd be able to see him again if he did.

As she neared the flight deck level, she heard him shout, so she jumped the last dozen or so steps. She landed with both feet flat on the ground, but when she stood up she wobbled slightly and had to grab the door frame for support.

From the doorway, she could see all four of them: Ruya, Sohvi, Colonel Milovanovic, and Yuri with his pistol pointed at the Colonel. She had opened her mouth to say something, but the words died in her throat, so she just stood at the doorway, mouth hanging open, completely at a loss for words.

[Wolfenium]

Motioning herself up the steps, Ljiljana still seemed haunted by Adela's angered words. While she knew fully well Adela had decried her countless times, this was the first instance Ljiljana had felt this guilty. Nonetheless, as she arrived to face the duo, all she could do was put on her trusty mask again

"I apologize if I took too long, commanders," she explained in her typical soft whisper, "I had a fair bit of armaments to hand to my assistant. Is Adela..." she uttered in hesitation, "never mind... I wish to discuss our terms with the LoN regarding the... rebellion. As much as this attack seemed opportunistic at best, I just wish to express the grievances of the Balkan people over the policies of the lords of our land. Do forgive us if we've chosen a... critical time to make our move. Trpimirović was insistent on striking while the Venezians have their witches deployed out in the Adriatic. Bresica is not our only target. I've heard reports from my associates that they've already a fair number of cities. Zagreb, Split, Sarajevo... though most of the work so far are by her units, rather than mine."

Sohvi shook her head. "They're certainly not going to have the support of Romagna, if they haven't sided with Ostmark already. By the sound of the LoN conference, they already have. So have the Ottomans." She turned away, shaking her head. "Damn, this is happening too fast for its own good. And just when there's a Neuroi hive over the Black Sea..."

Sohvi turned back to face Ljiljana. "What's Dacia's reaction so far? Moesia? Knowing Dacia, they'll try to get back Transylvania."

Ljiljana grimaced at the thought, especially with Adela messing with her mind. She hated to fathom the ramifications of their actions, and she appeared to regret that more than ever. But they have already set their plans in motion. It was too late to turn back.

"Nothing much so far," she stated, "but Dacian forces are already deploying on the border, as with Moesia. We suspect the latter may make a bid for Serbian lands, though it's highly unlikely. To be honest," she absentmindedly blurted, "I-"

"Colonel Milovanovic is here? On this ship? Talking to Ruya and Sohvi? This is not good!" Yuri said, an expression of fear appearing on his face. "Excuse me Corporal." He said as he pushed passed Beatrice. He ran down to the bottom of the island and out onto the flight deck, drawing his pistol as he did so. He pulled the charging handle and aimed straight for the Colonel.
"Captain, Major. I am going to ask that you step away from her!" Yuri shouted.

But Yuri's barging interrupted their conversation, as Ljiljana gave a solemn glare at the Liberion. As much as she could hear the paranoia spreading inside the heads of every crewman in the Yeager, his seemed to plague his mind even more.

Gazing deeply into the eyes of the man, she uttered softly, "you suspect me, just as everyone has on board. Your courage is admirable, but you didn't seem to consider much about your course of action. If I'd wanted to manipulate the 501st, I would have done so at any time. The funeral, the interrogation... Even you would not have known. However," she raised her hands, showing the lack of weapons on her, "I come only on peaceful intentions. Unlike my co-conspirator, I have no such intentions to put bystanders in harms way."

'Especially her...' thought the witch, 'I won't let anyone hurt her... Not again...'

"In any case, I heard you've brought another esper on board," she commented lackadaisically, "Princess von Bayern? I remembered when my superiors were eagerly questioning the rationale of bringing a member of their most dreaded adversaries to their halls. In the end, they decided even an 'infidel' was a more reasonable choice than a Protestant 'heretic'. In their own words, no offence."

[Hetland 2]

Lysta paused, her rifle still aimed and pulled the trigger.
"GAH!!!"
The gun had an Irish accent.
A rather thick Irish accent.
Lysta had fallen onto one knee and snarling in pain, her wounds evidently opening up, staining her bandaged legs even deeper red.
Even then she kept the weapon raised, struggling up smearing more and more blood on the floor. "Even if it is a joke, bomb threats are not something to be joked about so both of you put your hands in the fucking air. Both of you! We'll deal with the legitimacy of this threat later."
She scowled.
"And this gun is loaded with real rounds. Don't test me."

[Finorskia]

Lysta paused, her rifle still aimed and pulled the trigger.
"GAH!!!"
The gun had an Irish accent.
A rather thick Irish accent.
Lysta had fallen onto one knee and snarling in pain, her wounds evidently opening up, staining her bandaged legs even deeper red.
Even then she kept the weapon raised, struggling up smearing more and more blood on the floor. "Even if it is a joke, bomb threats are not something to be joked about so both of you put your hands in the fucking air. Both of you! We'll deal with the legitimacy of this threat later."
She scowled.
"And this gun is loaded with real rounds. Don't test me."

Natalies faced twisted to a form of annoyed anger. "Don't test me Master Sargent. Pointing a gun at a superior officer is sever offense. Now put the gun down. If you don't, and you do open fire. I assure you, you will not be the victor." Natalie was angry, very angry. She didn't take very kindly to people pointing guns at her.

---

Yuri continued to aim the gun at the Colonel for about another minute. He then sighed and lowered the weapon. "I suppose you have a point there colonel, and I don't really see any reason why you would need to control the 501st. Nor could you do so with out ultimately being detected. Nonetheless I doubt that the next time we meet we will be on the same side." He said with a slight smile. He turned on his heel and holstered his pistol.
"Lets go Corporal." Yuri said to Beatrice as he entered the carrier.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Lysta paused, her rifle still aimed and pulled the trigger.
"GAH!!!"
The gun had an Irish accent.
A rather thick Irish accent.
Lysta had fallen onto one knee and snarling in pain, her wounds evidently opening up, staining her bandaged legs even deeper red.
Even then she kept the weapon raised, struggling up smearing more and more blood on the floor. "Even if it is a joke, bomb threats are not something to be joked about so both of you put your hands in the fucking air. Both of you! We'll deal with the legitimacy of this threat later."
She scowled.
"And this gun is loaded with real rounds. Don't test me."

Bushra winced when she heard the scream from behind her, fully expecting the next instant to hear the bark of a rifle.

“Allahu Ackbar.” She said quickly, squeezing her eyes shut.

The bullet she had expected didn’t come.

I really don’t want to die.

Well, then, you should’ve—

SHUTUP! You don’t want to hear it. Now is not the time.

Now is the only time! She’s making me think—

Bushra stopped the thought as harshly as she could. Keeping her eyes closed she raised her hands even higher and otherwise remained as still as she could.

That’s exactly what SHE wants you to do!

No, it’s the smart thing for me to do!

Stop it! Shutup! Stop it!

Stay out of my head! Get out! She's in your head!

She isn’t in my head!

I don’t know that!

You would know!

She wouldn’t let me know!

You don’t know that!

Of course you do! She’s nobility! It’s what they do!

She saved Syria!

She’s responsible!

SHUTUP! SHUTUP! Stop thinking about it! Stop it! I’m running in circles chasing nothing! Stop it!

You can’t even trust your own thoughts! She’s influencing me!

I’m being paranoid she’s in a hospital bed for crying out loud!

No, you’re being cautious. It’s not like she has to be able to move to influence my thoughts.

STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!

Bushra squeezed her eyes tighter and bit her tongue, focusing on the physical sensations as deeply as she could. Her head really hurt.

[Hetland 2]

Natalies faced twisted to a form of annoyed anger. "Don't test me Master Sargent. Pointing a gun at a superior officer is sever offense. Now put the gun down. If you don't, and you do open fire. I assure you, you will not be the victor." Natalie was angry, very angry. She didn't take very kindly to people pointing guns at her.

Lysta yelled to the doctors, "THIS IS AN ORDER! MEDICAL PERSONNEL! GET THE PRINCESS AWAY FROM THESE TWO SUSPECTED TERRORISTS NOW! This is your last chance to come peacefully, Lieutenant, Private. If this is as you claim this is just some stupid conversation then let's sort it out. I'll take responsibility for my actions if I am wrong, however until then I'd like you to stand down and put your hands up! NOW!"

[Finorskia]

Natalies faced twisted to a form of annoyed anger. "Don't test me Master Sargent. Pointing a gun at a superior officer is sever offense. Now put the gun down. If you don't, and you do open fire. I assure you, you will not be the victor." Natalie was angry, very angry. She didn't take very kindly to people pointing guns at her.

Lysta yelled to the doctors, "THIS IS AN ORDER! MEDICAL PERSONNEL! GET THE PRINCESS AWAY FROM THESE TWO SUSPECTED TERRORISTS NOW! This is your last chance to come peacefully, Lieutenant, Private. If this is as you claim this is just some stupid conversation then let's sort it out. I'll take responsibility for my actions if I am wrong, however until then I'd like you to stand down and put your hands up! NOW!"

"BELAY THAT ORDER!" Natalie shouted at the medical personnel. "I am carrying no bomb, I am no terrorist, and I've already explained myself to you. Now lower your gun before I have you thrown in the brig." Natalie snapped. "That's an order Sargent. And you Private. Stay right were you are. I'm still suspecting you for attempted murder of Karlslandic royalty."

[Hetland 2]

"BELAY THAT ORDER!" Natalie shouted at the medical personnel. "I am carrying no bomb, I am no terrorist, and I've already explained myself to you. Now lower your gun before I have you thrown in the brig." Natalie snapped. "That's an order Sargent. And you Private. Stay right were you are. I'm still suspecting you for attempted murder of Karlslandic royalty."

Lysta stopped for a second, and pulled out a walkie-talkie, her rifle still aimed at Natalie, "Captain Hanabuya, we have a problem down in the Medical Bay with a possible terroristic threat. 1st Lieutenant Petersdotter and Private Bushra are the suspects. I'd request a minder who's capable of mind checking at this moment as fast as possible. I'd like to get this cleared up." She flicked off the walkie-talkie.
"Lieutenant Petersdotter, please place your hands in the air while they send someone down, so we can get this shit figured out. If you continue to struggle it will only look more suspicious."

---

Katsumi let the radio drop to the floor.
"What... the fuck." She took off with a start, bolting inside towards the medical bay. It'd take a good minute to get there so she hoped nothing big would start.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Every muscle in Bushra’s body tensed and one of her arms cramped as she tried to raise it even further.

Hit the bitch! I’m going to get shot anyways you might as well take that smug Baltlander witch next to me with you!

What are you, stupid? I’ll be shot!

You’re going to get shot anyways, I’d prefer not going alone!

Shutup…

That’s disgusting!

No, constantly bowing to authority like YOU do is disgusting!

Shutupshutup…

You’d get us killed! I won’t have it!

I’d stand up for us! You need to stop obeying THEM!

Shutupshutupshutup…

You’re the one obeying them! I’d get killed if you move! That’s what she wants me to do! If I’m dead then you’re dead too!

No, you’re the one obeying them! I’m going to be dead anyways if you don’t move! She wants you to stand here like an idiot and do nothing while I get killed!

Shutupshutupshutupshutup…

She wouldn’t bother controlling ME when she knows you’d obey a regular order!

She wouldn’t bother controlling me just to have you do nothing! It’d be pointless!

She might want you to think in circles like this until I go mad.

Shutupshutupshutupshutupshutup…

I’m not the one thinking in circles! YOU’RE the one who’s accusing me of being controlled!

Because you are! I’m fine but you have to listen to ME!

Both of you might be! I can’t know which one is or isn’t!

Unless that’s exactly what she wants you to think! What if she wants you to think I’m going nuts!

You can’t know which of me is or isn’t which!

You KNOW I’m fine!

Shutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutup…

I’M NOT IN CONTROL!

Bushra’s breaths began to come in short gulps, her vision beginning to cloud around the edges.

Well at least we’re in the infirmary.

The thought sent Bushra into a short-winded but persistent bout of laughter.

[Finorskia]

"BELAY THAT ORDER!" Natalie shouted at the medical personnel. "I am carrying no bomb, I am no terrorist, and I've already explained myself to you. Now lower your gun before I have you thrown in the brig." Natalie snapped. "That's an order Sargent. And you Private. Stay right were you are. I'm still suspecting you for attempted murder of Karlslandic royalty."

Lysta stopped for a second, and pulled out a walkie-talkie, her rifle still aimed at Natalie, "Captain Hanabuya, we have a problem down in the Medical Bay with a possible terroristic threat. 1st Lieutenant Petersdotter and Private Bushra are the suspects. I'd request a minder who's capable of mind checking at this moment as fast as possible. I'd like to get this cleared up." She flicked off the walkie-talkie.
"Lieutenant Petersdotter, please place your hands in the air while they send someone down, so we can get this shit figured out. If you continue to struggle it will only look more suspicious."

---

Katsumi let the radio drop to the floor.
"What... the fuck." She took off with a start, bolting inside towards the medical bay. It'd take a good minute to get there so she hoped nothing big would start.

"For the last time Sargent. Lower your gun." Natalie said. She was fed up. How dare this person accuse her off being a terrorist. Natalie wouldn't hurt anyone who she wasn't ordered to (and then she would only do it if she agreed with the order), or who attacked her. Now here comes this paranoid Irish bitch to come along telling her, a superior officer, what to do; while holding a gun at her. This did not ride well with Natalie, and the more Lysta continued to demand her to raise her hands, the more angry she got.

Natalie only broke her concentration on Lysta for a moment to give Bushra a cockeyed look, showing her weirded out by the sudden burst .

[Wolfenium]

"BELAY THAT ORDER!" Natalie shouted at the medical personnel. "I am carrying no bomb, I am no terrorist, and I've already explained myself to you. Now lower your gun before I have you thrown in the brig." Natalie snapped. "That's an order Sargent. And you Private. Stay right were you are. I'm still suspecting you for attempted murder of Karlslandic royalty."

Lysta stopped for a second, and pulled out a walkie-talkie, her rifle still aimed at Natalie, "Captain Hanabuya, we have a problem down in the Medical Bay with a possible terroristic threat. 1st Lieutenant Petersdotter and Private Bushra are the suspects. I'd request a minder who's capable of mind checking at this moment as fast as possible. I'd like to get this cleared up." She flicked off the walkie-talkie.
"Lieutenant Petersdotter, please place your hands in the air while they send someone down, so we can get this shit figured out. If you continue to struggle it will only look more suspicious."

---

Katsumi let the radio drop to the floor.
"What... the fuck." She took off with a start, bolting inside towards the medical bay. It'd take a good minute to get there so she hoped nothing big would start.

Fei could only pause at the news on the radio as the situation in the medical bay deteriorated at an incredible rate. He never imagined the paranoia spreading through the ship would get out of hand. Once a man with a seemingly endless supply of solutions to every problem, he was now at a terrible loss at the events transpiring. Worse still, he feared the radio may be intercepted by the Serbs eyeing on them. While Ljiljana appeared to be the sole authority over her unit, even she seemed to have dubious intentions. Needless to say, the news was horrific at best.

But there was nothing he could do for now, nothing he could do to alleviate the situation. Even he was starting to suspect the incident was the work of forces beyond his control; forces only the likes of Ljiljana and Princess Hanna could comprehend. But as messages clutter the radio over the situation in the medical bay, one slipped through from elsewhere.

"L-Lieutenant," Svetlana whispered over the radio, her voice frozen as always, "something's happened in the brig."

"What?" Fei blurted absentmindedly, picking up the receiver in horror, "what happened? Did the prisoner escape or..."

Svetlana gave but a long pause over the words, her words incomprehensible over the static. However, heaving a gasp, she finally made her grim report.

"She's dead," she stated, "I don't even know how it happened, but..."

An irksome puking sound rang inside the channel as Fei listened with a petrified expression. Pressing his ear in, he questioned, "what happened? What do you mean-"

"I can't... I can't say it... I can't even tell if the body's human anymore... it's just..."

Fei was stunned beyond compare, unable to fathom what sight the young girl was forced on. He never anticipated that a simple funeral arrangement would degenerate into a mass of pure chaos. It was far beyond his capacity to handle affairs, and he knew it. Glaring over outside, all he could do was stare into the open shores.

"My god..." he muttered, "what has happened to us..."

[Imota]

Yuri continued to aim the gun at the Colonel for about another minute. He then sighed and lowered the weapon. "I suppose you have a point there colonel, and I don't really see any reason why you would need to control the 501st. Nor could you do so with out ultimately being detected. Nonetheless I doubt that the next time we meet we will be on the same side." He said with a slight smile. He turned on his heel and holstered his pistol.
"Lets go Corporal." Yuri said to Beatrice as he entered the carrier.

"Y-yes, sir," Beatrice said as she followed Yuri inside. She knew that she had to say something: in just under a week, she had seen Yuri point guns in anger at people twice.

What can I say, she thought, that won't make it three times? I mean, I don't think Yuri's crazy, but I don't recall him being this trigger-happy before. If I talk to him now, he might blow up on me, in more ways than one. The main thing is, he needs to calm down. We all need to calm down...

She looked at her chest, then at Yuri, then at her chest again.

"Sorry, sir!" she said as she grabbed Yuri's hand and pressed it against her chest.

[Finorskia]

Yuri continued to aim the gun at the Colonel for about another minute. He then sighed and lowered the weapon. "I suppose you have a point there colonel, and I don't really see any reason why you would need to control the 501st. Nor could you do so with out ultimately being detected. Nonetheless I doubt that the next time we meet we will be on the same side." He said with a slight smile. He turned on his heel and holstered his pistol.
"Lets go Corporal." Yuri said to Beatrice as he entered the carrier.

"Y-yes, sir," Beatrice said as she followed Yuri inside. She knew that she had to say something: in just under a week, she had seen Yuri point guns in anger at people twice.

What can I say, she thought, that won't make it three times? I mean, I don't think Yuri's crazy, but I don't recall him being this trigger-happy before. If I talk to him now, he might blow up on me, in more ways than one. The main thing is, he needs to calm down. We all need to calm down...

She looked at her chest, then at Yuri, then at her chest again.

"Sorry, sir!" she said as she grabbed Yuri's hand and pressed it against her chest.

"Um Corporal. What are you doing?" Yuri said straight faced as he moved his hand away from her chest. That was unexpected, and will make a very odd journal entry. No actually this whole day will make an odd entry. He thought to himself.
"Corporal is something the matter?" He asked.

[Imota]

"Y-yes, sir," Beatrice said as she followed Yuri inside. She knew that she had to say something: in just under a week, she had seen Yuri point guns in anger at people twice.

What can I say, she thought, that won't make it three times? I mean, I don't think Yuri's crazy, but I don't recall him being this trigger-happy before. If I talk to him now, he might blow up on me, in more ways than one. The main thing is, he needs to calm down. We all need to calm down...

She looked at her chest, then at Yuri, then at her chest again.

"Sorry, sir!" she said as she grabbed Yuri's hand and pressed it against her chest.

"Um Corporal. What are you doing?" Yuri said straight faced as he moved his hand away from her chest. That was unexpected, and will make a very odd journal entry. No actually this whole day will make an odd entry. He thought to himself.
"Corporal is something the matter?" He asked.

Beatrice looked incredulous.

"Is something the matter?" she repeated. "What the hell kind of question is that!? You KNOW something's the matter! You're not the kind of guy to point guns at people just 'cause you get angry. You're too damn good for that. That's why..." She swallowed.

"Please, sir," she said softly, "I...the truth is, I've liked you for a while now, and..." She took a breath and closed her eyes.

"This isn't like you! This isn't like you at all! I fell in love with you because you were always so mature and dependable, not to mention you're not bad to look at, for a zoomie...and...and it hurts to see you like this! You're not crazy! You're not a trigger-happy psycho! THIS ISN'T YOU!" She shook her head, opening her eyes again, then averting them.

"Look at me," she said, indicating her chest. "Look at me. Not much to look at, is there? But everything there...every last bit of me here loves you, Yuri. If..." she gulped, tears welling in her eyes.

"If it will help at all, please feel free...feel free to use my body to heal yourself. Don't worry. We Marines are used to pain. A zoomie being a little rough is nothing. I know what you're gonna say, because you're a good guy like that, and that's why we need you back. It ain't just me. All of us. We need you back the way you were, and if I can help that...I'll do whatever I can, until you tell me to stop." She faced Yuri again, tears flowing freely.

"I know this isn't how things should be," she said finally, softly, "but if that's what it takes to get them back to normal..." She stood, breathing heavily, before her knees finally gave out.

[Finorskia]

Beatrice looked incredulous.

"Is something the matter?" she repeated. "What the hell kind of question is that!? You KNOW something's the matter! You're not the kind of guy to point guns at people just 'cause you get angry. You're too damn good for that. That's why..." She swallowed.

"Please, sir," she said softly, "I...the truth is, I've liked you for a while now, and..." She took a breath and closed her eyes.

"This isn't like you! This isn't like you at all! I fell in love with you because you were always so mature and dependable, not to mention you're not bad to look at, for a zoomie...and...and it hurts to see you like this! You're not crazy! You're not a trigger-happy psycho! THIS ISN'T YOU!" She shook her head, opening her eyes again, then averting them.

"Look at me," she said, indicating her chest. "Look at me. Not much to look at, is there? But everything there...every last bit of me here loves you, Yuri. If..." she gulped, tears welling in her eyes.

"If it will help at all, please feel free...feel free to use my body to heal yourself. Don't worry. We Marines are used to pain. A zoomie being a little rough is nothing. I know what you're gonna say, because you're a good guy like that, and that's why we need you back. It ain't just me. All of us. We need you back the way you were, and if I can help that...I'll do whatever I can, until you tell me to stop." She faced Yuri again, tears flowing freely.

"I know this isn't how things should be," she said finally, softly, "but if that's what it takes to get them back to normal..." She stood, breathing heavily, before her knees finally gave out.

Yuri sighed and knelt down to Beatrice's height. He put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I appreciate your concern for me Corporal, but there are some things you must understand. First. Never, ever, ever. Repeat what you just said to me. It is not only the wrong thing to say to anyone, but it could cost me my carrier. You should know this. Second. Your a little young to be thinking of such things, wait till you grow up and find someone who is closer to your age. Finally..." He paused and took a deep breath.
"I'm not exactly trigger happy, though it may seem that way. I'm just...on edge. Back in the Gulf things were chaos. People were defecting left and right from both sides, and good men and women paid the price. There was this one which, about your age I think, who was so scared when she arrived. I first met her when my section of the NATO air wing was stationed at base in Afghanistan. The base was secluded and well defended. No one could find us, and if they did they couldn't get through. Anyways I'm getting off track. This which was so scared. I talked to her got to know her, hell I helped her get over her uneasiness. During a sortie she and her squad vanished, they were declared MIA, then she was found again. I was real happy to see her comeback. We all were. Turned out though that shed defected. Killed her CO and squad mates, and had been signed on to infiltrate the base. She knocked out the power grid, the alarm systems. Then the enemy attacked. Bombed everything. Forty five percent casualties. Whats worse is that I was the one who ended up killing her." He sighed and looked Beatrice in the eyes.
"Ever since I don't like trusting people when things start becoming suspicious. I assure you when things die down I won't be pointing guns at anybody else." He smiled again and stood up.
"Now if you excuse me I think I heard something about a dispute in the medical bay over the radio. Better go check it out." And with that he turned and walked on down the corridor.

[Imota]

Beatrice watched as Yuri walked down the corridor. It took her a while for her to process what had happened, but once she had, she could feel herself blushing profusely.

Dammit...did I really just do that? I...I can't believe I made a fool of myself in front of him...

He's right, though. This is a pretty crazy situation. All the more reason to avoid outbursts like that. What if he had taken you up on your damn fool offer, anyway?

...ugh...

Exactamundo, Beato. Besides, he knows what he's doing. He's got this.

Well, that is why I-

Stow that thought. Not another word. First thing's first: he said there was a disturbance in sick bay. Might as well get down there and make yourself useful. Hop to it, devil dog!

Beatrice stood up and wiped her tears on her sleeve.

"Thank you, sir," she said quietly in the direction Yuri had gone, before walking a different route towards the medical bay.

[Chulainan]

Eeva had followed Nat into the carrier originally but left for a different place. She had gone to her quarters and decided to have a drink. It had been a while since she had some whiskey. She sat down and enjoyed the drink for a while, relaxing. She finished it soon however, and got bored. She jogged out of the room to find Nat, asking some people for directions she quickly found out that Nat was seen going to the infirmary a while ago.

She made her way down the corridor with her hammer in tow wondering if her friend had kept the same level of fitness while she was gone. She knew the little bookworm had a habit of avoiding exercise, even if she wouldn't admit it. She jumped into the infirmary, but soon skidded to a halt. She was less than four feet away from the girl with the great rack, who had a gun pointed at Nat and Bushra.

Eeva stood there wide-eyed for a second before reacting, quickly standing in front of the gun.

"What the hell do you think you're doing" growled Eeva, "put that gun down now, you do not point a gun ant my squadmates"

[Nachfolgia]

After Milovanovic landed and followed the Captain up to the bridge, Friederike walked down into the carrier. After walking down a couple of stairwells and hallways, Friederike came to her personal room. She walked over to her bed and sat down. I can't believe one of the daughters is right here on this ship. I never thought i would be this close to a daughter without the intent to kill one. Friederike thought to herself with her usual emotionless expression on her face.

Friederike sat on her in silence for a couple of seconds. Wanting to break the silence, Friederike reached over and turned on her personal radio. She turned the radio to the SNN channel and laid down on her bed. Over the radio, Friederike heard the Karlslandic radio broadcasters talking about a meeting that was taking place in the Reichstag. Friederike eyes widened as she heard one of the broadcasters mentioning a war between Karlsland and Ostmark. A war between Karlsland and Ostmark? This is going to turn out to be bad for all of us. If war breaks out, I'm going to have to go back to the Grünhertz. Friederike thought to herself.

Friederike, after sitting on her bed for a couple of moments, turned the radio off and left her room. She managed walk back up a couple of levels before two witches, who she didn't know the names of, ran past her with weapons in their hands heading towards the medical bay. Friederike knew something was wrong and ran after them. She followed them to the medical bay where she saw several witches crowding around the door. Friederike saw a couple of witches pointing rifles at one another, yelling at one another. Friederike didn't pay attention to the argument, she was busy glaring at Bushra, who was just standing there with her eyes closed. As Friederike glared at Bushra, her anger boiling over. She suspected that Bushra was there to try to kill Hanna again. With her fox ears and tail materialized, Friederike walked towards Bushra, clear anger in her eyes. When She got to Bushra, Friederike connected with a right hook, causing Bushra to stagger against the wall. " Didn't I tell you not to near Princess Hanna?" Friederike said.

[Occupied Deutschland]

What if she’s controlling you? But maybe she’s controlling them? Or maybe she just wants me to think she’s only controlling them?
But-what-if-she’s-controlling-them-but-wants-us-to-think-she’s-controlling-them-so-you-do-something-to-them-and-get-me-killed?
Ormaybeshejustwantsyoutothinkshe’scontrollingthemwhenshe’sreallycontrollingus? Ormaybeshe’snotcontrollinganmebutwantsyoutothinksheissowethinksheisanddosomethingaboutit? Whatifyou’renotthinkingyourownthoughts? WhatifIcan’ttrustme? Whatifyou’reno—

An intense pain interrupted the thought and knocked her off balance. Stumbling, Bushra caught herself on the wall of the infirmary. Her eyes fluttering open, she caught sight of Friederike.

"Didn't I tell you not to go near Princess Hanna?" Friederike said.

Anger overrode any other thoughts she might have, and Bushra pushed off the wall. Her familiar’s ears and tails materialized as she crossed the short distance between her and Friederike in an instant. Enough was enough.

What if this is exactly what the Princess wants you—

FUCK it, I don’t care anymore!

Leaping as she neared the Karlslandic witch, Bushra slammed into the other girl at waist-level, sending both of them crashing into a nearby hospital gurney, knocking it over with a heavy clatter.

“To hell with you you goddamned fucking bitch!” Bushra screamed as she tried to roll into a good position to hit Friederike from.

“FUCK YOU!”

[Hetland 2]

Lysta twitched. This had devolved into a straight up brawl. No. Even less than that.
"Looks like I've got to teach these morons a lesson in humility."
She snapped her fingers and her ears and tail popped out. She let go of the gun, it however remained suspended in the air aiming at Eeva.
"Scene has devolved into a mess. Pardon me for a second." She turned to face the Bushra and Friederike.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU BLOODY TWATS!"
Both of them felt an invisible force on the back of their heads, propelling them towards each other.

[Rupudska]

It seemed that Hanna had finally had enough. E. Fucking. Nough. Her magic antennae flickered on to green, then red, then back to green before fading entirely.

"Will you people SHUT THE HELL UP? Jesus Christ, do you even realize how annoying you sound?" She first turned to Bushra.

"Bushra, get your shit together before someone throws you in an insanity ward! I was going to read your thoughts to see just what the hell you have against me, but it's like a war zone in your head! You may as well be thinking in Neuroi for all I could tell!"

"Lysta, put your gun down and get out of here! You're not helping in any way!"

"Friederike, I could barely tell what was in Bushra's mind, partly because I'm too damn tired to pry in there, but I'm pretty damn sure she wasn't trying to kill me!"

Liar! Liar liar liar liar liar liar-

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!

She took a deep breath, lying back down on the bed. She looked even more tired than she did earlier. Her eyes looked sunken, with minor bagginess and obvious dark circles. It made sense, she hadn't slept in almost 18 hours. She suddenly sat back up, put what appeared to be a modified helmet with something thin and shiny sticking out from underneath, and lay back down.

"Could you people just calm down and take your arguments somewhere else? I need to sleep, and I don't care what's going on outside right now. I should have been asleep hours ago."

[Agritum]

Matilde deposited her MG3 in the Yeager's armory, looking as nervous as ever. Adela's tantrums, the Neuroi swarming through Greece, the Illyrians. It was like an endless chain of tragedies and catastrophes, all hitting the 501st with the full brunt of their force, like a giant tsunami looming over a lone, defenseless lighthouse.

Then, the radio channel suddenly became cluttered by the bickering of her squadron mates. All the shouts, all the screams and the lverall chaos that was going on in the channel ticked Matilde off. She promptly turned in direction of the medbay, ready to chew out whoever was causing all that noise for nothing. She didn't care for all the bickering in the radio, as if she had quickly filtered and isolated it.
Then, Matilde stopped in her tracks. Amongst all the bickering, she had heard two different voices. But only one really mattered to her.
"MERDA!" she uttered, quickly storming away from the armory.

The door of the Yeager's brig was suddenly slammed open, as Matilde barged in, her Beretta 92FS already drawn. The Sergeant made her way through her brig, searching frantically for someone in particular.
"Svetlana!? Where are you? Are you okay?"

[Occupied Deutschland]

Just as she was winding up to punch the Karlslandic witch, Bushra’s head jerked forwards entirely against her will, and connected with Friederike’s with a rough crack. Dazed from the blow, Bushra rolled over slightly, clutching at the gurney’s legs to haul herself up from her position on the floor with one hand while clutching her face with the other.

She was moments away from swinging the gurney around to hit Friederike when Princess Hanna’s voice once again interrupted.

It seemed that Hanna had finally had enough. E. Fucking. Nough. Her magic antennae flickered on to green, then red, then back to green before fading entirely.

"Will you people SHUT THE HELL UP? Jesus Christ, do you even realize how annoying you sound?" She first turned to Bushra.

"Bushra, get your shit together before someone throws you in an insanity ward! I was going to read your thoughts to see just what the hell you have against me, but it's like a war zone in your head! You may as well be thinking in Neuroi for all I could tell!"

"Lysta, put your gun down and get out of here! You're not helping in any way!"

"Friederike, I could barely tell what was in Bushra's mind, partly because I'm too damn tired to pry in there, but I'm pretty damn sure she wasn't trying to kill me!"

Liar! Liar liar liar liar liar liar-

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!

She took a deep breath, lying back down on the bed. She looked even more tired than she did earlier. Her eyes looked sunken, with minor bagginess and obvious dark circles. It made sense, she hadn't slept in almost 18 hours. She suddenly sat back up, put what appeared to be a modified helmet with something thin and shiny sticking out from underneath, and lay back down.

"Could you people just calm down and take your arguments somewhere else? I need to sleep, and I don't care what's going on outside right now. I should have been asleep hours ago."

Heh, she can’t read your thoughts.

Only because they’re so messed up. Not something to be proud of.

She’s giving you an excuse to get away from her! Take it! TakeitTakeitTakeit…

Using the hand she had on the gurney to leverage herself upright, Bushra stared around the infirmary. She lingered particularly long on Lysta and Natalie. How in the world had everything gotten so messed up so quick?

You freaked out, remember?

Not my fault. Natalie had to get all insistent and bitchy, and then the Sergeant showed up with a gun. Not my fault at all. THEIR fault.

If you hadn’t come nothing would’ve happened.

If I hadn’t come she wouldn’t know Milovanovic is here!

That doesn’t seem to matter much to her does it? She needs her beauty rest so the other person that can control people’s minds will just have to wait.

And how many people will be brainwashed while dear Princess gets her rest?

Between zero and the entire crew of the Yeager. Nothing to worry about.

The beginnings of another morbid laugh started deep in Bushra’s chest but she managed to kill this one before it escaped. In its place she let out a short, half pain half frustration, sigh and took a slow step towards the exit.

What if that’s what she wants you to—

Oh Shut up for the last time. THIS is why you shouldn’t think about this. She’s not controlling you and that’s all there is to it. Everything you’ve been doing can be perfectly explained by it being either the right thing to do or being precipitated by you overthinking the right thing to do because you worried it was what she wanted you to do.

…Which is exactly what she’d want me to think if—

NO. Shutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutupshutup…

“Shall we take this outside? It’d be terrible to interrupt the Princess’s beauty rest after all.”

In the sweet, merciful name of Allah woman that is the LAST thing you should say right now!

But she’s sitting by and doing nothing while Milovanovic is cavorting around doing who-knows-what! She’s the only one that can do anything! She’s the only one that can help and she’s sleeping in a BED! Which is exactly what we should expect...

Well then, other people will just have to handle it.

Great plan. I know, you can find Milovanovic and knock her out. That’s a great plan right? I mean, aside from the fact that Milovanovic would know the plan and then be able to stop it with her THOUGHTS in an instant. But ignoring that, great plan.

Shutup.

[Rupudska]

Hanna rolled her eyes, watching Bushra get up and have a mental battle with herself. "You DO realize that the helmet I'm wearing is designed specifically so that ESPers like myself don't go off reading minds while they're asleep, right? I can't control your actions right now, and I can't read your mind, either, with this on." She pointed to the somewhat lopsided-looking helmet with what appeared to be aluminum-plated lead foil in the lining. It was actually about a half-centimeter of lead coated in aluminum, but it didn't matter, it was more than enough to get the job done, even for Hanna.