Chapter 2: Interaction

"I've murdered many souls in battle. But I still believe it's wrong. For this game we all play, it's become natural to not even think about their morality. Sure, they are just doing their jobs. But so are we. Why should we care, if they are hired for those causes. They tried to kill innocent civilians. That's never been our intention, has it? Nor will it ever be. They were ruthless hired mercenaries. Cared nothing about themselves and their pay. Every merc I've ever met is a scumbag him or herself. Selfish and greedy. They'll become your slave if you give them enough zeros at the end of that check."

"What about Guz?"

"An exception to the rule. He is one single case of a good soul, compared to the thousands upon thousands of examples that prove my point. Not sure if he even has a personality, but nevertheless. This is not a sport, after all. It's manifested into a business nowadays. A dangerous business, where the chances of death are higher than bodily harm. I don't understand how that managed to happen."

"Well… aside from the occasional assassins trying to kill us out of greed, it's all in fun. I mean, we're all like a family, in one sense. It's not just a business… But I can understand what you're saying. Everyone does their job well, we've all been friends for a long time."

"Sometimes I worry I'm not cruel enough for my job. I'm a bit too merciful. I let them escape out of my own morality, and they always come back and kill me. Respect long gone from their minds. Many times I wanted to seek revenge and kill them. They broke a moral code. Especially the man down at the docks."

"We still could have deescalated the situation! You didn't need to kill him."

"He would have rotted in jail anyways. He kept chattering so foolishly, talking about you and the new Lieutenant in such insulting and despicable terms, and degrading women in general. I apologize, it was hard for me to restrain myself. Yet he still was an escaped convicted paedophile. How he didn't get the death sentence in the first place is beyond me. He deserved death, no less. He had a weapon on him as well. You don't think he could have severely harmed any of us?"

"Well… I didn't know he was a convicted criminal of that crime at first… Now I'm starting to side with you on this. I still believe throwing him in jail is a better idea."

"Torture?"

"No! Unless he harmed the kid so much… No I still think torture is morally wrong. It's just unnecessary punishment."

"Waste of energy and resources perhaps… But he still deserves every last whip. Anyways, enough about that. When does the ceremony commence?"

"…Ceremony?"

"Yes, doesn't the new Lieutenant get thrown a party or something?"

"No, he didn't want the spotlight to be on him. Wanted to only make it private between clan members."

"It's not out of his quiet character. Is he ever going to get over his social anxiety? How he even got here is still beyond me. Were we really desperate on new members? We could have used some of those mercs…"

"Stop thinking like that. You know how he is. He still won't even open up to me on what happened in his childhood. And I think we should respect him to not pry. And I don't think I would tell you if I know. You're going to have to get it from him, if ever. And it's hard trying to 'get over' anxiety. It's a mental illness."

"Which is why-"

"I'm not going to release him. You've seen the good things he's done around the place. He's not as useless as you first believed he was."

"…True."

"And I will never replace him with a barbarian mercenary. Ever. He's just too kind and sweet-hearted."

"Has he ever killed anyone?"

"Erm… Not to my knowledge, no."

"While your point of he's usefulness is made, it's outweighed by the fact that he can't fight, he doesn't want to fight, and has never fought before. Even medics of the RHG system know basic self-defence. He knows squat. He can read about how to fight in those books of reed, when it comes to the real world, he can easily die in a matter of seconds. His life taken away with the snap of a finger. You need to transform him to stop being so caring, and toughen him up."

"Have you seen what's happen over the past few months? I think the chances of us dying, or him for that matter, are slim to nothing. We couldn't even be defeated in space-"

"Somehow defying laws and physics."

"-And I don't want to waste my time pondering how and when I'm going to pass away. Another thing, why would anyone want to kill him for?"

"You're not thinking ahead here. He could be used as a bargaining tool for the future, a hostage for whatever they want. It's not impossible."

"But that has never happened! And we don't have any enemies right now. They've been removed."

"You're missing the point here. I sense hesitation in your voice. You're not even sure about it yourself, are you?"

"W-well… Who would want to attack us in the future?"

"Perhaps you've peeved someone off in the past, and they are seeking revenge. I wouldn't be surprised in imagining countless bounties over your head especially, and maybe the rest of us as well. Money is very dangerous when combined with one person who is very greedy. Money can make anyone do anything. This world is not as 'friendly' as it appears to make out for you."

"I don't believe that for a second. I mean, just take a look at everyone at Hyun's dojo-"

"Yes that oversized reed hut."

"-They are all nice and respectful. To us and everyone around them. Even those who are a bit more… crazier than the normal Gladiator there. And the civilians of the world can't give us enough praise and admiration for us." Which should have never happened in the first place. I'd think it's best if I don't speak that to the world. She may get certain implications. They all do. The Darkness Wars (or whatever you like to call them) is still ingrained into people's minds, which is rather surprising, considering it ended about forty years ago. You'd think people would have moved on. But I guess some families can't let go of what happened. Can you even blame them for that? Perhaps.

Praising the darkness (which is a rare event that occurs every now and again) is a kiss of death in this place. Bad things happen to those who actually worship the darkness. Usually when some odd-ball (insane xenophobic fuckwit) comes along by, and attempts to 'preach' to us all, we all give the person a stern glare. Then they do something bizarre, after being stalked (no, 'observed') of course. And they are locked in prison, not executed or anything. These people and their mercy. Morons. If they get out, which I have a suspicious feeling that it may come true, then I will be right again. And these morons are still stupid.

"And I don't really want to be thinking about this now. I need to have a rest, after all the work we've done. Especially with Umbrella still being a controversy around here." Another imbecilic thing that shouldn't have occurred. I need to write down a list of contrived reasoning 'for the greater good'. I doubt for a second that he's a loyal person. He'll betray all of us soon. It's only a matter of when. And how, would be interesting. I will always be a step ahead of him. And her. And everyone.

"Speaking of this pressing matter, how exactly did Umbrella get crossed over to the light side again?"

"Wait, you don't know?"

"Yes I don't, dear. Otherwise I wouldn't be asking."

"Well I assumed a smartass like you would know for sure." Tch. You gotta take them as you go. Oh please viewer, I already know the contrived reasoning behind all this. I just want to hear her lousy excuse. Her stupid 'let's take advantage of this' excuse. Not some second chance bollocks. You don't trust the enemy that becomes your friend. "His overlord or his boss, not quite sure, had betrayed after he failed to 'eliminate' us the time he attacked the base."

"Or anyone."

"Yes, or anyone. He even failed to erase Alfa, which was a very worrying battle he never told anyone. I swear that won't ever happen again." People care about the kind veteran a lot. Is he seen as a role model? Not quite sure, losing an arm doesn't take you a long way. "So his boss assumed Umbrella was going to betray him, so they tried to torture him into giving any information. That's when he escaped and turned himself in, and pretty much told us everything on where they were, and what they were doing next. Then he came here-"

"For a cure you somehow conducted years ago."

"Heh, I'm a pretty smart girl." And also delusional. Don't give me that smirk. "And yeah, he's pretty much joined the gang. Still very quiet, but he's kinda lovable in a way. Just more of an outsider who is trying to adapt to his new life here." Like the spic, only actually a threat. "And that's about it so far."

So, his boss believed his most valuable and 'powerful' weapon was a traitor, for being a terrible assassin, and then tried to torture him (I assume he's been tortured a lot in the past, for being a silent robot). Wow, nice thinking skills there you idiotic commander. It's a good thing you still have a large, powerful faction… Oh wait. For some reason I can't buy the commander (I believe his name was Red) going full-retard, unless all the power he had went to his mind, and greed and paranoia set in. Which… is not an impossible scenario to actually occur. Realistic to a degree.

But decided to join us, because we had a cure he needed, due to some radiation killing his brain. And no one took advantage of the fact that he had all the cards for him to bow to our every whim? I swear kindness does not belong in a very deadly business such as this. Although, the foolish people have started all of this with these 'collaborations' and 'duels'. How no one has died from an accident is beyond me. It's ingrained into our minds, not including me of course, that all of this is acceptable. Near-death experiencing from flashy fighting, this deadly sport played by half-witted dunces.

Congratulations darkness, this is the world you left in your wake. Were you attempting to corrupt weak minds to make themselves kill each other, and fail in doing so? Or have you already done that, and the wise found a cure? It's something I won't ever get an explanation for.

"So, you fully trust Umbrella with your life?"

"Well yes, of course I do. I- We saved his life. And he would do the same thing in turn. Why would he betray us?"

"I don't believe that he would, but since you asked, there was a minor incident where he tried to murder all of us."

"He was forced to! He didn't have any sense of self, controlling his own body for once. And we saved his life."

"It appears your running out of reasons why I should trust him."

"You- If it weren't for him, then Commander Red and his corporation would have wiped us out, and/or the innocent civilians they tried to rule over. And you don't seem to trust anyone in general." Anyone without good reasoning, of course.

"You… well attempting to get the point across is rather pointless to you. And you claimed you desire a rest right now."

"Yeah… I'm not usually this tired. But I'm never have been this stressed out before."

"Take your rest, I can see out in your post."

"Thanks Draven. I'll see ya in the morning."

"No worries Jade." We both waved goodbye, as she wandered down into the resting quarters. You are so vulnerable right now, you can't even conceive it. Although I would be rushing the plan, and the blood can be easily seen to be from my hands. Patience is a virtue in this world, not just a personality trait. More so something inconceivable to the vapid minds of the Gladiators, and everyone in general.

Now, it's very apparent she is too empathic and stubborn. And my reasoning of the new Lieutenant flew right over her head. Her caring nature for anyone means her emotions overwhelm her logic, to see the clear-cut logic that I've attempted to insert into her minds. Which is mildly surprising, but also somewhat believable. Am I supposed to expect more from the bitch? She has a very positive mind, comes out as very cheerful, but has that dark, depressing hole in her heart from her father's death, and the rest of her family's disappearance. She won't admit it, but they are most definitely deceased at this point. If they were hunted by the same mercenaries that killed her father, for unknown incentives. Maybe her 'relic fans' are very valuable to the dark market. It's the black market, but darker.

Now here's a thought, reader. Stick with me. I believe she was searching reasons to attack Commander Red and his faction, due to 'someone' describing Red as very similar to her childhood attacker, and this was all out of spite. The search for truth can be deadly at times. Perhaps she's becoming very desperate, and perhaps is reasoning of why she attempts to be defensive of protecting Umbrella… to have an excuse to attack Commander Red? Has she fulfilled acceptance of getting revenge, and perhaps Red was the perpetrator. I thought they were about the same age. It might have been Red's father who perpetrated this.

Or maybe she is lying through her teeth. Although I can't understand why. I know this has led to me believing she is secretly insecure but is hiding it perfectly, dear viewer. And consider her the Ace. More-so the broken Ace if anything. Exposing her may be pointless. Who else would want to attack her exactly? Numerous individuals have placed bounties on her head, mainly the entire faction and its members, of course. Exposing this would make them strike while the chance exists, as slim as it could possibly exist. And may accelerate my plans… or the prospect of this plan backfiring could be very detrimental to me. Somehow. It's always could occur…

I'll consider this notion. Now viewer, if you could excuse me, while I contemplate the plan further. I mean, framing someone else for exposing her shouldn't be that too hard. And Kursura is still hanging around… Ignore the light bulb spawning above my head. I have strings to pull.