"Murder?!" Mighty Ray gasped. "No way! I mean, I know they're…you know, violent, but I don't think they would ever murder somebody!"
"It is true. Are you ready for the memory?" Hardwin asked.
"As ready as we'll ever be," Mr. No Hands said with a shake of his head.
It opened on a forest scene. ApeTrully was with Kowloon and Alpha Girl, who were chatting animatedly. The disguised Monkey was tending a fire when there was a huge rustle and the Lees sprinted right for the flames. They yelled and Hurricane Lee picked up his brother and vaulted over the fire. They landed hard, gasping in surprise. There was the sound of rapid footsteps from the direction that they came, and some men came out, swords and bows in their hands. ApeTrully looked at the Lees analytically then to the men.
"May I help you?"
"Oh! Commander ApeTrully!" the lead man said, bowing respectfully.
"Yes?"
"We have come for the murderers."
"Murderers?" Kowloon asked, glancing at his commander with raised eyebrows. ApeTrully looked at the two Second Squad members then made a single gesture and nodded.
"They can't be murderers," Alpha Girl said. "They've been with us the whole time!"
The Lees couldn't stop their jaws from dropping, glancing at each other briefly before straightening. Archer Lee opened his mouth, but ApeTrully gave him a deadly look, so he shut it, and the brothers looked down.
"They…they have?"
"Yes," ApeTrully replied with a nod. "They wish to join Big Green. I believe I should let them. I need two more members of Second Squad. What say you two? Would you like them on your squad?"
"Eh, I was hoping for another girl, but they look pretty cool," Alpha Girl said with a smile.
"I would be honored to fight with them," Kowloon said.
"Oh. Well…if you are sure that they cannot be murderers…" the man said nervously. "I suppose we shall leave you to your evening. Good night, Commander."
"Good night," ApeTrully replied.
There was silence for ten minutes before ApeTrully sent Kowloon and Alpha Girl to make sure they were gone. When that was confirmed, ApeTrully turned to the Lees.
"Come. Sit. We have fruit for you to eat."
They glanced at each other then hurried over and began to eat greedily. When their hunger was sated, they looked over the three members of Big Green.
"Why would you do that?" Archer asked.
"Who did you kill?" ApeTrully asked, ignoring the question.
"Some asshole who deserved it," Hurricane muttered.
"No cursing, please," the disguised Monkey said. "Now, tell me about yourselves."
"Like what?"
"What do you like to do?"
Archer smirked. "Seeing blood oozing from wounds.""
"Hearing bones break," Hurricane purred.
"Watching the light leave somebody's eyes."
"Enjoying the way people writhe in agony."
"I see," ApeTrully said as Kowloon drew Alpha Girl to himself protectively. "Is it just anybody?"
"No. Just the people who deserve it," Hurricane said importantly.
"And what makes somebody deserve it?" Alpha Girl asked from where she was against Kowloon's side.
"If they steal. Or lie about certain things. Or cheat with their money. Or if they kill somebody who doesn't deserve it."
"But you two are exempt?" Kowloon demanded.
"No. We only kill people who deserve it. We don't even steal food for ourselves."
"Ah. You are vigilantes," ApeTrully said with a nod.
"Yes," came their reply.
"How would you like to fight for me?" the disguised Monkey asked.
"Fight?" Hurricane asked.
Archer nodded. "Jiang said that he was a commander. Commander of what?"
"Big Green."
They froze, looking at each other for a moment, smirks slowly spreading on their faces.
"Really?" Archer asked.
"Yes," ApeTrully said as Alpha Girl reached for her spiked club and Kowloon tensed, both ready to fight for their commander. "I wish for you to be the final two Human members of Second Squad."
"Who's in charge?"
"I am," Alpha Girl said tersely.
"Really?" Hurricane asked in surprise. "A female?"
"Yeah? So?" Kowloon demanded.
"So nothing," Archer replied. "It is just, in our experience, females are a hell of a lot more vicious than males. And much more cunning, too. Most men do not realize this. If this woman is leading the squad, I'm sure we would be honored to join."
"But we must tie up a few loose ends here first," Hurricane said.
"No more murdering, please. You must be honorable in my charge. Understand?" the Monkey ordered.
"Yes, sir," they both chorused, standing up to leave. ApeTrully walked to the edge of the trees, bowing them away.
The memory faded away, but before First Squad could comment on how 'not that bad' it was, another memory solidified. ApeTrully was hurrying along the hallways of Big Green, Woo running to keep up.
"And they're absolutely soaked in blood!" Woo said frantically. "I don't know what happened, Commander, but it wasn't good."
"I see. Woo, I need you to prepare two hot baths in your personal room. Make sure you have some sweet-smelling soap in there, then go prepare two large bowls of noodles and have them piping hot for when we get there, understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
Alpha Girl and Kowloon were standing five steps from the two Lees, who, as Woo had said, were drenched in blood. They kept their eyes on the floor as ApeTrully approached.
"Hello. How are you?"
"We have come to refuse your offer," Archer said numbly.
"Refuse? Why?"
The brothers looked up in confusion, glancing at each other briefly. ApeTrully gestured for the Lees and the two members of Second Squad to follow him. They hurried through the halls, ignoring the stares of the common soldiers of the infantry and tank army and the like. Woo was waiting with the bowls of food, which the brothers dove for when ApeTrully had nodded his permission. They ate everything offered to them, each swallowing a cupful of wine then shivering.
"You two need a bath. There are baths waiting for you in that room over there," Woo said, pointing.
"But we have no more clothes," Archer said, glancing at Alpha Girl.
"Ha! Trust me when I say that I've seen everything that you could possibly have many times before," Alpha Girl laughed.
"Woo shall take your measurements and make you some new clothes. Meanwhile, we shall wash the blood from these."
The brothers finally shrugged and stripped down, their cheeks warming as they glanced at Alpha Girl again before going to bathe. They came out with towels about their waists and sat down in the chairs offered to them.
"Now, please tell us what happened," ApeTrully said, seating himself across from them.
"I don't know. All I remember is the crowd coming after us," Archer whispered.
"Crowd?"
"They had swords and knives and bows," Hurricane growled.
"Why were they after you?"
There was a silence that stretched on for a while, and ApeTrully stopped Kowloon and Alpha Girl from asking questions several times. Archer looked up.
"The man beat a woman and raped her. So we killed him," Archer whispered, shame coloring his tone.
"This time, somebody saw us do it and told the village. They came after us," Hurricane groaned.
"What happened?" Alpha Girl asked.
"We fought back. Most of the village is dead," Archer said numbly.
"This is why I asked you not to murder again," ApeTrully said quietly. "Because I knew you would eventually get caught. I cannot punish you for defending yourselves, but I shall punish you for the murder. You did it while being in my army, and your punishment must be severe, as you have dishonored our name. Murder is the unlawful taking of life from another living soul. I hope you realize how wrong this is."
"Yes, sir," they both said, looking down.
"Good. You two will work in the kitchen and in the base as cleaning boys. You will clean and cook for us, but we have recipes that you can follow."
"The recipes won't do us no good," Hurricane said.
"Why not?" Woo asked. "They are very good recipes, but if you have better ones, we'll gladly take them."
"No, sirs. It isn't that. It's that…we can't read or write," Archer said, his cheeks turning purple.
Woo blinked then smiled. "I believe, Commander, that I could solve that little problem."
"Good. Then that shall be a part of their punishment, and that shall be the time cap as well," ApeTrully said with a nod, a smile in his voice. "When they both can fluently read a reasonable book, they will be done with their punishment. So I suggest you boys study hard."
"Thank you, sir. You are very generous," Archer said gratefully.
"Yes. We truly do not deserve your kindness," Hurricane said.
"Neither did we," Kowloon said, gesturing at Alpha Girl and himself.
"What's your stories?" Archer asked.
"That is a very personal question," ApeTrully scolded. "They will tell you only if they want to. They are not required to talk about their pasts."
"It's okay, Commander. I have no problem telling them, as long as they're still going to be in our squad," Alpha Girl said.
"Same with me," Kowloon said.
"Good. We shall leave you for alone while we wash these clothes," ApeTrully said, grabbing them and gesturing for Woo to follow.
"Blayze?" Woo asked quietly in Monkey.
"Yes?" The red Monkey paused then turned to the same tongue. "Why do you call me by my name? You know you aren't supposed to, and in Monkey-speak, too!"
"Do you really think we should have murderers in our midst?"
"I believe they are tired, lost souls who need friendship and love."
"What if they murder again?"
"Then I shall punish them for it."
"But…" Woo shook his head and sighed in resignation. "I'm not going to change your mind, am I?"
"No, Woo. They have a skewed sense of justice. I believe we can help them," ApeTrully said, hope in his voice.
"I love you, Blayze. But you might be getting in over your head with these two."
"And I love you, Woo. But this is my decision."
Woo laughed and bumped him and they both chuckled as they got to the laundry room and began washing clothes. The memory faded, and First Squad was left staring at Hardwin and Woo. Mystique Sonia and Mighty Ray glanced at each other.
"I can't believe that," the man said.
"I…kinda can," Mystique Sonia said. "I mean, ApeTrully, or Blayze or whatever has warned us many times not to get on their bad side. I guess now we know why."
"They are dangerous," Lin Chung said darkly. "Bába taught me to respect all forms of life."
"To them, Lin Chung, that is precisely what they were doing," Woo said. "Now I don't pretend to understand it. I really don't. But from what they have told us in private, that is what they believed."
"Why did they start to murder?"
"Their parents were murdered," Hardwin said quietly. "And their sisters raped to death in front of them. Their youngest sister made them promise to make the bad people go away. She was six."
"Jumpy not understand," the Rabbit said quietly. "Why Humans do that?"
"Animals have done things like that, too, but Animals do not usually get away with it because of scent," Blayze said. "The Lees hunted those Humans down and slaughtered them. That doesn't take away the horror though, or the nightmares, or the wishing that they were back. They suffer greatly because of it. All four of them do."
"We owe them an apology," Mr. No Hands said.
"You do. But unless you're creative with it, you cannot give it," Blayze replied.
"Why not?"
"You voice will be taken from you," Hardwin said. "That is what swearing by the Monkey Guardians does. Now you could speak if you really tried, but the silence is a warning that you are about to break your oath."
"You mean we can't even say we're sorry that they went through this?" Mighty Ray demanded.
"That is precisely what we're saying. That is what you swore to," Woo said. "And the only one who can release you from your vow is Blayze, and he will not do that."
"You're vowed, too, right?" Mystique Sonia asked.
"Yes, but ours are slightly different," Hardwin said with a smile. "Even you can speak of it in dire emergencies, but we have slightly more leniency. What exactly Woo and I swore, we will not tell you. You do not need to know."
"Understood," Mr. No Hands said with a nod. "Who next?"