The next feeling Carter became aware of was something cold and flat against the right side of his face. A dull ache pulsed through both of his shoulders, and he realized they had been pulled behind his back. His wrists had been tied together, and he was laying face-down on a flat, wooden surface. His head was still throbbing, and he struggled to find the strength to get up.

"…You will be rewarded handsomely for this," a voice said in German. The voice was somewhat familiar, but Carter couldn't pinpoint where he had first heard it as he continued to wake up. A few seconds later, he didn't have to wonder anymore, as the voice's owner peered into the back of the truck Carter had been placed in. Standartenführer Walther Kaschel.

Kaschel didn't have much of an expression as he entered the truck. "I see you are awake, son. Care to tell me who you are and what you were doing in the woods at such a late hour?" He held up Carter's P38. "With this, no less?"

Pain surged through Carter's head as he tried to think of a good lie. He squeezed his eyes shut, exhaustion, pain, and panic flooding him. What can I say that won't sound unbelievable? I was out looking for a missing farm animal… Yeah, that will work. "One of my sheep escaped," Carter replied, in German. "I went out looking for it."

"How did you acquire this pistol?" Kaschel asked, still eerily calm.

The panic took over when Carter realized he should have ditched the gun somewhere. He cobbled together another lie. "I… cannot remember. I vaguely remember finding it on the ground."

Kaschel was silent for a moment, and Carter was unsure if he bought the story. "Perhaps you will remember more clearly if we get your head looked at."

"Sir, there is a military hospital here in town," another SS officer said.

"Perfect."

"What will we do with the subject, sir?"

"Keep him tied down in my staff car. I do not want him escaping again."

They have Lechner! Carter thought. He squirmed in his bindings, wishing desperately that he could escape. How did they get him?

On one hand, he was relieved that Lechner was alive, and wasn't trapped in the snow-buried truck, but on the other, he knew Lechner was probably going to face punishment for running away.

The vehicle began moving beneath him. Carter frantically tried thinking of a way out, but was unsure how long his body would let him go on. I have to go on somehow!

Eventually, the vehicle stopped. There was a lengthy period of waiting, then a pair of medics came out with a stretcher, followed by Kaschel. "Watch his head!" Kaschel called.

One of the medics gave an exasperated sigh as he knelt with his partner to put Carter on the stretcher. "It is not like we have not done this before," the medic grunted.

"Well, the SS thinks they know everything," his partner whispered.

The other medic held a finger to his lips, telling his partner to shush as Kaschel was just outside the truck. As carefully as they could, they carried Carter out and into the building, where they were met by a thin-faced lieutenant wearing a red cross armband.

"Head injury?" the lieutenant queried.

"Yes, sir," one of the medics replied.

"Is he awake?" The lieutenant looked down at Carter, and waved his hand in front of his face. Carter blinked instinctively. "He is responsive. That is a positive sign. Set him next to the other SS officer."

Carter tried not to act surprised when he realized the SS officer in question was Veidt, who appeared to be asleep. Veidt's chest was wrapped in bandages. I guess we were both injured when that avalanche hit.

Kaschel had followed the medics into the hospital, and cursed when he saw Veidt. "Hauptsturmführer! What happened?"

"He came in a couple of hours ago with broken ribs," the lieutenant replied. "He said he was driving a truck with a passenger and was struck by an avalanche."

"I take it this is the same avalanche blocking the road just outside town," Kaschel said.

"Yes, Standartenführer."

"This is certainly… curious and unfortunate." Kaschel sighed. "Could I have a chair, Lieutenant?"

"I am sorry, sir, but Hauptsturmführer Veidt needs to rest."

"I am not going to wake him, but I would like to be here to ask him some questions when he does wake."

The lieutenant chose not to argue. "Alright, sir."

Kaschel was given a chair, and after sitting quietly for a few minutes, Carter heard him whisper, "What the hell could you possibly have been doing that led you to risk your life like this?"

Veidt was dimly aware of a presence hovering over him as he started to wake. For a moment, he wondered if he was back in the truck, lying on its side and partially buried in the snow, but the feeling of soft sheets under him and tight bandages around his chest dispelled that idea. He touched the bandages, memories rushing back to him about what had happened. Carter and Lechner. I still have to find Carter and Lechner. I have to get out of here somehow.

"How are you feeling, Veidt?"

Veidt opened his eyes to see the presence was Kaschel, who was staring down at him with a look of concern on his face. "I… am feeling alright, mostly," Veidt replied.

As his senses continued to wake up, Veidt looked past Kaschel, seeing Carter in the bed next to him with a bandage wrapped around his head. Carter! He's alive, thank goodness!

"The medics here tell me you were caught in an avalanche on the road a few kilometers from here. What were you doing out so late at night?" Kaschel asked. "You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"I was going to Augsburg, sir," Veidt replied. "I—" He looked over at Carter again. If he is pretending to sleep, he may think I had been planning this the whole time… No, I have to say this. It is the only way I can keep Kaschel from suspecting anything. "I found Lechner, captured him, and was going to bring him to you when the avalanche hit. I did not want to risk him escaping again, so I left Hammelburg as soon as I could."

"I see," Kaschel replied. He looked down at his lap, appearing conflicted on how to feel about Veidt's supposed actions.

"Lechner escaped sometime after the crash, sir. I was unconscious. I… I am so sorry. I-I know now that I am a failure—"

"You are not a failure, Veidt. Do not blame yourself for what happened. Besides, I had been heading back from Augsburg when my driver spotted Lechner on the side of the road. We gave chase, I managed to shoot him in the knee, and now we are just waiting for you and our new prisoner to recover so we can continue our work."

"New prisoner, sir?"

"Yes." Kaschel gestured to Carter. "A local farmer found this one lying unconscious out in his field outside of town. I suspect he is a spy of some kind."

"What makes you think that?"

"He had a handgun on him. No German civilian is able to acquire a weapon. Not legally. What I find most curious is how he injured himself. I will question him when he is mentally capable."

"Perhaps he should be left to the Gestapo. It is not our duty to deal with spies."

"I suspect that he may be connected to Lechner, given how close they were to each other when they were captured. That is why I want to question him."

"Alright, sir."

An orderly entered the ward with a cup of steaming coffee. "You requested this, Standartenführer?"

"I did, thank you." Kaschel carefully took the cup. "For you, Veidt. I figured you would need this when you awoke."

"Thank you, sir." Veidt sat up, minding his ribs. "You did not have to, though."

"I insist. You are injured and I do not wish to put you through any more stress." Kaschel grinned. "Our mission is finally over. Our subject is back in our hands. We can rest and celebrate, and then get back to work uncovering the secrets to biological and magical perfection that Lechner holds." He looked over at Carter. "Perhaps we have also acquired a new test subject as well."

Despite the hot coffee in his system, Veidt's blood ran cold.

Veidt suppressed an expression of horror when he saw Lechner bound and gagged in the back of Kaschel's new staff car. A bandage had been wrapped tightly around the ice Conjurus's right knee, completely soaked in blood. Kaschel didn't seem to care that the back of his car was covered in blood. He saw the opportunity to get Lechner back, and took it ruthlessly. "You did not take him to a hospital?" Veidt asked.

"He is capable of healing himself," Kaschel replied. "I tested that, remember?"

"Yes, I remember," Veidt mumbled. He never actually saw the horrible things Kaschel had done to Lechner, but did read the so-called scientific findings and reports from the laboratory. Even just reading about it was gut-wrenching, and he tried not to think about it. Hoping his shock wasn't visible to everyone around him, Veidt changed the subject. "I was under the impression that you were going to be in Augsburg for some time. Is your sister doing alright?"

Kaschel nodded. "She is. Thankfully, she only suffered a partial fracture. I wanted to stay a little longer and help, but she kept insisting that she would be fine. I didn't want to become a bother, so I decided to go back to Hammelburg as quickly as possible, just in case you found something of interest."

"Well, at least you will be going back to her now that we are going back to Augsburg," Veidt said.

"Yes, and at least I will have something to keep me occupied until she requests my company."

After Carter was loaded into a different vehicle, the group left Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and headed southeast to Augsburg. Veidt toyed with his gloves for the entire ride, anxiously trying to think of a way to break Carter and Lechner out. Colonel Hogan and the rest of his team must be worried sick! I have to contact them somehow.

It was still very early in the morning. Far too early for any birds to be out. Veidt decided it would be best to wait until sunrise to summon a raven or crow and send a letter to Hogan. Until then, he would have to wait with anxiety knotting his stomach.

When they arrived in Augsburg, Kaschel ordered that Lechner and Carter be moved to a laboratory just outside the city. "I will deal with both of them personally," Kaschel said to his aides outside the vehicles. "Lechner especially. Obviously, he cannot be killed, but he will face punishment for running away."

Veidt swallowed hard. He recalled Kaschel saying that he would break Lechner's legs as punishment, to keep him from running away again. I have to get him out before that happens.

It was nearly five in the morning, and still very dark. Veidt turned to Kaschel after his men left with Lechner and Carter. "What will we do now, sir?"

"You will go home and rest, Veidt," Kaschel replied. "You have done very well for this task, and you are to be commended."

"To be honest, sir, I did not do much of anything."

"You caught Lechner. That cannot have been an easy feat."

"Well, no, it was not—"

"You deserve to be commended for your efforts."

Do I? "Alright, sir."

"You are dismissed. Get some sleep. Would you like a ride home?"

"I can walk. I will be fine." Veidt turned, and made the long journey down several blocks of snow-covered buildings and houses to his apartment overlooking the frozen river running down the middle of Augsburg. His motorcycle had been buried under the snow, and instead of going inside and getting some sleep as he was told, Veidt decided to dig his motorcycle out. I will probably need it.

Once his motorcycle had been freed, Veidt headed inside. His apartment was small, but it was all one person really needed. Many officers of his rank were living in nicer houses. He stayed in his humble little apartment, especially after he joined the League of Sorcerers, though he didn't feel very humble. I should be living in the streets for what I have done.

The pressure of guilt over not getting Lechner to Stalag VII C intensified after Veidt entered his apartment. He hung up his jacket and sat in front of a stove. Somehow, the last several hours didn't feel real. He could still feel the bandages under his shirt. It all happened. The avalanche happened. I was injured, and I failed to get Lechner to Stalag VII C. If I had just fought through the pain, I would have been able to find Lechner first. I would have been able to save him and protect him from Kaschel. I was selfish… I didn't even try to find him. I didn't even try.

Veidt's throat closed. He covered his face. I haven't changed at all! The guilt deep inside him exploded violently, and he found himself sobbing hard.

Carter floated in and out of consciousness. He could hear muffled voices and truck engines, smell coffee, blood, and gasoline, and feel the cold of outside. Every sensation seemed blurred together, but one was clear above all: helplessness. He wasn't in control of anything. Even his own thoughts drifted, like leaves on water.

He was finally able to stay awake when he felt himself on a cold, hard floor again. This time, it was concrete instead of wood. He had vague memories of men standing over him in white clothing, seemingly obsessing over his head. They were gone now, replaced with a dark, drab room. It reminded him a little of the cooler back in Stalag 13, though the cooler was significantly brighter. Through the bars of the door, Carter could see a lamp hanging down from the ceiling, dimly lighting the hallway.

He sat up slowly, a dull ache surging through his head. Eventually, the ache subsided, and he became aware of the fact that he was locked in a cell. He turned when he heard the sound of boots on the concrete, and shrank to the back of the cell when he saw the towering form of Kaschel approaching him.

Kaschel leaned a sledgehammer against the wall opposite to Carter's cell before stepping in front of the bars, blocking all light from getting into the small chamber. "You are awake. That is good," Kaschel said. He smiled a little, but it quickly faded. "I have met some stupid officers in my time in the SS. I have met stupid officers from all over the German military, but I highly doubt any are stupid enough to just drop their sidearm in the middle of the woods." The smile came back. "I will, however, applaud your effort for trying to be somewhat creative."

"What do you want?" Carter asked.

"I want to know who you are."

"I told you, sir, I am a simple farmer."

Kaschel shook his head. "Every farm within the area you were found is owned by somebody else. I highly doubt anyone could make a journey of several kilometers on foot in freezing temperatures at night. Just tell me the truth. I promise no harm will come to you if you tell me the truth."

Carter's throat was tight and dry, but he swallowed anyway, remaining silent and hanging his head. He glanced at the sledgehammer outside, and his heart began pounding faster when a thought crossed his mind about what Kaschel was planning to use it for.

"You are going to make this very difficult for yourself if you do not speak." Kaschel's voice became low and threatening.

Carter's gaze flicked to the sledgehammer again before looking back up at Kaschel.

"Fine." Kaschel stepped back. "You will receive no food until you talk."

Carter was certain his heart would beat right out of his chest when Kaschel picked up the sledgehammer. What is he going to do with that?

He should have been relieved when he saw that the sledgehammer wasn't intended for him. Kaschel opened the cell next to him, and Carter heard Lechner's voice begging and moaning.

"You have no need to panic so much, Lechner," Kaschel said, calmly. "I will only break your left leg since I shot your knee last night. I am not that cruel. This is for your own good."

Cold terror speared through Carter when he heard the indescribably sickening sound of the sledgehammer being brought down on Lechner's leg, coupled with Lechner's pained screaming. Carter covered his face, trying to hold back the urge to shout at Kaschel, or cry along with Lechner. Despite his efforts, tears rolled down his face, and he suddenly felt as though he needed to throw up.

Kaschel left the cell, leaving Lechner in his extreme pain. He spoke to someone at the end of the hall who Carter couldn't see. "The subject will need basic treatment so he remains alive, but that is all he will receive, and do not give the other one food unless he says he is ready to tell me who he is. Only water."

The hall fell silent after Lechner was taken from his cell to be treated for his injury. Despite being alone, Carter couldn't bring himself to cry out loud. He found himself wishing that Kaschel had intended to use the sledgehammer on him instead of Lechner.

Veidt didn't get much sleep. Only a couple of hours' worth. His head was pounding until he took his first sip of coffee for the day, feeling his thoughts surface in his mind. Carter and Lechner were captured by Kaschel. I have to get them out. I have to get Lechner to Stalag VII C. I have to get Carter back to Stalag 13. All of this rests on me, and it really shouldn't. Veidt looked down at his coffee mug, then took another sip. He paced his apartment as he drank, letting the warmth flood up and perk up his mind. His heart sank when he realized it was probably too late to save Lechner from having his legs broken. My only reassurance is that Kaschel will never kill Lechner. Carter is another story, though Kaschel said he was probably going to use Carter as a test subject, which means he won't kill him.

A half-hour went by. Veidt finished his coffee, and absentmindedly washed his mug and dried it before putting it back in a cabinet. He went into his bedroom, finding his uniform draped over a chair. As he took off his nightclothes and put his uniform on, he found it hard to lean over with his broken ribs. I can push through, like I should have last night when I regained consciousness. He stopped what he was doing, sighing heavily. Focus. Don't beat yourself down. You can still save them.

He stood in front of a mirror while adjusting his uniform, his disguise. I can still save them, he kept telling himself.

Two years ago, he would have been proud of his work. Horror overtook him when he pictured himself grinning maliciously in that same mirror. It gave me purpose. Validation. Praise. Veidt turned away. I am not that man anymore.

The memories still felt fresh. He remembered a conversation he had with Commandant Westheimer the previous Christmas, about how much he hated his memories and wished he could erase them so he could truly be a new person, but Westheimer told him there was no magic, no potion, that could erase memories. There were amnesia potions, yes, but no sensible witch or warlock would ever brew one. The League of Gentlemen Sorcerers and Lady Witches deemed them unethical.

Running away from his memories wouldn't solve anything. Veidt recalled that conversation came at a time where his nightmares were at their worst. He remembered Westheimer being concerned about what Veidt might try if he was left alone, so he was constantly watched by others. He struggled to understand why they would set aside their time to help him, but knew now that it was because they had all seen he was capable of change. They wanted him to change, and they wanted to help him change. Every single one of those people were now his brothers, much more so than the men in his SS training class ever were.

I have changed. I can stay changed. Veidt looked in the mirror again, seeing a much more stoic expression, though there was still pain behind his eyes. He kept his confidence inside, knowing he still had a role to play. And I can play that role well. He gave his tie one last gentle tug. He was still nervous, and felt he always would be, but figured it would be best to keep moving forward. Saving Carter and Lechner wouldn't erase his past deeds, but it would be a step in the right direction, proof he had changed.