This is all overwhelming. The sights of dozens of people tortured and abused, held captive, treated like animals as they are led to the slaughter, the cutting room, the meat locker, the amorphous thing that was butchering them. And right when you think you could finally be free of all that, that fucking monstrous woman comes along and cuts you off, and now the exit is being occupied and sealed by half a dozen armed assailants, leaving you stranded down here, where if things really go bad enough, you might end up fighting even more.

But what's worst of all? You aren't sure you can act normal. You're a foreigner, and that's obvious. Not exactly well educated, but you aren't anyone who could have ever had to turn to this side of the law. Fighting doesn't have this level of acting at work...

"How do I fit in down here? I'm not Finnish." The words are tough to get out, as you set your sword on the wall and begin unstrapping the coat. The bodycam gets in the way, and because you'll have to be in disguise, you decide you have to turn it off and stow it in your pocket. It's probably safer security-wise; the less opportunities the squatters have to hijack a connection, the better. From hereon out, nobody at Stormwatch will see what you're doing. "I'll stick out like a sore thumb even if I dress messy, the moment I open my mouth will give me away."

Lalli's plain and monotonous voice tries its best at being reassuring. "Just act. Have you ever acted before?"

"No."

"Then just don't say anything. If you're so insecure, don't do anything that gets you seen. Blend in. Or just stick out in a different way. Perhaps you could speak German."

As you whip the jacket off and pull the sleeves inside out, a packet falls to the ground. You toss the jacket over your shoulder and kneel down to pick up the thing you dropped.

It's the Pervitin. The adrenaline medicine, or whatever it was. You had brought it with the intention of feeding it to the hostages to help get them out, but forgot to give it to people. In your defense, with so many people and only five to hand out, it would have been hard to identify the five most worthy of needing it. Eugen might have had more time and familiarity with their conditions to make better judgements, and probably did. You, however, squandered it. A few kids enjoyed the chocolate sword you brought, and now you are here totting around nothing but a greatsword that is high tech but isn't Stormwatch made. At least, you hope people see it that way.

... Is this medicine even all that impressive?