[color=silver]
Clearing the rooms had been a duty both unpleasant but also sustained through channeling his anger and orders. Room after room they flushed and traded blows with hard fighting men just doing their jobs. By the end of it, Luke and Franz remained victorious using experience and brutal speed to catch the Imperials off guard. Still... a thought kept in his mind the whole way through. Once Luke announced his departure he gave a response. [color=#0f5397]"I'll check to see if we missed anything!"[/color]

"Mother... oh mother... I'm sorry... I couldn't keep my promise. They're going to kill me. I need... I can't focus. Cold... I-" A gasp slipped the mouth of the soldier as Franz stepped into his view. The bloodshot eyes of Franz stared into the weak eyes of the a man on the floor beginning to focus. However, even as the adrenaline pumped through the young man, they faded in color. There was no hope in those eyes. There was simply a sad acceptance of his fate as Franz pointed that rifle straight at his head.

The young man thought of his beautiful home. His sacred mother. The flowers upon the hill. That lovely woman who frolicked in the fields of yellow. The fresh bread which nourished his soul as a child at the Hannel Bakery. He joined to protect such things. The children threatened by the possibility of Federal victory. What would become of his home? Was it then best to die here? Would it be enough if he gave one last throw? This war sickened him and his own squad had reluctantly killed in the name of their home. He would disgrace his friends to not die here with his dignity intact. And so... with feeble breath he drew his knife and slowly attempted to stand up. Half way up from his rushed assault and he felt himself falling.

This was it. He couldn't do it. Even as Franz came close he felt his strength failing him. Even as Franz came yet closer he swung, knowing there would be no use in it. However, it would not come.

Arms wrapped around the imperial. Franz kissed the man upon his forehead, touching foreheads with him gently as he spoke. [color=#0f5397]"No, brother. Not yet. Not now. You're too young, too pure. To die now would be a shame. Just relax."[/color]

With haste Franz laid the young man down, getting to work on his bleeding wound. It didn't take long for Franz to get to doctoring the wound best he could with the imperial laid back in confusion but not protesting the assistance. The more he looked at Franz, the more he realized that his facial features, his accent, the reasoning behind not killing him was because he was an Imperial as well. But if that was so then why was he fighting for the Federation? What did the Federals do to convince him to fight? Were they holding his family hostage? Was this the only way he could afford to live? And he was... a Darcsen at that.

After patching up his wounds, Franz lead the man into the room that he had fortified and lifted up a body.

[color=#0f5397]"Lay here."[/color]

"What?"

[color=#0f5397]"I don't know how much longer we will be here. but you need to lay under this man for now. If they see you then they might kill you or make a prisoner of war. I don't want that for you. The Imperials, do you know which way they came from?"[/color]

"I can't te-"

[color=#0f5397]"I know, I just want to make sure you know how to get home."[/color] Handing the young man a full pack of Brimstones, Franz stood up and placed an ear near the doorway to ensure none of the squad followed him.

"Why are you helping me?"

[color=#0f5397]"Because, I'm an Imperial like you. We're human. I can't always say the same of the Federation."[/color]

"Johannes."

[color=#0f5397]"My pleasure."[/color]

"Thank you. I-I thought I was going to die here. Would... would you like to see my girlfriend?"

Franz raised an eyebrow at the proposition, but as the man laid down he crouched down and laid the other body on top of him. The other squirmed a little knowing death was on top of him, but a hand on his shoulder reassured him. As the man laid down with his necklace now pulled out, there was clearly a locket at the end of the strong chain. He opened it, showing Franz a picture. It was of Johannes and a girl of blue eyes and blonde hair. She was taller than him, but she held him all the same. The engraving on the other end reading "Johannes x Erika" It cracked a smile out of Franz, an unusually large one at that.  Still, Franz pat the man's shoulder.

[color=#0f5397]"Lucky man. She's beautiful. Erika?"[/color]

"Yes, she loves me a lot. She said I was like the brother she never got to meet. We talked more, spent more time with each other, and eventually we came to be. Although, I must ask. What is your name, friend?"

[color=#0f5397]"Forgive me. I am Franz Blau."[/color]

The smile on the Imperial lessened for a moment as his eyes widened. Staring into each eye and examining the facial features... they were off but... "Franz?"

By then the soldier force closed the locket and pushed Johannes' head all the way down. He did his best to make Johannes look as dead as possible all while watching the door. [color=#0f5397]"I need to go. They will wonder where I am if I don't report back. Stay low, move as soon as we leave. I'll shoot a bottle before we go to signify our departure. Good luck."[/color]

"Franz! Franz!" The soldier spoke with urgency as he tried not to yell. Franz, grabbed what goods he could find. digging through cabinets and even, reluctantly, looting Imperial bodies for smokes and small bits of supplies. He took the least personalized backpack off of one of them, which was luckily blank and standard issue seeming, and stuffed the items inside. It made him sick doing it, honestly, but at least he didn't steal prized personal possessions like Luke did. Still, he needed to seem convincing coming out of the building.

[color=#0f5397]"What?"[/color]

"My-my girlfiend! Her name is Erika Blau!"

[color=#0f5397]"And?"[/color] Franz asked, moving back with a sigh.

"She said her younger brother that she never met- his name was Franz! He was left behind in Gallia because a man by the name of Henry Hammer stole Emma Blau, your mother, from her home. They tried to save her but it took a long time to plan. They raped your mother, Franz. Your father tried to get you but by the time he killed Henry's friends the Gallian forces showed up. Franz, I found you!" Tears of joy came out of the man's eyes, but then he remembered what side Franz was on. The Darcsen's eyes were shaking, hands dropping the backpack briefly as he felt his body pulse with confusion.

The joy of Johannes seemed to turn into a tragic gaze as he realized what this all meant. "Franz... why are you fighting for the Federation?"

[color=#0f5397]"I- I-"[/color] He went silent, shame coating his body as he felt a swirl of emotions. He held his mouth, tears pushing out uncontrollably before he grit his teeth and forced Johannes' eyes closed. [color=#0f5397]"Stay alive. I'm sorry."[/color]

"Franz... Not like this..."

[hr]

After composing himself and getting rid of what evidence there was, he walked back out to join the group. He had ensured Johannes' locket was well hidden. Erika's face was engraved into his memory. So much wanted to break free, but even in his strained state he held his emotions back perfectly. It was a dam ready to burst, but the cracks were barely visible on the outside.

[color=#0f5397]"I got us some beer, cigarettes, food. I double checked every room. There are no signs of Imperial life. We're safe."[/color] He would announce to the group. And, as promised, as soon as they were for sure going to leave, Franz would place a bottle near the building to shoot on the way out.

In the meantime, however, he placed the backpack near the group and took a beer out to drink. He didn't care if Jean protested, he was drinking this beer for Johannes' sake... and especially for Erika's. It wouldn't be enough to get him drunk anyway.

Then Britta approached him. She was a pretty silver hair, but with what he had just done and had on his mind he couldn't say that he felt much of anything. At the moment he felt rather numb as he suppressed his emotions. To her question he simply looked at her with the neutral expression he wore coming out and nodded.

[color=#0f5397]"I'm fine. I would worry more about the rest of the squad. They're not as accustom to a life of battle as I am. How are you holding up? Cigarette?" [/color]

He asked, pulling out a pack of Brimstones and looking out into the distance, trying to focus. He wanted to say something. He wanted to scream in agony. He needed to do something other than bottle up how he felt and shove it further and further down. But that's all he could do. He was an Imperial Darcsen tainted with Gallian blood. He was fighting against his own people. And now he knew he had family on the other side... when it came to protecting his friends who he couldn't even fucking find and the family that was on the other side of the border he chose his fucking friends. Great.

[/color]

[@FalloutJack]