Luminary

Episode 33 - (I Can't Make It) Another Day

Paris: Commander Roswell, we arrived in Minsk, Belarus.

Commander: Ah, I see, this country might just as well be the armpit of Earth.

They were all in a video chat in a hidden IBI base at the back of a facade shop

Jade: How so sir?

Delph: That was an awfully specific description.

Commander: Since Saisem took north of the world, Belarus became a country of frivolity and distraction. Gambling, drugs, rampant black market and gang territory disputes.

Allen: So, a distinct lack of government oversight?

Commander: Correct. On the rich neighborhoods you'll find cassinos and pleasure barges where the enemy goes to relax, on the poor areas, expect some heavy criminal stuff, more actively than your next stops.

Paris: Sounds like your kind of place.

Commander: In my youth, perhaps.

Silver: Sounds like chaos.

Commander: Your target on the Red King's local castle will be a worm called Rath, a pathetic powerless Officer that gained popularity in the Saisem for his strategies. He is currently protected by a Del, a virtual reality mage like--

The commander stops realizing what he just said and looks at Delph, who is the back of the group, in disbelief.

Commander: Oh, Agent Delph, I...

Jade: More family stuff...

She sighs

Paris: Well, considering Delph was trained on the Saisem academy just like Lara and... Oh...

The mood was worse than ever now.

Silver: Dude. Not cool.

Delph: It's fine, it should be expected...

Allen: So... We shouldn't let the glittering buildings fool us. Misery and desperation rule the slums?

Commander: Correct.

Allen: And desperation can drive people to many things...

Commander: You're not suggesting to use this people's hopelessness against the enemy, are you?

Allen: Considering you use criminals for back up, I'm impressed you are judging my conclusion.

Jade: I mean, it's not using their hopelessness, we are giving them hope!

Commander: Well, I guess there's something you can use. If you want to get to the powerless officer you will need to get through his bodyguard anyway.

Paris: Is there something you can tell us to give and advantage?

The commander leaves the camera to search something on another computer. Meanwhile Delph was sitting behind, he was now going through the same stuff Leo went through in China.

The difference is that Leo came out stronger, but what if he doesn't?

Commander comes back to the camera with some papers and wearing reading glasses.

Commander: Right, I have something. It's not much, but it's a start. Delph's dad has lived here for years, converting a certain part of the powerless civilian poor population into zealous followers.

Paris: Great. he made his own cult.

Allen: He sounds like a very cunning man. I admire that.

Silver: He's giving them false hope... Just enough to keep them from realizing.