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As per the norm in these stressful situations, your brain focuses on something else in a vain attempt to avoid responsibility!
Rather than take you to the usual gallery of scantily-clad girls (both real and imaginary), your mind takes you back to a conversation you had with your Master on one particularly-cold February day…
Master, you said after a sparring session that you can feel even in the present, you have a question about fighting.
You recall her taking a long, pensive drag from her cigarette before giving you a noncommittal grunt. She was in a good mood that day. You <span class="mu-i">know</span> that she’s just teaching you self-defense, you began with growing trepidation in your tone, but if someone’s doing something bad-
“You are wantink to know eef eet is wise to intervene.” She interjected as she gave you a look that could scare away a bear! You nodded. You were rewarded with a long, irritated sigh, but thankfully no cigarette burns!
“Homework assignment, Dieselchik: go to nearest cemetery… human, not pet, and be askink the graves how the heroism is servink them.”
You blinked. Like, right now, or-
“Actink without theenkink is not heroism, boy, eet ees suicide.” Master Laika continued with a disapproving shake of her head. “We are not the cat, you see: we are only havink one life to lose.”
So what she’s saying is, you replied with your brow furrowed in thought, is that you should never intervene?
The cold, frighteningly-toned lady gave you a glare even colder than the weather outside. “Heroism, Dieselchik, is takink action knowink damn well what’s at stake eef you fail.” Her eyes focused on you like a hawk. “So do not <span class="mu-i">fail</span>.”
Back in the present, you feel a fresh supply of willpower well up inside you. Sorry, Pepper, you reply in a tone backed by resolve, but snooping can wait… those people up there?
You point at the ceiling for emphasis. Raj scans the cave for whatever it is you’re pointing at.
They need help <span class="mu-i">NOW.</span>
“Fuckin’ A, man!” Cheers the skater with a triumphant fist-pump! “They need us!”
For once the redhead is at a loss for words. “... did you not hear what <span class="mu-i">I</span> heard, becau-”
You heard it, alright? And you saw whatever was making those noises bash through steel like it was papier-mâché! Drawing the <span class="mu-s">SAWN-OFF SHOTGUN</span> from your pocket and setting the <span class="mu-s">AIR FRESHENER, WHISKEY, TOWEL, .38 HANDGUN</span> and <span class="mu-s">TELESCOPING BATON</span> on a crate next to you, you give the girl a stare that would make your master proud!
You don’t know what’s going on, you continue, but right now you’ve got a better chance than anyone else to save some lives!
You’re taken off-guard when instead of arguing, the girl instead traps you in a hug and looks up at you with wide, worried, and very <span class="mu-i">un</span>smug eyes!
“Diesel…” she stammers, her lip quivering a bit, “... Are… are you <span class="mu-i">really</span> sure about this?”
>YES
>NO
