January 11th, 1588 - Besançon, Kingdom of France We do not know the origins of the abnormal Beans, but our theories state that they are a collective of drone Beans that, through some unknown process, are physically enhanced. If the Beans’ goal was to merely wipe out humanity, it would make sense for them to only send the abnormal Beans; however, that is not the case, implying that there is either some limit to the amount of abnormal Beans that can exist, or the Beans are not trying to wipe out humanity.

Barry,

Uncle Humbert told me that you are alive. He told me that you decided to return to the front lines without discussing it with either of us. You did not even feel the need to inform us; he found out after coming across paperwork confirming your transfer to Lieutenant Kaplan’s platoon. What has gotten into you? Why are you behaving like this? Stop ignoring me and Uncle Humbert and let us help you. We love you, Barry; why do you not want us to?

Please, just speak with us.

Sofia.

Schmidt and Rob watched as Lieutenant Kaplan glanced around the crowd of twenty soldiers. Kaplan, his arms crossed in front of him, his foot tapping anxiously, repeated himself. “If no one volunteers, I will choose four people myself. I am not going to ask again.”

Silence.

He stood at the top of the stairs to the entrance of the church in Besançon, the belltower behind him casting the area in shadow. “Is zis because of zee situation with Hannes?” he asked the crowd. “We have been over zis many times. Hannes is alive and well, and ‘e will remain in Stuttgart until ‘is arms and legs heal. ‘e was not hurt by a Bean, zat was only a rumor. In ‘is report, ‘e said zat ‘is horse got spooked and bucked ‘im off. When we find who started zee Bean rumor, zey will be punished appropriately.”

Behind Schmidt, a soldier whispered something to another. They tried and failed to stifle their laughter, which only escalated until one of them laughed loud enough to make Rob jump.

“Who was zat?” Kaplan shouted, taking a step towards the crowd. “Was zat Rolf again? You do understand zat we are at war, oui? Zis is no time to be fooling around. Rolf, you are zee first soldier in zee scouting group. Get up ‘ere, now.”

“Sorry, can’t,” Rolf said behind Schmidt, scoffing. He was the same soldier that laughed at Bösch the night of the Bean attacks. “Leg’s still injured from the last mission, remember? Ms. Vogt said I couldn’t go on another mission until at least next week.”

Kaplan glared at Rolf. “Oui, I remember.” He sighed. “Is anyone going to volunteer or not?”

There was a moment of awkward silence before a soldier sighed dramatically and walked to the front of the crowd. “If no one else is going to volunteer for this sad, little man, I presume I shall.” He stood next to Kaplan, surveying the crowd.

Kaplan shook his head. “Alright… I guess zis is a start. Your name is Greg, oui? Zank you for volunteering.”

“Please,” he smiled, his eyes never leaving the crowd. “Call me Gregory. I will be the leader of this expedition. I know that with myself in charge, we are naught to encounter any semblance of danger. Do not fret yourselves with volunteering henceforth, my valued friends; I encourage any company on this stimulating journey. Now, who shall accompany me?”

“We still need zree more volunteers,” Kaplan added. “I am sure zat Greg will be more zan enjoyable company, so please, ‘urry up.”

Rob nudged Schmidt. “What, did he swallow a thesaurus?” He paused. “Wait, wasn’t he the guy that fell asleep in the watchtower? After Dijon, and Kaplan had to order someone to wake him up?”

Schmidt pushed that day out of his mind. After a moment, he forced a small laugh. “Yeah, I think he was. He didn’t strike me as the type to volunteer. He especially didn’t strike me as… that.”

Another soldier shuffled slowly past Schmidt and Rob, staring at the ground. As he approached Kaplan, he mumbled, “I’m Marvin. I volunteer.”

Kaplan said, “We only need two more now. Zank you for volunteering, Melvin. It is appreciated.”

“Marvin. Braun,” Marvin mumbled.

“What? You are going to have to speak up.”

“My name’s Marvin,” he said, a little louder this time.

“Welcome to the team, Mr. Marvin!” Greg said, holding out his hand. “I am glad to have you, and I am sure that the lieutenant is ecstatic that you volunteered.”

“Zat is one way to describe it,” Kaplan muttered.

Marvin shook Greg’s hand limply, focused on a cool rock behind him.

“You will surely be the reticent member that holds our presently undetermined quartet together!” Greg said.

“What an interestin’ duo,” Rob said.

“I feel bad for the other two that have to go with them,” Schmidt replied. “Their conversations would be interesting, to say the least. Do you think the loud one would let the quiet one talk? Would he even say anything?”

“It’ll probably be like when you go on one of your rants. No one can get a word in unless you want them to.”

“I don’t think I was as talkative as that guy. Besides, I haven’t gone on a rant in a while.”

“Yeah, but I still remember them like it was yesterday. I think my favorite quote from one of your rants was ‘It’s not as satisfyin’ to tell a pile of corpses that you told them so.’ Classic Barry.” Rob paused for a moment, then smiled. “Wait, didn’t you tell that doctor in Dijon you told him so? Mr. Sauer, the tall guy with glasses. What was that about? You never told me how you knew him.”

“I bumped into him in the market a while before the Beans attacked and told him my theories—”

“You ranted at a stranger?”

“We talked a bit before, he bought me lunch and—”

“He bought you lunch? Barry, were you seein’ him?”

“No Rob. Shut up.”

“It’s alright, I don’t judge about those kinda things. Love is love.”

“You know I don’t have to talk to you, right?”

“I’m sorry, please continue.”

“Where was I?”

“The handsome doctor bought you lunch.”

“That’s pretty much it. He didn’t believe me, though. When the Beans attacked, I said I told him so without thinking. I thought it was funny.”

“It was kinda funny, wasn’t it? I was too freaked out about the monsters attacking us to fully appreciate your comedic genius at the time.”

“At least you can appreciate it now.” Schmidt thought of Jakob again for a moment. As much as he tried to forget about what had happened in Dijon, to push everything he had seen out of his mind, he couldn’t. It had been months, but that morning still haunted him. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could continue making small talk with Rob as though the Bean attack hadn’t changed anything.