Conversation · Steban, the Student Communist

The lieutenant nods.

And yet you can't help but sense a slight disappointment on his part. It seems a part of him hoped you would hit the pretentious young communist...

The young man can hardly conceal his disappointment. He was apparently looking forward to being punched by you.

"Well, if you're not going to play along, I don't think we have anything further to discuss. Good evening to you, gendarme."

"Thank god we avoided that fiasco, at least..."

"Hey, Kim. what if you hit him?"

"There's no what if, because I won't. This is your thing, remember?"

Hit him as hard as you can.

OH YEAH, we're gonna spin this kid like a top!

Wait-wait-wait, you were trying not to do that!

If you were trying this against an actual opponent, it would be a meagre, embarrassing effort.

Fortunately, you're trying not to cause any real damage.

"Kim, how bad an idea is this?"

The lieutenant looks at you, then at the young man. He seems to be giving your question serious consideration.

"Speaking as an officer of the RCM, it is an extremely bad idea to strike a civilian without cause..."

"However, if one were to strike a civilian, which again I would never recommend, one should at least follow the RCM manual's guidance on non-lethal strikes."

"What does the manual say?"

"It advises officers in physical altercations to rely on the open-palm strike, as opposed to the backhand, in non-lethal situations."

"I can't recall the exact explanation, but it has something to do with the kinetic energy stored in the elbow. Basically, you're less able to control a backhanded slap, and therefore more likely to cause serious injury."

"Or even death, if, say, you happen to be wearing a set of armoured ceramic gauntlets."

"At the same time, this is emphatically your thing, so do as you will."

"Well, gendarme? What are we waiting for?"

"I don't need a book to tell me how to deck a guy."

"You see, that attitude is precisely why the field manual's guidance is so valuable..."

"Speaking frankly, it's a terrible idea. The RCM already has issues with wanton brutality and this is unlikely to ameliorate those concerns..."

That sounds really stupid.

Yes, stupidly brilliant.

Now's your chance to avenge yourself for your embarrassment by the harbour gates.

"This has certainly turned out to be a punchier case than I had anticipated."

He won't be the first unweaned punk you've shut down. You'll make mincemeat of this fool's jaw.

"Ah, so we're beating another youth only tangentially connected to the case. Spectacular."

You've done it before, and against a much tougher opponent. You'll make mincemeat of this fool's jaw.

"Easy, detective. No need to treat this kid like he's some Son of Measurehead."

This is what you've been waiting for! Time to lay his little punk-ass out.

"Ah, so we're beating the youth now? That's an unexpected development."

"Why would I do that?"

"I've come so far, please don't turn me back now."

The young man sighs. "God, it's so pitiful watching a grown man beg. I can hardly stand it."

"It's important that I further my critical studies."

"I suppose we are all here to advance our studies in some form or another..."

"I'm a completionist. I've got to finish what I start."

"I do have to admire a certain tenacity, even when it seems to make no sense."

"Because this plasm stuff sounds totally disco. I have to get to the bottom of it."

"Oh, it is, and it only gets more disco from here..."

[Leave.]

"Did this reading group have anything to do with the lynching?"

"Lynching? No. We're not an operational cell."

"We think of ourselves as more of an intellectual vanguard."

"Are there any operational communists in Martinaise?" (Proceed.)

"No, unfortunately. The communards were hunted down and killed nearly to a man. All that's left of them are bones and old rifles."

"Well, that's too bad."

"It's a world-historical nightmare," the young man says gravely. "One from which we've yet to awaken."

When will you wake up? And what will you see when you do?

A moment of silence. They're waiting for you to speak.

"This little guy is still going." (Show him the figurine.)

"Not exactly the second incarnation of Kras Mazov, is he?" The young man considers the figurine with a slight grimace.

"What's it for?"

"It kills fascists."

"Right. Sure he does." He gives you a sly half-smile.

"What do you mean? It's just a nice figurine."