<div style="text-align: center">《 Rebel &amp; Dan》<br/>
Location: Walking back to Abendblume<br/>
P<i>resent: Armando</i><br/>
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</div>Rebel's jaw tensed as he listened to Armando excuse Ray's actions, take blame for Alvaro's existence in the compound, and make it sound like what Hale did was okay because it was just business. He hated that the man manipulated those around him for 'business,' when it seemed like what he did was enslave others to his cause. Armando's family was the shackle and chains that bound him, and now the man's guilt was another weight that was placed around his neck.<br/><br/>"Ray's an adult, and Hale has Alvaro because Hale wants someone who will do the dirty things he needs without having to feel guilt, but Hale's just as guilty as a man who points the gun and pulls the trigger." Rebel saw Dan nodding quietly at his side as they walked. The coach might not want to speak freely in front of Armando but he seemed to be thinking the same way Rebel was.<br/><br/>"You know that there are no more borders," Rebel said. "Hale's only hold on you is your family and your guilt. You didn't create the need for Alvaro's presence or his acts, even his influence on Ray."<br/><br/>What must it feel like to watch someone grow up, show potential for being a decent human being, then turn towards a darker path because it seemed powerful? He supposed, had things been different, Ray might have spent his time shooting people in video games instead of in real life. The "kid" didn't think there would be consequences for what he did. Ray's dad was the closest thing to law that existed even though Hale was more of a tyrant than a leader.<br/><br/>"Look, we'll follow your lead when we get back to Abendblume. At the church there was a panic when the rotters came out of the building; a horse spooked and was killed and you managed to cut the other free. What happened to it afterwards is anyone's guess, but if I know horses, it ran back home to Abendblume. And sure – some of the people caused trouble on the road and at the camp, Ray showed up and saved the day. Those who survived ran off…" He shook his head.<br/><br/>"The hell of it is, Ray might actually believe he saved the day. People like that are mentally off." He ran a hand over the top of his head and grunted. "This makes me miss Syria," he sighed, "and I never thought I'd be in a shit-show worse than that." Of course, Syria wasn't as bad as Iraq, but the decapitation of American civilians and the failed rescue attempt would always haunt those who risked their lives for the life of another. The hell of it was that those who they attempted to rescue was probably already dead before boots ever touched the ground.<br/><br/>Dan looked over, studying his partner. "You never talked that before," he mentioned.<br/><br/>"Yeah, well. I supposed today's a day of firsts."