As soon as the door to the back of the cargo container closed, Jack began making sure with everyone there that they were alright. Everyone is just trying to adjust. Tonight was… horrible. Looks like Jack Warrenfoster ain't going to college. Jack looked back over to Rehn.
"Hey, German fella! How's that eye treating ya?" Jack called.
"I'll manage. Zhese pieces of human trash vill pay for zhis." Rehn said, one arm crossed and one gingerly covering his eye. The people nod. Not knowing what else to do, Garang walks up to Rehn, as he is the only one he can talk to. Rehn widens his eyes, shows a look that's mixed with fear and anger, and pushes ever closer to the wall defensively, and so Garang sits down a few feet away. The group stayed quiet, letting the fact they had just witnessed a triple homicide sink in.
"Hey." Rehn called to Garang in Dinka.
"Yes?" Garang could not contain his excitement to be talked to by a non-native Dinka speaker. Although Rehn wasn't very fluent in Dinka, Garang could understand him still. Although they should have all been going insane, the group were still overwhelmed with shock.
"What do you… think will happen to us?" Rehn asked, staring at nothing.
"I imagine… sexual slavery perhaps." Garang said.
"I can deal with that. I'm a bit used to it by now." Rehn said. Garang was confused. Then he caught on.
"Someone has committed sodomy against you? Without permission, as well? In South Sudan, we kill people who do that." Garang said, getting closer to Rehn and cautiously putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. This causes Rehn to jump in startlement, but he relaxes once again and looks over to Garang and then quickly back at nothing, at the ground.
"Heh, maybe you guys know more than most." Rehn said, sarcastically laughing. Did he want Egon dead? He did not. It annoyed him to no end, but he couldn't bring himself to wish for the death of his uncle. He remembers when he was a lot younger, and his uncle Egon was the coolest guy that Rehn had ever met. He founded his own private military company in Marburg where they only employ female soldiers. Whether it was some weird feminist thing, or the idea of German badass women kicking ass and taking names was a fantasy come to life for Egon, no one really knew, but his girls had been trained so good that he would get contracts from governments to help. Speaking of which, he had just accepted a contract with Ukraine. Rehn could think of a seemingly never ending list to hate Egon. But he couldn't. He liked it best when he didn't have to consider his feelings. He very much adored the wall that he had built around himself. Although it had began to get to the point that Rehn under reacts when things go horribly wrong. He had once been diagnosed with sociopathic tendencies. He didn't like to think about that either. So he stopped thinking about hard thoughts and began speaking to Garang.
"So, have you ever… fought someone before?"
"I… I have had my fair share of having to defend my family when militias drove by."
"Oh, that sucks." Rehn said. Rehn sighs deeply as he realized how insensitive he just sounded to this very nice guy, and even more annoyed that he feels bad about it. "Shit, I'm sorry. I just… I don't know how to do the whole emotions thing." Rehn said, glancing back and forth at Garang and at the ground.
"It's ok. Say, why did you ask if I can fight?" Garang said.
"No no, I asked if you have. That doesn't…" Garang looked at Rehn with concerned eyes. Holy fuck, I am so very sick of seeing zhat look on everyone I know. "Dammit… I was going to ask if you wanted to work together with me to survive? I've got the brains, and you could be the brawns. I just- I can't die. Not yet. So… please?" Rehn had almost begun crying but held back the tears.
"Of course." Garang said. As Rehn had a soft and pleading expression on his face for the first time, he noticed how much smaller and weaker he looks without that resting bitch face. He needs to be protected. Then Rehn returned to his RBF and cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed at his moment of vulnerability, and then he and Garang began trading ideas on how to best make it through the night. After some discussion, they remember and bring up the odd message. 'Compliance Is Rewarded.' And so they decide that the best course of action that has the highest chance at survival, is to shut up and obey.
The two continue making small talk about their nations or traditions, or about the situation in Ukraine, until the truck stops. The man from before opens the door, and steps away.
"Get your asses out here and piss and shit. We're not gonna let you little shits do it again until you get to The Vault, so do it now." Everyone just stood still and stared blankly. "Tonight would be nice." Garang turns to Rehn.
"Compliance is rewarded. I do not wish to die yet. Come, my friend." Garang gestures for Rehn to follow him outside. Rehn nods in agreement and reluctantly follows behind. Rehn feels incredibly uncomfortable as he passes The Man. The Man reminded him a bit about Egon, so that didn't help matters much. After a bit of time has passed, everyone but 3 are waiting by the truck.
"Where the fuck are the last three brats?" The Man says. No one says anything. The Man sighs, and makes the 6 waiting get in the truck again. The Man forgets to close the door, or maybe he didn't, and it was a test, as he marches into the forest. Rehn stares blankly at the ground. He was no fool. He knew what was about to happen, and so he simply closes his eyes as he hears 3 different gunshots. A few minutes later, The Man wordlessly closed the door and the truck began moving again.
No no no, Jesus Christ! We need to listen or we will die! Jack stood in the middle.
"Listen, everyone. If we are going to survive, we have to listen to them. No one else needs to die tonight, alright?" Everyone nods, and a girl cries. Rehn and Garang return to talking about nothing and everything to pass the time and get their minds off of the 6 people who have perished today, when the truck stops. Suddenly, the crying girl says she heard a siren, and she and the 2 other nameless people begin banging and screaming on the walls for help. Jack is about to join them, when Rehn and Garang both shake their heads at him. Jack sits back down, putting his trust in two strangers. Then the door opens, and the three unnamed people run out. Rehn looks away, yet again knowing all too well the tactics of men of war, as three more gunshots echo through the open highway. The Man walks up to the entrance, presenting a megaphone, before turning off the siren on it.
"Congrats on passing the test. Compliance is rewarded." The Man said. Rehn noticed he stopped swearing so much. The Man then threw a container of food and a large water jug into the truck. The food and water was more than enough for… 12 people. Mein gott. So each of the three remaining young men would get 4 servings. Garang and Jack began to eat as they took off once again. Rehn just stared at his food in a trance with a blank and emotionless expression and wondered why the other fools had decided to kill themselves.