8PM March 6th, 1588 - Stuttgart, Holy Roman Empire Finally, beans have an innate ability to multiply exponentially. It is unknown how or why they are able to do this. Further information regarding our current knowledge of the Beans and their abilities are cataloged later in this journal.

Sauer and Reist entered the Bean Research Facility, their dripping clothes leaving trails of water behind them. The mist-like spray that had coated Stuttgart since the early hours of the morning only became heavier as the sun set. Finally, as Sauer and Reist made the short walk from Stuttgart’s military headquarters to the Bean Research Facility, the heavens opened, soaking them.

Most of their day was spent in a briefing for the advance on Bean territory, listening to Captain Bösch and the tacticians discuss comprehensive strategies the soldiers would employ as they headed west. Contingencies upon contingencies were reviewed, expanded, improved, discarded, hours upon hours spent ensuring supply lines were optimal, soldiers and weaponry correctly distributed along the hundreds of kilometers of Bean territory. Researchers provided insight on the Beans and their abilities, as well as information about new weaponry in development, but were otherwise observers at the briefing. With a sigh, Sauer realized that these long days would continue for the foreseeable future.

“Oh, h-hello, you two,” Fischer said from the patient’s bed in the corner of the room. Since his surgery, he had remained quarantined in the Bean Research Facility. Instead of joining the other infection patients in the eastern barracks, who now numbered in the dozens, Fischer requested to remain in the Bean Research Facility in order to continue conducting research. “I was not e-expecting anyone to come tonight. Where is the c-crazy one that is usually with you?”

“Hello, Fischer,” Sauer replied, wiping the water from his glasses.

“Leon says he has more important things to do,” Reist replied as she took her wet hair out of the loose bun it was in. “But that was at the end of the briefing. I don’t know where he’s been since, or what he thinks is more important than the advance on Bean territory.”

“When did it e-end?” Fischer asked.

“Around four o’clock,” Sauer replied. “However, some tacticians wanted to ask us about the Beans, so we spent the evening talking with them.”

“I hope L-Leon is not doing anything he sh-should not be,” Fischer said. “You never know with that m-man. For all we know, he could be l-leaving to go fight the Beans h-himself.”

Reist laughed. “As if he would put himself in danger. He’s probably out drinking with that new friend he made.”

“Oh, he made a f-friend? I did not expect that,” Fischer said.

“Yeah, he was wandering around outside our living quarters a while back. They go out drinking now, or at least I think that’s what they do.”

“The b-blonde one?”

“You know him?”

“I saw him a few times too,” Fischer replied. “He was so y-young, I did not think he was a researcher or tactician. When I asked what he was d-doing, he ran away from m-me. I told a few of the g-guards about him, and have not seen him s-since, because I am s-stuck here. A-Anyways, is there anything I should k-know about from the briefing?”

“Not that I can think of,” Sauer replied. “Everything important was covered in the report the tacticians made last week. A few changes to some of the backup plans, but otherwise the rest of the strategies remain unchanged. Oh, one of the supply lines was changed as well. A major road outside Troyes was unsuitable for our carts.”

“Don’t forget about Krüger,” Reist added. “He didn’t show up to the briefing. Bösch waited thirty minutes for him, but once it was clear he wasn’t showing up, he started without him.”

“But he arrived in the city y-yesterday, did he not?” Fischer asked.

“Yeah. Technically, he’s in charge of coordinating the advance as of yesterday, but I guess he had something more important to attend to. Something more important than the advance on Bean territory…” Reist laughed. “No, that’s crazy.”

“Not that I dislike your c-company,” Fischer began, “but why are you two h-here? I am sure you d-did not go through thirty minutes of security checks just to talk about the briefing.”

“Oh, right,” Reist said, making her way to the cabinet containing the bean samples. “I wanted to test a hypothesis I had about alcohol exposure before tomorrow’s briefing.”

“C-Come on, Adaline,” Fischer said. “You do not h-have to work tonight. The advance has b-begun, there is n-nothing else for us to do but c-celebrate! We have earned it. Soon, the Beans will be n-nothing but a bad memory, and we can get on with our lives. Maybe we will even be remembered as h-heroes.”

“I guess I just have a curious nature,” Reist said, opening the cabinet and reaching inside.

Sauer smiled. “You say that we will be remembered as heroes as though parents will tell stories to their children about the great Carl Fischer, the man who passed out when he learned he had beans inside of him.”

Fischer laughed. “You never k-know. Maybe parents will tell their k-kids about the courageous r-researcher that donated his body to help the Empire overcome the B-Beans. I like that version m-much better.”

“That is a fair point. You have, literally, given your all to our research.”

Fischer’s smile faded. “Do you think they will ever c-come out of me?”

“I do not know.”

Fischer paused for a moment. “Do you think our s-soldiers are really going to be able to d-defeat the B-Beans?”

“I have faith in the plans—”

“I d-do not want to know what you have placed your f-faith in. I want to know if you b-believe that this assault is a-actually going to d-defeat the B-Beans.”

Sauer thought. “Yes, I do.”

“W-Why?”

“The men on the front lines are good men. I know some of them myself. When we were in Dijon, one of them said something to me. I had been working on a plan to get us away from the Beans that had blocked us inside the walls, and, despite how hopeless the situation was, he told me that he trusted that my plan would work. He had only known me for a few hours, and he trusted me with everything he had. He had no reason to put his trust in me, but he did so anyway. All he needed was someone to believe in… So yes, I do believe that our assault is going to defeat the Beans. I have placed my trust in the men that are marching west right now to fight them.”

Fischer smiled sadly. “I guess I sh-should do that t-too, then.”

They were silent for a moment. Though they were deep inside the Bean Research Facility, Sauer could hear the onslaught of the rain outside. It came in predictable, calming waves, as though the building around them was breathing.

Sauer glanced towards Reist, checking on her. She stood, staring blankly at the jar she was holding.

“Is something wrong, Reist?” Sauer asked, moving towards her.

Reist glanced at him, then returned her attention to the jar.

“What’s w-wrong, Adaline?” Fischer asked. “Did a bean e-escape?”

Sauer placed his hand on Reist’s shoulder. She was shaking. The beans sat at the bottom of the jar, wriggling among themselves. “What is the matter?” Sauer asked.

Her voice was soft. “Count them.”

Sauer felt a chill down his spine.

“W-What did she s-say?” Fischer asked, standing up.

Sauer grabbed the jar out of her hand, his heart rate increasing as he began to count.

One, two, three…

Wait, had he already counted that one? They wriggled among themselves like worms, making them difficult to count. He took a deep breath and started over.

One… Two… Three…

This was Sauer’s research team’s jar, meaning that they should have nine beans inside…

Four… Five… Six…

There were still more beans that he had not counted. Many more.

Seven… Eight… Nine…

There was no way. It was impossible.

Ten…

Eleven…

Twelve…

Thirteen.

There were thirteen beans in the jar.

Sauer let out a breath he did not know he was holding.

“W-What’s going on?” Fischer asked, walking towards Sauer and Reist.

Sauer grabbed the other jars containing beans and counted. Lehmann’s group had sixteen. Meyer’s group had nineteen. Fischer’s group had fifteen.

Each group had started with ten.