You'll pass Dr. Bortnik off to CEDIT Russia

Of course, you understood both Despedida's point and Tschau's... but in the end, both were selfish viewpoints that ignored your duty as members of CEDIT. Your cause wasn't to exact vengeance upon the people who deserved it most. Your cause wasn't to collect all of the world's most potent technology and centralize it under one roof.

Your goal was to maintain the balance of world peace. In this case, that meant handing Bortnik over to CEDIT Russia.

Despedida's eyes widened as you told her your decision. "Geez... I didn't see that one coming. For reals. Uuuh... You know that guy's going to be making robots for the Russians soon, right?"

You did. But you also knew that, as shady as they were, CEDIT Russia was still a branch of CEDIT. If there was an investigation to be launched into Russia, it had to go through the proper channels and required the backing of all of the world's nations, not just yours. Nations acting independently would start a war... But nobody could go against what all nations decided. The proof would come soon enough, letting you know whether you'd made the right choice or not. Would the Russians serve the global good along with the rest of CEDIT?

In some dark corner of your mind, you remembered... The Russians never thought otherwise. Even when they'd abducted and experimented on agents like Tschau, even when they'd worked alongside the mad doctor, they'd never intended anything else. In their own twisted way, they'd always thought they were doing what was best for the world. Even Ivan Bortnik himself had; he thought that his 'Machine Voice' was a path of enlightenment for himself and humanity.

But you had a guiding principle of your own: duty. You weren't going to abandon it just because things got tough to figure out. CEDIT survived by CEDIT agents following orders, not performing rogue actions. You weren't going to stray from that path, even for something like this.

Your Girls and you delivered the straight-jacketed Dr. Bortnik to his sister on a gurney, wheeling him right into her office. You thought she may even be surprised to see you all on board. That wide grin of hers came back as she gestured to the vodka sitting on her desk, then ordered one of her bodyguards to begin pulling glasses from a nearby cupboard. "Well done, friends, well done! Returned in like new condition! I can see some hesitance in little Tschau and Despedida's face, but there is no need to be concerned. In time, you will see all of CEDIT's forces sporting cybernetics outstripping this man's technology, in the service of global peace, and you will know you have done the right thing." Her teeth showed in a wide grin as she walked to the side of her desk and took a seat, placing both hands in her lap and crossing her shapely legs.

"More cybernetic CEDIT agents are not something I want to see. I sincerely hope that I won't," Tschau barked in response. You could tell she still saw Milaslava as the one loose end related to her history that still deserved punishment and had never received it.

Despedida sighed and smiled, shrugging her shoulders and raising both palms. "Well, I just hope that if you do send more out, they're not as crazy as this guy is. That 'Machine Voice' of his is something else. Maybe don't put any cybernetic implants in their heads, Natashia? Stick to your slapstick routine if you need to chase down Moose and Squirrel." You noticed that was an American cartoon reference-- sort of rare, coming from her.

Milaslava returned her sigh with one of her own, then took a big swig of vodka. She exhaled loudly, then grinned from ear to ear. "If you say so! Truth is, my brother was obsessed with the brain to his own detriment. Humans are crafty enough without those modifications! Fat lot of good that scheming computer brain of his did him anyway. You may just be right. After all, this hand of mine works wonders all by itself... it can crush a man's spine or delicately hold a glass such as this." She demonstrated, lifting the glass once more to her lips and drinking while watching the others out of one eye. Focusing on you, she grinned and licked her lips. "It can handle other delicate parts too. Come back to Russia some time and I will show you much, much more hospitality, Ciao..."

"Dude, the next time you come back, she'll be like, sixty," Despedida whispered into your ear.

The woman across from you looked unaffected, giving you a wink that still offered that hospitality. You weren't sure how to feel about the fact that your compliance with Washington's orders and Russia's schemes seemed to have made her so horny...

The trip back was quiet; Russia had provided their agents to fly you back, while Despedida and Tschau relaxed with you in the back. While Despedida was playing her game contentedly, you could tell that Tschau was moody and aggravated. "You made the wrong decision, Ciao." She told you this bluntly, while using her phone... You'd hoped she'd be distracted enough by that to avoid barking at you, but that hope was in vain. "You prioritized your orders over justice. Don't ever choose anything over justice."

"Chill," Despedida warned her, loosening one earplug while wearing a calm smile. "What were you gonna do if we got to keep Bortnik?"

"I... Intended to kill him." Tschau looked at her hands and gripped them tightly.

"I think maybe Ciao was concerned for us too. He was choosing the option that makes him the bad guy instead of us. Sometimes, you've gotta take the quiet and safe option. I guess I can respect that," she shrugged, smiling sympathetically in your direction. "But you can't blame him for not handing him over to you to decapitate like a samurai. I myself was gonna dissect the guy's brain, so I'm just as bad. Ciao's just a guy with an ordinary conscience... If you really hate that doctor for his mad science and wanting everyone to be robots, you gotta respect that."

Still moody, Tschau turned in her seat to face her phone. You didn't get a lot of conversation on the way back... but you felt resolute in your decision. Whatever Tschau may say, it was the right one. You had your orders.