In the destroyed section of Ardonia City
5:10 Am
The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a muted glow over the devastation that stretched out in every direction. The once-thriving city was now nothing more than a massive crater, smoke spiraling upwards into the sky, carrying with it the remnants of what had been. Darius opened his eyes slowly, the harsh light stinging them. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. His body felt heavy, almost alien to him, as if it didn’t belong.
he muttered to himself, his voice thick with despair.
Darius - I should be dead,
A shadow moved into his line of sight, and Darius turned his eyes to see Artair standing above him. The look on Artair’s face was unreadable, a cold mask that gave nothing away.
Artair (voice as calm as the dawn) - You woke up.
Darius stared up at him, the words hanging between them like a death sentence. He saw the destruction he had caused reflected in Artair’s eyes, and the weight of it crushed him. Darius whispered, barely able to get the words out.
Darius - Kill me, I’m a ticking time bomb. No one can control me.
Artair’s eyes softened, just a little, as he spoke.
Artair - All my life, I've never spared anyone who stood in my way. But when I looked into the eyes of that monster, I saw a scared teenager... and something in me said it was time to change. That’s why I chose not to kill you, but to talk—just this once. Because I want to believe, we humans can resolve things with words.
Darius (yelled) - You don’t understand! (his voice cracking) The thing inside me, that other personality, he won’t let me resolve any shit with words. It was him all along, messing with my mind…. pushing me into this madness… He’s evil, and… that makes me evil too!
Artair (brow furrowed) - Who is this ‘he’ you’re talking about?
Darius’s voice dropped to a whisper, as if the name itself held power over him.
Darius - His name is Ztabay, the owner of these powers, the one inside me… He’s a psychopath obsessed with killing, and he doesn’t care about a single life. He’s too dangerous to be kept alive… So….. please….. kill me.
Artair knelt beside Darius, his tone thoughtful.
Artair - You know, the best thing about Volkermords is that they’re just weapons. They don’t have minds of their own.
Darius - But—
Artair (cut him off gently) - This Ztabay you’re talking about, he probably only exists in your mind.
Darius (whispers) - No!
Artair - I think you’ve suffered to the point that your mind created another personality to protect itself…. You need to accept that it was you all along.
Darius hands gripping his head as if trying to physically tear the thoughts out.
Darius - It wasn’t me! It was him!
Artair - Listen to me. You’re not a mindless weapon. You have control over your actions, whether you believe it or not.
Darius gasps
Darius (with regret) - Either way… that doesn’t change the fact that I am dangerous to everyone. I even tried to kill those close to me… That’s not something a normal person does.
Tears welled up in Darius’s eyes, and his voice broke as he spoke.
Darius - I’m just a horrible person…who really doesn't deserve to live.
Artair looked at him with a mix of sympathy and challenge.
Artair - So, do you really want to die?
Darius remained silent, unable to find an answer.
Artair (pressed) - What do you really want?
After a long pause, Darius whispered,
Darius - want peace. I want to go home.
Artair smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes.
Artair - Then stand up… Accept who you are… Help people understand you and build that home.
He extended a hand towards Darius.
Artair - The first step is learning to love something, especially yourself…. Nothing can be achieved with hatred.
With a glimmer of hope, Darius took Artair’s hand and stood. As he rose, his eyes took in the full extent of the devastation around him—the city reduced to ruins, the ground scarred and torn apart, all that was left was a vast crater. The sight of it brought him to his knees once more, tears streaming down his face.
Darius - It’s hopeless, (Darius choked out) It won’t happen…… I won’t be getting a home. Not after this…(In a low voice) I’ve already tried to make a new one, actually I tried it twice. But look where it gets me…. My destiny only holds ruins for me and nothing else….. It has always been like this… always.
Artair watched him with concern, his voice steady.
Artair - Why do you think you want to go home so badly, if all you’ve experienced is the destruction that comes with it?
Darius hesitated, memories of his family and friends flashing before his eyes.
Artair - Because you’ve experienced the good things that come from having a family, from having a home…. You running behind that want for a home, is proof that destiny holds good things for you too.
Darius looked up at him, a flicker of realization dawning on his face.
Artair - Just because some parts of your life have been rough, doesn’t mean it’s all been ruined. After all the bad that’s happened, good will come. Maybe not today, but someday… All you need to do is to keep moving on the right path…
Darius listened in silence, tears still flowing, but now there was something more in his eyes—a spark of understanding, perhaps even hope.
Artair - Always remember, that mere bad moments you lived doesn’t define your whole life. Life is a constant battle between satisfaction and suffering—one follows the other, maintaining a balance, so that one could live…. Don't go on the wrong path…..do the right thing.
Darius feels the cold breeze of the morning.
Artair (in a soft but serious voice) - Man, I should be a writer.
Darius - Ha?
Artair - But seriously, we’ve fought and talked, and I just realized—I never asked your name. What is it?
Darius (After a brief pause) - It’s Darius. Darius Beckett.
Artair (grinned) - I see you’ve got a taste for dramatic flair.
He stood up, offering Darius a hand again.
Artair - Remember, you’re not alone in this. I need to change too.
Darius took his hand, pulling himself up.
Darius - So, what’s next for me?
Artair (smiles) - Oh, I’m turning you over to the authorities. That was the deal, after all.
Darius (with a calm in voice) - So, I’m going to spend the rest of my life in a cell?
Artair gave him a thumbs up, his grin returning.
Artair - You’ll be alright. Trust me.
Blooming buds Cafe, 2nd District, Residential floor 1, Dome City
30th March 2162
2:10 Pm
Sophia set down her cup of coffee with a satisfied sigh.
Sophia - Finally, a place where I can sit without getting dirt all over my butt.
Rebecca (Irritatingly smirked) - Seriously, why the hell are you in the military?
Emma (joined in, curiosity piqued) - Yeah, you’ve never really told us.
Sophia shrugged nonchalantly, her expression as carefree as ever.
Sophia - Well, they were recruiting young people about to get into College. And honestly, I was so fed up with all the studying. So I thought, ‘Woo-hoo, here’s my ticket to the real world!’
Rebecca arched an eyebrow, unconvinced.
Rebecca - Really, that’s all there is to it?
Maria, wide-eyed, chimed in,
Maria - You’re amazing. Just jumping into this like it’s no big deal.
Sophia chuckled, waving off the compliment.
Sophia - Yeah, well, I don’t have some grand, world-saving motivation, if that’s what you’re expecting.
The room fell silent as the others exchanged incredulous looks, trying to process Sophia’s casual attitude. Sophia broke the silence, turning to Emma.
Sophia - So, how’s your leg? I heard Lana found you in pretty bad shape.
Emma - Oh, that? It wasn’t really that bad.
Lana, who had been quietly sipping her coffee, interjected,
Lana - Part of an Exoz got lodged in your ankle, Emma.
Emma (shot her a playful glare) - You’re exaggerating, aren’t you, Lana?
Lana took another sip, unfazed. Maria, looking around at the group, sighed with contentment.
Maria - After everything we went through half a month ago, it feels good to just be here with all of you.
Emma’s lips curled into a soft smile. Rebecca noticed and teased her,
Rebecca - Why are you blushing all of a sudden?
Before Emma could respond, Lana deadpanned,
Lana - The coffee is hot.
Rebecca rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed.
Rebecca - Will you ever stop taking her side?
Lana paused, holding the cup near her mouth, then smiled—a rare, genuine smile.
Lana - No.
The room fell silent, everyone staring at Lana in disbelief. Sophia, eyes wide, leaned forward.
Lana - Did she just… smile?
Odyssey bar, 2nd District, Residential floor 1, Dome City
Arthur noticed Victor sitting at the bar, silently staring at the empty glass in his hand.
The usually lively Victor was lost in thought, his expression a mix of sorrow and longing.
Arthur approached, taking a seat beside him, and gestured to the bartender.
Arthur - Give us the best you’ve got, please.
The bartender nodded, his expression understanding.
Bartender - Sure thing, sir.
Arthur turned his attention back to Victor, his voice gentle.
Arthur - Still missing him?
Victor (voice barely above a whisper) - Yeah… he was one hell of a guy.
Arthur - If he was still here, what do you think he’d be doing right now?
A faint, bittersweet smile crossed Victor’s lips.
Victor - I might’ve been crying about Lana not noticing my love for her in my eyes, and he might be rubbing my back, probably saying, ‘Easy, boy.’
Arthur placed a comforting hand on Victor’s back.
Arthur - Ease up, mate.
Victor turned to look at Arthur, and the redness in his eyes told the story of pain he’d been holding in. Arthur, seeing the tears that were just on the verge of spilling over, softened his tone.
Arthur - Okay, don’t ease up. You can cry. I won’t tell anyone.
The bartender set down their drinks in front of them, giving them a brief nod before moving away to give them privacy. Arthur began to gently rub Victor’s back, offering silent support.
Victor finally let the weight of his emotions take over, lowering his head onto the table as tears streamed down his face. His shoulders shook with silent sobs, the grief too heavy to contain any longer.
Arthur looks back at Samuel, sleeping as he was all drunk up and took a slow sip of his drink, feeling the burn of the alcohol as he swallowed. But more than that, he felt the ache of loss shared between them. He kept rubbing Victor’s back, offering what little comfort he could, knowing that sometimes, just being there was enough.
Military Shooting Range, Dome City
Liam lined up his shot, the AR steady in his hands. With a sharp crack, the shot rang out, hitting the target dead on. He lowered the weapon, blowing away the smoke curling from the Ar with a satisfied smirk.
Beside him, Ben fired off a frustrated sigh as he watched Liam’s display.
Ben - They’re all out there partying, drinking, wasting their holidays when they should be here on campus, getting things done.
Liam glanced over at Ben, his tone easygoing.
Liam - C’mon, Ben. We’re part of the 40% of soldiers who survived the last mission. They’ve earned a break after what they’ve been through. Twice, no less—first on their initial mission, and then again on the night of the massacre. They deserve some time off.
Ben reloaded his Glock, his expression tight.
Ben - You make it sound like we weren’t in that first mission ourselves.
Liam raised an eyebrow, amused.
Liam - So what? You want me to pin a medal on you for that?
Ben fired two quick shots, the bullets punching neatly into the center of the target. He turned to Liam, who was now watching him with a hint of a grin.
Liam - Well, I can’t give you a medal for that either.
Ben - Anyways, I am actually satisfied that there are some people who are not partying like the others.
Liam - Yeah, today is a big day for the both of them.
Ben - Well Actually three of them. Don’t you wanna go and watch his trial… I thought you might be interested.
Liam - His trial……. No, not exactly.
Blooming buds Cafe, 2nd District, Residential floor 1, Dome City
Rebecca (leaning against the couch, arms crossed) - That mysterious headhunter… I’ve heard rumors, he’s connected to Mark and Hugo.
Sophia (sipping her coffee) - Yeah, word is they were friends once. Hard to believe, right?
Emma Holding cup in her hands
Emma - His trial is today. What do you think’s gonna happen to him?
Sophia - Straight-up execution. He’s a man-eating monster. There shouldn’t even be a trial.
Lana - Some people from the military advocated for him, though.
Rebecca - For once, I’m with Sophia. Just because some people spoke up for him doesn’t mean the council should ignore the fact that he’s responsible for the deaths of so many good people.
Sophia, setting her cup down, eyes narrowing
Sophia - Exactly. I don’t understand why anyone in our ranks would care about him when they don’t even know his name properly… What was his name again, Rebecca?
Emma (softly, but with conviction) - Darius. His name is Darius…
The room falls silent as everyone turns to look at Emma, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Rebecca raising an eyebrow, incredulous
Rebecca - Don’t tell me you too advocated for him.
Emma remains silent, her eyes downcast, avoiding their gazes. Maria in a low voice, trying to lighten the mood
Maria - Wow… Classic beauty and the beast.
Rebecca (shaking her head, frustrated) - Your silence says it all, Emma.
Lana (definitely, standing by Emma) - And what if she did? Doesn’t she have the right to her own opinion?
Rebecca (exasperated, her voice rising) - Are you listening to yourself, Lana? That monster murdered people we knew— people we cared about!
Sophia, who has been watching the exchange quietly, moves up, her gaze locking with Emma’s. Her voice is calm, but firm.
Sophia - I think there’s a story behind everything. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions before knowing it.
Rebecca - What?
The room falls into a heavy silence, each of them lost in their thoughts as the gravity of the situation sinks in.
Odyssey bar, 2nd District, Residential floor 1, Dome City
Victor and Arthur sit at the bar, the remnants of their drinks in front of them. Victor’s eyes are red, his nose running as he wipes it with the back of his hand. The bar is mostly empty, save for the low hum of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses.
Victor - Any news on Hugo and Mark?
Arthur checking his phone, his brow furrowing
Arthur - No. Not yet.
There’s a pause as both men sit in silence, the weight of uncertainty heavy between them.
Arthur - You’re not the only one who’s going to lose a friend. The guy on trial was close to both Mark and Hugo. When they lose him, they’re going to need us… so be ready.
Victor - Honestly… as much as I hate that guy, I really don’t want Hugo to face the same as me. Same goes for Mark.
Arthur looking at Victor, his voice softening
Arthur - Yeah… me neither.
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