I see a bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightning.
I see bad times today.
Don't go around tonight.
It's bound to take your life.
There's a bad moon on the rise

Throughout most of my life, I was brought up to act first and ask questions later. In the world I lived in, I had no problem doing just that-if you weren't careful, you would be swallowed up by the shadows and never seen again-which is why you have to stay in the light. If you strayed, there was no telling what would happen. That's where I come in. See, my job is to fight back against the corruption in this city. I knew this place before it was tainted. Up until the sea of black coats invaded, people thrived without fear or having to live in the shadows. They weren't supposed to happen. But they did, and turned this place into the hellhole it is today.

This motivated me to join the Resistance, the force fighting the darkness in my town, who also wanted to expel the darkness that didn't belong here.. For years, I trained, bled, sweat, and did anything possible to become powerful enough to fight on the lines wearing the Resistance's armor. I made a promise to myself years ago which I've kept 'til this day, and that was to become strong enough to protect people. I failed one time, and I was set on not letting that happen again. In the past five years, I grew from a boy with only a wooden sword (albeit very rough and prone to splinters) to the lieutenant of the Resistance's third division. Not bad, right? My name is Terra, and back then, all that was on my mind was becoming captain-the next tier. All my life all I had done was to act first, but the asking questions part of my one page internal manual had been sneakily placed on the back side of the paper. Unfortunately (or I guess), I forgot to check that part. I didn't know it then, but in time, all of those questions I should have asked myself would catch up with me soon enough.

"Terra!"

Another reason why I couldn't think of questions to ask was that my captain kept shoving his duties down my throat half of the time.

"Terra!"

"I heard you, Xigbar!" My voice projected through the walls, and anyone that was asleep before was sure as hell awake now.

"Then get your ass out here already! The Major wants a word with you."

Within the walls of my barracks, I couldn't tell what time it was. You never could. It was just as dark inside these barracks as it was outside. It was almost as if my gloomy barracks suffered from the same plague of eternal night as the city we occupied. The city was part of a territory called "The Land that Never Was" and it was a the epicenter for all of the darkness. Bleak, ominous buildings lurched over you wherever you went, with their eerie, phosphorescent eyes noting your every move from every possible angle: the skies, and buildings you passed, and the shadows in the streets. The darkness was there. It tainted each and every crevice, crossroad, and creature in that realm.

When I referred to the "darkness", I'm not only referring to the spooky things that go bunk in the night, but where it all comes from-the organization that rules the very city I'm stationed in. Though they claimed (and appointed) themselves to be the government, there wasn't actually any democracy. It was more of an oligarchy, with a group of corrupt, yet powerful men in charge. These same men were responsible for plaguing the land, and countless others under the rule of the iron fist. Part of the Resistance's goal was to cut the reins and set these tyrannized lands free; but their numbers matched ours, and the resources available to us were but a mere cut of what they had. That didn't stop us, though. If anything, it was all the more reason to take back what rightfully belonged to us.

My superior (the Major) was a woman named Fran who was in charge of the entire third division. Although she's a mystery and can come off as the stoic type (my own thoughts personally when I first met her), rumors say that she once took on an entire airship. Another one says that she abandoned her home because she didn't want to stand idly as the world wasted away by the same, filthy hands that took over this land. All I knew was that there was a lot I didn't know about her, but I didn't mind not knowing. However, what did surprise me was the fact that she called for me. I was typically assigned to missions that involved raids or ones that required a lot of manpower. If you weren't one of the elite officers, and the head of your division summoned you, something was up.

And on such an occasion, you would have to be in full armor, with exception of your headgear. It's a stupid rule, which is more like a social more, but it's more or less part of the tradition and culture we have here. Out of respect, I suppose. The only reason why it was such a dumb tradition was that the armor was too much time and a hassle to clean. It would take hours upon hours to clean that damn carapace. It was a beaut when it was in top shape (which I've yet to witness), but maintaining its perfect condition was more trouble than it was worth. In the city, it rained. Actually, it'd be more correct to say that you would take a full-blown bath every time you stepped outside. Rust would get on the armor, and to find time to clean it afterwards was so aggravating. So I didn't. Putting on the armor wouldn't be so much of a inconvenience if it weren't for the knicks and scratches you would get from putting it on, and the shrieking of the corroded parts moving from it not being cleaned. Hell, I was surprised people weren't screeching about hemorrhages because of it. Rather a dorm hall than a barrack, the men scattered around the cantonment howled for the shrill, screeching sound to stop.

"What the hell?!"

"Aurgh!"

"Goddammit, Lieutenant!"

"Terra, what the fuck?!"

Now, keep in mind that some of these soldiers were men who had probably finished missions a couple of hours ago and were too exhausted to murder me. I wasn't fazed a bit; I found it outrageously hilarious that they were screeching like felines then. The only one who had managed to sleep through it all was Zack, my roommate, and a guy a little over my age, but he was only here because the other divisions didn't have any more room, so he's not important now. What's important is what happened next.

"Good morning, third division!" My ample set of lungs were hearty enough to bellow all the way down the hall. Anyone that wasn't Zack could have possibly been asleep then. "This is a wake-up call! Normally, such procedures are for the children, but since your buddy Vaan disobeyed our theft policy again, you all should thank him for the extra hour of sunshine later." I found that being sarcastic was more rewarding than losing my voice from yelling. While I didn't hesitate to do the latter, psychological effects could really mess with a guy's head. Most of the combat-soldiers weren't so sharp, really; casters typically quipped back with a wittier response, so I didn't bother tackling them on.

"You know they don't have to get up for another hour, right?" Xigbar spoke over my shoulder, but he reviled in their punishment just as much as I did.

"I know. I just wanted to let Vaan personally know that I was onto him. Everything he touches has to be his-it's like the kid is off on a mission to be the world's biggest klepto. Might do him good if he lost a hand or two."

Deeper chuckles busted from the captain's throat at my sadism. It gradually died as men began to rise and exit their rooms. He eyed them warily before turning to me. "You go on ahead. I'll watch them."

"Since when are you willing to lend a hand, Xigbar?"

"It's captain, you shit." That bizarre shade of gold sneered at me before it rolled. "Go on and get-the Major is expecting you."

As suspicious as Xigbar's sudden kindness was, I didn't have time to question it. Instead, I made my way to the Major's quarters. The interesting thing about our division is that we were completely cut off from the city if the path to it wasn't up. Fran came from a place where only people from her land could enter-there was some inclusive knowledge they had for putting up the path. To put in perspective: if you were a regular denizen of the city, you would walk right past the gate without even realizing it. That's part of the caster side of our division, to keep our hideout safe from the wary eyes of our enemy. Some of the soldiers that were exclusive to only combat would need a caster to help them find the portal to our barracks. From what I've heard, the casters have to change the location of the portal up frequently so we couldn't be tracked down. Do not ask me how that whole scheme works, because I couldn't even begin to try to explain it. Magic was a whole different creature that I would probably never get acquainted with. Nor did I really want to get acquainted with it.

The magic didn't affect the infrastructure of our base. It was used like a veil to conceal us for protection, and give us the element of surprise. The barracks were located at the lowest floors, for emergency deployment. Then, elite officers had their offices and living quarters above them. At the top tier was where the commander of the third division, Fran, and her quarters were. I was fidgety on the ride up the pulley, and I tried to get rid of the nerves with small stretches on the way to Fran's domicile.

Before I arrived, I could smell the floor before I even saw it-but it was pleasantly strange. When the doors opened, I recognized it: life. The entire floor was covered in greenery and fauna. I had never seen so much life in this entire region! It was like she was hoarding it all for herself! On her floor, I was like a dumbfounded child whose senses were overstimulated. Having been accustomed to grey walls everywhere I turned, the smell of smog in the air, night, and downpour everyday, I wasn't prepared to see a color other than black or grey or anything in between! I'm not stupid; I know what greens and blues looked like, but only on the neon signs of the city. While I wasn't completely ignorant (I knew this kind of life thrived on places other than this land), I was merely surprised to see life in a place like this.

I entered out of the elevator, and took off my helmet to breathe it all in. Childish, but I couldn't resist. I could literally taste the moisture in the air, and felt my skin within the armor sweat a little from the humidity. This floor was nearly a fourth smaller than the rest, but I guess that was because only one person was on it. There was only a short hallway, with a door at the opposite end of me. Before I knocked, I heard a soft "Come in" beckon me. Good hearing.

Her office looked like something between a jungle and a forest, but our division had the affinity for earth elements, so I shouldn't be surprised. The floor was a lush virescent moss that made me want to slip off my boots so I could feel it between my toes for the first time. There was more life than there were actual "material" things. With the exception of a desk and the egg-shaped porch seat hanging from the ceiling, the room was completely barren of any civilization, but felt as close to the pure nature as I would ever see in my lifetime.

Of course, the room felt full with all the massive vines and flora in the way. The voice spoke again, with an accented "Come here" once I tried to make my way through the greenery. Careful not to damage any of it, I felt like I was a rhino attempting ballet in a museum of glass. My armor defended me, but its weight was a dire opponent for the unfortunate squash I stepped on. I heard light breathing, and I turned my head to see the woman in charge of my division. As soon as I untangled my feet from the snaking roots that tried to trip me, I knelt in front of the woman, who seemed to be at least six feet. Six feet of ready to kick my ass for making a bulldozed path through her garden home.

Not to mention this was my first time meeting her, first impressions with the person in charge of your division are so important, I can't even put it into words. I knew that my life was in her hands, and I feared having to explain myself not being graceful enough to navigate through her quarters. The fact that I was stunned didn't help any. My shock wasn't due to her being a woman, or even my fear (okay, maybe some of it played a role) of making her upset, but the fact that she wasn't human just completely caught me off-guard. Now, let me explain: while I have been in the Resistance for five years, I was originally in the first division. After three years, I decided to transfer over to the third division. In two years, I had never met my division's commanding officer. It sounds weird, but it's the norm, as they're typically swamped with strategy and board meetings. Their right-hands often tend to the squad for them.

The kicker was that I didn't know Fran wasn't human. I've heard rumors of her appearance, but none of them listed her as being 6'2" and a rabbit-anthro mix. Another thing that struck me as odd was how out of place she appeared to me. Again, not for what she was (female or nonhuman), but of how she carried herself. There was this grace and beauty that just didn't fit with the bossy, rough image I had in mind for my commanding officer.

"You are Terra, yes?" A long nail pointed to me and clinked as it tapped against my armor. The two elongated, ivory ears that stemmed from her ebony helmet twitched at the sound. I saw her eyes studying my face for the longest time. Panic trickled in when her brows scrunched, but when I heard the ping-ping of her nails to the horns of my headgear, I knew not what to think. "Paying homage to your leader already?"

What? What was she talking about? Why did she touch the ears...Oh! The ears!

The realization came to me a full minute after she spoke, and I let out some of my anxiety in a laugh. "This old thing? I've had it since I transferred to your division, Major."

"Call me Fran. You can be at ease, you aren't about to receive any punishment, Terra." Her words calmed me some, but I still felt like I didn't belong in this place. "You are of the lieutenant rank, correct?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Are you seeking to become a captain?"

"Yes Ma'am-very much so."

"Well, you have your chance to make that a reality, Terra. You've been in this division for two years?"

"Yes, Ma'am. If I may ask, what opportunity are you referring to?" I blinked, trying to search her face for answers. In that quick moment, I ended up with nothing, as Fran was just as curious in my own face. The direct eye contact might be unnerving to some, but I stood my ground. "Don't I have to do some grand feat in order to even be considered for something like that? Like how Xigbar managed to secure a whole district and get rid of the government's troops out of there?"

"His being appointed wasn't a decision made by me. While I take such events into consideration, that would not be the sole reason I would recommend a person for a promotion. No, instead, I study potential candidates for an extended amount of time and evaluate if they are suitable for the next rank. This is my notice to you that you have been under evaluation by myself, and the board." I saw the faintest hint of a grin on her lips. "This next mission might be your last as lieutenant, Terra."

"T-Thank you!" I bowed without thinking. My heart swelled, and I was relieved she couldn't see the stupid grin on my face. Captain Terra-imagine that. The next position after that would be Major-I could have my own division!

"However, you aren't the only one eligible for this position."

I knew there had to be a catch. Standing straight, I mulled over her words. "What do you mean?"

"Simply put, there are more candidates than there are positions. If I recall correctly, there's one you're familiar with. Riku, was it?"

"From the first division?" The brow-knitting was contagious, as I did it when I thought about Riku going for the captain's spot. While he was ambitious, I never really pictured him as one for a "leadership" role. "I've known him since I joined the Resistance. I can't say it'll be an easy fight if he's the one you're talking about."

"In that case, he shouldn't be too broken up about it once you're appointed captain." Fran showed her support in dismissing me with her arm crossed over her chest with three curled, splayed fingers-my division's salute. "Ask Xigbar about your impending mission. Good luck, Terra. Bring honor to our division."

Honor, power, and glory. These three things were like a mantra to our sector. Part of the reason why the others called us bloodthirsty or even berserkers. I couldn't disagree, as we did get pretty wild once we were allowed cut loose in battle. It was all the more funny that Fran was in charge of such a group. Not because we might be too much for her to handle, but more so of the fact that it seemed like she understood where we were coming from. She's probably been in countless battles, and viewed fighting as an art; but, half of the privates in our division got placed here because they couldn't be tamed. I suppose that everyone was like that at one point. I don't remember that stage, but everyone else seemed like a perfect fit for this group. Even Xigbar, who was too busy using fledglings as target-practice half the time.

Through word-of-mouth, I found him in the training dome, where he was sparring against Zack (who finally managed to get up outta bed). The captain regarded me once with a nod before tripping Zack with a glowing, lavender arrow. "Foul!" The younger male cried.

"Ain't no fouls in life or death, kiddo." A scarred tongue mocked Zack before the man went to see me. "You hear him? Foul, he said. If there was such a thing, we wouldn't have four measly divisions on the enemy lines!"

"You have a point." I had to agree, but I was quick to change the subject, as I knew how he could talk. "The Major said you'd have my mission."

He tossed a rolled-up paper my way. Opening it, I read the map and roster of the soldiers for that job. As fate would have it, Riku was there, listed right below my name.

"You gonna become a captain, Terra?"

"You know?"

"'Course. We captains talk, yanno. Better you captain than that obnoxious prick."

Riku and Xigbar weren't on good terms even before I arrived. I never cared to know, but I did know not to get in the middle of it. Funny how things turned up then, though.

Xigbar muttered swears here and there as I finished looking at the drawing. "First division needs a little extra manpower, so what a better time than to prove yourself by leading a reconnaissance mission?"

"Axel's not taking the lead?" It was weird for a division's captain not to be present, especially on recon. Reconnaissance was risky, because the corrupt government had more eyes on us than we them. At least, from what I've heard. So whoever was available, they were on board for the task.

"Nope, he's deployed at Radiant Garden, and the higher-ups want this mission off their backs-division one's been slacking. So, two lieutenants and a squad should be more than enough for the task."

Nodding, I agreed. "So, when is it?"

"Two hours from now. Head to the first division and kick ass. I'm placing money on you!"

I turned to head for the exit, but something was bothering me. Turning back, I faced the captain. "Quick question: if the board will be watching Riku and I, how will they do that?"

"Uh...I dunno." The man shrugged, not really caring. "All I know was that for my exam as captain, they bugged me without me even knowing it. So stay sharp."

His reply didn't confirm a thing except that anything was possible. I tried not to think too much about it, so I focused on the present and tried to clear my head. Surely Riku felt the same? Did his division even tell him he was up for a promotion? Or was this some way to see if I could be thrown off my game? Clearly, whatever it was, it was working.

On my trek to the first division's quarters, I had to go through the portal (the entrance of the third division) and down underground into the sewers. Thankfully, it was nowhere near as bad as it sounded. You're probably picturing sewage and waste, possibly some monstrosity living down in the pipes beneath the city, yeah? Well, let me tell you a lil' thing about the first div: they are like rats to the sewers. In a good way, of course. After all, I was originally in that sector. But what I mean to say is that these folk were extremely adaptable to whatever environment they were in.

These guys thrive on whatever is given to them and make the better of it. They took an outdated sewer system (which begs the question of where all the shit goes if not there)and made that hellhole into one of the most intricate and elaborate places I have ever been to. The place was a complete maze to get to, yeah, but that was the point. Once you got to your destination, the buck didn't stop there. Oh, no. Their head, a man by the name of Leon, made the underground water channels into their primary quarters, and did a damn fine job of it. Kudos to you, Leon. The only complaint I had was that the stench still lingered within the walls, but fortunately, I had my helmet on to block it out.

Enough about aesthetics; it's time I told you about their personality, which totally didn't suit their environment. These guys were the more "posh" part of the Resistance, and the whole mindset of it all was part of the reason why I left. It was as if they were afraid to get their hands dirty. Most people from my squadron either adored or abhored them. The stereotypes were that they were in it for the bravado, or fame of being in battle while turning up their nose at near damn everyone, while we (3rd div) were in it for the blood. These weren't my beliefs, but it was amusing to see shade thrown back and forth. Personally, I was lucky that I got along with both sides, thanks to my history. Due to my past, I was fortunate enough to have allies back me up in that department. Riku was one of them. He had a lotta influence in that sector, just as I did in mine.

When I arrived, there was already a squad getting ready to head out. Some of them acknowledged me without any thought, some outright ignored me. However, there were a few who lingered behind to give me the salute of my own division. Typically, it was common to give your own salute to visitors; but if you happen to know what division that person is associated with, then it's a huge sign of respect. Like speaking another language: it's one thing if you greet someone in your tongue, but another if you greet them in theirs. It's like that, but to a higher extent.

I reciprocated with the first division's salute, and although the three were in full body armor, I sensed shock, disbelief, and even gushing at my gesture.

"Don't go off stealing my soldiers. What, is the third division aiming to make more men into beasts?"

I grinned at the familiar voice, and was glad that I had my helmet on to veil it. Turning towards the source, I saw Riku already clad in his gear. The first division relied more so on stealth and movement than they did about heavy defenses and strength. Riku's armor (or what little of it) embodied this concept. His face was entirely masked in dark garments, one over the lower half of his face, and a hood masking the rest, with exception of his eyes. It would be a dead giveaway (if he didn't have the hood) that he belonged nowhere near the dark with hair so light. The rest of his armor was just as dark and ridiculous. At least I thought so. Maybe their budget had been cut or something, I dunno. However, when he pulled away at the cloths masking his face, I was able to see his pasty self. I often picked on him because of it, and he with my temper, claiming I was a bomb waiting to go off. Still, I viewed him as something between a brother and an ally. Although I've known him for years, fate would always set us up as rivals, like it couldn't get enough of us butting heads. It was just damn near impossible to avoid.

"I'm not stealing them-they're practically running to my arms." My quip proved to be sharper, and I had this smug look on my mouth while he took his leisurely time coming over. Though, he didn't sneer and remark back. In fact, he was grinning when he came near, and greeted me with an embrace. Although he was younger than me, I heard his grown age echo in the chuckles that filled the foyer of the quarters. The protective covering on his forearms clinked with the armor of my back. The sound of his arms thudding against mine rang throughout the space, as well as our slight mirth. It was refreshing to have someone who I could relate to. Though there was still that lingering tension between us that reared its ugly head at times. Had we not been soldiers in the line of duty, we might have been brothers.

"I'll excuse your potential surveying if you don't steal the show on the mission." We had the habit of rubbing it in each other's faces if we bested the other's record in combat. While it wasn't a game by any means, we tried to keep things lively around here. If you let the doom-and-gloom get to you, it's like you were sucked in by a vortex of despair and that wasn't a possibility for yours truly.

Not a chance-forget about it," I snorted, dismissing the thought. "If anything, you'd best make sure you're not made a fool today."

"Why?"

At this moment, I battled with myself over what to do: take advantage of the situation and keep the whole captain ordeal a secret; or I could spill and allow things to get intense. I knew that the two of us were more alike than we would like to admit, and that when it came down to something we desired, absolutely nothing would get in our way. However, I also knew that this mission was one the board had been itching to get off their back, so it was safe to say screwing up wasn't an option. If I let myself get too carried away over besting Riku, I could say good-bye to that promotion.

"In case I make an ass outta you, that's why. The name "Lieutenant Terra" will be on everyone's tongues, while you're off skulking like usual." The bouts between us would never end. Sorry Riku, but there's only one seat, and it has my name on it.

"As if. Now c'mon-I'm late to my own briefing." Riku gestured for me to follow to one of the offices within his division.

Inside, there were only a couple of people, which I guessed were Riku's hand-picked candidates. There were three other people among us, two men and a female. They were soldiers, maybe corporals at the most. They didn't look none too interested in the meeting, but the girl was an exception. There was a certain pep to her, and she wouldn't stop talking about wanting to go already. The room felt smaller than it was with all five of us packed in there. While I held a higher status than them, hearing Riku speak about the mission so officially made me doubt myself a little. If I was captain, no doubt I would have to lead missions all the time. Or would I? Would I just sit on my ass and be in meetings all day? That's the exact opposite of what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do was fight alongside my comrades and lead them. I was born to be a leader, not someone's personal lackey to command more lackeys. I knew it was all a chain-of-command kinda thing, but I knew I had to keep away from those thoughts. Say what you will about them, but the right mix can really mess with someone.

"The Northeast sector is our next target. Seeing as it's the closest and least guarded locale, we need to scope it out before any mention of a raid can be said." With his fancy, little projector, he showed what areas we would be surveying. What a show-off, with his stupid, little gadgets. "While it's not as guarded, that doesn't mean it's not dangerous. Which is why Terra and I will take the lead to ensure things will be safe for the rest of you to follow suit. Once we get to the medical plaza-note here…"

I would shoot myself if I had to give these presentations day after day until the day I croak. How would I croak? I'd wanna die in battle. Yeah, something...honorable about it all. Not that it's gonna happen anytime soon, of course. I wonder if I would have a chance to go into battle as a captain. No, I'd need to get to something higher than captain-I can't have Xigbar stealing the glory. But when all would be said and done, it would be my name that they would cheer! 'Ter-ra! Ter-ra!'

"Terra."

"Hurm?" I hacked on my spit, then gargled it down to avoid accidentally spitting it on the girl next to me. My eyes quickly scanned, and saw that it was Riku snapping his fingers at me to get my attention.

"Do you have anything else to add?"

"Uh...no, I don't think so. Can we go already?" A very blasé sigh rolled from my throat. I'm not sure if I went to sleep or was just out of it, but apparently I wasn't the only one who felt like this.

The girl (her name was Yuffie, as I found out) across from me interjected and nearly flew up. "Guy's got a point, Riku! I'm about to go stir-crazy for sitting still so long! Let's go, go, go!"

"Okay, Yuffie, you've made your point clear." The lieutenant shrugged off her pouts, but I recognized something: he was just as enthusiastic. Was there something in particular he was looking forward to, or was he just being bizarre as normal?

To answer that, it was a bit of both. I know, not much of a shocker, but I'll spare you the dull details. The process of suiting up and launching into an enemy-controlled region is not as action-packed as you think it would be. For the most part, it involves waiting. A heluva lot of waiting. While Riku and I had split off from the rest of the group and took the lead, we took our sweet time waltzing in the claimed "dangerous sector". There were entry-level guards here and there, and while we avoided them to not stir up trouble, I felt like I was overqualified for this assignment, really. I don't know why this mission was stressed to be so important...Riku appeared to be the same, but at this point, I was having my doubts as to whether I could read him or not. Either way, I sought nothing more than the feedback from Fran. This had to be some kind of test.

"Hey, Terra," Riku muttered in the middle of exhuming a sigh. That alone sounded like he had something pent-up inside him, but as to what that was, I didn't know. Some friend/rival/part-time ally I am, huh? "What are you planning to do after this?"

"What?" His question caught me so off-guard that I had to turn to look at him. "What the hell are you going on about?"

"Like, what will you do after you're done with the Resistance? And when they supposedly "win", or defeat the government, or whatever?"

I scrunched my brows at him, and I even felt compelled to tilt my head a little. "What a weird question, Riku. Where did that come from?"

An empty laugh dissipated into a huff of steam between us. Well, us and the rain, towering buildings, and occasional sentry on patrol.

"I've been thinking about something, and I can't get it off my mind."

"Then think of something else-c'mon, let's go when they're not looking." I muttered all in a breath before leaving our spot to cross the intersection when the guard was turned the opposite way. Riku's footsteps let me know he wasn't far behind, so I awaited for him to catch up at the corner of the stairs. "Just take your mind off of it. Trying to make sense of it will do the opposite. I've been there."

"You probably had some blood loss from all of that thinking."

"Shut the hell up," His spurning my advice didn't earn him jack. "If your ass needs saving, you can forget about it."

"Oh, it would be my ass? I think your anger issues could definitely land you in hot water sometime soon."

I knew this argument would only snowball downhill, so I left it at that. From then on, I didn't wait for Riku to catch up; I went on ahead whenever the coast was clear. From the stairs, I went up to sneak into an unattended room. Where I was specifically, I didn't know, but I knew I didn't have to stick for long. Thanks to the other girl in the group who caught me up to speed after my power-nap, all that was really necessary was that either I or Riku get the schedules of the shifts, as well as the layout of the building from a computer inside, which would all be obtainable by this miniscule chip she handed to me. Funny how it wouldn't be someone like me to break them down, but this tiny, little device instead. Technology was no kind beast.

I regret not having some kind of garb like Riku and his company; I was in a tank of a suit, and let me tell you, it is not designed for technology whatsoever. You could forget about trying to type-that was not a possibility I quickly found out as soon as I glanced at the sleek keyboard. This was clearly not Terra-friendly. But I had my ways.

First things first, I secured the door with the chair, making sure no one got in. It didn't seem that any cameras were in the room, so I went on and plugged the device in. Now, what happened then was something I can't explain, because technology isn't my suit of expertise. I don't see why they sent me and not some tech geek instead. All was taken care of, and I heard a light ding when it was done. During my waiting, Riku caught up, though the scowl had faded. Make no mistake, it was still there, just not as prominent.

"You done?" His words were quieter then.

"Yeah. Tell Yuffie and the others that we're ready to go back." I kept my focus on the mission, whatever the hell it was supposed to be. In retrospect, I probably should have paid more attention in the briefing, but what can you do.

"My bad."

I glanced over my shoulder to the figure in black, whose hood was shielding his eyes from mine. What a coward. "For?"

He only offered a shrug with a momentary pause. How the hell was I supposed to decipher what he was saying, much less doing? A shrug really doesn't paint a thousand words, Riku. "I'm not gonna make you grovel, but at least say something."

"Look-you know how I was asking you about what you were thinking of doing after the Resistance?"

"Yeah…?"

"I'm considering leaving. For good."

In that moment, I felt my lips gape at the words he said. The words didn't hit me until 20 seconds after he said it, and when my mind processed it, I didn't know what to feel. The occasional "uh…" and "um…" were automatic responses that were spat out, but I was in shock, to put it simply. "Did you tell anyone else about this?"

"Other than my family, no. I was going to notify Leon of it sometime this week." His shrug irked me for some reason. How could he be so casual about it all? It wasn't as if leaving the Resistance wasn't a big deal! It was a huge deal! His ass was on the line, and here he was, scoffing away. "Can you keep quiet about it until we get back?"

"Yeah, sure," I nodded, but it still didn't sit right with me. It wasn't my place to spread his business, but clearly the fool didn't see what a dumbass choice he was making. I had to get him to realize that he was just plain wrong for wanting to leave.

Then, a voice peeped in my brain, and asked, "Well, why does he want to leave in the first place?" I baffled myself, and I felt like I was in some kind of self-induced stupor. Whatever answer I tried to come up with, it didn't work. Riku wasn't a pacifist or an advocate against violence, so it's not like he disliked fighting. He had a high-ranking position, and respect throughout the divisions. Sure, they liked him, but could the same thing be said about Riku? Did he loathe us? At that point, I was starting to question everything, and it felt like my head was swelling up within my helmet. If it kept bloating, the metal of my helmet might fracture.

"Can I at least ask why?" Something about the way I phrased that made me feel so meek and inferior. Like I was a child beating around the bushes as to not get punishment.

"Let's head back to my division before we delve into the details. It's a long story." This time, he led the way. I saw that our talk shook him up a little, but Riku tried to compose himself. I didn't know...really anything that was going on then, but I held in my questions 'til the end. I knew then wasn't the place nor time for Riku's interrogation. So I didn't think about him. Instead, my mind wandered to how easy this mission had been-it was a set-up, no doubt about it. I didn't know what reason they had for sending me, but I wasn't needed for this job. Something wasn't right, I knew that much. Doubts slithered on in my mind, and tried to connect it to Riku-that his spiel about quitting was no coincidence. And who knows, maybe it was? But I refused to let my mind jump to conclusions.

In this kind of environment, doubting one another and bloodshed are things that come to the city's denizens naturally. Except it wasn't natural at all. The government had melded their minds to think in this twisted way, and it was manipulation of the highest degree. Turning them into obedient lapdogs guised under the black cloak was one of their biggest successes and our biggest problem. We couldn't attack the civilians, even if they were set on tearing our throats out. Naturally, we couldn't do a thing. If we retaliated, there would be an uproar within the city, and more of their citizens would hate us, which gave our enemy the upper hand. We couldn't win against that particular opponent.

I wasn't doubting Riku, I just wished that there wasn't a link between this mission and Riku's wanting to quit. "So, are you at least gonna throw a party before you go?"

A smile cracked for half a second, and he shook his head at me in disbelief. "You are set on making the most of this, aren't you?"

"And why the hell not? You're practically my brother." I fed him the lies that were needed in that moment. "There's gotta be something to mark you going away!"

"Really?"Another scoff, followed by Riku stopping his pace to look at me. "And here I thought you wanted me to stay."

I was fighting with myself over what to say. Did I want him to stay? Yes...but I also wanted that captain's position too. Though, who was I to get in the way of what he wanted? "If you have a good enough reason for leaving, then I'm throwing you a damn going-away party. And if you wanna fight with me about that, then we can duke it out right here and now."

A hand waved in front of him. "If you can hook up my going-away party at the same time as that captain's promotion ceremony tomorrow, we won't have any problems."

"Whose promotion? It better be mine."

"What?"

Fuck.

I cleared my throat, but looked him in the eye to show that I meant what i said. "Dude, you've known I wanted to be captain. I'll get there..eventually."

"Yeah, maybe when your bones rot," Riku snorted, then shaking off the thought. "But it's that captain of division four. Haven't you heard of Aqua?"

"Isn't division four just a bunch of mages and casters? What else do they do besides keep us hidden?" I didn't know a lot about that division. While their name has come up a couple of times, their "role" really hasn't stuck in my head.

My ignorance made Riku gawk. I think. I couldn't tell with his helmet on. "They could probably wipe out your pack of savages, Terra. Your entire platoon would be frozen before they could take a single step towards them. You seriously don't know about them?"

"Hey, I don't like sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. Can you blame me?"

"You've been here for five years!"

"That doesn't mean anything. What, do you idolize them-"

"Pft, no." Riku rolled his eyes at my comment. I thought there was something else to it, though. "I just...hear about their captain often, is all."

"Ah, so you got a little crush on their captain, huh? Is she hot?"

"Terra!"

"Nah, she's probably old, right? Wait, is she like, one of those women that don't look their age?"

"There's a reason why I'm quitting and it's staring right in front of me."

I would miss this.

A/N: Thanks for reading! This is Silas speaking! This fic is a co-authored by myself and a fellow writer on here by the pen name Majorie Franklin, whose works (The Dark Rule; Sapphire Scales) I highly recommend you read! As for this work, please review and share! Feedback is always appreciated, and queries will be answered in private (if possible).