To the Darkest of Nights We Go

~Dystopian AU ~

Chapter 46

Written By: RinoaDestiny

King of Fighters, Chizuru Kagura, Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary, Rock Howard, and Joe Higashi all belong to SNK


Morning greeted them with a different proposition and it came in the form of Mary Ryan. The blonde woman yawned as she sat cross-legged, distributing food to their gathered circle. Faint purple smudges bleeding past baggy eyelids and a paler complexion, which suggested a not-so-tranquil or restful sleep. Yet, she had asked them to meet in the communications room for an important meeting.

Everyone had gone, even Mai. The kunoichi's distant glassy expression bothered Rock. Her skin was pale, stark, and translucent, which combined with her look, meant little to no sleep and hanging on by scant reserves of energy. Having stayed up later than usual sometimes – back in Southtown years ago – he knew what that felt like. Unless Mai was superhuman, she'd probably crash later and hard.

She had his sympathies.

Mary handed him a package, which he ripped open. Seaweed-wrapped rice crackers. A small container of filtered water to wash it down. He still thought of his American-style breakfasts now and then – bacon, eggs, toast with butter and jam, milk, and orange juice – but those were no longer part of his life. Hadn't been for over a year. He took a cracker and ate it.

Joe took a drink of water next to him. Held his container. "What's this about, Mary?" No jokes, nicknames, or hilarity. Out of all of them, Joe appeared the most well-rested, but there was a definite strain in his voice. "Why are we here?"

Four people looked at her.

Mary met their gazes, calm and controlled. "We're mourning. That's nothing to be ashamed of. But while we grieve, we shouldn't let our defenses down. Certain roles should remain operational. Or else O.R.O.C.H.I. could sneak up on us during this time."

She had a point.

"What roles should we keep?" Joe again.

"Recon. Comms. Do we need runners for supplies?"

Mai shook her head, a single violent gesture. Mary glanced quickly at her, as did the rest of them. There weren't tears in her eyes – just trembling coursing down the entire length of her body. Arms wrapped tight around herself, she gave the impression of holding herself together. With her legs tucked beneath her, the dark-haired woman appeared forlorn. Within the second, Mary was beside her, comforting her with a gentle embrace. Still, there weren't any tears, but after speaking to her, Rock had a decent guess regarding her thoughts.

"It's okay. You don't have to."

"Don't want to. I got…" Mai's voice choked. "I got Andy…"

"Not your fault, Mai. Not your fault."

What he told her before. Would she listen to Mary?

"Don't want to go…not with…"

"It's okay. We'll figure this out, okay?" Mary held Mai, rocking back and forth until the other woman quieted, words running dry. "It'll be okay, Mai. It'll be okay."

Rock wasn't sure about them being okay, but as long as it helped Mai, there wasn't any fault he could find with it. He exchanged a glance with Terry and noticed Dad's pained expression. Last night after his talk with Dad, Terry had retired and gotten some sleep, while he hung around here for half an hour. When he finally got tired, he returned to the sleeping quarters and dozed off.

By the time he awoke, Dad and Mary were already gone.

Minutes later, a soft-spoken announcement about the meeting came over the speaker. They all arrived at their own pace, for Joe and Mai didn't stir until an hour later. Rock did some warm-ups beforehand and only left when he heard the sound of human activity coming from the other rooms. He wanted to make sure they were all right – that they didn't find themselves alone. Reassured, he was the first to join Mary and Terry here.

Joe came next.

Mai was the last one.

"So we don't need supplies. Joe, can you confirm on that?"

Rock directed his gaze from Terry to Joe, who sat straighter upon being asked the question. With Mary consoling Mai, Terry had taken the initiative and continued the meeting. Joe put his hands under his chin and pondered for a minute, as though running through a checklist in his head. Seconds passed.

"Think we got enough last time. Can't go too far out now, you know?"

"We're eating less, too."

"Yeah. We are."

They were also five instead of six now, but no one brought that up.

"So we should reassign the roles," Mary said, riveting all attention back to her. Mai sat further apart – still within the circle – but there was distance of a different sort. "If we don't need supply runners, then it's down to comms and recon."

"Rock does comms."

"Joe does them a bit, too," he said, volunteering the fact that the other man did. After all, if they weren't doing supply runs anymore, maybe Joe could…

"Yeah. I did. Like it."

"Want to switch to that?" Mary asking in earnest.

Joe shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

"So two on comms. That leaves you and me for recon, Terry."

"Or it could be Joe on comms, leaving Rock as backup for recon. In case." His dad picked up his water container and took a drink. "Remember…Rock accompanied me to the western border."

"Are you thinking two teams?"

"Something like that. A relief, just in case."

Mary nodded. Went for a cracker and ate it, crunching it down. It was followed by a gulp of water. "So two on comms and three for recon, with one being interchangeable. It doesn't just have to be Rock and Joe on comms – we've done it before, too."

"The question here is: Do we really need to go so far out?"

"How far out can we go? That's what we need to know."

"Don't go south." A quiet voice breaking into the conversation. Mai. "They're advancing from that direction."

The net closing in. Was O.R.O.C.H.I. already onto them?

"North is dangerous, too."

"Possible trap in the east," Mary said, as if marking an invisible map with her words. "That leaves the west."

"Last time we went there was because of –"

"Team KKY."

A hush descended upon them at the mention of their deceased allies. Terry looked uneasy. Mary was subtly disturbed, a quick flash of expression there and then gone. Mai didn't say anything but flinched. Joe was somber, staring at the dark-haired woman as if trying to read her. Or offer silent comfort, but it was hard to tell from a glance. Rock shifted, adjusting his sitting position on the floor. He'd lost track of the days since…

"I hope they didn't suffer," Mai said, tone soft and sad.

"They would've put up a fight." Joe followed; he shuffled around, looking uncomfortable. "It would've been fast."

"If they were traveling together, then…"

"They would've died together."

Mary and then Terry. One after the other.

Andy hadn't died alone, but he'd left loved ones behind. If the Sacred Treasures had died together, then…maybe, it couldn't be considered a bad death, either. No one was left to grieve. No one was left hurting.

In the silence that fell during their contemplation, Terry was the first to shake free of the mood. He cleared his throat; Rock watched as the others refocused on him. "Mai, do you want to participate? In any of the two roles?"

A moment's pause. "Can I pass? I'm not…not right now."

His dad nodded, hair raking his shoulders. "The option's there for you, if…"

"I know. Thank you."

"Anything else to discuss?"

"Actually, there is," Mary said, taking the baton of command from Terry. "We start tomorrow, then? Which teams first?"

"I'll take comms," Joe volunteered. His food and drink forgotten, the older man stood and strode over to the table with its headsets and devices. "Rock's run me through the process and we did it that time, so shouldn't be hard."

Mary nodded.

"Rock, you and me on recon tomorrow?"

Dad asking him. Like before.

"Sure. Where are we going?"

His dad and Mary exchanged a glance which spoke volumes. "I'm thinking the western border. It's the only possibility left. You okay with it, babe?"

"I'll be here with Joe. Like last time."

"Okay."

"Stay safe." It was painful – difficult, even – to see Mai heartbroken and struggling. "If the meeting's done, can I leave? I…I just want to rest." Already, the woman picked up her package of crackers and water, movements nimble. Rock's heart went out to her. He knew what it felt like after losing someone close. It'd only been two days since Andy's cremation.

Was Mai going to eat today? Besides those?

"Whatever you need, Mai. Get some rest." Mary's expression was sympathetic and she reached out to hug the other woman again. "We'll let you know if anything's happening. Don't worry."

They all watched as Mai left, the door closing with a quiet click behind her. Joe released a pent-up sigh behind them and massaged the space between his eyes. "You know…I never thought that she…he…that it'll be like this."

"We never expected a death."

"Which is why we're taking precautions. Still."

Joe didn't move, but something in his expression changed. "You two come back tomorrow, 'k?"

"We will. Promise."

"We won't die out there." His words reaffirming Dad's. He looked at Terry again and glimpsed relief and pride. "Promise."

"Better not. We can't lose any more…"

"We won't." Mary in their circle, closing it tight. "No more."

He thought of Mai. Of Andy. Of the fallen – the slain.

Of the west. Of tomorrow.