12/24/19
Like I said in my Reading Reviews video, I took some time off to write ahead more and flesh out a lot of things. I will admit there is one plot element that may require me going back and changing a conversation in Chapter 6 but that all depends on if I can't make it work with the timeline i'm establishing.
Either way. This chapter is hefty and also a lil bit of a big deal because it plays into...quite a few things about this story moving forward. Above all, I want to apologize sort of. I said this isn't an XCX fic and this chapter i think highlights a bit of why that is. The only canon character in it is Elma and she only has a few scenes, the majority of this chapter is about the Reapers. Some chapters focus on OCs a lot and I worry but i did give the forewarning about this fic's content so I hope it doesn't bother you too much.
One last note, I lied about something in one of my RR videos. It wasn't an intentional lie. It'll come into play later.
(Noun) One Year Before Exodus
Chapter Seven
2053
"Y'know. Sometimes I can't help but wonder...is this risk really worth it?"
Elma rolled her eyes.
"Enough Aeon. You bring this up so often I think I should just knock you out, put you in your Ares and direct your autopilot back home."
Aeon chuckled.
"You're probably right...but you know what lies ahead for us right. How this all ends?"
Elma stayed silent as Aeon continued walking and gestured around them. They stood within the most important part of the White Whale, they were in the Lifehold Core. Without this, salvation for humanity was impossible.
"You. Me. A sample of humans...and countless more stored within this very chamber."
He gestured down below them at the tank with all the genetic data they needed to preserve humanity.
"The ECP and the Coalition still debates the...humanity of all of this. They signed off on it and they still debate. There has to be an alternative they say. This can't be the only way."
Aeon shook his head as Elma stepped closer to him.
"What do you expect Aeon? Think about what we're asking them to do."
"And after all of this. Where will we be? In space. Fleeing the two biggest powers in the known universe…"
"...I take it none of your trips could find us a suitable new home?"
Aeon crossed his arms.
"I found plenty of suitable places. Some nearly identical to this one but I couldn't guarantee that we wouldn't have to repeat this whole endeavor in 100 years or less if the Ganglion and the Ghosts find us again...the best I could contribute was…"
He turned around and pulled out datapad, the device was displaying a hologram of the Lifehold Core and a shield that formed around it.
"This…"
"The Trion Barrier from the people of Qlu. I see no problem there Aeon, it's a perfect contribution. With it the stability of this chamber is guaranteed. Is that not enough?"
Aeon shook his head.
"No. If we're going to stand up to what the Ganglion have, or worse, the Ghost superweapon...we need more than a powerful shield and one Tandem capable Ares."
Elma opened up her own tablet and began scrolling through the information that Aeon had gathered on his repeated trips through the galaxy and his scouts of the Ganglion and Ghost forces. A task much easier to do as they drew closer to the planet.
"The Ghost superweapon...are you sure something like this...exists? It's-"
"Terrifying. But it's real. Unlike the Ganglion, the Ghosts don't care if they come off as bragging or overconfident. They created a fully autonomous biological weapon. This machine is capable of absurd complex thought and its powered by purified Dark Matter."
"...what do they call it?"
Aeon scratched his head.
"You know how the Ghosts are. No real distinct language, at least it isn't one we can accurately convey. The Ganglion on the other hand, they're all for that flowery language. Their reports have identified the weapon as the Vita."
Elma raised an eyebrow.
"What does a monstrous weapon like that have to do with life?"
"We'd have to ask Samaar ourselves and I don't think we're in a position to do that. Who knows, maybe it's just ironic?"
Elma brought up her datapad, flipping through all the screens about the superweapon until she reached the last one. It was a recording stolen from a Ganglion archive showing a hulking machine decimating an entire fleet with incredible ease. She paused it on the few frames she could see the monolith.
"The Vita…"
"Here you are, Elma. As requested."
Kruse handed her the latest reports on the L-002. On first glance she saw all the green, the 100% completed sections covered the entire structure.
"...is it...done?"
Kruse smiled.
"Based off what Constantine and the other team leaders were able to put together. Yeah. I imagine Vandham called you up himself to discuss it."
Elma nodded, she did get a message to meet with him as soon as possible not long ago.
"We're finally here. Thank you, Kruse."
The man shook his head quickly, laughing nervously.
"I do not deserve thanks Elma, it was a team effort. A really really big team effort for years and years and years and...yeah...years…"
Elma chuckled, looking past Kruse she saw Constantine sitting at the edge of a pond, a fishing rod in his hand.
"I didn't mean to interrupt the two of you."
Kruse looked back at the other man.
"It's no big deal. He loves it, a regular Captain Ahab. I on the other hand...it's not really my speed."
Elma tilted her head.
"Really? I'm sure you can math it out."
"Maybe...it's just...I'm so used to doing things what with all the work on the L-002 and the Habitat Unit that the idea of sitting around and just...waiting. It's hard to wrap my head around."
The pair stood in place, watching as Constantine reeled his line in no doubt having caught something, the older man spotted them and gestured for Kruse to rejoin him.
"Well, can't very well say no can I?"
"I don't think so. Catch a big one Kruse, I believe in you."
The man gave her a wide smile.
"Looks like I don't have much choice on that front either. See you, Elma."
With a bow of his head he returned to Constantine's side, the older man waited till Kruse sat before ruffling his hair and giving him a fishing rod.
Elma turned from the pair and headed for the ECP to talk with Vandham about the L-002's completion.
As the sun went down and night fell on the Lawless Sectors, the Reapers found themselves investigating a facility that seems to have been completely destroyed.
What looked like bullet holes riddles all the walls, craters in what were once possibly pristine floors hinted at explosives of all sorts and any electrical equipment was smashed and ripped apart.
"What the hell happened here?"
Jaynix whispered as she walked through wreckage, Alto and Sagis flanking her, their guns drawn and at the ready. One of Jaynix's hands rested on the hilt of her blade as she surveyed the area.
Sagis tapped the side of his visor, switching to electrical scanning, he searched the room for any currents, any hint that something was still active.
Sighing he switched the visor back to its standard display.
"Same deal here, Corporal. Nothing is active, we won't be pulling any answers out of anything."
Jaynix shook her head, she was tired of hearing that. Alto took the lead of the group, spotting something peculiar
"What the shit…is that...someone?"
As quietly as he could, Alto continued ahead on his own towards something. A body. Bending down he examined the figure.
"Looks like he's wearing a lab coat or what's left of one. An engineer? Researcher? Scientist?"
"What killed him?"
Sagis asked, Alto rolled man's body over revealing three distinct gunshot wounds in his chest. Alto gestured to the body before speaking.
"Three guesses, Sagis."
As the men split up and continued searching the room for more corpses, Jaynix looked around the walls and the ceiling. Complete and total destruction is all that she saw. Whatever or whoever was here, they had put an absurd amount of effort in making sure that no one who came here could find or identify anything to understand why this happened.
She waved over to Sagis and Alto, the pair merely shook their heads as they continued searching. Turning on her comms, she spoke.
"This is Corporal. We found a body. As for the room, it's like all the other rooms we've been through so far, absolutely decimated."
Eren's voice came on.
"Not surprised...you got a Holo right? Can you get a scan of the corpse's face? At this point I think he's the only good lead we're gonna have."
Jaynix pulled out a small thumbstick looking device and returned to the corpse. Bending down she turned the man's face to her and held the device out. It began to glow, lights scanning the man's features. She then heard something, it sounded like a rock or some debris was kicked across the ruined floor.
"Blood Brothers!"
Tapping the side of her visor, she switched to IR scan and began searching, Sagis and Alto returned to her side, lifting their guns there were two clicks in unison. Jaynix's hand tightened its grip on her blade as Sagis called out.
"Contact!"
Four figures emerged from the shadows and opened fire on the Reapers. Alto stood in front, his bulkier armor absorbing the shots as he slammed his fist into the ground. The knuckles on his gloves flared with light and formed a tall holographic shield that, the following shots from the enemy ricocheted off the shield.
"Nice try ya fuckers!"
The strangers all turned to each other, one made a series of hand signals before the four split up. With Alto managing the shield, Sagis emerged from behind and opened fire on the contacts as they split up.
"They're going for Jaynix! Flash!"
With that call, the Reapers tapped their visors, switching them into solid black mode as the flashbang went off, there were yells, signifying the successful stun of hopefully all of the contacts.
Taking the chance, Sagis zeroed in on the closest one and charged, the opponent barely dodged his grab and tried to fire only for Alto to cover him with some shots from his handgun.
Distracted by the other assault, Sagis took that chance to slam the butt of his gun into the side of the man's helmet, cracking it. Turning his rifle he fired into the man's body until he fell to the ground, limp.
The others had rounded Alto, his shield no longer covering him, he disabled it as they all opened fire. With as much speed as he could muster he slid behind a fragmented workstation, bullets glancing off his armor.
Sagis took cover as well, holding his gun up over the wreckage he covered the hostiles in blind fire. As he did so the Reapers all heard Jaynix's Holo beep, declaring its scan complete.
Standing up Jaynix turned as another contact descended on her from above. The stranger's hand went for her arm, no doubt to try to steal the Holo. Hand already on her blade, she drew her weapon instantly and slashed through the man's arm, the limb falling to the ground.
There was a yell of pain before the man held his fist out towards Jaynix, she noticed the end of a barrel on top of his knuckles and there was a loud bang, as if from a shotgun muzzle that came from his hand, directly impacting her chest at point blank range.
She could feel her armor struggle and buckle under the impact of the force, wind knocked out of her, she was blown back and thrown to the ground.
Sagis and Alto yelled something in her direction. The pair drew grenades and threw them towards the other three contacts, the explosions scattered them around the wrecked room. One continued to signal the others.
"Get that one, Alto! I'll get Jaynix!"
Sagis yelled, to which Alto called back.
"Without cover fire?"
Jaynix felt the stranger take the Holo from her grip roaring in anger she pulled a serrated knife from her belt and slashed the man's arm, forcing him to drop it.
Then he aimed the weapon on his arm right at her helmet, before he could fire a hook whistled through the air and buried itself in the man's arm.
Another pained cry escaped him as the weapon was pulled back, yanking his arm away from Jaynix just as he fired. The shot went wide, missing completely and giving Jaynix the chance to act.
Roaring in rage, Jaynix lunged forward, with one hand she grabbed the man's helmet and pushed it up. Skin exposed she tightened her grip on her knife and jammed it up through the man's chin and head.
Pulling the weapon out, the man dropped dead.
"Sagis, Alto! Advance! Tai and I will cover you!"
The pair shouted their affirmations back and began moving as Jaynix drew her rifle and moved up with Tai close behind.
"Are you alright? Your readings went red."
Jaynix could only cough before waving him off. He then felt her press something against his knuckles. Taking the Holo he put it away and followed her lead.
"We've got three contacts Major! North, East and West!"
Sagis and Alto continued to riddle the already torn apart room with more rounds, the hostiles falling back and further into cover.
"Sagis! Stun!"
Hearing her order, he swapped weapons, pulling out a long sniper rifle looking weapon.
"I need a visual!"
Jaynix tapped Tai's shoulder, drumming her fingers along. Nodding he moved towards the West as Jaynix stood up in unison with Alto and fired on the enemy to the east.
The northern contact popped up and threw a grenade just as Sagis fired.
A powerful compressed shot of air traveled through the room and struck the man, throwing him off and into the rubble.
"He's down!"
Sagis called out as the grenade in the air exploded, Jaynix watched several bits of metal land around them and spark to life.
"Cover!"
The metal pieces exploded again, throwing Jaynix and Alto to the ground. Alto's vitals went red as Jaynix's began to flash.
The western contact stepped out of cover and fired on the downed Reaper as Tai emerged, his hook tore into the man's torso. He ripped the savage weapon up and out of the man's body.
The final contact prepared to retreat just as the General appeared, his blade a blur. The hostile dropped dead.
"Brothers! Corporal! Major! Are you alright?"
Alto struggled to his feet as Sagis came to his side.
"I'm fine!"
Tai joined them, helping Jaynix up before asking.
"One's alive right?"
Sagis nodded and headed off in the direction of the one he knocked out only to curse.
"I shot him with my concussion rifle but...well, it seems he fell onto some rebar...yeah he's dead as shit."
Jaynix finally caught her breath and spoke, ignoring the sharp pain in her chest.
"Faces. IDs. Anything?"
The Blood Brothers headed out through the rest of the room to examine the five corpses.
"General, did you make it?"
"Yes, Strategist. Corporal's group was indeed engaged in a firefight."
"With who?"
Jaynix looked over to the Brothers as they returned to the group and shook their heads.
"Sorry to say but it looks like we've got nothing on em. We'll take another facial scan...how is it on your end?"
At that point, Lyla cut in.
"Nothing new. Every room we find has been demolished in the same manner. All the computers, servers anything that could be helpful was completely obliterated. Beyond use. Eren is pretty pissed off."
Kumon brought a hand to his chin before examining the rest of the room. He wasn't sure what conclusion he'd reach but he felt something.
Just then, all the Reapers' comms received an urgent warning followed by a heavily edited audio message.
"Ballistic missiles inbound. Evacuate immediately. Code Red."
Tai raised an eyebrow as Kumon repeated the order.
"Are you sure General it-"
"We're not taking any chances! Now!"
The General took off with the Blood Brothers close behind as Tai helped Jaynix along.
"Just carry me Tai. We won't make it otherwise."
"Okay okay I just don't want-"
"My pride isn't that fragile, c'mon."
Quickly, Tai lifted her up and ran.
Elma sat up in her bed, Aegis was yowling. Quickly throwing off her covers she began searching for the cat just as she heard something else. Approaching her window she looked and saw plumes of smoke in the distance. Something had just exploded in the Lawless Sectors. As she thought of who to call there was a loud slam at the door, causing her to jump.
Aegis was still acting up, meowing as loudly as she could. Approaching the door, Elma opened it to find someone, a woman. Her skin was ashy and there were cuts all over, bloodstains as well. Her clothes, once a clean white coat was similarly torn and stained.
The woman raised her head to look at Elma.
"You're...Kriss Fowler."
She could only nod before falling forward, Elma catching her quickly. Standing with the limp woman she brought her over to the couch before checking the halls again. No one else was up and around though she noticed bloody handprints on her door.
After cleaning it up she returned to her room, locking the door and facing the unconscious Kriss. She had so many questions, but first and foremost, she had to ensure the woman didn't die on her couch.
The next afternoon, Jaynix woke up, letting out a long and pained groan. One of her hands came to her chest. She focused on what she could remember. The shotgun embedded into the man's armor. That was it, some bastard shot her at almost point blank. Then she remembered running a knife through his head and smiled.
"I think I got the better end of that deal…"
Sitting on the edge of her bed she looked around just as the door opened and Lyla walked in. She was at her side instantly, embracing and kissing her.
"Hey Lyla. When did I pass out?"
"You and Tai were the last out of the facility before it got bombed. The edge of the blast caught all of us but you and Tai caught the worst of it. Tai woke up not too long ago so I came to check on you."
Jaynix nodded.
"Right. Right...and Alto? He got hit too...I remember that."
"He's fine. His armor took most of it though he has a lot of bruises. You on the other hand, really bad shape."
Jaynix could help but laugh.
"What else is new?"
Lyla shook her head. She took one of Jaynix's hands and kissed the back of her palm. With a smile Jaynix apologized.
"It's okay...I know how you are. I married you, y'know?"
The pair share a laugh before Lyla asked.
"Walk me through yesterday. You remember everything, right?"
"Yeah. There was a disturbance. We got a call to investigate the sight of some unknown attack.
Lyla pulled out her datapad and brought up the mission briefing.
"Whatever the purpose of the place was, it was absolutely demolished."
Jaynix recalled what they all saw in every room they searched.
"It was professionally done that's for sure. Everything was ruined beyond recognition yet they missed one body. They had to have realized that and come back to dispose of it. Which ended up with them bumping into us."
Lyla nodded.
"Thankfully, you were able to complete a Holo scan of the corpse you found before the place was obliterated. Eren is working on it now, she has been since we got back last night."
Jaynix chuckled.
"Of course she did."
Jaynix then stood up from the bed, Lyla helping her as she nearly stumbled.
"You should rest, Jaynix. We won't have answers-"
"Someone tried to kill us. All of us."
Lyla watched the fury build in Jaynix's eye.
"I won't rest until we find them. Then I'm going to gouge their eyes out, rip out their tongues, slice their backs open then take my blade and-"
"Jaynix."
Turning her gaze to Lyla, Jaynix felt herself relax a bit.
"I...I'm sorry. I'm not...I didn't mean…"
"It's alright."
Jaynix sighed as Lyla placed a gentle kiss on her temple.
"We do this together."
"Yeah. Together."
"What are you morons still doing here?"
"Working?"
"Did you not catch any of the warning I gave you idiots? Most brilliant researchers in the world? As if."
The man sighed.
"Listen. Fowler. We all know that you were the one who brought us all together and into this agreement with the Coalition but we all agreed that LAST was an idea first and foremost. We have no leader."
Kriss shook her head.
"You think I don't know that? We have multiple facilities for that very reason but like I said in my warnings, the contracts are over. We can't be here! Everyone else vanished into the winds just like I asked, why are you still here?"
The man crossed his arms.
"I didn't want to say it but...like the rest of em, we also didn't get a new contract which was concerning. We were preparing to leave as you suggested when out of nowhere, they reached out to us for one last contract. We decided to do it."
Kriss tilted her head.
"They what? When?"
The man shrugged.
"Does it matter? Look we have to get back to work so…"
His voice faded away as Kriss began making calculations, eyes widening she looked to the man and opened her mouth just as a shot rang out and his head exploded.
Stepping back in shock, Kriss fell to the floor, armed soldiers flooded the facility and began executing everyone they could find immediately.
Standing as quickly as she could she ran into the chaos, kicking her heels off as she went. More and more gunshots filled the air followed by explosions. A section of the roof exploded over her as soldiers rappelled into the building.
"Kriss!"
A pair of scientists joined her.
"What's going on?"
"This is because you fools-"
A device was thrown past the three researchers, attaching itself to the wall in front of them and beginning to beep. Quickly, Kriss grabbed one of the scientists and shoved him in front, covering herself with his body as the charge went off, the man was killed instantly by the blast while Kriss felt some shrapnel cut through her, the three then fell to the floor. Kriss noted that the other man was still moving, something had pierced his neck. He'd bleed out soon enough.
Kriss prepared to stand when she heard yells and soldiers headed her way, falling limp she waited. She heard more gunshots and a body fell near her before the soldiers continued, more explosions shook the building.
Standing once again, Kriss continued her escape. She made it only a few feet before she heard someone yell behind her and there were shots ricocheting off the ground nearby. Ignoring them she turned a corner to find one of the facility's many secret passages, activating the collapse of the path she ran through it and kept running.
Outside of the building she moved a hand to her lower torso and found her clothes wet, deeply stained by blood. No doubt the shrapnel got her way more than she expected even with her human shield.
Where could she go? The rest of LAST she evacuated had vanished, it'd take too long to find them. That left one option.
Elma worked in silence, finishing with changing the bandages wrapped around Kriss' torso. The woman had finally woken up late that afternoon.
Elma proceeded to question her and here they were. The sun dipping low as Kriss concluded her story.
"So...I was the last option. Me? Why?"
"Who else?
Elma shook her head.
"I'm sure there are more people available somewhere that you'd get the help you need from, Kriss. You're connected. There have to be others you trust."
Kriss scoffed.
"You are mistaking my connections and work relationships for actual bonds of trust and friendships. I don't have any of those. But you. You're different."
Elma raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know that?"
"Because, Elma. You came to me. Remember? Last year?"
Elma nodded, after she helped Jaynix and Eren look into Kriss, she was prepared to head to the Coalition directors for clarification on her role but decided to seek out the source instead.
"I determined you weren't a threat so I left you be...you trusted that?"
Kriss laughed.
"I don't know how many ways I have to tell you this but trust isn't really something that I do. No. If I'm going to survive this or any other assassination attempt and find the people behind it...I'm going to need you. Simple as that."
Elma stood up, eyes narrowing.
"Are you going to use me to shield yourself?"
"If I have to. I will."
Elma shook her head.
"And you're okay with that?"
Kriss laughed.
"He was dead regardless of if I shoved him in front or not, my way at least I could guarantee my survival. You may not like it but there are things far too valuable in my mind to lose to some stray explosive."
Kriss wore a smile, completely unconcerned or troubled by her actions. Not sure how to respond to her, Elma instead turned her attention to Kriss' body, examining the scars.
"Next chance you get you should consider thanking Irina in some way shape or form. Without her guidance you might've died on my couch."
Kriss tilted her head.
"You don't say? Lucky me."
"Feel pain anywhere else?"
"Just my pride…"
Elma crossed her arms and stepped away. An elite force broke into a secret Coalition research facility and killed everyone they could find. In addition they leveled the building.
"Is it likely that they destroyed the other LAST facilities?"
Kriss shook her head.
"No. There would have been no reason to. As part of LAST's emergency initiative we have clean slate procedures. If a LAST facility and its research are threatened, we memorize every single detail of every little thing we were working on, then we scrub all physical proof of anything we were doing and finally...we vanish. A clean getaway. That's how LAST operates. Even if someone else comes to the facility, they won't find a single thing of value in there. As far as anyone else is concerned, we were never there."
Elma brought a hand to her chin.
"So then, these people. These...professionals. Do you know who they were? Who ordered this?"
Kriss nodded.
"I have a pretty good idea...no proof…"
Elma sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.
"Until we get this sorted out, stay here."
Kriss watched Elma head for her bedroom.
"So that's it? You don't think this requires urgent action?"
"It does, Kriss. But we need to be alert, level headed and in control. Not to mention honest with each other."
The professor shook her head.
"I have not hidden anything from you. Colonel."
"Let's keep it that way...until tomorrow, rest well."
Elma entered her room as Kriss laid down.
She fully expected Elma to let her into her place and then immediately shoot her in the back. She didn't trust anyone. Elma had proved her wrong once, maybe they could get to the bottom of this betrayal.
"What in the name of…"
General Kumon stood upon an open field in the Uncontrolled Districts. As far as he could see there were bodies, corpses strewn about, many of which had been completely ripped apart to the point that they could barely be recognized as human.
In all his years of service to the Coalition he had never seen anything like this. Never.
"They have to be here. Somewhere. Begin the search! Now!"
General Kumon, instructed his rescue team and they responded immediately, spreading out amongst the area. Looking to his datapad, the General focused on the distress signal.
He followed it as best he could before hearing a weak voice call out to him. He scanned the area nearby before finding a single man lying sitting on the ground, slumped up against several corpses.
Moving closer he recognized the man.
"Archer! The signal was you?"
Kumon's eyes searched the man as he knelt down next to him. There was a long and horrid injury along his torso. Kumon called for a medic before facing Archer again.
"Archer. Who else is here? Who else survived?"
A weak chuckle escaped the injured man.
"Survived? There was no...surviving what happened...sir. Everyone is dead…"
Kumon shook his head as medics arrived and began looking over Archer. Eyes returning to his datapad the General watched as report after report came in IDing the various corpses all over the field.
At first it was mostly terrorists but then came the names of all the Academy officers and their instructors. Kumon clenched his fists as he read name after name, all of which he recognized. The loss of young life and talent was too great.
"Sir...there is...one…"
Kumon quickly looked up.
"Where!? Archer, where?"
The man was fading in and out of consciousness as the medics raised him up onto a stretcher.
"Archer!"
"One…"
Kumon leaned in as Archer whispered. Even in his weakened state there was a foreign strength in his words. His eyes gave off a look that Kumon never saw in Archer's eyes.
Then he lost consciousness. The medics talked amongst each other, continuing their procedures as Kumon headed off in the direction Archer had told him.
Walking through the corpses and the remains, Kumon continued, a faint sense of desperation building inside until he saw them. Someone was sitting by themselves among the bodies.
The General stood in place as several other rescue officers approached him. They saw the figure and began to move forward only for him to raise his arm. They all froze in place.
Kumon approached on his own, his team wary as he neared the figure. Despite being heavily stained with blood and entrails, Kumon recognized the person's academy uniform.
Slowly he knelt down next to them and spoke as softly as he could. No one else could hear the words he said.
The lone figure turned to him, face also covered in blood, eyes hollow, devoid of emotion.
After a long silence of Kumon staring at them, the General stood up and he held his hand out to the survivor and helped her to her feet.
Waking with a start, Archer rolled over and off his bed. Quickly he retrieved his bow from against his side table, loaded it and aimed at the front door. He stood, silent and waiting until a voice called out.
"At ease soldier."
"Identify yourself!"
"General Hideo Kumon of the 3rd Soldier Unit."
Archer let out a long breath, putting the bow down he closed his eyes and focused.
Deep breath in.
Deep breath out.
Opening his eyes he stood and approached the door, swinging it open to stare at his former commanding officer.
"...you got old."
Kumon smirked.
"That tends to happen…"
There was a long silence before Archer moved aside and gestured to his apartment.
"No need Steven. I'm here for you."
"For me?"
Kumon produced a datapad and showed Archer footage from the firefight two nights ago. He saw Archer lean in as the mysterious soldiers appeared in the footage. Just like Kumon, the other man was reading their movements, formations, hand signals.
"...it can't be…"
Kumon sighed, putting the datapad away.
"I was hoping I was wrong."
"...where did you get that? Hideo?"
Holding up one hand, the General waited for Archer to calm himself.
"If I'm going to tell you more...I'm going to need you to come back."
"...I can't."
"If you and I are right about this, we're going to need you, Steven. At least until they're all in the ground. Then? You can go back to your retirement."
Steven stared at Kumon for a long moment. As much as he hated to admit it, his decision was made the second he opened the door and saw the General.
"Steven Harper, the Archer. Ready for orders. General."
"Edwin Benton? He's-"
"Yes Elma, he's exactly who you think he is. He represents the scientific arm of the Coalition and has a seat on the ECP as one of the foremost developers on Mimeosome technology. People speculate he'll head that department when this is all over."
Elma nodded slowly.
"Yes but...what would someone of his stature gain from killing you?"
Kriss smiled.
"Well I'm sure the plan was to capture me, then kill me. That way he'd gain everything that I know. Everything that LAST knows. Do you have any idea how many apocalyptic devices we've developed in the years since I rounded them all up?"
Elma shook her head.
"I'd rather not know...I understand that the Coalition placed a subcommittee to overlook your projects and manage you. Benton was placed in charge of that given his-"
"His genius intellect. I hate the man. I want him dead. But I won't deny that he's a genius. Sadly he made one mistake. He crossed me. I'll see him dead for that."
Elma stood from the table, hand on her chin as Kriss continued eating.
"Even if this is true."
"It is."
"Even if it is, we can't just go around killing members of the Coalition who have a seat on the ECP board. What message does that send?"
"Who cares?"
Elma narrowed her eyes.
"I don't like that tone, Kriss. Everyone should care."
Kriss scoffed.
"We're all going to die Elma. One day. What does it truly matter if this traitorous scum dies today, tomorrow or four years from now?"
The scientist watched Elma, her anger apparent. Kriss smiled.
"You're genuine Elma. It's not often I meet people who actually understand honor."
Elma raised an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to piss me off or sweet talk me?"
"A little of both. I want to see what I'm working with here."
Elma turned away, sighing. She felt exhausted just talking to Kriss.
"Maybe next time. Try asking."
Kriss shook her head.
"I'm afraid I'm not wired that way. How would I know if you're being honest with me or just telling me what I want to hear?"
Elma remained silent as Kriss placed her utensils down.
"Regardless, what are you going to do about Benton?"
"Attention, Reapers. To aid us in our mission to locate the soldiers we fought a few nights ago, I've brought in an old comrade of mine. Please, welcome Steven Harper."
Kumon stepped aside, another man taking his place. The man had short blond hair, noteable stubble and seemed somehow even more exhausted than Tai looked on a daily basis. Despite the bags under his eyes he smiled and waved at the Reapers.
"Howdy."
Jaynix spoke first.
"Archer...I know you."
Steven waved her off.
"Oh I doubt you heard anything good about me. Kumon was always the one making waves."
Lyla laughed.
"While that is true, the same could be said for that one sharpshooter at his side."
Steven grinned, a hint of pride before Sagis spoke up.
"Who the fuck is he?"
Tai and Eren laughed as Kumon spoke up.
"As I said. An old friend. I worked with him before forming the Reapers. He was a stalwart ally but most notably he confirmed my hypothesis on who it is we fought against the other night.
The Reapers quieted down, serious and grave expressions on their faces. Steven nodded.
"I like that look in your eyes. You're gonna need it."
Steven fell silent as Kumon cleared his throat.
"Those who we faced had academy training just like all of you did. They were taught by true experts in their craft. Decorated individuals. They were an elite fighting force for the Coalition who then abandoned it all…their duty, their honor, their allegiance..."
Tai took a step forward.
"General…"
"Yes Tai. Those we face now. They are the 2nd Soldier Unit. The Lawless."