A week went by and graduation had finally arrived. In front of BLADE Tower, chairs were set up in a rows in two columns. Trey's Mother is positioned in the front; surrounded by bodyguards. The Captains of popular BLADE teams were also placed at the front. When one student graduates, he or she chooses which team they are to be a part of. The most recognizable team is lead by a woman named Elma. Elma's skin is olive like. She has long white hair and mainly wears red metal armor. She appeared to be in her early thirties. This time, she wore a captain's hat. She took her seat and put her clipboard on her lap. A man and a woman walked up to her. She looked up.
"Captain Elma," the man greeted her.
"Ma'am." the female said.
"Irina," Elma smiled at her. "How many times must I tell you do not have to call me Ma'am every time you approach me. Please, you have permission to call me by my name."
"I apologize, captain."she told her.
The two who walked to her were two of her best soldiers; Gwin and Irina. Gwin's hair has a tan color to it. His hair is also slight spiked up. He mainly carries a giant sword around. He had graduated from the BLADE Academy a few years ago and was recently transferred to Elma's team. Irina had been training him for the past month. The reasoning for his transfer is something he tends to not like to talk about. Irina is a female with blonde colored hair. The color of her eyes are light gray. She can be quite a tomboy boy at times. Her main goal is the same as other BLADE members; to protect the citizens of New LA.
"What brings you two here?" Elma asked them.
"We thought we would sit with you, ma'am." Irina told her.
"Please do." Elma agreed to it. They both sat behind her.
Just after they took their seats, Elma spotted two big men walking by in front of her and a woman in a nice red dress pass by. They sat down on the other side. Elma had recognized her from previous appearances. She figured she must be a mother of one of the students who were graduating. Elma got up from her seat.
"Captain?" Irina asked her. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back." Elma informed her. "There's no need to worry. She walked over to the people who walked passed her. She cleared her throat once she approached them.
"Pardon me," she told them. All eyes were on her. "I couldn't help but notice that you must be Valina."
Valina smiled. "How could you tell?" she told her. "You must be Elma. I recognize you from countless interviews."
A bodyguard stepped aside for Elma to take a seat.
"I was afraid you wouldn't recognize me, Ma'am."
"Please, no need to be formal." Valina advised her. "Call me Valina."
"Valina," Elma corrected herself. "I thought I'd come over and give you my condolences."
Valina looked confused.
"On the loss of your husband." Elma continued. "It has been eighteen years today, hasn't it?"
"Oh, yes, It has, hasn't it?" Valina looked down. Elma noticed she looked slightly disturbed. She was beginning to regret approaching her.
"You know," Elma got up from her seat. "You're right. I…I shouldn't have said anything…"
She tried to walk away.
"No no…" Valina stopped her. "It's fine. Please, sit back down."
Elma sat back down. "I thought I'd talk to you about that day, and about your son."
"My…son?"
"Yes," Elma confirmed. "You see, I've had my eye on him for quite some time. I've read stories of your husband about his bravery. Your son is definitely something like him."
"I like to think so too, Elma." Valina told him. "He has also told me that he hopes to join in one of the most Elite Teams of BLADE."
"It's not easy to get into my team unfortunately." Elma admitted.
"Why's that?"
"The test to get in isn't very easy." Elma stated. "He's got to prove himself."
"If I know my own son," Valina said. "It's that he knows what he is doing."
"The thing is, Valina." Elma looked saddened about what she was going to say next. "If he does join the team, I'm responsible for him. I cannot guarantee you that he will return to you alive."
Valina was silent for a moment. "My son can do it. I believe in him."
"I understand that, ma'am." Elma said to her. "but we all have our weaknesses."
Music started to play. Elma stood back up. "If you'll excuse me," she pardoned herself. "I best be going back to my seat."
As Elma was walking away, she heard Valina mutter something. She was looking down at her feet as she muttered the words. She stopped in her tracks. Her eyes grew wide opened. "Ex-excuse me?"
"I know who we are." she said a bit louder. Elma could feel her heart beat fast.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me, Elma."
Loud graduation music started to play in the background. Elma stood there in shock. Sweat was dripping down from her forehead. So many thoughts were going through inside her head. She just couldn't figure out how Valina could've known. No other citizen was supposed to know. Elma just shook it off and walked back to her seat. As she was walking back, someone grabbed her by the sleeve.
"There is danger approaching, young commander." the mysterious person told her. He was wearing a hoodie, so she didn't see his face.
"S-sorry?"
"You best be ready for when it comes."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Soon, my friend, all will be revealed in time."
She pulled he sleeve away from the stranger and sat back down in her seat. She could feel the eyes of the stranger watching her every move and every mark she made on her board. He hand was shaking. Irina noticed something was wrong with her.
"Elma," she whispered to her. "Are you OK?"
"What?" Elma snapped back to reality. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just have… a lot on my mind right now."
Irina sat back down in her seat.
"How did she know?" was all Elma could think about. "Did her husband tell her? Did she sneak into the files of the archives? and what did that man mean by danger is coming? All these mysteries…"
As she was in mid-thought, she heard Vandham call her name.
"…I would like to welcome Captain Elma up to the podium."
Applause were heard across the audience. Elma got up from her seat and walked up the steps to the podium.
"Thank you, Commander." Elma cleared her throat and looked at the audience. "Welcome to the Graduation Ceremony of 2072". Louder applause were heard after she said that. The audience was going crazy.
Elma tried to erase the thoughts from her head. Irina could tell something was definitely bothering her.
'Something's wrong…" Irina pointed out.
"She's just nervous." Gwin said. Z
"It's more than that, Gwin." Irina confirmed. "I've never seen her like this."
Irina looked over at Valina. That was the last person she saw Elma talk to. She excused herself from Gwin and made her way down the aisle to she could talk to Valina herself; to find out what they talked about. As she made her way down, and Elma was making her speech, things started to rumble. Commander Vandham, Nagi, and Maurice, who is the leader of BLADE, all stood up. Elma exited the podium and squinted her eyes to get a better look. A big shadowy figure appeared above them.
"What the hell?" Vandham said quietly.