Date & Time: 1st December 2097 Anno Domini, 2200 hours.
Location: Rhodes Island, Yan Territory
Weather: Clear Sky
The cabin light turned on in a flash, blindingAmiya.
Slowly, Amiya's adjusted to the brightness. She still adjusting to the sudden brightness, scanned the aircraft cabin, catching glimpses of the operators waking up from their brief naps. The aftermath of battle was evident by the bruises and cuts on their exposed body parts.
Amiya's concern returned as she observed the Medic attending to the unconscious Doctor.
Instructor Dobermann swiftly slid open the cabin door, revealing the awaiting medical team led by Doctor Kal'tsit. The Doctor's transfer from the aircraft to the bed was smooth as Ace and Adan delicately bear the unconscious Doctor on a stretcher. The medical team then secured the Doctor onto a mobile bed before quickly proceeding toward the medical bay with Doctor Kal'tsit staying behind.
"Good work. We'll have to postpone the debriefing until we fully assess the aftermath of this operation." She informed.
Instructor Dobermann stepped forward, "Doctor Kal'tsit, I request permission to set up a command center to coordinate the evacuations of the remaining teams still stranded in Chernobog."
"There is no need. The Rescue teams reported that they are on the way back to Rhodes Island." Kal'tsit relayed with a measured tone.
"We lost contact with Scout and his team before we were engaged by Talulah. Did the rescue teams manages to rendezvous with them?" Ace asked.
"We will discuss about this matter during the debriefing." Kal'tsit deflected. It spoke about the worst-case scenario. Amiya's heart sank, but she didn't want to assume.
"Instructor Dobermann, submit your report before midnight, if possible. I have to oversee the Doctor medical examination."
Before Doctor Kal'tsit speed-walked to the medical bay, she left a parting instruction to Instructor Dobermann, "Please ensure everyone undergoes an examination, Instructor. Ansel and Warfarin are waiting."
Dobermann nodded briskly, "Make sure you don't leave any equipment behind on the airplane."
Amiya and the rest of the team proceeded to search every corner of the aircraft cabin. Once done, they gathered outside, "Everything accounted for, Instructor Dobermann," Adan reported.
"Everyone, we'll be heading towards the armory. Wait outside after you are done because we'll be heading to the medical bay afterward."
The team followed Dobermann's lead without question. As they entered the armory, Dobermann supervised the operators as they placed their equipment on the tray, ready for the maintenance crew to inspect.
Once finished, they gathered outside the armory. Dobermann addressed them, "We'll head to the medical bay next. You may be dismissed and head back to your rooms after your examinations." The team followed Dobermann's order without question. As they got into the armoury, Dobermann supervised the operators as they placed their equipment on the tray, for the maintenance crew to check onto them.
To the medical bay, they went. Amiya insisted that she was the last one to be examined as her mind processed the aftermath recent.
"Try not to use your Arts unless absolutely necessary." Warfarin advised.
"I understand. Thank you, Warfarin." Amiya replied with a small smile.
Amiya's footsteps echoed softly as she made her way to the examination room exit. The operators, in silent pre-agreement, waited outside. Adan suggested that they head to the cafeteria for midnight dinner. She wanted to refuse the offer to retreat to the solace of her room until her stomach grumbled. With red tinted cheeks, she agreed, with only Ace and Instructor Dobermann opting out due to unattended business.
Nothing eventful happened besides the discovery that the machine dispensed food was delicious. Casual conversations, unrelated to the recent mission, filled the time as they eat.
After finishing her dinner, she bid the operators good night before navigating the hallway to the front door of her room. She took out her card and slid it between card reader.
It beeped.
Amiya twisted the knob and pushed the door open. A spacious room with "hotel-like" decorations and furniture greeted her. The bookshelf was brimmed with books. A section for a small bar area and a flat-screen TV attached to the wall added to the room's unnecessary luxury. The soft glow of the ceiling lights casting a serene ambiance.
Doctor Kal'tsit insisted that the room need to befits their role as the leaders of Rhodes Island. However, Kal'tsit herself rarely set foot in the room as she sleeps in her office most of the time, leaving Amiya alone. At times, it was lonely.
Amiya's gaze shifted to the inviting, cushy bed. Amiya moved through the room,
After a long, refreshing shower where she cleared her mind, she changed into a simple white night dress and climbed on the bed. Her body sunk into the soft mattress. With a clap, the room plunged into darkness. Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a silvery glow over the room.
Attempting to sleep, she closed her eyes, only to be greeted by vivid images of the deceased from the sewer —faces etched with fear and hatred. Opening her eyes, she found herself staring at the ceiling.
She sat against the bedpost. The bed, the room's fancy décor and the moonlight offered little comfort as her mind keeps straying back to the recent operation. She couldn't sleep. How could she?
A movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she turned to see a human-shaped silhouette emerge from behind the bookshelf. The figure stood just a meter away, its elongated arms, sharp horns and claws raised to attack. Faster than her eyes could see, it charged. In fear, Amiya closed her eyes shut and clapped twice.
The light flickered back on bringing safety as it dispelled the shadow. When she opened her eyes again, the figure was gone. Her heart was pounding. Cold sweats ran down her forehead.
There was no way she could sleep like this. Perhaps, she should give Doctor Kal'tsit a visit.
Amiya put on her ID and the oversized Rhodes Island jacket over her sleepwear, she stepped into the hallway. The dark panels lining the walls caught the light in subtle glow. Doctor Kal'tsit's office was just around the corner.
"Scout and his team had perished." Instructor Dobermann's voice filtered through the door.
Amiya paused. Her hand shook as it hovered over the doorknob at the knowledge.
She knew she needed to confront the consequences. Running away with that knowledge was irresponsible. Gathering her courage, she pushed open the door, drawing the attention of both Doctor Kal'tsit and Instructor Dobermann towards her.
"Amiya, why you are still awake?" Kal'tsit asked.
Amiya fidgeted before admitting, "I can't sleep."
Instructor Dobermann looked between Amiya and Doctor Kal'tsit. Sensing her intrusion, she informed, "There's no important left unsaid, Doctor Kal'tsit."
"You may be dismissed, Instructor Dobermann. Thank you for your hard work."
"Understood, I'll be in my quarter." Instructor Dobermann acknowledged Amiya with a nod as she left the room, leaving Amiya and Kal'tsit to stare at each other.
Amiya opened a conversation, "Is the Doctor, okay?"
"Yes. The Doctor will recover from muscle atrophy given time. He was asleep in the Sarcophagus for a long time"
Amiya felt a little weight was lifted off her chest. She then watched Kal'tsit doing work on the computer, not sure what to do next. Doctor Kal'tsit gestured toward the office chair placed in front of the table. "Take a seat, Amiya."
Amiya hesitated, before eventually sat down.
"Is everything alright?" Doctor Kal'tsit asked, her voice soft and gentle.
"Yeah…" Amiya replied, looking away.
Kal'tsit's inquisitive gaze lingered on Amiya over the computer screen.
Feeling the pressure, Amiya admitted, "I can't stop thinking about the operation."
"Do you regret your decision?" Kal'tsit nudged.
"No! I don't! It's just…" Amiya trailed as she went deeper into her own mind trying to find the right words.
"You don't have to hold it all in. Sometimes it helps to let it out." Kal'tsit advised.
Amiya took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. Then, she voiced it, slowly but surely, "I just can't help but feel like I could have done more. If only I had been smarter like the Doctor or braver like Ace, things wouldn't have turned out this way."
"There is no certainty on the battlefield, Amiya. You did everything in your power to complete the operation and ensure the safety of your team."
"But it wasn't enough... Scout and his team..." Amiya's voice cracked under the weight of the emotions; tears began welling up, threatening to spill. She wiped them away. She refused to cry.
Doctor Kal'tsit listened intently, allowing Amiya to vent. When Amiya fell silent, she replied, "You made a decision based on what you felt was right at that moment. Even with the best intentions, outcomes on the battlefield can be unpredictable."
Amiya nodded in understanding, but it wasn't a burden she could shake off easily.
"You did your best given the circumstances. Don't be too hard on yourself."
Amiya took a deep breath, regaining composure. The guilt remained, but it was her own burden to bear and not to pass it over to Doctor Kal'tsit,
"Thank you," Amiya said softly, her voice still carrying a tremor. She wiped away the tears dry with the sleeves of Rhodes Island jacket.
After another moments of silence, Amiya changed the topic, "What were you two talking about?"
Doctor Kal'tsit still typing on the computer, responded, "The operation in Chernobog." "It's about Reunion activities, and the aircraft that aided your escape." Doctor Kal'tsit turned the monitor screen for Amiya to see. It was collection of photos on her savior's aircraft but from different angles.
Amiya curiosity overtook her previous emotions. "Where were these photos taken, Doctor Kal'tsit?" She asked as she went through the gallery.
"They were taken by our teams in other sectors that intersected with the aircraft's path when it left Chernobog." Kal'tsit answered.
"I have never seen this design of this aircraft, or the logos painted on it." Amiya remarked as she shifted through the photos. The logos resemble an eagle diving down?"
Amiya looked at Kal'tsit. "Doctor Kal'tsit, I remember hearing a rumor about Columbia developing a prototype weapon. Could this be related?" Amiya added.
Doctor Kal'tsit contemplated Amiya words.
"Perhaps. Instructor Dobermann also brought up that theory. However, the circumstances and pilot's actions didn't line up." Kal'tsit answered.
Amiya furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't follow."
"If the pilot was testing a weapon system, it would typically aim to cause maximum destruction. Hence, it would have decimated you and the entire Reunion group. Instead, the pilot showed restraint by firing warning shots before proceeding with destructive option against Reunion."
Amiya winced at the fact.
"Do you have a theory, Doctor Kal'tsit?"
"Speculating without concrete information is unproductive."
"I have another question. Reunion is fighting for the Infected too, aren't they? But why are they attacking innocent civillians?" Amiya locked eyes with Kal'tsit.
Kal'tsit replied without emotion, "Circumstances can change people for the worse, leading them down dark paths. Changing them for the worse."
Amiya turned solemn.
"Doctor Kal'tsit, there is something else that bothers me."
"What is it?"
"Does the Reunion know about our operation? The timing of their attack coincides with our rescue mission." Amiya asked.
"I don't think so. Reunion incursion was meticulously planned. For example, the Chernobog guards mysteriously dispersed around the city and the Catastrophe Early Warning System was deactivated beforehand, and yet, your team only stumbled upon a Reunion patrol team.
But that's not important, we will cover this topic again with other operators. Reunion will be targeting Lungmen next. There is an influx Chernobog refugees entering Lungmen. Coincidentally, the number of reported crimes has spiked exponentially."
"So, we'll be heading towards Lungmen?"
Kal'tsit nodded. "I've contacted Chief Wei Yenwu regarding our intention. The details are still being discussed thoroughly."
Amiya watched Doctor Kal'tsit go through her paperwork. She knew that Doctor Kal'tsit would decline her help but guilt gnawed at her for sleeping early while Kal'tsit remained engrossed in work. She felt the need to stay until Kal'tsit finished.
Before she realized it, Amiya had drifted off, only to be gently roused by a soft poke on her forehead. Doctor Kal'tsit stood before her.
"Go sleep in your room. Do you want to wake up with a stiff neck?"
"I'd like to stay and keep you company Doctor Kal'tsit." Amiya reasoned.
Kal'tsit's unamused stare met Amiya's. Amiya averted her gaze.
"I suppose I could make an exception for tonight." She murmured. She turned off the computer and arranged the files on the table before heading towards the exit.
"Where are you going, Doctor Kal'tsit?" Amiya asked.
"To sleep."
Despite the comforting presence of Doctor Kal'tsit sleeping in the bed next to her, Amiya found it hard to fall asleep. The haunting hallucinations she experienced earlier made her wary of the darkness. The hallucination felt foreboding as if warning her about something.
Ruffled clothes jostled her heartbeats. She turned towards the noise, half-expecting the haunting silhouette to reappear. Instead, the gentle emerald eyes of Doctor Kal'tsit that glow faintly in the darkness met her.
"Can't sleep, Amiya?" Kal'tsit's was soft. A soothing melody.
Aniya shook her head. She rubbed her eyes and sat up on the bed.
"Come," Kal'tsit invited, patting on the empty space beside her bed. "Sleep here."
Amiya hesitated. She was unsure if it was appropriate but the thought of spending a sleepless night when tomorrow will be a busy day felt overwhelming.
"Are you sure, Doctor Kal'tsit?" Amiya whispered.
Moonlight spilled into the room through the window, casting radiance upon Kal'tsit smooth pale skin as her faint smile radiated warmth, "I don't mind."
Amiya rarely saw Doctor Kal'tsit smiling, and it drove her over to Kal'tsit's bed and slipped under the covers beside her.
Kal'tsit wrapped her arms around Amiya, holding her close in a warm embrace. At first, Amiya felt stiff and awkward, unsure of how to respond to such an intimate gesture. But as Kal'tsit's gently caressed her head, Amiya felt herself relax into the embrace. Amiya buried her face into her chest. A sense of comfort washed over her. It was as if she was a child again, wrapped in the warm embrace of a loving mother.
Kal'tsit's lavender soap surrounded her. The softness of her body against hers. She held both of her own hands close to her own chest and nestled her way further into the embrace.
Amiya felt her worries begin to slip away. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully relax into the embrace, feeling the gentle rise and fall of Kal'tsit's chest and the calming sound of Kal'tsit's heartbeats as she drifted off to sleep.