The spar between Projekt Red and Apollo went like this. Projekt Red was launching a constant stream of attacks trying to get Apollo off his balance and not giving him any breathing room. Projekt Red being an expert in close combat understood how much a mere second of breathing room truly means in combat. Others would likely take it easy on Apollo upon seeing him shiver, however Projekt Red's instinct wouldn't allow her to do that, understanding that there is something more to Apollo. Her opponent on the other hand was purposely barely dodging all of Projekt Red's attacks making it looks as if he was on the defensive.
This went on for a while before Apollo decided that he lasted long enough. He purposely left himself open for attack but over extending his hand to palm Projekt Red's face. This opening was so obvious even for experienced fighters that Projekt Red was easily able to dodge and counter attack by using his momentum and throwing him over his shoulder in a judo technique like manner.
"Damn, that hurt. Projekt Red you're really strong. A lot stronger than I thought you'll be with how short you were. Imagine a fight so one-sided it was boring for Dobermann to watch" Apollo said as he stayed laid out on the floor.
He heard the sound of a boot moving towards him until he saw Dobermann standing above him looking down.
"I don't watch operators train for entertainment, it watches so they can improve and stand on their own. However on the topic of watching I must say that if you were in a real fight you would have died many times over, you have the speed but the overwhelming amount of openings you left yourself with will equal your death at some point." Dobermann said in a scolding tone. It reminded Apollo of the times he and Romani got scolded by Olga back in the day.
As Dobermann told off Apollo and pointed out how he can reduce the number of openings. Projekt Red left the room leaving only a few words.
"You should be a combat operator."
While Dobermann explained that his fighting technique needed work she also complemented that his physical skills are average, meaning that there is improvement that can be realized. Dobermann pointed out how normally the physical test is the last thing new operators go through, adding the fact it's late she recommended him to call it a night.
Not sure what to do anymore Apollo decided to listen to her and call it a day. However instead of going to his room that is written on the same piece of paper that had Angelina's name, he decided to go to the deck of the landship. "I wonder what the sky is like here."
As Apollo walked through the halls the normally loud and active halls were quiet. You'll hear little whispers here and there, but nothing compared to when he first got here. Once he reached the deck Apollo looked straight into the sky. The bright white stars that straightened beyond the horizon was a sight Apollo hadn't had the ability to fully enjoy in a long, long time.
"I wish I had some water to drink. I feel sweaty from all that running and that spar." Apollo said as he walked near the end of the deck and took a seat.
Apollo didn't know how much time passed but just like in Lungmen, time seemed to not matter. His heart was feeling conflicted however, it felt as if he was constantly being pulled into the past. It was like this world was overlapping with the last one. This time not having a large white space tree in his view.
"Is that you ?"
Apollo didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
"What can I do for you Marth? Did everything go well for you?" Apollo asked as he continued to look upward at the stars.
"Nothing. I- I was just talking to my new roommates."
Apollo whipped around turning towards Marth. This quick action startled her. "You're making friends already. That's always good to see." Apollo said as he replied with a thumbs up.
"Would it bother you if I sat with you?"
"Have a seat, the stars are a beautiful thing." Apollo said as he went back to stargazing.
Marth took up on his offer and sat next to him. The two shared the silence as the Landshp moved along the vast new world Apollo had found himself in.
"Hey Marth, do you enjoy learning about new things?"
"I-I do. My parents back when they were alive teached me a lot of things. My dad was a historian while my mom was an archaeologist. They told me a lot of stories." Marth went on about her parents, for the first time her normally neutral or depressed expression was replaced with one of joy and excitement. Hearing her talk like this confirmed an idea Apollo had since coming to this world and meeting her.
"Marth, would you like to learn something about my homeland?" Apollo said as he turned towards Marth.
"Mr. Apollo you have only helped me since we met s-so if there's anything I can do for you just ask. So I gladly accept." Marth declared with conviction in her voice.
Apollo pulls out an open hand. "As you know the people of Terra use arts, using the originium in either staffs or in their bodies. However in my homeland we don't have originium nor do we use arts." As Apollo spoke, a small white flame formed in his palm, it was a weak flame that danced to the wind.
Marth's expression was perplexed as Apollo spoke. 'If they don't have arts or originium, how do they live? How do they fuel their cities, and how is Apollo creating that flame?' All these question flowed through her brain
Apollo was expecting this. "In my homeland we call this magecraft. The best way to understand it is like this. If science is meant to understand the natural world and its workings, magecraft is used to understand everything else. The divine, demonic, spiritual and conceptual."
Marth moved closer to the flame, observing it as best as she could.
"Would you like to learn it?" Apollo asked he caused the flame to get stronger or weaker on a whim
Marth eargley nodded her head.
"I'll explain more some other time." Apollo sighed as he let the flame die out. "It's late so we should clock in for the night."
As the discussion of magecraft died down, she was visibly saddened by it. She said her farewells and walked into the interior of the landship. Apollo followed her lead by searching for the living quarters of the ship for his room, after struggling for a few minutes he finally found his room. He opened the door to find an empty space, all there were were two bunk beds making a total of four sleeping spaces.
"Looks like no else is here." Apollo continued to observe the room, noticing that there were no signs that someone else slept here. "I guess I'm alone again." Since Apollo didn't have anything with him besides the clothes he was wearing, he fell onto his bed. Just like before Apollo looked out the window towards the stars. It didn't take long to draft asleep.
In what felt like a mere second Apollo found himself in a dark space.
"Damn, was all that really a dream and I actually died." Apollo said nonchalantly as if this wasn't his first time being in this situation. The next moment Apollo felt a presence in front of him, then he saw it. It was a shady figure, its gender was undefinable.
"So what can I do for my shadowy friend?" Apollo said as if he was speaking to someone familiar.
The figure didn't say anything; rather , it gathered a smoke-like substance and formed two words.
"Control yourself."
After that the figure started to become unfocused until it disappeared. Causing the darkness around him to disappear leaving Apollo into the place he goes everynight to train; his dream world.
"Well that's interesting. 'Control yourself'. Whatever that thing was, I wasn't planning on doing anything too crazy here, but knowing my luck something is gonna happen sooner or later. I can already feel as if that was something demonic or divinity. Both are a pain in the ass" Apollo said as he materialized a spear in his hand. "I'll think about it later." Apollo got into a stance and started training.
Within one of the hangers of Rhodes Island stood three important members of the organization.
"Red as with all your missions, this must be completed swiftly and quietly." The one talking was the head of the medical department of Rhodes Island, Kal'tsit.
"While Kal'tsit is laying on the pressure as she usually does, I have faith that you complete the mission successfully."
Along with her was Amiya who has always made it a personal goal to see out as many missions as possible to boost morale.
"Kal'tsit, Amiya. I need to tell you something. It's about a new operator, he had a cross on his neck."
"Red by any chance are you talking about Apollo?"
"I believe so but I didn't ask for his name." Projekt Red's voice trailed off as she was disappointed in herself.
"Assuming that the person in question is the one Amiya is talking about, what is the situation about him?" Kal'tsit said as she writes on a clipboard that she is normally seen around carrying.
"I went to the Perro instructor to warm up before the mission. I had a spar with Apollo and he was unusual. It was clear from the start that he isn't used to fighting, he had many openings when I was attacking him; only barely dodging with his speed. Even though I had the advantage I was getting an unpleasant feeling from him" Projekt Red explained
"Can you be more precise on that feeling? The more details the better." Amiya pressed for answers.
"My suspicion came true when he did his first and final attack, he merely pushed his hand towards my face leaving his whole body open but yet."
"What happened?" Kalsit, like Amiya, pressed for answers.
"It was as if the hand was making the space in front of me curve around it, like it was a void sucking everything in. With that I felt the feeling of 'absolute death' the closer the hand got."
The atmosphere of the room tensed dramatically on Projekt Red's testimony regarding Apollo. Both Amiya and Kal'tsit knew that Projekt Red was never the person to waste words on a potential threat, so Apollo being able to cause someone like Projekt Red to feel death isn't something they should take lightly.
Kal'tsit lets out a sigh. "If that's the case then we need to keep an eye on him. Amiya, do you know which department he was assigned to?" Kal'tsit said while rubbing her forehead.
"He's under my department so I'll give updates regarding his position within Rhodes Island." Amiya said with determination but her face still showed a soft expression. "However when I spoke to him today he seemed like a gentle person that wants to do good." Amiya continued.
"Two near contradiction opinions from two of the oldest members of Rhodes Island. That only means that the monitoring of Apollo is an even higher priority, to see if he genuinely wants to do good or harm to us." Kal'tsit shared her thoughts regarding the situation. "We'll discuss this further at a later date, Projekt Red you should head out on your mission." Kal'tsit continued.
Projekt Red nodded before heading inside the vehicle and driving off into the horizon.
As she walked the vehicle got further and further away Kal't'sit went through the facts in her head. 'If this Apollo character is truly as Projekt Red claims to be then Rhodes Island may have a spy backed by someone powerful.' With that though she walked back towards her office as she mentality prepared herself for another night of work and no sleep.