.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
He breathe in.
.
.
.
He Breathe out...
.
...
.....
He slowly opened his eyes.
He slowly regain his consciousness.
...
He is awake.
Awake in somewhere much more... Unfamiliar.
Alien.
Unlike where He once was.
He was laying down on his back, staring up towards... Darkness. Whether its the sky or the ceiling, He couldn't tell.
But what He could tell, is that his body is much more relaxed and calm compared to what had happened earlier.
What had happened earlier...
What truly did happened earlier?
Did He... Blacked out? Passed out? Knocked out?
If He did, why?
Was it due to exhaustion?
Shock?
Overwhelming panic?
Adrenaline?
Something along the line?
He had no idea. He's not a medical expert as far as He knew.
But He certainly was running for his life back there. That's for sure.
And those... Girls from earlier?
Last time He saw them, they were wearing various different clothes and were armed with various weapons. And when He ducked down to the ground at the time, they quickly fired their weapon at... Whatever was chasing after him out of the bunker. And it seemed that they've managed to emerged victorious.
And when one of the girls approach and spoke to him, that's where everything became blurry and silent, before He eventually blacked out.
Without much else to think of, He slowly rise from his back with a low grunt and some support with his elbows.
While He does, He took the moment to look around his rather unfamiliar surroundings before finally got back up to his feet.
"... Where... Am I? Where is this now..?"
He question with a quiet mutters. A bit disoriented.
He began to look around.
There's only darkness.
No matter where He looks,
up or down,
left or right,
front or back,
It's always black no matter what He does.
Yet... He could still see his own body when He looked down at his own hands.
Which led to believe that it is not actually darkness that is around him. If it is, then how come He could still see himself?
He stared at his palms for a moment before He plants his right palm against his temple.
And indeed He still have a sense of feel and his own face.
Returning his hands back to his side, He momentarily look around the void he's currently in before He finally decided to take a step forward.
Once He did, once his boot land on the ground, a tiny ripple suddenly appear beneath his planted step as it momentarily spread out before disappearing. Like stepping on a puddle yet... There's no water. As least as far as He could see and feel.
The floor, or the 'ground' beneath him, whatever it is, it felt firm and solid.
It doesn't seem to be flooded, it doesn't exactly feel smooth like marble, nor rough like concrete.
Yet those doesn't explain the tiny ripple that appeared beneath his step.
When He took another step, the same ripple appears beneath it as He decided to take a stride forward, creating ripples beneath his steps as they momentarily before disappearing behind him.
' What a weird place this is... '
He thought to himself as He stride onwar--
*Bam!*
"GGAAH-!"
He grunts in pain before letting out a painful hiss, instinctively shutting his eyes as He quickly place his hands onto his own face. As if He had just bumped himself into something solid.
"OWW- Damn-- OUCH! God-!"
He spat out as He hisses in pain while still firmly holding onto his own face.
"What the hell..!?-"
He spat out once more.
It took a few moments for the pain to dissipate while He's still holding onto his face.
When it finally does, He slowly remove his hands from his face as He took a few steps back from...Whatever that He had bump into.
.
.-
.
"... Eh... Huh?"
He let out from his mouth in utterly confused tone and bewildered look across his face when He finally goes to opened his eyes.
However instead of being in the strange mysterious dark or 'black void place-thingy', whatever it is,
He suddenly found himself a less mysterious but much more strange room.
A... Room.
A rather... Normal. Room.
What He truly meant, is that the room he's in right now(somehow) is much normal or in a much normal state compared to the rooms He's been at ever since his awakening.
While it seems less mysterious than the weird black void just earlier, it felt much more strange to him compared to the rooms he's been in since his awakening.
From what He can tell, he's currently in what seems to be... A bedroom? At least that's what it appears to be.
After a moment of stillness, He finally took the courage to take a step.
And another step.
.
And when He make sure that there's nothing in front of him by extending and waving his arms in front of him, He finally took the moment to look around.
He walked around what seems to be a medium-sized bedroom by the looks of it, taking some few mental notes and inspecting some key details here and there.
And after a while, He finally came to a conclusion as He return to the center of the room where He first got into to the bedroom.
Firstly, The bedroom is indeed a medium-sized room that is rather spacious, with wooden flooring and the walls painted white along with the ceiling, as well as filled with many various items and furniture.
The most prominent being only the single sized bed located at the corner of the room,
a seemingly old style looking television standing on a wooden cabinet in front of the bed,
a white bi-fold doors behind the television and the cabinet,
a window that's been closed by white curtains,
and lastly, a white door at the end of the room.
After that, there weren't much else in the room. Unless He have to technically count the light bulb on the ceiling.
...
What should He do now?
Because there's nothing seemed to be going on as of right now ever since He got himself into the room.
...
' ...Perhaps He should test something. '
He thought.
And with that, He made his way to the single sized bed.
From the looks of it, it's just a simple single sized bed with a white blanket, a white pillow, along with a plain white body pillow.
He bend down slightly to reach down and press his hand onto the bed, testing the mattress.
' It feels quite soft and comfortable. '
He thought.
After testing the bed, He turn himself around before slowly descending himself down onto the edge of the bed.
...
"Woah..."
He let out upon finally sitting on the edge of the bed.
' This is a lot more comfortable compared to the bed I've slept on back at that apartment bedroom! '
He thought as He couldn't help himself but to slowly lay his back down on the bed.
Although to be fair, the bed back at apartment bedroom was surprisingly quite comfortable despite its age, negligence, and exposure to the environment, even then its still old and had some roughness at its edges. Whereas the bed he's currently on? Much, much better, by a mile if He were to be honest.
He turn his head to the side, glancing towards the body pillow that was sitting on top of the pillow.
Slightly moved himself closer, He reach his hand out to the body pillow before grabbing by its side, moving it over to him.
After that, He briefly let the body pillow stay at his side before He move it up to his chest and wrapped his arms around it, hugging it firmly.
"Comfy..."
He mutters quietly.
The plain white body pillow is about almost about as tall as him. It feels soft and comfortable in his grasp, just like the bed.
' I could just stay and live here forever at this rate. '
He thought.
Though it is a joke, He honestly really mean it.
It's calm, comfortable, and peaceful here.
...
He let out a tired sigh.
...
' ... As much as I like to stay like this... I need to know what is going on around here. '
He thought as He slowly tug the body pillow from his chest.
And indeed. He really need to know what is going on.
From the strange mysterious dark place, to the seemingly normal yet stranger place that He have no clue on how He managed to get there in a mere blink of an eye.
These turn of events...
That dark place...
This room...
...It begs the question whether the reality around him right is true, or false.
He slowly got himself up from the bed, his feet touching the wooden floor.
...
' Huh? '
He looked down below him.
' ... Where's my boots? '
He mentally questioned.
He is now barefoot. Once again.
' And my satchel and coat's gone too! '
He further questioned mentally.
He is now coatless and satchel-less.
With those 3 somehow gone, he's back down to his simple white shirt and his shorts.
He briefly looked around with a frantic look slowly creeping across his face, as if He just somehow lost and scattered them around the room.
Actually now that He think about it, since when did it happened?
Was it the moment He entered this strange room?
If it did, how did He managed to not notice subtle change in weight and feel?
Pressing his hand against his temple, He let out a tired sigh that's now been mixed with a slight stress.
' Darn it-! How did this managed to get from bad to worse? '
He thought.
After putting down his hand from his temple, He turned and glance towards the bifold doors at his right.
He was about to take a step towards it before He quickly retracts.
' No-.. I... I can't. I don't have my gun on me anymore...
Not after... That... '
He thought.
Now that He thought about it. He's now indeed unarmed.
He had no idea where his gun have gone to.
Last time He remembers, is that the gun was in his hand when He came running out of the bunker and out of the building.
And the moment He... 'Blacked out', He guested, his gun is just gone. Just like that.
...
' ... Shit. '
He mentally curses.
For a moment, He just stare at the bifold doors with a faint hint of wariness in his eyes, as if the bifold doors could opens by itself and reveals a corpse standing behind it.
...
He sighed heavily.
...
He turned to his left towards the window as He slowly began his way to it.
When He eventually does, He reach out and slowly tug the curtains open.
...
White is the only thing that He sees upon looking out of the window.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment, perplexed of what he's seeing right now as He move his head at one angle to another.
Still, no matter where He look, nothing changes.
' Strange... '
He briefly thought.
But then, his thoughts were quickly interrupted when his ears suddenly picked up the sound of... Something.
He turned his head and gaze towards the white door at the end of the room as the noise He heard came from the other side of the door.
From what He could tell, it sounded muffled, obviously being outside the room.
It didn't sound like it carries malice nor anything, really. Simply being just a muffled noise. Yet... It also almost sounded like... Statics.
He's not sure.
It was odd at best, hence why He remain still without making a noise himself, as if trying to remain silent from the noise while He stares at the door with a slight narrowed, suspicious gaze.
For a moment, He waited.
...
Yet after waiting for what felt like forever, the muffled noise were still there. Still insist.
At that point, He wasn't sure on his next move.
Should He go and investigate?
Should He remain in the room until the noise is 'gone'?
After a few moments of contemplating, He chose the former.
Slowly, He made his way to the door with slow, careful, tippy toe steps as the muffled noise grew louder as He move closer.
And when He finally reached the door, He slowly reach down to the door handle, slowly wrapping his fingers around to grasp it.
And then, with a face mixed full of anticipation and slight stress,
He finally opens the door after building up a small courage to do so as the door moves inward into him.
And as soon as He did, a bright white light quickly engulfed his body and vision.
...
.....
[ Ascending to consciousness layer level - I . . .
.
.
.
==+==
=[ Shining Light in Steel ]=
==+==

|Time : 05:35 PM
|Date : 30th July 2062
|Location : Sector-12 G&K base.
|Point of : Anasta's POV
|View
-----------------------------------------------------------
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"-Is that everything?"
"Yes Miss Helian. That's... Really everything all I can report back to you as of right now."
I said with a shrug across my shoulders.
"I see..."
Miss Helian said as I sees her blue 3D projection scratching her fingers beneath her own chin before she continues.
"Well then, this will conclude our todays call. I'll say this to you once again,
If there's any changes or something happened regarding of the young man, send a report through me."
Miss Helian's 3D projection crosses both her arms.
"For now, I wanted your T-Doll or a Human medical staff member to monitor the man's condition and well-being.
And when He eventually gets up, I'll sent two T-Doll to your base to escort the man to the Headquarter for questioning and further examination."
Miss Helian said.
A small frown quickly appears across my face.
"Standard procedure Miss Helian?"
I asked,
in which Miss Helian replied.
"Indeed Commander."
Miss Helian said with a firm nod.
"As proceed according to Griffin and Kryuger's protocol in article three, page nine."
(I totally made this up, as I'm not sure how a PMC like G&K deals with these various situation. I just write things that sounded senseful to me. - Author)
Hearing that, I sat back on my office chair before grabbing and holding onto my freshly brewed cup of coffee.
"Will He be alright?"
I asked, curious, yet at the same time, expressing my slight genuine concern for the young man's life that my T-Dolls have stumbled into and brought in yesterday during their annual patrol in the city that quickly turned into a fight against ELIDs.
Not exactly in a strong emotional way of course-!
Just simply a basic form of sympathy, as He doesn't seem like the typical known local yellow-zone bandits and more so of an unfortunate survivor.
Though He does seemed just enough to be some kind of a scavenger judging by the coat, boots, and the satchel He wore.
Well, 'seemed' like a scavenger.
Despite the evidence of his clothes and the content in his satchel, that does not automatically makes him a scavenger.
By that logic, I am a professional construction worker If I wore a hard hat and a bright high visibility vest.
I need at least try and interact with the man first,
try to find out what's going on with him,
and at least find or build a solid concrete evidence before coming to my conclusion.
Throwing straight, vague assumption is definitely not a wise move on my part.
I may be an airhead,
but I at least I have common sense!
... Maybe.
After exiting my thought, I took a quick sip of my coffee.
"-Rest assured Commander. I'll be present and assess during his questioning and examination, ensuring that there will be no harm of his well-being and his rights."
Miss Helian said with a calm, ensuring voice.
Hearing that, I let out a brief sigh of relief, taking another sip after that.
Knowing enough about Miss Helian, I supposed I can trust her words for it.
Not just because that she's my superior officer.
Ever since the day I first met her when I first step foot into G&K, She's certainly good and competent at what she does, admittedly speaking.
And also because that she's the only person that I know of than the other officers in the PMC.
Placing down my cup on the wide table, I replied.
"I supposed I can trust your words for it, Miss Helian. I'll be honest with you."
Hearing me, Miss Helian's 3D projection nods her head at me.
"I sincerely appreciate your thoughts, trust, and honesty, Commander."
With that, Miss Helian's 3D projection lower her arms back to her side and gave me a firm nod once more.
"If you don't have anything to say, then we shall conclude our call from here."
I briefly shook my head.
"No Ma'am~"
I said before smiling.
"Hm."
Hearing that, Miss Helian gave me a brief final salute.
"Have a good evening, Commander Anasta."
After that, Miss Helian's 3D projection quickly de-materializes.
...
*Sigh...*
I lean back against my seat.
' ... I can hope so. '
...
I slowly got up from my office chair before making my way to the front of the large flat screen at the end of the room, where its screen displays the entire layout of the base as well as a live CCTV footage running at the down left corner of the flat screen.
I reach out and press my index finger on the live CCTV footage, where it quickly moved to the center of the screen and enlarged,
where I momentarily saw the T-Dolls going on with their usual duties and stuff around the base along with some human staff member.
Seeing that made me smile and gave me some sense of pride.
To think that I'm able to run this entire base is quite impressive. Though it all mostly thanks to Miss Helian's guidance, as well as the logistic officer's guidance that Miss Helian have sent to me.
I took out my tablet from beneath my trenchcoat, turning on as I quickly goes to connect it to the large flat screen.
When I did, my tablet screen quickly display the same displays of the large flat screen.
I then went on to press on a few things on my tablet screen before I eventually managed to connect to a specific live CCTV footage, where the large flat screen now showing a live CCTV footage of a clean white patient room.
And at that patient room lies the young man, who's currently laying motionless on the white patient bed, with only a thick white blanket over his body.
I cross my arms together before letting out a sigh as I looked up towards the large screen.
...
"Just who you are..?"
I questioned out loud.
Then, the automatic doors of the command room suddenly open with a faint hiss.
"Commander Anasta!"
A voice of a young woman spoke out to me behind my back.
I turned myself around, where I sees a cheerful, blue eyed, side ponytail blonde haired logistics officer, who's seemingly carrying what's practically a hill sized pile of documents in her gloved hands.
"Oh-! Kalina!"
I address her with a smile.
"Back from the crib so soon~?"
I asked with humorous note as I went to place down my tablet on the wide table.
"Yeah..."
Says the logistics officer with a somewhat tired voice as I watch as she slowly made her way to the wide table before placing down the pile of documents with a audible 'bam!'.
"Have to sign a lot of documents about various items stored within the base's storage,
and some stuff that's been transferred into this base for it to be transported again to distribute to other sectors."
Kalina explain before dropping herself down onto the office chair.
I briefly giggle.
"I can definitely see that.'
as I went over to Kalina to grab a spare cup of coffee, handing it to her.
"Here, for you."
I said with a smile.
"Oh! Thanks Commander!"
Kalina said before giving me a bright grin, accepting my offer before quickly chugging down on the cup and place it on the wide table soon after.
"Ahh~ I feel much better now."
Says the logistics officer in relief.
"My personal brew."
I said as I briefly adjust the crimson beret on my head.
"Oh!"
The logistics officer notices the large flat screen.
"You're still watching over him?"
Kalina asked.
I looked back towards the screen from my shoulder.
"Oh I opened the live footage just now."
I corrected her as I looked back to face her.
"Just wanted to check on him for a moment, to see if something's up. Ya know."
"Ohh, okay."
Kalina replied before nodding.
"Have you reported this to Helian?"
Kalina asked.
"I did, just a few minutes earlier before you got here."
I said as I crossed my arms together.
"I've reported the situation to Miss Helian regarding of the young man that my T-Dolls have stumbled into and saved from ELIDs at the abandoned city."
"ELIDs?!"
Kalina said with a shocked look.
"Yep! You heard me!
It was honestly quite baffling to me the moment my T-Dolls reported it to me."
I continued.
"Even Helian was surprised by it too. Said that there shouldn't be any collapse or ELID activity within the sector.
And she also said that there haven't been any of it even since before the previous commander assigned to this sector, which made his situation really, really odd."
"-Uh..."
Kalina was paying attention to me when she seemingly notice something back on the large flat screen, turning her attention from me without me realizing it.
"Helian also tasked me to look over the man for the time being until He--
"C-Commander-! Look!"
Kalina suddenly shouted at me with a widen gaze as I saw her quickly pointed her finger at something behind me, causing me to pause my words.
"Huh?"
I let out as I turned myself over to the large flat screen.
And when I did...
!!!
...The man, is slowly getting up from the bed in the live CCTV footage on the screen.
"... Blyat..!"
I quickly reach out and grab my tablet across the wide table before handing it to Kalina at my side.
"Hold this for me Kalina-! I'm going to west hallway!"
"Wa-! G-Got it!"
Kalina frantically replied as she held tightly on my tablet as she watch as I quickly sprint out from the command room and ran down the hallway before the automatic doors automatically shuts soon after.
.
.
.
==+==
=[ Shining Light in Steel ]=
==+==
|Time : ??:?? ??
|Date : ?
|Location : ?
|Point of : ???'s POV
|View
-----------------------------------------------------------
.
.
.
.
I opened my eyes, finding myself staring at a bright white ceiling as I briefly blinks multiple times due to the sudden light exposure.
...
.....
*Breathe in...*
...
*Exhale...*
...
"Where... Am I... Now..?"
I asked out loud,
with a tired and quite disoriented voice.
...
No one answered.
Slowly, I began to rise from the bed, slowly tugging away a rather thick white blanket off of me as I reach up to place my hand against my temple.
I looked around for a moment, scanning the new surroundings that I've found himself into.
It looks like I'm in a room far different compared to earlier.
The ceiling is white along with the walls.
The bed I'm on currently seems different compared to the bed from earlier.
...
Rubbing the base of my eyes, I slowly crawled my way off of the bed before placing my feet onto the cold smooth dark floor.
With that, I began to move around the room with curiosity across my face.
' These posters... '
I thought as I drag my fingers across some of the posters plastered onto the walls before stopping onto one poster that caught my attention, which has what appears to be an insignia.
...
' 'Griffin and Kryuger'... Huh. '
...
*Wuush-!*
"Eh-?"
I immediately turned myself towards the room entrance, where the white windowed door have been swung open wide.
And as soon as the door opened, A small girl with a big white hat quickly advance into the room frantically, armed what appears to be... Something tiny in her small hand?
"Stop right there, Uram-! Do not move a single step!"
Says the big white hat small girl.
And followed after that, A young woman quickly step into the room just behind the small girl, who has platinum colored hair, wears a crimson trenchcoat with a black armband around her right shoulder, black thin glasses on the tip of her nose, long black boots, and a crimson beret over her head.
When the young woman finally stops just behind the small girl, the woman's gaze locked onto mine with her teal-like colored eyes beneath her glasses, which I did the same with my blue ones.
...
For a moment, both the woman and I froze in our feet, exchanging gazes with one another. To the point that the small girl that is standing between us were looking back and forth between us with a bewilded look.
"Uhhh, Commander? Mister? I'm still here!"
When the small girl goes to jump and wave in front of the young woman's vision, the woman blinks multiple time before quickly goes to shook her head, breaking the intense gaze.
"-O-Oh! Kolibri-! To my side now, please."
The young woman ordered the small girl, which the girl happily obliged.
After that, the young woman looked back up towards me, now with a rather nervous, friendly looking smile across her lips.
"I am really sorry for barging into the room, Mister! I didn't expect that you'll just suddenly woke up without warning, which managed to make me somewhat panic and frantic in my decision."
Says the young woman as she let out a nervous chuckle before she goes to scratch the side of her temple.
Hearing this, I said.
"I-I... Guess?"
The young woman tilts her head with a raised eyebrow as she crosses her arms together.
"Not much of a social person, Sir?"
She asked.
"I-I... This is the first time I... Spoke to someone."
I answered as I scratch the back of my head, my eyes looking down at the floor.
Hearing that, the platinum-haired young woman's eyebrows raised even higher along with a surprised look across her face.
"I see..."
She said as she then took a step closer to me.
There, her gaze seem to narrowed for a moment, as if she's trying to find a way to speak to me before she finally place her gloved hand on her chest.
"My name is Anastasia.
I'm the Commander in charge of this base you're currently in right now."
She said with a calm smile.
"Anastasia..."
I repeat, testing the name in my mouth, before slowly looked up to her eyes.
"I... Don't have any names."
I said, which surprises the young woman even more.
"-Really..?"
She asked, curious, yet with a small glimpse of suspicion.
"Y-Yes."
I said sincerely before nodding.
"I'm sorry... I... have no idea what is going on around me anymore..."
I looked down at the floor before continuing.
"I-I don't know my name,
I don't know who I am,
I don't Where I am half of the time,
How I'm in this... Situation right now."
I slowly reach up to press my hand against my temple before letting out a long sigh from my nostril.
"I-I am just lost, Miss..! I...
I said with a growing brittleness.
... I... Truly am... Lost..."
Ever since I've woke up from that 'pod'... Everything is so... Foreign to me.
From the pod itself,
The bunker I woke up in,
from the city I found myself in,
the environment around me,
The... Corpses,
The...
"-Sir..?"
Hearing the woman's call, I slowly snap away from my thoughts and looked back up towards her.
When I did, I saw a faint glimpse of concern and sympathy across her face as she steps closer to me.
"I... May not know you Sir,
nor do I know what you've gone through lately,
Nor I'm I the greatest therapist in the world,
But..."
I saw her slowly raising her gloved hand up, slowly extending it towards me, before her hand eventually rest gently on my shoulder.
Her eyes seemed to glanced around for a moment, as if she's trying to find her words and carefully choose them.
"I... Can assure that everything is going to be alright Sir."
She said with a calm, assuring voice as she slowly pat her hand on my shoulder.
"I'm here, See? You have someone here that is concerned for your well-being, despite being a complete stranger to you."
Hearing that, I press my hand against my chest for a moment before removing them.
"I... Thanks... I guess..."
Is all I said to her before turning away from her.
I didn't know how to replied to her of her patting and her attempt of comforting me.
It wasn't because that I'm not a social person... At least that what I think about myself.
It's just that, it's my first time properly speaking to someone other than myself ever since I woke up from that 'pod'... If I were to exclude the one where I spoke to that golden-haired girl back then.
Hearing my words, the young woman, named Anastasia, continue to pat my shoulder for a moment before she finally retract her hand from my shoulder.
A comforting smile appears on her lips.
"So... How do you feel now?"
She asked, which made me looked back at her.
"O-oh, I... I supposed I feel... Okay now."
I slowly spoke before nodding.
Anastasia then lightly claps her hands together.
"Sounds good to hear!"
She said as she puts her hands back to her side.
"Oh-!"
Anastasia notice something.
"Looks~ it seems that someone is really concerned for a stranger like you."
She said with a amusing grin as she pointed her index finger down towards my leg.
When I followed her point, I quickly saw the small girl, the same one from earlier, is seemingly wrapping her small arms around my legs in a hug.
"Please don't be sad Sir..."
The small girl murmurs.
"Uhh... Hey, uh..."
"Kolibri."
I looked back up towards the young woman.
"Her name?"
I asked.
"Yep! That's her name."
Anastasia confirms with a small nod.
Looking back down to the small girl, I spoke again.
"Hey, Uhh... Kolibri,
I'm alright now. You can... Remove your arms now."
I said as I slowly reach my hand down to gently pat on her big white hat.
Once she heard that, the small girl, named Kolibri, slowly looked up towards me with her eyes, seemingly at a verge of tears.
' Those eyes, combined with her face... I can't help but to feel a sting in my chest. '
I briefly thought.
"R-really?"
Kolibri asked.
"Y-yeah! I really am now."
I assures her with a small faint smile slowly arched across my lips as I continue to pat on her hat.
Hearing that, Kolibri quickly wipe her eyes with her elbows for a moment before a grin quickly form on her lips as her gaze quickly looked back towards the entrance.
"I-It worked!
Fedorov, Your plan worked!"
Kolibri said before she suddenly ran to the entrance, where yet another girl stood at the doorway with a rather mint-green colored themed looks to her.
"Commander."
The girl, which I assumed her name is Fedorov from what Kolibri called her, spoke before forming a salute behind Anastasia.
"Oh-! Fedorov!"
Anastasia turned around towards the mint-green girl.
"Didn't knew you'd be here too."
"I was following behind both of you when I saw you both ran across the hallway. I thought it was urgent and serious, hence why I'm here now."
Fedorov explained.
"And~ Fedorov also told me a plan to try and comfort the man!"
Kolibri added.
"Really? Quite a surprise coming from you Fedorov."
Anastasia said with a raised eyebrow.
"I merely did what I think is logical to do Commander."
Fedorov said as a hint of a smile faintly arched at the corner of her lips.
After dealing with Fedorov, Anastasia turned back towards me.
"So...
You're hungry?"
"Eh?"
I raised my eyebrows in surprised by the question she asked.
"Uhmm..."
Now that I think about it now. Ever since I woke up from that 'pod', I haven't ate or drank anything for the past like... Hours? Days?
Yet, during those times, It didn't felt like I was hungry or thirsty.
Though I mostly just felt tired or restless.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I finally replied to her with a nod.
"Yes. I supposed so Miss."
I said.
"Alright."
Anastasia said as she looked down and tug her left sleeve, revealing a well-worn leather silver watch around her left wrist.
"Oh- Great timing!
Dinners will be ready in just eight minutes."
She says before tugging her sleeve back to conceal the watch.
"Dinner..."
I repeat.
"What's... For dinner?"
I asked, curious.
Anastasia looked at me with a smirk.
"You'll see. But I can assure you that you'll definitely enjoy it."
Anastasia replied as she quickly turned towards the two girls before putting her index finger onto her own lips.
She quickly turned back to me.
"Anyway, before we go, I should probably give a proper welcoming words for you Sir."
She says as she extends her hand to me with a smile on her lips once more.
"Welcome~ to Sector-twelve Base, Mister."
She says with a calm yet lively and a sense of enthusiasm.
I stared down at her hand for a moment before I finally extends mine, accepting her handshake.
"I guess... It's nice to meet you, Miss Anastasia."
Hearing that, Anastasia let out a brief giggle.
"You can call me Anasta for short Sir. No~ need to be so formal ya' know?"
She said before she finally retract her hand.
"Though I really appreciate your formality and respectful manner."
She added.
Then, Anastasia, or Anasta, quickly turned herself towards the 2 girls and the doorway.
"Ahh~ anyway, we should head out now. I'm hungry as hell-!"
She said as she made her way out of the room while taking the moment to stretch her arms.
"Let's go girls.
-And you too, 'Mister nameless'."
I looked at her for a moment before I quickly shook my head.
"O-oh... Alright-!"
I said before making my to her out to the doorway.
"-Right behind you."
With that, Anasta, alongside me and the 2 girls made out of the room, closing the door before making our way down the hallway as Anasta took the lead at the front.
While striding down the hallway, I briefly thought.
' ... Perhaps this isn't so bad after all... '
.
.
.
-{===}-
End of:
[] Chapter 8: [] Hey, you finally awake. This time in Griffin and kryuger.
Total word: 5855
Next:
(W.I.P)
(Stay tuned!)
-{===}-
Author's Note
Howdy readers. Back at you again with another chapter.
This is the longest chapter I've ever write so far.
Did kinda had fun writing this.
Anyway, I don't know what to write on this note this time.
I guess I'll just put this poll here for the fun of it.
Have a great day, drink coffee or water or something.
