The next day...
Mary slept soundly.
She slept as if she hadn't slept for days – as if a great tiredness had washed over her body.
And if she was being honest, it felt comforting. Being worked to the bone by the Black Ops, this was probably the best sleep she had ever had in a long, long time.
Her chest rose and fell with each breath she took, like the waves of the ocean rising above its surface. She felt the beating of her heart, the expansion of her lungs and something cool grasping her hand.
She felt at peace and felt... safe. So, she fell deeper into her slumber and tightened her grip.
Time passed slowly.
Eventually, she began hearing a periodic beeping sound that was playing somewhere above her. Wanting to continue her slumber, she ignored the sound and pushed it out of her mind.
After some more time, she heard another strange noise, as if countless small drops were smashing against a solid wall.
Sensation returned to her and with it she felt a weight pressing on her body, another hand grasping hers and her back pressing against something soft.
Finally, her sleeping mind awoke.
'What...?'
Where was she now? Hadn't she just been behind Henry while rushing towards the target? The last thing she remembered was a fist striking her jaw and someone whispering an apology...?
Her memory was a little hazy so she couldn't be sure.
However, what she was sure about was the fact that she wasn't in the Drug lord's apartment anymore.
She tried to groan but felt a sharp pain shoot through her jaw. Steeling herself, she heaved a heavy breath and slowly opened her eyes. She was instantly blinded by an artificial radiance and narrowed her eyes.
Moving her head slightly, she scanned her surroundings, trying to figure out where she was. Mary was surrounded from all four sides by insulated white walls with a door on her left and a window on her right.
Suddenly, lightning tore through the sky and thunder resounded not too long after. Mary's face contorted as the thunder rang in her ear.
After she recovered, her gaze finally landed on the person whose hand she was holding.
It was... Krishna's.
Her teammate was snoring softly, leaning on his chair while holding her hand tightly. Mary lingered on Krishna's sleeping figure for a moment before saying with a strained voice:
"Krishna..."
Hearing her voice, Krishna opened his eyes and lifted his head. The two Operators locked eyes and when they did, a smile involuntarily made its way onto Krishna's face.
"Thank Pangea... you're okay."
Mary blinked and opened her mouth to ask a question. But just then, Krishna placed his hand over her mouth, preventing her from speaking.
"Don't talk. Your jaw is dislocated right now."
Mary would've definitely yelped but unfortunately, she was bedridden at the moment. So, with a soft sigh, she nodded.
Krishna removed his hand from her mouth and heaved a sigh of relief. Then, with a solemn expression, he met his friend's gaze once more.
"I'll explain everything. So, listen carefully."
Krishna went on about what had happened after she had been knocked unconscious.
How Missio had fought Sun, defeated him, lost to him, went berserk, knocked the rest of the Operators unconscious, and caused a Class Beta Chaos Fragment to spawn.
After Krishna had finished explaining, Mary stared at him with a deadpan expression. Realizing what she was thinking, Krishna chuckled and shook his head.
"I know it's hard to believe but it's true. The Second Unit came over and sealed the Fragment. Then, I asked them to call an ambulance from you all. And now, we're here. Missio and Henry are still unconscious. The others woke up a few hours ago and now, they're being examined by the doctors."
With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and stared blankly at the ceiling above.
"I've been looking after you three for the past few hours and if I'm being honest, Mary, you are incredibly lucky to come out of this mission with only a dislocated jaw."
Mary raised a brow, signaling her confusion. Lowering his head, Krishna noticed her reaction and sighed.
"Well... Most of Henry's ribs have been broken, his spine has been slightly damaged and some of his organs were minorly ruptured as well. The doctors were able to stop his internal bleeding but they said he won't be able to work for six months at the least."
Then, his expression turned somber.
"And Missio... he's not in good shape either... his skull is broken and his brain has been cut slightly. The doctors said it would take longer for him to wake up but nothing would happen to him."
In that moment, the room went deathly silent.
Mary froze, processing what Krishna had just said. Then, ignoring his warning, she spoke in a strained voice once more:
"Sun?"
"Yes."
Krishna answered.
"I cuffed him after Missio went rampant. I've handed him over to the Special Ops and currently... he's on the other side of the hospital in the prison ward."
The Operator went silent after that, a dark shadow casting itself over his face.
Mary stared at her friend blankly for a few seconds before resting her head on her pillow. Gazing at the ceiling, she pondered their mission for a while.
It had been a while since she had experienced this kind of harshness in a mission.
After all, the Black Ops didn't face defeat all that often. They were supposed to be the strongest, most versatile and most disciplined militant force of the EOC.
They had been sent on countless mission – both national and international – to perform justified and sometimes questionable acts. When neither the Juggernauts nor the Police could handle a situation, they were dispatched.
Yet, a rogue Chaos Incarnate had shown them that at the end of the day, they were still human.
She had been knocked unconscious by a single hit from Sun while Henry had been sent crashing into a wall. Missio had been defeated as well.
'Life sure is full of surprises...'
As Mary's thoughts ran wild, a knock suddenly resounded from the door.
Krishna raised a brow, stood up and said:
"Who's there?"
A voice came from the other side and answered his question immediately.
"Lieutenant General of the Special Ops Division of the AEOC – Arthur Von Ashking."