The western district was barren.
Collapsed buildings, surrounded by rubble.
Scraps of metal scattered about.
Soldiers dressed in grey uniforms searched around.
Flashlights and lanterns lit the ground before them.
A woman sat in a temporary base, just outside the district entrance.
Her feet propped up on the table in front of her.
A soldier entered, kneeling in front of her.
"A report ma'am–"
Her teeth ground against each other.
The soldier went silent.
Sweat dripped off his brow.
She spoke.
"Continue."
The soldier swallowed quietly.
He continued.
"Currently there are no signs of insurgency activity."
Her eyes moved down to him.
"Keep searching."
The soldier rose, saluting.
"Yes ma'am."
He turned and exited the room.
She began to check the bandages on her arms.
Failure…
Her feet lowered, fixing her posture straight.
…is for the weak.
Scattering a map layout of the district on her desk, the woman began to examine it.
Two points…
She touched her communicator device resting on the table.
…of interest.
Static briefly sounded, before speaking.
"Captians of squad two and four report to my office."
The communicator clicked off.
She reached for a silver bag, pulling out a dark red piece of hard candy.
The candy was tossed into her mouth, shattering between her teeth.
A moment later, two soldiers entered the room.
Special pins adorned on their collars.
They knelt down, focusing their eyes on the ground.
The woman swallowed the candy.
"Stand."
The two men stood, moving closer to the desk.
She placed her fingers on the map.
"I want a thorough search of these areas."
One soldier spoke.
"How do you want to divide up the forces?"
Her eyes raised.
"Squad two will search here and–"
Loud footsteps echoed behind the door.
A soldier burst it open, catching his breath.
The woman stood from her chair.
Her jaw tightened.
"This better be important."
The captains flinched.
The room felt still.
The soldier fixed his posture.
"The supreme commander wants to speak with you immediately."
She clicked her tongue.
"Leave."
The soldiers paid their respects and exited the room.
She sat at her desk, fixing her bandages.
Annoying.
The communicator buzzed.
A button was pressed.
Marco's voice came through.
"Veera, status update."
Veera reached for candy.
"We haven't found anything yet."
He sighed.
"Increase your search efforts."
She placed the candy in her mouth.
"Already on it."
A brief silence came from the communicator.
Static filled the room.
Marco's finger rested over the III stone piece.
"His system…"
He swayed the piece back and forth.
"...is beginning to falter."
Veera chomped down on the candy.
"Meaning?"
The piece tipped over.
Marco placed his hands together.
"Alde…"
Veera's eyes twitched.
His voice lowered.
"...is dead."
Her teeth—
Closed.
A smile—
Formed.
Marco leaned back.
A ticking clock moved.
Once.
Veera covered her mouth, hiding her expression.
"When did this report come?"
Marco turned towards the window.
"Two days ago."
Veera gazed at her candy bag.
"What are your orders?"
His eyes watched the setting sun.
"Finding them…"
It reached the horizon.
"...is top priority."
Veera stood from her chair.
"Yes sir."
She pressed the button to cut the call.
Weak.
Veera observed the map on her desk.
Tracing the lines.
Searching.
Her eyes paused.
This was…
Her fingers rested on an old patrol zone.
…his last appearance.
She moved over to a box of files, searching for a black and gold file.
Her eyes focused on it as she began to look through it.
She stopped, a faint smile formed across her face.
—Experiment 4—
Veera continued.
—Ruin—Fractures—
—Strong—
She exhaled, closing the file.
Her teeth slowly touched.
Your…
The dark red glow filled the room.
Diagonal cuts appeared around her.
They split evenly.
From one point—
To another.
…mine…
Veera placed the file on the desk as she approached the door.
It split from one corner to another.
Sliced like bread.
Exactly even.
She stepped through.
Her lips shifted revealing a smile.
…04.