Cataclysm

New Ground

I watch as Brenan stands up and walks past him towards the lowering ramp. Roth hangs his head low and I can see that his eyes are closed tightly, but I quickly stand up and follow behind Brenan. I walk down the ramp and notice him hunched over a metal crate and his shoulders are trembling while he stands with his head lowered. I walk up to him and I can hear him sniffling, but when I press my hand to his back he tenses up at the touch.

"He will never forgive me." He says while keeping his eyes on the top of the crate.

"Just give him some more time. He will open up." I whisper while rubbing his back soothingly. "I can talk to him about it if you want."

"I don't want you anywhere near him." He says. "I wish you never met him. I wish I never met him."

I remain silent while rubbing his back and allowing him to relax. He finally turns around to face me and his glistening jade orbs are glassed with tears, but his warm smile lights up his face. His hand gently reaches out and pushes a strand of hair behind my ear and then cups my cheek. My toes curl up in my boots and I have to keep myself from blushing at his gesture while he continues smiling at me.

"Thank you." He whispers finally.

"Commander Himik? Is that you?" I turn to see a young man with a long white coat walking towards the Rouge Shadow where Roth stands on the ramp.

"Commander Matten? Wow, it's been a while. How have you been?" He asks while meeting the man halfway to shake his hand.

"It has been a while, but it is going quite well here in the brain."

"That's good to know. We are actually here because we have a little situation back at home."

"What kind of situation? Anything that you would think would be in my interest?"

"Well, to simplify things, the entire city wants Commander Hope dead and I actually had to try and get his daughter out of the city before they captured her." Roth explains while nodding to me.

"You're Commander Hope's daughter?" The white coated man asks while looking to me through wide eyes.

"Yes, I am."

"It is a pleasure to meet you." He says while walking towards me and offering his hand to me. "I am Commander Matten."

"It's nice to meet you." I say while looking to Roth who is smiling at me once again.

"Commander Matten here doesn't believe in the broadcast either. That is why I thought this would be the best place to retreat to."

"Yes, that's right. I can actually set you each up with a room of your own for the night if you'd like." The Commander offers while ushering us toward the hallway.

I follow him with Brenan walking beside me while Roth trails behind us with Harley at his side. The hallway is tiled and the walls are a crisp white with no pictures or decorations of any sort. Everything about this place so far is nothing short of crisp and sterile. The soldiers look more like scientists because they all wear white lab coats and plastic goggles, but they have holsters with shiny silver pistols attached at their black belts. A tall coated man walks past hastily while writing something down on a clipboard. Another man walks past with a box of some sort tucked securely under his arm.

"This hallway can be yours." Matten says while pointing to a long hallway with four doors; two doors on each side. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to get to the meeting room."