Behind The Mask

Chapter 31: Resignation

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I'm... I'm not the sentimental type, but... some part of me cannot help but reflect upon how familiar this all is.

This... this confusion. This imprisonment. It's just like when I first woke up... though many things have changed, some have stayed exactly the same.

I can hear a quiet beeping, followed by a soft hiss... the Instant Revitalising Device opens up, and slowly, I step out.

Even with all my injuries recovered, it still stings when I take that first step. It's not surprising to me... I must have been very close to death when I clambered inside that thing.

The first thing I notice looking around the ship is that everyone is back on it, and the ship itself seems to be flying somewhere... back to New Pork City, I assume?

"C-Commander! You're awake!" A Pigmask standing by a panel next to the machine immediately perks up, saluting me.

"Huh? What did you just say?"

"The Commander's up?!"

"Hey, everyone, come over here!"

Immediately, there's quite a commotion, as every Pigmask on the deck abandons their position to comes over. Before long, they've formed a circle around me.

"Get out of the way. Give the Commander some space, will you?!"

From behind, I hear the Colonel speak up, forcibly prying some of the Pigmasks apart so she can see me.

"What are you all standing around for?!" she says to them all. "We've got a ship to run!"

"Y... yes, ma'am!" The Pigmasks all salute her, before hesitantly returning to their normal positions, though not without looking back curiously at me.

Privately, I... I cannot help but feel thankful for her actions. I'd prefer not to make a big scene after what just happened...

"Commander. You... you had us pretty worried there. We weren't sure if you'd make it, but I guess we need to put more faith into these things, huh?" She taps on the Instant Revitalising Device.

I don't say anything back, because all around, the atmosphere has become grim. Immediately, I can sense the lack of morale among everyone... and it's obvious why.

Their Commander has failed. For the first time, he has been defeated. All this time, I've been this unstoppable unit who had no equal in battle. I am supposed to be the beacon of strength they look towards... and I have been crushed. More than just defeated, I came close to death. Perhaps it is fitting then, that the tone here seems close to a funeral.

"What... what happened after the battle?" I carefully ask.

The Colonel's mask scrunches up slightly, and beneath it, I get the impression she's grimacing. It's obviously not good news.

"Tell me." I demand. "That is an order."

"We all fell back afterwards, and left as soon as we could. A little later, we... we detected some seismic activity around that temple, so..."

She doesn't finish the sentence, but it doesn't need to be completed. Lucas pulled the Needle. That's the only logical conclusion that can be drawn from such an event.

And yet... I don't feel anything at that. No shock, no confusion, no anger... nothing. Maybe it's because I already knew about that subconsciously. After my defeat, that is the only thing that could have happened.

No, what weighs on my mind far more right now, is... failure. That feeling... I've failed them. I've betrayed the faith my army has put in me with this defeat. They look up to me with expectations, and I... I have failed to meet them.