2 hours later.
As the dust settles, the smoke clears out and the ashes disperse from the land, it is clear that one scar of the battle will remain there for a long while. The once proud center full of scientific wonders and showcases, it is now a distant and ashen crater in a park that's already ravaged by the Zlocan onslaught. Even when the sun is still on the horizon, it provides little comfort as the other Warriors, including the remaining rebels, can do nothing but observe the remains of everything they built, all for the purpose of making their homes free, harmonious and prosperous once more.
But as the events of that day have shown, it will mean the opposite for many, especially for the Zlocu and their collaborators.
Most of the rebels, already with torn-up clothes, including the bandanas and vests they wear either only stare at the crater of where the museum once stood, glance away with quivering mouths and trembling eyes, or even kneel down and let off any reservations they have of themselves, no matter the amount of weeping to be done, even when others hug them in response, for as this may be the last time they can bear arms together.
While this happens, Wolfpac is scouting the area for some potential survivors as they glance at the darkened ground, one devoid of any life, including the tiniest of insects and plants. Aside from a few shards of glass, pieces of concrete from any nearby building or the few skeletal remains of hands and legs, there's nothing to spot in the zone that can be remarkable enough to be there for a few while, even with the three having little to no cuts and bruises in any part of their bodies, not even their faces.
"This is... quite some blow, isn't it...?" Julian says with a hunched posture while walking alongside Rita, with Rian in front with the light blade activated.
"Quite underselling it, Jules," Rita says while she stares at the ground, still scouting the zone full of barren earth and withered life.
"And not helped by making it that blatant, too. C'mon, it's the least we can do for this fuckup," Rian says while trying to keep a firm posture as he walks.
"You sure about that...? I think the UEF may need a change of plans for this..." Juilan adds.
"That's guaranteed for sure, but if it's a surrender, then hell no."
"It's not that, it's just that so many more will..." Before Julian can finish, Rian only sighs as he stops for a moment with the rest doing the same. Rita can only glance at Rian for a moment while sticking close to Julian.
"What's wrong?" Rita asks.
"...You gotta accept nothing in this period can come out fully alive or even unharmed, bata. It's the best I can offer for you even if it's not enough," Rian adds without ever batting a glance at the two, still staring at their chief for a moment.
But before they can try anything else, Rita glances at her right side just near Julian's direction. She squints her eyes for a bit to discern the figure in the distance, one that's walking steadily with a hunched posture, staring at the ground without any rhyme and reason over it.
"Wait, you found something now?" Julian says as he glances at Rita.
"Oh god, it must be her!" Rita adds as she runs toward the figure, with both Julian and Rian glancing at each other for a bit before they run toward Rita's direction as well, wondering what could be the figure that she sees, one with a peculiar silhouette.
Getting closer, the figure gets less shrouded in dust and smoke, and it's clear, it's quite a familiar princess in the flesh.
Amira, all by herself without Logan and the three rebels.
"There you are, former princess," Rian says as he catches up with Rita and Julian, panting a bit from the sprint to face her, but swiftly glance up with a nod in front of her with a slight smile too. Despite this, as she glances at them, she only shakes her head and turns away for a bit from them.
"Yes, it's been some hours and you haven't contacted us since the explosion. Why the radio silence?" Rita says while trying to step closer to Amira who is still facing away from them. She only sighs and breathes slowly while only glancing at the crater, one experience that was closer than expected.
"I am sorry... I just cannot believe that for everything we prepared, everything that we wished for... It all came down to this..." Amira says in a near whispery tone.
"Yeah, I know, but still... It may be longer, but a path can still be found, nonetheless." Rita approaches Amira while placing her hand on her shoulder. She still doesn't glance at the team behind her.
"But, can enough be saved...?" Amira's mouth quivers as she asks that, to which Rian can only respond with a sigh and shrugging as well.
"You know how this goes, so... At least cherish those who can get the peace they wanted or so." Amira merely nods slowly while still not glancing at either of them.
"It is just that... This is a scale I have not seen in my life."
"Yeah, same here... But wait, where's Logan? Wasn't he supposed to give a signal?" Julian says as he glances around Amira's area.
"He is still alive. And yes, he was, but then came some Humans with Zlocan disguises. They may not be from the groups here but it was still an appreciated assistance."
"That's nice, at least. But what next? Did they do something to him?"
"No. But one seemed to have done so to Logan, maybe sometime before today... He was just standing there, unable to move or look at anything else except that woman..."
"Did you read his mind to see why, at least?" Amira only shakes her head in response.
"He always declines for some reason, especially since that lady and the other two are nowhere to be seen."
"That's a shame, delaying the answers it's kinda of a dick move to commit!" Rita says.
"But first, where's Logan?" Rian asks. Amira only answers by walking to her right while the others stare for a moment. Then three glance at each other and merely nod and follow Amira, likely to where Logan is.
The four walk together as they head toward the forest where Logan, Amira and the three rebels landed and when the explosion happened nearby. Most of the leaves are torn off by the force of the blast and some of the wood is full of scratches and cuts around each line of it. In contrast to ground zero, most of the area is clear of dust and smoke, with the sun rays still reflecting on the remaining leaves there is, leaving most of the forest in the open.
In one tree on the left, Logan is on his knees, trembling while staring down at the handle of the Coraggio alongside some ragged breathing with a slumped posture. His eyes look puffy with some tremors in his chin. Certainly not one of Logan's finest days. Not even the sound of the footsteps from the nearby companions is enough to shift his glance to the others, not even when Amira in particular holds her hand on his shoulder.
"What took you so long, man? Whatever the case was between you and that woman, we have to get going and regroup," Rian says while keeping his distance. Logan's only answer is through silence and a long sigh without glancing at the three.
"Please... It's honestly not useful to be always like that," Rita says while wrinkling the brow.
"You say that... And yet here we are, I've failed everything I wished for everyone once again..." Logan replies in a near whispery tone, still trembling while gazing at the Coraggio with his own hands.
"Logan... I know times look harsh on us right now... But we can still arise in one way or another... You know?" Amira says while caressing the shoulder. This is enough to make Logan stop trembling and even breathe steadily while his eyes widen enough to show the whites without still glancing to face Amira.
"Arise... With those still willing...? But where....?" Logan asks.
"Humans may have different perspectives on that, and yet, I do believe that despite everything, you can still find a way through this. But most especially... If you can open up yourself." Logan shudders a bit from this thought. The moment he saw Amanda was like something else flashed in him. A certain connection to be sure, but to what extent? So many questions, yet so little time to answer them in a moment like this.
"Yeah, about that... Who was that woman Amira talked about?" Julian asks.
"I don't think it's important right now..." Logan then steadily stands up while clenching the handle of Coraggio, with Amira backing away for a bit while keeping close to him.
"But, those things between you and others, what led to this... What is keeping you from telling it?"
"I just don't think it's really the time to tell about that, Amira..." Logan replies while still keeping a near-whispery tone.
"I feel so much within you when such emotions occur... There is always a moment when you need to show the heart so we can understand each other more." Logan merely breathes steadily and tries to keep a firm posture.
"You may be right, but still... If there's thing we can learn from today, is that if we can really step up in getting others to rise up... Then we should do everything to master our abilities and skills."
"We talked about this before, Logan. First with the hostages, then Ed, don't go like that again," Rian says.
"It's more than that, Rian. It's about the need to show that if we deserve our titles that others say about us... Then we have to make sure there's no sorrow like that anymore." The rest gasp a bit over this implication from Logan.
"You mean about others? But... how?" Amira asks.
"We'll find the ways... But know this promise, it's one I will keep between you and me, and no matter how much it'll be thrown at me, if we can still find the way... Then there will be no more senseless loss... No more wasted lives." With that, Logan sheathes his Coraggio back to the belt and steadily walks away from the group while keeping a firm face that nearly devolves into a grimace.
"No more senseless loss... No more wasted lives...?" Amira repeats the words, almost like they can be something to note. As this happens, however, Rian and the rest merely follow Logan with a steady pace but not before Rita glances at Amira.
"I just hope you two know what to do with it..." With that, she continues to walk away, leaving Amira to glance at her hands covered in dirt, steadily breathing while thinking of everything that has been leading up to this, and to see if there can be something of truth from Logan in this matter now that they could shift their plans once more.
After some moments of silence, she can only close her eyes while sighing for a bit.
No more senseless loss... No more wasted lives... Please let this be true...
With that, Amira departs from the place while she follows the other companions from behind, yet her eyebrows are still drawn together with narrowed eyes and a frown. Whatever can they try next, it better be under a reasonable and hopefully better-prepared operation, all for the sake of preventing more of what happened today.
Making sure that all the losses and the lives that were and still are wasted senselessly won't ever be in vain ever again.
Around the same time.
By contrast, the base near the wall is full of exuberant cheers and laughter of victorious warriors, most in groups as they drink, eat or even sing together with wide smiles on their faces. And not just that, a makeshift stage is set up in the center where some Human musicians play some rocking tunes related to the event at hand, with the black sun symbol in various patches in various parts of the clothing as the sounds of the shredded guitar strings and heavy drums echo through the base among a cascade of shouts and laughter.
Certainly, it is a day to celebrate after days of constant defeat from the EW, and while not the last time they're gonna face them, it would make the job easier from now on. At least that's what most say.
Inside one of the barracks, in a wide room with a fridge, a window with a view outside as well as some radios and computers set up in various corners is Steelhound who are sharing some local beer with the armor taken off, leaving only some white shirts and blue pants for them to wear while the music blares in the background. Damian is the one laughing the most as he slams the table with one hand while holding the bottle in another, with Barb merely smirking while taking some sips. Only Erik and Cynda are the only ones who frown while merely nodding along and taking sips when needed.
"Now this is some fucking good day to celebrate, cuz we those scoundrels out, now we have fewer people to trouble us in our daily patrols!" Damian says while laughing.
"Yes, most especially thanks to you, Damian. By managing to spot those Warriors the Zlocu talked about, I'm thinking of giving you one neat promotion," Barb says while taking some careful sips from the bottle.
"Oh, that's even better, Miss Barb! Gotta make the celebration even double the length then!" Damian continues to laugh while slamming the table continuously, a joy like no other while the rest of his teammates can only stare with a mix of either narrow eyes and an open mouth from Erik or a frozen stara from Cynda while Barb still observes with a smirk on her side.
"Well, yes, congrats to you, Corporal Dahn," Erik says while keeping a reserved tone. In response, Damian merely grabs Erik's shoulder and puts him close to him.
"Tell me, what else have you done that could compare to my glorious achievement, huh?!" Damian says while grinning widely in front of Erik who only stutters in response while glancing at both sides.
"I... just followed orders, defending the other enforcers..." From that, Damian merely slaps him in the back where he winces a bit yet Damian continues to laugh.
"That's unoriginal like hell, and I can see at most that you're gonna get one meager message compared to what I'll get!" Damian continues to laugh while releasing Erik from his grasp. "And I spotted an intruder too!"
"Ah yes, one scoundrel disguised as us, and I must say, you say you put quite a good fight on your report, isn't it?" Barb asks.
"Oh certainly. They thought they could hide from us all, but they couldn't count on the strength of a badass like me!" Damian continues to laugh for a moment before trying to take another sip from the bottle. However, just as he does so, his laughter turns into a yell as he drops the bell from the sudden force he feels, spilling a bit while using his other hand to clutch to the chest area near the heart, likely where the pressure comes from. This makes Erik gasp for a bit.
"Mr. Dahn? Are you-"
"Shut up...! I'm fine! Probably just some reaction inside of me...!" Damian says with a growling tone as he steps up from the chair and tries to walk away from the table and head to the bathroom. He does so while breathing heavily and limping a bit as the pressure from the heart keeps on.
"Something going on, Corporal Damian?" Barb asks while her expression remains mostly the same aside from the slight frown on her face while also signaling with the other hand for Erik to stay put.
"Just leave me alone, OK?!" Damian protests while still limping away, his breaths come in ragged gasps, and beads of sweat form on his forehead, but before he continues to limp away, he starts screaming while his hand clenches the area near the heart even more, sinking to his knees as his fingers press into the source of this pain. This keeps on for a bit as his head touches the ground for a bit as he screams even more from the sheer pressure coming from within.
A minute or so passes, and just before Damian tries anything else, his screaming stops and breathes raggedly and steadily while still clutching to his chest, slowly getting to stand up while still gazing at the chest. His grip on his chest remains firm, but at least the frenzied clenching eases into a resolute hold as he glances around his teammates as he keeps breathing.
"What the hell happened...? Did the operator sleep or something?!" Damian says among ragged breaths while grimacing at his teammates. However, before any can try anything else, Barb merely raises her hand.
"I believe it's best for you to take a rest in your dorm. It won't be good to stay here if more of those attacks come by," Barb says. With that, Damian merely growls before walking away from the room. Erik and Cynda can only give a long gaze at him before returning back to the center of the table and taking some sips from the bottles as needed.
"Well, at least we can have something normal at least..." Erik mutters as he shakes his head. As this happens, though, Barb covers her mouth while chuckling beneath her breath.
Oh, Damian... I trusted you to keep calm for a long while compared to the rest, but given what you did to the disguised Human, I'm afraid that there may be a change of plans for you and that little Catcher of yours if you try it on someone who is really with us...