I opened my eyes, blinking rapidly to gain consciousness. I rubbed my eyes and stood up to stretch. Looking around, I realized that we're still in the building but there were no enemies around.
I turned to look at the rest, all of them were slumped against the wall. Last time I remembered, they were fighting. It's very strange that the enemies escaped and we just fell asleep mid battle.
I rummaged through my pocket and saw my ChronoLume is still safe. I sighed in relief, thinking that it was broken or stolen while I was asleep.
I looked around this place, looking at the NeoTime that shows [13.45]. At Elysium Ark, it should've been morning then due to rotation.
Even so, that wasn't my biggest concern. I know that it's most likely we fell asleep for a long time.
I headed to the Supply Room to check if Narin is there. I clicked the [Open] button and the door glided open.
I peered my head first,
"Hello—"
I stood still. Jaws dropping as I widened my eyes. I frantically looked around the Supply Room and outside of it.
No one.
No one was inside the Supply Room. I staggered as I slowly move back. I started to question everything. Did they escape ? How did they escape ? Who was helping them ?
I opened the lockers, the Illusion Cloaks are gone. I checked the tables and any shelves that are available. Everything is missing. All of them disappeared without a trace.
Sweat ran down heavily. My hands shivered as they yanked open all the shelves. Having no clues, I furrowed my brow and decided to leave everything open.
I checked every place, walking back and forth to the same location. I pass by them, not bothering to wake them up and surprise them.
As I reached to the place I haven't checked, I tapped my foot rapidly. I looked to the HoloSign that said [Lobby]. Nothing is off. I can't find any clues.
I put my hand on my chin, closing my eyes as I continuously try to remember. There were a bunch of broken robots. But none of them are relevant to how they manage to escape.
The more I tried, the more my memory slipped away. I head back to the Supply Room. I got back into the room and tried to imitate myself stabbing Narin.
I continuously continue doing it, biting my lip as more sweat ran down. It was worthless. I can't remember anything and I made myself even guiltier.
I looked to the open locker and thought for a moment. Wasn't I holding an Illusion Cloak ? How did it disappear ?
I got out of the Supply Room as I head back to the Lobby again. Sitting on the cold metal ground, I gritted against my fingernails.
I sighed and looked around before standing up. If I kept sitting, it would be worthless. The least I could do to not burden them after a fight is to help find out how all of this happened.
I checked through every shelf and wardrobe. Checking under the chair, pressing my palm against the wall to see whether there are odd carvings.
I continued to roam around. The panic before had been long gone as I continuously roam around.
As I finally calm myself down, everything seems to be clear. My foggy mind started to disappear as I can finally think clearly.
I stopped my movements as I arrived to a shelf I missed. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I opened my eyes and carefully analyze it.
My eyes glanced around, something piqued my interest. A small piece of paper was tape on top of the shelf. I tiptoe to reach it.
As I tear it from the shelf, I looked t the paper. I looked up again, hands moving around the top of the shelf to find something else.
My hands were fumbling, my legs trembled. I don't know how much I could handle. My feet were unstable as it nearly dropped. Before I could fall, my hand touched two long metal rod.
I brightened up and smiled, exclaiming in excitement,
"Found it—"
My legs gave in as I dropped down while holding the two objects. The back of my head hit the floor first, making me groaned and continuously rubbing it.
My vision became blurry again. I dropped those two and held onto any objects that could help me stand up. I push myself to stand up, practically seeing birds and stars circling my head.
I shook my head violently, hitting it for several time. I blinked rapidly as my legs continuously tried to fall. My vision slowly became clear and I bent to pick up the objects.
When I finally held it, I finally realized it's my unit and Varelius' flag. One of them had the color of blue and a Holographic saying [Congrats, Unit 20 !].
The other one is red and had a text similar to ours but changing the word "Unit 20" to "Unit 6".
I looked on the paper that was still on my other hand. The text was written in an awful handwriting. Words were scrambled around and the sentences are often mixed into one.
I muttered while approaching the location the others are at,
"Hand over... Choose... What exactly are these words ?"
I halted and raised my head up, everyone stirred awake and stared at each other.
Sheng Yue was the first one to speak up,
"Where are they !? How did we fall asleep !?"
Skov grumbled under his breath. Varelius placed his hand on his brother's shoulders, calming him down slightly.
Planning to not make them question anything more, I announced loudly,
"Come here ! I found some stuff that could be clues !"
Everyone turned to me. Shin Hayato was the first one to advance near me. He extended his hand and I gave him the note.
He frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose,
"Take it back."
I retrieved the note and asked the others,
"Can anyone read this ?"
Sheng Yue abruptly snatched it away from me, rotating the paper around.
She smiled and read it out loud as if she found something so valuable,
"Congrats for achieving Zarina back. But that's not the case, right ? Your other two members are still with us, unit 6."
She glanced at Varelius momentarily before adding,
"We may have left the flag behind but remember, they're still with us. Your decision will lead to consequences. Leave with the flag or come again to face the worst fate."
Skov marched forward to Sheng Yue and tore the paper,
"I'm tired of this bullshit !"
He turned to Varelius and pointed at him,
"Don't even think of acting hero. We have more than enough ! We injured ourselves, we injured others ! It's better to leave the rest !"
Varelius' eyebrow dropped and his expression turned somber,
"Skov... We can still help them. Yes, I know you care most about Zarina and the fact she was used as a battery for their spaceship or something. But—"
Skov shouted, tensing the room more than it has been,
"But what !? Did you not see how immoral those humans are !? Let them be whatever they want ! The other two are dead ! They will be dead !"
Varelius intervened and tried to stay strong with his opinion,
"Skov..."
Skov marched to Varelius and jabbed him multiple times,
"Don't call my name like that ! Did you not see !? Zarina's headscarf was sliced by those immoral bitches ! Do you know how horrible it is !?"
Varelius raised his hand to stop Skov from jabbing him,
"I know that alright. I know that you care for her. But... just because she matters a lot for you, it doesn't mean we can abandon the rest."
Skov scoffed and looked at everyone in the room before looking at Varelius again,
"Oh ! Well guess what !? Just because they're your friends, it doesn't mean we can drag other people with us !"
Varelius sighed and tried to place his hand on Skov's shoulder,
"I'm not trying to drag other people—"
Skov shoved Varelius until he slammed against the wall,
"Oh well ! Look at them ! Look at unit 20 ! They were dragged because of you ! You could have just decide to not make a deal with them, yet you didn't !"
Varelius rubbed his shoulders,
"It's for their safety and our safety—"
Skov laughed as he clenched his fist,
"Safety !? What kind of safety that involves fighting and killing people !? Just admit it, you want to save them because they're your friends !"
Varelius intervened and tried to reach out,
"Skov..."
Shin Hayato stepped forward and firmly stated,
"Skov. It's better if you stop this fight with your brothe—"
Skov looked at Shin Hayato in bewilderment and pointed at him with his Dual Energy-Blade,
"Stop ? Stop !? You're siding with a selfish person rather than me !? Think about it you old hag ! Your unit is still intact, this is still day two. You can leave and grab that damn flag and finish this godforsaken mission !"
Shin Hayato froze in place, but he didn't waver under those words,
"I know that. But my unit is not selfish—"
Skov pointed his Dual Energy-Blade to Sheng Yue,
"Not selfish, yeah !? Look at that damn pilot of yours ! Stealing the enemy's weapon and threatened me because I once said that I will destroy your unit's flag."
Sheng Yue who was about to whisper something to me, looked up at Skov. She pressed both of her lips together and took a deep breath.
Before she could argue to defend herself, I shook my head. She huffed in frustration and crossed both her arms. She rolled her eyes and mocked Skov by making the blah-blah gesture.
Without any words, Skov pointed to Cassandra,
"You ! You damn hunter who doesn't even know how to strategize ! You just attack anyone without any words ! If that personas you just randomly stabbed were me, what would be my fate now !?"
Cassandra opened her mouth but no words was able to come out. She clenched her fist before snapping her head to the side when she heard the insult. She gritted her teeth as her knuckle became white.
Skov huffed and finally, he pointed directly at me,
"And you... You damn mechanic. You did nothing ! Absolutely nothing ! Useless ! Weak ! Obeying orders like a dog ! Or perhaps, you're a dog—"
"Enough !"
The voice erupted, making everyone froze in place. Arlo clutched on Zarina clothes as tears slowly ran down. She flinched as she heard the unexpected shout, yet she still soothe Arlo.
No one dared to move.
No one dared to make a sound.
The atmosphere suddenly shifted uncomfortably into something unexpected.
Shin Hayato lowered his head while Sheng Yue finally stop mocking Skov.
Cassandra who was originally seething in anger, turned her head to face where the shout came from.
I blinked rapidly as that shout gave a sudden jolt.
Skov turned his head slightly to side eye his brother that snapped.
Varelius pant heavily, his face was red,
"Friends ? Friends !? I was forced to be close to them and have a great friendship with them because of our family for their damn business !"
He huffed, his tone slightly lower,
"You are the youngest. You have the least responsibility. You can act as freely as you want. You can do anything. Mom and dad always looked away."
He pointed to himself, thumping his chest as his voice grew louder,
"I was the one who was forced to be the perfect heir ! I was the one who cared for you when no one did. I was also the one who will be the face of our famous family !"
His eyes burned as his voice begin to choke up,
"Do you think I want to do all of this !? Do you think I wanted to drag unit 20 to this !?"
He buried his face with both of his hands, he avoided any eye contacts,
"Shin... Please take the lead."
Shin Hayato nodded shakily,
"Fine. We'll help you find that teammates while also protecting those who are unable to fight."
He stared at Skov who ended up nodding, as if surrendering from his fight.
Skov's shoulder dropped slightly,
"We'll be using your spaceship. Our spaceship is quite far. Sorry for making a scene."
He walked pass by and snatched his unit's flag from my hand. I looked to Sheng Yue, she had been quiet for a while. Quite unusual.
Shin Hayato waved his head and walked in front all of us, leading us out of this building.
We continued to walk until we reached the TerraRider and Varelius' Noctryix. I sat on the external cargo racks. I continued to steal glances of Varelius who is still sobbing.
I looked away and played with my fingers. Maybe wealth didn't make life easier. It only gave a different burden for people to carry.