"Lando! Lando!" The uproarious crowd encircled Lando, their jubilant voices reverberating through the air. "You did it! You are truly extraordinary!" One enthusiastic supporter exclaimed, prompting a chorus of nearly instantaneous cheers from the rest.
With an air of gratitude, Lando directed his gaze towards a nearby microphone and picked it up. "Thank you, thank you. Your words hold immense significance to me," he expressed graciously, a warm smile gracing his face. "Today, we have emerged triumphant over The Vultures once and for all. Our collective safety and well-being have been secured." Lando's eyes shifted, catching a glimpse of Hana amidst the crowd, her clapping hands and beaming countenance.
"I must attribute this victory not only to my own efforts but also to Hana and the others who have stood by my side," he declared with sincere appreciation. "Through the heart-wrenching loss of Zynkara, we have found strength and resilience." Suddenly, confusion clouded the faces of the gathered multitude. "The loss of Zynkara?" they murmured in bewilderment. Lando surveyed their puzzled expressions, his eyes seeking Hana's for clarification. "He's alive, what do you mean?" she questioned.
Determined to confirm this unforeseen turn of events, Lando began to scan the crowd. "He is?!" he exclaimed, seeking validation from Hana. She nodded affirmatively, but before any further words could be exchanged, the grand entrance doors were violently thrust open. Individuals clad in militaristic attire swarmed into the venue, their actions swift and ruthless as they opened fire upon the unsuspecting crowd. Lando's eyes widened in sheer horror as he instinctively reached for his weapon, only to discover its absence.
Panic and desperation engulfed the crowd as people attempted to flee, but their efforts were met with relentless gunfire. Hana, in a desperate bid to reach Lando, clambered onto the stage, her face etched with fear. Yet, in a tragic turn of events, a gunshot resounded, causing her eyes to widen in terror as she stumbled forward. Lando, driven by a surge of adrenaline, rushed towards her and caught her falling form, but it was too late. She was already lifeless in his arms.
Lando's eyes dilated, his cheeks drenched with cascading tears. "NO! NO! NOO!" he wailed, his anguish echoing through the chaos. Amidst the chaos, a member of the military contingent stepped forward, weapon aimed directly at Lando. "Rot in hell, maniacs," they spat, their finger tightening on the trigger.
As Lando's eyelids fluttered open, he found himself panting heavily, the remnants of tears leaving streaks on his cheeks. Hana, concern etched across her face, peered at him intently. "You're awake. You were screaming while you were unconscious," she whispered gently, enveloping him in a comforting embrace. Lando reciprocated the gesture, seeking solace in her presence. "I must have been knocked out due to the sedation for surgery," he mused, his gaze meeting Hana's inquisitive eyes. She nodded softly. "Yes, and unfortunately, they were unable to salvage your eye. You will be blind in that eye, but the doctors have suggested the possibility of installing a robotic replacement..." Lando interjected with a determined grin.
"No robotic eye for me. I want an eyepatch. It would give me a badass look, complete with a striking scar," he asserted, emphasising his preference. Hana acknowledged his decision with a nod.
"The Founders will still keep their offer, whenever you need it." He nodded and there stood Bale, Zander, Akura, and Marco. "We heard about what happened, I'm sorry." Marco patted Lando.
"We thought you were dead." Marco said. "Who said that?" He tilted his head. "Mara and Zynkara both said all 4 of you guys died in the sandstorm." Lando gazed at him. "Mara's whereabouts is unknown."
Mara was strapped to a black chair, a light beaming against her face, she closed her eyes to the response of the brightness. "Where am I?!" The room was filled with darkness till the lights turned on, a tall man with a full black suit with a helmet on, the eye sockets for the helmet was red.
"You malfunctioned, you aren't like the rest of them. You somehow broke Zynkara too, but he's dead. We cannot change him now." The voice boomed and stepped over. "Who are you?! Let me go!" She screamed and tried to move but it was useless.
A tear ran down her cheek, the man analysed her. "Your eyes have had significant changes in just a couple of days. How is that?" He moved over a table of tools and looked at her eyes again. "It's dark, you are corrupt. We must make you normal again." He picked up a scalpel.
"NO! NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET ME GO, PLEASE!" She screamed, mid sobbing. "Fixing up, that's what I am doing." Mara tried to get out of the chair again, then she attempted to kick the guy, he grabbed a needle from a table. "You will need to have this." He spoke and injected her, she suddenly felt dizzy, and then she blacked out.
"The Founders will continue to honor their offer whenever you need it," Hana assured Lando, their unwavering support evident in her words. Lando nodded appreciatively, and among the assembled figures, Bale, Zander, Akura, and Marco stood with somber expressions. "We heard about what happened. We are deeply sorry," Marco conveyed his condolences, offering a consoling pat on Lando's shoulder.
"We thought you were dead," Marco continued, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and confusion. Lando arched an eyebrow in response. "Who propagated such a notion?" he inquired, his head tilting slightly. "Both Mara and Zynkara insisted that all four of you perished in the ferocious sandstorm," Marco revealed, prompting Lando's gaze to intensify. "Mara's whereabouts remain unknown," Lando disclosed, his voice laced with a sense of intrigue.
Meanwhile, Mara found herself restrained in a foreboding black chair, bathed in an intense beam of light that forced her to shut her eyes against its glare. "Where am I?!" she exclaimed, her voice reverberating through the darkness. Gradually, the room was illuminated, revealing a towering figure clad in a sleek black suit and donning a helmet with crimson-hued eye sockets.
"You have malfunctioned. You are unlike the others. Somehow, you managed to break Zynkara as well, though he is no longer among the living. We cannot alter his fate now," the commanding voice resonated, its authoritative tone carrying a weight of finality. With deliberate strides, the figure approached Mara. "Who are you?! Release me!" she screamed, futilely struggling against her restraints.
A solitary tear cascaded down her cheek, drawing the man's attention. "Your eyes have undergone significant changes in just a matter of days. How is that possible?" he inquired, studying her with a discerning gaze. Walking over to a nearby table adorned with an array of tools, he redirected his focus to Mara's eyes. "You dwell in darkness, consumed by corruption. We must restore your semblance of normalcy," he declared, his hand hovering over a gleaming scalpel.
"NO! NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET ME GO, PLEASE!" Mara's desperate pleas mingled with her tearful sobs. Unmoved, the man pressed on, asserting his intent to "fix" her. Fueled by desperation, Mara attempted to extricate herself from the chair, even resorting to a desperate kick towards her captor. Undeterred, the man swiftly retrieved a needle from the nearby table. "You will require this," he informed her, his voice chillingly calm. With a deft motion, he administered the injection, causing Mara's vision to blur, dizziness enveloping her, until ultimately succumbing to darkness as she blacked out.