Meanwhile, as the scene changes to the super soldier, Rebecca is in an infirmary with the surviving death-bringers. They had tended to their wounds sustained from their previous battles, as bandages were wrapped around their ligaments. The atmosphere felt somber, as everyone kept silent, with depressed expressions. Claw even laid on an infirmary bed.
"The signal's starting to come back..." Claw noted as he looked at a smartphone. As he said that, the television suddenly switched to the news channel. Quickly, Shadowgun used the remote to turn the volume up.
"Okay, we're back. Sorry about that. Our communications were completely disrupted after that sudden...explosion..." The news reporter Ashley stated. Her expression seemed rather distressed as she held her head and sighed. "Currently, our team has been surveying the area from the air. It's all a tragedy. Immeasurable property destruction...a massive loss of life...what was supposed to be a search and destroy to eliminate criminals...became an unprecedented disaster."
The super soldiers simply listened to the television with blank expressions.
"There has been no sighting of the blessed hunters, nor the S-Class criminals...but there are many soldier casualties as well...it's theorized that the criminals might have escaped...or at least survived." Ashley continued. She stopped for a moment before loudly sighing. "Even the ones who were supposed to protect us, our country...many of them have given up and retreated as well. Similar to our fearful civilians, many soldiers and officers have fled the country. This...has become the worst period...in the United States....only rivaled by great historical wars..."
Hearing enough, Shadowgun used the remote and turned off the television. With the press of a button, the room became silent once again. Everyone was too depressed to comment.
Amid their depression, however, the Queen-Deathbringer suddenly entered, surprising the rest. With her was a severely injured Cryostasis. Most of his body and face were bandaged up, and the Queen-Deathbringer had to help him walk.
"Huh? Where were you?" Claw suddenly asked as he got up. Keeping her focus on helping Cryostasis, she walked him over to a bed before laying him down.
"Ugh...thanks..." Cryostasis expressed his gratitude.
"Where were you?" Claw repeated as his brows scrunched in anger. "Do you know what the hell we've been through!? I called you earlier, and you said you were on your way!"
"...We have to get out of here." She said, completely disregarding his question, which infuriated him.
"What do you mean!? Where were you when Death-grip got killed by the battle-crazed killer!" Claw exclaimed as he came closer. "The superiors that we were to protect were all killed by Nathan Hayes! Where the hell were you for most of the war!? You're the leader of the death-bringers, but you did nothing! Yet you're saying we should get out of here!?"
"I'm sure you've noticed what's happening out there. The rest of the blessed hunters are likely dead...I've heard nothing from them." The Queen-Deathbringer remarked, which caused Claw to become frustrated. "We have vastly underestimated their strength. If we stay here, we won't be much help, and we'll end up dying."
"What!? So we're supposed to flee like everyone else?" Claw questioned. "we're supposed to allow them to wreak havoc in the country!?"
"Our main duty is to eliminate the blessed criminals." The queen reminded. "So, we must regroup to fulfill our duty--"
"How can you say that to the people that died!?"
"The queen is right, Claw," Rebecca suddenly interjected, turning everyone's heads to her. "Our main duty is to eliminate them...that's why we received these modifications. All the innocents that have perished...our fallen comrades...their deaths would be in vain if we don't fulfill that."
"But--"
"I think...regrouping would be the best idea now." Rebecca continued. "More people will die, sure. But if we win in the end...we would save many more people...We can't just rush in now and get killed...our comrade's deaths would have been for nothing..."
As Rebecca spoke, she couldn't help but reminisce about Ethan and Sebastian.
"Tsk...I guess...that makes sense..." Claw relented. "But...so many lives..."
"We must go now." The queen suggested. "There's no time to mourn for our comrades or anything...it's better to leave now than risk getting caught by the criminals."
"Yeah, you're right..." Rebecca said.
"Also, you asked why I didn't come when you called me Claw?" She remembered. "It was because I received a call a little earlier than you...a rather shocking one."
"What was it?" Claw asked.
"When you said all our superiors were killed by Nathan...that's not entirely true." She said, which slightly confused everyone. "I won't beat around the bush...Sergeant John is alive."
"What!?" Everyone exclaimed. The news was so surprising that Rebecca stood up in shock. "He's alive!? But how!?"
"After I was sent by him to investigate the unknown enemies that were killing our comrades and finding no one at the scene, I received a call from him. He told me that he was attacked by Nathan and that he desperately needed assistance. From his voice, I could tell that he was suffering from grievous injuries...although he was also berating me heavily for not being there to protect him..." The Queen-Deathbringer explained.
"I see...I guess that would have been urgent. You'd be the best, too, since you're one of the fastest super soldiers." Claw reasoned as his anger subsided. "But you could at least say so...rather than lying about coming soon."
"Yeah...my apologies."
"Where is he now?" Rebecca inquired.
"After treating his injuries somewhat...I think he's on his way to leave the country." She responded.
"...Take me to him," Rebecca asked.
* * *
Shifting things over to the Whitehouse, specifically to the terrified and frustrated President Garfield. He had been listening to the news but seemed to have enough, thus putting the television on mute.
"Mr. President! You must leave this country now!" One of his many black-suited suggested as they stood by his desk. "This country has fallen too much into chaos! It's far too dangerous to keep you here any longer!"
"There's no way I'm leaving..." The president muttered. "As the president...I cannot abandon my country..."
"But Mr. President..."
Amid their pleas, the doors to the Oval Office suddenly flew open, shocking Garfield and his men. Much to their surprise, Ada casually entered with her heads (Nolan, Charlotte, Frank, and Leon).
"Hello, Mr. President..." Ada greeted me with a friendly smile and a waving gesture as she took a seat. The guards immediately pulled out their firearms on sight of her.
"What are you doing!?" A guard said. "Stop where you--"
Suddenly, their guns vanished from their hands, which didn't register until after a delay. Upon realizing this, they noticed their guns got snatched by Nolan, who quickly disassembled them and threw them to the ground.
Completely disregarding them, Ada casually sat in front of the president.
"Ada...Foster..." President Garfield muttered. "What...do you...want...?"
"Oh, nothing," Ada responded. "Just a little...talk."