Returning to Base – The Burden of Truth
Leon and Kazuki trudged back into the base, their expressions heavy. The rest of Emjay's team was waiting for them, gathered in the meeting room, sensing the weight of whatever news they carried. The air was thick with unspoken tension.
Emjay leaned forward, studying them. "What happened?"
Leon let out a long breath before speaking. "We found Yumi. And... we had to kill her."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"She wasn't the same," Kazuki added. "She told us everything before she died—why she left, how the traitor found her, and why she chose to fight against us."
Nami crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Then tell us."
Leon and Kazuki took turns explaining everything Yumi had confessed—the pain of her childhood, the moment she realized her power, and how she had felt like an outsider even when she was part of Emjay's team. How the traitor had promised her control over her fate, something she had never truly felt before.
Kai exhaled sharply. "So she really believed in their cause?"
Leon shook his head. "No. She believed in herself. The enemy didn't change her—they just gave her the excuse she needed to finally embrace what she always feared she was. Someone who didn't belong anywhere."
The weight of her story settled over them all. For a moment, no one spoke. Then Emjay nodded. "Thank you for telling us. We'll remember her for who she was before all of this, not just what she became."
Lathan's History – A Past in Isolation
After a brief silence, Emjay turned to the table, where scattered documents lay waiting. "Now, let's talk about what else you found. What do we know about Lathan?"
Kazuki picked up a thick file, flipping through the pages before speaking. "He never had a family. No father, no mother—nothing. His parents were dead before he even knew them, and he was raised in an orphanage."
Kai frowned. "That doesn't explain how he became... this."
Leon continued, "He spent his childhood in foster care, bouncing from one house to another. Always an outsider, never truly accepted anywhere. He got a job when he was old enough, tried to build a life, but he was alone. Truly alone. He never belonged to anyone."
Nami sighed. "So he was like Yumi. Alone, isolated. But that still doesn't explain how he got his powers."
Kazuki's gaze darkened. "He discovered them by accident. One day, he was at work. Something small—maybe a tool—dropped from a coworker's hand, and Lathan bent to pick it up. But when he did, his hands... weren't his own. They were someone else's."
Crimson's eyes narrowed. "So he just... changed?"
Leon nodded. "Not on purpose. At first, it was just shifting parts of his body. A hand, an arm, his voice. He thought he was losing his mind. But over time, he realized—he could fully turn into someone else. Their face, their voice, even their abilities."
Nami exhaled. "That's... terrifying."
Emjay's fingers tapped against the table. "And the traitor? When did he find him?"
Kazuki flipped another page. "Right after Lathan realized his power. He was scared, unsure of himself. And that's when the traitor approached him. He told Lathan that he was special—that he was meant for more. That he didn't have to be alone anymore."
Kai muttered, "And he fell for it."
Leon nodded. "Hook, line, and sinker. Now he's one of the highest-ranked soldiers in the enemy's army. He's not just a spy or a saboteur—he's a leader."
The team sat in silence, letting the weight of this new knowledge settle in.
The Paranoia Spreads – A Night of Doubt
That night, tension still lingered in the base. Everyone knew Lathan was getting into their heads, but no one wanted to admit it outright.
Then, a loud argument erupted from one of the halls. Kai and another member were standing face-to-face, glaring at each other.
"You're not real!" the soldier accused. "You've been acting strange all day!"
Kai groaned. "Oh, come on. You're the one acting weird! Maybe you're the fake!"
They both circled each other, fists clenched, ready to fight. The rest of the team rushed to break it up before it could escalate.
Emjay sighed, rubbing his temples. "Check the cameras. Now."
After a tense few minutes, the footage confirmed it—both of them were real. Lathan had never even been near them.
A heavy silence fell over the room before both Kai and the soldier awkwardly laughed. "Guess we're losing it, huh?" Kai muttered.
The soldier chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah... sorry about that."
Nami crossed her arms. "That's how deep he's gotten into our heads. We need to be careful."
Crimson exhaled. "Yeah, before we all kill each other over nothing."
Leon and Crimson – A Conversation About Yumi
Later that night, Leon found himself sitting outside, staring at the sky. Crimson approached, leaning against the wall beside him.
"Thinking about Yumi?" Crimson asked.
Leon nodded. "She asked me something before she died. She asked if Emjay's team was really my team."
Crimson raised an eyebrow. "And what did you say?"
Leon sighed. "I didn't get the chance to answer."
Crimson was silent for a moment before smirking slightly. "Well, that's a dumb question. Of course, this is your team."
Leon let out a small chuckle. "Yeah. But for her, it never felt that way."
Crimson exhaled. "People make their own choices. She made hers. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck, though."
Leon nodded. "Yeah. It does."
Crimson nudged him. "Come on. No more brooding. Let's go inside before you start monologuing about fate or something."
Leon let out a genuine laugh, shaking his head as they stood up.
As they walked inside, Crimson gave him a sideways glance. "You ever wonder if things could've been different? If we got to her sooner?"
Leon hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. I think about it. But it wouldn't have changed anything. She made her choice."
Crimson sighed. "Yeah. Still sucks, though."
Leon placed a hand on his shoulder. "We move forward. That's all we can do."
Crimson smirked. "Damn. Look at you. Giving pep talks now."
Leon chuckled. "Don't get used to it."
For the first time in a while, the weight on their shoulders felt a little lighter.
As they walked back inside, the weight of Yumi's death still lingered—but for the first time that night, it didn't feel quite as heavy.