Enemy Side – A Difficult Decision
A dimly lit war room; the air is heavy with smoke and tension. Maps are spread chaotically across a metal table, red markers denoting casualties, blue marking objectives lost. Reports pile up like gravestones.
Lester sits hunched over, fingers threading through graying hair as he studies the latest casualty figures. Evena leans against the wall, arms folded, gaze distant. Her leather jacket creaks as she shifts. The silence between them stretches thin until Lester speaks without looking up.
"You want out," he states flatly.
Evena doesn't respond immediately. Her jaw tightens. "I... don't know what I want," she murmurs. "Fighting feels pointless. Every battle... chips away at me. I don't know who I am outside this war."
Lester sighs, finally meeting her eyes. "Clarity isn't found in running. Fight one last time—maybe that answers what words can't."
Evena's brow furrows. "And if I regret it?"
Lester's gaze softens. "Then you'll know for sure. But if you walk away without facing this... you'll wonder forever."
A long pause. Evena's fingers twitch as if grasping something intangible—her conviction, perhaps. "One last time," she finally agrees, voice barely above a whisper.
Emjay's Team – Planning and Preparation
Emjay's base—inside a subterranean bunker lined with steel walls. Flickering lights illuminate a large strategy room. Holographic projectors cast a map in midair: enemy fortifications pulse red; their target glows ominous blue.
Emjay stands at the head of the table, knuckles pressing into the metal surface. His eyes sweep over the team—Kai, Leon, Yano, Kazuki, and Nami. Kazuki twitches, eyes shadowed by recent instability but determined to be present.
"This mission's straightforward," Emjay begins. "Intercept enemy intel that could tip the balance of this war. In and out. Minimal engagement—unless necessary."
Kai scoffs. "When is it ever just 'in and out'?" A few chuckles break the tension.
Leon adds, smirking, "You love the chaos. Don't pretend you don't."
Yano remains focused, gaze flicking to the map. "Evac routes? Backup plans?"
"Three extraction points, all monitored. Worst case—we fight our way out," Emjay replies.
Nami stays quiet, eyes locked on the blue target. Her mind prickles with unease—a fog of impending dread. Something's waiting... watching.
The Mission Begins – Chaos Unfolds
The war-torn outskirts—ash clouds the sky. Buildings stand like broken teeth against the burning horizon. Gunfire erupts in staccato bursts; smoke coils through shattered streets.
Leon and Kai move as one—decades of camaraderie evident in every motion. "Left flank!" Kai shouts, unloading rounds as Leon tosses a grenade. An explosion blooms, debris showering them.
Yano darts between cover, hands glowing faintly as she heals Leon's grazed arm. "Keep moving! We're exposed here!"
Nami's steps falter. That feeling again—closer now. Then she sees her: Evena emerges through swirling smoke, silver hair gleaming like a ghost's halo.
"You," Nami breathes, muscles tensing.
Evena offers a rueful smile. "Didn't expect it to be you. Fitting, though."
Blades and wills clash.
Nami vs. Evena – Clash of Minds and Wills
Smoke-drenched ruins under a burning sky. Ash falls like snow, blanketing the battlefield. The distant rattle of gunfire is a constant heartbeat. In this grim landscape, two figures face each other—destiny and doubt incarnate.
Nami tightens her grip on her blade, every muscle coiled. Her mind reaches out, searching for thoughts to exploit—tactics, fears, weaknesses. Nothing. A vast emptiness meets her probe. Her eyes narrow. "You… blocked me?"
Evena's lips twist into a wry smile. "You always relied too much on what's in someone's head. What happens when there's nothing for you to read?" She spreads her arms, inviting the strike. "Come on, Nami. Let's see what you've got without your crutch."
Their blades clash with a screech of metal, sparks raining down between them. Nami grits her teeth, each swing of her sword met with calculated parries. Evena's movements are precise—less a soldier, more a dancer weaving through chaos.
"Why fight for them?" Nami gasps between strikes. "You don't believe in this war."
Evena sidesteps a thrust, retaliating with a slash that Nami barely blocks. "Belief's a luxury. Loyalty... that's harder to shake."
"You're better than this!" Nami shouts. "People are dying!"
Evena's gaze flickers with something—regret? No, not now. "We all bleed for something."
The ground trembles as Evena raises her hand. Illusions bloom like wildfire—dozens of Evenas surrounding Nami, each grinning. Her mind reels. Which one's real? Blades flash from every direction. Nami spins, parrying phantoms, exhaustion creeping in.
A familiar voice cuts through the chaos—her mother's. "You failed us, Nami." Her brother's laughter echoes. "Always too slow... too weak."
Nami's breath catches. No… they're gone... Her chest tightens, her sword wavering.
Evena's voice is soft. "This is war. There's no room for mercy." But her eyes… her eyes plead forgiveness.
Steel bites flesh. Blood splatters. Nami collapses to her knees, gasping. Evena stands over her, blade trembling. "I didn't—" Her words catch in her throat. What have I done?
The Final Blow and Evena's Guilt
Nami clutches her side, warmth seeping through her fingers. Not like this... Her vision blurs—smoke, fire, Evena's blurred silhouette above her.
Evena lowers her weapon, lips pressed tight. "Lester said finish it." Her hands shake. Finish it. Her gaze flicks to the commlink buzzing at her hip. "Do it, Evena. No hesitation." Lester's voice is steel.
But she can't. Not this. Not her.
"You could've ended me," Nami rasps. "Why didn't you?"
Evena's laugh is a hollow thing. "Maybe... I'm tired of adding ghosts to my list." Her gaze darkens. "Or maybe... I didn't want you to be one of them."
Gunfire erupts nearby. Evena curses, backing away. "Stay down." Her final glance lingers—a mix of regret and resolve. Then she turns, vanishing into the smoke.
Nami's body slumps. Darkness creeps in. Is this it...?
Kai's Desperate Rescue
"KAI!" Leon's voice crackles over comms. "Where the hell are you? We're pulling back!"
Kai sprints through rubble-strewn streets, lungs burning. His boots skid as he spots her—Nami, collapsed, blood pooling beneath her.
"No—no, no, no—" He drops beside her, shaking her shoulder. "Hey! Nami! Look at me!" Her eyelids flutter. Relief wars with panic. Not enough. Not safe.
"Base, this is Kai! I've got her—she's bad—need evac NOW!" His voice cracks, desperation raw.
He scoops her up, her head lolling against his chest. Her breath is shallow. Too shallow. His heart pounds louder than the distant artillery.
"Stay with me," he pleads. "You hear me? Drinks after this, remember? You still owe me one." His steps quicken, dodging debris and enemy fire. Every heartbeat feels like a countdown. Not losing you. Not today.
The Race to Save Nami
The evacuation vehicle's doors slam open. Medics yank Nami from Kai's arms, voices a flurry of commands. "BP dropping—pulse thready—move!"
Kai stands outside the vehicle, knuckles white against the doorframe. Blood—her blood—smears his jacket. His hands tremble. "Come on… fight, dammit…" His voice is a whisper lost in chaos.
Hospital lights blur overhead as Nami is rushed through corridors. Kai follows, stopped by a nurse. "Sir, you can't—"
"I have to—" His protest dies as the doors close between them. Alone. Helpless.
He punches the wall, pain blooming in his knuckles. Please... just pull through.
Evena's Reflection
A windswept cliffside overlooking the battlefield—a sea of fire and ruin.
Evena stands at the edge, the wind tugging at her hair. Flames flicker below, painting the night sky in hues of crimson and gold. Her knuckles whiten around her blade's hilt.
Her commlink buzzes. Lester's voice: "Mission accomplished. Well done."
She doesn't respond. Her gaze remains on the burning horizon. "Was this worth it?" Her voice is barely a whisper, lost to the wind.
Memories flicker—Nami's eyes, the tremble in Kai's voice, the weight of her blade. One more mission, Lester said.
Her fist clenches. And maybe… it's my last.