Scene 1: Dive HQ – The Kill List
Deep beneath the polished floors of Dive's central headquarters, the conference chamber flickered with projected light. A single holographic screen hovered in the dark room, displaying two grainy images: Xin Stonen and Kaila Stonen.
"Eliminate them."
The voice was distorted, mechanical—belonging to the Masked Overseer himself. His black mirrored mask reflected nothing. Not light. Not humanity.
"They've become... inconvenient."
Cassius Devereaux stood still as stone on the far side of the room, flanked by two masked Dive operatives. Evelyn Draith, seated at the table, slowly sipped from a cup of dark tea.
"Xin and Kaila," she said, her voice honey-slick but cold. "They're becoming symbols. Survivors. Survivors turn into stories. Stories become rebellion."
Cassius responded in his flat voice. "Xin remains below threat-level. Unrefined. Predictable."
Evelyn stood and walked toward the screen. "And yet he survived you. That alone disrupts Dive's projected dominance."
The Overseer raised a hand.
"I don't care if he's weak. I care that people think he's strong. Eliminate the narrative."
Evelyn turned. "How do you propose we do it?"
The Overseer spoke:
"Separate them. Break the emotional tether. Kill each one alone."
Cassius bowed his head slightly. "Understood."
A single word appeared on the screen:
PRIORITY TARGET: STONEN CLASS-Ω.
Scene 2: Metro Base – A Crack in the Ground
Xin was panting.
The room echoed with the sound of his fists slamming into a broken sandbag hanging from a rusted pipe. His knuckles were wrapped in torn cloth, blood soaking through.
Tara watched silently from the doorway.
"You hit like you hate yourself," she said after a while.
Xin didn't look at her. "Maybe I do."
She walked closer, arms crossed. "Self-hate makes you sloppy."
"I'm getting better."
"You're getting bloody."
He finally turned. "I don't want to wait to be strong."
Tara held his gaze. She saw it again—that fire. The same one she'd seen in the mirror years ago, when she buried her own family and picked up a gun.
"You won't like what strength costs," she muttered.
"I'm already paying."
Scene 3: Kaila and Andy – Fragile Moments
Kaila and Andy sat near the broken ventilation shaft, a spot above the base that gave them a rare view of the night sky through the city's ruins.
Andy held a half-functioning lantern in his lap. It flickered gently.
"Is it weird that I don't miss home?" he said, voice low.
Kaila looked over. "You mean your real home? Or the shitty forest shop?"
Andy smirked. "Both, I guess."
Kaila stayed quiet, her expression unreadable.
He leaned his head back. "Being here with you... it's the only time I've felt like I'm where I'm supposed to be."
Kaila glanced down at her hands. "Don't say that unless you mean it."
"I do."
There was silence.
Kaila finally leaned her head gently against his shoulder. "Me too."
Scene 4: The Announcement
The next morning, Tara gathered everyone in the central command hall.
Dozens of Resistance fighters circled her, dirty, armored, bruised—but alive. Xin, Kaila, and Andy stood together at the back, watching her.
Tara stepped up onto a broken slab of stone and unrolled a dirty piece of paper.
"This is hard to say. But it's necessary," she began.
"The Dive has formally marked Xin and Kaila Stonen for targeted elimination."
Whispers erupted immediately.
Xin stepped forward, stunned. "What...?"
Tara raised a hand. "Quiet!"
She continued:
"Intercepted comms. Official orders. Dive's sending more than Cassius this time. They're deploying Evelyn Draith. And we believe they're planning to strike from multiple angles."
Kaila shouted, "Then we fight!"
Tara looked directly at her. "You're not listening. This isn't about winning. This is about keeping you alive long enough to matter."
Xin's fists clenched. "What are you saying?"
Tara inhaled deeply.
"I'm sending you two to separate locations."
The air turned cold.
"What?" Kaila stepped forward. "No. No, absolutely not."
"It's the only way," Tara said. "They can't kill what they can't track. Together, you're a signal. A red dot on a map. Separated? You disappear."
"No," Xin snapped. "You don't split us."
Tara's voice hardened. "Do you want her dead, Xin?"
Xin froze.
"She dies, you die. You die, she dies. Dive will tear this place apart just to get to you both. This isn't a choice. This is survival."
Kaila shook her head, eyes wide, lips trembling. "You can't... we've already lost everything. You're asking us to lose each other too?"
Tara's voice was quieter now. Almost gentle.
"I'm asking you to live."
Scene 5: Saying Goodbye
The base began preparing two convoys.
One for Xin—headed west with Tara, Jules, and Kai.
One for Kaila—headed north with Andy, Dr. Alaric, Harper, and Juliette.
Kaila stood outside the vehicle garage, staring at a cracked pendant in her palm. It used to belong to her mother.
Xin approached, bandages still fresh on his arms.
"You still mad?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
"...Good," he said. "Means you care."
Kaila looked up, eyes wet. "You think this will help?"
"No."
He stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"But I'll survive. And you will too. And we'll meet again."
She nodded into his chest. "You better."
They stepped apart. Andy walked over, looking uncertain.
"Xin," he said.
Xin stared at him.
"Take care of her dude," he said simply.
Andy nodded. "I will."
Scene 6: Two Paths
The two trucks rolled out in opposite directions. One west. One north.
Xin stared out the back window, watching Kaila's vehicle disappear into the mist.
Kaila sat in silence beside Andy, fingers clutched around her pendant.
And somewhere, far above the ruined cities and forests…
…Cassius, Evelyn, and a black Dive dropship watched their every move.