"How… how did you survive?" Phillip asked, lowering his gun.
"I thought all of Therma fell." Alice let out a shaky breath, lowering her weapon too. Relief softened her shoulders as she stepped forward and clasped Phillip's hand.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes shifting toward the people hauling crates and scraps of metal.
"Scavenging," Phillip answered. "There's talk of a secret base near the city center."
Alice's gaze lingered on the crates. "And the rest of Therma?"
"They're at the market. Underground. Prepping." Phillip smiled faintly. "Alive and kicking."
"And you?" Phillip asked back. "How'd you escape Therma B?"
Alice's eyes darkened. "We were ambushed. A horde… we barely made it out. Thanks to him." She gestured toward Haruka, who stood watchfully, intercepting men as they carried crates.
"Where'd you find him?" Kierah cut in, curiosity sharp.
Alice didn't answer, only turned her head toward her.
"Mama! It's not here!" Jax sprinted up, panic in his voice.
Phillip frowned. "What's not here?"
"The Cadence Cell," Rhea said flatly, stepping beside Alice, her sniper cradled against her chest.
"Oh, th—"
"This?" Kierah's voice sliced in. She held up a small hexagonal capsule, scorched ceramic with etched veins glowing faint teal. A thin amber filament pulsed at its heart like a trapped heartbeat.
Alice's eyes widened.
"Yes. We need that." She reached for it.
Kierah pulled her hand back. "Nah."
"Kierah," Phillip urged, "they're with us. I can vouch for them."
"Not while he exists." Kierah's finger stabbed toward Haruka.
Alice's face hardened, eyes cold and animalistic. "He's Therma."
"Come on," Phillip pressed. "Just give them the cell."
"Can't." Kierah's voice was ice.
"Why not?" Phillip demanded.
"Because I'm neutral. Always have been."
Phillip lunged for the capsule—
Lark's hand slammed him against the wall like a ragdoll.
Alice sprang at Kierah, fury blazing, but Kierah slid beneath her arms and vaulted off the wall, sailing past Hana and Rhea.
"Lark, hold them for three minutes," Kierah snapped.
Lark swung his massive fist toward Alice—
—but Haruka streaked in, foot snapping against Lark's jaw. The blow rocked him back just long enough for Phillip to break free.
"Go!" Haruka barked. "Alice, Hana, Rhea—after Kierah! Jax and I will handle him."
Alice nodded, shotgun in hand, sprinting after Kierah.
"Alright," Jax cracked his knuckles, "let's ice this fucker."
Lark's hammer fist crashed down. Haruka rolled under, springing up the wall and smashing his knee into the brute's face.
Lark staggered, then caught Haruka mid-air, slamming his head through a crumbling wall.
"Haruka!" Jax roared, fury igniting. He snatched a plank studded with nails and charged.
Lark swung—Jax slid under the blow, rising into a vicious swing that smashed into Lark's temple, destroying the plank completely.
The giant grunted, unfazed, and kicked Jax across the hall.
Coughing dust, Jax spat blood and stood beside Haruka. The two exchanged a nod.
"Together," Haruka said.
"Damn right." Jax sprinted forward, leaping high. Haruka conjured a shimmering pad of water midair, boosting Jax higher still—
—and Jax's fist came down like a meteor, smashing into Lark's jaw.
The giant dropped.
Meanwhile, Kierah cut sharply through the debris-strewn halls. "Heh. Lost those bozos," she muttered between gasps.
"Give it."
The shadows spoke.
Her flashlight snapped on, beam cutting through dust. Rhea stood there, sniper slung, eyes glinting.
Kierah froze. Her breath hitched. She spun to run—only to find Hana blocking the way.
"You heard her," Hana said. "Give it back."
A thunderous CRASH—Alice exploded through a wall of planks, tackling Kierah to the ground. The two skidded across rubble, landing beside Lark's unconscious body.
Alice mounted her, pistol pressed to Kierah's cheek, hand tightening on her throat.
"Give it!" Alice snarled, voice cracking with fury.
Kierah chuckled, bloodied lips curling. "Gonna let another child die in your arms, Alice?"
Alice trembled, finger tightening on the trigger.
"STOP!" Phillip's hoarse voice cut through the chaos. He limped forward, eyes desperate. "It's hers. We made a deal. She scavenges—she gets a cut. This is her cut."
Kierah's smile widened. "Rare things fetch rare prices."
"No!" Alice's voice broke. "Take anything else. Not that."
"You know I can't," Kierah said coldly.
Phillip touched Alice's gun, gently lowering it. "Without her… Therma wouldn't even have feet."
Alice's chest heaved. A tear streaked down her cheek. She released Kierah and collapsed back, broken.
Kierah straightened, brushing dust from her scarf. "Lark."
The giant stirred, groaning, then rose and scooped Kierah and Phillip up with ease.
Kierah looked back once more. "Alice." Her voice was low, deliberate. "You didn't lose her. She's alive. I've seen her with my own eyes."
Alice froze.
Lark carried them into the night, leaving silence and shattered breath behind.
Alice sank to her knees, fist slamming into the floor as Hana and Jax closed in to comfort her.
"…Who was she talking about?" Rhea whispered.