The forest clearing erupted in a cacophony of snapping branches and startled birds as Captain Sane Galedo and Captain Joy Jenebe burst through the treeline in their full beast forms. Sane's saiga antelope body was a blur of motion, his amber horns gleaming with deadly intent, his drooping proboscis flaring as he scented his prey. Joy's jerboa hybrid form propelled her through the air with explosive power, her massive, tufted ears swiveling as she tracked the fleeing natives.
Enan Naiporo, Nadina Chiriki, and Tanaka Arikushi scrambled backward, their eyes wide with desperation. Enan's obsidian eyes darted between the approaching Marines, his hand already reaching for his Great Ridge Bow. Nadina's dark hazel eyes narrowed, her thumb resting against the guard of her primary bowie blade. Tanaka planted his feet, his massive frame tensing as he raised his bullhide shield.
"Hold the line," Tanaka muttered, his voice a low rumble.
Before anyone could react, Atlas Acuta stomped the ground. A spiderweb of crackling electricity erupted from his foot, racing across the forest floor with blinding speed. The blue-white lightning arced through the air, its energy seeking the two charging Marines with predatory intent.
Sane and Joy never had a chance.
The electricity struck them simultaneously, their bodies convulsing as the voltage overwhelmed their nervous systems. Sane's honking bellow cut off mid-roar, his powerful legs buckling beneath him. Joy's prehensile tail went rigid, her digitigrade legs giving way as she crashed to the ground in a heap of smoking fur and twitching muscles.
They lay unconscious, steam rising from their bodies, the sharp scent of burnt hair and ozone lingering in the air.
Atlas straightened, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "And that is how you handle a couple of overgrown pets."
Bō-Zak Kaminosukei found a moss-covered rock and settled onto it with the casual grace of a man who had all the time in the world. He pulled his long wooden pipe from his sash, packed it with fragrant herb, and lit it with a practiced flick of his thumb. A thin trail of smoke curled upward as he exhaled, his gold-flecked brown eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Well," he said, his voice carrying that lazy, amused drawl, "that was easy."
Aurélie Nakano Takeko stepped over the smoking, unconscious bodies of Captain Sane Galedo and Captain Joy Jenebe, her steel-gray eyes fixed on the three natives. Her silver hair spilled loose over her shoulders, and Anathema rested against her hip in its sheath. Her black tactical attire was immaculate, not a crease out of place, and her poetry notebook was tucked into her waistband, the pages visible and slightly worn.
Enan, Nadina, and Tanaka tensed, ready to retaliate. Their hands moved toward their weapons, their bodies coiling with defensive instinct.
Aurélie raised her palms, a gesture of peace that cut through the tension like a blade. Her voice was flat, measured. "We mean you no harm. We just have some questions."
Enan's obsidian eyes narrowed, his hand still resting on his bow. "Who are you?"
Aurélie's expression remained unreadable. "We are just passing through, and we are looking for a lost friend. We are hoping you might be able to tell us something about the bright light from earlier."
Enan, Nadina, and Tanaka exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them. Nadina's voice was low, her eyes still fixed on the strangers. "We saw the light, but we do not know what it was."
Aurélie nodded, a faint flicker of acknowledgment in her steel-gray eyes. "Thank you for that."
Sanza Kaplan Figarland stepped forward, his red hair an uncombed mess, his heavy Gallagher eyebrows lowered in that permanent scowl. "Shall we continue, then?" Sanza asked, his posh accent. "We have wasted enough time on these—"
Tanaka interjected, his deep voice cutting through Sanza's dismissal. "But we may know someone who does."
Enan and Nadina looked at him, their expressions shifting from confusion to recognition. Enan's eyes widened. "Oh, right."
Kaburo Gusaki stepped forward, his dark gray sleeveless kimono top revealing the scars that crisscrossed his arms. His long dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, and Kalamaru rested against at his hip, the cursed Ōdachi humming with a faint, malevolent energy. His voice was a dry monotone. "Camera crew?"
Tanaka nodded, his expression one of grim realization. "Yeah. There was a camera crew recording the God's Knights chasing..." He trailed off, his eyes flickering with regret. His jaw tightened, and he forced himself to continue. "Anyway, they may have caught it on film."
Aurélie nodded, her steel-gray eyes fixed on Tanaka. "Can you show us where they are?"
Nadina's eyes shifted between Tanaka and Enan, her expression unreadable. Her voice was low, measured. "We will help you if you help us."
Aurélie lifted a brow, the corner of her mouth quirking slightly. "Help you how?"
Nadina straightened, with a note of quiet authority. "You look like you are strong. Help us free our people from the Navy, and we will help you find the camera crew."
The corner of Aurélie's mouth twitched upward, a ghost of a smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared. She turned to face her companions, her steel-gray eyes sweeping across the group.
Atlas shrugged, his blue sapphire eyes sparkling with amusement. "It sounds like a reasonable trade to me."
Bō-Zak took a long drag from his pipe, the smoke curling around his head as he exhaled. "If you were looking for an excuse to get involved, it sounds like you have it."
Aurélie's voice carried a note of dry amusement. "I do not know that I need one, but—"
Bō-Zak smirked, his gold-flecked eyes twinkling. "Yeah, but it makes it easier."
Kaburo's voice cut through the banter, flat and pragmatic. "Is there a plan, or are we just charging in?"
Sanza crossed his arms in imperious authority. "As the future supreme commander, a plan is highly recommended."
Atlas chuckled, reaching down to ruffle Sanza's red hair. "Good suggestion, kid."
Sanza's eyes flashed with indignation. He swatted Atlas's hand away, straightening his hair with exaggeration, "I know it is, and stop calling me kid."
The adults chuckled, the tension breaking for a brief moment. Aurélie turned back to face Enan, Nadina, and Tanaka, her expression shifting back to focused intensity.
"Tell us what you know. How many Navy? Where was the last place you saw the camera crew? Anything you can think of, and we will help you."
Enan, Nadina, and Tanaka exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from wariness to cautious hope. They nodded in unison, a shared understanding passing between them.
Enan knelt in the dirt, his long, slender fingers tracing a rough map of the terrain. His voice was sharp, his obsidian eyes flicking between his drawing and the strangers before him.
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