Chapter 11
A month later.
The first chip removal was a success. The operation was risky, fraught with tension and nerves, but Dr. Osaka and a team of scientists from I-Island achieved the seemingly impossible. One of Hellbound's brothers was completely freed from the influence of Order 66.
Unfortunately, Hellbound couldn't undergo surgery. His chip was too severely damaged. The chip had become one with his brain, and any attempt to extract it risked permanent disability or death. The Captain accepted this stoically, though his eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment.
Grit was the first clone to be de-chipped. He was conscious. His recovery was rapid. Once it was clear that Grit was out of danger, the Captain was summoned to the office of a certain lowly being. This was the Director of UA.
Hellbound was brought to UA to speak with the person on whom the future of all the clones might depend.
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.
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The Director sat at his desk, smiling as he looked at Hellbound, as if he'd had a plan all along.
"Captain Hellbound. Knowledge of your existence became known. When I Island began cooperating in removing the chips, rumors became inevitable."
Hellbound folded his arms across his chest, his gaze wary.
"Then what can we do, Director?"
Nezu leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming.
"You have two options. Either you will be seen as a threat to be isolated… or as heroes who have sworn an oath to fight for humanity. Unfortunately, news of your… prison escape has leaked. The public already knows of the clones' existence. They also know what you wanted to do to that young boy."
Hellbound clenched his jaw but didn't argue. He knew Nezu was right.
"It wasn't our decision, but I understand why we'll be blamed for this."
"And that's why I invited you to speak, Captain. People don't understand your situation, or what you are. What people do understand is heroism. If you show them you can fight on the side of the Pro Heroes, they'll have proof that you can be trusted."
"I'm not a hero. I'm a soldier. My brothers are too."
Nezu lifted his cup of tea and took a calm sip.
"I understand, but if we do nothing, the rebels will destroy the image of all clones. You won't be safe. With your training, you can serve and help society. That's why I'm offering you a place among the Pro Heroes."
Hellbound narrowed his eyes.
"What about my people?"
Nezu smiled.
"Anyone who undergoes chip removal surgery will have the opportunity to become a Pro Hero. I will help you create an agency with you as its leader."
The captain looked into the director's eyes for a moment, searching for a hint of deception, but saw only a flicker of satisfaction. Finally, he nodded.
"Before I agree... could you tell me... what happened to Eron? Is... is he safe?"
Nezu raised an eyebrow, as if he had been expecting the question. He set down his cup and leaned his paws together on the desk.
"Eron Kai is alive. He is in the care of several trusted pro heroes."
Hellbound leaned forward, his gaze sharpening.
"Mr. Director. Who exactly? What are his conditions? Is he safe?"
Nezu lifted a paw slightly, as if to reassure him.
"I understand you care for the boy, but understand that he has been traumatized."
"He was our commander. My brothers deserve to know what is happening to him. He was... one of us."
Nezu was silent for a moment, staring at the captain with that characteristic, unreadable smile.
"I understand your affection. But loyalty works both ways, Captain. If you want to know more about Eron… I want to know more about you. About the war."
Hellbound nodded slowly.
"I'll skip what I said earlier during the interrogation… I'm a soldier, not a politician, so I won't beat around the bush."
Hellbound settled comfortably on the sofa.
"Dirt, sweat, blood, and mud. That's how I sum up all the years of this war. We thought we were fighting for peace. Brothers died beside me, and I had to move on. There was no time for mourning. We were expendable. We were simply grown in test tubes. They could always produce more of us."
He glanced at the table, where Nezu had set down a cup of tea for him. He drank and set the cup aside.
"At first, we fought mostly droids. I thought we were bringing freedom to all those suffering under Separatist rule... I was wrong. We repeatedly fought the people we thought we were liberating."
"And what role did Eron play in all of this?"
"He should never have been on the front lines. When he was assigned to our legion, most of us thought it was a mistake. Our general was his master. Eron was conceited and overconfident. The war quickly proved that wrong."
He closed his eyes for a moment, lost in memories.
"He was at the forefront of the attack. He slept in the mud just like us. He saved our lives, more than once, more than twice. Unfortunately, the war changed him. Month by month, he became... emotionless. He never ordered us to do anything he wouldn't do himself."
He opened his eyes and looked at Nezu.
"I personally trained him in the art of war. I taught him how to fire blasters. Eron was a loyal soldier of the Republic."
"Was he?"
"After what we did to him... I'm not sure he still believes in the Republic."
Hellbound fell silent, his voice trailing off mid-sentence. For a moment, he seemed to relive that moment... something he had no control over.
"When Order 66 came... I... I don't know if Eron will ever trust us... or anyone again."
Nezu didn't respond immediately. He sat quietly, sipping his tea. Finally, he sighed softly.
"Trust is like glass, Captain. Once shattered, it can never be the same. But... it can be melted down. Reshaped."
Hellbound frowned.
"What are you suggesting?"
"I suggest the boy no longer needs to believe in the Republic to believe in you. And that's different."
Hellbound rested his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped in a firm grip.
"We don't deserve this. We betrayed him. Every single one of us. Even me."
Nezu leaned back in his chair, tapping his cup on the saucer.
"I don't know if Eron will ever forgive you... but if you do nothing, you can be sure of that. If you need one more reason to become a pro hero, this is it. Show Eron that you are no longer slaves."
Hellbound was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
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.
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"Droids on the flank! Hold your ground!"
Eron ran through the mud, the lightsaber in his hand igniting with a hiss. The blue light immediately caught the droids' attention.
"It's a Jedi! Blast him!"
He sliced a B1 in half, then plunged his blade into the body of a B2 droid. Unfortunately, there were too many droids. An explosion roared from the side. The squad that had been covering their rear was wiped out. When the smoke cleared, only the burning silhouettes of grotesquely twisted bodies remained on the ground.
Eron drew his second saber. The red blade flashed. He began deflecting blaster bolts from all directions, sending them towards the droids. Blue streaks began to appear among the red streaks.
The deflected bolt struck a clone, which joined the droids. The blue streaks grew in number. Eron deflected them desperately, but an icy pain grew in his heart. He heard an ominous voice in his head.
"Execute Order 66."
Around him, more clones fell, droids advanced, and the stench of burning filled the air. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. Tears and rain mingled on his face.
Eron jumped out of bed without a cry and immediately ignited his red lightsaber. His body was drenched in sweat, and his breathing was ragged.
He stood still for a few seconds, glancing around the room as if expecting an enemy to leap from behind the shadows. Rain pounded on the roof and windows. Red light reflected in the glass. Eron saw his reflection in it. A pale face, dark circles under his eyes, a hand clenched around the hilt.
He shivered.
"Eron? Are you alright?"
Eron glanced at the bed, where Kinoko's voice came from. She was the one who insisted he install an app called Discord. She'd returned home a month ago, but ever since All Might gave him his phone, they'd been talking to each other this way regularly.
The camera was on and pointed at him.... Eron cursed under his breath. He knew she'd seen what had just happened... or maybe not... he'd play dumb. He quickly extinguished the red blade and placed the hilt on the nightstand, looking away.
"N...Nothing happened. You can go to sleep... I just fell out of bed."
Kinoko turned on the small lamp in her room. She narrowed her eyes. Her voice was quiet but firm.
"Eron. You don't have a bed. You sleep on a futon."
Eron froze. He inhaled sharply, his fingers reflexively clenching into a fist against the fabric of his pants. Kinoko leaned closer to the camera,
"Tell me the truth. What happened?"
Eron shook his head and tried to force a smile that was more like a grimace.
"Nothing. I wanted a drink and forgot where I put my water bottle."
"Then why did you turn on your lightsaber?"
"To locate a bottle of water. Without a light source, it would be difficult."
"Whenever you tell a half-truth, you twitch the right corner of your mouth. Just like now."
"Kinoko…"
She didn't look away. Her eyes were visible on the screen, wide, more serious than usual. She knew him well enough to know that when he started making excuses, it meant one thing. He was having a nightmare. She wanted him to admit it.
"Don't try to deceive me. I saw how you stood up… how you held that sword."
Silence. Only the rain outside and his heavy breathing. Eron's fingers trembled, though he tried to hide them by pressing his hands into the fabric of his pants. He lifted his head, his gaze meeting hers for a moment. There was a mixture of anger, fear, and exhaustion in those eyes. He couldn't hide it, though he tried so hard.
"It's nothing you should care about."
The girl frowned. She wasn't offended by his response. His defensiveness had become normal for her.
"If we talk every day, it means I care."
Eron gritted his teeth, his gaze darting away. Kinoko's face softened, but her tone remained firm.
"Evade the question any further, and you can forget about the hug when we meet again."
Eron glared at the screen. He asked in a strangled voice.
"What? This is outrageous! It's unfair!"
Kinoko crossed her arms, staring at him with determination.
"You heard me. I won't smile and hug you if you keep lying to me."
"This… is blackmail."
"Yes."
Eron stared at the screen as if he'd just received the worst sentence of his life. His mouth opened as if to respond, but then he closed it. Kinoko looked at him gently.
"Eron. Most of this was just joking... you know I worry."
Eron lowered his head. Silence fell for a moment, only the sound of rain outside the window filling the room.
"I just had... a bad dream. I didn't mean to worry you."
Kinoko sighed softly, rested her cheek on her hand, and stared at the screen.
"You worried me more when you pretended nothing had happened."
Eron looked up at her, his eyes tired, as if he'd spent years learning to hide his emotions and now didn't know how to bring them out.
"It wasn't just a bad dream, was it? Did you dream about what happened to you?"
Eron just nodded.
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
"No, Kinoko...no."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want you to have nightmares too."
Kinoko frowned, but her gaze was soft.
"Eron… do you think I don't have them anymore? I still have nightmares about what happened at the camp. And don't you dare blame yourself. You saved us all."
The boy froze, as if her words had struck him squarely.
"You shouldn't carry my burden yet."
Kinoko shook her head.
"It's too late for that, because I'm taking this burden upon myself. Completely freely and willingly."
Eron stared at the floor. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"You're so stubborn."
Kinoko raised an eyebrow, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"If I weren't like that, you'd still be keeping everything bottled up."
Eron sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. For a moment, he looked like he was seriously considering avoiding the subject, but something in her gaze stopped him in his tracks.
"Let's do this... I'll tell you when we meet again. I don't want to do this over the phone."
Kinoko was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words. Then she nodded slowly, relief filling her eyes.
"Okay... but you're not going to back out, do you understand? You promised."
Eron nodded.
"My word is worth more than credits."
"From what?"
"From money."
They were both silent for a moment. Eron lay down. Kinoko did the same. She saw the loneliness in his eyes.
"What are you thinking about, Eron?"
"About how much I want to hug you."
On the screen, Kinoko froze for a moment, her cheeks turning slightly pink.
"You know that's the kind of thing you say when a girl has time to prepare, not out of the blue."
"But you're the one who keeps talking about hugs. You're using it as a weapon against me."
Kinoko crossed her arms, feigning seriousness, though a blush still adorned her cheeks.
"That's different! I have a sacred duty to use my feminine charm against you!"
Kinoko looked at him with feigned seriousness for a moment longer, before finally sighing and laying her head on the pillow.
"You know, Eron... sometimes I feel like you really don't understand how much your words affect people."
"What do you mean?"
"You say something like that as if it were obvious, ordinary... But it stays with me. I think about it for hours. You don't know how easily you can make me feel special."
Eron smiled, a sinister plan in mind. Kinoko noticed.
"Eron... what was on your mind?"
Eron put on his headset and brought the microphone to his mouth. Kinoko still didn't understand what he was talking about.
"Eron...?"
At that moment, Eron began to whisper. She was also wearing headphones. She heard soft words, like a purr, that pierced her like an arrow.
"I really want to hug you, Kinoko..."
Kinoko suddenly covered her mouth with her hand. Her face instantly turned bright red, and her shoulders shook slightly.
"Eron! You can't say that… it sounds… it sounds…"
"How does it sound?"
"As if you were really here… next to me…"
Eron smiled, like the smugglers he'd once met.
"Maybe that was the point."
Kinoko sat up abruptly, blushing to her ears, and pointed at the screen.
"You… you're impossible!"
"Okay, okay… I'll stop, if it bothers you so much."
Kinoko froze, her eyes widening slightly. She quickly looked down, and her blush only deepened. She muttered quietly, almost inaudibly.
"I… I didn't say you had to stop…"
Eron raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly toward the camera. He heard her, but he was about to retaliate.
"Sorry. I didn't hear you. Could you repeat that?"
Kinoko nervously smoothed her hair and tried to feign indifference, but her voice trembled with every word.
"I-I won't repeat anything! I've already said too much!"
Eron smiled slightly.
"I really... would love to hug you, Kinoko."
Kinoko moaned softly, covering her face with her hands as if trying to hide from the world. Her shoulders trembled, and quiet words escaped her lips.
"Eron... you're really going to kill me someday... You don't even realize what you're doing..."
Eron leaned slightly into the camera, his voice lower, more serious.
"I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm telling you the truth."
Kinoko slowly removed her hands from her face and looked at the screen. Fire was in her eyes.
"Fool... you'll see when we meet. I'll get my revenge."
End of Chapter 11