All of us, makes mistakes in the heat of passion. We cannot undo what has been done, we cannot do what cannot be done.
Mistakes are the wishes of perfection.
I bear it all...
weight+. .
Everything !s...
?...Pai. nful.
...
..
.
The biting cold of the wind seems to always be omnipresent in this land of white. Its cold touches always bring shivers to any that is graced by its touch, the flakes of snow glide and fly with the wind's chime.
The land on this earth filled with the ink of white, like an untouched canvas waiting to be painted by any colour that may grace it, so that it may form a painting to give it meaning.
The snow filled ground has always graced the world every time winter comes to say its greetings, it has always been like that for many years. It has even covered the entire world white numerous times ancient times ago, but inevitably melts in the sun's heat, only to be limited to every winter solstice.
But this time, the winter is not temporary.
And apparently to come and rebel against the white filled world, the clouds above have long been turned to a colour of night with the sky turned to a mighty red. The clouds of dark shade that demands opposition to the white snow was always seen as a warning for all about rain to fall. But now, people can only see it as an omen that can never be rid, like the blood the sky has drunk.
"Ugh...!"
To corrupt the empty canvas, the red tint of the heavens colored the snow's white in it's red. Blood of a folly limps to unknown safety, where hope is the only thing that seems to make its legs go.
It's breathing hard with the cycle of breath feels like a burden with pain in every inhale, but the desire to live dulls it enough to be bearable to move.
The song of wind being parted and the projectile hits its mark, the journey of a walker ended.
The trail of crimson ends, their destination has arrived and they must part ways with life and unto death.
The gun returned to its resting holster to slumber and wait for its next use in time. The hand that pulled the trigger moved and grabbed the communication at the side of a buckle to announce the death of the mission target.
With a finger pressing on the button above the device, the man who same-day delivered the bullet spoke to it.
"This is A of Dark Days. All targets have been terminated. I have acquired important documented information on their objectives and have relayed it on my terminal. Requesting exfil."
After his announcement and request had been spoken he lifted the finger and moved communication closer to his ear. His wait did not last long.
"Good work A. The information has been received and is currently being read. Exfil will arrive at your location shortly in T-minus 10 minutes."
And with that, the comm ended. The only thing needed to do now is wait.
Looking at the corpse that lay on the white bed of snow, its red ichor flowed out to spread and gradually dull on the snow.
The man in his twenties, 'A', doesn't need to get rid of the evidence, rather, the remains wouldn't even last the night before it would get eaten, bone and all.
The mission this time was to search and destroy a branch of them. To eliminate every person located at the location and gather any clues on the main base of theirs. And clues on the base he found were not, but a little file he found.
The info gathered wasn't related to the secondary objective, but significant enough to be brought attention to and be worried about. Who knew that they were planning to make Eden fall? Crazy bunch, I'm promoting them in my head from mad to insane.
They really are what they call themselves to be, Moth. They're flying too high they'll burn themselves from the sun.
If they really are planning to have something as large as Eden fall from such height, then this world wouldn't just be an eternal winter but actually turn to a snow ball like the Cryogenian period did. Humanity would inevitably die.
Sigh. Damn cultists of the virus.
Multiple thoughts ran through the lone man's mind, all of which were trying to see any reason and logic to why and how this group, Moth, are planning to make Eden plummet to the ground.
The ten minutes were filled with that and wasn't interrupted until engines filled the silent noise.
Looking above, a vehicle made from human ingenuity is presented in his uncaring eyes. An aircraft too advanced from the modern age would be the description to give unto it.
Its hovering did not disturb the snow around as no propellers were even attached to it, seemingly flying from an invisible force.
Without any fanfare to show, the man swiftly enters it when the doors beside the aircraft open.
After entering, the vehicle hovered higher before it flew.
Now, the silence that was disturbed by a gunshot, a man's musing, and a vehicle's engine has returned to its silent serenity.
...
The scenery out from the window did not change even when the aircraft flew higher and higher into space.
"Ding. Entering stratosphere. Requesting all aboard to remain at your seat, we may encounter turbulence."
The announcement from the comms of the aircraft sounded with a warning.
The singular passenger aboard was already seated, simply viewing outside the window.
The white earth below finally showed a difference from its all present colour of white, spots of green and blue that the snow hasn't touched graced his eyes once more. He couldn't help but turn fond of those different patches of colour.
Still it amazes him, how nature can still be alive with the virus' ravaging it and humanity's constant war against each other bringing almost everything on the surface to an inhabitable wasteland. It also brings him sadness the way the world slowly dies on the constant strife and abuse all sides are inflicting on to it.
A distant memory full of gold and purple resurfaced.
"..."Why don't we just make all of it end?""
...You well know that's impossible.
"Ding. Entering the red zone. Requesting all aboard to remain at your seat. We will experience turbulence."
The announcement sounded once again and with it comes the shaking of the aircraft.
Holding on to his seat, A felt the regular vibration of the ship entering the red zone.
The red zone, the work of the virus. Or rather, a dead part of the virus itself, as the virus' true form is liquid. A cloud of red that deconstructs and reconstructs biological matter to recreate things... abominations. Those abominations are made to seek out more biological entities to have it assimilate to the virus to repeat the cycle again. It is also the reason why the sky is red, the virus has a preference of the colour red.
The red zone is the result of the virus trying to reach space, specifically Eden, the place where everyone evacuated to, as a safe haven. The virus resulted in turning to vapor and floating to the skies by the use of the water cycle and going even beyond the clouds but stopped from it's own weight being pulled by gravity and layer of mesosphere. The residue of the virus created the red skies and although the mysterious preference of the colour red, its clouds is dense enough for it to look black.
It was almost three decades ago when the outbreak happened and people were evacuated to bunkers. But those bunkers were few, and only the small part of humanity was blessed to live. Unfortunately, the bunkers were only made with thoughts of warfare, no one knew that the virus' victims were every biological being.
Although there were facilities that operate on animals and plants, that wasn't enough to hold off the virus from spreading to the forests, it completely decimated almost 90% of total animals and plant life.
With those massive amounts of biological samples, the virus began its game of life. It remoulded flesh and blood to create things that may as well be abominations from hell.
"..."
Thinking about those thoughts only brings his mood to the ground.
The shaking of the ship has already stopped in the middle of his mind's monologue.
The earth below him has grown even smaller, he could even see the actual body of the virus, the black sea at the distance... An extreme despair for mankind, the virus ate the sea and turned the aquatic life into its plaything.
His mood only turned more abysmal.
He decided to turn his gaze to above. There he saw it. The paradise where humanity resided in response to the virus' existence.
Eden. Its true name is Exodus Domain of Earth's Nomads. The place where humanity has now placed their hope for protection against the virus.
Eden comprises thirty floors, each floor as the size of a city with heights of each is 500 meters. The total height of Eden is 18 kilometres with an extra kilometer being the combined thickness of the floors and roofs of each artificial city and the other two kilometres being the other more important facilities.
All of the cities facilities are sustained by the space station wide A.I called the Neural Optimized Autonomous Hub, Noah for short. It is created because of the small amount of people that can work on the station's system, the A.I was created because of that. The A.I is the one that is constantly moderating electricity and water of each single person on the space station so that there wouldn't be any shortage.
The space station was originally designed for space travel to colonize mars, but hurried its construction after the outbreak and it resulted in the fuel it needed for planetary travel was lacking, the situation resulted in this, floating in space and having operations to acquire fuel for the travel and materials for sustaining the inhabitants inside.
Although the people has their farms and livestock, the consumption rate is faster than production. Choosing to have people remain on board or to expel them, criminals are given the treatment of the latter than creating jails for them. This made criminal cases and rates lower, but also fear of the people being falsely accused by those at power by their whims.
Even with years already passed, this fortress is still being made. This last bastion of humanity is surrounded by numerous aircrafts, unfinished construction were being made with all of it flying around Eden. From the rushed construction for humanity to escape the virus, Eden was left to be finished longer than it was planned.
Even then, this fortress still keeps it inhabitants comfort of home. A place where no earthly disaster can reach them.
It is truly a work of art.
...
The hangar of Eden opened up and the aircraft landed.
The aircraft's door opened and let it's lone single out.
A walked out and what greeted him were armoured men with weapons.
He only gave out a hum in response.
A single soldier walked up to him and raised their hand.
"The documents."
He gave out the documents about the plan of making humanity's last bastion to fall to the soldier.
Another walked up to him with cuffs and put it on A.
"We're going to the disinfectant chamber now."
The man nodded.
The armoured soldier and the now arrived missionary walked deeper into the hangar.
Why did the person who brought the documents that could save humanity treated this way?
That is because he is infected. Infected by the virus.
...
"A large well done on your work and an even more well done on bringing this piece of intel."
"Thanks."
A gray bearded man seated on a chair inside an office applauded with a kind smile to A on the opposite end of the table in front of him. His form built like a bastion, dignity he exudes surpassing others, and his gaze told stories of wisdom of life. His gray hair telling those who sees him that he has experience numerous years in life with great weight. He is a man of great position.
The bearded man's smile turned serious the next moment.
"It's quite the intel you got, and it's quite a worrisome one as well."
"Yeah. If they are planning this, then they must have already amassed a bigger force if they are this confident to bring Eden down to earth."
A worrisome situation indeed.
If the Moths truly have plans for the last bastion of humanity to fall, then they need a plan for them to continue being up.
The older man's smile returned, a fatherly feeling accompanied by his approachable smile. He gestured to the consumables at the other side of the table.
"Come now, Adagio. You haven't eaten your snack. At least drink the coffee. I guessed you hadn't eaten when you arrived."
The now named A, Adagio, watched as a purple haired woman put an array of biscuits lined at the table before walking back to the bearded man's side, waiting for another order. He looked at the food with scrutiny.
The man before him is someone that you can't decide if he is trustable or not. Although he has many times conversed with him, in briefings, in meetings, or meeting eachother at the hallways, he still cannot help but give doubts.
The man at the end of the table is Anderson Allegro, the general of the defense force and head of foreign affairs, a man with great political power. A man with an unknown motive. A man behind numerous effects inside Eden.
This person doesn't just hand out goodies without an ulterior motive, because he is someone always planning for his next steps. A man like Adagio is certainly not someone important enough to get handed out biscuits and invited for small talks.
"Thank you for your generosity but I am sure that doing so may take the time of a busy man such as yourself, so please tell me what I am going to do. I know I'm not called here to have a conversation with you."
Adagio tried to have his words come out kind and asked the bearded man opposite of him to cut straight to the point.
Anderson smiled with a friendly gesture to him.
"Oh, c'mon, Adagio. Why can't I have a bout of motivation for a chat with my people?"
"I am sure that there are others who can converse more comfortably with you."
He simply wryly smiled at seeing Adagio's desire to have this meeting end faster.
"Well, in a week days, a quarter of our troops will be mobilised to reclaim a base from Moth that was once a research facility that researched genes. We have received intel that the facility has important records of the virus before the evacuation. You will be deployed three day earlier to infiltrate the facility and map out the vicinity."
"A covert mission then."
"You also will be taking out any important personnel when you find a chance."
The superior revealed the information on the next task of Adagio.
A task that needs to have a person who has great skills in infiltration. A skill that the person in front of him has... Not.
Adagio knew all of it is bullshit. Adagio knows that what he is speaking is bullshit. There are others better in stealth operations and even better in disguise.
This is a ploy for something else.
And he can do nothing, because he can only do nothing.
He has no authority for rejecting this guy. Because those infected has no authority in the first place.
"Understood."
"Then good luck."
Adagio pulled the chair down as he stands up. He left with a swift salute before walking through the door which he came. The array of food untouched.
Looking at where he came from and the food he left uneaten, Anderson sighed.
He twirled the spoon as the black coffee swirled. He took a sip.
"Are you sure that this is the only way?"
For the first time, after this meeting of superior and his soldier, the secretary besides him spoke.
"...There is no option, Lilia. This is for the better."
Anderson spoke with the weight of this decision. He cannot change his decision now.
Silence only remain on the room.
...
A door open sideways and a room revealed in his eyes. A gray slightly large living room with the kitchen at the back. The inside of the room is well decorated but not exaggeratedly. There is a single shelf aligning opposite of the painting at the side of the TV, books with the contents seemingly filled with music and arts as depicted on the covers. An acoustic guitar and violin hang on the wall behind the couch, decorated with different paintings. The most eye-catching object in this room was the smaller sized grand piano sitting at the middle.
A room of someone that has likes in the arts and music.
It's still surprising. He still retained this home rather than a cell even when with his infection because of favorability of someone at the higher ups. Guess it was because of his numerous missions he did that gained their liking.
Adagio gave out a sigh that has always been in his throat, finally being able to release it when he is at home. He stepped inside and closed the door behind with a click of the lock.
His step sings a practised melody that tells the comfort of his self finally at his abode. He put his coat on the rack next by the door.
He continued on his steps and walked directly to his room, where his bathroom is at. He has noticed that he slightly reeks of the combined smell of iron and medicine of disinfectant.
The inside of his room wasn't the same design as the outside, in the living room. The living room design was that of a minimalistic, but his room more so in contemporary.
The bed was at the side of the window wall and a nightstand with a flower pot and a single picture frame, a computer set at the other side. A single wall of the room is filled with more varying guitars and string instruments. A bookcase filled with storybooks and novels and a shelf full of miscellaneous decorations was at the side of the door going inside this room, opposite of the numerous musical instruments and different paintings depicting various scenery hanged from the wall. An easel is standing in the middle of the room with a blank canvas seated on it, waiting to be painted.
A room of someone that really likes musical instruments and arts.
His steps stopped.
He noticed the picture frame at the nightstand laying down.
Words in ink pasted on the brown wood at the back of the picture sung to him.
Accompanied by each other's shadows, we rode the road tinted in the sunset's colour. As we all rode with each other's company, everything else faded into nothing. Nothing else matters except for that moment.
Picking it up, the contents of the picture now shown to him reminded him of the past.
There are seven people lined by two rows in the picture, his friends. Four girls were at the front, they posed as exaggeratedly as they can to try to look as womanly as possible. But completely different from them however, were the three guys at the back posing, posing as dumb as they can, looking more like a troupe of clowns.
Adagio vision can't help but see the picture differently.
I saw a warrior ever marching to the promise he made to the world.
I saw a woman giving her all to someone who does not know how to reciprocate the meaning of love.
I saw a gentleman reaching for a dead future, hoping to revive it with his calloused hand.
I saw a wandering lass forever walking in her adventure through tundras and sands.
I saw a frail boy with searching eyes for the golden fruit called reason.
I saw a girl smiling, satisfied at the great end of her fabled destiny.
And the saintess that was destined to be turned silent ever more.
"..."
He continued on his path to the bathroom and washed away his mind along with his memory of time.
...Did what he see really there?
Was that a part of the room?
"..."
His mind is melting.
...
The wind is unmercifully cold as always. The forest's leaves trembled with the wind.
"A of Dark Days, requesting a status report."
A voice spoke out of the communication at the side of his chest, where comms are usually put.
"Infill successful. Currently at the back of the facility at the incinerator and changing in the enemy's uniforms."
Adagio spoke as he put on the last glove.
His new wear coloured in gray was somewhat armoured but still focused on mobility. Light Armour was placed on the legs, forearms, chest and head. The shoulders, stomach and his thighs were left exposed for more lighter movement. This is the suit of their enemy scouts.
"Any information on the numbers currently outside the building's premises?"
The voice once again spoke. Adagio swiftly threw the black colored trash bag inside the incinerator, burning the original wearer of his uniform alongside the trash that was thrown in earlier.
"The enemy numbers outside the premises are roughly in numbers of a hundred and two hundred more inside the facility."
"...Y...Huh?...Roger. A of Dark Days, you may now proceed to your original mission inside. Communication over."
The voice in the comms seems to talk to someone on the other side, before the voice sounded again. Static noise briefly sounded after being issued to continue, before it was silenced.
"..."
He has numerous, uncountable lines of thoughts running through his mind. But all of it was met with silence.
He forgets the interaction and his thoughts, the mission is all he has to do, he must do what he must.
...Adagio continued on his given mission. Suspicion grows in his head.
...
The operation began and chaos did too.
It was surprising, the operation began a day earlier and he didn't have enough time to suit up in his original uniform for the Eden assault force. He panicked, and hurriedly put a bullet inside a Moth's director inside the facility when it began. This in turn had both side's guns pointed at him. Didn't his side get the intel that he was inside? That question is still inside his head. He can't even ask if he wants to, communication is dead, likely from E.M.P interference.
"Tch."
A click of his tongue sounded as he raised his gun and fired at the other side of the hallway where Moth soldiers appeared, the conclusion of the act resulted in all of them dead with a hole in their head.
He continued to sprint into where he could escape to. He is on the third underground floor and the elevators aren't working, going to the staircase will only meet up with Eden forces and have them try to shoot me. Escaping to the emergency exit he found is still no, he relayed the info and Eden likely would have it blocked and guns pointed.
The only exit is the elevator, or rather, climbing the elevator by hand.
Turning at the next hallway, he found the doors of the elevator. And with a demonstration of great strength, he threw a punch at the closed doors. Now indented, the door opened to reveal the void below and above the elevator shaft. The cable that is supposed to hold the elevator is gone, likely a malfunction and it along with the elevator being sent down the shaft.
Jumping at the holdable metals protruding at the walls, he jumped to and from each portion.
The facility has ten floors, seven floors are underground and three above. The first floor most probably is full of Eden soldiers, likely gaining a foothold to not let any Moth escape. The second floor above ground is safer but still likely has soldiers in it. The third floor is safer than the two, with soldiers more likely haven't climb to.
The invasion hadn't been an hour when it started. That's the reason why Eden forces hasn't opened the elevator doors and sent out soldiers grappling down. So the third floor is safer.
With a last jump, he arrived at the last iron door above him, the third floor. He forcefully opened it and climbed inside.
Just as he guessed, it is quiet aside from the sounds of the floors below him.
Looking out the window, he saw both sides still gunning each other out. He can still escape using that.
He ran to the other side, behind the facility. There aren't any backdoors, more so the facility has its backdoors at the side...or is it called side doors?
Anyways. Looking at the window again, there aren't any soldiers outside. Perfect.
He jumped out.
A fall on the third floor definitely makes a person crippled, but once again, with demonstrations of great strength, he landed without having his knees bending to lessen the fall's force.
Instantly, he bolted to the forest behind the facility to escape.
He didn't bring the Eden uniform with him for the limited time he had. So he can only try to search for other clothes to re-dress too.
Or maybe if the E.M.P field Eden deployed was small enough he could run out until his comms returned.
He'll complain about this.
Something behind me.
Adagio lost his balance, collapsing forward as the bullet that pierced his legs made them unmovable.
No normal bullets could glow like this blue hue, and no normal bullet could hurt him like this. These bullets were specifically made!
"Ghk!"
A disorganised grunt sounded out of him.
"Predictable. You should have waited and died inside the facility, Adagio."
A voice sounded behind him.
A blond man walked out of the trees with Eden soldiers at his side. But these soldiers were more suited in more advanced armour than the soldiers deployed at the facility.
"...Arden."
Adagio spoke out the name of the blond.
Arden Leoborn, a captain of the Purging Force. The squad of taking down runaways or traitors.
"Why are you here? What's the meaning of this?"
Adagio asked Arden, his eyes turning to a frown, unbothered with the bullet holes in him.
"Why? Isn't that obvious?"
Arden smiled cheerfully. He spoke in an announcing voice.
"Adagio Verbin. With the evidence of you wearing Moth uniform and weapons used to kill our troops. You are hereby excommunicated and branded as a criminal for siding with the enemy of mankind, for planning the fall of Eden and murder of Eden troops, you are now to be executed."
"..."
Arden announced. Each word only darkened Adagio's face and brought him to a conclusion.
Eden has betrayed him. He has been given this infiltration mission to have him suited as an enemy. And seeing that it's the Purging Force, they won't be hearing any pleas.
Arden spoke to the downed man.
"Not going to talk?"
"...Is Anderson the reason?"
The one who gave him this mission. The one that's close to him being cut down.
"Uh, well. Well, it wasn't him but someone else, who? Can't say."
Arden shrugged.
"...I see."
Then it's something more politically complicated then.
"Any last words?"
The blond man checked the bullets left in his gun, loading it back in before he asked the man at the ground.
"..."
Only silence answered him.
Arden looked at Adagio.
He was betrayed.
He made a promise to the people to be their shield.
The promise of the people to him was betrayal.
Arden knows this, for he is the executioner. He always has been.
"..."
"..."
The two men looks at eachother.
Good tools does not question their job.
He raised his gun.
My mind is melting.
...
...
...
He woke up.
The gentle breeze graced with its touch. The sun's warmth gave him comfort.
The streets are filled with people going on with their day.
The park was filled with people going at picnics with people they know. People running and jogging, some walking their pets for walks. The trees decorated the place, their leaves swaying with the wind.
He woke up from his dream, his? nightmare.
His eyes reflected thks world around him.
...It's in the past now.
"..."
He closed his gaze to regain his mind.
He leaned back his head to the bench he was sitting as he steady his breath. A sigh left out.
He opened his eyes to the sky.
A blue sky.
...
..
.
The false fool wears five masks. Each one is a trial for the journey to seeing it's true face.
First, a white betrayal bearing a heavy crown of monarchy.
One, to be a model of deceit for their stage.
Another, to be a warrior that bears burden on their hunched back.
Then, a continuity to hope in an empty road.
Finally, to be the sacrificial lamb for the new era.