The communicator screen turned dark.
Art placed it back in her pocket.
Grimm scratched his head.
"What'd it say?"
Art's eyes fixed on Kane.
"Arthur has…"
She exhaled.
"...a new mission."
A grin formed on Grimm's face.
He moved towards the exit.
"Finally."
Grimm's footsteps grew further away.
Art paused.
Her gaze—
Held.
Jean packed her things, walking next to Art.
She tapped her on the shoulder.
"We shouldn't keep him waiting."
Art exhaled.
"Yeah..You're right."
Jean continued, catching up to Grimm.
Art turned.
"Come with me…"
Her face tightened, as she started walking.
"...Kane."
Kane's body—
Turned.
Facing her direction.
He stood—
A moment later.
His chains—
Rested.
…
Air was being filtered through the vents above.
Grimm and Jean stood outside a door.
Light reflected the label next to it.
Briefing room.
Footsteps grew closer.
Art arrived a moment later.
Kane was with her.
Jean reached for the door, twisting the handle.
It opened, with her stepping through.
The room—
Still.
A round table sat in the center.
The furthest chair faced away from them.
A coffee mug—
Rested.
Sitting near a file.
Art and Grimm entered a moment later.
The chair—
Turned.
Facing the door.
The air—
Tightened.
Their postures—
Straightened.
Folding their hands behind their back.
Arthur spoke with a stern voice.
"Sit."
They separated, moving to their seats.
Kane entered behind them.
Arthur's gaze—
Focused.
His face—
Relaxed.
For a moment.
Kane reached for a nearby chair.
Arthur's lips parted.
"005…"
His hands folded together.
"...you're an anomaly."
His words—
Lingered.
Kane's hand—
Twitched.
Stopping behind the chair.
A crack—
Pulsed.
Beneath the surface.
Arthur leaned forward.
"Yet anomalies…"
His eyes matched with Kane's.
"...can be useful."
The coffee—
Rippled.
Kane's chains—
Swayed.
The crack—
Settled.
Kane pulled the chair back, sitting down.
Art lifted her hand.
"Meaning?"
Arthur's posture straightened.
"It's time he paid his debt."
His gaze—
Held.
Not moving from Kane.
The other members turned towards him.
Kane's core—
Shifted.
A fragment—
Surfaced.
Gently crossing his mind.
A voice—
Distant.
Like it hummed from far away.
"...return…equal…kind—"
The memory—
Cut.
Like it was pushed out.
Arthur reached for his coffee mug.
Kane's lips parted.
"I'll…"
His eyes glanced between each person.
"...repay it."
The mug covered Arthur's mouth.
His lips—
Folded.
Revealing a small grin.
He tapped a button on his chair.
A projector—
Clicked.
In the center of the table.
Green displays—-
Appeared.
Displaying different information.
Arthur lowered the coffee.
"Your mission—Infiltration and Recovery."
Jean reached into her bag.
She pulled out a notepad.
"What are we infiltrating?"
Arthur motioned to the middle screen.
"A civilian train…"
The screen shifted.
"...from the eastern lab."
Jean pointed at a pen near Art.
Grimm pointed at the left screen.
"Why am I on stand by?"
Arthur glanced at Art.
She exhaled.
"This is infiltration…"
Art handed Jean the pen.
"...not a frontal assault."
Grimm folded his arms.
"Whatever."
Jean clicked the pen.
Her eyes read the information on the right screen.
"Why are we recovering canisters of fluid?"
Arthur's face tightened.
"Research."
He cleared his throat.
"Anything else?"
Art's ears twitched.
"What is Kane's…"
Her eyes moved to him.
"...purpose in coming along?"
Arthur pressed a button.
"To prove…"
His arms rested on the chair.
"...his worth."
Grimm's hands—
Twitched.
Jean's shoulders—
Shifted.
Their bodies—
Recalled.
Art's eyes—
narrowed.
I know…
Her head—
Lowered.
…he read the report.
The projector—
Hummed.
Green screens—
Flickered.
Before turning off.
The sound—
Gone.
Arthur's chair turned.
A word formed.
"Dismissed."
He faced the wall behind him.
Chairs rolled back.
They stood—
Saluting.
Before exiting the room.
Kane stayed—
Seated.
Arthur raised his hand.
"Inform her aswell."
Art exhaled.
"Yes, sir."
Grimm pulled the door open, exiting the room.
Jean followed close behind.
Art paused, tapping Kane's shoulder.
Kane stood, following close behind.
…
The courtyard fountain flowed behind them.
Orange light shone from the glass above.
Jean hooked her thumb behind her.
"Since Kane is coming along…"
She turned, facing the hallway.
"...let's go see Tremor."
Art nodded.
"I agree."
Grimm's stomach growled.
"Let's get dinner first."
Jean smirked.
"Sure."
Grimm and Jean headed to the nearby kitchen.
Art pointed at a table near the fountain.
"Let's wait for them."
Kane nodded, sitting down at the table.
Art sat across from him.
A pleasant aroma filled the courtyard after a few minutes.
Footsteps grew closer to them.
Grimm and Jean stoop at the end of the table.
They placed a plate in front of Art and Kane before sitting down.
Forks scraped across the plate.
Grimm looked at Kane's plate.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
Kane reached for his fork.
He ate—
Slowly.
Art left, returning with drinks for each of them.
Light conversation took over the chewing sounds.
Grimm reached for his water.
"I wonder what…"
It reached his lips, taking a sip he lowered it.
"…gear he'll make."
Jean lowered her fork.
"Who knows."
Art turned towards her.
"Are there any spare rooms?"
Jean glanced up.
"The one at the end of the hall is open."
Art looked at Kane.
"I'll show you after we're done at the workshop."
Kane's head lifted towards her.
"Okay."
The fountain flowed steadily.
Plates were cleaned, stacking on the edge of the table.
Jean stood, taking the dishes to the kitchen.
She returned shortly after.
"Let's get going."
…
Lights flickered above them.
Vent shafts ran along the ceiling above.
Jean paused before a metal door.
She lifted the latch on the outside.
The door opened.
Scrap metal piled on top of different tables.
Dismantled machinery were separated by shelves.
Jean stepped through.
"Follow me."
The rest entered behind her.
Tinkering sounded from the back.
Sparks flashed as they grew closer.
A light blue hue surrounded a workstation.
Tremor sat at his desk.
Jean held her hand out, stopping the others' movements.
Parts floated before Tremor.
A schematic was laid out in the air.
Kane stopped next to Art and Grimm.
His eyes—
Focused.
On the blue hue.
His hollow—
Stirred.
As if it longed for something.
Tremor's fingers guided the parts together.
Each piece—
Aligned.
As if he was completing a puzzle.
He exhaled.
The gadget—
Complete.
Floating down to the desk top.
The glow faded from his veins.
Jean stepped forward.
"Tremor, are you busy?"
Tremor's chair turned, facing her.
He placed his heels on the chair, resting his palms over his knees.
His voice—
Soft.
Like he had just woken up.
"Not at the moment."
Jean pointed at Kane.
"We need some gear."
Tremor's eyes—
Shifted.
Focusing on Kane.
His body—
Jolted.
From the chains.
Kane stood—
Still.
Tremor collected his breath.
"Sorry about that."
Grimm's eyebrow raised.
"You okay man?"
His feet lowered, touching the ground.
"Yeah."
Jean stopped next to him.
"Are you ready?"
Tremor's posture straightened.
"I'll get started.'"
His veins—
Surged.
With a light blue glow.
His eyes—
Ignited.
Looking past the surface.
There was—
Nothing.
Like an empty shell.
Tremor's mind—
Floated.
In emptiness.
A faint—
Calling.
In the distance.
Tremor's body—
Drifted towards it.
A purple hue—
Guiding.
A crack—
Surfaced.
Opening towards him.
A pressure—
Exerted.
Forcing Tremor out.
Tremor's breathing escalated.
His face—
Darkened.
Cold sweat—
Formed.
Across his brow.
The air—
Shifted.
Moving away from Kane.
Chains softly—
Swayed.
The workshop—
Silent.
Art's fingers twitched.
Grimm focused on Tremor.
Jean placed her hand on his back, helping calm him.
The light blue glow faded from his veins.
Tremor's head—
Lifted.
In Kane's direction.
"It'll be ready tomorrow."
His chair slowly spun around.
Jean stayed next to him.
Art placed her hand on Kane's shoulder.
"It's late…"
She glanced at the exit.
"...let's get going."
Art headed toward the door.
Grimm followed close behind.
Kane stood—
Alone.
A moment passed.
He headed to Art and Grimm.
…
The door slid open before him.
Art motioned her hand to the room.
"You can sleep here."
She turned, heading to her own room.
Kane stepped through.
The room was clean with minimal furniture.
Kane sat on the bed.
Alone.
His body—
Fell.
Onto its back.
He focused on the roof above.
His eyes—
Shut.
Kane's mind—
Drifted.
Through his empty thoughts.
A crack—
Pulsed.
His chains—
Swayed.
…
Moonlight entered through the window behind him.
A single file rested next to a mug.
Arthur lifted the folder.
The lamp outlined its pages.
His fingers pressed into his temple, as he read the file.
It's still…
Arthur closed it, tossing it on the desk.
He turned, facing the night sky.
A star flickered in the distance.
His expression—
Calm.
He leaned back.
…Bolt.