An observatory stood in the center of the city.
Built on top of the central tower.
It's clock hands—
Ticked.
Guiding the city around it.
It's gears—
Churned.
At the same intervals.
A man stood—
Alone.
High above the city.
Stars flickered in the sky above.
A wine glass rested between his fingers.
Footsteps approached him.
Another knelt down behind him.
"I bring a report."
The man did not turn.
"Marco…"
His hand—
Reached.
To the air in front.
"...the transport?"
Marco's hand rested on his chest.
"It will arrive…"
His gaze lifted.
"...when the clock meets half."
A ticking—
Sounded.
"Send Watchman Ⅲ."
Marco exhaled.
"Of course."
The air—
Split.
Before him.
His finger—
Traced.
Marco rose to his feet.
The man raised his wine glass.
"Deploy…"
Marco paused, facing him.
The glass reached his lips.
The ticking—
Continued.
"...03."
…
Sunlight rested on the blinds covering the window.
A tumbleweed rolled on the wasteland outside.
Kane's eyes—
Opened.
His mind—
Calm.
He lifted the covers, moving to get ready.
A knock sounded from behind the door.
Kane opened it.
His eyes—
Forward.
Looking into the hallway.
Art stood in frame.
Another presence—
Standing beside her.
They tried to get close.
Art pulled her back.
"Good morning."
Kane nodded.
Art turned, walking towards the courtyard.
Kane stepped out, trailing behind her.
The other kept pace next to him.
Her hands folded behind her back.
"Do you like the room?"
Kane's chin lowered.
"I…guess."
She leaned forward, tilting her head up.
Her eyes—
Crescent.
Facing inwardly.
Dark where light should be.
"The chains suit you."
Kane's eyes—
Twitched.
He paused.
"...Thanks."
Art glanced over her shoulder.
"Elaina stop bothering him."
Elaina turned her head.
Her cheeks—
Puffed.
Art exhaled.
Wheels turning sounded before them.
Workers moved stone slabs across the open courtyard.
Art noticed two people reclining at the table near the fountain.
She pointed to them.
"Let's go."
Grimm shouted, waving at Art.
"Come join me."
Art stopped at the end of the table.
Kane and Elaina behind her.
She glanced at the table.
"Two plates?"
Grimm shook his head.
"Joe left a few minutes ago."
Elaina interjected, sitting across from Grimm.
"To do what?"
Grimm pointed his fork at her.
"Some gathering mission."
Elaina gave a blank stare.
Art pulled a chair back, sitting down next to her.
"We're going to Tremor after breakfast."
Elaina perked up in her chair.
"Let me come too."
Art exhaled
"Fine."
Kane stood—
Alone.
Watching the table.
Art pointed to the seat across from her.
"Sit down."
Kane's body—
Moved.
A moment later.
He sat—
Still.
Art and Elaina stood, walking over to the kitchen.
Grimm bumped Kane with his elbow.
"Are you excited?"
Kane's head—
Turned.
"Sure."
Grimm deeply sighed.
Art and Elaina returned.
Food was gathered.
Forks moved across the plates.
Light conversation filled the space around them.
Kane finished—
Last.
The empty plates were stacked at the end of the table.
Art took them, returning after a short while.
She turned towards Tremor's workshop.
"It's time."
Grimm and Elaina followed her, walking at the same pace.
Kane followed shortly after.
…
A metal door stood before them.
Art reached for the latch.
The door—
Creaked.
Opening towards her.
Jean was beyond the doorway.
She looked up.
"Good morning."
Art nodded.
"Is the gear finished?"
Jean pointed behind her.
"Follow me."
She led them through the workshop.
A faint blue light guided her.
They moved past piles of scrap metal.
Jean paused.
They copied.
Tremor stood at his workbench.
A weapon floated down, resting next to an identical one.
Jean tapped his shoulder.
"They're here."
The light blue hue faded.
He moved to the side.
"It's ready."
Kane stepped—
Forward.
Stopping at the desk.
His eyes—
Focused.
A pair of magnums—
Placed.
One just like the other.
Kane reached, lifting one.
It's shape—
Solid.
Minimal.
The color—
Sleek.
Dark as the night sky.
A thin crack traced the barrels.
Kane stayed—
Motionless.
Observing the weapon.
His chains—
Swayed.
Elaina's mouth widened, covering it with her hand.
She moved past Kane.
"Let me see."
Grimm was beside her.
His eyes widened.
"Me too."
They reached for the second one.
Grimm held it, turning it on each side.
He scratched his head.
"There's no magazine."
Tremor moved closer.
"It's like the others…"
He rubbed the bags under his eyes.
"...desire-fueled."
Kane's hand—
Twitched.
His head—
Tilted.
"..Desire?"
Grimm's expression—
Changed to disbelief.
Elaina's hand rested on her hips.
"You know…"
Her finger pointed to her left.
"...like this."
Her veins surged pink.
A string—
Manifested.
From her fingertip.
Art stepped close to Kane.
"It's the manifestation…"
A white glow—
Pulsed.
Throughout her veins.
"...of your heart's longings."
The air—
Shifted.
Kane's being—
Shook.
A crack—
Pulsed.
Searching for something.
His chains—
Rattled.
He began—
Reaching.
Lifting his arm.
Metal hit the table behind him.
His hand—
Lowered.
The hollow within—
Returned to emptiness.
The glows—
Faded.
Grimm placed the magnum on the table surface.
He turned, facing Kane.
"Let's go test them."
Grimm headed for the door.
Elaina moved close behind.
Jean walked to a chair close by.
"Wait."
She reached for a large case.
"Here's the equipment for the mission."
Art reached for the handle.
"Thanks."
She turned, catching up with Grimm and Elaina.
Kane stayed—
Motionless.
Observing the magnum in his hand.
Jean placed leather holsters on the table.
"For the weapons."
Kane's gaze—
Shifted.
He reached for the holsters, placing them on his hips.
The magnums—
Rested at his thighs.
Grimm's voice echoed from the entrance door.
"You coming, Kane?"
Kane turned.
He paused before moving out of Tremor's sight.
"Thanks."
Tremor sat down in his chair.
"No problem."
Kane's stride—
Increased.
Catching up with the others.
…
A faint humming sounded in the hallway.
Elaina's hands rested on the back of her head.
She continued singing, leading them to the training room.
The door opened.
Grimm pointed at a nearby bench
"I'm just going to watch."
Elaina nodded.
"Same."
Art exhaled, moving to the single terminal.
She input a set of commands.
The room—
Shifted.
Revealing many targets.
The floor—
Changed.
Resembling a practice range.
Art hooked her thumb to a gun rack.
"Let's practice."
She turned, heading towards the end of the room.
Kane followed.
They stood side by side.
Targets lined before them.
Art reached for a handgun.
Kane copied her.
His magnums stayed holstered.
Art's stance—
Adjusted.
Controlling her breathing.
Her feet—
Planted.
With a firm grip.
A shot—
Rang.
Striking the center.
Another shot.
Her posture—
Consistent.
Measured as before.
Kane mirrored.
His stance—
Stiff.
Breathing too short.
The grip—
Tightened.
Shoulders lifted too high.
He squeezed the trigger.
The shot—
Veered.
Missing every target.
Kane overcorrected.
Another shot—
Low.
Hitting the floor.
Art stepped behind him, adjusting his elbows.
"Relax."
Her finger rested on his.
The trigger—
Squeezed.
The shot—
Landed.
On the outer ring.
Art moved to the side.
Her gaze—
Studied.
Kane was—
Still.
Expressionless.
His eyes—
Blank.
Art's finger rested on her chin.
"You need more practice."
The communicator—
Buzzed.
Vibrating in her pocket.
She removed it.
Her face—
Tightened.
She turned to the door.
"It's time."
…
Orange light illuminated the ground below.
Gears clicked in unison.
Conductors wheeled cargo onto the train.
A man leaned on the wall—
Alone.
Watching the station.
Footsteps approached.
The sound—
Stopped.
Another stood before him.
"Remember the protocol."
The leaning man crossed his arms.
"If that makes you happy."
The other turned, facing the passing civilians.
"Let's move."
A sigh came from the other.
"Alright."
He arrived at the train.
Civilians began boarding the cars next to him.
His fingers—
Curled.
Forming a fist.
He shifted his gaze to the crowds.
Something within—
Imprinted.
A familiar feeling.
His hand—
Traced.
Moving down his sleeves.
The wrist cuffs—
Unhooked.
The sleeve—
Fell.
Revealing his forearm.
A flickering light outlined.
A burned brand—
03.