I'm no trooper

Chapter 35: Conflict

F/N's perspective

Smoke billowed high in the sky above us, the land scorched, and rumble lay scattered all around. With exaggerated coughs, shaking my head as the loud ringing in my ears came to an end.

F/N: "The fuck just hit us...

I said before looking down. Mine lay cradled in my arms, bits of her already destroyed outfit still singed with glowing embers as she gazed up at me, a small smile crossing her lips.

Mine: "Thanks...idiot."

She said weakly; her earlier tone evaporated as I gently set her down with a nod. Looking around, though, I saw the Boss and Susanoo beside us, the organic Imperial arm having shielded her from the blast as I had for Mine. Despite this, to my irritation, the only sign of Kurome had been was the charred corpse of her frog puppet.

F/N: "She got away...

Nejenda: "Yes, a regrettable outcome."

She said as she stood up and lit a cigar, Najenda's gaze shifting over to me as I removed my helmet, dusting off darkened soot from the back.

Najenda: "So, I presume you encountered the Sister?"

F/N: "Yes....wait."

I said and quickly mashed a few buttons on my wrist-mounted comm, static erupting from the device for a few moments before clearing as a robotic voice spoke.

IG: "Are you alright, sir?"

IG's voice was settling a small pit in my stomach as I sat back.

F/N: "Mostly little burnt. What's your status?"

I asked as IG went silent for a moment before speaking in a more monotone voice.

IG: "Fire damage detected, but functional besides a fifty percent drop in left arm motor function, sir."

F/N: "And the others? Are they ok?"

The comm was again silent for a couple more seconds before it spoke again.

IG: "Vital functions of most Night Raid personal accounted for; however, Leone has sustained severe injuries."

He said as I looked up at the Boss, though she only nodded after taking a drag from her cigar.

Najenda: "She'll heal. IG, status on our combatants?"

She said, now standing over my shoulder, the droid speaking soon after.

IG: "13th Sister has vanished after Imperial Arm detonation. The puppet master and pyro identified as Kurome and Bols are also absent; they are still at large."

Nejenda: "Alright....let's gather up and meet at the safe house; we'll make plans from there on moving forward."

She said as there was a confirmation beep through the comm before it cut back to static. Mine slowly got up to her feet as I attached my helmet to my waist, though I couldn't shake a feeling welling up in the back of my mind,

Mine: "Hey, something wrong?"

She asked as I got to my feet. The thing biting at the back of my mind seemed to grow more familiar, just like on that moonlit night.

F/N: "Yeah, I've got a feeling... I'll meet you all at the safehouse."

I said as Mine gave me a concerned look before the Boss stepped in.

Najenda: "Go, but keep yourself safe."

F/N: "Copy that."

I said and ran off into what remained of the forest surrounding the bombed-out canyon, only taking me a few meters to move from the burned-out and charred tree's into ones of lush green leaves and dark brown bark. However, it only helped to backdrop the sudden vision that took me from left field—watching as Bols tended to a wounded child before being stabbed in the back with a needle. The weapon firmly gripped by the familiar auburn-haired assassin Chelsea, a satisfied smile on her face.