The Shards of War: The Experiments

Chapter 7

The next morning, Matsu woke up in the safe house, his mind still grappling with the events of the previous night. Peony was sleeping soundly beside him, her peaceful expression bringing a sense of comfort amidst the turmoil. Determination filled his heart as he knew he needed to take action to keep his family safe. Matsu reached for his communicator and dialed the number of the his sisters. After a few rings, Yumiko's voice came through the device. "Matsu? Is everything alright?" "Matsu, what's wrong?" Khamenei's voice echoed in concern in the background. "I'm fine," Matsu replied, trying to sound composed. "But I need a favor from you all. Can you check to see if the platform where we were found after escaping the deep sea has returned?" There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Iyomei's voice chimed in, "Why do you need to know that, Matsu?" "I just have a feeling," Matsu answered evasively. "Please, it won't take long for you to check."

Yumiko spoke again, her tone softening with understanding. "Alright, we'll look into it, Matsu. But promise us that you'll take care of yourself and Peony. We don't want anything happening to you both." "I promise," Matsu replied sincerely, grateful for his sisters' concern. "Thank you, Yumiko." After ending the call, Matsu glanced at Peony, who was now stirring awake. He smiled gently, ruffling her hair. "Good morning, Peony. How did you sleep?" Peony yawned and stretched, giving Matsu a sleepy smile. "I slept good, Daddy. Are we going home now?" Matsu hesitated for a moment, contemplating how to respond. "Not just yet, sweetheart," he said gently. "We're staying here for a little longer to make sure we're safe." Peony looked up at Matsu, her eyes filled with trust and love. "Okay, Daddy." Matsu's heart swelled with love for his daughter. "Thank you, Peony," he said, holding her close. "I promise I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

As they waited for news from Eclipse City, Matsu focused on being present for Peony, cherishing each moment with her. And deep down, he knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together as a family, drawing strength from their love and unity. The tension in the room was palpable as Matsu, Calie, Marie, Old Man Steele, and Peony sat around the breakfast table in the safe house. The events of the previous night had left them all on edge, and an uneasy silence hung in the air. Matsu couldn't help but glance at the window every now and then, his mind preoccupied with worries about their safety. Just then, Matsu's communicator buzzed, indicating an incoming call from Yumiko. He picked it up with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. "Yumiko, did you find anything?" "Yes, Matsu," Yumiko's voice came through. "The platform where we were found after escaping the deep sea is visible again. And we've noticed some suspicious activity around it." Matsu's heart sank. He knew that the appearance of the platform was not a good sign. "What kind of activity?" he asked, trying to remain calm.

"There are people coming and going from the platform," Yumiko explained. "They seem to be Desolans, and they've been approaching the area with caution, as if they're trying to remain undetected." "Desolans?" Calie interjected, her eyes narrowing. "What are they doing here?" "We're not sure," Yumiko replied. "But it's clear that they're up to something, and it could be related to you and Peony." Marie looked worriedly at Matsu. "We need to be careful," she said. "They might be after us again." Matsu nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of how to keep his family safe. "We can't stay here," he said firmly. "We need to find somewhere else to go, somewhere they won't think to look for us." Old Man Steele spoke up, his voice steady. "I have a few safe houses scattered around the city," he said. "We can go to one of them and lay low for a while."

"That sounds like a good plan," Matsu agreed. "Let's pack up and leave as soon as possible." As they began to prepare to leave, the atmosphere in the room remained tense. Each member of the family felt the weight of the danger they were facing, but they also knew that they had each other to rely on. With Peony nestled safely in Matsu's arms, they set out on their journey to the next safe house, determined to protect their family at all costs. As they drove away from the safe house, Matsu couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were once again caught in a dangerous web. As they arrived at the new safe house, Matsu wasted no time in setting up a training area in the spacious living room. He pulled out a large duffel bag filled with airsoft guns, protective gear, and foam targets for Tactical Takedown—a sport that combined elements of team deathmatch in shooter games with the physicality of real-life combat. Curiosity piqued, Calie, Marie, Old Man Steele, and Peony gathered around to watch Matsu in action. "What's Tactical Takedown?" Marie asked, her eyes lighting up with interest at the array of airsoft guns.