[SFW VERSION]
🌹 There's something wonderful in those who stare death in the face. Even in a world wracked by relentless calamity, flowers blossom between a sea of corpses, the shapeless crimson rivers marched over by mechanical instruments of mass...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I'm so sorry, Commander..."
With warm tears running down her cheeks, the girl lifts the handgun. I pound my fist relentlessly on the glass but to no avail; this barrier is the last thing separating me from one more Nikke whom I cannot save.
I try to scream at her to not do it, don't do it, but for once she is unresponsive to my commands. For the first time in a lifetime, I am no longer the Commander. I am simply a pawn placed in the midst of a horrific spectacle, my purpose in life no longer to lead and command, but rather to watch as everything around me turns to ashes and rivers of blood.
"I'm so sorry," she says again, the gun inching ever closer to her head until she has the barrel pressed loosely against the side of her forehead.
The elevator begins to move. Knowing my time here is limited, I try to persuade her once more. I shout and scream and beg for her not to pull the trigger. My voice becomes strained, my throat turns dry, and even I am shedding tears while I watch my loyal comrade threaten to take her own life.
"It was a pleasure fighting with you," is the last thing she says before the elevator picks up the pace, hoisting itself off the ground. As the Nikke's image fades out of my view and I can no longer see her from the elevator shaft, I shut my eyes and cover my ears, collapsing to my knees. My body trembles, my hands turn cold. Even with my palms cupped tight over my ears, I am forced to listen to the shrill bang of a gunshot ringing out from below the elevator.
And although I can not see her blood, I taste her death. Because I was unable to do enough to save her life, as well as the lives of the others, I feel myself breaking down in a fit of guilt — and the vile taste of blood in my mouth never ceases.
* * *
Present Day.
"Patching through to the Operator."
Rapi presses a finger to the communication device. Nothing happens for a second, we both stare at the sorry little thing for a moment, but eventually it comes online and Shifty's voice comes through.
"Rapi. Commander," she says.
Rapi brings her mouth close to the radio. "The retrieval mission was a success. But we're stranded. We came across a group of Raptures who all appear to be standing guard next to our only way out."
I look away and let Rapi handle the communications. As she said, Raptures are blocking the nearby roads, rendering the way home far too dangerous to try crossing. We've taken refuge in a ruined building that happened to have a bit of high ground so that these Raptures don't spot us. If they were to, our lack of firepower would lead us to a certain death — after all, it's just myself and Rapi on the Surface today.
I realize it wasn't wise to come with only one Nikke, but given the minuscule amount of effort this retrieval operation required, I figured it wouldn't warrant the whole squad coming with.
