‼️ PAUSED ‼️ ❝ 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘 ❞ ~ [ᵂᵉˡᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᴴᵒᵐᵉ/ᴿᶠ ᵂᵃˡˡʸ ˣ ᴼᶜ]

[𝟑𝟏.²] 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬

_______ 💉 ______



Walden hurried to the Commander, his frustration evident in the creased lines on his forehead.

"Commander, why the retreat? There's still so much to investigate. We can't just leave." He urged, seeking clarity amid the chaos of their mission.



The Commander sighed, glancing at Walden with a stern expression.
"Walden, we only had a limited time to investigate before the dynamites explode.
We can't afford to be caught in the blast.
Our mission is time-sensitive."



"If we hadn't wasted time planting those dynamites, we would've had enough time to investigate further."



The commander sighed, his gloved hand tracing the tension forming around them like an invisible web.
"Walden, look, just listen to me..." He began, attempting to convey a sense of reason amid the frustration that hung in the air.

Undeterred, the commander reached out, placing his hand on the Head Experimenter's shoulder, an instinctive gesture to calm the escalating frustration.
However, Walden swatted the hand away, the rejection echoing his ongoing irritation.



"If we hadn't wasted time planting those dynamites, we could've thoroughly investigated the area.
Now, we're leaving with more questions than answers."

Walden asserted, the frustration palpable in his voice.
The lingering uncertainty of missed opportunities weighed heavily on his mind.



"I share your frustration, Walden.
We'll report back with what we have, and perhaps there will be another chance to delve deeper into this. Right now, we need to-"




The intense exchange between Walden and the Commander came to an unexpected halt, courtesy of a shrill ringtone playing
"Baby Shark by Cocomelon" from a certain soldier's phone.
The continuous loop of the child-friendly melody earned a sheepish grin from the soldier, who quickly offered an apologetic remark to both Walden and the Commander.


"Sorry about that." The soldier chuckled, attempting to diffuse the tension with a touch of humor.



The soldier answered the call and retreated to a corner, his actions almost miraculously timed as if scripted to quell the rising tension between the two men.




The weird glances exchanged between the soldier with the sheepish smile and the Commander transitioned into a more serious atmosphere.


"Commander, it's for you."
Approaching the Commander with purpose, the soldier held out their gloved hand, presenting a phone that seemed to hold critical information.
The rest of the team gathered, anticipating the unfolding events.



A soldier's voice emanated from the phone, calling out to the Commander's attention with a sense of urgency.
The Commander, acknowledging the importance of the call, responded to the unseen soldier on the other end of the line.



As the call progressed, the soldier on the other end heaved a heavy sigh, signaling the weight of the news they were about to deliver.

("Commander, we've got both good news and bad news, what you'd like to hear first?") The soldier on the phone conveyed, prompting the Commander to make a choice.



"Give me the good news first." The Commander responded, a subtle furrow in his brow hinting at the anticipation of positive developments.



The soldier on the other end proceeded to share the good news, detailing a lead or breakthrough in their mission.
A ripple of relief and optimism spread through the team as they heard the positive developments.
Murmurs of encouragement and exchanged glances conveyed a sense of shared relief.



("Remember the relic we're tasked to retrieve?") The soldier began, capturing the team's attention.
("My teammates got it, it's only a blueprint, although burned and torn, but slightly legible.")




An air of curiosity mixed with anticipation settled among the team members.
They leaned in, their focus solely on the voice emanating from the phone.
The soldier's words hinted at a significant development, one that held the key to their mission.
The soldier on the other end paused, and a short silence ensued, intensifying the suspense in the room.
The team awaited the next piece of crucial information that would shape their course of action.



("And you were right with your guess,") The soldier continued, breaking the silence.
("It is indeed a destructive weapon, a nuclear one, hence the name Lightbane.")



The weight of the revelation hit the team with a solemn realization.
The mission they were on, initially shrouded in mystery, had now unveiled a perilous truth.
The destructive potential of the Lightbane weapon added a layer of urgency and gravity to their task.



"Shit... what do we do now?"
Walden inquired, his voice reflecting a mix of concern and determination.
The room held a collective tension, each team member processing the newfound information in their own way.



"Okay, we need to act fast. Secure that blueprint and get back here immediately.
We can't afford any delays."
The Commander commanded, his authoritative tone cutting through the room.



("Yes, sir.")



The Commander, with a steely gaze, acknowledged the soldier's affirmation.
The urgency of their mission took precedence over further discussion at that moment.

He understood that time was a critical factor, and swift action was imperative.
"We'll discuss the rest later," the Commander declared, his tone firm.
"Our time is running out; we need to go."



The team mobilized quickly. They synchronized their movements, understanding the gravity of the situation at hand. The potential threat posed by the Lightbane weapon demanded precision and efficiency in their actions.