(Remaster) The Abyss Calls Out

Scattered Hopes

Please note that the prior chapter is obviously an April Fool's joke, that wasn't canon.

Which means this takes place as the next chapter after "Hatred Manifest".

Enjoy
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It was quiet...not a word, not a sound, not even a sniffle of an irritated nose.

Everyone had collected the cubes and/or bodies of their comrades, leaving the clean up for the relief forces sent post invasion. Many would have wanted to stay and help, but they couldn't idle for long, since an invasion could crop up anywhere at anytime.

Such a thing is why so many are...tired.

Such as, for example, Kii. She was in the medbay, currently being healed up after severing her own tail in order to escape from the monstrous Haku. She laid on her side and stared into nothing, her mind going over the events of the day that she just experienced.

She had watched Haku meet her end, not by her own hands, but by the hands of one of Haku's own ally. Her own weapons could do nothing without the strength to properly push them through her Abyssal hide, and yet, that woman who looked so eerily Human cut through her body like paper.

'Am I...too weak?' She gripped at her covers, doubt and worries beginning to seep into her mind from everything that has occurred in this war. 'Every time I come to fight, I can do nothing but watch as these monsters rip everything to pieces...'

...

She slowly sat up, feeling less faint then before thanks to the work done on her. Her eyes, once hollow from her dim thoughts, slowly regained their fire, her eyes getting their color back as she snarled and grit her teeth.

'No...no! I won't give up because of this, I only need to grow more! These monsters gorge themselves on corpses and grow fat on their prey, who can't even fight back!'

She threw the covers off, standing up and grabbing her Ōdachi to use as a walking cane. Kii still felt weak after all of this, but she'll be damned if she's going to sit around and do nothing while everyone else is suffering and licking their wounds, much like she was.

...

That's why she had a goal in mind, a destination. Off to the Bunks she went, in search for the only other person to survive the initial engagement with Haku.
——

Kii slowly opened the door to this room, peeking inside the darkness where the metal flooring was the only thing lit by the hall lights. It was quiet, as expected, but nonetheless she did have a goal in mind for the person inside this room.

They got off relatively unscathed during the battle, at least physically. Mentally on the other hand...

She walked inside, her blade thumping against the floor as she approached the bed with the person she came to see. They were laying away from her, golden blonde hair strewn about and somewhat dirtied thanks to the grime of the battle.

"Cleveland...are you awake?"

...

She knew she was awake, just ignoring her and staying the way she was with her back to her. A sad sight it was knowing the woman who once stood proud only a day ago, but a single day changed it all.

Kii didn't mind this behavior, more expected it it than anything else, so she grabbed the chair that was meant for the desk so she could be next to Cleveland as support, her hand gently rubbing on Cleveland's shoulder. The cruiser still refused to move from her spot, no gentle persuasions were going to get her roused after everything that had happened.