Hells Bells

Mato to Azeal.

May 16th, 2025. Dimension Reclassified: Azeal, Some cafe in Tokyo

AMAKI: This is Amaki Nono of the Mato News Agency, reporting on the conference of nations being held in the ruins of Azur's capital.

The reporter moves down the hall of a stadium, passing a sign that says no entry. The crew take a turn and quickly start running when two military police round the same corner chasing them. The camera quickly pans back to the reporter.

AMAKI: It appears they aren't fond of the press, this has been Amaki Nono of MNA , signing off.

She is tased to the ground and the camera cuts out when the holder is tackled.

The cafe is lively with returning servicemen finally able to go and rest in their home dimension. Manner takes a sip of her coffee with her superior glaring at her from across the table.

MANNER: Don't you think it's absolutely crazy that just because they serve in an army that treats them like first class citizens, they think we should do the same.

SUPERIOR: I didn't call for this meeting for you to bitch about your personal beliefs.

MANNER: My personal beliefs? You also thought the same thing before they made you in charge of the AMC, not like that matters considering those bastards closed the gateways.

SUPERIOR: Let's just get to the point.

MANNER: It's about my punishment right? Trying to please our new oppressors are you?

Before the superior answers her remark, a hand is felt on her shoulder. She looks up at one of the servicemen brandishing a silenced pistol at Manner. The man fires two rounds into Manner. She falls over lifeless with a pool of blood forming. The man holsters his weapon and takes his hand off the woman's shoulder placing it on the table, then leaving the cafe. The other military personnel carry on like nothing happened, while the civilians either call the police or rush to the lifeless body of the disgraced chief. The Superior stares at the corpse, a numbing sensation running through her body. She looks down at the table noticing a note left behind by the man. She unfolds and starts to scan it as she does her hand increasingly starts to shake. Her vision goes out and she falls to the floor foaming at the mouth. As the sounds of sirens and peoples voices start to fade. She can only think of the words as she breathes her last. The princess sends her regards.

( The MNA is the name of a Mato based news agency that follows US forces across dimensions to report on other dimensions for the people of Mato. No matter how hard the US tries to stop them from following them, they always slip through. So the US gave up and set boundaries for which dimensions they can travel to, though Amaki doesn't follow this rule most of the time putting her on a list of banned reporters.)