Arknights Chronicles One

TG - 4 Sentinel

Year 1096, December 23, 18: 10 PM
Location : Core Of Chernobog



Ronin muttered under his breath as he struggled to pack his belongings with just one arm. The clattering of items echoed through the core room, a sharp contrast to the silence that had once dominated the space. His frustration grew with each item that slipped or fell, but he pressed on, determined to leave no trace of his presence.

He took a moment to scan the room, ensuring that nothing was left behind. His gaze swept across the makeshift home he had hastily dismantled, checking for any sign that might betray his stay. The space was nearly empty now, save for a few scattered items still awaiting packing.

As Ronin reached for the last of his belongings on the table, a photograph caught his attention. The familiar image caused him to pause, his hand hovering over the photo. For a brief moment, the urgency of his situation faded, replaced by the memories the photo evoked. As Ronin reached for the last of his belongings on the table, a photograph caught his attention. The familiar image made him pause, his hand hovering over it as he stared for a few moments, memories flooding back. Slowly, he picked up the photo, the urgency of his departure momentarily forgotten. His expression softened, and he closed his eye, letting out a tired sigh as the weight of the memories settled on him.

Opening his eye, Ronin carefully placed the photo back on the table. With deliberate movements, he gently folded it, ensuring it would be safe. Once folded, he tucked it into his pocket, securing it close to him. After his brief moment of reflection over, he returned to packing, but the photo's presence added a new resolve to his actions.

"I don't have much time. It's been at least an hour since I sent the signal to her. Babel teams will be here any min—"

Ronin's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a metal door creaking open below. His eye widened, and his heart skipped a beat as the urgency of the situation became clear. The guests he'd been expecting had arrived sooner than anticipated. He quickly moved to the edge and looked down at the ground floor, where three figures were rushing towards the centre of the room.

Realizing time was running out, Ronin took a step back and hurried back to his makeshift home, double-checking that he had everything he needed. Satisfied that nothing was left behind, he closed his backpack and picked it up before silently vanishing from the top of the core.

Reappearing near the entrance of the room that housed the sarcophagus, Ronin cautiously peered inside. His brow furrowed in confusion as he noticed the logo on their outfits, a name that didn't immediately register with him. "Rhodes Island?" he muttered under his breath, unsure of who they were or what they represented.

His confusion deepened as he scanned each member of the team. But then his eye widened in shock as he spotted a familiar face among them. "Amiya?"

The sight of Amiya stirred a whirlwind of surprise, concern, and confusion within Ronin. Relief washed over him as he realized that the people near the coffin were allies, yet the unfamiliar logo and name on their outfits left him puzzled. He retreated into the shadows, his mind racing.

"Rhodes Island?" he whispered again, trying to piece together the significance of the organization. How had Amiya ended up here, and what was Rhodes Island's connection to all of this? The relief he felt was quickly tempered by a lingering uncertainty. The presence of this new group complicated things more than he had anticipated.

Ronin knew he couldn't afford to reveal himself just yet, not until he had a clearer understanding of the situation. His focus sharpened when he heard the familiar voice calling out to someone he knew. "Doktuh. Doktuh!"

The sound of Amiya calling out for the doctor caught his attention. He glanced back towards the room and saw the glass cover of the coffin fully retracted, revealing Doctor Aaron inside. The sight of the doctor's familiar figure stirred a whirlpool of thoughts and concerns in Ronin's mind. "Had they managed to wake him up? Were they successful?"

He watched intently as Amiya, her face a mixture of relief and joy, gently held Doctor Aaron's hand. "I'm so glad you're okay." She said, leaning down to place his hand on her forehead. She straightened up with a bright smile. "It's me, Amiya. It's been a long time, Doctor, we're here to bring you back home."

Ronin let out a relieved sigh, seeing that they had indeed managed to wake Doctor Aaron. The joy in Amiya's voice made him smile wistfully. "Still the cheerful kid, huh? Some things never change." However, his moment of nostalgia was interrupted as he heard the confusion in Amiya's voice. "Hm? Doktuh?"

Ronin's smile quickly faded. He noticed the shift in Amiya's expression, her confusion growing as she looked at Doctor Aaron. The change in her tone was a clear indication that something was wrong. His brow furrowed as his concern deepened. The familiar doctor appeared to be alive, yet something about the scene felt off.

Remaining hidden, Ronin watched intently, trying to piece together what might be going wrong. His mind raced with questions and suspicions. What could be happening to make Amiya react this way? Why was the situation not as straightforward as it seemed? As he observed, he prepared himself for whatever might come next, ready to act if necessary.

"What's wrong? Can you... hear me?" Amiya's voice echoed with a note of concern.

"Blood temperature, blood pressure, and everything else are within normal ranges. Physiological functions are stable. Doctor Aaron is in good condition." Despite the medic's reassurances, Amiya's concern remained. She continued to look at Doctor Aaron, her worry palpable. Ronin, too, felt on edge, his instincts telling him something was amiss.

"Something is off." He muttered to himself.

Driven by his concern, Ronin started moving towards the coffin, intent on getting a closer look. However, just as he took a step forward, a commanding voice interrupted him. "Stop."

The sudden command froze Ronin in his tracks. He quickly retreated into the shadows, narrowly avoiding detection by the Rhodes Island soldier. His heart pounded as he listened to the voice in his head.

"What were you thinking?" The voice rang out in Ronin's mind, laced with clear annoyance and frustration.

"Something is wrong with Doctor Aaron. I can help," Ronin responded internally, a sense of urgency pressing through his thoughts.

"Oh yeah? And what about the fact that they don't even know who you are? Do you think they'll just let you in? Or did you forget that, as far as Amiya knows, you're dead?" a second voice retorted, its frustration cutting deep. The reminder struck Ronin, causing a pang of hurt as he recalled the painful choices that had led to his supposed 'death.'

"I could always knock them out gently," Ronin suggested, trying to lighten the tension. The voices fell silent for a moment, contemplating his words.

"Yeah, I highly doubt that." the deep voice finally responded, scepticism dripping from each word. Ronin rolled his eye, a mix of frustration and resignation settling over him.

"I have to agree. I don't think you'd harm your sister." the voice added, its tone more understanding. Ronin started to argue but hesitated, realizing the truth in the statement. "Damn it," he muttered to himself, frustrated by his powerlessness.

"I know this is hard for you, but right now, we can't do anything. All we can do is observe and try to understand what's happening to him," the voice advised, its tone softening. Ronin took a deep breath, attempting to calm his racing thoughts and accept the situation, even if it pained him to do so.

"Right." He was jolted back to the present when he heard rapid footsteps approaching. Peeking cautiously, he saw Amiya and her team moving swiftly towards his location with Doctor Aaron. In a panic, he vanished from his current position and reappeared a few meters above them. Panting heavily, he was caught off guard by their sudden movement.

"Need some time out?"

"Shut . . . up," Ronin snapped back at the voice, his frustration evident. He took a deep breath to steady himself, then peered down from his vantage point, searching for any sign of Amiya and her team.

As he scanned the area, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder and more distinct. Ronin's attention snapped to the source of the noise, his eye-widening in alarm. A group of heavily armed Reunion soldiers, determined and moving purposefully, were making their way towards the city core.

The sight of these soldiers approaching the critical area heightened Ronin's sense of urgency. He quickly refocused on finding Amiya and her team. His ears caught the faint sound of footsteps, and he turned to see Amiya carrying Doctor Aaron, with the medic on the other side of him. The Rhodes Island soldier with the crossbow aimed towards the entrance, preparing to defend against the incoming threat.

Ronin's heart raced as he assessed the dire situation. He knew he had to act swiftly. "There they are."

"Good, but what are those goons doing?" The deep voice commented, prompting Ronin to refocus on the entrance.

"I highly doubt they could use the Sarcophagus, but they might vandalize the place." The calm voice spoke, leading Ronin to consider the implications.

"Should I deal with them?" Ronin asked the voice in his head.

"No." The calm voice responded. "There are more Sarcophaguses on Terra. If something happens to Doctor Aaron, we can transport him to another one. For now, keep an eye on your sister's team."

Ronin waited patiently, his eye fixed on the door as Amiya and her team disappeared through it. Once the last member passed and the door closed behind them, he moved swiftly. "Let's go."

In an instant, Ronin appeared in front of the door. He paused, listening carefully for any signs of movement on the other side. After a few moments of silence, he quietly opened the door, peeking through to ensure the coast was clear. Satisfied that no one was nearby, he slipped inside, closing the door behind him without a sound.

Ronin moved with practised stealth, his footsteps were silent as he approached the railing to look down at the spiralling staircase. Amiya's team was nearly at the bottom, just a few steps away from the door that would take them deeper into the facility. Ronin's eye narrowed as he watched them, ensuring they were safe but keeping his distance to avoid detection.

"Just saying. If you don't want them to know, make sure you won't pull another 'I save you, Prince Aaron' move, or else you can kiss your plan goodbye," the deep voice echoed in his mind, laced with a tone that was both mocking and serious.

Ronin couldn't help but feel a flicker of irritation at the phrasing, but he knew the voice was right. His plan hinged on remaining unseen and letting the team complete their mission without interference from him. "I know," Ronin thought back, pushing down the annoyance.

Amiya's team reached the bottom with the guard running forward and opening the door slowly. Once he opened it, he walked forward, checking all sides of the corridor they just entered. "All clear"

As the rest of the team moved into the corridor, their footsteps echoed softly in the otherwise silent space. Doctor Aaron's laboured breathing was a stark contrast to the tense calm of the group, drawing Amiya's concerned gaze. She stayed close, supporting him as best she could while still keeping her focus on the mission.

The guard who had scouted ahead suddenly called out to Amiya, his voice cutting through the quiet tension. "Amiya, I can't reach Dobermann or her team."

Amiya's eyes widened in shock at the news, her mind racing with the implications. Dobermann was supposed to be securing their route, and if they couldn't reach her, it meant something had gone wrong. But there was no time to dwell on it. She quickly composed herself, her expression hardening as she turned back to the guard.

"She must have encountered the Reunion. We need to stay vigilant until we can rea—Doctor!" Amiya cut herself off as Doctor Aaron suddenly collapsed. Amiya bent down to his level while the team's medic rushed to his side. "Your breathing is too shallow. Take a deep breath, Doctor Aaron." The medic urged, trying to stabilize him.

"I'm so sorry for pushing you this hard," Amiya said, her eyes meeting the doctors. The guard was about to respond when a creaking noise from the metal railing interrupted him. He glanced back at the staircase, startled to see a section of the railing bent as if something had gripped it too tightly. "What the hell?"

Shaking off his concern, the guard refocused on the situation. "I'll carry Doctor Aaron. You two cover us." Amiya nodded in response. "Roger that."

"We don't know what happened to Dobermann's team, and Reunion soldiers could be hiding nearby. We need to stay cautious until we reach the rendezvous point." Amiya instructed. Her attention was quickly drawn back as Doctor Aaron began to cough violently again. "Doctor!"

As Amiya continued to soothe him, gently stroking his back, a pang of sadness washed over her. "Take it easy! Calm your breathing." She urged.

Amiya kept comforting him until Doctor Aaron's breathing steadied. Once he was stable, the guard carefully lifted him and began carrying him down the corridor. The team fell into a deep silence as Amiya led them in the front, ready to protect the team.

Doctor Aaron, still exhausted and weak, rested his head against the guard's back, trying to find a moment of comfort. However, his brief respite was disrupted when he sensed something unusual behind him. He glanced sideways and caught sight of a faint, glowing light flickering at the edge of his vision. Turning his head slightly, he saw an unfamiliar figure trailing behind them.

The figure was a tall man, his features obscured by the shadow of a hoodie. A soft light radiated from his hand, flames gently flickering and wrapping around it like a living entity. Despite their fiery nature, the fire emanated a soothing warmth rather than destructive heat as they rested on Doctor Aaron's back. To Aaron's surprise, his clothes remained untouched, the flames neither burning nor scorching the fabric. Instead, they seemed to pulse softly, exuding an almost ethereal energy.