For Amara (War Over Mobius Saga: Ruby Route #2)

Prologue - Part 1 - Overthrown

Author's note: This prologue has been divided into two because I saw a split develop when I wrote it.

This book follows Episode Jackal, but the book is not required to read this book. This book is also connected to the short story Unfading Memories from the collection Do or Die. This short story is recommended prior reading but not required for understanding.

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"I can accept the idea of my own demise, but I am unable to accept the death of anyone else." - Maya Angelou

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It was that fateful day that ended everything. Everything that was would soon be replaced by a flaming Armageddon because of the events of that one day. The wrong thing happened at the worst place it could possibly think to strike, at a time that only amplified its calamity to those affected.

That day, buried deep in a recent past, would end thousands, and ravage everything that would be left behind.

War was born deep within anguish.

Infinite's head jerked upwards at the sound of an alarm; an intruder alarm.

"Unidentified system intrusion! Northeast lab sector!" The mechanical voice in his earpiece proclaimed.

Infinite gasped and jumped up from the forest ground of Aqua Road to a tower to gain altitude in order to map out the fastest path to the northeast region of the lab.

The Jackal Squad had been stationed there, leaderless while Infinite tackled a solo task that wouldn't have taken thirty minutes. There was no telling if they had received the alarm before the intruder reached the area or if they had encountered a blind attack.

Infinite wasn't about to let the threat get to them before he did. He launched himself from the tower to a rock formation sticking out of the water, then raced towards the invaded area with his thoughts only focusing on arriving, so consumed with his speed and his target that he muddled out the wave of messages through his communication equipment, especially anything with Eggman's voice.

~~ *meanwhile* ~~

Amara heard the alarm blare and looked around anxiously for an armed intruder, snarling and preparing her knife for conflict. However, she was not met with an enemy, but someone she considered to be some sort of family. "Oh come on, ugh, please don't tell me you set off the alarm! For being some of the most dangerous mercenaries on the planet, you two are such idiots!" She smacked the two jackals, Hunter and Remy, across their muzzles and grumbled to herself about their stupidity.

"You're callin' us idiots? So we're supposed to just let 'cha boss us around like you own us or somethin'?" Hunter growled in return, tension instantly flaring between them.

"I outrank you."

"You ain't married to him yet, Amara! Keep your pretty mouth shut!"

Amara was getting quite furious the more that time passed. "Second Lieutenant Hunter, you are talkin' to First Lieutenant Amara! Blood-tied or not, I'm still better than you!" The more her frustration with him rose, the more 'street' her voice became.

"Hush it!" Remy snapped.

Both jackals stopped fighting each other and turned to Remy.

"I heard over the intercom, we got an intruder!"

Amara cried out in frustration, then growled, a fuming grimace stuck on her face. "Okay, since you two can't even do the one job you had: to keep people outta this place, looks like we all got a problem." She said in a harsh deadpan, a knife-sharp glower thrown towards the pair. "QuickStrike! Where are ya?!"