Kairos surveyed his surroundings, and once the coast was clear, he activated the Atlantean Coil on his nape and muttered.
Kairos Black, his alias since the day he lost it. Dressed in the Air Force’s blue uniform and the insignia to match his rank of First Lieutenant, his appearance–compounded by his strikingly eagle-like sapphire eyes–was an anomaly on the battlefield. Surrounded by an army that only grew in strength with each conquest, the Federation was inevitably inching toward its ultimate goal.
The soldiers suddenly decompressed and fell to the earth like inflatable bodybag-like balloons. The nanotechnological liquid particles oozed out of these balloons, slithering like a snake intelligently toward the S4B, which stood ready with their quartermasters standing by with giant-sized titanium canisters. The Logistics Commander, the S4, whose visage he could recognise, gave him a thumbs up from a distance before he felt a familiar tingling sensation on his nape.
Kairos swiftly disengaged the Atlantean Coil, disconnecting himself from those participating in today’s mission through another reactivated remote satellite. In months, his comrade had designed a marvellous tool enabling zero latency and consistent communication over a vast terrain—the work of a genius who could turn the tides of war.
But first, something captured his attention.
“...The rumours were true–” An old ethos struck him. “–Places like this never fall.”
He reattached the Atlantean Coil, which looked like a parasite attaching to its host and activated it under his breath.
“Initialize.”
The device enveloped the back of his nape with its exoskeleton frame before turning bright blue. He muttered the recipient’s call sign, who had most likely finished his duties already.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
*
With its beautifully designed windows and intricately carved designs intact, Point F6F stood out like a sore thumb in the renewed landscape of barren trees and earthly soil flung in every direction. For those involved with Central Atlantea’s cleansing, this scene of eternal paradise had become normality in their version of this cruel world.
“I’m sure I’m at the right place.”
Nightingale had arrived at the location where his Squadron Commander had instructed him to meet. However, judging from appearances, he felt he was in the wrong place.
“Thank goodness you guys are here–” He turned to face his combat medics, who followed him despite his best wishes of wanting them to rest. “–Gentlemen, can you–”
Why this structure?
He wondered about the rationale behind his commander’s odd quirk to meet here.
A cold, chilly silence soon followed as his commander disconnected.
“Medical Corps!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Thank you for accompanying me on this journey in hostile territories. From here on out, I’ll be on my own.”
“Yes, sir. What would you want us to do in the meantime?”
“Stay put and remain vigilant. I’ll be heading in to meet our commander. Warrant Osha, you’re in command until I return.”
Warrant Officer Manuel Osha stomped his foot. “Yes, sir!”
With the hazmat suit left behind, Boris exchanged it for his medical coat, symbolically carrying the Caduceus, a symbol displaying a rod with a snake entwined around the outside in a downward spiral shape. He slowly walked toward that ornately designed structure; the scene surrounding him had long since become an afterthought after the hundredth time, wondering why he would even summon him into a place like this.
“See you all in a bit.”
The golden halls within radiated a glow that would inspire those who believed in a higher being. In times when the truth had become the first casualty in this war, even the spiritual powers from beyond had protected this structure from getting decimated by those who had inherited this beautiful blue and pure earth.
“It’s been too long…”
Kairos could barely recognise his face, especially the dark, shadowy circles surrounding his eyes. After so long, he could finally see his reflection through the mirrors surrounding him. The reflection staring back appeared tired, depleted of vibrancy and soul. He noticed wrinkles and heavy eyebags drooling from under his eyelids. Even the uniform he wore had holes, with the colours fading. His mental state had reached a point where he did not bother checking his professional bearings, for he had no time except to rest and prepare for the upcoming cleansing.
Regardless, standing in a place of worship momentarily alleviated his misery, but he consciously chose to shut it down.
“There’s no hope…”
His eyes, the windows into his tortured soul, carried a defeated, depressed look. And that’s why he could not bring himself to face those he had abandoned, for he feared what they would think of him when they saw him for what he has become now.
Before he could drown in his sorrows, the unmistakable sound of the church’s majestic door swung open, and Kairos turned slightly to see his subordinate walking towards him from under the shadow’s cloak.