Fluorescent lights—
Flickered.
On the roof above.
The hallway—
Silent.
Mechanical humming filled the space.
Art and Jean arrived at the briefing room.
Jean pressed the button on the wall.
The door—
Opened.
Sliding apart.
She stepped through the frame, Art following close behind.
The room—
Dark.
Dimly lit by a single light.
Arthur's chair faced away from the entrance.
"Sit."
Art and Jean saluted before taking their seats.
The chair—
Turned.
Arthur's face—
Tightened.
He tapped a button on the armrest.
Green screens—
Projected from the center of the table.
"You all seem fully recovered."
Art relaxed her posture.
"Yes."
Jean nodded in agreement.
Arthur placed his hands together.
"Your next mission— Infiltration."
Jean reached for a notepad, clicking a pen.
Art watched the screens.
Arthur pressed another button, switching the display.
"The eastern lab…"
His eyes—
Focused on the screens.
"...contains data we need."
Jean raised her hand.
"What kind of data are we searching for?"
Arthur straightened his posture.
"Anything related to the fluid."
The pen—
Scribbled across her notepad.
Art's eyes moved along the middle screen.
"This only shows the exterior…"
Her gaze shifted to Arthur.
"...so where is our entry point?"
Arthur motioned to Jean.
"Explain."
Jean pointed at the left screen.
"The scientist entered using ID badges…"
She continued motioning to the right screen.
"...I was able to scan one."
Art's hand rested on her chin.
"I see."
Arthur placed three badges on the table, sliding them to Art.
She picked them up.
"Why three?"
Arthur leaned forward.
"Kane will participate."
The screens—
Flickered.
Her eyebrows—
Twitched.
"Why?"
Arthur's face—
Tightened.
"…It will be useful."
His voice—
Dissipated.
The projector—
Buzzed.
Arthur's gaze—
Focused on the lab.
Art placed two badges in her pocket.
"Yes sir."
She slid one across to Jean.
There's…
Her eyes—
Lowered.
…something else.
Steam—
Rose from the hot coffee.
Arthur reached for his mug.
"Anything else?"
Jean cleared her throat.
"No sir."
Art stayed—
Still.
Her gaze—
Held.
The surface of the table.
Arthur's mug reached his lips.
"Depart tomorrow night…"
He gently placed it down.
"...Dismissed."
Art and Jean stood, saluting before exiting the briefing room.
The door slid—
Closed.
Leaving Arthur alone.
A button—
Clicked.
Turning the projector off.
The room became—
Dark.
Only lit by a single light.
A faint glow—
Reflected off his mug.
This is…
His chair—
Turned.
Facing the wall behind him.
Arthur's eyes—
Shifted.
Moving towards the ceiling.
…the only chance.
…
Footsteps—
Echoed through the quiet hall.
Cold air—
Wafted.
Through the vents above.
Art's head—
Lowered.
Her hair—
Draped.
Covering the sides of her face.
Jean looked down, placing her hand on Art's shoulder.
"What's on your mind?"
Art pulled the two identification badges out.
"I can never…"
Her gaze fixed on them.
"...tell what he's thinking."
Jean exhaled.
"You know him…"
Her voice—
Softened.
"...he always has a reason."
Art continued to look at the identification badges.
"I know but–"
Her head—
Bumped into something solid.
She looked up, rubbing the top of her scalp.
Jean stood in front of her.
"For now…"
Her eyes matched Art's.
"…focus on the mission."
Art's eyebrows—
Raised.
Her breathing—
Controlled.
Calming herself.
Art put the badges in her pocket.
"You're right."
Jean turned, facing the courtyard.
"The lab…"
Her stride continued.
"…may answer your suspicions."
Art's face—
Tightened.
Focusing ahead of her.
"Yeah."
…
Kane sat—
Alone.
The sky—
Above.
His magnums holstered at his sides.
A breeze blew—
Too cold.
His body—
Motionless.
As if the wind didn't touch him.
The moon—
Resisted before him.
Its light outlined the front of his figure.
His eyes—
Shifted.
Looking east.
A hand—
Raised slowly.
The palm—
Opened.
Facing outwardly.
It stopped—
As if it touched glass.
The chains—
Rattled.
Quietly.
His core—
Shifted.
As if it was pulling him.
A crack–
Surfaced.
Within.