Chapter 30: Chapter 30
"He meant what he said."
Yelena’s voice, as steady and emotionless as a machine, cut through the tense air between them. She was already on her feet, a stark contrast to Eric and Jimmy still panting on the ground.
"Don’t let him get to you."
She added, looking toward the sky.
The city was finally at peace, but a huge portion of it lay in heavy destruction. The chaos had quieted, replaced by the somber sounds of people emerging from hiding.
Some were spectators, their faces etched with shock and awe, while others were helping the injured, their hands frantic as they searched for survivors. In the distance, the sirens of emergency vehicles began to wail.
Jimmy walked to Eric and helped him up. Eric’s body was truly sore and painful, but he endured it, a grimace on his face. Jimmy gently placed Eric’s arm around his shoulder, taking his weight, and they walked toward Yelena, joining her as she stood.
"It’s good to see you, Yelena. We were afraid you—"
Jimmy began, a tone of heartfelt gratitude in his voice, but he was immediately interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"I’m fine."
Yelena said, her usual cold and expressionless side as active as always. Jimmy immediately nodded, his words caught in his throat, as he watched the clouds finally settle.
"You didn’t die, that’s good enough."
Yelena said, placing her left hand on Jimmy’s head and ruffling his hair. Her touch was surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to her tone. She turned to him with a soft smirk on her face, a brief flash of genuine warmth.
This completely shook Jimmy. He was extremely surprised to see her interact with him in such a way, let alone smile. It was something he hadn’t experienced since they met.
Jimmy felt like a lot had really happened in one day, Eric finally acknowledging him, him cursing for the very first time in his life, and now the cold, strict, and quiet soldier was being nice to him and smiling.
Their dynamics were beginning to shift on one another. His eyes silently brightened with joy.
"looks like the nightmare’s finally over. Gotta hand it to you, kid. You actually pulled it off. Saved the whole damn planet."
Eric said, a genuine smile on his face. He stared at the clear sky above him, at the huge space in the clouds that the black hole had left behind.
For about a minute, there was total silence between them as the city began to breathe once again. The city’s officials, including health, safety, and police forces, were all in action, doing what needed to be done.
"So, what now?"
Jimmy said, holding onto Eric firmly and giving him his full support.
"Don’t get comfy. The goal’s still the same, find that poor excuse for a cult and shut this whole bloody circus down."
Eric replied, turning backward with Jimmy’s assistance as they walked away from the scene. Yelena quietly tagged along, her mood back to her usual self.
"We’ll have to stand down for a bit. You need to heal first." Yelena said, her gaze fixed on the path ahead, her voice calm.
A little surprised by her response, Eric turned his gaze to her as they walked.
"Well, would you look at that. Didn’t know I meant so much to you. I’m touched. Really."
Eric said, his sudden smile mixed with sarcasm.
"You don’t. I just don’t want to be the one to carry your corpse."
Yelena replied immediately, her voice dry and flat, not even bothering to look at him.
"Speaking of the dead, really thought the explosion back then finished you off." Eric said.
"The explosion fatally damaged my body, but it also gave me an upgrade. Three hundred percent."
Yelena replied as a group of soldiers drew closer.
"Don’t know how or why, but it did."
The soldiers were closer now, about six of them. They were wearing armored suits that matched the city’s bright and clean look, their faces hidden behind fitted helmets. They walked in coordination, their weapons pointed at the trio.
"This is the Solaris City Defense Force. You are to remain calm and stand by for identification."
One of the soldiers, who had a red badge on his chest, said as he walked toward them, his weapon still aimed.
Eric, Jimmy, and Yelena stood still, abiding by the instruction. After a few seconds, the soldiers reached them, encircling the trio.
"Identify yourself."
The red-badged soldier commanded.
"Yelena Dexter, Sector 1, Nexus."
Yelena said boldly, stretching out a Nexus badge with an official seal.
Seeing the badge, the soldiers immediately dropped their weapons and walked calmly toward them. Jimmy let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.
"My apologies, ma’am. It’s our duty to be on guard at all times regardless."
The red-badged soldier said, his voice now calm and respectful.
"It’s fine. I understand."
Yelena responded, her voice calm and without any lively expression.
"But they’ll have to check in."
The badged soldier said, turning to gesture at Jimmy and Eric.
"In the meantime, I’d like to have a word with you, ma’am."
He said, walking away from the group to have a private conversation with Yelena.
Yelena turned to look at Jimmy and Eric, ensuring they were doing fine with the soldiers. Seeing that all was well, she walked to the red badged soldier.
"According to our analysis, you’re involved with the damage done to the city. Knowing your status as a Nexus official, I’ll assume there’s a reason for all that happened, and so I’ll need reports for HQ."
The badged soldier said calmly as they watched the city become more lively after the chaotic event.
"Send me the report archive passphrase. I’ll upload my data for your HQ to see."
Yelena calmly said, emphasizing her nanosuit’s ability to record whatever she sees and experiences.
"Archive passphrase?"
The badged soldier responded, his voice sounding a little confused, like he didn’t understand what she meant.
This slight shift in his tone suddenly triggered a red flag in Yelena’s mind. For a soldier not to know what a report archive was, something all external military forces in Sector 1 used to communicate with Nexus, was unexpected. Yelena became suspicious, but she kept her cool.
"A randomized six digit code. Get one from the screen on your wrist."
Yelena said, a cold, serious, and silently suspicious look on her face.
"Ah, yes. My apologies. I’m still stressed from the whole event earlier."
The soldier said, bringing his wrist close to his face as he began clicking on a panel.
"Can’t have my whole team knowing I’m still tensed. As a leader, I’m supposed to stay strong, if you know what I mean, haha."
he said, a forced, unconvincing smile on his face.
"What rank?"
Yelena questioned immediately, her eyes narrowing.
"Excuse me?"
The soldier replied in confusion, pausing his clicking.
"You said you’re a team leader. The badge on you. It extends to Outpost-2B. What’s your rank?"
Yelena asked, an ice cold and concentrated expression now visible on her face.
In that moment, Yelena began to hear a strange, faded humming noise from right behind her, forcing her to check it out.
As she turned, what she saw next made her heart race. Eric was lying unconscious on the floor while a soldier held a syringe to Jimmy’s neck, his mouth covered. The remaining soldiers had their weapons raised and aimed at Yelena.
Within a split second of noticing this, her muscles bulged, her body prepared to pounce immediately.
"Move and they die."
The badged soldier boldly said from behind Yelena, pointing his weapon at the back of her head as she watched Jimmy fall unconscious from the unknown substance injected into his body.