Between shadows, doubts, and buried memories, Traytros discovers he's not the only one burdened by remorse. An unexpected conversation leaves him with more questions than answers… and a new mission takes him straight into the depths of something he never imagined.
Even though it was night, her silhouette felt incredibly familiar.
As she came closer, I could see her clearly.
Yes… it was her.
She stopped next to me, leaned on the railing where I stood, and said:
"Hi. Congratulations on your promotion. What did you think?"
I was surprised. I didn't know she would attend.
"You were there?"
"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't," she replied.
"So you never fully commit to any answer, huh?"
"Maybe…"
"But I have a question: why are you out here? Shouldn't you be inside the chapel with everyone else? After all, it's your big day."
"I don't know. Maybe I should, maybe I shouldn't," I replied with a wry smile.
"Using the same formula, huh?"
"Perhaps… haha.
I just wanted a moment alone. To reflect.
Time flies… I don't even remember certain things anymore."
"What are you feeling? Nostalgia, melancholy… or loneliness?"
I went silent for a few seconds before replying:
"Maybe all of that.
I'm happy I got promoted… but not about what I did to earn it. I still carry regrets."
"That's normal.
Maybe you're just too hard on yourself.
Or maybe… you've already realized things aren't what they seem."
"Tell me… do you feel okay with the things you've done? Does your conscience rest easy in exchange for recognition?
Because mine doesn't."
She went quiet.
She turned to face the lake, her gaze lost in the distance… as if reliving old memories.
"I think you're the first person I've met who says that.
Most people only care about power and doing what they want.
I'm not a machine either.
I feel things.
And I feel like I'm surrounded by sharks… sharks that could devour me alive at any moment.
Who knows… when you're no longer useful to the government, when they see you as a threat, maybe they'll kill you."
"Then… why keep doing this?"
"I think it's the only thing I know how to do."
The first time I saw her, I thought she was someone who enjoyed her job.
But now… it felt like the opposite.
She kept talking.
"I never knew my parents. I was told that when I was born, the hospital sent me straight to an orphanage.
Living there was about survival. The older kids did whatever they wanted.
Until the government stepped in.
They improved the facilities and passed a law to support orphans.
They gave us opportunities: education, shelter, food.
One day, at school, they offered programs to join the military forces.
I waited until I turned sixteen to enlist…
But I was rejected. They said I was too weak.
Then, someone approached me. Asked if I wanted to join an organization that supported the government… a special organization.
I didn't hesitate to accept.
They gave me a room of my own. Food. Military training.
From there, I learned everything I know.
I met good people… and bad ones."
"There are things… I also regret," she whispered.
[HER MEMORIES]
She was aiming a gun at a man's head.
Behind her, an important figure from the organization watched silently.
"Shoot," ordered the voice behind her.
The man in front of her was crying… but smiling.
"Everything will be okay. Don't be afraid," he said calmly.
The girl was trembling, crying. She hesitated.
"Shoot," repeated the voice behind her.
After a few seconds… she pulled the trigger.
[BACK TO PRESENT]
A tear slid down her cheek.
I realized that she too… was not okay with all of this.
"I don't remember much from my past," I said.
"I joined this because I thought I could help people.
But over time… I saw that instead of helping, I was only destroying.
I'm in a place where I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, or just doing what they think is right."
She turned toward me.
We stared at each other.
"Traytros… that time I saw you…"
A sound interrupted us.
Her phone.
She pulled it from her pocket, glanced at it quickly, and said:
"I have to go."
It caught me off guard. I took a step forward to stop her.
"Hey! Wait! I don't even know your name. Can I at least have your number?"
She stopped.
Glanced over her shoulder at me, smiling.
"See you around, Traytros."
And she walked away.
Slowly… she disappeared.
I stayed there, disheartened.
Once again, I didn't even know her name.
Then, my phone rang.
A message had arrived.
"My name is Herlin…"
I couldn't believe it.
How did she get my number?
But at least… it gave me peace.
"Wow… this girl is full of surprises."
The next morning
I went to the Defense building's cafeteria and sat at a table by the window, alone.
I thought about the ceremony…
My teammates celebrating.
The captain's joyful face.
Thomas, a little tipsy. It was… amazing.
And then, Herlin.
Our conversation made me realize that since childhood, we were never given a choice.
We were taught only what they wanted us to learn.
"Indoctrination is power…"
I sighed, still lost in thought, when Thomas showed up.
"Traytros. Come with me," he said firmly.
"Oh… sure."
We headed to the elevator. I noticed he pressed floor C189.
"We're going to Dr. Kraf?"
He didn't respond.
This doesn't feel right...
We arrived. Entered his office—but no one was there.
"What are we doing here? Where's the doctor?"
"Dr. Kraf is on a mission. Somewhere called Kirom, outside the Aroa region.
He asked for our help."
"He's missing?"
"No. He's traveling by helicopter with Leonidas.
We're just here to pick up something he forgot."
He pulled out his laptop from the desk.
"He forgot his laptop?"
"It happens to all of us," he replied indifferently.
Yeah… this sounds like an excuse.
We went to the airfield. Boarded the helicopter to Kirom.
"What exactly are we going to do there?" I asked mid-flight.
He looked at me, smiled… and said nothing.
"Bastard," I muttered.
After hours, we arrived in Aroa.
It was massive. Way bigger than the capital.
The helicopter landed. We disembarked.
"Where do we meet the professor?"
"In the perimeter region, near the border."
"And how far is that?"
"About two hours… by motorcycle."
"Two hours on a bike?"
He didn't reply.
He mounted the bike and said:
"It's getting late."
"I'm going to end up cooked alive under this sun…"
After a long ride, we arrived.
We entered a mountainous area, dug out by excavators.
It looked like a mine.
At the main station, we found the doctor, Leonidas, and several soldiers.
"Perfect. Right on time," said Kraf upon seeing us.
We approached. The doctor explained:
"We're going down to collect samples.
In and out.
But make sure you wear proper protection.
Down there… you'll probably see things you've never seen before."
"Things we've never seen before…"
Something told me this wouldn't be a simple walk.
We geared up, put on radiation masks, and prepared to descend.
The first to go down were Thomas, Leonidas, and me.
Total darkness.
We turned on our flashlights.
It was deep.
Once down, we aimed in all directions.
Nothing… for now.
Thomas radioed in to have the scientists descend.
They came down. The doctor pointed:
"We need to go that way."
We started walking.
Darkness. Cold. Silence.
Until—
A roar.
Loud. From deep below.
The soldiers tensed.
We took position.
"What the hell was that…?" I said, gripping my weapon tightly.