Elsewhere, across Alden, Tsuki and the others in Judgment Squad continued toward Riche. The wooden wheels of the carriage rattled softly against the cracked ground. Dust curled in its wake as the sun dipped lower, staining Jon's sky with amber hues. The wide open deadlands were just as Tsuki remembered, granted, it hadn't been long since she was last here. The rocky, red mountains and distant off-grid homes filled the landscape. Memories from Jon's turn came back to Tsuki.
I hope Renji and his father are doing okay. They've done more than they know with their economic aid. Memento has squads stationed there as part of our promise to the district, so they should be safe.
Beside her, the atmosphere in the carriage was peaceful. Tsuki leaned back against a cushioned wall, her arms pillowed her head. Her eyes gazed at the setting horizon.
"The ride's gone faster than I expected," she said. "Considering how much land we've crossed, I mean."
Geo sat beside her. One foot lay over his knee, and his eyes were on his hands. "Yeah, hasn't been bad at all."
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Geo's face flushed, and he turned away. Tsuki noticed, of course, and saw an opening for a tease.
"What's got you all red?"
Geo responded, keeping his head bowed. "Nothing."
Tsuki chuckled. Hatori was the only other one awake. Azumi slept with her head hanging off the side of the carriage's wall. Knoxx's noggin lay on Azumi's shoulder, though, if she was awake, she'd definitely move him off.
Danzo's eyes were closed in a hunched position. Likely falling to his drowsy eyes as he contemplated their movements in Riche.
Tsuki broke the brief silence, targeting her eyes on Hatori. "Oh yeah, Hatori," she said, his eyes meeting hers in a calm manner, "you're from Riche right? You told me that a while ago."
Hatori nodded before turning his gaze back to the sunset. "Yeah, I am."
Tsuki waited for more discussion, then remembered it was Hatori she was talking to.
"I was expecting a little more on that matter," she muttered.
"Not anything more to say," he calmly responded. "Cut ties with anyone there the moment I left. Riche's just another mission for me now."
While he finished, Tsuki could for just a moment see a sense of sadness in Hatori. He wasn't being upfront about it, but it wasn't her place to push him. She left it alone.
Geo spoke next, his voice more upbeat than the previous conversation. "Riche's gonna be a different ball-game. I'm sure our ex-Stalker friend hasn't done much negotiating in her life.
Tsuki gave him a stern look before softening. "Harsh, but true."
"I didn't mean it negatively towards you. More so the APC than anything. Besides, there's a first for everything," he finished, flashing a grin.
Tsuki put her head down into her hands. "Even so, it's nerve-wracking. I've never gotten along with people well."
"And that's why our squads' here for backup. It's never you alone in Memento. If one struggles, we struggle as a team, and we work ourselves out of it."
Tsuki looked up again, this time smiling. "Right," she said, giving a thankful nod.
A Solen-shaking snore shortly followed from none other than Knoxx. He still lay against Azumi's shoulder. She somehow hadn't moved even after the snort
Geo groaned, picking up a half-eaten pinfruit, its blue skin gleaming and shoved it into Knoxx's mouth. It barely fit, stretching Knoxx's cheeks wide before he coughed and groaned in protest, still half-asleep.
"How obnoxious," Geo whispered.
Tsuki chuckled and let her head hit the cushioned wall once again. The upcoming future wasn't something she was used to, but with her squad, she felt growingly confident.
Elsewhere, silence filled the chamber of the Alden Protections Council.
Torchlight flickered along the smooth walls, casting orange shadows over the long crescent stage. Nine high-backed seats circled the room, filled with silhouettes of power.
Standing in the middle of the marbled floor was Chaze, sided by two unnamed Stalkers. The one to his left was shorter and wiry with unkept red hair. His green eyes were glassy and unreadable, like nothing living stared out from behind them. To Chaze's right, was a taller man with brown hair and light-red eyes. His face showed reluctance to his duties.
Hoshuro, the leading chair, leaned forward from his seat. His voice was sharp, and cut through the air like a blade. "Chaze… this Tona Norasachi. It's him? The Ghost?"
Chaze's eyes rose, filled with hatred at the mention of the name. He only nodded in response.
"Then, that man is a problem. A large one."
Hoshuro leaned back into his chair. His fingers repeatedly tapped on his armrest.
"He must be erased. Our future as a nation calls for it Chaze. We persuade the people he's dangerous. Strip Memento of the Ghost, and its support falls with it."
Chaze grinned, now lowered to a knee. The man to his left followed suit instantly. The one on the right, the taller man with brown hair, was slower to the ground. Hesitant.
"Give me enough bodies. I'll lure him out one way or another. With it, Memento, and Norasachi will become prey for the Butcher of Igumi," Chaze said. His jagged teeth practically chewed the air with every breath.
A faint smile crossed Hoshuro's lips. His head rested against one hand, and the other lay on the armrest. "You do that, and I promise a reward large enough to warrant never lifting a blade again. Until then—break him. Start with what he cares for."
"His mentor? That ugly leader of Memento?" Chaze asked.
Hoshuro's delight twisted into something dark. "The death of Maro… would be indescribable joy. His little group is a minor nuisance. Without their helm, they become uncontrolled and easy. I leave the planning to you, Chaze."
Chaze grinned wickedly. "Consider it done, my lord."
He turned, his white uniform was stained with blood at the sleeves and collar. A cape covered the back, dragging on the glossy floor behind him. "Nekro, Shikuya, with me. Now. We have plans to set in motion."
Nekro followed with an utmost urgency, seemingly happy with the order. Shikuya trudged after him unwillingly.
The council continued their discussion after the three left. Hoshuro's eyes scanned the other eight council members.
"Now that's settled. Good. However, we have some other threats to decide."
The APC threat board was behind him, not large in size, but filled with categorizations for different threats. Each level was presented with a different color; Low was green, Moderate was yellow, Major was orange. The two highest levels were Run on Sight or ROS, which was colored red, and World Threat, which none other than Tona Norasachi was raised to. The color for that was a deep violet.
Hoshuro continued, turning to the board. He held a multi-gradient rock from the low beaches of Eden in a palm. "This, 'Shadow,' will be moved to Major threat. Her ability reminds me of someone that I'm not pleased to have in my thoughts," Hoshuro announced with a scowl. "This Shadow Manipulation can be a real bother. We must take priority in dealing with her in the near future, behind him of course."
Omura, the councilman of Riche, spoke next. "Lord Hoshuro, what of this Reverb? He's said to possess an ability to slow down time. I see that as a reason for a promotion?"
Hoshuro boomed. "Reverb will be moved up, yes. Memento's pure number of threats is getting annoyingly high. He will be put into Major alongside Shadow. With them, we will put the Katana as well."
Hoshuro paused for a moment as his thoughts raced. The other members watched as Hoshuro's hand shook as it rose to the board. It was unclear if anger was the cause, or nerves.
"And the Phoenix… ROS."
Back in Persetta, the newly constructed Memento war room was dimly lit. Blueprints and maps were spaced out across the center table like a battlefield frozen in time. Maro stood beside it, arms crossed. Ringo sat in a chair against the wall with his eyes closed.
"Sir, I just got news from Hail Squadron in Galion," Ringo said, eyes remaining shut.
Maro leaned against the table, his arms supporting his weight. "And?"
"The attacks have stopped. Shintaro said he wasn't sure why."
Maro sighed, rubbing his temple. "Right. But I know why. I told him not to engage."
Maro sat in his seat with his head buried in his hands. "That boy gives me a headache. I thought I was pretty damn clear with my orders," he muttered.
Ringo's voice rose just slightly. "With all due respect sir, I don't think he was going to let a squad get wiped out, especially if he could do something about it."
"I know," Maro whispered. "I know."
A silence followed his whispers. It wasn't awkward, but more so a relief. Ringo tapped the side of his chair, waiting for Maro to regather himself.
"What of Danzo and Judgment Squad?" Maro finally asked.
"Nearly at Riche. I spoke with Tsuki earlier," Ringo said. "The others were apparently napping."
Maro chuckled slightly. His head rose, and he moved a marker to the district of Riche. A single finger traced the borders, a tick Ringo noticed.
"I don't blame them for resting. Riche's a hell of a ride, and it won't be a fun mission either."
His eyes met Ringo in a serious expression. "But, it's important. A must win. Riche joining Memento's cause would boost our economy, and would cause unrest in the other APC districts."
Ringo only nodded. "The pressures building across Alden."
Maro smiled. A genuine, soft smile with a flame of passion hiding behind it. "It is. The council will learn that we are relentless."
"Oh, by the way sir. Checked in with Phantom Squad earlier as well. They're operating as planned."
"Good," Maro responded. "Good. And Mican Squad?"
Ringo gave a wide grin. "Zimala's eventless sir. The patrols are clear across the board."
Maro nodded, grabbing his coat. His steps inched toward the door to the room. He turned to Ringo one last time as he reached for the knob.
"Then we await more news in Riche. Also, tell Hail to continue their observations in Galion. APC's been pushing hard from Eden."
"On it sir," Ringo said. His voice went back down to his normal level.
Maro pulled the door open, and was hit with the kicking breeze of Persetta. The warm ray of sunshine brought peace and prosperity over Memento's home district.
But the wind carried a warning Maro couldn't ignore.