Upon his return to the base, Kael found an even darker atmosphere. The guards didn't salute him; their gazes were glassy, almost soul-less. He headed for the colonel's office but was stopped by a new patrol. They wore army uniforms, but their faces were covered by tactical masks identical to those of the hitmen encountered in the city. The infiltration was complete: the Organization had taken control of the army from within.
Kael looked for Leo and found him huddled in the dormitory, staring at a faded photograph.
"Kael... who is this girl in the photo?" Leo asked in a trembling voice. "I know I should know her; I feel a pain here in my chest when I look at her, but I don't remember her name. I don't even remember when I took it."
Kael looked at the photo: it was Leo's sister. "It's your sister, Leo. Her name is Maya."
Leo shook his head, tears in his eyes. "I don't have a sister, Kael. Maybe I never had one."
Kael realized that oblivion wasn't just erasing people physically; it was devouring emotional bonds. Just then, he saw a figure through the window on the roof of the armory. The Entity was there, wrapped in its black suit, watching the chaos with divine detachment. Kael realized that staying at the base meant being consumed. He stole a tactical motorcycle and some crates of special ammunition, deciding to desert. He was no longer a soldier in service of a state; he was a soldier in service of memory. Before leaving, he carved Maya's name onto Leo's arm with a knife. "Remember this pain, Leo. It's the only thing they can't steal from you."