Rhodes Island and the Contractors were now facing an overwhelming and formidable threat: Talulah, the leader of Reunion.

"We're fucked if we don't do something, guys," Dutch said, his voice grim as he scanned the battlefield.

"Amiya, take the Doctor with you," Nearl instructed, her voice firm. "Go, now!"

"No! I won't leave you," Amiya protested, her voice filled with desperation.

"Surely, you can feel it too!" Nearl shot back. "She's—if you don't leave now, the entire rescue team will die here! Talulah... She is a living monster, Amiya!"

"Yo, we don't have time for this!" Raven interjected, his voice tense as he adjusted his weapon.

"We'll be fine, as long as we stand together!" Nearl replied, her eyes hardening.

"I'm sorry, kid," Raven said, turning to Amiya, "but maybe you haven't realized yet—if we all stay here, we'll all die."

Amiya hesitated, torn between staying with her team and the realization that they might not survive.

"What about the Doctor? Can you guarantee the Doctor's safety?" asked Dobermann, her voice filled with urgency.

Amiya faltered, and the Doctor, still silent, seemed to share the same hesitation.

"Team E4, we'll stay behind and hold the line!" Nearl commanded. "We must ensure that Amiya, Dr. Schmidt, and the Medic team escape safely!"

But before anyone could respond, Ace stepped forward. "No, my squad will handle this," he declared, his tone flat and unyielding.

"Ace! Be rational, now's not the time to argue over this!" Dobermann snapped.

"I am being rational," Ace replied calmly, locking eyes with her. "You've seen it too—everything around her is melting."

"I'm not going to leave you all here to fight alone. Rhodes Island won't abandon you!" Amiya argued, her voice rising in protest.

"Amiya, time is of the essence! You have to escape!" Dobermann urged.

"...You should trust me," Ace said quietly, his eyes unwavering.

"I can't bear to see Rhodes Island sacrificing anyone!" Amiya replied, her voice filled with anguish. The Doctor, standing nearby, felt a sharp ache in his chest, as if the word "sacrifice" alone had triggered something deep inside him.

"Think about our goal! Think about what we came here for!" Nearl reminded them.

Tig, who had been quietly observing the unfolding chaos, finally spoke up. "We let them make the decision. If we sacrifice ourselves, we won't last 10 seconds. If we die, they'll be caught while their backs are turned. We have to act fast."

"This isn't the time for talk!" Amiya snapped, her patience running thin.

As the conversation continued, Frost's voice cut through the tension. "She's getting closer," he said, his eyes focused on Talulah as she advanced with terrifying calm. With a flick of her hand, she unleashed a wave of fire that shimmered in the air around her.

"The heat... it's concentrated in her hands!" someone remarked.

"Is she... disorienting the space around her?" asked another, but Nearl quickly corrected them.

"No, that's superheated air around her," Nearl clarified, her voice strained.

"Watch out! She's about to use her Arts again!" Nearl warned, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to engage Talulah head-on. But Amiya's voice rang out, urgent and commanding.

"No... you can't! Nearl, come back, now!"

But Nearl was already charging forward, her shield raised as she met the flames head-on. The impact caused her to stumble back, but she gritted her teeth and held her ground.

"Nearl!" Dobermann called out, but Nearl was insistent.

"Stay back! Don't worry about me... It's just a little warm..." she said with a pained grin, trying to downplay the effects of Talulah's attack.

"What are you saying... Don't worry?! You don't have a single intact piece of armor on you! You mustn't fight her anymore!" Dobermann shouted, panic rising in her chest.

"I already said... Stay back!" Nearl repeated, her voice hard.

"Nearl! You stubborn—!" Talulah's voice suddenly cut through the tension, her flames roaring to life as she unleashed another blast of fire.

"Get down!" Ace shouted, diving in front of Nearl and Dobermann. His shield absorbed the brunt of the attack, protecting them from the searing flames.

"Cough... Cough... What now?!" Dobermann gasped, struggling to regain her composure.

"Her flames just swept over our heads," Ace said, his voice low but controlled. "Fall back. This entire block is melting. Don't sacrifice yourself in vain."

Nearl's thoughts were clouded with confusion and fear. "Just what kind of monstrosity are we up against?" she wondered aloud, her resolve faltering for the first time.

"We need to interrupt her casting somehow," Nearl said, rallying her team. "Snipers, take aim at the enemy!"

The snipers from Rhodes Island quickly raised their weapons, their crosshairs trained on Talulah, but the moment they fired, their projectiles disintegrated in the air, reduced to nothing before they could even reach her.

Talulah stood unfazed, her smile cold and cruel. "Resistance will usher hope into this land. But resistance... will not change your fate."

"Fire!" someone shouted.

But Talulah was already speaking again, her words dripping with disdain. "Chernobog has already attained liberation. Our work here is done, and your group has proven to be quite interesting."

"What..." Dobermann murmured in confusion.

"However, that is all your worth. You have chosen poorly. Rhodes Island, you should have stood firmly with the Infected." Talulah's voice carried a chilling finality as her powers continued to rage, incinerating everything in her path.

"Why... is the entire plaza... getting scorched? What happened just now...?" Medic gasped, struggling to breathe as the superheated atmosphere thickened around them. "I... can't breathe... it burns..."

"Shit... we're gonna suffocate...!" another Rhodes Islander muttered, panic setting in.

"Rocks, bolts, arrows... They're all gone. In a heartbeat... every object around her has been reduced to nothingness."

"You have the resilience of liberators." Talulah's voice was laden with mockery.

"...Not even ashes remain..."

Amiya, her body trembling with exhaustion, looked toward Talulah as her own mind began to falter. The weight of the situation pressed down on her like a mountain.

"Amiya... you know what must be done," Dr. Rivette said, his voice strained. "Someone has to stop her."

But before anyone could act, Talulah flinched violently as something sharp struck her shoulder. She glanced down, seeing blood running down her arm. She looked up, confused, to find the source of the shot: Frost. Smoke still rose from the barrel of his rifle.

"He... he just shot Reunion's leader?! Is he insane?!" someone cried.

"She can bleed. That means we can kill her," Frost muttered, his voice dark.

"No! That's a bad idea!" Dobermann shouted, shaking her head. "Even if we killed her, another one will take her place!"

"I was just stating a fact," Frost replied.

"You have made a grave mistake, Rhodes Island," Talulah's voice was cold and final. "For this is the price you pay for slaughtering your fellow Infected. I shall grant you an ending that I am quite fond of...Disappear."

Talulah unleashed her Arts again, sending a wave of destruction toward the group.

"Amiya!" Dobermann cried, fear evident in her voice.

"Damn it! Run... Hurry!! That amount of heat... at such a scale... No! Protect Amiya and the Doctor!" Dobermann ordered urgently.

"We won't make it...!" Guard said, his voice grim. "I'll block her!"

"This is the end, fellas..." Thunder said quietly, making a sign of the cross, ready to face whatever came next.

Everyone braced for the inevitable, certain that death was closing in... until, suddenly, nothing happened.

"A-Amiya?" Medic blinked, slowly opening her eyes.

"You will not hurt them. I will never allow you to do that!" Amiya's voice rang out, defiant as she summoned a dark matter energy barrier to shield her comrades from Talulah's devastating attack.

Talulah stared at her, unfazed by the barrier but not impressed.

"I must... protect everyone..." Amiya whispered, struggling to keep the barrier intact. Her body trembled, and her resolve was quickly eroding.

"Amiya is holding back the enemy's Arts... all by herself?" Dobermann said, disbelief in her voice.

"It's no good... That power is too immense! Even Amiya won't be able to last much longer!" Nearl observed, her face set in determination.

"Demon, Tig, find us an escape route. Now!" Raven barked.

But just as Amiya began to falter, she heard a familiar voice.

"That's enough, Amiya." Ace's calm, steady voice cut through the tension. Amiya's eyes snapped open, and she saw him—Ace—standing beside her, offering his strength.

"You've done well. Let us share your burden," Ace said, his voice filled with quiet conviction.

"I..." Amiya whispered, too exhausted to say more.

"Amiya!" Dobermann and the Doctor ran to her, helping her to her feet.

"Dobermann, take her with you. I'll see you soon," Ace said, turning toward the battle once more.

"...Ace..." Amiya's voice cracked as she called out to him, but Ace was already moving toward the front lines, determined to make a stand.

"Ace, what are you doing?" Dr. Schmidt asked, disbelief lacing his words.

"Ace... No... Ace...!" Amiya cried, her voice filled with anguish. "Promise me... that you'll..."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Rivette. You might not remember me. But I remember you, and I know what kind of person you are. There will come a day when you and Amiya will face this cruel land together. That's why... you must cherish her, Doctor. Let's go. Godspeed."

With that, Ace and his squad charged into the smoke, disappearing into the chaos of battle, leaving nothing but the sound of their final stand echoing in the distance.

"Doctor, this is Raven. We've found an escape route. We'll hold our ground here, but you need to move fast. Once your squad makes it through, we can't stay much longer."

"Come on, we have to move!" Dr. Rivette urged, swiftly scooping up Amiya into a bridal carry. He cast one last, lingering glance at Ace and his squad, who were bravely charging toward their final stand, before turning and leading everyone toward the escape route.

Despite the urgency of their escape, his eyes briefly lingered on the chaotic scene behind them, unwilling to forget the sacrifice made by those who had given everything to protect them.

POV: Contractors

Meanwhile, the Contractors were fiercely battling Reunion soldiers, holding their ground just long enough to keep the escape route open.

"Changing mag, cover!" Dutch called out, his voice steady as he slammed a fresh magazine into his carbine. Poker quickly moved to a new position, providing cover fire while Dutch reloaded.

"Set!" Dutch announced once again, and resumed firing at the approaching Reunion forces.

"Heads up, we've got a Reunion leader entering the AO!" Frost warned, his eyes scanning the battlefield.

"Who is it?" someone asked.

"It's that girl—'Crownslayer,' the assassin," one of the Contractors responded. They'd heard the name from Rhodes Island, and now it seemed they were right.

"Alright, focus fire on her once you spot her," Tig ordered, the command sharp and unwavering.

The air grew tense as Crownslayer entered the fray, moving with frightening speed and precision.

"Shit, she's fast!" one of the Contractors cursed, struggling to track her movements.

"We can't get a bead on her!" another added.

Bullets whizzed past Crownslayer as she danced through the gunfire, dodging every shot with ease. As she tried to bypass the Contractors' position, Frost reacted quickly. He fired a well-aimed shot, hitting her in the shoulder and causing her to stumble back, momentarily disoriented.

Her bodyguards were quickly cut down, and soon, it was just Crownslayer against twelve armed men. The Contractors offered her a chance to surrender, but she refused, retaliating by speeding past them and attempting to slash one of them with her blades. They dodged, returning fire and swiftly dispersing to better positions.

Realizing they were well-organized and well-supported, and with Rhodes Island forces closing in, Crownslayer made the strategic decision to withdraw, disappearing into a cloud of smoke.

"She's gone," Dutch reported, his tone tense.

"What happened to her?" Raven asked, glancing at Dr. Rivette, who was carrying Amiya.

"She's exhausted," Dr. Rivette replied, his voice low.

"I'm glad you all held out until we arrived," Dobermann said, his tone filled with gratitude. "You guys are a damn fine squad. We're going to need you in the future. You're capable soldiers."

"Where's Ace?" Tig asked, his voice edged with worry.

"Ace... He stayed back to cover our escape," Dr. Rivette informed them, his voice heavy with sadness.

Tig simply nodded, though the weight of the loss was clear. "Well, we shouldn't stay here mourning. It's not safe. Let's move out."

As the group made their way through the ruined streets of Chernobog, they encountered another Rhodes Island squad, primarily made up of Vanguard operators, who were escorting five children. Dobermann quickly directed them to tag along, and they pushed forward toward the extraction point.

Another Reunion ambush hit, but the team was able to push them back. Exhausted but determined, they made a brief stop at an abandoned grocery store to catch their breath and regroup.

"We've broken through Reunion's encirclement!" Dobermann said, a rare note of triumph in his voice.

"But... they... I... Aaaagh..." Nearl groaned, her nerves on the edge, but Dobermann quickly intervened.

"Don't let Amiya hear you," she warned.

"Amiya's kept a clear head through this. She's stronger than we thought," Nearl said, trying to steady herself.

"Ngh... Mmh...?" Amiya groaned, slowly rousing from unconsciousness, clearly disturbed by the commotion.

The Doctor held her close, arm wrapped around her to keep her calm as they both sat against the wall, momentarily finding comfort in the silence.

"Even so, we can't let her hear this," Dobermann insisted. "We mustn't burden her any further. She's already... carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders."

Amiya stirred slightly, but it was Nearl who spoke up, voice filled with determination. "We can't let their sacrifices be in vain. They gave their lives for us... We have to make sure Amiya and the Doctor get out safely."

Nearl and Dobermann exchanged a look before nodding in agreement. "That's right."

Meanwhile, Tula approached the Vanguard squad to check on the five children they had found.

"Where did you find these kids?" Tula asked, his voice soft with concern.

"We found them hiding in the streets during the Catastrophe," one of the Vanguard operators answered. "They were badly malnourished, and from their uniforms, they're probably from Peterheim, just a few blocks away."

"Have you given them food and water?" Tula asked.

"Yeah, we gave them what we could find," the Vanguard operator confirmed.

"Poor kids," Tula murmured. He was about to leave when the operator called out to him.

"Hey, what's going on over there? They're arguing."

Tula paused. "Ace's squad stayed back to cover our retreat. We only found out about it when we regrouped. Our job was to keep the escape route clear."

"Shit... I hope their sacrifices weren't in vain."

"They won't be, brother. They won't be," Tula said firmly, before turning away to rejoin the rest of the group.

Back with Nearl and Dobermann, the mood had grown heavier.

"Now isn't the time to be dejected," Dobermann said. "You, the Radiant Knight, are supposed to be our beacon of hope, no matter the odds."

Nearl hesitated, her voice uncertain. "I'm not sure anymore. But I'll do my part." She raised her voice, trying to rally everyone. "Regroup! Stay sharp! We're almost there!"

Dobermann sighed, muttering under her breath, "Those who told me not to worry... None of them are coming back."

The team gathered quickly, the Doctor carefully holding Amiya again as they headed out of the store. BEAR team took point, and the streets appeared strangely calm, no signs of Reunion in sight. But just as they were about to step out of the store and reach the exit...

"Damn it!" Dobermann cursed, seeing the way forward blocked.

"Did you really think we'd let you just stroll out of Chernobog?" a female voice called from the shadows. "It's time someone wakes you from your daydreams."

Amiya immediately tensed, recognizing the voice. "Who are you?"

"Well, I'm not expecting you to know me," the woman said with a cruel chuckle. "But I know that person next to you." She pointed at Dr. Rivette.

Dutch, loading a white phosphorus round into his MK13 grenade launcher, muttered grimly, "I've had enough of this."

"Is Reunion still coming after us?" someone asked.

The woman's voice came again, dripping with mockery. "Hey, don't be like that. I have no love for Talulah either. I'm not cut out for goaltending, but I had to rush over here after a long day of work. How about we exchange pleasantries before we start?"

"Who the hell are you?" Dr. Rivette demanded.

The woman grinned. "You may call me W."

The name sounded vaguely familiar to the Doctor, though he couldn't quite place it.

"I've been waiting a long time to meet the person next to you," W said, her voice dripping with anticipation.

"Doctor?" Amiya asked, confused.

"Dr. Rivette..." W's smile widened. "I have some questions for you. Would you be so kind as to give us some... alone time?"

"You're wasting your time," Nearl growled, but W only laughed.

"Don't be in such a hurry. I have some information that might interest you. Actually, I just met some interesting people. Dressed just like you guys, though their camouflage was enough to fool Ursus. I saw right through it," W said, smirking.

"They could be from the recon team," Dobermann said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "I'm glad they're alive... but still suspicious."

W raised an eyebrow. "Are you their leader?" she asked Amiya, her voice sharp. "What kind of charm do you have over them that they're so willing to give their lives for you?"

"What... are you implying?" Amiya asked.

"You heard me," W shot back. "None of them will be coming back to you."

W's grin grew wide, a hint of madness in her eyes. "What's the point of all this, W?" Dr. Rivette demanded.

W turned to Amiya, her voice almost childlike. "Did I make you mad?"

Amiya's patience snapped. "You've gone too far."

"Good. Now that's more like it." W stretched her arms out dramatically. "Come at me."

"Enough, W of the Reunion Movement! Every life is precious. That's something you'll never understand!" Amiya shouted, fury burning in her eyes.

"Rhodes Island is preparing for combat!" the team called out, weapons at the ready.

W chuckled, clearly amused by their response.

"Lock and load!" Dutch ordered, his voice cold and determined.

"Brother, you ought to protect those kids," Tula said, turning to the Vanguard squad leader, who gave quick orders for some of his team to back off and protect the children. The rest prepared to join the fight.

"Should we go on the defensive?" Pepper asked, ready for whatever came next.

"Depends," Raven replied. "But we'll take them by surprise. Offensive strategy. We clash with them."

The stage was set for another battle, one that would determine the fate of everyone involved. As the Reunion soldiers launched their assault, Dutch was ready. With a steady hand, he fired a 40mm grenade from his launcher, but this wasn't just any round. It was a white phosphorus round. Upon detonation, it created a massive plume of smoke, followed by the agonizing screams of Reunion soldiers caught in the fiery inferno. The incendiary chemical burned through their clothes and into their skin, causing their bodies to writhe in pain as they struggled to put out the fire, unaware that nothing could extinguish it.

Dutch quickly launched another white phosphorus round, the flames engulfing more of the advancing soldiers. Those unlucky enough to be caught in the smoke were consumed by the blaze, while others, stunned by the carnage, were either frozen in shock or gunned down by the Contractors in the open.

"Alright, let's push forward!" Raven ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos. The Cold Harbor team laid down suppressive fire for the USEC and BEAR teams, allowing them to leapfrog forward. Once they reached a safe distance, Cold Harbor moved ahead, sliding down on their chests into firing positions, taking out any Reunion soldiers attempting to break through.

"Focus on the squad in position!" Raven barked. "Tula, suppress their movements!"

Tula immediately set up his machine gun, pinning down the enemy squad as the Contractors closed in. Raven issued orders to Demon to flank the squad, and without hesitation, Demon's team moved left, sneaking around the exposed flank. BEAR's gunfire rang out as they picked off Reunion soldiers, one by one.

"We're surrounded!" the Reunion squad leader shouted, realizing their position was hopeless. In a panic, the squad began retreating, but without proper cover, they were easy targets for the Contractors. As the squad scattered, most were cut down in the open, clearing the path for Rhodes Island's advance.

"Dr. Rivette, there's your opening. I suggest sending an assault team to exploit it," Tig advised, his eyes scanning the battlefield.

Dr. Rivette nodded, glancing over at Nearl. "Nearl, I need your team to charge in and take care of the remaining Reunion troops. Exploit their lines."

"As you wish, Doctor," Nearl responded, her voice steady. "Team, we move now!"

With a battle cry, Nearl and her team charged forward, breaching the enemy lines and cutting down anyone who faltered or let their guard down. Rhodes Island's forces surged forward, taking full advantage of the opening.

But just as the momentum shifted, multiple explosions rocked their position.

"It's that Sarkaz merc!" one of the Rhodes Island operators shouted. The source of the blasts was quickly identified—W, the deadly mercenary, had repositioned herself and was launching another remote-controlled explosive, knocking several defenders to the ground. Fortunately, the medics were quick to tend to the injured, but W was becoming an increasingly dangerous threat.

Before they could regroup, W disappeared into the smoke, her hit-and-run tactics making it nearly impossible to predict her next move.

"Where the hell is she?" Sabre muttered, scanning every corner.

"I see her," Neptune called out, taking a shot. The bullet missed by inches as W nimbly dodged, leaping from the second floor of a ruined building and landing dangerously close to Amiya.

Their eyes locked.

W smirked, her gaze wicked and teasing. "Well, well... if it isn't Amiya. How nostalgic."

Amiya, refusing to show fear, summoned her dark energy. W easily sidestepped, her speed and agility evident as she fired her grenade launcher. Amiya dodged the blast, but the shockwave still made her grit her teeth. The battle between the two raged on for nearly ten minutes, each move more calculated than the last. Amiya was growing tired, her energy beginning to wane, but W seemed to relish the fight, never showing any signs of fatigue.

W saw an opening and flanked Amiya, landing behind her. Before Amiya could react, W fired her grenade launcher, but a Defender intercepted the shot, blocking the explosion with a shield.

"Are you alright, Amiya?" the Defender asked, concern etched in their voice.

Amiya nodded, barely holding it together. "Thank you."

W chuckled, her eyes alight with amusement. "Amiya, was it? I remember now... so that's what's going on." Her grin grew wider, the mad gleam in her eyes evident. "Ah, this is too good. I've gotten what I came for. You can all go now. Shoo."

Amiya was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

W waved dismissively as a Reunion soldier approached. "What? You want to stay here and die? Fine by me. It's your choice."

The soldier, clearly rattled, hesitated. "We're falling back. Talulah's orders."

Everyone stood confused. Was Reunion really just letting them go?

W turned her gaze back to Amiya. "Forget it. Things get boring when they drag on too long. I hate boredom. But I'll look forward to seeing you again, Amiya. As well as... that person."

Amiya's confusion deepened. "What? Who are you talking about?"

W's grin widened. "I'll hear the truth from you, Dr. Rivette, and those mercenaries you banded together with. Next time, we'll fight again. But for now..." She gave a mocking wave. "Goodbye~"

With that, W and her remaining forces retreated, leaving the battlefield in a stunned silence.

"Why... why did she do that?" Amiya asked, still in shock.

"Reunion... they've retreated," Dobermann said, her voice filled with disbelief. "We've missed the rendezvous time. Everyone, fall back to Rhodes Island—now."

"I'll escort the operators in the back," Nearl volunteered, her voice steady despite the tension.

Amiya, still trying to process everything, simply shrugged. "I don't understand... why?"

"We survived," Poker said, exhaling deeply as he lowered his weapon. "Barely."

Tig, ever the leader, gave his orders. "Get into formation, everyone. Let's move out."

The team regrouped, and with the last of the Reunion forces retreating, they began their withdrawal, their minds still racing from the chaotic turn of events.

From BEAR's perspective, the mood was grim. Frost sat quietly, the smoldering cigar dangling from his lips as he stared into the sky. The aftermath of the battle lingered heavily in his mind—how they'd managed to survive that chaos, how much they'd lost. He glanced to his right and saw the feline Medic calling to Amiya, whose gaze was lost in the distance. It took the Medic a couple of attempts to snap Amiya back to reality.

"Oh... huh?" Amiya blinked, as if just coming out of a trance, meeting the concerned eyes of the Medic.

"What's the matter?" the Medic asked softly.

"N-nothing... I just felt... grief," Amiya murmured, her voice tinged with a sadness that seemed to weigh on her heart.

The Medic sniffled, her eyes welling with tears. "Grief... huh..."

Amiya forced a warm smile, trying to comfort her, though her own heart felt heavy. "Don't cry... not right now. Someone once told me... tears should be saved for when the war is over. Now... isn't the time."

The Medic's sobs subsided, and she nodded, wiping her eyes.

Amiya stood up, her posture straightening as she wiped away the last of her sorrow. "Let's go... we're going home."

Thunder, who had been quiet until now, pointed out the transport chopper, drawing everyone's attention. "Look at that bird."

"Looks like an oversized V-22 Osprey," Frost remarked, still flicking the ashes off his cigar.

"Not just any Osprey," Pepper interjected with a grin. "That's a V120 Valkyrie. I can't believe it's a thing here." The massive quad-winged tilt-rotor VTOL, painted black with blue stripes and emblazoned with the Rhodes Island logo, touched down with a soft thud, its ramp lowering to allow personnel inside.

The Contractors let the Rhodes Island operators board first, the last of them stepping up the ramp just as the Contractors climbed aboard. The massive aircraft's engines hummed to life as it began its ascent, leaving the battlefield behind.

As they soared into the sky, the contractors couldn't help but look back at the city they were leaving. Chernobog was a sight like no other—a moving city.

"Holy shit..." Sabre muttered, his eyes wide as he stared out the window at the sprawling, burning city below. "Look at that place. It's like... a mobile city."

Tula, resting his helmet and mask on his lap, gazed out the window with a thoughtful look. "Wonder how long it took them to build something like that... not to mention the resources, the cost... and the maintenance."

As the aircraft climbed higher, the Contractors couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. Rhodes Island's operators, meanwhile, tried to figure them out. They'd thought the mercenaries were Sankta at first, but none of the Contractors had the telltale wings or halos. There was no clear indication of their race. They seemed... different.

Raven raised his android phone and snapped a photo of Chernobog as it shrank in the distance. The smoldering city was a stark reminder of the battle they had just fought.

Poker sat back, deep in thought. What now? Would they be taken to a prison cell? Would they be handed over to the authorities for their illegal operations? The uncertainty gnawed at the Contractors as the aircraft flew on, all they could do was wait for the answer.

Tig, feeling the tension in the air, turned his gaze to the Rhodes Island operators. They looked worn, exhausted, and drained from the chaos they had just barely escaped. As he walked toward the cockpit, he spotted something else—a massive landship through the front windshield. It was a strange mix of industrial infrastructure and military might, a glimpse of what awaited them at their destination.

"Excuse me, Mister," a voice called out, and Tig turned to find the brown-haired teenage bunny girl who claimed to be the leader of Rhodes Island. Amiya.

"Yes?" Tig responded, nodding respectfully to the young leader.

"Once we arrive on Rhodes Island, would you kindly follow me and the Doctor?" Amiya asked, her tone serious. "We have something important to discuss."

Tig hesitated for a moment, weighing the request. This was important—he knew that much. With the limited options they had and the situation still hanging in the balance, it was clear they had to make some tough decisions. After a brief pause, Tig gave her a nod. "Alright, I'll follow you."

As the aircraft continued its journey, the Contractors and Rhodes Island personnel alike braced themselves for whatever lay ahead. The battle was over, but the real challenge was only beginning.

--------------------------------

About 20 minutes later, the V120 heavy-lift helicopter touched down on the deck with a soft thud, its engines powering down as the ramp descended, allowing the passengers to disembark. Some were escorted for medical treatment, while others—those not critically injured—were directed toward debriefings. Meanwhile, the 12 armed men, still on high alert, followed the hooded figure and the teenager through the corridors, escorted by a brunette-haired woman with a halberd slung over her shoulder and a beret perched on her head.

"Please wait here," Amiya instructed as she entered the office. "I need to arrange a few things. Plume, would you mind keeping an eye on the Doctor? I'll be back in five minutes."

The room fell into an awkward silence, the men exchanging uneasy glances, none of them daring to speak. The Doctor, his hands clasped behind his back, slowly moved around the office. His surroundings were pristine, everything neatly arranged—books on the shelves, a tidy desk with a nameplate facing the door, a computer sitting on one side. He ran his hand over the smooth surface of the desk, tracing the edges before resting it on the headrest of his swivel chair. He stood behind the chair, looking around as though searching for something. The office was meticulously ordered, yet unrecognizable to him. There was an odd sense of familiarity that tugged at his mind, but it didn't provide any clarity.

The men who had entered with him stood in awkward silence, unsure of what to do. After a moment, the Doctor broke the silence.

"Would you care for a seat?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious.

Raven, the team leader, shook his head. "We'll stand, thank you, sir."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow but nodded. "May I ask you a few questions?"

Raven answered first, his tone professional but with a slight edge. "Only the ones we're willing to answer, Doctor."

The Doctor considered this for a moment before continuing. "Alright then. What are your names?"

There was a slight pause before Raven spoke again, his voice steady. "I'm Raven. The others in my unit from United Security are Neptune, Sabre, and Pepper."

Tig, the leader of another contractor group, spoke next. "I'm Tig, team leader of Cold Harbor Special Projects. These are my team members: Tula, Poker, and Dutch."

"My callsign is Demon," came the voice from a man with a sharp gaze. "The rest of BEAR is Frost, Thunder, and Stinger."

The Doctor nodded thoughtfully as they introduced themselves, his curiosity piqued by the variety of contractor groups before him. As the introductions wrapped up, Amiya returned, entering the office with a pile of paperwork in her hands. She was followed by Dobermann, a woman with pointy ears, and another unusual figure—a flying cube with bat wings and a tail. The woman, wearing an oversized T-shirt and a utility belt laden with tools, gave a quick nod as she stepped inside.

Amiya walked over to the Doctor's desk, setting the papers down neatly. She then turned to face the men, who were all watching her intently.

She cleared her throat, her voice firm but warm. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Amiya, leader of the pharmaceutical company Rhodes Island. This," she gestured to Dobermann, "is Dobermann, an instructor here and a former military officer in the Bolivar military. And this," she motioned to the woman with pointy ears, "is Miss Closure, our Chief Engineer."

Raven raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Pardon me for cutting you off, miss, but... you're the leader of this organization?"

Amiya smiled slightly, knowing the question would come. "I understand your confusion. My age might make it difficult to believe, but my leadership was necessary due to the Doctor's absence at the time."

Dobermann stepped forward, placing a small audio recorder on the Doctor's desk. "With that out of the way, we can begin our discussion," she said, her tone businesslike.

Poker, ever the inquisitive one, leaned forward. "Is that thing on?" he asked, nodding toward the recorder.

"As of now, yes," Dobermann replied, her gaze sharp. "It's protocol."

The atmosphere in the room shifted, the conversation taking a more serious tone.

"Now," Dobermann continued, her voice steady, "let's begin. We have a few questions of our own. First—where do you come from? From what I can tell, you're a group of people without any signs of traits from any known races, not even the Aegir. So, what exactly are you?"

Raven let out a long, weary sigh before reluctantly answering. "We're a Private Military Contracting group called United Security, or USEC for short. We were hired to provide security for Terra Group Labs operating in Tarkov, in the Norvinsk region of Russia. Things went south pretty quickly, and the chaos caught the attention of the government. They shut the entire region down, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving. My team—Neptune, Sabre, Pepper—and a few others who didn't make it, were tasked with covering up the mess Terra Group Labs made back in 2019. But after numerous engagements, we were abandoned, lost, and stranded. We called for help, but it never came. We kept pushing through until we ran into a BEAR team along the way, and we ended up surviving together."

He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, before continuing. "BEAR was also hired by the government to suppress the conflict in Tarkov and uncover the truth behind Terra Group. But they were in the same situation as us—lost, abandoned, and stuck. Both of our groups were made up of former Special Operations guys, looking for a quicker way to make money. As we worked together, we realized what Terra Group was up to—they were experimenting with radioactive material and biological weapons. We discovered medical equipment and other disturbing things in their labs. Meanwhile, the city was crawling with cultists, Scavs, rogue PMCs, and all sorts of other dangers. We survived by trading with locals and working with some contacts to get the gear we needed. One day, we were going through a factory on our way to exfil, and we ended up in a Chernobog building after opening a door. That's how we got here."

Tig spoke next, his tone less resigned but still heavy with experience. "We work for Cold Harbor Special Projects Group—training local forces in the Middle East, mostly in Syria. We train police and military during the day, and at night, we're tasked with direct action operations, like snatch-and-grab missions or kill-no-capture raids. One night, after taking out an HVT, we were on our way back to base when we realized we were being followed by unknowns. Our reconnaissance drones guided us, but then we hit a red flag. We passed through a suspiciously wide street, completely empty. The vehicles tailing us didn't follow, which was already a warning sign, but we had no choice but to keep moving and link up with the QRF. Then, out of nowhere, insurgents popped up all around us, taking shots and launching RPGs. We didn't care about IEDs anymore—we just floored it. An RPG hit us, and there was this blinding flash like the second coming of Christ. It completely disoriented us, making us take off our NODs. When the light cleared, we were surrounded by panicking civilians, and we managed to run over a Reunion member before we crashed. And that's how we ended up here."

The room was filled with uneasy silence as the Rhodes Island staff processed the long and complicated stories. They still didn't fully understand many terms, like "Tarkov," or "SDF," nor did they have answers about the radioactive material Raven had mentioned. The conversation was becoming more than they could unpack in one sitting. It was clear that they would need a much longer discussion to fully grasp the meaning of these terms, but for now, they had more immediate matters to attend to.

Dobermann, ever the professional, broke the silence with a practical question. "About your weapons," she began. "How exactly do you use them? We've seen them in action, and they don't seem to operate like anything we're familiar with. Usually, you would need Arts to use a weapon here, but it seems like you don't need any of that."

Stinger stepped forward and explained with calm precision. "Our guns don't require any Arts. They function purely mechanically. The firing pin strikes the primer, igniting the gunpowder, which then propels the bullet down the barrel. We use standard calibers like 5.56 and 5.45, which have an effective range of about 500 meters, though our snipers can extend that range to 800 meters or more."

He paused, looking around the room before continuing. "If you'd like, I can show you." He picked up his AK-105, removed the magazine, and handed it over to Closure, who inspected it closely.

"Looks like your typical Originium round, but... more pointed," Closure remarked, removing a bullet from the magazine to examine it further. "And you're saying this doesn't require Arts to fire?"

"Correct," Stinger confirmed. "It's purely mechanical, no magic involved."

Dobermann nodded thoughtfully. "This technology could have serious consequences for Terra. Anyone without Arts could use these for warfare. Keeping this technology secret is critical, especially from Laterano."

Poker shifted in his seat, looking uneasy. "Excuse me, but what's the plan for us? We've got no idea where we're going or how we're getting back."

The Doctor, who had been listening intently, finally spoke. "Well, you could apply for work here at Rhodes Island. I can't promise what benefits you'll get, since I'm still new here, but I'm sure it won't be too bad."

Amiya and Dobermann exchanged a look, both surprised by the Doctor's offer.

"Are you sure about this, Doctor?" Amiya asked, her voice laced with concern.

The Doctor nodded. "Why not? They helped us through Chernobog, and now they're here. It's the least we can do to repay them."

Amiya seemed to think it over for a moment before speaking up. "Normally, Dr. Kal'tsit would be the one to make decisions about who joins Rhodes Island, but she's not here. As leader of Rhodes Island, I'm offering all of you positions. You'll be hired, but before you deploy, you'll need to undergo medical tests, as well as physical assessments with Instructor Dobermann. In the meantime, we'll be working on your operator files to officially process you. As members of Rhodes Island, you'll receive shelter, medical treatment, and can stay for as long as you need."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so we can leave whenever we want?"

Amiya nodded. "Yes."

"And you're not going to stop us?" Raven pressed.

"No," Amiya replied simply.

Poker was the first to speak up again. "I don't know about the rest of you, but after seeing how the infected are treated here, I think I'd like to stay and help. Plus, if we leave, we might not make it out of this landship alive. So, if anyone wants to go, now's the time."

The others exchanged glances, but nobody made a move to leave. The uncertainty of the world outside was too much to face.

"Then it's decided," Raven said, a slight smile of approval on his face. "We'll stay and work as Operators of Rhodes Island."

Amiya nodded. "I'll show you to your rooms. Each squad will be assigned a dorm that can house 4 to 5 people. Meanwhile, Closure will take the Doctor on a tour and explain what you need to know. You all earned a good rest."

With that, Amiya dismissed them. The contractors headed off to their new quarters, eager to shed their gear and get some much-needed rest after a day full of danger and uncertainty.

To be continued...

(A/N: Kinda felt like this is some weak ass writing but then again, I wrote these at like past midnight. So yeah anyway, I'll see you in the next chapter.)