The casual words hit the crowd like a physical blow.
"What...What are you saying, sir?"
"Please tell me that's not true."
"Oh no. We're going to die! We're really going to die!"
"It's all over!"
Terror rippled through the command center and across every monitor.
Hardened soldiers—men and women trained to face death without flinching stumbled back, their faces pale, their eyes wide.
They had watched Mika perform miracles today.
He had dismantled five bombs simultaneously, orchestrating the entire operation from a single screen while flirting with doctors and cuddling a Battle Angel.
Because of that they had placed all their hopes on him. Every last shred of faith.
So hearing him now say he couldn't dismantle this bomb felt like watching their last lifeline slip away into darkness.
Even Fauna couldn't help but frown deeply. She grabbed Mika's shoulders and started shaking him in frustration.
