"Let's vote for Lucian joining the council."
The governor's eyes widened.
Vivian stared at the commander in disbelief, while the elderly man, Sareth, stared at the governor.
Clack!
Leila's smoke pipe slipped from her long fingers, dropping on the table. Her eyes narrowed, examining the commander.
Silence descended in the room.
But sparks flew in the minds of the council members. Thoughts clashed, weighing the benefits.
Even Lucian, who usually kept a stone-cold expression, showed surprise.
No one expected this.
'What is his purpose?' The governor furrowed his brows; his shock vanished. 'What could he possibly gain by doing this? He does realize what this all means?'
No matter how much he thought, the governor couldn't make sense of the proposal.
The silence in the room stretched.
The seconds turned into minutes. No one spoke, but the air grew heavier.
Marcus trembled. The veins on his forehead had popped up.
Thud!
"I disagree!"
He jumped from his seat, slamming the stone table.
He broke the silence.
The commander glanced at him.
"What right does he have!!"
Marcus pointed his trembling finger at Lucian. He trembled in fury.
"Give him a seat in the council? What good would that do? He is his father's puppet. It's just giving the useless governor an extra vote on the council!"
Marcus' voice tore the room, but as he finished, the room once again fell into silence.
Silence interrupted only by his rough breathing.
"Marcus,"
The commander spoke calmly.
"I understand your concern. But we can't deny Lucian's contribution to the mission this time. Had it not been for him, I doubt we could've succeeded. He proved his abilities. He deserves to have a seat on the council."
The council members carefully listened.
"But I respect you all, so I asked for a vote. Please proceed."
Marcus clenched his fists. He wanted to roar, attack the commander. What respect? He commands the entire council as he wills, on his own. And asks for their opinion only when it's convenient. He strongly opposed his behavior, and especially now, inviting Lucian to the council.
But out of respect, Marcus held it in.
The governor was the first to raise his hand.
"I agree,"
No matter what schemes the commander had, as Marcus said, this only benefited him. He would have an extra vote on the council.
"I disagree,"
Marcus growled at the governor, strongly opposing.
Sareth glanced at the governor, then at the commander, and back at the governor.
He hesitantly raised his hand.
"I agree,"
Now, only the commander, Vivian, and Leila remained.
But Leila just observed the commander, with no intention of voting.
"I disagree,"
Vivian raised her hand.
The votes equalized—two in favor and two against.
"I agree,"
The commander raised his hand.
"I agree as well,"
Leila followed immediately after.
The decision was made.
Four in favor. Two against.
"Then, it's settled. Lucian will join the council."
The commander declared. He looked at Lucian.
"Lucian, you'll be in charge of training the soldiers. Cooperate with Marcus and conduct sparring sessions."
"Yes,"
Lucian nodded, saluting respectfully.
Vivian's eyes widened, and a fear emerged in the back of her mind. But she said nothing. She could only pray the commander knew what he was doing.
'Train the soldiers?'
The governor's heart jumped in joy. His lips involuntarily curled up. He barely managed to control them, keeping a stone-cold expression.
"Commander!"
Marcus jumped from his seat again, unable to contain himself.
.
.
.
And while Marcus expressed his unwillingness to cooperate with Lucian, the governor's son, several vehicles arrived at the dome-shaped entrance to the military base.
Two soldiers guarding the entrance walked to the armored vehicles.
Soldiers slowly got out of the vehicles one by one.
Two soldiers held a young soldier by the arms, helping him get off.
The young soldier's eyes were red, his face displaying hopelessness. Grief. Overwhelming grief.
Jim arrived.
"Jim, what happened?"
One of the soldiers guarding the entrance rushed to Jim.
His voice carried deep concern.
Jim looked the soldier in the eyes.
Tears streamed down his face, as if he had been holding them in for a long time.
"J-Jin...he..."
Jim's voice trembled, breaking as he spoke.
"He died..."
Jim burst into tears, collapsing on his knees.
The guarding soldier's heart sank.
He was familiar with the brothers and knew their bond, their brotherhood, and their love for one another.
"I...I feel as if a part of me died..."
Jim looked at his trembling hands.
"I-I'm half the man I was...I abandoned him with my own hands!"
Jim's cries tore the air, but the onlooking soldiers could only observe. No one had any words of comfort? Did those words even exist?
Tears streamed down the face of the guarding soldier.
"Grieve, my friend..."
He clenched his fists.
"Don't forget this pain and continue living. It is the burden of the living to carry forward,"
"Ronnan, what should we do?"
The other guarding soldier walked up, whispering into his ear.
"Go and report it to Lady Vivian," Ronnan whispered back, sadness flashing in his eyes. "They were close with her."
"But she is in a council meeting,"
Ronnan paused for a moment, thinking.
"It doesn't matter," He sighed. "No one will blame you. She valued them,"
The soldier nodded and walked back into the base, going underground.
Ronnan glanced at the grieving Jim.
But, underneath the grieving facade, Alpha's mind raced, taking in knowledge from the conversation of the two soldiers.
'So they know someone in a high position,'
His heart trembled in joy.
The pressure increased; he would have to act it out perfectly and avoid suspicion from someone who knew the original person. But as long as he passed, he could have high-tier information.
It would make scheming against them easier.
"Ronnan..."
Jim raised his head, locking eyes with Ronnan.
"What should I do?"
His voice begged, and his eyes trembled in grief.
Ronnan's heart ached.
"What did Jin want to do?"
Ronnan crouched, placing his palm on Jim's shoulder.
"He wanted to help. He wanted to ease the survivors' lives. He wanted to share Lady Vivian's burden,"
They locked eyes.
Jim stared into Ronnan's eyes as if he had found hope, desperate for direction in life.
But in truth, he just analyzed what his next course of action should be to stay in character.
"You should carry on his wishes."
Jim's eyes widened, as if a realization befell him.
"Yes..."
His pupils trembled. He looked into the sky.
"Brother...I'll carry on your will!"
A hint of determination flashed in his grief-stricken eyes.
"BROTHER! PLEASE LOOK OVER ME!"
He roared, breaking down into tears once again.
Jim cried. The minutes passed.
The soldiers around slowly left and entered the base, dejected, having returned without anything.
While a few remaining soldiers drove off to park the armored vehicles.
Only Jim and Ronnan remained outside.
"Come on, let's go inside."
Ronnan helped Jim stand up, and they slowly walked into the base.
The enemy didn't attack them. It joined them.
A knife approached the back of the military and slowly crept up to the neck.
.
.
.
In the council room.
The quarrel still went on.
Marcus stubbornly refused to back down.
Veins popped on his forehead, his eyes sparking with lightning. He barely restrained himself from attacking Lucian and the governor head-on.
Knock! Knock!
Then, a knock interrupted the meeting.
The door opened.
A soldier walked in.
Sharp gazes shot at him—sharp, murderous.
The soldier shivered. His heart beat rapidly.
As if the gazes carried pressure, his knees tremble.
Interrupting a council meeting, he didn't know the consequences, but they wouldn't be light.
"State your purpose,"
Sareth questioned, his tone unfriendly.
How dare a low soldier interrupt a council meeting?
The soldier clenched his fists.
Since he had already come, there was no turning back.
"Lady Vivian,"
The soldier bowed in respect.
"I have something to report,"
Vivian showed surprise.
After all, what could it be that needs to be explicitly reported to her and not the commander?
Her face wrinkled. A bad feeling arose in her heart.
Judging by the soldier's expression, it wasn't good news.
"Speak,"
She gave permission.
"Lady, Jim has returned..."
The soldier hesitated slightly before continuing.
"Jin has died outside."
Swoosh!
Vivian jumped to her feet.
Her entire body shook. Her heart beat rapidly.
Grief assaulted her, and tears unwillingly welled in her eyes.
"How dare you interrupt the council just for the death of a mere soldier!!" Sareth roared.
Swoosh!
Vivian glared at him.
Her eyes murderous.
"Keep your mouth shut!"
She growled, her voice threatening.
Leila scoffed mockingly at Sareth.
And he could only grit his teeth and back away, swallowing his embarrassment.
Vivian was not the commander. She didn't hesitate to kill.
Even his seat on the council didn't guarantee his safety. Secretly, he glanced at the governor.
'Fool,'
The governor scoffed internally.
'Does he not know how much they value their soldiers?'
"Alright, you can leave."
Vivian ordered.
The soldier obeyed and left.
The commander glanced at Vivian.
She took a deep breath and pushed back her glasses with her trembling palm.
Vivian restrained her emotions and sat down.
"Let's continue,"
She said calmly, while her insides burned.
The council members could only admire her emotional control.
.
.
.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
The lights flickered.
Ronnan led Jim to his room.
"Do you remember the way?"
A voice rang in the corridor. It came from a distance. From a corner.
"Yes,"
A childish voice answered.
"And the way to the cafeteria?"
The voice grew closer—the voice of a man.
"Yes,"
They were about to turn the corner.
Swoosh!
Alpha's eyes widened.
'This scent...'
His heart raced. Murderous intent surged within his entire being. His body trembled, and veins on the arms bulged.
'It's unmistakable!'
His palms flickered.
The fingers turned hairy, clawed.
Alpha's emotions fluctuated rapidly. His transformation was breaking.
'It's the scientist's scent!'
Alpha's breathing turned ragged.
And in the distance, a group turned the corner, coming into view.
Scientist Alpha, along with two soldiers, escorted a young child.
Alpha's eyes dilated again.
'Beta,'
He froze.
"What's wrong, Jim?"
Ronnan questioned.
But Alpha didn't reply or move. He just stood, his eyes fixated on Beta.
And as Scientist Alpha approached, his murderous intent drowned him.