Shadow Slave

The Fall of Falcon Scott (42)

The second week of the siege was over.

A few days ago, the Devouring Cloud had been eliminated. The Terror of L049 had been slain on the same day, as well. More people had been evacuated. More people were being evacuated, still.

The siege capital still stood, firmly in human hands and mostly unbroken.

Sunny was in a familiar office in the underground government complex — the same one where he had met the rest of the Irregular officers before the siege started. The office was much the same, with only the image projected on the false window changed.

It was still showing the view of the city, only now, there were fewer people on the streets. The blizzard was picking up again, too, so the visibility wasn't great.

There was also one more vacant chair.

There were currently only three people inside — Sunny, Jet, and Winter. The three of them were not enough for the large room, so it felt painfully empty.

Winter's eyes were hidden behind her sunglasses. This was the first time Sunny saw her after the day of the battle with the Devouring Cloud... he hesitated for a while, then forced himself to say:

"Dale, he was... a good man."

She turned her head slightly and stared at him for a while. Probably. Sunny could not really see where she was looking.

Eventually, Winter sighed and briefly touched her forearm, where an edge of a tattoo could be seen peeking out from beneath the rolled sleeve of her bodysuit.

"It's alright. I knew that the fool was going to get himself killed, eventually. There were six of us at the start, you know?"

She grew quiet for a bit, then shook her head.

"Back at the Academy. Then, there were only two of us left after the Second Nightmare, and now there's just me. I'll probably be dead soon, too. No regrets, though, as long as it's for a good cause."

laid-back as usual, but Sunny

"I am sorry."

Winter smiled.

young and elite to die. Reaper, you too... I mean, you too

Master Jet laughed.

you insist, I'll have to give it a

All three had been fighting with very little rest in between combat shifts for the past few days, so this meeting was a bit

sighed and

later. The important stuff is... the wall is still holding, but just barely. Three breaches have turned into five, as you must know. Army Command expects

a hand,

Let's just get to the actual business. The priority targets... hey, two out of five are dealt with. Sunny killed the Terror, while the Brood Mommy and Brood Daddy of the Devouring Cloud were done in by

Jet lingered for a

Scott before we retreat. Goliath, on the other hand, was supposed to show up yesterday. He has been moving very slowly recently, however, for whatever reason,

settled in the underground office. Winter broke

huh? Are you

Reaper lingered for

is a Transcendent. Overall... it seems like the situation is not entirely hopeless. The First Army has suffered heavy casualties in the past two weeks, true, but no more than Army Command expected. The evacuation is also only a little bit behind schedule.

in his

is she

thought before answering. Her voice was

family survived... Roan will be out of commission for a couple more weeks, sadly. Coincidentally, the House of Night

sigh of relief. He had been somewhat worried about Saint Tyris

put her datapad on the table and gave him a poignant

is that project of yours coming

stared at her for a moment or

you gotten

Jet winced.