Good News

Surprisingly, after that fight I was out for only a week. Well, I was asleep for one. I started feeling something soft and warm. Then I started feeling the cool air flow around my body.

My senses slowly came back to me. I was wrong, the war I was sent to fight wasn't between the two tyrants and I. But something more if I'm still alive.

I slowly opened my eyes. Bright lights blinded my sensitive eyes. I suddenly flinched and the bed I was on moved with me.

A distant voice reached out to me. "Finch? Are you awake now?"

That voice, there was an odd care to it. Whoever was speaking to me clearly didn't care if I died, but they still needed me.

I forced my mouth to move. "Wh- who's out there?"

Whoever was in the room with me rested their hand over my chest. "You're trapped in there, aren't you? That feeling, you're physically safe but mentally you're still trapped in conflict."

"I guess. Who's out there?"

"It's me, Athena." She brought her hand over my forehead to prevent light from coming into my eyes. "Try opening your eyes now."

My eyes opened to reveal a room that had a careful feeling to it. Everything was placed with the utmost respect. I looked up to see Warmonger's face. Her eyes looked down at me, full of mercy.

Her hand was extremely gentle and her outfit. It was something else. Instead of wearing something to make her enemies fear, she wore something gentle. Almost... cute?

But why would she be wearing this?

"Your outfit?"

My thought escaped my mouth. She looked down to her blue dress. After getting a closer look, I realized it looked more ceremonial. That blue dress looked royal, something important.

She turned back to me and smiled. "Doctors said today would've been your expiration date if you didn't wake up. Not sure if you can feel it yet, but you haven't eaten or drank anything."

"So you were here to say your final goodbyes?"

"If you take it that way. I'm just glad you're sticking around. But I fear that might change soon..." Warmonger's voice abruptly cut off.

We sat in silence. I pondered how close I was to death. Now that I think about it, during that entire fight I was cheating death. Warmonger scanned my resting body.

"You're the only I know who can surprise me this much. I see betrayal every day, masterminds at work and even others wiping out an entire squad of enemies with just a stone. But you- you're something more. You're an animal, you bow to no one."

I didn't know how I should take being called an animal by my ally as. But I wasn't too focused on her conversation.

"Finch, is it okay with you if I bring Edward and Specter in?" Warmonger asked me in a very careful tone.

I raised my thumb, signaling it was okay. Our discussion left me exhausted. I watched her leave the room. Now alone, I realized I've ended up in a position like this before. With my neck and Osto.

Minutes passed without anyone entering. I spent those minutes questioning what Warmonger said. Something about the possibility of me being removed from the team.

No way. I fought hard just to bring us to this point. But why am I being taken out?

The door gently swung open, and Edward walked in with Specter following behind him. If Specter had a moment to feel sympathy, I wonder if this was it.

A brighter version of Specter's gauntlet stuck out to me. It looked replaced and unfinished.

Edward looked at me with disbelief. He kept blinking and soon a couple tears rolled down his face. Then his hand hovered over me. It followed Edward from the bottom of my foot up to my chest.

He finally spoke. "Finch... you fucking bitch, how did you live?"

Specter walked up behind Edward and gently placed their hand over Edward's shoulder. Edward stepped back and turned to the opposite corner of the room.

"Finch 'Raider' Bulwalks, the strongest ally I've ever had. Your efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Thanks to you, Di Teri is ours now." Specter's voice tried mimicking a cheerful voice, but ended up malfunctioning and sounding too close to human.

Specter suddenly stopped talking. They reached up to their throat and pressed some kind of button.

I tilted my head towards Specter. "Glad to hear. We at least have a foothold in this continent."

"More than that. Everyone in this continent knows about the battle now. Even other DRT sub-branches." Specter's voice returned to the normal mechanical sound.

"Does this mean I might meet other DRT personal?" I tried to hide the tiny amount of hope I had.

Specter turned to see outside. "Possibly. If you ever recover. But I am afraid you might not fight alongside them."

"What? Why?"

"That fight messed you up. Your entire left leg has been shattered. And how you kept fighting even after being pushed beyond your limits all lead to permanent damage."

Edward walked back to me. "Do you have any idea how depressed Defender is?"

His comment quickly caught my attention. "No, what's happening with her?"

"She is fucking starving and distancing herself away from everyone else. She has become a shell of herself. No one wants to talk to her because of how hostile she is." Edward was frustrated.

I felt ashamed. "Bring her to me. I bet she hates me but, I dont want to see her like this."

Edward understood my request. He walked away from the bed and exited the room. Now we were all silent.

***

Time wasn't a concept in this room. In here, we were all equally patient. Eventually, the door opened. Edward walked through and held a raging Defender in his arms.

She was trying her hardest to fight Edward's grip. Until she saw me looking at her. All of her rage quickly disappeared and tears replaced it.

"FINCH!" She ran up to me. "Why didn't you stay with me? We could have fought them together, you and I. And- and what did you mean by me being your favorite person?"

"Those weren't your typical Wildman and Downpour soldier. Look at how they left me. I don't want to imagine what would the result have been if you were me."

Defender stepped closer, waiting to hear what I had to say about her other question.

Then she realized how badly I hurt. Her eyes landed on my shirtless chest, scars and deep cuts covered my body.

My leg, the doctors wrapped the entire thing in a special protective armor.

I began talking again, and she looked right at me. "Jenna, you're the closest thing to a daughter I have. You were pure and innocent, everyone loved you. Now look at you. You grew a lot. But too quickly. I love you and if I could, I would protect you forever. But I cannot do that now."

Defender leaned to my ear and whispered. "There's an option to go back. All you have to do, is ask for Transformation."

She backed up and smiled. Waiting for me to ask. I trusted her and announced I wanted Transformation.

Warmonger tossed Defender aside. "You little... well, if you think you can handle turning a part of yourself into metal. Transformation is referring to just that, you're being transformed into a machine rather than a man. Take Specter as an example."

Specter nodded. "I got like this because I kept ending up like you. I only have skin. All of my bones have been replaced with metal. But that didn't come without its scars. Are you sure you want to transform?"

I considered staying how I am, but then. "You picked me to be in your sub-branch. I only leave when I die. Transform me."

Edward stepped forward. "I'm going to make sure you recover. Your bones will be metal and your fight will be hell. Then we can be extremely destructive. Rest easy. You'll need the rest."

He stepped out. Warmonger and Specter followed him. Defender stayed for a little while, but eventually she left. I was alone again. I didn't understand how difficult this transition would be.

But I understood someone would replace me if I didn't get back into the action.