CENTRAL CITY OF ELDORA 

5 DAYS BEFORE DISAPPEARANCE OF MACHINA KEY

When the first mission since he had been appointed into this role arrived, it wasn't one that he expected it to be. The gang circled the only table in this ratchet base, a paper with the government symbol stamped on it uncurled. There were words printed on the yellowing page, but none that made sense to Ares. Perhaps it was because the font was too small, or the type of style had his brain scrambling to grasp if that was a 'b' or a 'd'. He curled his fingers into fists, shame burning hot within him. Maybe his incompetence would be obvious for his teammates to see. But he wouldn't look, out of fear his suspicions might be right and find himself looking right into their gazes pointed at him.

"Well, this certainly isn't what we're expecting to see now, is it?" Rosé spoke, her fingers drummed on the wood.

Ceilo grabbed the paper, bringing it close to himself and forcing the thing to flatten, hands on either end of it. A grunt escaped is lips, loud enough for it to echo back to Ares. "At least it's not Infiltration."

"Infiltration would be far more exciting." Rigel crossed his arms against his chest, placing one side of his hip to rest against the flat edge of the table.

Ares could only boggle at the disappointed looks currently worn by his team members. Instead of relief, it seemed that, he leaned in a bit close to catch a word; 'Transportation', brought huffs of displeasure. As if that mere thought of whatever it was they needed to do was the most boring thing on Earth. That served to make him cower, internally at most as he refused to let his shoulders withdraw closer to his chest in front of these people. Unlike them, he was glad he didn't have to risk his life.

And maybe that made him a coward.

But he would not apologise for wanting to survive, even if Eldora decided he had been nothing but a worthless tool. Expendable.

A hand touched his shoulders, its weight forcing his thoughts to root back to reality. It belonged to Nichirin, the man standing next to him with thinned lips and narrowed eyes, glaring at the piece of paper. It would have made an amusing picture if not for the tightness of his touch, increasing when he met Ares' gaze. Reflected onto that face was a pinched look — dissatisfaction.

Was it because it was not an Infiltration task?

He took a small step to the right, dislodging his touch. Absent-mindedly, he ran his fingers down his clothes, smoothing the spot where the hand had been. The spot was colder than the rest after the brief touch of warmth.

"What is Transportation?" Ares was unable to hold back the curiosity from tumbling past his lips.

That enquiry earned eyes on his being. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, but that was all he allowed himself to do. As if he was a prey under the gaze of his predator, he kept his breath steady and lifted his jaw slightly upwards; hopefully this would make him look more confident than the confused, lost boy he was. After all, while he knew rationally he would be clueless of his tasks, seeing how this would be the first mission he got since he joined the division, he didn't want to come across as such.

Rosé sighed. "Transportation means we're entering Europium legally. That usually means we'll be meeting with the Diplomats at the entrance."

"Diplomats. It better not be Kassim or I'll rip my hair out of my scalp," Ceilo said.

Nichirin placed his palms on the table, it creaking a tad under his weight. "So, who's going?"

Ares knew of the idea of Diplomats. They were the ones who carried out liaisons between his city and the Europium's. There was no danger when they were involved as their job was to preserve the peace, the fragile thing masked under layers of another impending war, and such, he should be feeling at ease. The dread pooling at the pit of his stomach, contracting his muscles enough to mimic an ache told him otherwise.

A finger was pointed at him. Rigel smiled when he met his eyes, heart skipping a beat at having been singled out so quickly. Standing out like a sore thumb with almost zero experience, of course he would be the target. Bitterness curled around his heart and like a snail having found its plaything, tightened its metaphorical tail on him until he was almost struggling to breathe. As subtly as he could, he took in a breath in.

"Well," Nichirin said, turning his head to look at him. The corner of his lips were quirked upwards, and his eyes were twinkling and reflecting the yellow lights in this dreary room. "It should be an easy job for a first timer." He turned his attention back to the group. "I can go with him."

"What?" Ares said. "Why?"

"Why not?" Nichirin stood straight, arms by his sides. "Is there something wrong with me being your guide?"

Perhaps not but his mere presence sent a hot wave of irritation down Ares' spine. He didn't like him. Far too loud and far too— out there for his liking. Someone like Rosé would be far more preferable as a teacher, but he had a distinct feeling that his argument would only be met with dismissive waves and disapproving glares. Chancing at a glance, Ceilo was already proving him as such with his narrowed gaze and tensed jaw. The air in the group shifted, and he hated that he was the reason for it.

For the first time since he had started working, he wished Capella was here by his side. Independence came easier for him than his twin sister, but there were moments such as these where he knew she would be more skilled at handling a situation than he did. While he preferred cowardice actions and hiding, she would head into danger and conflict without hesitation.

And he needed her bravery at this second. Especially when he was looked at with expectant looks and demanding non-verbally an explanation of his refusal.

But he had none that would appease them lot.

"Nothing," Ares said, licking his bottom lip.

"Perfect." Rigel slammed a hand on the wooden table. This time, a shudder wracked the fragile frame, a squeak so loud echoed into the room and back to him. "So, suit up. You're responsible for him, Rin."

"I know," Nichirin said, taking a step close to him and nudging his arm with his elbow. "This is going to be an interesting first time task for you."

"Or a boring one," Ceilo said, huffing. Those eyes searched his face. "Actually, maybe this skinny lad would enjoy a menial task such as this after all. The relief is so clear on him."

Previous shame that had begun to fade away came back like a hot stamp to his skin. He squared his shoulders, spine stiffening. He did not like Ceilo either, for nothing but the rude way he had been speaking to him since he had walked into this place. If he had no decorum left in his body like his coworker, he would have lunged across the table and placed a fist into his face. Red would look pretty on that man and maybe a few missing tooth.

Instead, he chose to smoothen his clothes with hands down his chest and to his waist. "What precisely does one do in this task?" Ares asked.

Nichirin slapped a hand on his shoulder, the force had him jolting forward a tad. "Since we didn't get anything with this letter, I'm assuming we'd be getting something from Europium that we must deliver back to the government. It should be an easy in and out task."

Curiosity ate him form within. "Is this how the technological knowledge is being transported between the two nations?"

"Perhaps. We don't truly know if what we're transporting is technological knowledge or something else," Nichirin said, pulling his touch away and once more leaving a spot that was colder than before. As if his warmth had been the only thing keeping that place toasty. An odd thought, one that Ares immediately tossed aside. It was no use now to ponder on such things. "All we know is that since World War I and the world divided further into different technological advancements, peace between our and their nation, Europium, is to be maintained through constant knowledge exchange."

"If we can help each other," Rosé said, "then we'd less likely be at war with each other."

"And so they say." Nichirin shrugged. "It kept the world out of another pending world war, so I suppose this practise isn't an uncommon one that we implement."

Ares pressed his lips together. Father often told him about the country their ancestors were from and how it had been now a grand, rich nation itself after a few neighbouring countries decided to forge together and form what was now known as Ananke; Nation of Logic and Necessity. A nation that had risen from the aftermath of the first war, and turned every disadvantage to their advantage. And so followed different parts of the world forming into different nations, resembling nothing of what they were once known to previous many generations before him.

It made sense that as such Europium and Eldora would do the same. Keep the thin line of serenity by providing what each would need. Though, Ares could not understand what this nation had to offer for Eldora; Nation of Nuclear. A system they had designed out of confusing physics of fission and fusion of materials that Europium had failed to replicate. If logistics were in place, they were surely would be disadvantaged, wouldn't they? The only thing that could even remotely put them at a position of higher power than them would be that their lands were on the topside where the sun grace them with their presence if the clouds of smoke was not too thick while their people lived entirely underground, surviving in something he couldn't even begin to fathom.

"I see," Ares said, at last. "How does one prepare for this mission then?"

Nichirin grinned. "Perfect, I'll show you."