Azul

We enter the facility, our dart guns loaded and ready in our hands. Rubedo looks around the corner and waves for us to move. The six of us hop through the corridors, looking around the corners with our guns out. There has been unbelieveably light resistance during our trek through here, only a brief brush with guards at the entrance.

"This is odd, things should be jumping in the enemies' main facility, yet it's unusually quiet." I nod to Ginger as I look around the corner, not seeing a soul there. "We should have ran into something by now." We move down the dull gray corridor to another intersection. Rubedo and Gray position themselves against the walls and looks down them. "Nothing."

We continue straight ahead, our feet silent even on the tiled floor. There is a door straight ahead, one with a wide glass window on the top half. Stenciled on it are the words "Morano Marthis" Jade goes to the door and looks at Rubedo, who nods to her in response.

The door flies open with Jade rushing in, followed closely by Rubedo and Gray. Ginger, Lucid, and I enter soon after, closing the door behind me as we look at the situation. "I see you finally got here, took you a while." I look around, seeing everyone's dart guns pointed at Morano, while there are thirty rifles pointed at us. I grind my teeth, knowing it was a trap, and being proven right.

"Your poor attempt has been put down, and as you can see, you have no chance against me. You will leave now." The thirty guards push us out of Morano's office and back down the corridors and stairs.

We finally get out of the dull gray building and are led to three stone benches at the east side of the complex, spread out nearly twenty meters apart from each other. The guards tell us to sit and wait for a bus to pick us up before leaving back into the complex. I look around, seeing how the others are pretty down about how the mission had turned out.

I get up from the middle bench and go to the furthest west bench where Ginger and Jade were sitting. I nod lightly to her, she smiles slightly, her brown hair barely touching her black uniform's shoulders. "We got beaten badly." I nod to her. "Yeah, no doubt we were set up."

I look over at Jade, but she just keeps looking at the ground, not paying us any mind. Ginger sighs and lightly taps the dart gun in her lap. "We should have at least tried to complete the mission and kill him." I sigh lightly and look up at the sky, watching the gray clouds block the sun and blue skies.

"Though the world turns it's back on you, don't be afraid, for you're not alone. Look to the sky and even though it's raining, the clouds are just comforting you." I look at Ginger, wondering why she's singing at a time like this. She continues on, her alto voice clear and soothing.

I smile slightly and close my eyes, singing the counter melody with her. "When the darkness seems to overcome you, I'll be there with you, if only in spirit. Look at the cement and know that even under the surface are living things wanting to come out to see your face." We continue a few more lines, our deep voices and notes making melodious music, lifting my spirit in face of the failure.

I stop and open my eyes, looking at the still dark cloudy sky. I stand up and throw the dart gun to the ground. "This mission isn't over, not yet. Not as long as we will it otherwise." Ginger looks at me, curious, the same expression on Jade's face. I turn and smile at the two, drawing the two pistols at my sides. "I'm not going to give up just yet. Morano isn't safe as long as I'm still able to kill him."

With that, I take off for the east entrance where we had came in at the start of the mission. As I race towards it, I see a person running in my direction, though heading towards the front entrance where we were escorted out. "Rubedo!" He looks at me and smiles. "I'm not going to give up yet, and it looks like you won't either Azul."

I nod and touch the pistol's barrel to my brow and toss it off as a salute to him. Rubedo returns it. "See you there Azul." "I'll be waiting for ya." We pass each other and continue towards our entrances. I expect Rubedo will meet heavier resistance than I will, but we aren't interested in stealth like we were on our first entry into the complex. That means we'll use pistols and stolen rifles to our advantage. As I open the door and shoot the two guards that stand there, I holster my pistols and sling the rifle straps over my shoulders, having two guns to fire with.

I make my way through the complex, shooting guards and anyone else in the way. I'm coming for you, don't count yourself safe as long as I breathe. This battle has only begun.