“–Here we are.”

  Bray pointed to where the private security enforcement team had assembled earlier, trying to convince Neptune, who appeared stunned by the information overload and unable to rationalise. His thoughts were jumbled.

  “These burger wrappers…”

  Neptune struggled maintaining his balance while walking over to Bray, surveying the crime scene with utmost scrutiny. He noticed wrappers in a black trash bag on the floor, inferring these were the burgers mentioned earlier.

  “I wonder where I have seen these before.” Bray squatted down and inspected the oily, discarded wrappers.

  “Don’t tell me you’re hungry, Bray.”

  “No?! Of course not! I have lost my appetite ages ago.”

  “Whoever supplied arms to them also prepared food. This is distasteful. Complete sadists.”

  “...And disrespectful, too.” Bray completed Neptune’s sentence and facepalmed himself.

  Bray looked around the area, noticing that the private security team had already left with the supplies. “There were some items here earlier and I believe they took with them.” All that remained were empty crates and wood stacked in a corner.

  “Do you believe me now? I’m not just any random conspiracy theorist touting fantasies.”

  A fleeting light sparkled in the distance, catching Neptune’s attention with its shiny reflective coating. He then walked over and picked it up to examine, reading the inscriptions out loud. “Do you know this label ‘AAFSF00-666’? It sounds like a shipment label.”

  “Yes, that’s the unique identifier. AAF stands for United Atlantea Federation Armed Forces. As for SF, I’m not sure. 00-666 has to be the number for this shipment.” Those words seemed to have jogged up a memory from one of the lectures in the ammunition institute. “Wait, SF. Where have I heard that before?”

  “I’m sure you have. It’s one of those formation codes.”

  Bray ground his teeth upon acknowledging the potency of this piece of metal as he held his breath for a long time. “It’s…from the Special Forces.” Bray raised the tiny shard of metal as he started speaking softer. “This is a live round. It’s nothing compared to that dummy we practised with.”

  “...You mean–”

  Bray gave a “you’re dead” gesture from left to right. “One shot, one kill.”

  Neptune and Bray exchanged a nervous staredown, knowing bloodshed and carnage in the stadium could become possible if the relevant authorities did not know about the private security team involved–potential terrorists–who could invoke destruction from the pits of hell upon their fellow soldiers.

  “What is a shipment of live rounds doing here?”

  “I don’t think we should approach it from this angle. Instead…”

  Bray spoke silently with a worried expression, knowing the formation he swore to serve had dirtied their hands. Also, due to guilt by association, combined with the aid offered to the terrorists earlier, he was just as guilty himself.

  “...Who ordered all of this equipment?”

  “It has to be someone high up the food chain.”

  This equipment wasn’t “run-the-mill” random stuff lying around. Neptune knew the equipment issued to the terrorists had complex procurement procedures. It required someone with authority to purchase and deliver them into the stadium. Furthermore, this group of terrorists also needed the skills to pull off this operation. The more the pieces came together, the more obvious the jigsaw puzzle looked. He never felt more disgusted with them till now.

  “We only have fifteen minutes left before–”

  “We need to tell him.”

  “Who?”

  “Kairos.”

  “...Why him?”

  Neptune wanted his comrade safe from harm, for their grand mission could only end in a glorious victory if they survived this black swan event.

  “Like you said, now is not the time for discussion, only action.”

  “How about Captain Graves?”

  “Captain Graves is a seasoned soldier. He can fight if the scenario calls for it.”

  “So, Batch 123 and Captain Graves, we don’t need to inform them?”

  “They will know what to do.”

  “What if they don’t?”

  “They are soldiers.”

  Neptune could sense a cloud of doubt growing in Bray’s mind. Having someone second-guessing him now would only prove to be disastrous. He did not want to play his trump card but desperate times call for equally desperate measures.

  “Didn’t you tell me we don’t have time? Here I am after making the decisive call, yet you can’t follow orders? I thought I could trust you! We are in this together since day one. Do you need me to spell it for you?”

  He watched Bray look away embarrassingly. In that instance, he knew Bray was wrapped around his finger. The emotional highground was established.

  “...Then who is the next priority?”

  Neptune knew the answer to that question and closed his eyes to declare solemnly. “The civilians and female soldiers.”

  “P-pardon…?” Bray thought he heard wrongly until Neptune’s eyes proved otherwise.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “The female soldiers, we need to get them out of there. As for the civilians, they are in the stands. We need to gather forces to get them out of here.”

  “Wait! Slow down. Hold your horses. That means everyone graduating has been marked for death! You understand what you’re saying, right? How could you?!”

  “We have no choice. That’s the play we’re making…and we must execute it now.”

  The enormity of Neptune’s decision hung like a guillotine over the first cohort of graduating soldiers. These recruits would receive an ovation as martyrs who died for a cause–a significantly better fate than their pathetic, miserable existence before today. Regardless, Bray had decided long ago to follow his chosen one till the end. Until their judgment day arrives, he would become the hero’s watchful guardian. It did not matter what action they took or the decision that led to this. According to the Federation, the end was long decided when they planned for this to happen. However, that did not mean those who had discovered their plans by sheer luck had to accept and fall together with them ignorantly.

  “I understand.”

  If he had to follow Neptune to hell and back, he would willingly obey his orders to his final breath.

  “Let’s proceed with your play.”

  “The fate of the United Atlantea Federation rests on our shoulders. Here’s the plan: you locate and inform Dr Boris Pavlov,” Neptune, with newly found vigour, pointed to where the Medical Corps had stationed in the lower halls, “He has his combat medics on standby. We need manpower to pull this off. And another problem is we can’t trust anyone…”

  “Roger that.”

  “As for myself…”

  Neptune knew he had to rely on chance for this.

  “...I’ll be heading to the female recruits’ holding area to find our commander. I heard from Kairos that she and a few commanders will lead their marching contingent. I’ll link up with her to get the female soldiers and civilians out of the stadium.”

  Bray noticed Neptune had left out one massive detail.

  “What about Kairos?”

  “We can only hope he knows. The blood in him always keeps him vigilant at all times.”

  As both soldiers looked into each other’s eyes, Bray slammed his fist onto Neptune’s chest, his voice heavy with the responsibility of undertaking a do-or-die mission.

  “Neptune Smith, I will ensure you succeed in the war effort–at any cost. This roadblock won’t stop you…us.”

  “Bray…”

  “...I mean this. Today’s setback will not stop us. Nothing will.”

  “...........................”

  “I will ensure your story ends with you becoming the hero of the United Atlantea Federation. You are our only hope against the Drazen Empire.” Bray looked into Neptune’s cold, brown, soulless eyes that had lost their compassion. Like a devotee worshipping the devil, Bray declared. “Even into the depths of hell, I will follow you. I will stand by your side and lead your army for eternity. I’m with you till the end, brother.”

  Neptune returned the gesture, slamming his fist onto Bray’s chest. He knew the path they had chosen together had only one way forward. And nothing, not even the terrorist attack, could stop him from becoming like the hero enshrined in gold for the world to remember.

  “I know you’ll survive, Neptune Smith. The hero of the United Atlantea Federation.”

  “Bray, I know you’ll too.”

  *

  The speaker system sounded the bell, signalling the start of the graduation parade ceremony. Storming through the lower halls, Neptune tried locating where the female recruits were stationed. He knew the domino effect would commence once he could identify one female recruit. One female recruit would lead the chain up to the highest-ranking female officer, who could desperately connect to relay this life and death information.

  “N-Neptune? Is that you?”

  From the back, a familiar, delicate voice called out to him. He widened his eyes upon recognising that person’s voice. His thesis had worked.

  “J-Julia…?”

  “Oh my goodness! It’s you! It’s been so long!” Julia looked around to ensure no other female recruits were looking at them before she jumped into Neptune’s embrace, hugging him out of the pure joy of reacquainting with an old friend. “My gosh, just look at you!”

  Neptune gave a soft smile as his eyes turned soft temporarily.

  “How have you been, Julia?”

  “All good–but, damn, look at you!” Julia squeezed Neptune’s arms teasingly. She then followed up by caressing his shoulders and abdominal area with her delicate, feminine touch. It was a move that a female need not learn by experience but through nature taking its course. “Looks like someone is no longer just a nerdy bookworm anymore, eh?”

  “Stop that, please…” The sudden thought of his female batchmates turning eighteen caused him to blush like a ripened tomato. They weren’t just girls to him anymore…

  “You have gotten much tanner as well. How’s the rest of the boys?” Julia winked at Neptune, causing him to look away shyly.

  “They’re doing good–”

  Neptune felt no need to tell Julia about his falling out with them. After all, they wouldn’t survive the hell that was to come. His version of the story would inevitably become the truth.

  “Julia, I need your help urgently.”

  “That’s rare from you!”

  “What do you mean by that…”

  “I thought the genius didn’t need any help!”

  “Come on, Julia. Now’s not the time for this.”

  “Alright, what’s up?”

  “Where’s your commander?”

  Julia turned around, noticing her commander had gone missing. “I swear she was here five minutes ago. Maybe, she went elsewhere. Hmm, she might be having a meeting.”

  “How about the rest?”

  “Yes, there’s one over there–er, wait! That commander has gone off for a briefing.”

  “Anyone else you know that might be available around here?” Neptune's voice started reeking of desperation.

  “Hmm, you hold on here.” Julia approached a group of recruits, asking them where their commander had gone. Finally, she returned, giving Neptune a thumbs up. “There’s a commander at the operations side. I’ll bring you over to her.”

  “You’re a godsend, Julia.”

  Neptune quickened his pace, prompting Julia to walk faster to catch up.

  “I didn’t know you had it in you!”

  “Had what?”

  “Such a vibe you have going on there.”

  “You’re confusing me–”

  “You walking so quickly, dummy! You never do that when you were a slow little piggy. Something tells me you have become manlier,” Julia teased Neptune while grabbing him by the back of his shoulders, giving him a light rub that felt too intentional and somewhat…arousing as her fingers traced to his back, “Impressive. Oh wow–”

  “Stop it…”

  Neptune tried shaking off the rising tension he felt. He had always seen Julia and the rest of his female batchmates as sisters and nothing more. However, months apart changed the dynamics between them drastically. This fact made Neptune feel more self-aware than usual.

  “Hey. We should catch up after the graduation ceremony.” Julia was unaware of her underlying seductive tone.

  Neptune's mind went blank, knowing things would change forever after today. At the end of today, the United Atlantea Federation they knew would no longer be the same. However, that did not mean he could deny himself the right to indulge in the peak of human experience when it was all said and done.

  Julia waved her hand at Neptune. “Hello! You ok?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Let’s carry on.”

  “Hmm, you don’t seem fine to me…”

  Julia inched her head closer, inspecting her friend at a proximity a little too close for comfort, causing Neptune to step back reflexively. With that action, Julia knew Neptune had recovered from his usual daydreaming habit.

  “Let’s go then!”