The monitoring room of the Alpha Organization was unusually quiet.
Dozens of screens illuminated the dark environment, projecting maps, security cameras, and emergency transmissions from several planets. Refugees walked through the corridors outside, and distant alarms still echoed from time to time. The war had not ended — it had only paused.
Leon stood in front of one of the screens.
He wasn’t watching it.
His eyes were fixed… but his mind was far away.
For the first time since Lee’s death, the rage inside his chest had quieted. What remained was heavier.
Guilt.
His hands slowly clenched.
I couldn’t save him.
A white flash crossed his mind.
Flashback
A dim room.
Just the two of them.
Lee leaned against the wall, arms crossed, serious as always — yet calmer than usual.
“Leon… you’re the only one I can trust.”
Leon frowned.
“What are you talking about? You’re going to win.”
Lee shook his head slowly.
“If I don’t come back from fighting áris… you need to continue what I started.”
He walked toward the computer and activated a star map. A single planet pulsed on the screen.
“There is someone there… someone important to me.”
Leon’s expression softened in confusion.
“You…? Important?”
Lee almost smiled.
“If I fall… go to her. Tell her I tried. And protect her.”
Leon hesitated.
“…You’re talking like you’re going to die.”
Lee looked at him — and for the first time, Leon saw not a warrior… but an older brother.
“I’m talking like someone who knows the risk.”
The light faded.
Present
Leon inhaled sharply.
“…So that’s what you meant.”
Behind him, Lara approached quietly.
“You’ve been standing there for ten minutes. Are you okay?”
Leon turned toward her.
“Lara… we need to go to another planet.”
She blinked.
“…What?”
“It was Lee’s last request.”
Her expression changed immediately.
Not doubt — concern.
“What’s there?”
Leon looked straight into her eyes.
“Someone he entrusted to me.”
For a moment, she searched his face… then nodded.
“…Okay.”
She walked to the console and activated the dimensional bracelet. Coordinates were entered one by one.
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Energy began spiraling in front of them.
A golden portal opened.
Leon stepped forward first.
Lara followed.
Unknown Planet
The air was cold.
Dark clouds covered the sky, and a dry wind swept the rocky terrain. There were no cities, no armies, no technology. Only silence.
They walked toward a small house standing alone near a cliff.
A faint light shone through the window.
The door opened.
A young woman stepped outside.
The moment she saw them… her face went pale.
Her lips trembled.
“…You came.”
Leon understood immediately.
She already knew.
“If we are here…” she whispered, “…Lee lost, didn’t he?”
Her knees gave out.
She collapsed before finishing the sentence.
Lara rushed forward and caught her.
“It’s okay! We won’t hurt you!”
The woman cried silently, gripping Lara’s clothes.
Leon stood still for a second… then spoke gently.
“Lara… her name is Kira.”
Lara looked back at him.
“…Who is she?”
Leon lowered his voice.
“…She’s Lee’s partner.”
Silence.
Lara’s eyes widened.
“What…?”
Kira cobriu o rosto, tremendo.
“Ele prometeu que voltaria… Disse que quando tudo terminasse, finalmente viveríamos normalmente…”
Ela colocou uma m?o trêmula sobre o est?mago.
“…Eu estava esperando para lhe contar…”
Sua voz embargou.
“Estou grávida.”
O mundo pareceu parar.
Lara levou lentamente a m?o à boca, com lágrimas a formarem-se instantaneamente.
Leon fechou os olhos.
Pela primeira vez desde a morte de Lee… ele esbo?ou um leve sorriso.
“Viu, Lara?”
Ele olhou para o horizonte.
“Lee n?o desapareceu.”
Ele se virou para eles.
“Ele deixou um futuro.”
Dentro da Casa
Velas iluminavam o pequeno c?modo. Era simples, tranquilo... o oposto da guerra.
Kira serviu-lhes água. Suas m?os ainda tremiam.
“Há muitas coisas que você n?o sabe sobre Lee.”
Ela olhou para Leon.
“Ele nunca quis que você carregasse os fardos dele.”
Leon olhou fixamente em silêncio.
Kira prosseguiu:
“Ele observava todos vocês de longe. Cada decis?o que ele tomava… era para protegê-los.”
O peito de Leon apertou.
Todo esse tempo…
Lee estava lutando sozinho.
Decis?o
Leon se levantou.
“Vou trazer a Laura de volta.”
As duas garotas olharam para ele.
“E estou libertando o Planeta XP.”
Kira balan?ou a cabe?a em descren?a.
“Você está louco…”
Leon esbo?ou um pequeno sorriso.
"…Talvez."
Seus olhos brilhavam em tons dourados.
“Mas eu n?o vou mais me candidatar.”
Ele olhou para o céu.
“N?o consegui salvar meu irm?o.”
Sua voz endureceu.
“Mas eu protegerei o que ele deixou para trás.”
O vento uivava lá fora, na casa.
Ao longe, a guerra continuava a se intensificar.
E pela primeira vez…
Leon n?o estava lutando por vingan?a.
Ele estava lutando por uma heran?a.
Continua…
