Post by Pietro Granitus on Sept 13, 2024 15:21:11 GMT -6
Kazadus, still shaking off the chill that had gripped him moments ago, straightened himself as much as his exhausted body would allow. He caught Gaia’s words, hearing the underlying tension in her voice. Whatever it was they had just faced, it wasn’t something either of them could fully comprehend yet. But her calmness, even after everything that had just happened, was something he respected. She was strong, stronger than he had given her credit for.
He nodded, forcing a weary smirk onto his face. “I wouldn’t be surprised either,” he said, his voice rough from both the battle and the weight of what had just transpired. His eyes drifted over the wreckage of the street, to the civilians and emergency workers still standing around in shock. "This city's got a way of pulling people like us back together.”
He nodded, forcing a weary smirk onto his face. “I wouldn’t be surprised either,” he said, his voice rough from both the battle and the weight of what had just transpired. His eyes drifted over the wreckage of the street, to the civilians and emergency workers still standing around in shock. "This city's got a way of pulling people like us back together.”
As he spoke, an army truck rumbled up to the scene, its headlights cutting through the fading chaos. The unmistakable presence of military authority filled the air, and Kazadus sighed. He knew what was coming next.
Kazadus, still shaking off the chill that had gripped him moments ago, straightened himself as much as his exhausted body would allow. He caught Gaia’s words, hearing the underlying tension in her voice. Whatever it was they had just faced, it wasn’t something either of them could fully comprehend yet. But her calmness, even after everything that had just happened, was something he respected. She was strong, stronger than he had given her credit for.
He nodded, forcing a weary smirk onto his face. “I wouldn’t be surprised either,” he said, his voice rough from both the battle and the weight of what had just transpired. His eyes drifted over the wreckage of the street, to the civilians and emergency workers still standing around in shock. "This city's got a way of pulling people like us back together.”
As he spoke, an army truck rumbled up to the scene, its headlights cutting through the fading chaos. The unmistakable presence of military authority filled the air, and Kazadus sighed. He knew what was coming.
He nodded, forcing a weary smirk onto his face. “I wouldn’t be surprised either,” he said, his voice rough from both the battle and the weight of what had just transpired. His eyes drifted over the wreckage of the street, to the civilians and emergency workers still standing around in shock. "This city's got a way of pulling people like us back together.”
As he spoke, an army truck rumbled up to the scene, its headlights cutting through the fading chaos. The unmistakable presence of military authority filled the air, and Kazadus sighed. He knew what was coming.
“You better get going,” he said quietly to Gaia, his tone shifting to something more serious. “I don’t need my superiors telling me to take you in.”
Kazadus gave Gaia one last glance, his eye tired but still sharp with a hint of admiration for the young hero who had stood her ground against him. “See you around, kid,” he muttered with a half-smile, his voice low but carrying an unspoken acknowledgment of her strength. It was as close to a compliment as she was going to get from him, but it was genuine.
The headlights bathed the scene in harsh light, casting long shadows over the destruction left in the wake of their battle. The soldiers were already moving into position, securing the area and keeping curious civilians at bay.
Kazadus limped toward the military truck, the weight of the battle heavy on his shoulders. As he approached, Commander Jackson stepped out, his eyes scanning the scene until they landed on Dante’s lifeless form being carried away by the EMTs. The commander's hardened features barely twitched, but Kazadus knew he wasn’t surprised. They’d both seen enough bodies in their line of work.
“Dante’s dead,” the commander said flatly, not a question but a confirmation of what he already knew.
Kazadus wiped some blood from his mouth, barely registering the ache in his bones. "Yeah. Heart gave out. He didn’t make it."
Jackson’s gaze drifted toward the remains of the chaos, then to the kids Dante had been exploiting—the ones still standing around in shock, unsure of what was going to happen next.
“And those kids?” Kazadus asked, nodding toward them. His voice was rough, almost detached, but there was a tension behind his words. He had seen too many people caught in the crossfire.
“Orphanage, most likely,” Jackson replied, shrugging. “No family, no real paperwork. They’ll disappear into the system.”
Kazadus’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. He had expected that answer, but hearing it still didn’t sit right with him.
Jackson shifted his tone, as if trying to lighten the mood. “You did good out there, Kazadus. Taking down the head of the syndicate, especially someone like Dante, that’s worth a big payout. Five hundred grand. Not bad for a day’s work.”
Kazadus didn’t even flinch at the mention of the money. Instead, he glanced at the kids again, their faces haunted by what they’d been through. His mind raced through the horror they must have seen, the exploitation, the lives stolen from them.
“Use it on them,” Kazadus said, his voice firm, no room for negotiation.
Jackson raised an eyebrow, surprised. “The whole thing?”
Kazadus nodded. “Every cent. Set them up right. They deserve more than what they’ve had.”
The commander looked at Kazadus for a moment, clearly taken aback, but he didn’t argue. “Alright. I’ll make sure they get what they need.” He paused, giving Kazadus a long look. “You’re sure about this? That’s a lot of money.”
Kazadus just shrugged, already starting to turn away. “I’ve got enough blood on my hands. This is the least I can do.”
Without waiting for a response, he limped off, leaving Jackson staring after him, a rare flicker of respect crossing the commander’s hardened face.
“Dante’s dead,” the commander said flatly, not a question but a confirmation of what he already knew.
Kazadus wiped some blood from his mouth, barely registering the ache in his bones. "Yeah. Heart gave out. He didn’t make it."
Jackson’s gaze drifted toward the remains of the chaos, then to the kids Dante had been exploiting—the ones still standing around in shock, unsure of what was going to happen next.
“And those kids?” Kazadus asked, nodding toward them. His voice was rough, almost detached, but there was a tension behind his words. He had seen too many people caught in the crossfire.
“Orphanage, most likely,” Jackson replied, shrugging. “No family, no real paperwork. They’ll disappear into the system.”
Kazadus’s jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. He had expected that answer, but hearing it still didn’t sit right with him.
Jackson shifted his tone, as if trying to lighten the mood. “You did good out there, Kazadus. Taking down the head of the syndicate, especially someone like Dante, that’s worth a big payout. Five hundred grand. Not bad for a day’s work.”
Kazadus didn’t even flinch at the mention of the money. Instead, he glanced at the kids again, their faces haunted by what they’d been through. His mind raced through the horror they must have seen, the exploitation, the lives stolen from them.
“Use it on them,” Kazadus said, his voice firm, no room for negotiation.
Jackson raised an eyebrow, surprised. “The whole thing?”
Kazadus nodded. “Every cent. Set them up right. They deserve more than what they’ve had.”
The commander looked at Kazadus for a moment, clearly taken aback, but he didn’t argue. “Alright. I’ll make sure they get what they need.” He paused, giving Kazadus a long look. “You’re sure about this? That’s a lot of money.”
Kazadus just shrugged, already starting to turn away. “I’ve got enough blood on my hands. This is the least I can do.”
Without waiting for a response, he limped off, leaving Jackson staring after him, a rare flicker of respect crossing the commander’s hardened face.