Embedded

Tirian Army: They ride their horses through the Eastern Checkpoint of Tiria and into Valeria City.

Commander Mercer: Someone write the report for the operation.

Commander Mercer: And take Reiki to Malia.

Tirian Soldiers: Yes, sir!

Door: It slams shut.

Zay: He walks away from the door.

Zay: You gambled with our lives, Duncan.

Commander Mercer: He sits in a chair behind a desk.

Commander Mercer: There was no other way in.

Zay: Canister and grapeshots.

Zay: Did that even cross your mind?

Commander Mercer: Yes, but all we needed was one salvo that didn’t have those.

Zay: You went to the rear anyway.

Zay: Like you originally planned.

Commander Mercer: They couldn’t prioritize the rear until it was too late.

Commander Mercer: That was only possible because your squad went through the front gate.

Zay: He reaches Commander Mercer’s desk and crosses his arms.

Zay: We would’ve been in metal restraints if it weren’t for that sword coming out of Warui.

Commander Mercer: So it happened twice...

Commander Mercer: Be sure that goes in the report.

Zay: What do we do with him?

Commander Mercer: Malia handles it for now.

Zay: And our dead comrades?

Commander Mercer: He places his hand on his left shoulder, covering the three-pronged spearhead emblem enclosed by a broken circular ring on his uniform, then stands.

Commander Mercer: I’ll tell their families personally.

Warui: He sits on a table.

Malia: She holds the tear in Warui’s uniform wide open and stares at his bare chest.

Warui: Sorry Malia, but you’ve been staring for a while.

Malia: Oh.

Malia: Yeah.

Malia: She backs up.

Malia: So this sword thing appeared when you guys were backed against a wall and when you tried to de-escalate a situation.

Warui: Yeah.

Malia: And you guys are saying it looked alive?

Sarah: She holds her hands out and twiddles her fingers.

Sarah: It had veins.

Malia: Al... right?

River: Why would Commander Mercer not send Warui to the infirmary?

Malia: Because I’m going to figure out how the hell he can do it again.

Chena: No.

Chena: The army can’t just experiment on Warui.

Malia: I engineer.

Sarah: That didn’t sound any better.

Malia: That operation goes a little differently if Warui didn't do whatever you guys say he did.

Malia: If he could do it intentionally...

Malia: His utility on the battlefield would be game-changing.

River: That makes him a weapon.

Malia: Well, of course he's still Warui.

Warui: When it moved, it hurt.

Everyone: They turn their heads to Warui

Warui: But it didn’t hurt physically.

Warui: I- I can’t describe it.

Kiel: He steps up.

Kiel: Warui, let’s do the experiments.

Khyrie: Kiel, don’t say it like that.

Chena: Warui.

Chena: You need rest.

Warui: Everyone just-

Warui: Stop talking.

Warui: He looks across the faces in the room slowly and stops when he reaches Malia.

Warui: Let’s figure out how I did it.

Malia: Alright!

Malia: We start tomorrow.

Open Field: Warui and Malia stand across from each other the next day.

Chena: She watches from a distance with River, Khyrie, Kiel, and Sarah.

Warui: He stands in a half squat, clenching his right fist tightly.

Warui: Nnnnggghh

Malia: I said do the sword thing, not clench your ass.

Warui: I’m trying.

Warui: He opens his palm and stands straight.

Warui: We tried everything.

Sarah: Maybe we do everything again, but angrier.

Chena: You’re not helping.

Sarah: You're not giving ideas.

Malia: Hmm.

Malia: There’s nothing wrong with your chest.

Malia: Your urine is normal.

Malia: Your blood is normal.

Malia: Your reflexes are excellent.

Warui: What are you saying?

Malia: I’m saying...

Malia: We got nothing.

Warui: He looks disappointed.

Warui: Great.

Khyrie: Let’s try again tomorrow.

River: Malia, it’s getting a little late.

Malia: You guys are right.

Malia: Let’s wrap it up.

Warui: He sighs and steps away.

Malia: One more thing.

Warui: He stops.

Malia: There’s no doubt in my mind that the extreme conditions at Fort Avelorn is why that sword appeared.

Malia: If we could just recreate that…

River: Warui! Let’s eat!

Warui: I’m coming.

Warui: He looks toward Malia.

Warui: It’s just the first day, I guess.

Warui: He goes to catch up to Chena, River, Khyrie, Kiel, and Sarah.

Four hours pass

Warui: He walks outside of the dining hall with Chena and River.

River: Sarah didn’t eat dinner today.

Warui: Neither did Khyrie or Kiel.

Chena: Sarah went to the shooting range.

River: Her aim is perfect already.

River: But I guess that’s why it’s perfect.

Warui: He starts taking off his uniform.

Chena: You okay?

Warui: Yeah, just a little drained.

Warui: His military jacket comes off, leaving his silver necklace and square pendant hanging over his lace-up shirt.

River: Are you scared?

Warui: Of what?

Chena and River: They stay quiet.

Warui: [Low]. I don’t like not knowing what this is.

Chena: And Fort Avelorn?

Warui: He says nothing.

Chena: You’re not on your own.

Warui: Mm.

Warui, Chena, and River: They reach the dorms.

Chena: Just get rest.

Warui: He nods.

River: Goodnight Chena.

Chena: Goodnight.

Chena: She goes into the girls’ dorms.

River: He opens the door to the boys’ dorms.

Warui: He follows River inside.

Boys’ Dorm: Forty minutes pass.

Warui: He lies on his back in bed with his hand reached out into the air.

Warui: He opens and closes his hand a couple of times, then turns his palm toward himself.

Warui: [Under his breath]. What are you?