Final Hour Pt. 3

After slipping on my shirt and my jacket, I exited the infirmary room. This place... Is this a hotel lobby? A couple of lamps were spread around, but they did nothing to combat the darkness.

"Oh, hey. You're up."

I turned around to meet Astrid, who was standing there with her arms crossed.

"Yeah. I got out just a second ago," I said.

"Holding up alright, love?"

"A bit. Still a lot to take in, but I'll be fine."

"Glad to hear that."

Now that I've calmed down and am not overstimulated like before, I finally had a good chance to get a look at Astrid's face. I noticed it before, but I didn't think much of it until I saw the rest of the Calypso squad's face.

"Hey, Astrid... Your left eye..." I said.

"Hm?"

"How come it doesn't have a diamond like the other one?"

"Ah..."

Her expression fell slightly. At that moment, I knew I had brought up something I shouldn't have.

"Y-you don't have to answer if you don't wanna," I quickly said. "I just... was curious."

"Rightfully so. Don't worry. I'm not offended or anything. So let me ask... How much do you know about 'codes,' love?"

"Codes? Only a little bit. They're what allow Athenians to use their... um... powers? I remember seeing Zephyr and Frankenstein using theirs. It's amazing."

"That's right. Codes are powerful tools, but they can also be extremely volatile if one activates... the overdrive sequence. Depending on the capabilities of the code, the repercussions..."

She suddenly stopped herself.

"Hey. It's fine," I said. "You don't have to tell me."

"...Hah. Thanks, because I rather wouldn't. All you need to know is that the overdrive sequence... We should never ever use it unless we're left with no other choice. Otherwise... We'll come one step closer to death, and that's if we don't immediately die."

And here I was thinking how cool their powers were. Now, it just sounds horrifying. If blindness is lucky for Astrid, then I wonder how bad it is for the others. I decided not to ask, since it seems like a touchy subject.

"So... This is the hideout of the legendary Calypso squad, huh?" I asked.

"Yeah. You like it? It's the longest we were able to stay in one spot. Two years and counting. Nice and cozy, don't ya think?"

"A bit, yeah. Very different from home."

"Ah, that's right. I forgot you live in the Golden Age. Ain't as fancy as it is up there, aye? As much as we wanna decorate the place a little, we can't. Too much, and we're practically asking to be found."

Makes sense. If this is where Calypso is hiding out, then it must be a blackout sector. The High Order's surveillance can not reach this place, but that doesn't mean they can't perform reconnaissance missions whenever they want to. As such, it makes sense to keep it as dark and quiet as possible.

"Astri~d!" a voice cried from outside.

I turned around, only to see Minerva bolting past me and tackling Astrid down. Her head perked up with a look of distress.

"Astrid!" she shouted. "Where is it?!"

"W-where is what?" she gulped.

"The thing I just gave you! Where is it?!"

"You mean this?"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, complex-looking device.

"Ah!"

Minerva quickly grabbed it and rushed to a nearby closet. She then pulled her arm back, threw it in, and slammed the door shut. Seconds later, a very brief but sharp explosion rang from within. No words could describe my astonishment.

"Phew!" Minerva turned around with a huge grin. "Good job, guys! Crisis averted!"

"Crisis... averted...?" Astrid growled.

"Uh... Y-yeah! Cuz... y'know... we got the... b-bomb... before it... went... off..."

"...Bomb...?" I repeated in disbelief.

"And why the hell was I holding a bomb in the first place?!" Astrid screamed. "I asked you to make me a hologram projector, and you gave me a fucking bomb?!"

"Eek!" Minerva squirmed before she fell on both her knees, continuously throwing her head up and down so far that she may have as well been smacking it against the ground. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I gave it to you without thinking! I got distracted! I'm sorry!"

"You're about to be!"

This time, it was Astrid who tackled Minerva down as she held her in a chokehold.

"Ack!" A-Astrid!" Minerva grunted. "I'm... dying..."

"Oho, you are?" Astrid smirked as she tightened her grip. "Well, good! Cuz that's what I would've been had I held onto that thing for a second longer!"

They continued to roll across the ground with Astrid maintaining the upper hand for quite some time. All the while, I stood there and watched, baffled and completely speechless. From behind, Zephyr stopped right next to me, but I couldn't turn away from this... whatever this is.

"What'd I miss?" she asked nonchalantly.

I pointed at the closet door with a hole busted dead in the center. "Apparently, Astrid commissioned Minerva to make something for her? I don't know, but... Turns out, it was a bomb."

"...How the hell does that even happen?"

"You're asking me."

Loki then followed behind Zephyr. "Oh~! Is something interesting happening?"

"Yup," I said.

"Yeah," Zephyr agreed.

And after that, Judan came into the picture and joined in as a spectator.

"...I don't even want to ask," she sighed.

"I think it's for the best that you don't, Captain," Zephyr also sighed.

"Astrid. Let go of Minerva."

As reluctant as she was to do so, Astrid obliged, granting Minerva the privilege of breathing fresh air again. Then again, I'm not sure you can find 'fresh air' anywhere in the city, especially in a blackout sector.

"Now that we're all here and attentive," Judan said as she glared at Astrid and Minerva, forcing a subtle flinch out of them. "Solas."

"Yeah?" I replied.

"Talk to us. Tell us everything that's on your mind."

"Um... Well... I'm not sure. It's just a lot to take in. Nelia's death, Alexandria's true nature, and... me. Regulus."

Judan's eyes widened at the sound of that name. She then shifted her gaze at Loki and Minerva, who quickly turned away with sweat dripping down their faces.

"Did I not give the order to let Solas rest?" she muttered.

"Ehe... U-um..." Minerva gulped. "W-well... Ya see..."

"Minny started it!" Loki shouted.

"Eh?! No, I didn't!"

"Yeah, she did! So if you want someone to blame, blame her!"

"Hah..." I scoffed. "It's not their fault, Judan. I asked, and they answered."

She seemed hesitant to let it go, but she let out a sigh and turned back to me.

"Then I guess there's no need to explain that part," she said, her voice low. "How much do you know about Regulus?"

"Only a bit after what Loki told me," I replied. "Even then, I'm still left with more questions than answers. Though, there is one that sticks out."

"And what's that?"

"...Regulus was an enemy of Calypso, right?"

As I expected, that question caught her off guard. If I didn't kill Nelia myself, then I did play some kind of role in her death. She was Calypso's captain, so it wouldn't be a stretch to assume I would've done the same to the rest of the squad if I had the chance.

I understand the weight of what I'm asking. I know the risk. But I can't shy away just because I'm afraid. I need to know the truth.

"If I regain my memories one day... will I turn against you?"

Judan crossed her arms, closing her eyes in thought. The air grew thick with silence. There were only two answers. If she says no, it means she doesn't see Regulus as an enemy. But if she says yes... then what happens to me?

One thing's for sure, I'd rather them deal with me here and now for the sin of killing their captain—my own sister—than to let myself live with that fact for the rest of my life.