Art exited her room and began heading toward the briefing room.
She paused at Kane's door.
Her arm raised, knuckles facing away from her.
Art exhaled and lowered her arm.
She turned and continued walking, with Elaina catching up shortly after.
"You aren't going to wake him?"
Elaina leaned forward and looked up at Art's face.
"No." Her eyes stayed forward.
"Okay," Elaina straightened up, "suit yourself."
They entered the courtyard and met up with Grimm and Jean.
"Good morning." Grimm yawned.
"Morning."
Elaina gave a peace sign.
"Did you sleep well?" Jean asked.
Elaina gave her a thumbs up.
"Let's go," Art said. "Arthur is waiting."
They headed to the briefing room, Jean opening the door.
Art entered first, the rest following.
Arthur was seated with his hands firmly in front of him.
His gaze was intense.
The team took their seats.
Jean picked up a clipboard and pen.
Elaina and Grimm glanced at each other, confused by Arthur's demeanor.
Art focused her attention on him.
Arthur exhaled.
"Joe," Arthur sat upright, "is missing."
The pen dropped.
The air felt still.
Grimm looked away, grunting softly.
Elaina covered her mouth.
"...No way."
Jean slowly placed the clipboard down.
Art's eyes widened.
She softly inhaled.
Exhale.
"What happened?"
Arthur leaned back.
"Two days after your departure," Arthur rested his arms, "we lost contact."
Art straightened her posture.
"Do we have the location of the last point of contact?"
Arthur pushed a button on the armrest.
Green screens appeared, centered above the table.
"He was sent to the western district."
He pointed to a marked location.
"This exact spot is where communication was cut."
Jean stopped writing.
"Why was he sent there?"
"Tremor needed materials for his experiments on the void cells."
Jean's face tightened.
"Do we know what caused the disappearance?"
Arthur did not look away.
"No," he continued, "which is why we need to investigate."
Grimm interjected.
"Let me go."
Arthur glanced at Grimm, then focused back on the screens.
"We need those materials."
He scanned the room, observing each team member present.
"Elaina, Jean, Grimm—your mission is to recover the parts and find Joe."
Elaina raised her hand.
Arthur motioned toward her.
"So when do we leave?"
Arthur cleared his throat.
"Immediately."
Jean rose to her feet.
Elaina and Grimm followed.
"Yes, sir."
The three of them paid their respects and left the room.
Art remained seated, focused.
A slight hum came from the projector.
Arthur raised his mug and took a sip.
"Art, you're going to the central district with Kane."
Art's eyebrows twitched.
"What for?"
Arthur set the mug down.
"Tremor did make some progress."
Another button press.
The screen's display changed.
"He believes that the fluid is connected to the city."
Art questioned.
"His reasoning?"
Arthur explained further.
"Tremor found very faint traces of the void cell fluid in your suits and on your fake identification badges."
Art touched her temple.
"How would I find any trace of it in the city?"
Arthur placed a small device on the table.
"This."
Art inspected it.
"How does it work?"
"It detects the void cell fluid and displays the containment amount,"
Art placed it in her pocket.
"What am I supposed to test with it?"
"The city," Arthur continued. "Water, air, and the people."
Art rested her chin in her hand.
"When do I depart?"
"Tonight, so you reach central by morning."
Arthur took another sip of coffee.
"Anything else?"
Art's jaw tightened.
"No, sir."
Arthur clicked his pen.
"Dismissed."
Art stood and paid her respects.
Arthur began his paperwork.
The pen scribbled.
Pages flipped.
Art reached for the door handle.
"One more thing."
Art turned.
"Sir?"
Arthur did not look away from his work.
"Never mind."
Art nodded and exited the room.
Arthur was reading the report Jean wrote.
His pen stopped.
The page read:
"Unidentified Watchman left the premises—
An unknown combatant fell to Kane."
It's begun.
...
Art entered the courtyard.
She looked around.
Kane sat at the courtyard fountain.
He was quiet.
Looking ahead.
She walked over to him.
She leaned down slightly.
"Kane."
His head turned toward her.
Eyes unfocused.
Expressionless.
Art looked at him.
"We have a new mission."
His lips moved slightly.
"..Okay."
Art walked.
Towards the Garage.
Kane stood.
And followed.
Chains rattled.
Softly.