A massive fire engulfed the entire area, with billowing smoke surrounding me. I glanced upwards and witnessed the descent of the plane fragments, accompanied by the sound of Rocke's laughter. I observed him approaching me calmly amidst the flames, a smile adorning his face.
"Hope you're enjoying yourself!" he exclaimed, firing another barrage of lasers in my direction. I narrowly avoided his attack, but the sheer impact sent me hurtling through the air, eventually colliding with a tree.
I descended to the floor, and the tree promptly plummeted to the ground. I let out a frustrated sigh, feeling completely immobile. I remained lying down, attempting to get up, but my body refused to cooperate.
"What was that?" he yelled, still advancing towards me. "You still wanna keep going?!"
He forcefully seized me, causing a searing sensation in my neck. "Now listen here Connor, I am determined to claim the Armonk as my own! I've been working on this for years, you know. And I'm not gonna let some CEO's boy take it, so let this be the last words you'll ever hear."
He made direct eye contact with me and let out a chuckle, raising his hand before bringing it down. I shut my eyes, anticipating the end. However, I suddenly experienced a powerful shockwave and intense heat that sent me flying off the ground. I blinked my eyes open, greeted by a brilliant beam of light and the Armonk soaring through the sky.
Out of nowhere, a mysterious portal materialized and swiftly whisked it away into another realm. After I tumbled to the ground, I lost consciousness, unable to perceive or observe anything, and I was enveloped in darkness.
***
After a considerable amount of time had elapsed, I gradually opened my eyes, experiencing a peculiar sensation as I beheld the world once again, as if I had been deprived of sight for an extended period.
I was in my room inside the YMPA, but there was something different about the place. I was lying on my bed, yes. However, there were medical supplies nearby, with one conveniently placed on the other side of my bed.
It seems that I may have sustained an injury.
Despite my arms feeling weak, I was still able to move them slightly.
Then, unexpectedly, the door swung open and they cautiously glanced inside. It was someone with brown hair and a gentle smile, with smooth complexion.
I'm not familiar with that person. Is this an unfamiliar individual being presented to me? If so, this is an unfavorable manner in which to make an acquaintance.
However, I was mistaken, and it was September instead, who appeared to frequently change her hair color. I'm not sure why, but I wasn't complaining.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked.
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"Well, I suppose," I replied, with a hint of uncertainty.
"So, when did you wake up?" she inquired.
"Oh, just a minute ago," I replied, chuckling softly. She joined me and casually grabbed a stool from the desk, effortlessly teleporting beside me.
"Just to let you know, you've been asleep for an entire week," she calmly clarified, leaving me with a surprised expression on my face.
It's hard to believe that I actually slept for an entire week. However, I never anticipated becoming a spy mage either, so I suppose this has become a routine occurrence now.
"Wow," I said in a monotone voice. September continued to explain, "We obtained the Armonk, thanks to your diversion. Nikki successfully created a temporary clone, which Mr. Drails promptly absorbed, leaving Demeitrius Rocke with the decoy.
"So, what caused that intense burst of light?" I inquired.
"I'm not sure," September replied nonchalantly. "I thought you were the one who did that."
"I thought you guys did that," I replied. "Are you certain that Nikki wasn't the one responsible for throwing a grenade or a flashbang, or something of that nature?"
She disagreed, and I agreed.
"So maybe if I did, I don't even know I could do that," I said, feeling the presence of unsettlement.
"Perhaps it's because that occurred due to your fear, and somehow your stress transformed into energy and—I don't have all the answers, but I'm relieved that you're still here."
"It's a relief to still be breathing," I chuckled, then winced, clutching my ribs.
"Sorry," she said apologetically.
"For what?" I inquired.
She laughed, "It's a phrase my family uses whenever someone gets hurt for some reason. It just happens."
I nodded in agreement. "Well thanks for doing so," I said.
"Sure thing," she replied cheerfully. "I sincerely wish you the best," she added. "I would be thrilled to participate in additional missions alongside you."
For some inexplicable reason, I found myself unable to contain my laughter, causing my ribs to ache with pain as I chuckled even harder.
"I apologize," I chuckled. "Just recalling your previous impression of me."
She didn't appear amused, judging by her sigh, but she made an effort to laugh nonetheless.
"Oh, don't fret," she said, attempting to regain her composure. "First impressions, I guess."
We fell into a hush, with the gentle melodies of the birds adding a touch of closure to the stillness.
"What do you think about me now?" I asked.
She grinned, and she leaned in close to me, and gave me a gentle kiss. It was pleasant, but I couldn't quite grasp its meaning.
"I think of you as a very strong spy," she said, smiling.
"I suppose that's accurate," I conceded, although I felt somewhat uneasy. "Being one can be quite challenging and difficult."
September nodded, her gaze shifting towards the floor. Then she glanced upwards once more, revealing her gleaming white teeth. "That's why I admire you," she said, leaning over and kissing me once more. This time it was filled with intense emotion.
As she moved back, her gaze locked onto mine. She tenderly caressed my cheek and softly rubbed my chest.
"Well, I'll be leaving now," she said, as she got up.
"Hold on," I said, quickly reaching for her wrist. "Can you tell me what happened to Nikki?"
"She's returned to her family," she said, with a smile on her face. "I don't understand the reason behind your inquiry."
Now, I didn't want to come across as arrogant or overly confident, but I had a gut feeling about Nikki.
"Well, I thought she would be here, because I have a hunch—"
September nodded casually, as if she understood my words. Perhaps she did. I'm uncertain, but she subsequently exited the room, leaving me to sit there in solitude, pondering Nikki.
Then I found myself gently closing my eyes and peacefully drifting off into a deep slumber.
We accomplished our goal—we successfully prevented Rocke from obtaining the Armonk. However, now it's time for me to return to living a simple life as an ordinary boy once again.
Then again, is anything ordinary any more?