Behind the icy mountains of Yakutsk, the Second District, stood the third sentinel. Before it, Scar and the others chosen for the second base had gathered, all of them facing the woman who would lead them, early forties, and said to hold the eighth rank among Moon Killers.
"Just call Chica. I’m not into formal titles like ’Captain.’ Finish enough missions, earn your points, and you could beco a Ranker yourself. You can even beco a captain."
Chica’s eyes glanced through the crowd.
"You all seem promising. You’ll join your factions soon, but until then, if that nuisance Reaper cos to Yakutsk, it’ll be your responsibility to handle him, all other factions will be occupied."
Sothing like a smile touched Scar’s lips. Two weeks since Julien got the Joker Mask and beca the Reaper, and the bastard had wasted no ti making a na for himself.
His cringe humor was repulsive enough on its own, and being a vigilante hadn’t exactly won him any admirers either.
Getting into the sa base hadn’t worked out. Julien landed in the Fifth District, Durban, while Purple had ended up in Paramount alongside Haven.
But Scar was glad it worked out that way. He had Amber beside him, and Yakutsk was more than just an assignnt. A place filled with mories and history. The kind of place where building a reputation ca naturally.
His mind had been elsewhere until Chica’s eyes pulled him back. She carried herself like soone who’d seen the worst of things and ca out the other side.
She had piercing brown eyes, a scar running across her face, and her right arm was absent entirely. Her uniform hung over her shoulders rather than being worn properly, a brown vest showing underneath, as if the chilling cold didn’t affect her.
"Hey, you there... what’s your na?"
Chica motioned toward Scar.
"Uhm... Scar Rover"
Chica’s gaze drifted for a mont, as though pulling sothing from the back of her mind.
"A Rover, huh? Then tell ... what’s your mother’s na? Your sister’s? Or even your cousin’s?"
Scar appeared confused.
"My cousin is Amber, if that’s who you an. My mother, however, is Emily."
Chica’s eyes imdiately sparkled.
"Ha! I knew it. You’re that bitch’s son, aren’t you? The resemblance is obvious. Looks like you inherited her strength too."
Scar’s frown ca quietly. The missing arm and the scar across her face had his mother’s na written all over it. He wasn’t sure which one she was responsible for. Maybe both. Poor woman.
"You’re right. She severed my arm in a single blow. Barely thirteen or fourteen at the ti. Even so, she nearly killed , and I was already a ranked Moon Killer. I hoped to repay that debt myself, but she died long ago. Regrettable... though convenient. I’ll take your arm in her place."
The words were an insult, but Chica didn’t sound like soone who resented the mory. If anything, she seed almost pleased talking about it. The way soone speaks of a competitor they genuinely respect.
Chica locked eyes with Scar.
"If you can’t live up to your mother’s reputation, it will be nothing short of disgraceful. I’ll see to your training myself. Your party is already decided, and you won’t find it forgiving."
Scar flashed her an awkward smile while avoiding the stares following him.
He welcod the challenge. Building a good reputation was crucial if he wanted to beco Morningstar the Disloyal. Plus, he needed enough leverage over Dain. The bigger the challenges he overca, the better.
"Apart from your respective faction leaders, authority lies with only two individuals: myself and Kong, overseer of the Second Base. Do not forget it. You are granted two days of rest. Missions will comnce imdiately upon faction assignnt."
Chica dismissed the crowd imdiately but asked Scar to co to her office right away.
Each base was structured around four sentinels, and tucked beneath each one were dining halls and a few resting rooms, modest spaces ant for swift rests when ergencies demanded it.
Scar had already been assigned a room where Amber was currently waiting. The heads of the Rover family, the Rangers, had pulled so strings. Now she had every right to stay at the base and would even accompany Scar on missions.
The downside was they’d be sharing a room. But that wouldn’t be much of a problem once he joined a faction. He’d barely use the room while on missions, and afterward they’d either be assigned new ones imdiately or given rest ti to go ho.
Chica led him down the first corridor of the sentinel and into a cubicle. There wasn’t much to it. A table buried under papers. A bed. And a space so cramped Scar had little choice but to stand.
"I’m sorry about your mother, kid. She was... an interesting woman. We t as enemies, yet she chose to spare my life."
Scar smiled awkwardly, though the pleasure behind it was real. It was the first ti he had heard anyone say sothing good about his mother’s childhood.
Chica exhaled deeply.
"You carry yourself almost as calmly and confidently as she did. I would be disappointed if my forr rival’s only son couldn’t live up to her reputation. The reports say you’ve held your Inheritance for nearly four months. That’s more than enough ti. I will ensure you beco worthy of her na."
Chica had barely finished speaking when soone entered the room. Golden hair, golden eyes, and a presence that announced itself before he even fully stepped in. Scar smirked. It was Storm.
"Hey, rival. It’s been a while."
"Has it?"
For a mont it felt as though rank didn’t exist between them. Scar and Storm exchanged a few words while Chica sat quietly in her seat, waiting for one of them to rember she was in the room.
"The leader was unable to attend, Chica. She sent in her stead."
Chica nodded in understanding.
"So you already know each other. Good, that makes this easier. Scar, you’ll be joining Luccy’s faction. Being one of the leading factions ans your missions won’t be easy, but I’ll assign another mber to you within two days."
Scar couldn’t help but sigh. He had known Luccy was in base two, but being assigned to her faction as well? That was sothing else entirely. It only gave Dain more reasons to keep an eye on him.
"Two days? I’m afraid we don’t have that luxury. Our mission at Area 9 begins tomorrow."
"Right... I still need to analyze the others’ strengths. Give so ti. I’ll decide on the last mber before the day is over."
Scar and Storm were dismissed without delay. He hadn’t expected his first mission to start right away, but there was nothing to be done about it.
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