September 23rd, 2026. 13:50. San Diego

The battlefields are shifting once more.

It's been a while since the mission in San Diego, where the once-standing stadium of Qualcomm was demolished by missile strikes after the rescue of the navigators. Security increased for a while as a result of the event, all to make sure that any potential infiltration could be dealt with swiftly.

But as the days went by, those measures diluted from time to time, as armed resistance with the help of PMCs intensified their tactics in preparations for long-term partisan attacks, in order to make sure the Zlocan grasp of the city is thrown away, all to be freed once more under the hands of those who fight for the most righteous of causes.

And that has just reached its peak on that day.

In Downtown San Diego, the atmosphere couldn't more fitting for the time of the day. The smokes from the streets and some buildings shroud parts of the sky as a handful of hovercrafts fly in the skies, ready to spot any reported partisan or mercenary caught up in their attacks of Zlocans and the Human Inquisitors in every corner.

As for the streets, there are varying degrees of blank views and even sights worth from the most destructive battles. Many cars are scorched and left abandoned in the streets, some still engulfed in flames with either bullet holes or even impacts left by rockets or shells. Bodies littering the floor can be seen, both Humans and Zlocans alike. Amidst the line of bodies, bullets and blasters fly in almost every direction, as each combatant takes whatever cover they can take.

It did not matter if they are inside abandoned shops, entrances of corporate buildings, some deserted buses, or even inside the smoked wreckage of cars, all that matters are to take everything they can to win. Shouts of orders are heard in distant corners of every street, beings either listening to their commanders or the officers leading their charges against their foes. Even with the deafening sounds of explosions, gunfire and blaster fire, all are determined to ensure the victory.

Near a fenced park on Market Street, a hovercraft opens its door, revealing two individuals who then take a jump outside, their sights on the ground in spite of the relatively high altitude they are taking. Despite this, the two manage to land firmly and without any potential damage, landing on all fours, with blades coming out of their arms piercing the ground below.

The Quripeno twins are back at it once more.

As they lift their heads to see their surroundings, their blades in their arms retract back to their flesh, getting up they see that apart from sounds of gunfire and explosions and some intercom announcements in Zlocan installed speakers, there's no single being in sight.

"Alright, so what's the next step, sis?" Rioso asks as he glances at her.

"Find any activity of rebellion, and deal with it immediately." Rioso frowns for a bit over this.

"But, wouldn't that mean involving killing...?" he asks with a soft-spoken tone. But before he can ask any further questions, Mora places her hand on his shoulder, tapping it for a bit before giving him a slight smile.

"We'll think of the methods, trust me." With that, they march away from the park, leaping over the fence as they scout for the streets for any sort of activity. Even without anything in sight, they keep themselves close to each other if it means spotting any sort of rebel activity or something concerning that may catch their attention.

"Think there was any sort of fun activity in this place before the war?" Rioso asks once more.

"It beats me, Rio. But right now, whatever it had, I'm sure all the fun was drained away when we arrived. Even Humans wouldn't stick around for this."

"Alrighty then. But couldn't they have some stores or musical acts around here to even try?" They head to the east side of the street in front of the street with trees next to the sidewalks. Even with battle, they remained intact from any further strife in contact with them.

"I honestly can't imagine someone playing the piano in the middle of a battlefield. If anything, no one would in the mood for that."

"Yeah, but, wouldn't it be cool to try it out despite the odds?"

"If you have a death wish, then sure." Rioso groans in response to this while keeping their pace as they walk in the streets.

"Anyway, how could this rebellion thing turn out ugly so fast?"

"I'm not sure too. But whatever the case, it seems like many people were unhappy in what they got and now want it to change." As they continue their pace, they see a Zlocan hovercraft getting its left-wing exploded by a missile, enough to make it spiral in many turns before it comes crashing down on the other part of the street next to the building. The explosion is noticeable enough to get the twins to briefly duck for cover before standing up again.

"Like, a change of management in an office job one says?" Mora only shrugs.

"Kind of like that." Rioso simply sighs at this but keeps on walking afterward. So far, they only pass by many houses, some either intact, others with some holes in either the entrance or the windows, some are even pieces of wreckage after sustaining a huge amount of damage for far too long. Most likely with bombs.

But just as it looks seems like there's nothing around in the vicinity, a distant chatter can be heard on the far side of the street. Enough to be picked up by Rioso as he slightly speeds up the pace, with Mora following behind.

"Hey sis, I heard something. Follow me!"

"Rio, wait!" As they continue to walk into the source of the sound, as the number of thrown weapons, unexploded shells and electrifying shards of Zlocan weaponry, they could see what could look like to be the distinct shapes of Zlocan Knights in the distance, in what it looks like to be a routine patrol as well. Some chance to regroup and plan, it seems.

Yet, Mora couldn't help but feel something suspicious with this type of setting around them.

This can't be real. What if there's some kind of Human trap waiting for us?

After Rioso manages to catch up, one Zlocan turns around to face them ahead, as he lifts his left hand to indicate them to stop.

"Hey officer, spotted something suspicious?" Rioso asks.

"Still on the lookout for any potential threats. But there don't seem to be any nearby." But just as he can continue explaining, a pin is heard, then rolling to the ground beneath an unscratched red car next to them. And just as it reaches the feet of the officer, it's the moment when they look down.

"Grenade!" a Knight exclaims as they take cover near one of the cars next to them, as the officer tries to kick the grenade away. But before he could manage to do that, it explodes. The force is strong enough to send him flying upwards, before impacting a tree branch right in his face. Others next to him are also thrown away from the force of the blast, but not as enough to impact any hard surface they can find. But even so, one clutches to his knee as he groans from the resulting impact.

Rioso then sprints towards the C.O, whose body is currently immobile. He kneels down to inspect any sort of breathing left in him. However, based on the shards of glass embedded on parts of his face as they bleed, it seems that his luck could have run out.

After placing the body back on the floor, he rises back to stand once more as the Zlocan try to reunite and see what happened.

"I wonder how who would do this..." Rioso ponders. But just then, a Zlocan notices something from behind Rioso, which is enough to make him raise his gun to aim near him.

"Out of the way, young boy!" But before Rioso can turn around, a bullet breaks a window, aiming right at the Zlocan who signaled Rioso. And just like that, the bullet impacts the Zlocan's forehead, making him collapse. Mora manages to catch up with Rioso, enough to tackle him near a tree branch to take over from the unknown shooter.

"Guess my guts were right after all!"

"What do you mean, sis?" he asks as breathes slowly, trying to get caught up on his surroundings over this turn of events.

"An ambush, they must have expected us here."

"What?" But before Mora can explain any further, another Knight is struck by another bullet, this time in her abdomen. It is swift enough to make a dull thud to the floor, before the remaining Zlocans open fire in the direction of the gunfires.

Then, Rioso spots a figure on the balcony of a house, one cloaked with a suit filled with leaves and branches.

"Look, behind you!" Rioso shouts as he points to the building. This prompts the remaining Zlocans to turn around and open fire where Rioso is pointing at. The cloaked figure, however, heads back inside the building as they dodge the blaster fire from the Zlocans. They rush to the building, and one takes out his light blade to hack the door into many pieces.

But just as they're about to kick the door open, a barrage of bullets fires from inside, filling most of the Zlocans near the door with lead, flinching by every second while letting their orange liquid splatter around them.

"Guess these Humans aren't messing around today," Rioso says.

"Now, all we need to is-" And before she and Rioso can come up with something, a figure rushes behind them from the blue building that has the rooftop blasted to pieces. He's male, and holding a trench knife. He's quick enough to grab Rioso's arms in order to restrain him, holding both hands on one hand while holding the trench knife to his throat. The man has some stubble on his face, yet the eyes and short hair make him a familiar figure, one that has seen a lot from the conflict, and how to operate in it.

"Let go of him!" Mora says as she retracts her blade in her left arm, readying her stance by pointing the blade in front of him.

"Over my dead body, filthy Zlocan!" the man shouts as the tightens his grip on Rioso. Rioso clenches his teeth while trying to resist the force from the man.

"Mora, I think this one's up to no good with that weird knife..." But before Mora can rush towards him, some gun clicks are heard around the neighborhood, almost in unison as two figures appear on the balcony of the house next to where the grenade was thrown at the Zlocans.

"Freeze!" a dark-skinned woman shouts as she aims with a stolen Zlocan battle rifle. Mora turns behind her to see the woman. Then turns around once more to see two men, one fair-skinned and one tanned-skinned, both are bald while the fair-skinned one holds an M4 rifle and the other holds a bronze-plated ACR Carbine. And finally, a fair-skinned brunette aiming with her S333 Thunderstruck revolver.

And all in the nick of time for one particular standoff. Each side is unwilling to back down, no matter the odds stacked in front of them. It's all on the table right now. The first move could be either the victor's or the unfortunate prey from the gun of the victor's, or even nobody's.

"So, this is what the Zlocans are sending nowadays? I expected way more," the familiar man says, still holding Rioso's hands on his back.

"Ah, yes? What makes you think you know well of us, you scoundrel?" Mora asks back. The familiar man doesn't change his expression for one bit.

"'Scoundrel'? Do you think I'm one of those ignorant fools?" The remaining rebels step closer to Mora, rifles getting near as she steadies her guard, thinking of something to get herself and her brother out of their grasp and deal with them.

"What?"

"That's the former qualifier for the Inquisition, Thomas Li, for you." Then, Rioso tries to detract his left blade arm near Thomas, but he steps back quickly enough to avoid contact with his blade. He then turns his attention back to Mora, even as he holds Rioso's blade tightly.

"So, what do you propose in exchange for getting my brother back to me?"

"Simple; just get out of this town and leave us alone," the dark-skinned woman replies. Mora is not to be deterred from this, however.

"As you would know, an apprentice should never yield to the enemy," she remarks as the other blade retracts, giving her two sides to deal with, all to ensure she'll get Rioso back to her.

"What are you implying?!" the fair-skinned man asks.

"If one diplomatic step is not enough, to get you to back down... then it's better if one learns through the edge of a blade." The rest hold their rifles even tighter. The implications over this don't bode well for them.

"Hey hey, hold on now. Can't say I claim to know you well but... What is this that you were formerly by the Inquisition, Thomas?" Rioso asks. This sudden turn makes him turn around to face him.

"Rioso, don't try anything stupid." Rioso's expression changes into that of a smile, even though it feels like a pasted-on one and blinking fast. What is he up to?

"...What are you plotting? You take me for an idiot, aren't you?"

"No, I'm really serious. All I did was train under our master about certain missions and such, like extraction individuals and stopping intruders... But aside from a few nasties, how is it that you managed to leave it all behind?" Thomas is still confused by what Rioso is trying to ask. Just for this alone, he softens the knife for a bit while sighing as well. Even if a month has passed, a scar like what happened to him can't be removed that easily.

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"Thomas, don't try to open to this Zloc's tricks. You know how many of them are up to no good," the tanned-skinned man says. Thomas, however, keeps his stance.

"I only started as just a slave. Taken by the most extreme of Zlocans, even daring to get myself sacrificed for the rest to live...yet it was all trick. Next, I would endure days of training. But not the usual kind of training. Those who failed to achieve the goals were executed for 'weakness' and such..." Rioso and Mora gasp from this. While they have fought for the Zlocans for a long while, this is the first they hear of such magnitude from them.

"What are you talking about?" Mora asks. Thomas' eyes widen in response as he turns to face her once more.

"You really don't know...? Not even when I strangled the finalist as a final test of loyalty? That was enough to make me lose sleep, and I still do. The things they made me do after that...you have no idea." That last sentence makes Rioso and Mora frown and even shudder from it. It's enough to even make Mora slightly lower her stance.

"But, who got you out? Yourself or another one?" Rioso asks. Thomas sighs once more.

"Soldiers of the UEF, right after I turned against my supervisor. One initially thought it was the scummy kind... but some truly heroic ones managed to convince him to step away, that I deserve a proper judgment. Despite having no reason to, despite not even knowing me, they still defended me like I'm one of their own. Like, feeling love... For that, I'm grateful for them that I'm still alive."

"OK, and after that?"

"I got into a week of mental therapy after what I've witnessed, then offered me a job for espionage deep in Zlocan territory. Using the knowledge I had to gather all necessary intel to gather every available rebel to strike at any Zlocan outpost or territory. It's because of my deployments that I gathered enough people to stand up in this region."

"I see..." he replies with a soft tone. What was supposed to be a simple mission to assist the Zlocans turned into a retrospective of something the twins weren't aware of the Zlocu. Something that is to make Thomas get the knife away from Rioso's throat while still holding him for a bit.

"Alright, we listened to your story. But aside from this place, what are you exactly planning?" Mora asks.

"I'm warning you scum!" the dark-skinned yells. Thomas, however raises his hand in front of her and the others, as a sign to put their weapons down.

"Tom, you sure you-"

"Trust me." With that, they all do while he releases Rioso from his grasp. He still holds his arm, but it's now more like trying to keep him steady while also not intending to kill him to intimidate Mora any longer.

"Simple. Overthrow the Zlocans and get our freedoms back. That's all."

"And as for me and Rio... We'll leave you alone for a while like we haven't met you, right?" Mora asks. But before he can give an answer, a ship flies by in the air of the street, dropping a single figure right behind them. All of the people present take notice of it as they now aim their rifles at the figure. The figure crashes down, fist to the ground while the other arm up. He lifts his face to confront the rebels and the twins.

Jason has joined the battle.

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"Jason? Is that you?!" Thomas asks with a fierce tone. Jason only laughs in response as he steps closer to the group.

"Move aside, you freak! Think you can survive with all of us combined?!" the tanned-skinned man asks. Jason keeps walking like it's nothing. And just then, the screen flashes in front of his face, with certain words appearing. And from that alone, the leg retracts for him to grab the blade and sprints forward at high speed, enough to slash the man's chest and knock him back as crimson blood drops at various distances.

"Frank!" the fair-skinned woman yells.

"Oh, so I guess that the pitiful twins fell in love with Human lies, I see. How disappointing," Jason remarks as he swipes the blood from his blade. But before Mora and others can take their stances ready, Rioso steps aside while holding her and Thomas aside.

"Jason, stop this. Don't you know what have the Zlocans done to people like him or others? Do you think... it's worth fighting for the Zlocu?" Jason scoffs in response.

"Did you seriously believe that he's the exception to the rule? That he's somehow one of the few left with a conscience. All that bullshit. You know well all Humans are only made for hatred, to hunt each other for the strongest, but they cloud themselves with other worthless beliefs."

"Worthless? Even love?!"

"That's right, little Rioso. But since you're still young, I'll give you one chance to kill this scum like you were supposed to." This makes Rioso and Mora gasp, their postures stiffening while clenching their fists. A reminder like that wouldn't be appropriate for it in times like this.

"Jason, don't you dare... We just want to leave these poor people alone, that's all," Mora says.

"'Poor people'? Is that how you really want to try things? To let yourself be used by cutthroat, swindling liars? Then, I guess I will show you the true nature of Humans to open your eyes!" Jason sprints once more with his sword at hand. But before he can reach the twins, a gunshot is heard from the balcony once more. The sniper strikes back. But before the bullet can reach him, Jason manages to slice the bullet in half as he quickly turns around. With that, he makes a high leap to the balcony to reach the sniper and proceeds to stab their chest near the heart. Then doing so many times as he gets splattered with crimson