Around the same time. 

In a walled corridor with only one door on the other side of the room, plus some security cameras hanging on the ceiling and with proper lighting, four Zlocan guards are walking by, rifles at hand with the same darkened and bulky armor they wear. All part of a typical security routine to be expected at Illusion Island, yet their pacing tells a different story from what is expected. 

They stop dead in their tracks as the one in front of them raises his hand, an order they're quite familiar with. The guard then presses a button on the communicator attached to his left wrist, bringing it closer to his helmet. 

"This is Kreios Two calling to Command, any new updates?" the guard asks as the rest watch attentively at him, anticipating an answer for the CO of the prison, whether it's a new order or nothing else entirely. 

"Negative. Our radars have not shown any sign of intrusive activity around the perimeter of the complex. However, sonar activity from our buoys spotted some strange noises in the area," the CO replies, one with a deep voice. The tone is firm enough to make the guard nod his head in response. 

"Understood. Should we head to one of our posts in case those noises are really intruders?" the guard asks again. 

"Negative. There have been cases of false alarms before, so it's best for you to not get distracted until further orders," the commanding officer replies. "Also, you're near the floor of prisoners to be elected for further testing soon. So it's best if you stay there for a while." The guard nods in response. After a moment of silence between the two, the guard gives his answer. 

"Understood. Kreios Two out." The guard lifts his hand down without turning around to see the guards who merely observed intensively. It was certainly a conversation that could be worth many things, aside from how reserved it is for Zlocans like these ones. It's for that one of the Zlocan guards, one with a female voice, sighs in response. 

"I can't stand it when we have to play patrol in times like these. It's a damn waste of our values." 

"Let me guess, you can't adapt those techniques of yours quite well when not slicing through your foes?" another male Zlocan guard asks with a snicker. This makes the female guard glance at him. Even with her bulky helmet on, one can tell the scowl on her face, while also clenching her fist and her rifle as well. 

"You know it well! It's been two weeks ever since I had to use my knives to kill someone, and it's becoming a bore to me. We should honestly let the Humans do the job while we do what we're meant to do." 

"That's tough for ya. But you should blame the inability of our Inquisitors to even shoot straight, dying in droves and everything, not on our complacency, you know." 

"Well, we don't have as much as restrictions as them at least," another male Zlocan guard quips, which prompts a chuckle from the rest. The female guard grunts in response while shrugging her arms. 

"Can you at least lead me to something so I can stop getting bored for once?" 

"Well, you heard our boss, there's a prisoner's chamber next to us, so you're authorized for some 'practice' with the inmates, if you get the gist," the male Zlocan guard replies while pointing at the door on the other side. Even though it may not mean much, the female guard still lets out a sigh as she heads for the door leading to the inmates' chamber. 

"Right, but don't you dare to disturb me," the female guard says while storming off. 

"Deves, follow her, we'll continue with our job in the meantime while you solver her 'issues'," the main Zlocan guard replies to Deves, who only shrugs in response while following her close behind, seeing just as they exit the sliding door and close it back again. Now it's just the main Zlocan guard and the other one next to him, who then leans near a wall while sighing in response. 

"Well, she's kinda right about that you know. Ever since getting pushed back all the way to California, lots of restructuring took place and everything. Reborn there, training that, all those 'buzzwords' like it means anything. It's really hard to keep the morale up if most of our reserves are either braindead Inquisitors or braindead Reborns. And the fewest table ones may be too busy in other countries too." The main guard only glances around the room,  almost as if there's some sense to make in there. It's true that the last couple hasn't been kind to Zlocans, ever since the shutdown of Wolowitz. All of them yearn for an answer on what could turn things around for them, even a little. 

"It's times like these when I wonder if the Guardians ever thought of how properly their own species, that is, if they do exist after all," the main Zlocan guard replies. This prompts for the other guard to scoff while walking back and forth in the corridor while the guard keeps his distance from him. 

"Sure, you're telling me, it's still a fantasy created by the weakling Committee and their equally weak worshipers. They don't know what a true god is like, but we do." 

"It still doesn't explain how those 'Earth Warriors' came to be. Like, they came out of nowhere. Like if something awakened them or not. It makes me lose sleep thinking about it." The other guard shakes his head slightly while turning to see in the other direction. 

"Eh, probably the same thing. A weird astrological coincidence or something like that." 

"Many said that about the strangest occurrences and turned out to be something even more mysterious. So it's best to not dismiss it." The other guard shrugs in response, still glancing away from his partner. Perhaps conversations like this may not be useful for the other certain type of Zlocan, and from that, the guard sighs in response while checking on his rifle. Another topic for another time it seems. 

"Also, is it true that you were part of the Ranger Hunter Corps?" 

"Yes, I did," the guard replies without turning to face his partner, maybe still in the right mood for this kind of conversation. 

"And how good you were?" 

"Top marksman of all recruits. First place in all training courses." The other guard nods in approval, maybe he's getting the gist of this. And yet, something fells over this story of his. 

"But, if you were that much of an ace, how could get this meager post?" 

"An unfortunate case of weather disturbance back in Fiji. It happened on the worst day in scouting duty when I tried to clear up a rebel compound, I accidentally hit a fuel canister with Zlocan troops nearby. Combine that with an unexpected lightning strike and I accidentally kill both a platoon and the rebels. I was kicked out of the marksman corps after that." 

"Oh... That's a pity." But before they can continue to have their chit chat, the light suddenly turns off, plunging the corridor and presumably the complex as pitch dark as midnight. The two guards look up instinctively at every corridor as the emergency red spotlights turn on. The main Zlocan guard puts his communicator on the wrist near him again. 

"This is Kreios Two, we're reporting a sudden power outage at our perimeter! What's your status?!" 

"All power across our complex is being cut off. We're currently looking at the source of it, but it is likely to be a case of-" But before the commander can finish speaking, an explosion blasts a huge chunk of the wall next to the guards, sending the guards flying several feet away from the blast until they impact to the walls behind them while the alarms blare in the background. The force is strong enough to make dents and fractures in their armors, especially with the cracked visors showing their faces now filling up with leaking blood near their foreheads. 

And just then, the sound of voices and footsteps are heard nearby, what sounds like orders and shouts as the individuals clear out the smoke from the blast, as their boots step in near the hole of the wall. They're a mixed group between lightly-armored and short-sleeved men with M16s rifles and Uzi machineguns, and some heavily armored commandos with bacalava helmets armed with G3 rifles and MP5 machineguns. The conscripts and Chimera have arrived, and are ready to take them all on. To unleash the horde. 

Just as the handful of mercs and conscripts secure the perimeter, three remaining figures enter.  Adi, Rian and Isaak to be exact. Adi in particular wears a white beret while holding a first-aid kit in the right hand, with the first two taking the left side while Isaak directs the mercenaries on the right, none of them bearing to glance at each other as they take point. 

"You all probably know the drill already, don't you?" Isaak asks with a sneer on his face. "It's a little test, young Rian, nothing more, really." 

"Get as many inmates we can find and probably turn them over to our fight, I guess," Rian snarks without turning around to face Isaak. Adi, however, only taps Rian on the shoulder while keeping his smile. 

"Good. Now, let's hope you get your guns up your head or else. All troops, onward!" Isaak says then directs his groups of mercenaries to head to the other side of the room, in which their side of the cell blocks are located, ready to take any potential inmate to their cause. 

Rian has the conscripts behind him,  all awaiting his next command, even if he's not actually a commanding officer in any capacity. 

"C'mon, let's help get some guys out on that side, we'll surely beat them to it." The group then mobilizes onward in formation to the door on the other side. Once opened with a barely open sliding door, with Rian slicing it open with his lightblade, it is followed by quite a scene that's beyond the stories of what he heard from many prison breaks. 

A furball in which every guard, whether Zlocan or Inquisitor are attempting to restrain all the inmates they can find, while many of the latter group are kicking and punching every Zlocan and Inquisitor they can find as they try to fight back, some even snatching their blasters away and open fire on them, some even attempt to steal parts of their gear to get the upper hand. From the sea of fighting, some bodies are found on the ground, either bleeding out are immobile, others even running away from the carnage with the scenery in red lighting. 

From this alone, is enough to make Rian smirk in response as he holds his lightblade. "Now, everyone on me." Those are his orders. 

"Roger!" Many conscripts reply in unison as they cover fire in every corner while staying close to Rian. They wouldn't risk killing some inmates in an accidental manner whatsoever unless it's a dangerous one. 

As they approach further into the room, some cover fire around them with some unfortunate Zlocans standing their ways, as well as Rian slicing some incoming Zlocans who rushed blindly into the chaos. With every approaching step, they make sure it counts when it comes to making the mission casualty free by anymeans necessary, even if it getting too tight in corridors like this one. 

On their way, they stumble upon a group of tan-skinned men holding their rifles and gunning down the Zlocans on the ground. On the left, he is able to spot a certain Inquisitor holding a knife and rushes toward them. But before he's about to stab them, Rian raises his blade and proceeds to slice his back apart, making the Inquisitor cry out before stabbing him in the neck, which ends the screaming. This is enough to make the group of inmates turn around to face Rian's group. 

"Hey! Who the hell are you doing here?!" one of the men asks Rian's group. 

"UEF at your service. We're gonna get you out of here," Rian says as he taps him on the shoulder. The inmate stares at him for a brief moment, almost like he suspects that something is off on him. But then, he just laughs alongside his teammates. 

"The UEF find us? Here?! You're out of your mind!" The inmate scoffs as well amidst his laughter. Rian only groans in response. 

"Look, someone managed to encrypt the location of this shithole that locked you up. So you either come with us or we'll leave you trapped." 

"'Trapped'? What do you mean by trapped?" The inmate's smile vanishes as he hears this. It's only today that he just realizes what he's gotten up to. 

"Yeah, you all were transported to an island the Zlocans built, but kept the illusion that it's something on land. But don't worry, we have enough troops and transport to get you out of here. Now, will you come or not?" Rian says while trying to keep his brows in check. Something he hasn't always been used to, but yet, he had to if it means getting anyone out of Illusion Island. After a moment of pause, the inmates nod in agreement. 

"Alright, we will. But first, we need a favor from you," the main inmate says. This makes Rian groan in response. 

"God, what else do you fucking need?" 

"I know some former Inquisitors on the right side of the complex. They were transferred here after deserting, but they have enough knowledge of some operations that may be useful for you. Can you please do it?" Adi taps on Rian's shoulder while nodding at him. The other conscripts nod in response as well. Despite the risk, it could be something worth obtaining. 

"You know what they said, get as many as we can. And enough we will retrieve, right?" Adi asks. Rian can only roll his eyes in response. He wants this job as done as possible, but if it's vital as he says, then he can go for it. 

"Alright. So, those very Inquisitors are on the right side of this floor, right?" Rian asks. The inmate nods in response. With that in mind, they sprint to the right side of the room while checking every corner of the room to see if there's a Zlocan guard or Inquisitor nearby ready for an ambush. 

When they arrive at the right side of the room, they hear more screaming and shouts nearby, as well as the sound of rapid blaster fire at every millisecond. Heading closer, they see a manned turret mowing down inmates, shredding their bodies bit by bit and leaving stains and gibs on the floor. The other inmates hide in a concrete wall, but as the blaster hole accumulates, they may not last for much longer. This sight makes the others gasp and widen their eyes. 

Without hesitation, Rian rushes forward with his light blade, and with one leap and a small grunt, he slices the Zlocan's head off, which makes the turret cease firing. With that, the inmates who took cover slightly head out while trying to walk over the corpses, some even gagging and avoiding seeing them. Some have their arms bleeding from the grazing left by the turret fire. 

Adi then opens his medpack, and pulls out some scissors and bandages, and uses them to cover the wounds of some of the inmates one by one. All of it while carrying a smile on his face while gesturing the others to help out as well. One of them, however, hugs a light-skinned female while caressing her hair, with other inmates also getting comfort from the ones Rian rescued. 

"Are these the ones you were looking for?" Rian asks. The inmates nod in response. 

"There there, you'll be fine, young one. I know you'll be strong. Just hold on for a little bit," Adi says as he holds the hand of a younger light-skinned male inmate who's breathing from the wound he sustained. Yet, Adi's touch might be a sorely needed one while withstanding the amount of noise facing the group in every corner. 

"Are you sure we'll head back to safety?" the female inmate asks toward Rian, who nods in response. With that in mind, the group heads back to their original location, to escort this set of prisoners back to safety, while Adi carries some of the inmates back to safety. 

However, just as Rian is about to turn around, he gets to see Adi standing paralyzed while holding the young man with his arm. His eyes are as wide as they can get, enough to show the whites, with the mouth hanging open. 

"Hey, what's going on, old man?" Rian asks. 

"You...?" This is Adi's only word without turning around to face Rian. Rian tries to shake him to get a reaction, to see why he's now standing frozen while leaving the young man hanging around his arm. The others stop around and also gasp at what Adi sees. Hearing this prompts Rian to turn to the group. 

"Hey, what's going on you all?!" Rian demands. One of the conscripts only answers by slowly pointing behind Rian, which is what Adi is seeing as well. Once in clear sight, Rian's eyes widen and his mouth falls wide open as well. For what the one Rian sees, seems to be the one who didn't want to see for a very long time, and much less interact with. 

The one, the catalyst, the pursuer. 

Boris Macek.