CHAPTER 8: UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

That night, Snow and Kira talked for hours. Beside a campfire, under the full moon, they spoke freely, like old friends reunited after years apart. Kira shared stories of her siblings, while Snow dreamed of exploring places beyond her mapped data. A strange scene, considering they’d been enemies mere hours before.

“Come with me for a bit,” Snow stood, extending her hand to Kira. Kira grabbed it, and they walked together to what was once the armory. “The journey ahead will be long. We need to prepare,” Snow said, scanning the area. From the rubble, she pulled out two crates—one smaller than the other. Snow flung open the larger one, revealing an array of clothing. “These are disguises for recon Androids. To blend in, we need to change our appearances.”

“What about the other crate?” Kira asked curiously.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Snow replied with a hint of mystery.

After changing, Snow opened the smaller crate, retrieving a pistol and a nine-sided device. SHAD0W, compact in design, triggered small explosions on bullet impact. She tugged her collar, attaching the device—N9NE LIVES, packed with nanites for rapid Android repair. These were recon gear, designed to minimize Server reliance if infiltration went awry.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Shall we take a walk?” Snow tucked the gun into her coat, waiting for Kira outside. They circled Midgard’s camp, its scattered rubble like a mass grave for soulless machines. “That’s 105, the fastest Android—though he rarely controlled it. 192 was recon, but she always got caught…” Kira listened intently to Snow’s tales, reminded of her own siblings and friends. War had torn them from her, turning her into the cold Reaper, burying her emotions. The despair of loss haunted her like a specter—she dreaded reliving it. Suddenly, Snow stopped.

“I want to visit the Command room again,” Snow hesitated.

“No rush,” Kira said softly, her eyes full of understanding.

Snow stepped inside, approaching 006 gently, taking her comrade’s hand with care. Bits of shattered metal fell like tears. “When Iris and Joshua left, how did you feel?” “Pain,” Kira answered, knowing Snow’s turmoil. Snow let out a faint sound, as if realizing something, squeezed 006’s hand one last time, then turned to leave, Kira following quietly.

“Kira, one last favor before we go.”

“What is it?”

“Burn this place to ashes.”

Kira said nothing. Clasping her hands, she unleashed a pillar of fire into the Command room. A deafening blast erupted, and in moments, crimson flames devoured what remained. She pivoted, splitting the fire toward both sides of the camp. The steel bodies melted, merging with the cold earth. Snow watched the blaze silently, the wind rustling through like a lament for the soulless.

“Farewell, my friends.”