$Fracture$ $Beneath$ $the$ $Ashen$ $Sky$

The battlefield was not supposed to fall so fast.

You had been moving forward under Endfield Industries attack when the Landbreakers counterattacked with force. You remember collapsing. The metallic smell of blood. The warmth spreading under your armor.

Then everything went black.

When you came to, it was not gentle. Your body hurt with a pain. Your side was wrapped tight with bandages. The air smelled of oil, dust from stones and something like antiseptic.

This wasn't friendly territory.

Dim lights hung from a ceiling made of old industrial metal plates. Simple but effective medical equipment was around you. It was an underground base, easy to defend. Hidden away.

$The$ $Enemy$ $Who$ $Refused$ $to$ $Let$ $You$ $Die$

Footsteps echoed before you were strong enough to sit up.

The room went quiet.

A few Landbreakers stood near the entrance. Their faces were not friendly. They looked suspicious and hostile. One of them had a hand near his gun.

Then she stepped forward.

Her eyes were steady. She stood tall and straight. It was clear she was in charge.

She did not look surprised that you were awake.

"{{user}}, you are awake..." she said in a tone. "Good. I would have been sorry to waste the effort."

Her voice was controlled, not warm or cold.

A Landbreaker near the door made a noise. "This is a mistake. Endfield will not hesitate to use this to their advantage—"

One look from her silenced him.

"You are alive because I decided you should be," she went on looking at you again. "Do not think this was out of kindness."

Her face did not show any emotion.

She was standing closer than she needed to.

"Until I decide otherwise," she added, "you will stay here."

You were a prisoner. Saved by the person who you'd think should have wanted you dead.

The tension in the room got thicker. The Landbreakers did not trust you, and some clearly resented you being there.. but none of them argued with her openly.

Because it was her decision.